56 years ago this month, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down in a kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. My ongoing investigative series on the RFK assassination continues on Episode 38 of "Strange Bedfellows" with tonight's guest, historian Mel Ayton (author of "Sirhan Sirhan: The Forgotten Terrorist") -- who will tell us what motivated Kennedy's killer. Researchers have spent the past 56 years bogged down in ballistics and bullet trajectories, all the while overlooking the most important aspect of the crime: motive. We are all guilty of focusing too much on the HOW, and not enough on the WHY. So, why did he do it? Sirhan told us why. Many times. Minutes after shooting Sen. Kennedy, Sirhan told arresting officers: "I can explain! I did it for my country! I love my country." After being convicted of Kennedy's murder, Sirhan told his jailer: “It’s not very many people my age who is considered a martyr by his people. Just think, I’ll go down in history as a martyr and will always be remembered, at least by my countrymen.” He told us, over and over again, why he killed Kennedy. He did it for his country; for Palestine. Sirhan envisioned himself as a revolutionary, committing a revolutionary act. And it's true that he did put the Palestinian liberation movement on the front pages of newspapers for the very first time. Assassinating RFK brought attention to the plight of Palestinians -- and that's exactly what Sirhan intended to do. In addition, Sirhan's anti-Zionism was the primary motivating emotion that drove him to target high-profile political leaders for assassination. More than a year before he shot RFK, Sirhan was already naming the pro-Israel politicians he wanted to kill in his notebook, starting at the top: President Lyndon Baines Johnson. (See this thread for more details.) https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1799558104834560147 Sirhan also wanted to murder U.N. Ambassador Arthur Goldberg. (More info on Sirhan';s notebook entries about killing Goldberg below) https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1799561907415711884 Even after he was locked up awaiting trial for killing RFK, Sirhan was wishing death upon Vice President Hubert Humphrey. (See this thread for more) https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1800377657546379541 After his arrest, Sirhan was asked if he felt any shame. "Hell no!" He said. Clearly, Sirhan had no remorse for what he did. He was quite proud of himself. While behind bars, Sirhan constantly asked for newspapers from the Arab world, eager to read what was being written about his "heroic act" by those who -- unlike Americans -- fully understood his motives. Indeed, Sirhan was hailed a hero in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and back home in Palestine. Even the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al-Husseini instructed his fellow Arabs to give Sirhan all possible aid after his arrest. The Grand Mufti's call was answered by Arab lawyers who came to assist Sirhan, and Arab Americans who held fundraisers for his legal defense fund and provided financial support for the Sirhan family. In 1968, Sirhan's motives were lost on most Americans, who rationalized the assassination of Robert Kennedy as the senseless act of a madman. We, as a nation, did not yet understand the complexities or history of the Middle East conflict. This was before the era of Palestinian skyjackings, hostage-takings, the Munich Olympics massacre, terrorist attacks, and 9/11. In 2003, The Los Angeles Times wrote that Sirhan "fired the first shot in the War on Terror." Indeed, he did. Sirhan's name will be recorded in the history books as the first Palestinian terrorist to strike at the heart of America, on American soil. Tonight on Episode 38 of "Strange Bedfellows" British author and historian Mel Ayton will give us a sneak preview of his upcoming biography of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (his second book about Sirhan). Ayton's previous book "The Forgotten Terrorist: Sirhan Sirhan and the Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy" is recommended reading for anyone seeking to understand Sirhan's Arab nationalism, his antisemitism, his past in Palestine, his deep-rooted hatred of Israel, and his motives for the crime. The 2019 edition features a Foreword by Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. Mel Ayton says that Kennedy's son RFK Jr. (currently running for president as an Independent) is wrong about a conspiracy in his father's murder, and tonight he will explain why. Sirhan is as guilty as sin, Ayton argues -- and he makes a very compelling case. Don't miss this interview tonight at 9 PM Eastern on "Strange Bedfellows!" Buy Mel Ayton's book "The Forgotten Terrorist" about Sirhan here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Terrorist-Sirhan-Assassination-Kennedy/dp/1597970808 If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

I appeared on "The Homeless Left" Thursday to debate my dear friend Craig "Pasta" Jardula on 2024 Independent presidential candidate Robert F. #Kennedy, Jr.'s support for #Israel. Pasta is a former supporter of #RFKJr's presidential bid, but changed his mind last October after Kennedy announced his support for Israel's war against #Hamas. In this respectful debate between friends, I try to convince Pasta that #RFK's position on the #Gaza war is actually the correct one, and that Kennedy supports the innocents of #Palestine who are caught in the crossfire of a war started by Hamas. You might know Craig "Pasta" Jardula from "The Convo Couch" and "The Jimmy Dore Show," where he is an occasional co-host. His new show is "The Homeless Left" on the Pasta2Go channel. Watch the full 5-hour super stream here. My thanks to Pasta and Matt Weinglass for such a great debate! DISCLOSURE: I have endorsed RFK Jr. for president and am a volunteer recruiter on the #Kennedy24 campaign. I am not a spokesperson for Mr. Kennedy. All views expressed herein are solely my own. Join Team Kennedy with me at http://Kennedy24.com/LoriSpencer.

Episode 36 of "Strange Bedfellows" takes you to #Jerusalem, where we speak with Avi Abelow, movie producer and advocate for #Israel, the place he now calls home. Avi served in the Israel Defense Forces and has a unique perspective on the #Gaza war that we don't often hear in the Western media. Tonight's you'll hear what is really going on, beyond the headlines, with Israel and the Jewish people. Despite the demonization of Israel's war on social media, Avi says "we are the good guys!" This interview will challenge everything you know (or think you know) about the war. We will discuss the #IDF's invasion of #Rafah, the history behind the war, and why Avi says Israel has no choice but to fight until victory and smash #Hamas. He will also share his thoughts on the pro-#Palestine protests on American college campuses -- including his alma mater, #ColumbiaUniversity, as well as rising #antisemitism against #Jews around the world. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Avi Abelow is a proud Jew, born and raised in New York City. He is now "living the Jewish dream in the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people." He's the host of "The Pulse of Israel" podcast, and CEO of 12 Tribes Film Foundation. We are pleased to have Avi with us tonight, live from Jerusalem, to give you the true pulse of Israel. A fascinating conversation is always guaranteed on "Strange Bedfellows." Join us tonight from 9-11 P.M. Eastern on the Maverick News Network. If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

24 Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. #Kennedy Jr. has been strangely silent the past few weeks about the #antisemitic, pro-#Hamas protests happening on college campuses. Although #RFKJr has been asked about it in recent interviews, and answers briefly in a lawyerly manner about the difference between demonstrations on public vs. private property, he has otherwise completely avoided talking about the issue. While every other candidate in the presidential race issued statements on this national crisis immediately, Kennedy waited nearly three weeks before speaking up. Kennedy finally posted a tweet about the campus unrest Saturday outlining what he would do as president to ensure fairness to all students on campus, but said nothing about what he would do to stop the lawlessness and violence we are witnessing on campuses across America. https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1786943517710786626 Kennedy has proclaimed himself to be strongly pro-Israel, and supports #Israel's war against Hamas. At the same time, he says he is "very pro-Palestinian," and supports the two-state solution that would establish #Palestine as an independent sovereign nation. Is Kennedy doing the same "both sides" dance as President #Biden, afraid of losing progressive Democrats and Gen Z voters? Are his campaign advisers telling Bobby to tone down his pro-Israel rhetoric in order to appease the woke mob? At a time when #antisemitism escalating to frightening levels, #Jews are being assaulted in the streets, and some protesters are issuing calls to "kill all the Zionists," it feels like open season on Jews. The exclusion of Jewish "#Zionists" from campuses, establishment of "Zionist-free zones," Jewish students not being allowed to attend class, acts of harassment, intimidation and violence, hate speech and symbols of Jew hatred on campus property are all flagrant violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act -- which is not being enforced by campus administrators, state governments, or the federal government. On this edition of Maverick News we ask why President #Biden isn't doing what President John F. #Kennedy did: send in the National Guard to protect the rights of ALL students, stop the violence, enforce the law of the land, and restore order on campus. The Kennedy legacy is civil rights. It is time for #RFK to pick up the mantle of #JFK and his father, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, on this divisive issue that is tearing our nation apart, and undoing 60 years of racial progress started by his ancestors. His uncle Jack's campaign slogans during the 1960 were "a time for greatness," and "leadership for the 60s." Can his nephew meet that high standard now? Because this is a time for greatness, not timidity. We need moral clarity and leadership for the 20s, right now. Now is the time for Kennedy to shine; to lead; to do something bold. I'll tell you what that is tonight on Maverick News. Join us at 9 PM Eastern.

As students protesting the #Israel-#Hamas warat college campuses across U.S.dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, some universities moved to shut down encampments after reports of antisemitic activity among the protesters. With the death toll mounting inthe war in #Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding thatschools cut financial tiesto Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict. Some Jewish students say the #protests have veered into #antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus. Early today police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston while several dozen students shouted and booed at them from a distance. Massachusetts State Police said about 102 protesters who refused to disperse were arrested and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. The school said in a statement that the demonstration, which began two days ago, had become “infiltrated by professional organizers” with no affiliation to the school and antisemitic slurs, including “kill the #Jews,” had been used. “We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus,” the statement posted on the social media platform X said. The University of Pennsylvania took similar action Friday when interim President J. Larry Jameson called for an encampment of protesters on the west Philadelphia campus to be disbanded, saying it violates the university’s facilities policies, though about 40 tents remained in place Saturday morning. The “harassing and intimidating comments and actions” by some protesters violate the school’s open expression guidelines as well as state and federal law, Jameson said, and vandalism of a statue with antisemitic graffiti was “especially reprehensible and will be investigated as a hate crime.” At Columbia University, where protesters haveinspired pro-#Palestine demonstrationsacross the country, negotiations continued with the student encampment. The university’s senate passed a resolution Friday that created a task force to examine the administration’s leadership, which last week called in police in an attempt to clear the protest, resulting in scuffles and more than 100 arrests. Though the university has repeatedly set and then pushed back deadlines for the removal of the encampment, the school sent an email to students Friday night saying that bringing back police “at this time” would be counterproductive. Also Friday, Columbia student protester Khymani James walked back comments made in an online video in January that recently received new attention. James said in the video that “#Zionists don’t deserve to live” and people "should be grateful" James wasn’t killing them. James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson. Protest organizers said James’ comments didn’t reflect their values. They declined to describe James’ level of involvement with the demonstration. But the tensions pile pressure on school officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as Maygraduation ceremoniesnear. California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, gave protesters who have barricaded themselves inside a building since Monday until 5 p.m. Friday to leave and “not be immediately arrested.” The deadline came and went. Only some of the protesters left; others doubled down. After protesters rebuffed police earlier in the week, the campus was closed for the rest of the semester. In Colorado, police swept through an encampment Friday at Denver’s Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting about 40 protesters on trespassing charges. In France, students at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, which counts President Emmanuel Macron among its many famous alumni, studentsblocked access to a campus buildingand classes went online as the wave of protests reached overseas. Tonight on "Strange Bedfellows" we welcome back Na'omi Allen in South Africa, history blogger and proud Zionist, who argues that Israel's war against Hamas is justified and that the protests erupting at college campuses worldwide are celebrations of antisemitism. Last time Na'omi was with us on Episode 28, she predicted that "a second #Holocaust" is coming, and that "it will start in New York City." Currently #NYC has four large anti-Israel campus protests in full swing -- more than any other city in the United States. Na'omi will explain why she thinks this is a dangerous trend. Also joining us is Kevin Michelizzi, our Maverick News correspondent in #Crimea, #Russia, to discuss the "other war" in his neck of the woods, and the $60 billion aid package passed by the U.S. Congress this week, and how this influx of money and weapons will affect the ongoing war in #Ukraine. Tonight's international panel will include four countries (possibly five, depending on whether you view Crimea as Russia or Ukraine!): Rick Walker in Canada Lori Spencer in the United States Kevin Michelizzi in Crimea Na'omi Allen in South Africa A fascinating conversation is always guaranteed on "Strange Bedfellows." Join us LIVE from 9-11 P.M. Eastern. If you enjoyed this program, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

As the Führer hid in his bunker and prepared for his suicide, he penned his last political will and testament. Adolf Hitler's last written words were a plea to the world to continue to “resist mercilessly the poisoner of all nations, international Jewry,” a plea most thoroughly and systematically heeded by the Islamic Jihadists and one of their primary movements,Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, the Islamic Resistance Movement known as #Hamas. To fully grasp the ideology that drives Hamas and the Palestinian liberation movement today, one must first understand the history that gave rise to it -- and specifically, Nazi collaborator Haj Amin al-Husseini, the tie that binds #Hitler to Hamas. Haj Amin al-Husseini came to power through a British act of appeasement after he had been tried in absentia and found guilty of inciting riots in #Palestine in 1920; the riots arose in response to the first proposal for a two-state solution outlined by the Faisal-Weizmann Agreement of January 1919. Attempting to calm the Arab population, British mandate governor Herbert Samuel appointed him Mufti of Jerusalem on 8 May 1921. Among the newly appointed Mufti’s first actions was a declaration of #jihad against the British and the #Jews. In March 1933 he paid his first official visit to the new Nazi German General Consul Heinrich Wolff in Jerusalem. Once again wanted by the British for inciting the Arab Revolt of 1936 – 1939, al-Husseini fled Palestine for #Iraq. After inciting an overthrow of the Iraqi government and murderous pogroms that resulted in the slaughter of hundreds of Jews, the Mufti found safe harbor in Berlin, where he was handsomely rewarded by the #Nazis with money, a lavish lifestyle, and armed guards. He was employed by Nazi Germany making propaganda radio broadcasts for the Arab world. I've written several lengthy threads about the Grand Mufti on X (formerly Twitter), diving deep into the complex history of Nazi/Arab collaboration, such as this one: https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1712385314902147152?s=20 As early as January 1941 al-Husseini was recruiting Bosnian Muslims to serve in the Waffen SS and in SS killing units. The largest of the Mufti’s Muslim killing units was the infamous 13thHandschar Division of 21,065 men. As a result of his murderous actions in service to the Nazis, al-Husseini was charged with war crimes -- yet, he managed to evade prosecution at #Nuremberg and flee, aided by British intelligence. In June 1946 he turned up in Cairo, where, as noted above, the Muslim Brotherhood gave him a hero’s welcome. That same year the Mufti took in his second cousin Yasser #Arafat as his protégé; he brought in a former Nazi commando officer to teach Arafat “the fine points of guerilla warfare.” Some scholars argue that “al-Husseini was himself most likely the true founder of the al-Fatah,… Arafat’s terror cell… the nucleus of the #PLO.” This thread relies on OSS and CIA documents declassified 50 years after #WWII under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act of 1998, tracing the Grand Mufti's activities after the war -- which included terrorist bombings, the assassination of a King, and the funding of terror groups. https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1731187027343753634?s=20 Hamas emerged immediately after the outbreak of the Palestinians’ First Intifada against Israel as a militant Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood on 9 December 1987. The Movement was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his comrades Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi and Mahmoud al-Zahar. Yassin grew up in awe of Haj Amin al-Husseini. He joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1957 and in 1973 established the Islamic Congress in #Gaza to expand the influence of the Brotherhood; in 1978 he was among the founders of the Islamic University of #Gaza in #Palestine. Yassin and his cohorts embraced the Nazis’ fundamental view that the #Jews are “the dirtiest and meanest of all races, defiling the most sanctified and honored spot on earth,” making “no distinctions between Jews, Zionists, and Israelis.” As in all ideologies driven by Jew hatred, from Hitler to Hamas, where the Jew is the enemy, #Judaism is the enemy. Nazi ideology is alive and well today in parts of the Arab world, and especially in Gaza, where Hamas rules (for now). In this highlight from Episode 28 of "Strange Bedfellows" (with history blogger Na'omi Allen in South Africa), we give a brief history lesson of the Strangest Bedfellows of all time: the #Nazis and the Arabs. I'll discuss with Na'omi the lasting influence of the Grand Mufti in radical Islamist movements like Hamas. We'll even show you the most popular chain of clothing stores in Gaza City today: "Hitler 1" and "Hitler 2"-- where fashionable young Palestinian #fascists buy "Hitler Chic" apparel. Join us for this important discussion at 9 P.M. Eastern tonight. Thanks for watching! Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

Today marks six months since the horrific event we called "Israel's 9/11" during our live Maverick News broadcast of October 7, 2023. Tonight, we bring you a relevant highlight from Episode 28 of "Strange Bedfellows" with history blogger Na'omi Allen in South Africa about her country's case against #Israel alleging that the #Jewish nation is committing #genocide in #Gaza. This week Ruth Marcus, Associate Editor for The Washington Post wrote in an Op-Ed that the International Court of Justice is "waging lawfare against Israel." "The International Court of Justice is international, to be sure, but it is neither behaving like a court nor dispensing justice. Rather, the #ICJ is allowing itself to be used as a geopolitical weapon in theIsrael-Gaza war." Our guest Na'omi Allen agrees, and calls out #Russia's hypocrisy for joining the ICJ case against Israel (a close cultural ally until October 7). Considering that Russian president #Putin himself is also accused of committing war crimes in #Ukraine, isn't this a case of the proverbial pot calling the kettle black? Last March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, obliging 124 member states to detain, arrest, and transfer Putin to the ICC if he enters their jurisdiction. Na'omi says the war crimes charges against Putin are as ridiculous as the genocide charges are against Israel. Tonight at 9 PM Eastern she will explain why international courts of justice have become a complete and utter farce. #NeverForget that #Hamas committed genocide against #Jews on 10-7. Why aren't the leaders of Hamas on trial at the Hague right now instead of the country their terrorist militias savagely attacked six months ago today? My conversation with Na'omi took place as the dark of night gave way to the South African sunrise -- a hopeful metaphor for #peace on the horizon for Israel, the Jewish people, and #Palestine...soon. Thanks for watching! Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

On Easter Sunday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu was under full anesthesia for hernia surgery, and the reins of power were temporarily in the hands of his deputy, tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the #Knesset in #Jerusalem demanding an election now. Rumors began to spread online that Netanyahu had died from complications during surgery (and many #Israel-haters openly celebrated). Even if the Prime Minister makes a full recovery there can be no doubt that Netanyahu is facing a major crisis that hampers the stability of his country, his ability to govern, and to win the war against #Hamas. The #Biden administration's recent pivot on #Gaza, and Sen. Charles Schumer's recent call for elections -- an effective regime change in Israel -- signal that the tide is turning (at least with #Democrats) against our longtime ally in the Middle East. Remember when Chuck #Schumer told CBS News that if you piss off the CIA "they have six ways from Sunday of getting back at you?" Netanyahu’s about to get regime changed. It looks like a color revolution is brewing in Israel. On Sunday, demonstrators in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in front of the Knesset opened tents and announced that they would not leave until the government fell. They set fires in the streets and spoke of plans to storm the Knesset and topple the government. Is #Biden planning another Maidan-style coup like he did in #Ukraine a decade ago? And isn’t it interesting timing that Netanyahu suddenly is told he has to have “emergency surgery” Sunday morning, and must hand over power to his deputy while under full anesthesia? What better time for Biden’s “come to Jesus” moment than Easter Sunday? President Biden knows he will only get a two-state solution over Netanyahu's dead body. So perhaps the CIA is helping to arrange that. If an assassination or a coup d'etat happens in Israel, remember you heard it here first. On Episode 31 of "Strange Bedfellows" we discuss with Rabbi Michael Barclay the Biden administration's betrayal of Israel, the U.S. plan to topple Netanyahu's government, and how #Jews -- who traditionally vote for the Democratic Party -- feel backstabbed by Biden! Will they walk away from the Demorats and vote for #Trump or #RFKJr? Thanks for watching! Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

Candace Owens was reportedly let go from The Daily Wire in part because of a controversial interview she recently conducted with Rabbi Michael Barclay about #antisemitism. The original, full-length, unedited interview with Rabbi Barclay has now been removed from Candace Owens' official YouTube and Rumble channels. A response video posted by Candace Owens the following day, which contains cherry-picked excerpts from the Rabbi Barclay interview is the only version still available on her official channels. Owens memory-holed the original interview with Rabbi Barclay -- essentially silencing him; and instead only allowing parts of the interview to be seen by the public (the parts of the debate most favorable to Candace, of course, and least favorable to the Rabbi). Immediately after the interview aired, Rabbi Barclay and his Los Angeles area synagogue were flooded with hateful communications and death threats, causing them to increase security and request help from local law enforcement. On Thursday, Ben Shapiro denied thatOwens parted ways with the Daily Wire because of “disagreements over #Israel” — though he hinted that her comments veered outside of the company’s “Overton window.” Shapiro, who co-founded the Daily Wire alongside Jeremy Boreing, cited “a lot of other factors … at play” that led to the departure of the conservative commentator last week. We spoke to Rabbi Barclay on Episode 31 of "Strange Bedfellows" about the EXPLOSIVE interview with Candace Owens, her sudden exit from the Daily Wire, and some of the frightening antisemitic messages he has received from Owens' followers. Don't miss Rabbi Michael Barclay's response to Candace! Catch the premiere tonight at 7:30 P.M. Eastern. Thanks for watching! Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

#Peace activist Jose Vega announced today that he will launch a bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres in New York's District 15. (The Bronx) Vega made the announcement this afternoon on the Jimmy Dore Show, saying he is running for Congress to "stop the #genocide in #Gaza" and called Rep. Torres -- who strongly supports #Israel in the war against #Hamas-- a "genocide denier." Tonight on Episode 26 we welcome back Jose Vega and Kynan Thistlewaithe of the Schiller Institute. This is their second appearance on "Strange Bedfellows" (they first appeared on Episode 8 last July). We will discuss the reasons why Vega has decided to throw his hat in the political ring, the key issues his campaign is focusing on, and what he plans to do for Bronx constituents. For more information on his Congressional campaign, visit VoteVega.NYC Join us LIVE from 9-11 P.M. Eastern for "Strange Bedfellows." If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

55 years ago this month, the trial of Sirhan Sirhan got underway for the murder of 1968 Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. #Kennedy. The trial lasted three months. Eventually the jury found him guilty of first degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder (five counts; one for each of the other people Sirhan shot). The official motive for Sirhan’s murder of #RFK was “anti-#Zionism.” After he was captured by Kennedy’s bodyguards, witnesses in the Ambassador Hotel kitchen heard Sirhan say: “I can explain. I did it for my country. I love my country." On Episode 20 of the "Kennedy Americans" podcast, we took a deep dive into the evidence for both the prosecution and the defense. Was Sirhan a mind-controlled patsy, or a Palestinian terrorist? Whether Sirhan fired the fatal shots that killed #RFK or not -- a topic that is still debated among historians of the case today -- there is no doubt that Sirhan is heralded as a hero in the Palestinian Liberation Movement for assassinating Senator Kennedy (an act Sirhan claims he has no memory of). Shortly after the RFK assassination, Al #Fatah, the Arab Commando organization, distributed thousands of posters with pictures of Sirhan over the words, “I did it for my country!" In September 1970 the Popular Front for the Liberation of #Palestine (PFLP) hijacked three passenger planes and demanded the release of Sirhan Sirhan from prison. After releasing the hostages, the Palestinian hijackers blew up one of the planes on a Cairo runway "in retaliation for the United States' support of #Israel." Three Arabs hijacked a West German jumbo jet in February 1972 on which RFK's eldest son Joseph P. Kennedy (then 19 years old) was a passenger. The plane, on a flight from New Delhi to Athens, landed safely eight hours later at Aden, Southern #Yemen. That specific flight was targeted because the terrorists knew Kennedy would be on board. In 1973, when the Black September group burst into the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Khartoum and took 10 hostages, their demands included the release of Sirhan Sirhan from prison. Sirhan told David Frost in a 1989 interview: "I wanted to show that the Palestinian problem didn't just erupt with the assassination of #Kennedy," a reference to the displacement of Palestinians after the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. "If I had shot Bobby Kennedy in an Arab country, I doubt any Arab court would have convicted me," he said with a smile. By killing RFK Sirhan advanced the cause of the Palestinians, a cause which promoted the return of Arab land from the state of Israel. He told Robert Kaiser in 1969, "They (the Palestinians) want action. They want results. Hey! I produced action for them. I'm a big hero over there." Sirhan Sirhan is now 79. If he is ever released on parole he will most likely be deported immediately back to Palestine or Jordan because he is not a U.S. citizen. Will he receive a hero's welcome in the Arab world? We can only wonder. In this highlight from Episode 24 of "Strange Bedfellows" I discuss with guest Caleb Maupin growing concerns over #RFKJr's safety as he now finds himself treading the same dangerous waters that inflamed his father's convicted killer: campaigning for president on an antiwar platform while staunchly supporting Israel's war against #Hamas, attracting death threats from mentally ill stalkers and political fanatics while left unprotected by the U.S. Secret Service. Watch the premiere tonight at 9 P.M. Eastern. Support my independent journalism with a donation or monthly membership at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com I've endorsed #RFKJr for president in 2024. Join me! http://Kennedy24.com/LoriSpencer

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday and #MLKDay in the United States. Each year, American #Jews, like all Americans, mark #MLK Day by remembering him as a powerful voice against racism and for civil rights. But, for Jews, Dr. King was also something else: a uniquely important ally in the fight against #antisemitism and for a secure #Israel. Today, Dr. King’s close bond with the Jewish community is treated only as a small footnote of his life and work. But, toward the end of his life, Dr. King devoted significant time and energy to strengthening what were becoming increasingly strained ties between Black Americans and U.S. Jews. One issue Dr. King was particularly concerned with was the growing mischaracterization of #Zionism as #racism. Dr. King spoke and wrote often about Israel. However, the true depth of Dr. King’s commitment to Israel was readily apparent in a September, 1967 letter he sent to Adolph Held, then president of the organization I now lead, the #Jewish Labor Committee. Dr. King wrote Held after the Jewish leader contacted him regarding press accounts of a conference that Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference participated in. At the meeting, strongly worded resolutions blasting Zionism and embracing the position of the Arab powers had been considered. Understanding Held’s worries, Dr. King explained that, beyond offering opening remarks, he had no part in the conference. But, Dr. King said, had he been present during the discussion of the resolutions “I would have made it crystal clear that I could not have supported any resolution calling for Black separatism or calling for a condemnation of Israel and an unqualified endorsement of the policy of the Arab powers.” “Israel’s right to exist as a state is incontestable,” Dr. King wrote. He then added, almost prophetically, “At the same time the great powers have the obligation to recognize that the Arab world is in a state of imposed poverty and backwardness that must threaten peace and harmony.” Referring to the stake U.S. oil companies have in the Middle East, Dr. King went on to note that “some Arab feudal rulers are no less concerned for oil wealth and neglect the plight of their own peoples. The solution will have to be found in statesmanship by Israel and progressive Arab forces who in concert with the great powers recognize fair and peaceful solutions are the concern of all humanity and must be found.” Were Dr. King’s comments to Held intended only to soothe a miffed supporter? Hardly. In a March 25, 1968, speech to the Rabbinical Assembly, Dr. King said: “peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity. I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality.” Ten days later, on April 4, Dr. King was murdered while organizing support for striking sanitation workers in Memphis, TN. In this highlight from Episode 24 of "Strange Bedfellows" I discuss the pro-Israel legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King with my friend on the other side of the conflict, Caleb Maupin -- a #communist who supports #Palestine -- who is also a great admirer of Dr. King. Happy MLK Day! Let his legacy be an inspiration to find peace for all mankind, everywhere. #IHaveADream Thanks for watching! Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

Russian Federation president Vladimir #Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu are old friends and until quite recently, have always been steadfast allies. #Israel and #Russia face a similar series of common threats which they cite as reasons for their current wars. So, why isn’t Russia coming to Israel’s aid? Is their long, strong alliance in danger? Watch my report! * Support the show with a one-time donation or monthly membership at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

By now many people have heard of #Hamas, but very few know much about their history, genealogy, ideology, and aims. In this highlight from Episode 20 of "Strange Bedfellows" I briefly lay out the historical background of the Palestinian liberation movement so that we may better understand of whom and what we are speaking when we say, “Hamas.” It begins with the Nazis. Yes, the Nazis. As the Führer hid in his bunker and prepared for his suicide, he penned his last political will and testament. His last written words were a plea to the world to continue to “resist mercilessly the poisoner of all nations, international Jewry,” a plea most thoroughly and systematically heeded by the Islamic Jihadists and one of their primary movements, Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, the Islamic Resistance Movement known as Hamas. To fully grasp the ideology that drives Hamas and the Palestinian liberation movement today, one must first understand the history that gave rise to it -- and specifically, Nazi collaborator Haj Amin al-Husseini, the tie that binds Hitler to Hamas. Haj Amin al-Husseini came to power through a British act of appeasement after he had been tried in absentia and found guilty of inciting riots in #Palestine in 1920; the riots arose in response to the first proposal for a two-state solution outlined by the Faisal-Weizmann Agreement of January 1919. Attempting to calm the Arab population, British mandate governor Herbert Samuel appointed him Mufti of Jerusalem on 8 May 1921. Among the newly appointed Mufti’s first actions was a declaration of #jihad against the British and the #Jews. In March 1933 he paid his first official visit to the new Nazi German General Consul Heinrich Wolff in Jerusalem. Once again wanted by the British for inciting the Arab Revolt of 1936 – 1939, al-Husseini fled Palestine for #Iraq. After inciting an overthrow of the Iraqi government and murderous pogroms that resulted in the slaughter of hundreds of Jews, the Mufti found safe harbor in Berlin, where he was handsomely rewarded by the #Nazis with money, a lavish lifestyle, and armed guards. He was employed by Nazi Germany making propaganda radio broadcasts for the Arab world. As early as January 1941 al-Husseini was recruiting Bosnian Muslims to serve in the Waffen SS and in SS killing units. The largest of the Mufti’s Muslim killing units was the infamous 13th Handschar Division of 21,065 men. As a result of his murderous actions in service to the Nazis, al-Husseini was charged with war crimes -- yet, he managed to evade prosecution at #Nuremberg and flee, aided by British intelligence. In June 1946 he turned up in Cairo, where, as noted above, the Muslim Brotherhood gave him a hero’s welcome. That same year the Mufti took in his second cousin Yasser #Arafat as his protégé; he brought in a former Nazi commando officer to teach Arafat “the fine points of guerilla warfare.” Some scholars argue that “al-Husseini was himself most likely the true founder of the al-Fatah,… Arafat’s terror cell,… the nucleus of the PLO.” (currently the ruling authority in the West Bank.) Hamas emerged immediately after the outbreak of the Palestinians’ First Intifada against Israel as a militant Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood on 9 December 1987. The Movement was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his comrades Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi and Mahmoud al-Zahar. Yassin grew up in awe of Haj Amin al-Husseini. He joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1957 and in 1973 established the Islamic Congress in #Gaza to expand the influence of the Brotherhood; in 1978 he was among the founders of the Islamic University of Gaza. Yassin and his cohorts embraced the Nazis’ fundamental view that the Jews are “the dirtiest and meanest of all races, defiling the most sanctified and honored spot on earth,” making “no distinctions between Jews, Zionists, and Israelis.” As in all ideologies driven by Jew hatred, from Hitler to Hamas, where the Jew is the enemy, #Judaism is the enemy. Nazi ideology is alive and well today in parts of the Arab world, and especially in Gaza, where Hamas rules (for now). In this highlight from Episode 20 of "Strange Bedfellows" (with guest Tyler McConnell), we give a brief history lesson of the Strangest Bedfellows of all time: the Nazis and the Arabs. We'll even show you the most popular chain of clothing stores in Gaza City today: "Hitler 1" and "Hitler 2"-- where fashionable young Palestinian #fascists buy "Hitler Chic" apparel. Support my independent journalism at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer Subscribe on Rumble for UNCENSORED videos YouTube won't let me show you! http://Rumble.com/LoriSpencer My blog: http://LoriSpencer.WordPress.com Join as a monthly member at: http://Patreon.com/LoriSpencer http://BuyMeACoffee.com/LoriSpencer Buy me a Gift from my Wishlist! http://GiftApp.com/RealLoriSpencer

In this “Best of Strange Bedfellows” highlight from Episode 20 (original air date: Nov. 11, 2023) we continue our conversation with Tyler McConnell, a high school teacher in Missouri, about the radicalization we see happening on school campuses and universities, and alleged #antisemitism among #GenZ protesters who chant “From the river to the sea, #Palestine will be free!” Tyler McConnell is also a journalist, musician, standup comic, self-professed “#Conservative #Christian #Communist” and activist with the Center for Political Innovation (CPI). He was the original co-host of “Strange Bedfellows,” appearing alongside me in episodes 1-4. It’s always such a treat to have him back on the show, and this was definitely one of our best conversations of the year 2023. PROGRAMMING NOTE:We are taking the month of December off from “Strange Bedfellows” for some family time during the holidays. Every Saturday night this month we will rebroadcast highlights from some of our favorite episodes of 2023 as a year-in-review (and what a crazy year it has been). New live episodes return starting January 6, 2024! If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

The presidents of #Harvard, #UPenn and #MIT testified on Capitol Hill this week about rising antisemitism on their campuses, an issue that has plagued institutions of higher learning across the country since the #Israel/#Hamas war began. In this "Best of Bedfellows" highlight from Episode 20 (original air date: Nov. 11, 2023) we speak to Tyler McConnell, a high school teacher in Missouri, about the radicalization we see happening on school campuses and universities, and alleged #antisemitism among #GenZ protesters who chant "From the river to the sea, #Palestine will be free!" Tyler McConnell is also a journalist, musician, standup comic, self-professed "#Conservative #Christian #Communist" and activist with the Center for Political Innovation (CPI). He was the original co-host of "Strange Bedfellows," appearing alongside me in episodes 1-4. It's always such a treat to have him back on the show, and this was definitely one of our best conversations of the year 2023. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We are taking the month of December off from "Strange Bedfellows" for some family time during the holidays. Every Saturday night this month we will rebroadcast highlights from some of our favorite episodes of 2023 as a year-in-review (and what a year it has been). New live episodes return starting January 6, 2024! If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

In 1939, 22 year-old John F. #Kennedy, son of Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, wrote his father a long letter from Palestine. In this remarkable 4-page document, the future president displays an astonishing ability to grasp this complex conflict that still haunts our world today. I'll tell you what the letter said in my interview with Welsh Republic Podcast tonight at 9 P.M. Eastern.

Tonight on "Strange Bedfellows" we are pleased to welcome back Tyler McConnell, original co-host of this podcast! Tyler is a journalist, musician, standup comedian, and by day, a school teacher in Missouri. He's also a self-described "#conservative #Christian #Communist" and political activist with the Center for Political Innovation (#CPI). The war between #Israel and #Hamas has divided many American families, including his own. Tyler was raised by parents who strongly support #Zionism, but over the years his views have changed and he now supports #Palestine. He'll tell us why. Rick and I will also discuss with Tyler the generation gap between #Boomers and #GenX'ers (who overwhelmingly support Israel) and their Millennial kids and #GenZ grandkids on this controversial issue. We will seek to understand through Tyler's experiences working as an educator the ongoing confrontations and protests on campuses, and the radicalization of students by their teachers -- and through extremist groups such as the #Hamas-affiliated National Students for Justice in Palestine (whose activities on campuses in Florida were recently banned at all state universities by Gov. Ron #DeSantis). College campuses have always been bastions of protest, where young, energetic students push older generations in the direction of the next social or political reform. But the war in #Gaza has compounded distrust about and within the education community – with little prospect in sight for dissipating the toxic environment. Are our kids being educated or indoctrinated? We will explore that question in-depth tonight on another fascinating episode of "Strange Bedfellows." Join us live at 9 PM Eastern! If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

Since the attack on #Israel by #Hamas terrorists almost a month ago -- and the resulting carnage of Israeli airstrikes on #Gaza -- we are seeing an alarming rise in anti-Jewish sentiment all around the world. There have been reports of demonstrators chanting Hamas slogans, of synagogues being defaced with swastikas and anti-Jewish hatred being posted online. In New York City, which has the largest Jewish population in the U.S., the 66 reported anti-Jewish hate crimes in October were 164% more than were reported in the same month last year, according to the New York Police Department. In Los Angeles, police report a 140% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes. The online vitriol has already prompted local and federal law enforcement agencies across the U.S.to stepup securityat Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues, as well as Israeli diplomatic outposts. The online threats aren’t coming just from Hamas,NBC Newshasreported. Neo-Nazis have been contributing to the antisemitic chatter online, sometimes using the same rhetoric as Hamas. In the current climate, even people who don't care about the plight of the Palestinians also feel emboldened to openly express their hatred of Jews, trackers of antisemitism say. And the antisemitic incidents aren’t limited just to the U.S. Over the weekend, a pro-Palestinian mob shouting antisemitic slogans and demanding to know where the "Jews" werestormed an airportin the mostly Muslim Russian republic of Dagestan. Tonight on "Strange Bedfellows" we will talk to our Maverick News correspondent in #Crimea Kevin Michelizzi, an American living on a disputed tract of land currently being fought over between #Russia and #Ukraine. We will discuss the troubling history of the Jews in Ukraine, Poland, and the former #USSR; the pogroms that led to the #Holocaust, Arab collaboration with the #Nazis in #WWII, and the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Kevin will also give us more details on the aftermath of the #Dagastan riot, #Putin's expression of support for the people in #Palestine, and address Western allegations of antisemitism in Russia today. November 9 will mark the International Day Against #Fascism and #Antisemitism, honoring the victims of the “#Kristallnacht” Nazi pogrom of 1938 and, more broadly, victims of the Holocaust and of fascism throughout history. On Episode 19 of "Strange Bedfellows" we want to raise awareness about the dangers of nationalism, #racism, antisemitism and neo-Nazism today -- because they're saying the quiet part out loud now...and we all know where that leads. Join us live from 9-11 PM Eastern for an episode of "Strange Bedfellows" you'll #NeverForget. If you enjoyed this interview, please help support the show with a donation at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Many thanks to the Maverick News Channel for hosting this program. http://MaverickNews.ca

TheIsrael-Hamas waris the deadliest of five #Gaza wars for both sides. The #Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 #Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded. More than 1,400 people in #Israel have been killed. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into #Palestine, the Israeli military has said. The release of two American hostages on Friday is “hopefully the start of more to come,” a diplomatic source with knowledge of the arrangements told CNN. A number of foreign nationals were among those kidnapped by Hamas, including people from the US, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Thailand. Information about the status, location and identity of all the hostages remains scarce. Some have been identified by families who recognize them from online videos, sparking desperate pleas for their return. As this war swiftly escalates, and Israel prepares for a full-scale ground invasion, the tragic human toll continues to mount. Tonight on this special edition of "Strange Bedfellows" we endeavor to understand both sides of this complex and emotional issue through the eyes of our two esteemed guests: The Palestinean perspective is explained by Don DeBar, journalist and political commentator based in New York. He covers international relations and US government, law, and politics for Pacifica Radio, #Russia's RT, #Iran's Press TV, and the Maverick News channel. Israel's point of view is represented by Arkady Itkin, a civil litigation attorney in California who grew up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces between 1994 and 1997. Arkady can be seen as a weekly commentator on Scott Ritter's US Tour of Duty channel and also on Kevin Michelizzi's American in Crimea channel, a member of our Maverick News Network. Please join us tonight at 9 PM Eastern for this very important episode of "Strange Bedfellows," where we believe that respectful dialogue is the only path to #peace.

Ever since #Hamas attacked #Israel last week, followed by a declaration of #war and retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, this emotional conflict has divided the entire world. It seems everyone is expected to pick a side. Team Israel or Team #Palestine? But war is not a football game. And if the Middle East erupts into widespread war, it's #WWIII. One side has nuclear weapons; the other doesn't. Hardly a fair fight. At Maverick News, we don't take that very real danger lightly. We endeavor to stay above the fray and just bring you the news. The only side we pick in this war is #peace. Support my independent journalism at: http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer Subscribe on Rumble for UNCENSORED videos YouTube won't let me show you! http://Rumble.com/LoriSpencer My blog: http://LoriSpencer.WordPress.com Join as a monthly member at: http://Patreon.com/LoriSpencer http://BuyMeACoffee.com/LoriSpencer Buy me a Gift from my Wishlist! http://GiftApp.com/RealLoriSpencer