In the US, the elite consensus on Israel is a structural problem

In the United States, a prevailing consensus among the elite regarding Israel is causing a structural issue. This was highlighted in two recent podcasts where prominent Democratic politicians engaged with progressive media personalities. Both Senator Mark Warner and Congressman Adam Smith found themselves constrained by the conventional wisdom when discussing the Middle East on their respective shows, Mehdi Unfiltered and Breaking Points.

The deep-seated relationship between political and media elites, often residing in the same neighborhoods and social circles, contributes to this issue. The revolving door between government and media further exacerbates the problem. Despite a shift in US public opinion towards Palestine, the media and political elites remain largely unchanged.

This is due to a lack of knowledge about the Middle East's history, culture, and politics among most major network media figures. Expert commentators on networks tend to be former government officials who continue to propagate outdated views. As for US lawmakers, many are either uninformed about the region or intentionally ignorant due to the perceived benefits of the cliches they've been using.

This consensus on Israel, shared by both politicians and media figures, often leads to unprepared responses during interviews, as seen when Smith and Warner discussed topics like US military support for Israel and the impact of pro-Israel super-PACs. Despite some indication of changing public sentiment, the politicians fell back on the "new conventional wisdom," blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rather than addressing the root issues.

The lesson from these interviews underscores the significant role played by new, personality-driven media in challenging the status quo and addressing the complexities of the Middle East.