“Maximum Warfare” Minimum Mind
By Beverly Newman, Ed. D.
Make up your mind, Hakeem. Are you against warfare? Or just against warfare against sworn brutal enemies of Americans, Jews, Israelis, and non-Islamists?
Or just for warfare against over ½ of this nation that voted “wrong”?
WATCH: ALAN DERSHOWITZ: “The Democrat Party is THE MOST ANTI-AMERICAN PARTY IN HISTORY”
WATCH: The Verdict
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates (2014), and by the U.S. states of Texas (November 2025) and Florida (December 2025). CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation financing case, which involved funding of the terrorist Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In 2014, CAIR honored convicted terrorist and Palestinian Islamic Jihad financier Sami Al Arian and in 2020 CAIR-Florida featured Al Arian in its livestream interview series. A former professor at the University of South Florida, Al Arian was convicted in 2006 of providing material support for a designated terrorist organization, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and was deported after serving his prison sentence.
Zainab Chaudry, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations—Maryland Office, was suspended from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention by Maryland’s Attorney General on November 21, 2023, following multiple social media posts, including one comparing Israel to Nazi Germany with the comment, “That moment when you become what you hated most”.
On November 24, 2023, Speaking at the American Muslims for Palestine convention in Chicago, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad proclaimed “The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on October 7. And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land, and walk free into their land, which they were not allowed to walk in. And yes, the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, have the right to defend themselves, and yes, Israel, as an occupying power, does not have that right to self-defense.’
“I don’t give a damn”: Jeffries defends “maximum warfare” remark
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday fiercely defended his use of the phrase “maximum warfare” to describe Democrats’ redistricting efforts.
Why it matters: Republicans have characterized the remark as an example of the type of inflammatory rhetoric that can spark political violence following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.
- After Virginians narrowly voted last week to approve a new map that could give Democrats a 10-1 majority, Jeffries said at a press conference: “We are in an era of maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”
- It was a direct reference to an anonymous source’s characterization of the White House’s strategy on mid-decade redistricting in a New York Times story last summer.
What they’re saying: “As it relates to the comment related to ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,’ in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it,” Jeffries said at a press conference Monday.
- Addressing “so-called criticism from these phony Republicans,” Jeffries said: “You can continue to criticize me for it. I don’t give a damn about the criticism … get lost.”
- Jeffries noted that the phrase originated from a source that the Times described as being “close to” President Trump.
State of play: Several House Republicans took to social media in the aftermath of the Saturday shooting to accuse Jeffries of stoking partisan resentment with the comment.
- Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) wrote in a post on X: “Hakeem Jeffries called for ‘Maximum warfare’ against President Trump and his Administration … The Democrat Party’s rhetoric is demonic and dangerous.”
- “It is unacceptable that House Democrats continue to remain silent in the aftermath of his call for ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time’ against Republicans,” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) posted on X.
- Fine called for Democrats to hold Jeffries “accountable.”
The bottom line: Jeffries has repeatedly condemned the shooting and related acts of political violence.
- “Political violence in any form, directed at anyone, whether that’s left, right or center, is unacceptable. Period, full stop,” he said at his Monday press conference.
LEADER JEFFRIES ON CNN: “WE NEED A PERMANENT END TO DONALD TRUMP’S RECKLESS WAR OF CHOICE”
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s Special Coverage with Anderson Cooper, where he emphasized that Democrats demand that Republicans in Congress bring the House back into session and pass a War Powers Resolution to end Donald Trump’s war in Iran permanently.
ANDERSON COOPER: Joining me now for more on President Trump’s ceasefire announcement is Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, your reaction to what we know about this ceasefire tonight.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, a two-week ceasefire is insufficient. We need a permanent end to Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice, which is why House Democrats have demanded that Speaker Mike Johnson immediately reconvene the House back into session so we can move a War Powers Resolution that will end this conflict permanently.
ANDERSON COOPER: That seems unlikely to happen. What do you actually think is gonna happen in this two-week period? What do you need to—assuming that doesn’t happen, what do you need to see happen or want to see happen in this two-week period?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Assuming it doesn’t happen this week, we’ll go back into session next week and we will present a War Powers Resolution as soon as it becomes available to us to do so as a matter of privilege on the House Floor. All we need are a handful of Republicans to join us. The American people strongly oppose this reckless war of choice and know that we should not be spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in Iran while Republicans and Donald Trump are unwilling to spend a dime to actually make life more affordable for the American people, including but not limited to, by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. It’s unbelievable in terms of their priorities, and yet we’ve seen this President’s behavior—unhinged, unpresidential, unconscionable, including the messages that he’s communicated to the American people over the last few days.
ANDERSON COOPER: Is there a scenario where the Iranian regime gains control, I mean, they have control now of the Strait of Hormuz, according to this ceasefire, if it holds, it seems like for this two weeks they will have control of it as well, and very well possibly beyond that. If Iran gains full control over passage through the Strait of Hromuz, is that an acceptable outcome to you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it would be an extraordinary outcome, but not surprising, given the fact that what we’ve seen from Donald Trump is that he’s plunged America into this war that now involves more than a dozen countries without any plan, any objective and any exit strategy in terms of how actually this conflict improves the national security of the American people. What we do know is that as a result of Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice, life has become more dangerous for the American people and life has become more expensive as a result of gas prices skyrocketing across the country, further exacerbating an affordability crisis that are crushing everyday Americans, middle class Americans and working class Americans throughout the land.
ANDERSON COOPER: Do you think the President of the United States looks weak for having now five deadlines that he has made, this last one saying he would kill off the entire—that he would kill Iran’s entire civilization and then not following through on that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think the President has consistently weakened America’s standing throughout the world as the leader of the free world. In fact, he often confuses friend from foe. We’ve seen him do this as it relates to how he’s engaged with Ukraine and continuing to play footsie with Vladimir Putin and Russia, who are sworn enemies of the United States of America. He never treats them in that fashion. And in terms of the outcome of the situation, which has already been very costly and deadly—more than a dozen brave patriotic Americans have lost their lives, men and women in uniform, and hundreds have been seriously injured. And the question is, to what end?
ANDERSON COOPER: Leader Jeffries, I appreciate your time. Thank you.
Full interview can be watched here.
Hakeem Jeffries left scrambling after child reporter asks why voters view Democrats so negatively
Brittany Miller
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared caught off guard Thursday as children of the Capitol Hill press corps questioned him during an event.
The exchange came during a Capitol Hill event during Take Your Child to Work Day, where children of journalists were invited to ask lawmakers questions.
The moment quickly stood out as the blunt question from a young attendee cut directly to a broader political challenge Democrats have faced in recent months — voter dissatisfaction and perception issues heading into a high-stakes election cycle.
The first question of the day came from the daughter of CNN’s Manu Raju, and she asked Jeffries, “Why do voters view Democrats so poorly?”
The audience quickly began laughing, and Jeffries was stunned, asking the child if her father gave him the question to ask in advance.
He clarified that it was “a great question.”
“It’s a great question in that — I’m gonna have words with you after this, Manu,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries then began to answer the question, diving into a long explanation about growing distrust in institutions across the country.
“I think that we exist in an era right now where the American people are understandably frustrated with institutions because far too many people in this country are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck,” he said…
©2026 Beverly Newman, Ed. D. All rights reserved.

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