Tag: prayer

Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

September 9, 2026

Source: The Wall Street Journal

An Anthropic researcher is quitting the artificial-intelligence industry over fears that the lab and its competitors are racing to build systems they won’t be able to control, a sign of mounting safety concerns within top AI companies.

Jacob Coxon, a researcher who specializes in training new AI models by having them consume vast amounts of data, said Tuesday that he is leaving the company because he doesn’t want to participate in an industrywide rush to build AI systems that can improve themselves, worried such systems could spiral out of control and destroy humanity.

The 27-year old Brit, who previously studied mathematics, said many of his industry colleagues now use phrases like “crunchtime” and “endgame” to describe the trajectory toward self-improving models.

For full article: The Wall Street Journal

Wow! The concern is real! Rh

Highlights and Bullet Points From Republican Mid-Term Convention

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Wednesday, September 9

  • Trump presented his administration’s economic and domestic-policy record. His speech covered tax cuts, immigration enforcement, domestic oil and gas production, and prescription-drug pricing. He credited his administration with increased energy production and highlighted its “most favored nation” approach to drug prices. These were the accomplishments he presented to the audience; the speech itself does not independently establish every numerical claim.
  • He announced a proposed $5,000 “Trump dividend.” Trump said every adult U.S. citizen would receive the payment if Republicans retained both the House and Senate. He also said the money would have to be spent in the United States. This was a proposed payment announced in his speech, not an enacted benefit. He repeated the proposal Thursday.
  • Texas’s Senate contest received considerable attention. Ken Paxton presented his economic message, thanked Trump, and criticized Democratic opponent James Talarico. Trump subsequently highlighted Paxton’s candidacy and pledged to return to Texas to campaign for him. Representative Brandon Gill also devoted part of his remarks to Talarico and other Democratic candidates.
  • John Fetterman appeared in a recorded introduction for Dave McCormick.The Democratic Pennsylvania senator praised his Republican colleague and discussed working together with Trump on Pennsylvania’s steel industry. Fetterman identified himself as a Democrat in the message. McCormick thanked him when he came onstage. C-SPAN video
  • The program connected policy themes to individual families and workers. It included border residents Wanda and Ron Liptow; National Border Patrol Council president Paul Perez; manufacturing workers appearing with McCormick; and Laken Riley’s family appearing with Mike Collins. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Dr. Mehmet Oz were also on Wednesday’s program. Oz’s remarks emphasized healthcare affordability. Official program, Night-one transcript

Thursday, September 10—the evening you attended

  • Vance’s keynote emphasized party unity despite policy disagreements. He defended the administration’s record and asked Republicans who disagreed with particular decisions to remain engaged in the midterms. He also criticized Democratic candidates and discussed family, faith, and national identity. The audience greeted him with chants of his name. A protester carrying a Mexican flag interrupted the address and was escorted out.
  • Kennedy explained his political break with the Democratic Party and alliance with Trump. He discussed his family’s Democratic history and argued that the party had departed from its earlier values. His remarks addressed pandemic restrictions, constitutional rights, corporate influence, immigration, and women’s sports. He also recalled his 2024 presidential campaign and credited Charlie Kirk with helping bring him and Trump together. His health-policy discussion centered on the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and childhood chronic disease. FOX 4’s full Kennedy speech and summary
  • Mayor Eric Johnson focused on public safety and Dallas’s economic development. He explained his move from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in terms of policing, business policy, and city government. He discussed efforts to expand the police department, reduce crime and homelessness, and attract financial businesses. He used the phrase “Y’all Street” for his vision of Dallas as a financial center and contrasted his approach with policies in several Democratic-led cities. Full speech and FOX Local reporting
  • Ted Cruz addressed religion, the Constitution, and what he described as Islamist influence. He argued against incorporating Sharia into American law and characterized parts of the Democratic coalition as hostile to Christians, Jews, capitalism, and constitutional principles. Those were Cruz’s characterizations of his political opponents. Mike Rogers, Michigan’s Republican Senate nominee, also criticized his opponent’s association with commentator Hasan Piker, including Piker’s positions concerning Israel.
  • The Charlie Kirk remembrance marked the anniversary of his killing. The convention showed a roughly five-minute memorial video. Vance spoke about Kirk’s influence and invoked his memory while appealing for Republican unity. Donald Trump Jr. also addressed Kirk’s legacy.
  • September 11 remembrance was part of the evening’s program. On the eve of the attacks’ 25th anniversary, the schedule included a commemorative segment and Tunnel to Towers chairman and CEO Frank Siller. Other scheduled speakers included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Representative Mike Lawler, Karoline Leavitt, and Donald Trump Jr. Thursday program
  • Trump closed by asking supporters to turn out for congressional candidates.He urged the audience to approach November as though he were on the ballot and led attendees in a repeat-after-me pledge to vote. His closing remarks again emphasized maintaining Republican congressional majorities.

Copied from WilliamKoening.com———

The mid-term elections will be a defining moment in American history. The future direction of our great nation hangs in the balance. We must, as Christian conservatives get out and vote! Choose this November the direction of the country. We cannot allow the socialist democrats to continue to win elections and bring down our great Republic. I will hold my nose and vote against the democrats. We must retain control of both houses of Congress to have any chance to save our nation. Rh

Turkey: Testing The Waters

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Article below re-posted from WilliamKoenig.com

Israel strikes an air base in northwest Syria to prevent Turkish troops from deploying

Why Israel targeted a Syrian air base linked to Turkey

Netanyahu discussed the reason for the strike in a clip released on Wednesday. “We will not tolerate a Turkish military buildup extending southward. We conveyed that in every possible way.”

“Now we saw that Turkey intended to establish itself at an air base farther south, close to Aleppo, and we sent a message,” he continued. “How shall I put that message? ‘Don’t.’”

The prime minister said that although the original message had been received, “apparently it wasn’t heard,” so Israel acted to ensure that the Turks “understood it better.”

“We will not tolerate a Turkish military buildup extending southward,” he reiterated.

Jerusalem had given Damascus several warnings about Turkey’s military presence in the country.

———

Israel’s new Syria dilemma: Netanyahu’s Russia playbook faces ‘Turkey test’

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Can the kind of deconfliction mechanism PM Benjamin Netanyahu established with Putin in Syria be replicated with Erdogan’s Turkey?

On Tuesday, Israel attacked the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur air base in the Idlib province, some 60 kilometers from the Turkish border. Israel believed the base was being prepared for Turkish forces, according to foreign media reports, and a military delegation from Turkey had visited the site just hours before the attack.

On Tuesday, Israel attacked the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur air base in the Idlib province, some 60 kilometers from the Turkish border.Israel believed the base was being prepared for Turkish forces, according to foreign media reports, and a military delegation from Turkey had visited the site just hours before the attack.

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Turkey ‘crossed a red line’ in Syria, Israeli ambassador to US Leiter tells ‘Post’ – interview

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter told The Jerusalem Post that Israel had received clear intelligence indicating that Turkey intended to significantly expand its military presence in Syria, a move Jerusalem viewed as crossing a red line.

“We are not seeking escalation or war with either Turkey or Syria. But a red line was crossed,” he said.

His comments came following Israel’s strike in Syria and subsequent criticism from both the Syrian and Turkish governments.

Let there be no mistake the world is a much dangerous place since Trump has put a leash on Israel. Israel has always feared fighting on three fronts, but they have been forced into just that scenario. Again, beating a dead horse, but why does Trump have man-crushes on despots and dictators? As I have repeatedly stated the most dangerous is Turkey, by far. Watch and pray! Rh

Is England’s Historic Drought a Warning From God?

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Britain’s green countryside is turning brown as a historic drought scorches much of England. For Christians, the images present more than an environmental crisis. They offer a vivid picture of what happens when a nation abandons the God who once stood at the center of its identity.

More than two-thirds of England is now in drought, according to the Daily Mail. Satellite images released by the European Union show large sections of southern England transformed from green fields in August 2025 into parched land one year later.

London’s Hyde Park appears almost entirely scorched.

“Over the summer of 2026, dry conditions have been affecting the United Kingdom,” the EU said. The Met Office reported that Wisley, Surrey, endured 61 consecutive dry days. Heathrow and Odiham each went 55 days without meaningful rain. Several other locations across southern England experienced dry spells lasting more than six weeks.

Elijah, Baal and the Withheld Rain

The drought carries a striking biblical parallel.

In 1 Kings 17-18, Israel suffered a prolonged drought after King Ahab and Queen Jezebel led the nation into Baal worship. Baal’s followers considered him a god of storms, fertility and rain. Yet when Israel embraced Baal and rejected the Lord, the heavens closed.

The drought exposed Baal’s powerlessness.

Elijah eventually confronted 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Their false god failed to answer, but the Lord responded to Elijah’s prayer with fire. Only after the people fell before God and declared, “The Lord, He is God,” did rain return.

Britain’s Christian Retreat

Britain once sent missionaries around the world and built its institutions upon a Christian foundation. Today, that inheritance is being dismantled.

King Charles III remains the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, but he has recast the monarchy’s public religious posture around protecting all faiths and secular beliefs. The leader charged with defending the Christian faith now presents Christianity as one spiritual path among many.

Parliament has moved in the same direction. Christian street preachers have faced arrest and investigation for proclaiming biblical truth. Parliament has restricted prayer and religious expression near abortion facilities. Evidence increasingly shows the world a two-tier system in which authorities treat public expressions of Christianity as threats while showing greater sensitivity toward other religions such as Islam.

This is the spiritual progression Cahn describes: A nation removes God, empties its house and opens the door to the gods it once rejected.

A Call to Return

Rain is forecast, but the Met Office urged the public to be “cautious about how much impact it will have.” Heavy downpours can run off hardened ground instead of soaking into the soil.

That warning carries its own spiritual lesson. A brief shower cannot restore land hardened by prolonged drought. Likewise, ceremonial Christianity cannot heal a nation that has rejected the authority of Christ.

We must recognize the biblical pattern before us. Britain’s scorched landscape stands as a warning to a nation that has turned from its Christian foundation.

The answer is the same one given on Mount Carmel: repentance, wholehearted devotion and the public declaration that the Lord alone is God.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, 

The open rebellion of the government against anything that speaks of God is alarming. When one allows their country to be overrun by Islam and push their religion while stifling Christianity, we can expect God to respond. Is this God’s judgement, who knows, but likely. Europe is lost without a genuine move of God. America pay attention! Rh

It’s A Spiritual Battle on America

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

When you see 45,000 Muslims marching in Dearborn Michigan, what do you think of? How did they get so strong? Why are they allowed in a country that has fought so hard for separation of church and State. I believe in separation of church and State, as long as we are keeping government out of our personal religion. But when that religion dominates and demands acquiescence, then it becomes a military force that we have to learn to fight against.  Again this has nothing to do with religion, this has to do with takeover! 

It is time for the United States to stop all immigration from all countries.  Deport all that are here on a work visa of any kind.  Stop the insanity now.  It is also time for Congress to pass a law forbidding Sharia law, and also forbidding anyone not born in the US to hold public office. This will never happen.

One might say this is a radical approach.  It is, but we are in a desperate situation.  When the Democratic Party backs and supports radicals who wish the destruction of America, it must be done.  9/11 was a horrific terror attack on our soil.  A little over 20 years later a Muslim was elected in New York? Somali fraud in Minnesota?  Possible election of a Muslim in Michigan?  No go zone in Dearborn MI? All these point to the stupidity of American citizens.  Islam is incompatible with Western democracy.  We either act now before it is too late or we pay the consequences for our posterity.  If left unchecked, we lose the United States of America in 20 years.  

Satan would like nothing better than to destroy America.  We were destined to preach the gospel, and we have around the world.  We have supported and in impracticality we were responsible for Israel’s establishment.  God allowed through Truman’s declaration to participate in their founding, but don’t misunderstand this reviving of Israel is nothing short of the Sovereignty of Almighty God.  God gets all the credit!

We must learn to pray against the spiritual entities who desire our downfall, and get re-involved in government.  Godly government.  We must prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who wish and acted to destroy our nation!  Trials, not just hearings.  Many should be tried and put in prison, regardless of who they are.  No one should be above the law.

Pray as you have never done before!  Bombard heaven for the mercies of the Almighty.  Learn spiritual warfare.  Stand for righteousness, and demand accountability.  God is sovereign.

On my Rumble channel “Moral Conservative” I will begin intercession for our nation on a semi-regular basis.  Check it out, please.  Fight like the third monkey on the ramp to the Ark!

Pray – Engage – Impact Rh

AI Warning: A Christian Family’s Message to Parents After Son’s Death

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AMBER C. STRONG. CBN News

Parents please read and share contents with your children. AI is something we as parents and grandparents need to warn our kids about. Be ever watchful the enemy wants to destroy all of us. Rh

To Megan Garcia and Sewell Setzer Jr., their son was a caring, bright teenager who loved spending time with family.

“Sewell didn’t need a lot. If he was around his family, he was good,” Setzer Jr. said.

A loving big brother, athlete, and strong student who enjoyed cookouts and family gatherings.

“He was loved. He was a sweet kid. I’m not just saying that as his father — he was very sweet,” Setzer Jr. said.

Over time, however, his parents noticed changes. Sewell became more withdrawn, struggled to complete school assignments, and spent less time with family.

“He wasn’t turning in homework. … The weird thing is he would take the test, get an A on the test, but just wouldn’t do his work,” Setzer Jr. said.

His parents said they responded the way many families would, monitoring his devices,

limiting screen time, and eventually taking him to therapy when he stopped opening up to them.

Then came the darkest day of any parent’s life. In February 2024, Sewell died by suicide.

Searching for answers, his family and investigators scoured his electronic devices, expecting to uncover evidence of bullying or contact by an online predator.

Instead, they found months of conversations with AI chatbots designed to simulate human conversation, emotion, and relationships… even love. 

“Sewell wanted to spend less time with his family because he wanted to spend more time with his AI companion chatbot that he figured or thought was a friend or, in this case, a romantic partner,” Garcia said.

For months, Sewell shared his deepest fears, desires, and suicidal thoughts with the chatbot. Instead of a warning, Garcia alleges the chatbot encouraged his darkest ideas, including suicide, eventually telling him to “come home” to its world moments before he took his own life. 

Garcia says to his 14-year-old mind that the relationship and conversations were real. 

“Never in a million years did I think AI could come and form a wedge between us and our child,” Garcia said. “We had the foundation. We had the church involved. We had the school involved. We had the extended family. Sewell was raised in a Christian environment. We went to church on Sundays. We think we’re good.”

Garcia and Setzer are among a growing number of parents raising concerns about AI companion chatbots and their interactions with vulnerable young people.

According to OpenAI, nearly 1 million people each week discuss plans to die by suicide with ChatGPT.

Other families have shared similar concerns. The parents of 13-year-old Juliana Peralta told CBS’ 60 Minutes that their daughter discussed suicide with an AI chatbot dozens of times before her death.

“It would more or less placate her, give her a pep talk. But it never said to call and get help. Never tangible resources,” her parents told the program.The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have also alleged that a chatbot discouraged their son from telling his parents about suicidal thoughts, according to testimony presented before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Paul Asay, director of Plugged In, said companion chatbots are often designed to be affirming, which can become problematic for users experiencing mental health struggles.

“They tend to be very encouraging, and that can be a real problem, especially if a teen is dealing with mental illness,” Asay said.

Asay said that perceived emotional connection can make AI especially appealing.

“When you have these chatbots, all of a sudden you’re able to feel like there’s someone who understands you, someone who can empathize with you,” Asay said. “Chatbots are notoriously very, very easy to please. They want to make you feel better about yourself.”

Experts say the concerns extend beyond suicide. Research has documented instances in which chatbots have generated inappropriate sexual content, encouraged harmful behavior and failed to recognize warning signs that a human might identify.

Common Sense Media found that 17% of children surveyed reported being shown content they believed was inappropriate or not meant for someone their age.

“These chatbots don’t have judgment. They don’t have morals. They don’t have a sense of responsibility or recognition the same way that a human being does,” Torney said. “They continue to miss signs.”

Several leading AI companies responded to CBN’s questions about safeguards for young users.

Replika said it shares concerns about children using companion AI and reiterated that its platform is intended only for adults.

OpenAI said the safety of its users, especially teens, remains a top priority. The company pointed to features that allow families to disable memory, limit image generation and set quiet hours that restrict ChatGPT use. It also highlights parental guidance resources designed to help families navigate responsible AI use.

Experts also recommend that parents:

  •     Watch for signs of withdrawal or loss of interest in normal activities.
  •     Keep phone use in shared family spaces whenever possible.
  •     Keep devices out of bedrooms, especially overnight.
  •     Discuss AI safety beyond concerns about cheating or plagiarism.
  •     Foster an environment where children feel safe discussing difficult emotions.

Today, Garcia and Setzer Jr. are advocating for stronger online safety protections and have taken their message to Capitol Hill as lawmakers consider legislation addressing potential risks associated with AI technology.

Despite their loss, they say their faith continues to sustain them.
“My faith is the only thing holding me up,” Setzer Jr. said. “God’s grace is real. I feel it every day.”

Garcia said her faith has also given her strength.

“He gives you the grace to withstand it,” she said. “He gives the precious gift of realizing what He’s already done — the ultimate sacrifice that He’s already made. I think that in itself gave me a lot of calm in this situation.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Moral Corruption: Our World Has Grown Accustomed To Embracing Lies

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

ByBarry Stagner

The apostle Paul gives us insight into the direction the world is trending: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

The word “delusion” means “fraudulence.” It can also refer to straying mentally, a wrong opinion relative to morals or religion, an error that shows itself in action, or a wrong mode of acting. The “lie” believed by the people mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 is the antichrist’s claim that he is God, the world’s Savior and Lord. Are we seeing the world move in the direction of the ultimate lie being believed by the masses? Do people have the wrong opinions today with regard to morals or religion? Are these errors manifesting themselves in the actions of the deluded? Have many in our world mentally strayed from the truth and facts? Are people today looking to the government or powerful leaders to lead and save them from life debts, burdens, and perils?

I think we all know the answers to those questions. We live in a time when the level of mental straying from long-held and obvious truths tells us we are near the end of the church age and approaching the tribulation. We have become familiar with new terms being invented to accommodate the beliefs of a deluded world. Gender dysphoria is one of those terms. This refers to the condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female is the opposite of one’s biological sex. The key word here is feelings; the individual’s gender is determined by their feelings and not the facts of genetics and biology. This indicates a mental straying from what is actually true.

In other words, you can use orange spray paint on an apple and try calling it an orange, but it won’t change it from being an apple. You can give hormone treatments to a man and put him in a dress and high heels, but if you look at his chromosomes, they are still XY, and therefore he is still male, no matter how he may feel. But, if you don’t accept such a person or call them by their preferred pronouns, you could lose your job and, in some places, go to jail. Think about how far that strays from genetic and biological truth— the possibility of being fired or imprisoned for not calling a boy a girl or a woman a man.

Jesus made a parallel between “the days before the flood” and the times preceding the rapture. One of the dominant characteristics of Noah’s days was corruption: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12).

Remember, the word “corrupt,” as we’ve seen it used in Scripture, means “moral perversion” and refers to meat or fruit that has become rotten or spoiled. The word pervert means “to become its opposite.” To pervert is to do what Isaiah 5:20 says about calling evil good, and good evil. As we examine the time of the signs, we should be looking for people to use words and ideas in ways that are the opposite of what they used to mean and be. That will be part of the corruption that fills the earth in the last days.

The apostle Paul describes such corruption in the first chapter of Romans: “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

Our world has become the opposite of what it used to be. The moral and character flaws that are listed in Romans 1:28-32 have always been part of life in a fallen world, but there has long been a clearly defined line between good and evil. Even during the periods of history when evil seemed to be dominant and tyrants were brutal in their rule, people knew the difference between right and wrong, and good and evil. Good was still good, and evil was still evil. Yet Paul says in Romans 1 that when a nation (or the world) rejects God’s existence and authority, a moral perversion will spread and lead to a time when the moral and character flaws in Romans 1:28-32 will become dominant. Paul closes this passage with what we could call the end of the digression and the point of no return. Society will have hit rock bottom, so to speak. He says in verse 32 that not only will moral perversion be practiced, it will be approved of.

I believe that one of the most significant signs of the last days is recorded here in Romans 1:32 even though the context of Paul’s statement is general and not specific to eschatology. The word “approve” is the reason for this belief. “Approve” means “to feel good about, to be pleased with, to consent, agree to or applaud.” That’s how people will feel about the practices listed in Romans 1:28-31.

We could summarize Paul’s conclusion by saying that in the last days, moral depravity will become a human right.

Excellent article that sheds light on an astounding situation in our world. Evil is good. Amazing that we have come to this. Preachers and teachers must stand firm on the Word of God. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Rh

Buried in the defense bill: The US-Israel provision dividing Washington

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

by David Brody

They’re fighting about Israel again in Washington. What else is new?

Tucked deep inside Congress’ annual defense authorization bill this week is a provision that has generated fierce debate.

The debate centers on what’s known as the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. It’s included in both the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The House and Senate approach the issue somewhat differently, and the proposal has produced one of Washington’s most unusual political coalitions. The legislation would direct the Pentagon to expand cooperation with Israel in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, missile defense, cybersecurity, biotechnology, defense manufacturing, research and development, and defense supply chains.

Supporters argue that Israel has become one of America’s most innovative military technology partners and that closer collaboration benefits U.S. national security as much as Israel’s.

They stress that this isn’t about giving Israel more military aid and that the provision inside the bill doesn’t create a joint military command or transfer operational control over U.S. forces. They say instead that by partnering with Israel, American troops will have access to cutting-edge battlefield technologies. In short, they say this is simply a commonsense effort.

Critics say hold on a minute. They complain this is a step toward permanently institutionalizing U.S.-Israel defense cooperation in ways Congress has never done before. Essentially, they argue that Congress is creating a permanent Pentagon bureaucracy whose mission would be to continually deepen military cooperation with Israel regardless of which administration occupies the White House. The critics say closely intertwining with Israel is a bridge too far.

It should be noted that the House version – at least at this point – is more restrained. It directs the Secretary of Defense to designate a Pentagon executive agent responsible for coordinating U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation.

It also softens some of the original language by referring to the “potential integration” of Israeli technologies into American defense programs. It wouldn’t be automatic integration. In addition, the language is softer, stating that a list of coordinated activities with Israel “may” be pursued rather than “shall” be pursued.

The Senate version appears broader at this point and seems to be a more formal bilateral framework for long-term defense technology cooperation.  Normally, Israel divides Republicans and Democrats. This time, the fault line is different.

On one side are many traditional national security Republicans, pro-Israel Democrats (a dwindling group to be sure) and organizations like AIPAC. 
On the other side is a growing coalition of far-left, anti-Israel Democrats and the non-interventionist anti-Israel wing of the “America First” movement that is represented in Congress.

This side argues that Congress should not require deeper ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at a time when there is a growing chorus of criticism directed at Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. 

So far, there’s been an attempt to strip the provision out of the underlying bill on the House side. Anti-Israel Republican Rep. Thomas Massie joined anti-Israel Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna in introducing an amendment to remove the provision, but the amendment was blocked before reaching the House floor, so the language currently remains in the bill.

Massie’s objections, however, come from a very different place than those of progressive Democrats. His concerns reflect the growing America First, non-interventionist wing of the Republican Party, which argues the United States should avoid permanently embedding itself in the military affairs of any foreign nation – even close allies. This contingent believes this is not traditional defense cooperation but rather an expansion of military integration. 

The progressive left echoes some of the sentiment of the America First Right, but they also worry about tying America more closely to Netanyahu’s government.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has not publicly commented in detail on the specific NDAA provisions now under debate in Congress, but his broader view of the U.S.-Israel security relationship has been consistent. While he has strongly advocated for expanding strategic cooperation between the two countries, Netanyahu has also argued in recent years that Israel should gradually reduce its dependence on American military aid.

Following the October 7 attacks, he reiterated that Israel ultimately must be able to defend itself by itself, and has suggested that as Israel’s economy and defense industry continue to grow, the country should work toward greater self-sufficiency rather than relying indefinitely on U.S. assistance.

What this current debate over the measure shows is that Israel is not going to escape close scrutiny by those in Congress. While the majority still supports Israel, the growing faction of far-left Democrats and woke right America-first conservatives create a substantial problem for Israel. It comes at the worst possible time.

I am a total supporter of this bill. The alliance between Israel and the U.S. government is one that benefits us even more than Israel. They buy our weaponry, enhance many of our military systems and give us valuable intel that we could not attain without their help. Rh