Hello everybody, and welcome back to Notes from the Front —
In this episode, we speak with Batya Ungar-Sargon, a journalist and author known for her work on the American working class, political realignment, and Jewish life. Her latest book is The Jews and the Left: A History of Antisemitism, Civil Rights, and the Unraveling of American Politics.
We begin with Batya’s Orthodox upbringing and her reflections on Shabbat, femininity, and the role faith plays in her life. From there, we explore how American Jews became so deeply aligned with the political left, what Jews and the Democratic Party gained from that alliance, and why Batya believes it is now unraveling. We also discuss class and race, Trump and working-class politics, anti-Zionism after October 7, and Batya’s own political and religious evolution.
I hope you find this conversation as meaningful and fascinating as I did!
~ Michelle
🔗 Listen: [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts]
📺 Watch: [YouTube]
📍 Chapters:
01:31 — “L’maan Shmo”: Faith and staying grounded on-air
06:51 — Modern Orthodoxy, universal morality, and personal autonomy
13:06 — Women & femininity in Judaism
17:22 — Shabbat, and the unexpected appeal of religious separation
28:14 — The Yale study that began Batya’s break with the left
31:27 — Trump, populism, and Batya’s working-class politics
36:37 — How labor unions and FDR drew American Jews to the left
42:47 — Power, anti-Zionism, and the left after October 7
48:56 — Why Batya rejects Jewish victimhood in America
52:05 — The hidden argument connecting Batya’s three books
55:22 — Political homelessness and the future of American Judaism
59:58 — George Washington’s promise to American Jews
📚 Batya’s Work:
The Jews and the Left: A History of Antisemitism, Civil Rights, and the Unraveling of American Politics
📧 Contact Michelle: michelle@notesfromthefront.com
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