“AIPAC is on the ropes. It’s being defeated and losing its hold on the American public,” David Frank, a professor at the University of Oregon, told TNA.
by Brooke Anderson, reposted from The New Arab, December 4, 2025
Track AIPAC, a website that documents politicians’ donations from AIPAC, is not holding back on highlighting even moderate levels of support for Israel, including noting elected officials’ ties to J Street, long considered a liberal pro-Israel lobby group.
Its profiles of Congress members from both the House and the Senate show detailed information on their donations related to Israel, ranging from those who received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other pro-Israel lobby groups that strongly support US military aid to Israel, such as Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, to those who received millions, such as former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The site also notes members’ voting records with respect to the Israel-Palestine issue, including Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, who is known as a progressive for her vocal opposition to Trump and other Republicans, but who the site says “has a poor legislative record on Israel-Palestine issues.”
“AIPAC is on the ropes. It’s being defeated and losing its hold on the American public,” David Frank, a professor of communication and political rhetoric at the University of Oregon, told The New Arab.
“The Track AIPAC is grassroots in identifying how powerful AIPAC is. The founders wanted to show how much money is going to each member of Congress. They want to make the money toxic, so that even the recipients of smaller donations will want to return the money,” he said.
“The more detailed the report can be on individual donors, the more it exposes the donors and the financial roots of AIPAC,” he added.
Only around 20 politicians, all Democrats, get the site’s stamp of approval. The one state where all members meet the site’s standards is Vermont, led by Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint.
The minority of Republicans in Congress who have spoken out about Israel’s close relationship with the US are not spared by the site. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who largely avoids corporate PAC (political action committee) donations (with only $500 in Israel-related contributions listed on the site), is “encouraged to improve” her legislative record. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has been an outspoken critic of AIPAC, is also encouraged to improve his voting record on Israel-Palestine.
Others, whose political brands are staunchly progressive, are also not spared. Ro Khanna, who has been something of a leader in speaking out on Palestinian human rights, leading an effort since November 2023 for the US to recognize Palestinian statehood, but who has also accepted donations from J Street, which supports US military aid to Israel, is urged by the site “to continue improving their legislative record on Israel-Palestine issues.”
What appears to be a more comprehensive approach in highlighting politicians’ support for Israel could signal a shift in public discourse over support for the longtime US ally, particularly with its two-year genocidal assault on Gaza.
“There is a growing demand for information on AIPAC donations to politicians, largely because of the dramatic shift in public awareness following Israel’s military campaign in Gaza after October 7,” an associate professor of political science at Stonehill College told TNA.
“As people become more aware of US military and financial support for Israel, they naturally want to understand which political actors shape these policies. AIPAC’s unusually large electoral spending in recent cycles has intensified that scrutiny,” she said.
Recent polls confirm the US public’s shift away from unconditional support for Israel. A recent Pew Research poll found that nearly six in 10 US citizens have an unfavorable view of the Israeli government.
“A lot of politicians no longer fear AIPAC, especially with the genocide in Gaza,” said Frank.
The site also features a “hall of shame” featuring 81 Congress members whose top donations come from AIPAC, made up of 37 Republicans and 44 Democrats. They include House Majority Leader Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Representative Ritchie Torres of New York.
In addition, the site endorses candidates, possibly signaling a sign of the times in what political candidates see as a winning message.
AIPAC is registered as a non-profit organization, giving it tax-exempt status. Many of its critics, including Track AIPAC, say it should be registered as a foreign agent, arguing that it represents a foreign interest.
Editor’s Note
TrackAipac held their first public interview recently, and is seeking funding to help further their work. As an apparent result of their efforts, progressive candidates for congress are running on “No AIPAC Cash” platforms, and, as we have found in Zohran Mamdani’s case, are finding success in doing so.
Related:
- ‘AIPAC Radicalized Me’: Mamdani’s Jewish Gen Z Strategist
- Americans’ Support for Israel Dramatically Declines, Times/Siena Poll Finds
- ‘Wow’: Observers Surprised After Dem Moderate Rejects AIPAC Cash
- Buoyed by AIPAC dollars, Wesley Bell pushes AIPAC lies
Read much more about AIPAC and the Israel lobby here.
