Ep. 60: Jewish Nonnegotiables in the Michigan Senate Race with Rabbi Josh Whinston

<p><strong>Standing up for core values isn&#39;t just brave—it&#39;s essential for a vibrant democracy. But what happens when your most fundamental needs feel overlooked by the very party you&#39;ve always supported?</strong></p><p>In this compelling episode, Rabbi Josh Winston shares his journey co-founding <a href="http://nonnegotiable.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">nonnegotiable.org</a> in response to shifting rhetoric in Michigan&#39;s critical Senate race. He discusses the challenges of advocating for Jewish safety, identity, and inclusion in a polarized political climate, the process of creating a unified set of &quot;nonnegotiables&quot; for candidates, and the impact this movement has had—both within the Jewish community and beyond. Listeners will gain insight into the power of principled action, the complexities of coalition-building, and the urgent need to defend inclusive democratic spaces.</p><p>Timestamped Overview</p><p>00:00 Welcome and guest introduction</p><p>00:59 Josh Winston&#39;s background and commitment to social justice</p><p>02:04 Deepening focus on Israel, Reform Judaism, and Jewish democracy</p><p>03:18 The Michigan Senate race and its broader impact</p><p>04:17 What is Nonnegotiable? Purpose, origins, and organizing</p><p>05:00 Founding team and cross-spectrum collaboration</p><p>07:45 Evolving politics, Democratic discomfort, and Jewish voter concerns</p><p>08:21 The &quot;Nonnegotiables&quot; outlined</p><p>10:19 The need to stay engaged in the political process</p><p>11:51 Response from candidates and the community</p><p>13:24 Why rhetoric matters: antisemitism, safety, and political choices</p><p>15:53 Feedback, backlash, and support within the community</p><p>24:46 Media attention and measuring success</p><p>27:30 Nonnegotiables as an act of democracy</p><p>29:09 Jewish safety as a bellwether for democracy</p><p>30:56 Jewish-Muslim relations post-October 7</p><p>33:23 Call to action: building power in the Jewish community</p><p>35:05 Parallels between left and right populist rhetoric</p><p>37:21 Lessons for the broader Jewish and civic community</p><p>38:42 Where to learn more and get involved: <a href="http://nonnegotiable.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">nonnegotiable.org</a> and <a href="http://zioness.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">zioness.org</a></p><p><br></p><p>If you&#39;d like to make a contribution to Nonnegotiable, head on over to<a href="https://urldef