Overview

• Clips from The Adam Friedland Show posted Aug. 27–28 show a tense exchange that quickly spread online and drew wide, polarized reactions.
• Friedland, a Jewish comedian who lived in Israel, called Israel’s conduct in Gaza a genocide and said U.S. backing has fueled a surge in antisemitism.
• Torres rejected the genocide characterization, said Israeli policy does not target civilians, and insisted there is no justification for antisemitism.
• The interview ended acrimoniously without a handshake as Torres called it a “gotcha interview” and complained he was being lectured.
• Coverage underscored Torres’s identity as an unapologetic Zionist with AIPAC’s endorsement and highlighted growing rifts within Democratic and Jewish audiences over the war.