The biggest political story today in Massachusetts? U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark’s description of Israel’s war in Gaza as “genocide,” as reported by the Globe, Axios, Politico and the Hill. As the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. House, Clark, D-Revere, is now the highest-ranking congressional Dem to use that highly loaded (and overused) word as applied to Israel. … Whether you agree with her or not, this is a big deal within Democratic circles, locally and nationally, and it could further damage an already strained relationship between Dems and many Jewish-Americans. 

Suggestion to local news assignment editors: get reactions to Clark’s remarks from other congressional delegation members, all of them Democrats. Is Israel committing genocide or not? 

Fyi: Do I think Israel has committed genocide? No. I’m not going there. Not even close. But when it comes to Israel’s current action in Gaza (as opposed to its justified initial post-Oct. 7 reaction), I’m a Tom Friedman-like supporter of Israel who loathes what the extreme-right Netanyahu government is doing in Gaza. Read Friedman’s piece. It’s a brutally honest and thorough column about what he’s calling “The War of the Worst.”

Update — 8.21.25 – Clark has since walked back her genocide comment. Her explanation isn’t exactly convincing. …. And, oh, the political damage (as minor as it may be) is already done. That’s something that can’t be walked back.