Interview with Prof. Anthony Zenkus | DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! N.B. Due to a technical glitch, this episode is audio-only. Nevertheless, it's well worth listening to even though you can't watch the participants. So we're releasing it now, in the hope of inviting Prof. Zenkus back soon for the full audio-visual experience of "DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas." On the day after the 2026 midterms, hosts Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas interviewed Professor Anthony Zenkus. The pre-taped episode centers on the election results, JD Vance’s public statement distancing himself from Trump (blaming the Iran war for losses, calling for honesty about potentially losing the Senate, and advocating a different U.S. relationship with Israel), and what this signals for 2028 and a possible lame-duck or truncated Trump term. They discuss Trump’s psychology (narcissism, hedonism, laziness), speculation he may not finish his term, and the urgency of preventing resumed hostilities with Iran in the next 60 days. A major thread is the shifting U.S.-Israel relationship: Trump’s election-day announcement about ending the longstanding ~$3.8 billion annual aid package (with Netanyahu’s claimed acquiescence), contrasted with continued weapons transfers via the Pentagon budget and NDAA provisions that could hide support. Guest argues for a full arms embargo (citing the Leahy Act and ongoing operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and elsewhere), note collapsing public support especially among younger Americans, and critique Hasbara narratives as failing. Zenkus also addresses Columbia University’s crackdown on pro-Palestine encampments (suspensions, expulsions, banning Jewish Voice for Peace, treatment of Mahmoud Khalil), his own experiences with attempts to silence him, students feeling chilled from discussing Gaza/Palestine, and signs of gradual shifts on campus amid broader generational rejection of unconditional support for Israel. Anthony Zenkus is a progressive activist, licensed social worker, and senior lecturer at the Columbia School of Social Work and Adelphi University. With over 30 years of clinical experience, he also serves as the Director of Education at The Safe Center LI, training professionals on trauma, domestic violence, and human trafficking. An organizer with roots in Occupy Wall Street, Zenkus frequently writes and speaks on the intersections of socioeconomic inequality, climate change, and childhood trauma. MERCHANDISE: DeProgram.MySpreadShop.com LIVE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DeProgramShow LIVE ON RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/DeProgramShow https://x.com/tedrall https://x.com/JamarlThomas #tedrall #jamarlthomas #news #politics 00:00:10 - Introducing Professor Anthony Zenkus After the Midterms 00:03:40 - JD Vance Distances Himself From Trump Over the War 00:21:05 - What the New Democratic Congress Should Prioritize 00:26:03 - Trump’s Election-Day Move to Cut Aid to Israel 00:34:45 - Why Ending Overt Aid Is Not Enough: The Arms Embargo Case 00:41:07 - Can Pro-Israel Democrats Like Kamala Harris Recover? 00:48:55 - A Defining Moment as Trust in Power Collapses 01:03:57 - Columbia University’s Crackdown on Campus Protests