A jeweler described in coverage as a far-left activist is listed atop the host committee for a Manhattan fundraiser where top tickets cost $27,000. Social media posts and political ties discussed in reporting raise questions about optics for Democratic candidates courting voters in red states.
Alexis Bittar, identified in reporting as a radical socialist jeweler and activist, is a listed host for a New York City fundraiser for James Talarico and Sherrod Brown featuring actors Robert De Niro and Gina Gershon.
Reporting notes past marketing choices and public persona details attributed to Bittar, including controversial creative themes and a prior connection to dressing Michelle Obama.
Who the coverage identifies as the jeweler
The person named in reporting is Alexis Bittar. The coverage presents several elements of Bittar's public persona and activity: a self-description as a "drug addict dropout," open far-left political activism, and a history of marketing work that included macabre dramatizations tied to a female serial killer. The reporting also says Bittar once dressed Michelle Obama.
Political ties and social media record
Coverage cites multiple political alignments and past fundraising activity. Bittar is reported to have cohosted a fundraiser for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and to have publicly proclaimed that "the traditional Democrats have one foot in the grave" and "the revolution has begun!" He is described as a close ally and top financial bundler for New York City's socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani during Mamdani's campaign.
Social media posts attributed to Bittar include attacks on Zionists, AIPAC, and references to Jewish influence over mainstream media outlets. One post cited in reporting framed El-Sayed's electoral difficulties in terms of a "Zi*nist machine" and claimed that major media and AIPAC were opposed to progressive Democrats because of their stance on the Middle East.
Context for the Democratic candidates
The reporting frames these details as potentially awkward for candidates like Sherrod Brown and James Talarico, who will be running in states where views common in far-left Manhattan may not align with broader electorates. The event pairs liberal Manhattan donors and celebrities with candidates who must appeal to voters in Texas and Ohio.
The fundraiser brings together high-dollar Manhattan donors and celebrity figures with Democratic Senate hopefuls. The jeweler identified in coverage has a record of provocative public statements and political activity that the reporting suggests could complicate messaging for candidates aiming to win voters outside deep-blue urban centers.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is scheduled to attend a high-dollar fundraiser in New York City on Monday alongside former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), with Wall Street financiers, Hollywood figures, and a jewelry designer and filmmaker who has publicly criticized the United States and its flag among th
Chuck Ross writes for the Washington Free Beacon about a wealthy Democrat’s electoral shenanigans. The crypto billionaire and Democratic megadonor Chris Larsen is pouring millions into Republican primaries through the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a PAC devoted to climate activism led by the scandal-plagued former exec
Collin Anderson writes for the Washington Free Beacon about the latest spin from Michigan’s Democratic Senate candidate. Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed has attempted to address mounting concerns from Jewish voters by rolling out ads and social media videos touting “Jews for Abdul.” Featured in the spots are thr
(JTA) — Progressive Jewish Texas state Sen. Jon Rosenthal has earned an unusual distinction: He is the first Democrat to win the vote of GOP guru Karl Rove in more than 30 years. What did the only Jew serving in the Texas state house do to earn this distinction? It’s more what he didn’t do:... The post Why is Karl Rove
This op-ed originally appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal on August 27. While Black voters have long been the most consistent supporters of the Democratic Party, they are also some of the most politically diverse. Those traits may save the party from plunging off an extremist ideological cliff into political oblivion
by Victor Joecks at CDN - The Founding Fathers who fought for liberty wouldn’t recognize how people define the word today. A recently released survey from the Indispensable Institute for Family Studies shows vice has a vice grip on young men. Among men 18 to 29 years old, 27% view pornography daily and another 16% do s
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.