Advertise on podcast: Medford Bytes

This episode includes a conversation with Christine Barber about updates to her work as State Rep as well as her campaign for State Senate. Thanks for Listening!

Today's episode includes a conversation with Erika Uyterhoeven about her campaign or State Senate. For more information about her campaign, visit https://www.electerika.com/. Thanks for listening and don't forget to vote on September 1st!

Today’s episode includes a conversation with Micah Kesselman about his role in the progress of the Values Aligned Investing Ordinance and his recent letter to Gotta know Medford. His letter follows: I am writing in regard to the response to the letter about Christine Barber from Chadi Salamoun and Joshua Eckart-Lee, published on August 6, 2026. The response's author, Ms. Schwartz, writes that she feels "a responsibility to respond" and proceeds to push a narrative that falsely presents Jewish opinion as a relative monolith minimizing, if not outright denying, the ongoing genocide in Gaza and all of Palestine. She does this by relying entirely on a letter published by an out-of-state collection of cherrypicked institutional actors of the sort which are so often granted a complete monopoly of "the Jewish perspective" by media outlets. Almost always, and without a doubt, this media messaging is to the utter detriment of Jewish discourse and safety. Here in Massachusetts, as in virtually every state, myriad Jewish institutions do, in fact, accurately label Israeli conduct as both genocidal in character as well as apartheid. The Boston Worker's Circle (BWC), among the oldest Jewish institutions in Massachusetts, was forced out of the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council. And there is incredible pride, righteousness, and honor to the memory of our ancestors in the BWC refusing to taint its fundamental values to acquiesse Zionist cooption of our culture. Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) and If Not Now (INN) are both sprawling Jewish organizations, with strong ties to Massachusetts, that unflinchingly identify Israel's conduct as genocidal. There are shuls, right here in the Greater Boston Area, as well as elsewhere, that publicly and vocally recognize the apartheid and genocide Israel is guilty of, and its distressing roots in political Zionism as a movement completely distinct from Jewish identity and values. Both internationally and right here in New England, the International Jewish Labor Bund is experiencing a revivification not seen over half a century. Indeed, it is fair to say that Zionism has always been a fringe movement within the Jewish community and only within the last six to eight decades has it held any legitimacy--largely granted by the intensive and focused support of non-Jewish elements. The historical reality is that many voices in the Jewish community long  ago understood the political underpinnings of Israel, Zionism, to be nothing more than a fetid sibling to what was at that time called Hitlerism, eloquently highlighted by Jacob "Yankev" Pat in Warsaw of 1933 when he demanded in an open letter in the Yiddish papers, "Ask yourself, is 'Arabs out' [a Zionist slogan of the time] not the very same slogan as 'Juden raus'?" The unblemished and shameful reality is that it is the ongoing denial and revisionism of Jewish institutional actors, granted an unearned and inauthentic monopoly on Jewish perspectives by our mass media, that is actually among the most responsible culprits for rising antisemitism. The true irony is that this breathless advancement of a narrative conflating Jewish identity, and safety, with that of the state of Israel is itself an example of one of the most abhorrent and dangerous forms of antisemitism based on the historical record. And let us be clear that the data is very clear that the majority of American Jews are beginning to understand why the foundational movements for the modern Israeli state were so detested by so many of their forebears--and they responding as you would expect. This phenomenon is only heightened in the Greater Boston Area, and the Northeastern United States in general, which has long been home to Jewish communities with traditional leftist values. So, no, as a Jewish resident in Medford, I would absolutely not say that a bunch of rabbis from a different state offer a more balanced perspective on Gaza (and Israel) than your Jewish neighbors right here in town.

Today's episode includes a conversation with Paul Ruseau, current School Committee member in Medford, about his campaign for State Representative. For more information about Paul's campaign, see his website https://www.electpaul.org/. Thank you for listening!

Today's episode includes a conversation with Chris Oates, candidate for State Representative. For more information on his campaign, check out his website https://www.chrisoates.org/

Today's episode includes a conversation with State Representative Christine Barber about her campaign for State Senate.

Today's episode includes a conversation with Medford resident Christina Allain and Tyler Frank of Garbage to Gardens all about Medford's composting program. For more information and to enroll in the FREE program, visit https://medfordcomposts.com/ Thank you for listening!

Today's episode includes a conversation with Breanna Laquidara, about her non-profit Defend Our Community and their fundraiser planned for April 30th, 2026. For more information about the fundraiser, its vendors, and how they will support marginalized communities, follow this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defend-our-community-benefit-tickets-1774644622839?aff=oddtdtcreator

Today's episode includes a conversation with Tarik Samman, candidate for Congress for the Massachusetts 5th district. Tarik Samman is an American shaped by the same economic struggles that weigh on millions in his generation. He is also a union organizer, a researcher at Harvard Law, and the son of Syrian immigrants who have experienced the challenges that so many immigrant families live through today. He is running for Congress in Massachusetts’ 5th District to put people first, defend our freedoms, and make the American Dream affordable. Website: https://tarikforcongress.com/ ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tarikforcongress/

Today's episode includes a conversation with Josh Eckart-Lee and Micah Kessleman of Medford for Palestine. Below are some points referenced in the episode with links for further information. Mayor's Letter explaining her veto, along with the final ordinance language: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1760120457/medfordmaorg/qzzhnq4qutkbdqu753we/20250805-MedfordCityCouncilRegularMeetingAgendaWithAttachmentsdragged.pdfState efforts to Divest from Weapons Manufacturers: An Act Promoting Responsible Investment (H.1264/S.767) is being championed by the MA Coalition for Responsible Investment, in which Medford for Palestine is a member. Learn more at: https://masscfri.carrd.co/ Our State Senator, Pat Jehlen, is one of the sponsors, so she will particularly benefit from our support! For those concerned about the limits on free speech in our schools and the "Don't Say Palestine" guidance: https://sites.google.com/view/shame-on-velis/take-action and consider reaching out to the Medford School Committee!

Today's episode includes a conversation with Erika Reinfeld, candidate for re-election to the School Committee. For more information about her campaign, check outhttps://www.erika02155.com/

Today's episode includes a conversation with Justin Tseng, candidate for re-election to the City Council. More information about his campaign can be found at https://www.justin4medford.com/

Today's episode includes a conversation with Milva McDonald about the question on the ballot in November about updates to the City Charter. For more information, please visit https://www.medfordcharternow.com/ and review the current charter, the proposed charter, and the language of the ballot question. Thanks so much for listening to today's episode. You can reach out to us by email at [email protected], or follow us on Instagram @medfordpod or Facebook at MedfordBytes Podcast. Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Thanks so much for listening.

Today's episode includes a conversation with Mike Mastrobuoni, candidate for School Committee. For more information about his campaign, check out: www.mikemastrobuoni.com and on Facebook and Instagram @mikeformedford. Thanks so much for listening to today's episode. You can reach out to us by email at [email protected], or follow us on Instagram @medfordpod or Facebook at MedfordBytes Podcast. Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Thanks so much for listening.

Today's episode includes a conversation with Lisa Kingsley candidate for School Committee. For more information about her campaign, check out the following links: website: https://www.electlisakingsley.com/  donation: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/electlisakingsley FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579062952124Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaformedford/ Thank you