CNN Anchor Stuns With Reason Why Jon Ossoff Could Become President: He Doesn’t ‘Read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro’
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Michaelson raised eyebrows this week with his closing comment moderating a panel discussion on possible contenders in the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primary The post CNN Anchor Stuns With Reason Why Jon Ossoff Could Become President: He Doesn’t ‘Read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro’ first appeared on Mediaite.
CNN anchor Elex Michaelson raised eyebrows this week with his closing comment moderating a panel discussion on possible contenders in the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primary, offering his take on what might differentiate Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), how Jewish they “read” to voters.
As the Tuesday evening conversation wound down, panelist and YouTuber Eric Messersmith argued, “But on the Jewish thing, because he is Jewish, he might be the Democrat that can thread the needle. Because even though he’s Jewish, he’s very critical of the Israeli government, very critical of Benjamin Netanyahu. He has credibility on that issue. So it’s possible, I think he could fill that lane in between the two extremes of the Democratic Party.”
Michaelson then wrapped up the discussion, “Yeah, as a Jew, some people read a little more Jewish than other people, and John Ossoff may not read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro does, for whatever that’s worth.”
Michaelson’s comment was clipped by The Forward’s Jacob Korbluh, and it gained steam on social media as many on the left and right expressed dismay.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain and hard-left DropSite pundit Ryan Grim offered nearly the same take, replying on X, “What exactly are we doing?”
What exactly are we doing? https://t.co/RvU0PPhOhM
, Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 2, 2026
What are we doing?? https://t.co/sFuZtLghbe
, Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) July 2, 2026
Trump’s former ambassador to Israel, David Friedman replied, “Most dangerous and offensive words in the modern vernacular: ‘As a Jew . . .’”
Most dangerous and offensive words in the modern vernacular: “As a Jew . . .” https://t.co/L0D1Y4rbG8
, David M Friedman (@DavidM_Friedman) July 2, 2026
Below are some more reactions from across the political spectrum:
Don’t get used to this. Outrageous. https://t.co/1aGgMkTVC9
, Rebeccah Heinrichs (@RLHeinrichs) July 2, 2026
This is going to be a bizarre 2028 https://t.co/uKbXqdaP2Y
, Natalie Korach (@NatalieKorach) July 2, 2026
I’m seeing even conservative friends going into mode at this. My job for 21 years was to write about how Jews “read.” Ossoff and Shapiro both “read” as Jews, we’re a diverse bunch. Let’s drop this litmus test crap and assess on policies, integrity etc. https://t.co/ECyIRZjc07
, Ron Kampeas (@kampeas) July 2, 2026
Crazy that this just counts as normal punditry these days. https://t.co/7s2ZY2M6dz
, Dan Senor (@dansenor) July 2, 2026
WTAF https://t.co/4dTeAsq4a0
, Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMP’S FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) July 2, 2026
One of my favorite things about Jon is that he wants to represent all Georgians. He calls Republican lawmakers and progressives alike to get their views and help him with lawmaking. He’s not a hyper partisan, and he’s not whatever this nonsense is. https://t.co/ndoXtWRB2A
, Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) July 2, 2026
Starting to sound a lot like 2008: "He's not black enough." "She's too black." "Terrorist fist bump." https://t.co/Ya26EUVxVO
, Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي (@NTarnopolsky) July 2, 2026
I think Josh Shapiro's high level of religious observance, he is, yes, more obviously Jewish than some other Jewish pols, helps to code him as moderate and appeals to certain swing voters. He's about to win a landslide re-election, after all. https://t.co/aLGpHHLvK8
, Josh Barro (@jbarro) July 2, 2026
Congratulations, Democrats, you’ve reached the “But is he too much of a Jew-face?” tier of presidential candidate vetting. https://t.co/EAh4pwyxdf pic.twitter.com/LqyhhVtiLV
, Saul Sadka (@Saul_Sadka) July 2, 2026
Because Shapiro’s a Jew from the Torah Belt who went to day school, sends his kids to day school, and initially gained national fame for his Israel support/opposing campus Jew-hatred. Ossoff is a Southerner who voted to withhold weapons from Israel mid-war. https://t.co/hShCazCQDs
, Melissa Braunstein (@slowhoneybee) July 2, 2026
Shapiro talked about his faith on the campaign trail, keeps a kosher kitchen, and got sworn in on a holy text from a synagogue that was the site of a mass shooting.
Ossoff puts together clips about how Trump is bad. https://t.co/VMQsuHOprX
, Alex גדעון בן װעלװל (@JewishWonk) July 2, 2026
Replace ‘Jew’ with ‘Black person’ https://t.co/xYFxTas4I5
, Lizzy Savetsky (@LizzySavetsky) July 2, 2026
what a deeply weird place the democratic party is in on this issue https://t.co/YzIZm29Rsd
, Logan Dobson (@LoganDobson) July 2, 2026
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The post CNN Anchor Stuns With Reason Why Jon Ossoff Could Become President: He Doesn’t ‘Read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro’ first appeared on Mediaite.