Joel Pollak
Politics • Lifestyle • News • Travel • Writing
I will share my thoughts about American politics, as well as current events in Israel and elsewhere, based on my experiences in the U.S., South Africa, and the Middle East. I will also discuss books and popular culture from the perspective of a somewhat libertarian, religiously observant conservative living in California. I will also share art and ideas that I find useful and helpful, and link to my content at Breitbart News, Amazon, and elsewhere.
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UCLA vigilantism was completely predictable, and predicted

On Tuesday, I told a colleague that after several visits to UCLA's campus this week and last week, it was possible that a group of pro-Israel people would lose patience with the university and simply storm the "Palestine" encampment.

I joked that L.A. Jews weren't Ashkenazi intellectuals like me, but rather Persian Jews who fled the Iranian revolution. As one sign at the pro-Israel counter-protest Sunday at UCLA said: "My parents didn't leave Iran for this shit."

Insert compulsory condemnation of vigilantism here, but note that it was only the arrival of the vigilantes that triggered local and state law enforcement to do anything, after letting the thugs at the encampment bully people for days.

Local media are picking up the activists' mantra that police took too long to arrive at the scene of the battles overnight. No -- police were told to stand down from the moment the encampment arrived. UCLA coddled the thugs.

Jews lived through a version of 1930s Germany as the thugs, running security and giving orders to university contractors, were able to police the perimeter of their own encampment, denying students access to classes and the whole area.

I personally was assaulted by the thugs when I tried to exercise my right as a journalist (and a member of the public) to film the encampment. The whole situation was intolerable and the university and the governor were OK with it.

After Sunday's counter-protest, and counter-counter-protest, I told friends that I was surprised there hadn't been violence already. There were no police around and UCLA was relying on the Palestinian activists/thugs for security.

So you'll hear complaints this morning about the long time it took police to arrive. The fact is that UCLA, the UC leaders, and the governor kept police out and let the thugs run things for a week. A reaction was almost inevitable.

If you watch video of the confrontations, you'll hear pro-Israel vigilantes cheering the arrival of the police, chanting "USA! USA!". That's what they wanted all along. It's a shame that it took violence and vigilantism to get it.

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Time-lapse sunrise at Temescal Falls
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This is what is left of my special place in the forest

Burned, then covered in mudslides and rockslides. The river still flows through it. But we have lost so much. I have to believe the spirit still lives on.

00:00:16
The drive home 💔
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Breitbart News Sunday; show rundown (October 5, 2025)

Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.

Please listen, and #bringthemhome.

SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)

Weekly Torah reading: Ha'azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52)

This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.

One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.

"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495834&jewish=Haazinu-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete

Breitbart News Sunday: September 28, 2028

So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.

Special guests:

  • Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
  • John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
  • Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
  • Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
  • Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"

Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874

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