On Wednesday, the popular liberal podcast Pod Save America featured a segment in which co‑hosts Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett ridiculed Vice President JD Vance for using the phrase “blood libel.” The hosts attempted to explain the centuries‑old antisemitic accusation, but their initial definitions were factually incorrect.
Missteps in the discussion
Favreau and Lovett began by joking that Vance might have taken the phrase literally, linking it to “bloodline” and the word “liable.” Lovett then offered his own definition, stating, “The blood libel is that we killed Jesus. That’s it. We killed Jesus.” Favreau quickly rejected that explanation, but then tried to connect the term to the biblical Passover story, describing how Israelites marked their doors with lamb’s blood so the plague would pass over their homes.
Both hosts mischaracterized the historical context, conflating the Passover narrative with the false medieval accusation that Jews used the blood of non‑Jews—often Christian children—for religious rituals. After recognizing their error, they finally read the accurate definition of blood libel aloud.
Vance’s original remarks
Vice President Vance had used the term while speaking to the Republican Jewish Coalition about antisemitism. He explained that the accusation suggests people are guilty of a crime they never committed because of their genetics, blood, or ancestry. Jewish Insider reported that Vance used “blood libel” and “blood guilt” interchangeably during the appearance.
Criticism from the media watchdog
Commentary senior editor Seth Mandel condemned the podcast’s confusion, saying it reflects a broader problem of dismissing accusations of antisemitism. “Anti‑Semites know how to graft medieval blood libels onto baseless accusations against Israel and the Jewish community today,” Mandel wrote. He added that the hosts represent “the self‑righteous ignoramuses who automatically dismiss accusations of anti‑Semitism against their political allies.”
Historical background
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum defines blood libel as the false allegation that Jews used the blood of non‑Jews, typically Christian children, for religious rituals. The museum also notes a separate historical claim that Jews were collectively responsible for killing Jesus. The Anti‑Defamation League (ADL) describes blood libel as the centuries‑old falsehood that Jews murdered Christians, especially children, to use their blood for religious purposes, a myth that fueled mob violence and pogroms.
In 2024, the ADL recorded 9,354 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism in the United States—the highest total since it began tracking in 1979. More than half of those incidents (58%) involved elements related to Israel or Zionism, marking the first time such a majority was reported.
Response from Vance’s office
Fox News Digital reached out to Vice President Vance for comment on the podcast’s remarks and the subsequent criticism, but a response was not immediately available.
Why accurate terminology matters
Accurate understanding of antisemitic tropes like blood libel is essential for informed public discourse. Misrepresenting the history can unintentionally downplay the severity of the myth and its role in inciting violence against Jewish communities. As the nation continues to confront a rise in antisemitic incidents, media figures bear responsibility for presenting factual explanations.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
