Clock Is Ticking - May 18, 2026

The U.S. government is no longer defending American interests—it’s acting as Israel’s global enforcer, with 94% of Congress functioning as paid proxies for a foreign power, according to a scathing indictment from The Young Turks. Hosts Cenk Uygur and Anna Deavere Smith reveal how over $20 million in pro-Israel lobbying money was spent to defeat Kentucky Republican Tom Massey, a rare lawmaker who dared to demand the release of the Epstein files and oppose unconditional military aid to Israel. Massey’s opponent, Ed Galrine, signed an unconditional loyalty pledge to Israel, exposing a dangerous precedent where American elections are influenced by foreign agendas. The hosts condemn Bill Maher’s call for Americans to wish Israel a happy birthday as a weaponized smear tactic that silences criticism of Gaza’s genocide, where over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed—while ignoring Maher’s own history of calling for nuking Gaza and dehumanizing Muslims. They also dismantle the Trump administration’s fabricated drone threat from Cuba, exposing how U.S. sanctions have caused blackouts, collapsed hospitals, and starvation, yet the narrative remains focused on regime change rather than humanitarian crisis. In a historic moment, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani became the first American mayor to officially commemorate Nakba Day, honoring the 1948 Palestinian expulsion—a courageous act of truth-telling that sparked outrage from Israel-firsters but affirmed moral accountability.