
Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a major in religious studies, and a minor in integrated liberal studies.
Rafi lives in the Twin Cities, where he does not bike, run or take part in any team sports. He does, however, have a variety of interests, hobbies and passions.
Latest articles by Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
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Trump's ‘weaponization czar’ demoted at DOJ
Speed Read Ed Martin lost his title as assistant attorney general
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Grok in the crosshairs as EU launches deepfake porn probe
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The European Union has officially begun investigating Elon Musk’s proprietary AI, as regulators zero in on Grok’s porn problem and its impact continent-wide
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from Gaza
Speed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ comes into confounding focus
In the Spotlight What began as a plan to redevelop the Gaza Strip is quickly emerging as a new lever of global power for a president intent on upending the standing world order
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Trump sues JPMorgan for $5B over ‘debanking’
Speed Read Trump accused the company of closing his accounts for political reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Trump backs off Greenland threats, declares ‘deal’
Speed Read Trump and NATO have ‘formed the framework for a future deal,’ the president claimed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Halligan quits US attorney role amid court pressure
Speed Read Halligan’s position had already been considered vacant by at least one judge
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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White House halts migrant visas for 75 countries
Speed Read Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Iran and Somalia are among the nations on the list
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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White House ends TPS protections for Somalis
Speed Read The Trump administration has given these Somalis until March 17 to leave the US
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Kelly sues Hegseth, Pentagon over censure
Speed Read Hegseth’s censure was ‘unlawful and unconstitutional,’ Kelly said
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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FBI bars Minnesota from ICE killing investigation
Speed Read The FBI had initially agreed to work with local officials
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardoned
in depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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ICE kills woman during Minneapolis protest
Speed Read The 37-year-old woman appeared to be driving away when she was shot
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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A running list of all the celebrities Trump has pardoned
IN DEPTH Reality stars, rappers and disgraced politicians have received some of the high-profile pardons doled out by the president
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Last updated
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Trump fears impeachment if GOP loses midterms
Speed Read ‘You got to win the midterms,’ the president said
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Maduro pleads not guilty in first US court hearing
Speed Read Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Venezuela’s Trump-shaped power vacuum
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The American abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has thrust South America’s biggest oil-producing state into uncharted geopolitical waters
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Why is Iran facing its biggest protests in years?
TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Iranians are taking to the streets as a growing movement of civic unrest threatens a fragile stability
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Wave of cancellations prompt Kennedy Center turmoil
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Accusations and allegations fly as artists begin backing off their regularly scheduled appearances
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Why is Trump’s alleged strike on Venezuela shrouded in so much secrecy?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Trump’s comments have raised more questions than answers about what his administration is doing in the Southern Hemisphere
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Why recognizing Somaliland is so risky for Israel
THE EXPLAINER By wading into one of North Africa’s most fraught political schisms, the Netanyahu government risks further international isolation
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Shots fired in the US-EU war over digital censorship
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Trump administration risks opening a dangerous new front in the battle of real-world consequences for online action
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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All roads to Ukraine-Russia peace run through Donetsk
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Volodymyr Zelenskyy is floating a major concession on one of the thorniest issues in the complex negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one report
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
