The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

Abdul El-Sayed: Why Trillion-Dollar Wars Always Get Funded

Healthcare Reform

Military Industrial Complex

muslim public affairs council

National Security

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

US foreign policy

On September 7, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from the 2020 MPAC webinar series, host Salam Al-Marayati and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed break down the vital shift from traditional military "national security" to authentic "human security". El-Sayed exposes why trillion-dollar military expenditures receive effortless political backing while funding basic human wellbeing remains an uphill fight: war generates massive corporate profit, while investing in human healthcare and community infrastructure does not. NOTE: MPAC Foundation, MAS PACE, & ICSC are nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organizations. This candidate forum is conducted solely for voter education and does not constitute an endorsement of, opposition to, or support for any candidate, political party, or campaign. The views expressed by participating candidates are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of MPAC Foundation, MAS PACE, or ICSC. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

The Double Standard of Political Condemnation

Coalition Building

Dearborn Michigan

Double Standards

muslim public affairs council

Political Accountability

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On September 3, 2026 By MPAC

On The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati and Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) CEO Amy Spitalnick discuss the double standards of political litmus tests. While Muslim Americans are routinely pressured to answer for commentators like Hasan Piker, political campaigns face zero scrutiny when tied to extremist incidents. Watch full podcast episodes and policy breakdowns on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Spitalnick explains why performative condemnation traps are weaponized to fracture pro-democracy coalitions and distract from real public safety. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Why Jewish & Muslim Safety Are Interconnected

American Democracy

Coalition Building

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On September 2, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) CEO Amy Spitalnick joins host Salam Al-Marayati to address the rhetoric at the "Jewish American Summit" in Los Angeles. Spitalnick condemns anti-Muslim tropes and the exploitation of 9/11 fear, affirming that Muslim partners have been vital allies in fighting antisemitism and warning that hate is weaponized to pit communities against one another and weaken pro-democracy coalitions. Watch full podcast episodes and policy breakdowns on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Former LAPD Deputy Chief: “Policing Is Not an Occupying Army”

Civilian Oversight

Community Policing

Law Enforcement Accountability

muslim public affairs council

Police Commission

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On August 27, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing breaks down why dismantling community affairs and shifting away from community-based policing is a critical mistake. Downing explains that without continuous community engagement, advisory boards, and civilian partnership, a police department stops serving the public and functions like a military occupation. Watch full podcast episodes and policy breakdowns on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Former LAPD Deputy Chief: “ICE Agents Are Not Police”

Community Policing

Immigration Policy

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On August 25, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing speaks candidly about why Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing "POLICE" labels damages public trust. With 35 years of law enforcement experience, Downing breaks down how authentic community policing is grounded in outreach, partnership, and prevention - principles entirely missing from ICE's aggressive tactics. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC®) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing on Police Reform, Counterterrorism & ICE

civil liberties

Community Policing

Counterterrorism

dr. maher hathout

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On August 25, 2026 By MPAC

In this episode of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with longtime colleague Mike Downing, former LAPD Deputy Chief and head of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. Reflecting on a 35-year law enforcement career spanning the 1965 Watts Riots to the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising, Downing breaks down what it takes to build authentic community-led policing, why federal consent decrees were essential to institutional LAPD reform, and the critical difference between local community police and militarized agencies like ICE. Salam and Mike also engage in a direct, candid discussion regarding post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, intelligence gathering, the roots of radicalization, and the ongoing stigmatization of American Muslim civil rights organizations. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & 35 Years on the LAPD Force 03:56 - Smart Policing vs. Hunting & Pursuing 08:32 - The 1992 Uprising, Christopher Commission & Federal Consent Decree 12:12 - America’s Homelessness Failure & Systemic Solutions 16:36 - Defund the Police Debate & Quasi-Military Structures 19:12 - Suspicious Activity Reporting, Intelligence & Community Trust 28:23 - Comparing Gang Dynamics to Counterterrorism & Radicalization 30:08 - The Problem with ICE: Excessive Force & Lack of Accountability 36:47 - Civil Rights Engagement: CAIR, MPAC & The Legacy of Dr. Maher Hathout Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Salam Al-Marayati Calls Out Trump’s “Jihadist” Slur

Healthcare Reform

Midterm Elections

muslim public affairs council

Political Accountability

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On August 16, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, Salam Al-Marayati reacts to Donald Trump using the term "jihadist" to describe Democratic candidates like Abdul El-Sayed. Salam breaks down how political leaders use identity smears and attacks on immigrant communities to deflect from core issues like healthcare access, foreign policy, and government accountability. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

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