This seems rather unbecoming of a seated member of Congress. Cori Bush of Missouri is clearly angry about her primary loss to St. Louis District Attorney Wesley Bell. To her credit, Bush did concede victory to Bell when it became obvious that she wasn't going to receive enough votes to move on to the general election. But she used part of that speech to vow revenge and begin making threats. She wasn't threatening Bell, however. She was threatening AIPAC, the group that spent heavily supporting Bell's campaign. She claimed that all AIPAC accomplished was to "radicalize" her and now the group needs "to be afraid." She warned the group by name that she was "coming to tear your kingdom down." But what does that even mean? (Washington Examiner)

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) vowed retribution on the pro-Israel group that helped block her from a third term in the House over her pro-Palestinian views.

In a fiery concession speech Tuesday night, Bush said her loss to St. Louis District Attorney Wesley Bell had only taken “some of the strings off” and that she would spend her time outside of office campaigning against the interests that had opposed her.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, through its affiliated super PAC, spent almost $9 million in the Democratic primary supporting Bell.

“All they did was radicalize me, so now they need to be afraid,” she told a crowd of supporters. “They about to see this other Cori, this other side.”

Cori Bush either doesn't understand or doesn't care how elections actually work. She's trying to blame AIPAC for her humiliating loss, but it wasn't AIPAC that defeated her. All they can do is raise money and sponsor campaign advertisements intended to highlight the issues important to them. Nobody voted for AIPAC or against AIPAC. They voted for the two leading Democrat contenders and Bush came up short. 

It's also unclear precisely what Cori Bush could be capable of doing to take "vengeance" against a political action committee. She can refuse to donate to them, of course. She could also urge her remaining supporters to not donate to them. But it's highly doubtful that any of them were regular AIPAC donors, to begin with, so it likely wouldn't be any skin off of AIPAC's teeth. She mentioned something about her intention to "mobilize grassroots activists from the outside" after she leaves office, but it seems as if the battle lines have already been drawn when it comes to this issue. Her supposed grassroots activists aren't going to be able to "tear down AIPAC's kingdom" any more than she will be, whatever that threat was supposed to mean.

This primary loss could have proven to be a teachable moment for Cori Bush and the rest of the squad, just as Jamaal Bowman's defeat could have been. While they are entitled to their own views just like anyone else, the response from the voters should have flicked on a lightbulb above their heads and made them realize precisely how unpopular their positions are and how broadly American voters support our ally Israel. But that apparently won't be the case. Bush will sink into self-pity and seething anger instead. She will at some point no doubt try to blame this on racism, despite the fact that Wesley Bell is also Black and he drew AIPAC's full, vocal support.

One thing we should be keeping an eye out for is the possibility that Cori Bush's dangerous rhetoric and threats might radicalize some of her supporters during a time of heightened political tensions. It obviously doesn't take all that much to drive someone over the edge in 2024. So if you see someone trying to take out any AIPAC directors or setting one of their offices on fire, be sure to check into their group connections and social media history. If they turn out to be a supporter of Cori Bush, you'll probably have the first piece of the puzzle nailed down.