defending truth is a revolutionary act*
*Be Revolutionary
our mission
Honesty. Integrity. Accountability.
Project Octagon is a facts-based direct-action organization confronting the anti-Western and antisemitic extremism that has become normalized across American politics, media, academia and culture since the October 7 massacres. We reject the false choice between silence and self-erasure—and instead speak loudly, unapologetically and without the need for permission.
Rooted in integrity and truth-telling, we expose and challenge extremist movements and ideologies that legitimize intolerance, illiberalism and impunity. We reject the hollow promises of justice and identity, while building new political and cultural coalitions grounded in shared values rather than patronage or guilt. We acknowledge the unique role of American Jews in this battle, and embrace allies across religious, racial and political lines.
We view this fight through the lens of civil-rights—demanding honesty and accountability from leaders, institutions and elected officials while empowering aligned communities to speak for themselves.
Educate. Execute. Empower.
why now: the octagon project
From Anger to Action — Betrayal to Bridge-Building
Project Octagon, from eight—or October 8—the day decades of American tolerance and liberalism was shattered by violence and extremism. On this day, long-standing multi-ethnic alliances turned against each other with shocking ease.
Jews have been at the frontlines of this battle, but the rot and threat extend to all Americans. Which is why now is the time for like-minded thinkers to forge new paths and create new tables. Our national leadership won’t do it; no one is coming to save us—we must save ourselves.
Despite their wave of recent wins, extremist organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) find themselves unexpectedly vulnerable and under scrutiny. Our goal is to amplify this doubt and expose their agendas. With their brief bios and weak resumes, extremist candidates, party members and elected officials are unusually vulnerable.
After two-and-a-half years of chasing a web of adversaries—from Hamas and its propaganda machine to protesters, influencers and academics across the West—organizations like the DSA offer tangible, identifiable targets. They have names, faces, platforms and increasingly government jobs. They cannot simply hide behind masks; they can and must be revealed.
direct response — direct action
The Octagon Project at Work
This is a media and messaging campaign focused on both social- and traditional media platforms. We would deploy highly focused, localized and targeted messaging to speak directly to like-minded communities.
Using traditional and AI-powered data gathering, we can precisely analyze residential data and target voters to inform them of the scale and ambition of the DSA threat.
Beyond individual campaigns, this effort would also include thought-leadership pieces in major publications, media briefing documents, focused polling, data sourcing, fieldwork, targeted events and identifying and supporting like-minded direct-action organizations.
tactics + strategies
Winning The War Against leftist extremism
Develop a rapid-response “war room” to counter DSA efforts and develop ambitious, forward-thinking and conversation-shifting anti-DSA campaigns across major media channels.
Partner with anti-DSA and anti-extremist candidates to provide media, messaging and on-the-ground support.
Work with a nimble, forward-thinking data company to deeply analyze districts facing DSA threats to understand the community composition and facilitate ultra-precise messaging.
Create a robust campaign of anti-DSA thought leadership pieces for placement in major media.
Place like-minded partners on news channels, podcasts, live-streams and other editorial outlets to promote our efforts and objectives.
Partner with like-minded communities (minority groups, church groups, political action committees) to elevate their messaging while developing robust joint anti-extremist initiatives.
Partner with like-minded business councils and organizations, with focus on real estate, finance and tech sectors to amplify the risk the DSA poses to New York and the nation’s economy.
Help develop and implement live events—meetings, rallies, forums—that promote our anti-DSA agenda while elevating like-minded partners
Develop robust messaging campaigns targeting Jews who align with our values to provide them with the tools and confidence to promote a shared agenda. We can get “sideline Jews” out of the sidelines, we just need to show them how.
changing the narrative
Letting the Numbers Speak Loudest
Since the DSA victories in New York, Denver and most recently Florida, much of the media has declared a national “Red Tide,” portraying Zohran Mamdani as a king-maker and DSA candidates as part of his kingdom.
Yes, candidates such as Melat Kiros in Colorado, Daria Aliza Chevalier in New York, Florida’s Angie Nixon and others have won their Democratic primaries. But they have not won their November elections. Their primary victories came with relatively modest vote totals, while turnout was extremely low. Most residents of these districts did not vote for these candidates—and many do not realize they will be represented by DSA nominees.
We need to challenge this narrative forcefully and repeatedly. The public needs to understand that these candidates do not speak for their constituents. We must empower these communities to speak for themselves.
building new coalitions
Rethinking #intersectionality
For too long, multi-ethnic alliances have felt like charities—altruistic yet imbalanced. As someone who comes from a range of “minority” cultures, I say that it is time to build new coalitions and new alliances.
The DSA ascent offers a rare opportunity for communities across racial, ethnic and religious lines to work together and truly benefit from their mutual and shared interests.
The left-wing alignment with Islamists also forms a powerful opportunity for alliances between synagogues, churches, Hindu groups and moderate Muslims who share a common goal of reversing the DSA threat. Jewish groups in particular are long overdue for an alliance-building reset.
The time is now to challenge the influence the DSA and its ideological surrogates hold over the Democratic Party. Their positions on the working class, identity politics, race, economics and other key issues are laced in hypocrisy and highly vulnerable to scrutiny.
The DSA deftly combines messaging, media attention, policy, organization and money. We may not match these numbers, but we can compete through our own financial resources and sheer intellectual firepower.
The DSA’s ideological messaging benefits from their opponents’ fear of being labeled racist or cancelled. We must confront those arguments directly and without timidity using the most effective language, platforms and messaging.
Identity politics is most effectively challenged via identity politics.
reversing the extremist tide
Identity. Advocacy. Ideology.
The DSA—particularly in New York—is targeting the business, finance and real estate communities through new taxes and regulations intended to promote affordability and redistribution. But these policies are likely to produce economic stagnation and damage New York’s position as a hub for technology, AI and foreign investment. New York’s wealth exodus is already real.
Because Jews are prominent in New York real estate and Israelis are prominent in the city’s technology sector, both groups have strong stakes in the DSA’s impact on the economy. But the potential damage extends far beyond one group. Business and real estate communities across the city—and nation—share interests that create another opportunity for effective coalition-building.
busineSs, finance + real estate
The Economics of DSA Destruction
Today’s stakes extend directly to the 2028 presidential election and the role Israel, Gaza, antisemitism and anti-Zionism will play on both the left and right. And the consequences could impact economic/military aid, BDS and political debates at every level of government.
The growing influence of extremist figures associated with the DSA makes this a crucial issue for progressives. But increasing anti-Israel sentiment on the right—from figures such as JD Vance and institutions such as the Heritage Foundation—means extremism has already infected both the Democrats and Republicans.
Both sides must be targeted; their influence will inevitably extend beyond the just the “Israel issue” and erode America’s foundational liberal core.
november 2028
A Vote of Historic Consequence
Raul Acosta is running a write-in campaign as an Independent candidate against Democratic DSA nominee Daria Aliza Chevalier in New York’s 13th Congressional District. Chevalier won the Democratic primary in June—but she has not won the district. Her victory margin was barely 2,000 votes, in a district of roughly 750,000 residents, with just 66,000 people voting in total. More than 90% of District 13 residents did not participate.
Acosta is a natural fit for District 13; he is Dominican in a district that is overwhelmingly Dominican—and a well-known cultural figure. This is an election that can be won, with time, money and commitment.
The same is true of Shimon Blau, who is running as an Independent for Congress against DSA winner Melat Kiros in Colorado. Kiros also won only her Democratic primary, by just 10,000 votes—but she has not yet won the November election.
These campaigns must be supported to demonstrate that the DSA sweep is far from inevitable. Most crucially, folks against left-wing extremism need a win to demonstrate that the DSA surge can be reversed.
supporting anti-dsa candidates
Elevating Voices Against Extremism
civil rightS
A Truly ‘American’ Battle
Economic, cultural and political success during the 20th century allowed Jews to bypass many of the civil-rights battles faced by other minorities. But as we are witnessing today, that success did not guarantee lasting civil-rights protection.
Today, American Jews must frame the fight against antisemitism as a civil-rights struggle, alongside the historic struggles of Blacks, women and LGBT Americans.
Some will object to Jews adopting language historically associated with other minority groups, but no right is more “American” than civil rights. Stronger protections for Jewish-Americans means stronger protections for all Americans.
jews defending jews
From the Sidelines to the Frontlines
One of the most effective assets of left-wing extremism is support from the Jewish individuals and organizations that advocate alongside it. Jewish involvement legitimizes the DSA and allows it to falsely portray its positions as anti-Israel rather than antisemitic.
There is too little organized Jewish opposition to these groups. We need a framework that helps Jews opposed to the DSA and its extremist surrogates articulate an alternative with clarity, confidence and safely.
Many Jews are afraid to speak out. That fear must be acknowledged; those wanting to take a stand should be given the tools, support and sense of security to do so.
david christopher kaufman
On October 7, 2023, while blood was still flowing across Israel’s southern kibbutzim, social justice groups throughout the West unilaterally and unequivocally blamed Israel for the horrors inflicted by Hamas.
Much of that blame was cast in the name of “Black and brown” people, “queer people” and marginalized voices. I am Black and Brown and queer—a man who knows what it means to feel marginalized. Yet I immediately recognized that these Israel-bashers, blood libelers, and violence-seekers did not speak for me. So I spoke up for myself, and I have not stopped. Now I want to speak even louder.
I am a writer, editor and columnist with more than two decades of experience at major media outlets, including The New York Times, Condé Nast, Quartz, and, most meaningfully, the New York Post, where I spent nearly four years as a Columnist, Features and Opinion Editor. Additionally, I regularly contribute Opinion columns to The Telegraph, Tablet, The Spectator, AirMail,The Forward, Monocle, Canada’s National Post andThe Jerusalem Post.
My writing focuses on the intersections of Zionism, antisemitism, culture, media and identity politics. I also regularly appear on global news programs speaking about Israel, politics and global Jewry. And I’ve made combatting antisemitism and antizionism the core of my social media presence.
Finally, I spent months last year working on New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s re-election campaign. Though we did not succeed, I gained deep insight into the efficiency and ruthlessness of leftist extremism tactics—and the tools required to challenge them.
THE OCTAGON PROJECT
DEFENDING TRUTH IS A REVOLUTIONARY ACT*
*Be Revolutionary