Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Ondrasik discusses his recent song and music video, "OK," which addresses the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel. The song is not a political message, but a moral one, expressing Ondrasik's views on the attacks and the global reaction to them. Ondrasik also discusses his previous songs about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and support for Ukraine. He expresses concern about the lack of condemnation for Hamas and is disappointed by the lack of artists standing up against antisemitism. He also discusses the need for support and funding for Ukraine and Israel.
On this episode of newch World. I'm really pleased to welcome back Grammy nominated singer songwriter John and Rossik of five for Fighting. He recently released a song and new music video entitled Okay, about the October seventh AAMAS attacks on Israel. Okay is a composition that expresses his heartfelt view about the attacks and also shines a light on the reaction to the attacks both in the United States and around the world. Okay is not a political message, but it is a moral one. John wrote Okay following his previous songs Blood on My Hands about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Can One Man Save the World, which was recorded in Kiev in support of Ukraine. I'm really pleased to welcome back my guest, John and Rossig. John, welcome, and thank you for joining me again on neut World.
Thank you, mister speaker. It's always a pleasure to be with you.
Let's start with your reaction to the Hamas October seventh attack on Israel. What was your initial reaction.
I think we're all just horrified and disgusted. It reminded me of the aftermath of nine to eleven. Just seeing images we never could have imagined, and frankly, to imagine it reminded me a little bit of the Afghan withdrawal, when you just saw babies being thrown over barbed wire fences and you just wonder what world you're living in. And I think we're all we're just stunned and horrified and sickened by the images.
It's interesting because although you entitled the song okay, the refrain is we are not okay. Why did you not entitle the song We're not okay?
I probably should have, actually, but to me it was like, Okay, we cannot stand on the sidelines anymore. Okay, we cannot bury our heads in the sand anymore. It is a time for choosing. That's the first lyric, and I think that's really where we're at. Certainly, the song recognizes the October seventh atrocities, but it's really not about that. It's about the aftermath. It's about the moral collapse of so many of our institutions. Literally, we saw within twenty four hours thousands of people celebrating these atrocities in Times Square. We quickly saw our colleges become this kind of harmas central celebration factory. And then of course, in our media, very quickly many of the media started picking up Hamas talking points. And of course we have the Hamas Caucus in the House of Representatives, where we literally have members of Congress who are mouthpieces at the least for Hamas. And I think that really inspired my fear and my disgust, and that's really what the song's about.
Now you've said that you were inspired to write okay by New York City Mayor Harrak Adam's October tenth speech at a New York City rally. Well, what was it about that speech that got to you?
Well, you know, it's interesting. You know, in the days after October seventh, Mayor Adams did come out and he gave a speech saying, you know, something's really wrong. We're not all right, something's broken when we have people celebrating the kidnapping of grandmothers, the rape of girls, the beheading of babies in front of their parents, and people like me said, wow, that's a brave speech. But it shouldn't be a brave speech. It should be what everybody's saying. Anybody who's saying, anybody who has a heart, anybody has a mind and a brain, should be condemning these people who are celebrating these atrocities. So yes, it did kind of spur that thought of something's deeply wrong. But I think you know, mister speaker, We've known for a long time many of these institutions have become rots of anti Semitism, radicalism, wokeism, oppressor versus a press. But I think if there's anything that came out of these attacks that I think is positive is we see everybody's true colors. Now. We see it at the UN, we see it in members of the House, we see it on our colleges. So at least our eyes are open and we can finally address that we are losing the generation, our generation of kids. Half half of our kids between eighteen twenty four side with Palestine over Israel. Half of them or seventy percent believe Israel's oppress or twenty percent believe the Holocaust never happened. So we're losing a generation of children. And these are not children in Gaza or Iran or the Middle East. These are American children and European children. So the consequences have never been higher.
You've said that, I'm quoting you. The causes of the moral decline on our campuses, and our culture and institut have been growing and metastasizing for decades, and that the inability to call out Hamas is not the root of the problem. It is the symptom of a deeper decay. When do you think this decay started?
Well, look, it's been going on for decades. You've talked about it for decades. I think we've seen it, especially on our college campuses. This kind of oppressor versus a press mindset where it doesn't matter the action somebody takes. It's whether you're perceived as a pressor or a press. See. It infects all aspects of our culture. You know, it makes me sad. I end the video with a Martin Luther King quote saying, you know, silence in the face of evil is complicity, And I think Martin Luther King's vision has been lost. It's not about the content of your character. It is about the color of your skin. And that applies to all this mindset of these folks who seem to push aside these terrible atrocities because they've been brainwashed that if you're successful in the world, or you have a democracy, then there's something wrong with you. And it doesn't matter if you kill destroy Mame. It's really a battle for civilization versus those who want to destroy it. You know, Barie Weis did say, you know, the rise of anti Semitism is just the tip of the spear. They're coming for you next. And I think we've been kind of naive and afraid to confront this for years, and now we're seeing the results of that.
You know, I have to say that I was surprised at the scale and the intensity of the pro Hamas movement across many of our elite campuses. I expected some. I think it was at Harvard, virtually every student organization was pro Hamas. I think had no idea how horrifying it was that they were. In fact, as you point out, I mean, they're accepting the beheading of babies. I find it pretty hard to tolerate a university that has grown that kind of anti human callousness.
And what makes it worse is it's the leaders. Many of the professors, many of those teaching our kids, were celebrating the atrocities. The presidents of these so called elite universities were shrugging their shoulders when we know if any other group was being attacked, there would be mass rallies in support of whatever minority group that they feel is appropriate to have human rights and have freedom of speech, and so yeah, I think it was stunning. Look when the three presidents testified to Congress, I think that was a defining moment when they had to use the word context to decide if putting babies in an oven, baking them in front of their parents, filming it, and then sending it to the families on Facebook was evil. That needs context. That just shows how bastardized the system has become. Even after that hearing, the board members of Harvard unanimously supported her. They only found a technicality with her plagiarism to ask her to resign. So that just shows how deep the rod is. And look, you know, don't send your kids to Harvard, send them to Alabama, send them to Texas. This doesn't happen in the SEC supposedly the racist schools. So it's like, I think we really had our eyes opened. Bill Ackman's been great. You know, there's a lot of people kind of seeing the world in a new light. When Israel shared my song and their social media, I think I got a certain sense of what Jewish people face every day with death threats and vitriol, and I think many Jewish folks who've leaned left and kind of followed the progressive mindset are also reevaluating their worldview. Because I was at a screening of a documentary on the Nova concert the other day, and many Jewish people were saying, look, we marched with the African American cause, we stood up for George Floyd. Where is everybody for us? So I think so many Jews just feel abandoned, and especially in the arts. Frankly, the arts have been shameful. Very few artists have stood up and condemned Hamas. Virtually no music industry artists have condemned Hamas. And this is the group who, after nine to eleven, every icon played the concert for in New York. This is Live A, this is sun City. So why has the artists all of a sudden lost their moral soul? I mean the infection runs deep and it's very depressing.
Why do you think they have so clearly failed morally and have adopted a policy that people like you and me would think of as insane? I mean, why does that run through the arts community so decisively?
I wish I had a good answer for you. You know, I have talked to some folks and some representatives and they say, well, they're scared, They're scared for their families, they don't want their concerts protested, and frankly that's true. And response is, well, those are the same arguments people used in nineteen thirty eight to kind of not speak out, and with every voice we get stronger. I also think we're in this kind of everybody's so afraid of being canceled, and I think you have the managers and the agents saying, oh, you can't say anything, but it really is just I think an evident fact of why we are not okay as a culture when people are either afraid or frankly, I think many of them have bought in to this kind of mindset of Israel having some blame or kind of deserves it. But it's just this kind of ugly mix of cowardice, selfish kind of brandism, and infection of the culture. I can't imagine this happening twenty years ago. So you know, I think all these things have brought us to this point. And I remember you had a quote that I like to talk about when someone asked you. You know, there's this culture war going on, so how does it end? And you said when somebody wins. And it's the same now with the world, and we're on this tipping point of those who want to destroy civilization. I mean, just look at the UN. The UN is still not condemned to Moss. Yesterday one of the ministers said, they don't look at UN as a terrorist organization. We're seeing the UN RWA, we're basically partners in hand with Hamas and still are. Look at the Red Cross. Just today Alexei Navolney was killed in Russia. So Putin's embolden. And I think the fecklessness of the West is a big part of that. You know, we talked when Blood in My Hands came out about Afghanistan just being the first of many dominoes. Ukraine was the next. Is it any surprise that Israel was the next? Taiwan will probably be coming. And if we don't get some leadership and some strength in our Western leaders I think we're losing. As I said that the consequences could not be more dear for our kids and the generations to come.
Given your willingness to stand publicly for a moral position those on the left hate How much personal pushback do you get?
You know, I don't get invited to those parties anyways. It's been interesting. You know, when Blood in My Hands came out, I certainly was no favorite of folks on the left, But when the Ukraine song came out, I think more folks supported it, and it's been interesting. I've been very disappointed, frankly, with many on the right with their kind of refusal to see the bigger picture on Ukraine. I certainly understand spending the money, the waste of the money. I was in Ukraine, there were no boots on the ground seeing where's that money going? And I understand the argument of why are we spending this money where it's going? But I think so many on the right now kind of moving to dismiss Ukraine is probably one reason why Putin's feeling emboldened. So all of a sudden I find some new friends on the left. But then here comes my Israel song, and all of a sudden, nobody in the music industry wants to talk to me again. So it's one of those things where very tribal in this country. I get it, But to me, all these are moral messages. They're not political ones, but we know everything is political. I mean, You've spent your life kind of living this, and so I'm kind of used to it now and I just kind of let it roll one way or the other. And those who are willing to support this cause, Look, this issue should have no political bent. Mark Levin shared my video and Deborah Messing shared my video. You cannot get further apart politically than Mark Levin and Deborah Messing. So I think we need to put our tribalism aside because this really is a battle for the soul of the world and it should have nothing to do with politics. And for those who want to join this mission, I welcome everybody, because we need everybody.
I was really struck. I mean, have you have a knack for combining moral concern with artistic capability? When you released Can One Man Save the World? The companion music video had the Ukrainian Orchestra filmed in Ukraine, that must have been quite an experience. I mean, what was that like?
It was surreal. It's hard to put it into words today. It was every emotion. It was invigorating, it was depressing, it was angering, it was inspiring. A quick little story. We filmed in the Antonov Airport where the symbol of Ukrainian independence is an airplane. It's called the Maria. It's the biggest plane in the world. Cargo plane flew during COVID in the outset of the war. Put didn't went and blew it up. So here we were with this orchestra and this bombed out airport in front of the symbol of Ukrainian dependence, playing this song with an incredible Ukrainian orchestra, and I saw out of the corner of my eye and entourage coming over. It was the general who allowed us to play there, some of his Rambo soldiers, you know, with hair down to their waist and guns in each hand and two fifty pound linebackers, and he said something I'll ever forget in Ukrainian. He said, you know, thank you for coming. President Zelinsky approved this personally, and I'd like to hear the song. And when he said I'd like to hear the song, you saw all the musicians kind of stand up and get kind of all nervous because this general was kind of like their schwartz cough. He was kind of like the face of the war. And so we started playing the song, and the orchestra played with vigor and passion, and I was singing and there were tears, and I saw some of these big Rambo guys put their sunglasses on because they started getting TEI up. And when we finished the song, there was a silence that probably was five or six seconds, but it felt like weeks, the emotion, the weight of that moment. And at that moment, we were all one. We were not American guy and Ukrainians and generals. We were just people kind of trying to find each other in this moment of tragedy, and these folks under this horrible oppression, and everybody was crying. Then I realized virtually nobody knew the words. They didn't know the lyric, they didn't know the words. All it was was this musical expression of playing music and people together. And that just reminded me of the power of music. And that's why I think these efforts and the arts are so critical, and that's why we need more. Our good buddy Andrew Breitbart always used to say politics is downstream of culture, and if we are going to save the next generation, the arts has to play a major role. They don't listen to speeches. They don't read articles. The only thing that moves them is culture. So that trip to Ukraine reminded me of that, and I think that's why reason why I made this video that seems to be impacting. And frankly, we're trying to put together some even larger projects to bring the arts into this battle because as of now, as I said, in the arts, we are losing it.
It's really very worrisome that you would think artists would have found it relatively easy to rally against the kind of terror that we saw on October seventh, but if anything, they had to either be quiet or they had to somehow explain that it was reasonable for Hamas to react this way because they've been treated badly. I mean stuff that is just crazy and actually false, but that is now believed by millions and millions of people.
And by doing that they basically enable Hamas and enable the next attack. And some of these morally equips statements are even worse. You know, look, obviously wars bad. You know, Civilian casualties are tragic, and I care as much about a Palestinian child as I do a Ukrainian child, an Israeli child, and Afghan child. But if we really truly care about them, don't we have to look at the world with open eyes and take actions to remove Hamas from Gaza, to support Ukraine against Putin, to recognize that girls in Afghanistan still don't go to school and I have fifteen girls still trapped in Pakistan. You know, if we don't recognize that again, enables the bad guys and artists need to wake up. And hopefully we're seeing a few signs of that, and sometimes it just takes a little push. But yeah, I'm with you. It's a mad world. It's an insane world. Sometimes we think we live in an alternate universe. But all we can do is fight the fight the best we can, and everybody matters.
It's doubly difficult because you can't get across to these artists. Then most of them would be killed. If they were trying to operate within the Taliban, or they were trying to operate within Hamas, they'd be dead. Isn't like they'd have this glorious future. They would have no future, and you just can't get it through to them.
It's almost like a cult, you know, it's almost like a cult where you've been brainwashed and sanity, reality, persuasion doesn't matter. But we see that in many other aspects of society, you know, with the wokeism. Look, biological men probably shouldn't be playing against biological women in sports. It has nothing to do with the trans issue. It just seems sane, but so many people have a big problem with that issue. So I think we're just seeing this kind of infection of the wokism where we're all kind of common sense feelings and ideas pale to this overarching dogma of if you are the perceived a press class, nothing else matters. And hopefully again and hopefully we're seeing the tide change. You know, we are seeing some folks fighting back against the rot in the schools. Hopefully some of the Hamas Caucus loses the elections, are not in office anymore, you know, Hopefully some of these business leaders who've been fronting the wokeism have a second thought. But again, we have a long way to go. It's not just in the United States. Just look at the UN to see how far the rot has gone, and that's going to take generations to overcome.
It's fascinating that when the Canadians offered an amendment to the resolution which called for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. It's always interesting right after they slaughter people, they'd like a truce well.
And also, you know, the floating of a Palacestenian state by the Body and Administration to me is just sickening. So you're basically going to reward Hamas for committing all these atrocities with the Palestinian state. All that means is every other terrorist organization in the world is going to commit these atrocities feeling they get what they want. So there's a lot of crazy stuff going on. I hope that's not the case, but you're right, it's insanity versus saying it's good versus evil.
As I say, in the United Nations case, the Canadians offer an amendment that would have condemned the October seventh terrorist attacks and demand an immediate release of the Hushes and was voted down.
That's all you need to know, and still is voted down. Yeah, sometimes they tell you who they are and we need to believe them. You know, it's not surprising that the UNRWA was basically infiltrated with Hamas or frankly run by Hamas and we just need to stop hoping that the world gets better. We need to recognize who these people are. We need to stand against them. We need to defund the UN and start over. I mean, it's gone, there's no hope for the UN, So I think we need to just not take them as a serious body, and everybody else stand up and do the right thing. As I said, it has been awakening for so many of us, but it's just so tragic that we had to have this biggest killing of Jews since the Holocaust to perhaps get everybody to realize how dangerous these times are.
Well. And I think, as you point out, a part of this is that the takeover of education by hardline left us means so that a lot of young people just don't know anything.
Yeah, you're right, they're being taught revisionist history. They're not being taught math, reading and writing. And what we're seeing is the results of that, because as you mentioned, this has been going on for decades. So it's not just our kids right now, it's the folks that have been indoctrinated by this kind of mindset who are now running many of our media organizations, running hedge funds, Presidents of our universities. So it's no surprise to see some of this insanity because they've been indoctrinated since they were kids, and now they're running many of these institutions that are collapsing in front of our eyes.
One of the side effects or side influences. There's a study by the National Association of Academics which suggests that between two thousand and one and twenty twenty one, the Katari has donated four point seven billion dollars. So talk about a scale of influence. They're methodically working across the board.
No, I'm glad you brought that up. I meant to mention that, but yes, of course, you know, our adversaries are playing the long game and they're winning. Certainly China. The kataris feeding Northwestern six hundred million dollars, and you wonder why the presidents and board of Northwestern are very afraid to say anything that might alienate their benefactors. We have become weak, we have become feckless, we have become foolish, and I think you see that in aspects of our politics and our culture. Our adversaries are taking advantage of that, and that fact alone about Katari's are basically buying up our colleges. China's buying up our land. If that doesn't scare the hell out yet, I don't know what will.
You've made clear that the proceeds of the song are going to go to the nonprofits fighting anti Semitism. That's a pretty big commitment.
Not really, these songs don't make any money. They're songs. They're not songs that people want to listen to a million times because they're tough issues. But we raise little money for some NGOs that we're rescuing people in Afghanistan. We raise a little money for some Ukrainian aid. You know. One of the blessings of this song is I've met incredible people, just like the other songs, doing great work to fight anti Semitism, heroic organizations that don't get much funding or get much recognition. So they inspire me. And if I can give them a few dollars to continue their efforts, great. This is not how you get rich in the music business, but it's probably more important to do at least what I feel is the right thing to do.
So, as you know, the Senate just passed a bill funding both the war and Ukraine, and the war in Israel. Do you think the House ought to pass it?
I do, and after Putin killed Nivalni today, if you need any more impetus to do so, I think we have to look. I get it. I understand we have the border issue. I understand things are collapsing at home, but allowing Putin to decimate and take Ukraine is not going to make us any safer and save us any money long term. I'd be interested in your thought. Do you think we should fund Ukraine with the current bill?
I think we should absolutely support both Ukraine and Israel, and I think that the House should pass They could modify the Senate bill a little bit, because there's some pieces of it that will make sense to me. But on balance, we have to make sure we get the money to both Ukraine and Israel to enable them to continue to fight. And in the case of both countries, it's a matter of life and death, and I think it's extraordinarily dangerous for Europe and for the United States if Putin wins in Ukraine. And I have a hunch that the murder of Navali, and that's what it is, will in fact increase the propensity to pass this bill, because I think people will be reminded just how evil blood and reputin is.
Well. This is not the first time that I've had the wish that you are Speaker of the House today. But I hope the folks there take your wisdom and do the right thing.
Well. I hope they do too. And frankly, I don't envy Speaker Johnson. I was very lucky. I never had a margin this small. When you have a margin this small, anything can screw it up, and it's a very hard thing to do. I want to thank you for joining me on newts World. Our listeners can find a link to your new music video for Okay on YouTube, and I want to thank you for keeping the public's attention on the Israel Hamas conflict. I also want to mention your continuing efforts to help through your charity. What kind of world do you want? Dot Com fundraising for Americans for Afghanistan. So you're a great citizen and a tremendous artist, and your contributions I think are remarkable at a time when so much of the art community has taken a pass on history and has an abandoned morality. So I really admire your courage and your.
Commitment that means a lot. Thank you, sir, I appreciate it's always a pleasure to be with you.
Thank you to my guest John and Rossik. You can get a link to see his new music video Okay on our show page at newsworld dot com. Newsworld is produced a Gainers three sixty and iHeartMedia. Our executive producer is Guarnsey Sloan. Our researcher is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. Special thanks to the team at Gaingishree sixty. If you've been enjoying Newtsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcast and both rate us with five stars and give us a review so others can learn what it's all about. Right now, listeners of Newtsworld can sign up for my three freeweekly columns at Gamewichtree sixty dot com slash newsletter. I'm newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld.