Aber Kawas is facing renewed scrutiny after a short 2017 podcast excerpt resurfaced following her Democratic primary win in New York State Senate District 12. The clip, attributed to a 2017 episode of the Asian American Writers’ Association podcast, includes comments about 9/11 in the context of capitalism, racism and Islamophobia that critics say risk being read as excusing or blaming the attacks; supporters say the remarks were analytical and taken out of context. (Fox News)
Aber Kawas resurfaced podcast clip
The audio excerpt is reported to come from a 2017 Asian American Writers’ Association episode in which Kawas discussed what she described as structural drivers of violence and discrimination. The clip circulated on social media after Kawas beat Assemblyman Steven Raga in the June primary. (Fox News)
In the published excerpt, Kawas is heard saying language that situates 9/11 within “the system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy… and Islamophobia,” and later arguing that expecting Muslim Americans to apologize for acts they did not commit is unfair. Supporters tell reporters those lines were part of a broader critique of scapegoating and structural violence; critics say the phrasing lends itself to a different reading. The Fox News article includes key quotes used by both critics and the campaign. (Fox News)
At this writing, a full public transcript of the 2017 episode has not been published alongside the circulating clip; outlets and the campaign may release fuller audio or transcripts to clarify context in coming days. We sought a direct link to the original episode for independent verification but have not found a stable archive link provided by major outlets citing the clip.
Campaign reaction and Kawas response
Kawas and her campaign say the clip has been edited and presented without necessary context. In a November 2025 interview noted in reporting, Kawas called the excerpts “cherry-picked” and said she was condemning scapegoating of Muslim Americans rather than praising or excusing violence. (Fox News)
Supporters have framed attacks on Kawas as politically motivated and have described some rapid online criticism as Islamophobic; campaign statements after the primary asserted that Queens voters rejected such smears. Opponents counter that the resurfaced material raises questions about judgment and messaging heading into the general election. Where possible, this article attributes those claims to the campaign or to published reporting rather than treating them as independent fact. (Fox News)
What voters in District 12 need to know
New York State Senate District 12 covers parts of western Queens, including Astoria and nearby neighborhoods; the seat is open because Sen. Michael Gianaris is leaving the post at the end of his term. Kawas beat Assemblyman Steven Raga in the Democratic primary, which many observers view as the decisive contest in this heavily Democratic district. (Reporting on the primary result and district geography is contemporaneous background; see local election coverage for precinct-level detail.)
For voters in Queens, the immediate questions are practical: will the resurfaced audio change turnout among constituencies that supported Kawas, and will opponents use the clip in paid or earned messaging before November? Those effects will depend on how rapidly fuller context or transcripts become available and how community leaders in Astoria and neighboring areas react.
Allegations and outside reporting
Separate reporting from the New York Post examined Kawas’s family history, reporting that her father, identified as Abdelkareem Kawas, came to the U.S. on a tourist visa in 1989, was later convicted of real estate fraud, served time and was deported. Those details are attributed to the Post’s reporting and have not been independently verified by this outlet; readers should treat those claims as allegations reported by the Post. (New York Post)
Other coverage has referenced reported past affiliations or interactions between Kawas and organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); reporting on organizational ties and their significance varies across outlets, and some claims exist only in secondary reporting. We note those accounts here with attribution but recommend readers consult original filings, organizational statements, or primary documents for verification. (New York Post)
Journalistic caution: allegations about family history or group ties should be weighed alongside campaign statements and official records. This article links to the original reporting so readers can evaluate primary source material.
What comes next
Expect follow-up reporting to prioritize: 1) a full transcript or the complete 2017 episode to assess the clip’s context, 2) on-the-record reactions from Queens community leaders and precinct-level turnout data after any new messaging, and 3) any campaign responses or legal notices demanding corrections. The campaign may release longer excerpts; opponents may incorporate the clip into digital ads or mailers.
Local forums in Astoria and nearby neighborhoods could become venues for voters to press Kawas directly about her past remarks and policy agenda; community organizations often host such events in competitive races, and they may play a role here.
Source attribution
This article draws primarily on reporting published by Fox News and the New York Post, which are linked below. Where possible, we have placed inline citations after sentences that rely on those outlets’ reporting. We have not independently authenticated every detail of third-party reporting and note limitations when appropriate.
- Fox News — coverage of the resurfaced 2017 clip and November 2025 interview
- New York Post — reporting on Abdelkareem Kawas and related records
Reporting limitations: a full transcript or verified archive link to the original 2017 Asian American Writers’ Association episode was not included in the cited stories; our coverage will update if and when primary audio or transcripts are released. We also sought—but did not find—public court records or primary organizational statements linked directly in initial reporting; readers should consult official records for verification of allegations about family history or legal outcomes.
FAQ
Did Aber Kawas say America deserved 9/11?
The short audio excerpt published by outlets shows Kawas placing 9/11 in a long historical critique of systems she called capitalism, racism and Islamophobia. Critics have interpreted parts of the excerpt as implying the United States “deserved” the attacks; Kawas and her campaign say the remarks were analytical and condemnatory of scapegoating. See the Fox News citation for the published excerpt. (Fox News)
Has Kawas publicly addressed the resurfaced clip?
Yes. She told reporters in an interview cited by Fox News that the clip had been “cherry-picked” and that she does not justify violence; her campaign has issued statements to that effect. (Fox News)
How could this affect the District 12 general election?
District 12 leans Democratic, making the primary result significant. The resurfaced clip could influence messaging and turnout, but its ultimate impact will depend on whether full context or transcripts are released, how community leaders in Queens respond, and how both the campaign and opponents choose to frame the material publicly.
We will continue to update this report as primary-source audio, transcripts, campaign statements, or official records become available.
