Josh Hammer
Josh Hammer is a conservative legal analyst, commentator, and opinion editor at Newsweek. He is an Orthodox Jew and a prominent pro-Israel voice in American conservative media.
Background
Education and Legal Career
Hammer holds a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit before moving into media and commentary.
Media Career
Hammer served as an editor at large for The Daily Wire before becoming the opinion editor at Newsweek (starting around 2020-2021). He is a senior editor-at-large at Newsweek, hosts a podcast, and is a regular commentator across conservative media. He has affiliations with the Edmund Burke Foundation and the national conservatism movement.
Stance on Israel
Hammer has consistently advocated for strong U.S.-Israel relations, defended Israeli military operations, and publicly debated figures on the right who question U.S. foreign policy toward Israel.
Connection to the Investigation
TPUSA Debate with Dave Smith (July 13, 2025)
Hammer debated Dave Smith (libertarian comedian and podcaster) at the TPUSA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida, on July 13, 2025. The debate centered on U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and non-interventionism. It was a significant moment in the intra-right policy debate that Charlie Kirk was navigating in mid-2025.
Hamptons Meeting (Early August 2025)
According to multiple compiled sources, Hammer was one of several pro-Israel figures at a meeting in the Hamptons in early August 2025 where Charlie Kirk's evolving stance on Israel was discussed. Other reported attendees include Bill Ackman, Seth Dillon, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, and Natasha Hausdorff.
Organizations
- Newsweek — Senior editor-at-large, opinion editor
- The Daily Wire — Former editor at large
- Edmund Burke Foundation — Affiliated commentator
Deeper Coverage
Status: Alive