Josh Hammer

American political commentator and lawyer (born 1989)

For the journalist and author, see Joshua Hammer.

Josh Hammer

Hammer in 2025

Born|

Joshua Benjamin Hammer

(1989-02-12) February 12, 1989 (age 36)

Westchester County, New York, U.S.

Education| Duke University (BS)
University of Chicago (JD)
Occupations|

* political commentator
* media host
* columnist
* attorney

Known for| The Josh Hammer Show; Author of Israel and Civilization
Spouse|

Shir Cohen

(m. 2023)​

Joshua Benjamin Hammer (born February 12, 1989) is an American conservative political commentator, attorney, and columnist.[1][2][3] He is also the author of Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.[4] He is a syndicated columnist through Creators Syndicate, senior editor-at-large for Newsweek,[5] and host of The Josh Hammer Show, a Newsweek podcast and syndicated weekly radio show.[6][7]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Hammer was born in Westchester County, New York, to a Jewish family.[8] He attended what he called a "fairly Reform" synagogue growing up.[9]

Hammer graduated from Duke University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.[10] After graduating, he worked in antitrust research.[11] He later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 2016.[9] In law school, he was active in the Federalist Society and the Edmund Burke Society. He has also been a fellow with the Claremont Institute and the James Wilson Institute.[10]

## Career

[edit]

After graduating from law school, Hammer worked for sixteen months at the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He then clerked for Judge James C. Ho on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. While establishing himself as an editor at The Daily Wire and contributor at TheBlaze, he also worked as of counsel at the First Liberty Institute.

Starting in 2020, Hammer joined Newsweek as opinion editor. He has since assumed the title of senior editor-at-large.[5][12] He is also the host of The Josh Hammer Show, a Newsweek podcast and syndicated weekly radio show.[13] Also in 2020, he joined Creators Syndicate as a syndicated columnist and became a research fellow at the pro-national conservatism Edmund Burke Foundation, where his scholarship "specializes in the Anglo-American jurisprudential tradition."[14] In 2023, he was named a fellow at the Florida-based Palm Beach Freedom Institute.[15] His recent scholarship includes the article "Common Good Originalism," published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, in which he attempts to theorize a "middle-ground position" and fusion of originalism and common good constitutionalism.[16][17][18] With the natural law scholar Hadley Arkes, Matthew Peterson, and Garrett Snedeker, Hammer co-authored in 2021 the influential manifesto "A Better Originalism," arguing for "a bolder, more robust jurisprudence rooted in the principles and practices of American constitutionalism."[19] Hammer has also contributed to the University of St. Thomas Law Journal.[20] He previously hosted America on Trial with Josh Hammer, a legal podcast primarily focused on the 2024 United States presidential election.[21] Hammer remains a member of the bar in Texas and serves as senior counsel for both the Article III Project and the Internet Accountability Project.[22][23]

The Southern Poverty Law Center reported that the Newsweek opinion section under Hammer's tenure had "emerged as a hub for opinion pieces authored by radical right activists",[24] noting its elevation of conspiracy theorists such as Jack Posobiec and Dinesh D'Souza, and its publication of conspiracy theories about COVID-19.[25]

In December 2022, Hammer attended the annual gala for the New York Young Republican Club, along with noted far-right figures such as Posobiec, Steve Bannon, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Peter Brimelow.[24]

Hammer is the author of the book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West, from Radius Book Group.[26]

## Conservative activism

[edit]

At CPAC Hungary 2023

An outspoken conservative, Hammer is a vocal commentator on conservative political, legal, and cultural issues at various publications.[20] Hammer is a contributor to programs on networks such as Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, and One America News Network.[20][27][28] Hammer is vocal about Jewish- and Zionist-related issues; he has debated Peter Beinart[29][30] about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and Alan Dershowitz about the 2023 Israeli judicial reform dispute.[31]

Hammer was involved with Senator Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign.[32] Hammer was invited to the Florida governor’s mansion to meet with Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2022.[33] Hammer currently sits on the boards of advisors of American Moment,[34] the New York Young Republican Club[35] and the United Jewish Gun Coalition.[36]

In May 2023, Hammer cofounded Jews Against Soros, a coalition of Jews who oppose the political influence of George Soros.[37]

## Personal life

[edit]

Hammer describes growing up in a "very, very assimilated" Jewish environment, but has since become Orthodox.[9]

In December 2022, Hammer proposed to Shir Cohen at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.[9][38] They were married in December 2023.[39]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mahoney, Emily L. (June 16, 2022). "MAGA influencers flock to Florida, chasing political clout and connections". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
2. ^ "DeSantis convenes top donors, fellow GOP govs as 2024 chatter builds". POLITICO. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
3. ^ Koppelman, Andrew (February 14, 2022). "Josh Hammer and originalism's entropy". The Hill. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
4. ^ Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. ISBN 1635769736.
5. ^ a b "Josh Hammer". Newsweek. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
6. ^ "Josh Hammer". Newsweek. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
7. ^ "Newsweek Launches Josh Hammer Weekly Radio Show". Talkers. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
8. ^ Frankfurter, Yitzhok (October 21, 2020). "Understanding These Volatile Times". Ami Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
9. ^ a b c d "Interview with Josh Hammer". Interviews with Max Raskin. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
10. ^ a b "Josh Hammer". Young America's Foundation. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
11. ^ "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Amazon?". SSRN. SSRN 3908764. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
12. ^ Hayden, Michael Edison (November 4, 2022). "Newsweek Embraces the Anti-Democracy Hard Right". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
13. ^ "Newsweek's Josh Hammer Starts News/Talk Syndication In Seattle". Radio Ink. November 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
14. ^ "Josh Hammer - Edmund Burke Foundation". Edmund Burke Foundation. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
15. ^ "Who We Are". Palm Beach Freedom Institute. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
16. ^ Hammer, Josh (2021). "Common Good Originalism" (PDF). Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. 44 (3).
17. ^ "Explaining Common-Good Originalism Does Not Help Its Case". National Review. August 19, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
18. ^ Ward, Ian. "Critics Call It Theocratic and Authoritarian. Young Conservatives Call It an Exciting New Legal Theory". Politico. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
19. ^ "A Better Originalism". The American Mind. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
20. ^ a b c "Josh Hammer". Federalist Society. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
21. ^ "Josh Hammer on the Trump Trials and the Border Battle". Clay and Buck. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
22. ^ "Article 3 Project About". Article 3 project. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
23. ^ "IAP About". IAP. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
24. ^ a b Gais, Hannah; Hayden, Michael Edison (December 11, 2022). "White Nationalists, Other Republicans Brace for 'Total War'". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
25. ^ Hayden, Michael Edison (November 4, 2022). "Newsweek Embraces the Anti-Democracy Hard Right". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
26. ^ "Israel & Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West". Radius Book Group. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
27. ^ "New York Times' fraught history covering Jews, Israel draws fresh backlash amid report on Hasidic schools". Fox News. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
28. ^ "WATCH: Josh Hammer Joins One America News". Internet Accountability Project. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
29. ^ "Israel's New Election: No One Else but Bibi". Miryam Institute. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
30. ^ "Why I Debate People With Whom I Disagree". Substack. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
31. ^ "Alan Dershowitz vs. Josh Hammer "Israel's Judicial Reform: Pro and Con"". EventBrite. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
32. ^ "Iowa caucus: Ted Cruz echoes Ronald Reagan in victory speech". Vox. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
33. ^ "MAGA influencers flock to Florida, chasing political clout and connections". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
34. ^ "Board of Advisors". American Moment. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
35. ^ "About". NYYRC. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
36. ^ "Who we are". NYYRC. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
37. ^ "Activists launch Jews Against Soros to oppose mega-donor's 'radical left-wing influence'". Fox News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
38. ^ "POLITICO Playbook: How long can McCarthy hang on?". Politico. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
39. ^ "Playbook PM: Can big money power a Haley surprise?". Politico. Retrieved December 20, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Newsweek biography
* Creators Syndicate page

*[m.]: married