From NYU Professor to Far-Right PAC Founder
In short: Michael Rectenwald’s career trajectory is a study in radical ideological shifts. Once a professor of liberal studies at NYU, he transitioned from academic analysis of 19th-century secularism to founding a political action committee that endorses far-right figures and explores
Rectenwald first entered the academic world, obtaining a Ph.D. within the field of Literary and Cultural Studies at Carnegie Mellon University during 2004. For more than ten years, he held a professorship in Liberal and Global Liberal Studies at New York University until his 2019 retirement. During his tenure, he became known for his critiques of social justice ideology, notably through an anonymous Twitter account in 2016 that led to a public dispute with NYU leadership regarding a leave of absence.
His scholarly work initially focused on the history of secularism. He wrote extensively on George Jacob Holyoake, who founded the movement in London in 1851, arguing that Holyoake's work represented an early stage of scientific naturalism. Rectenwald's academic output was prolific; in one year, he published three books, including works on British secularism and the 'immanent frame' of modernity.
In recent years, Rectenwald's output has shifted toward more controversial and partisan territory. He authored a memoir in 2018 critiquing the 'authoritarian' nature of social justice in academia and later self-published a novel in 2025 that explores 'the Jewish question' and 'cabal' theories. He has also been vocal about his personal evolution, describing a process of becoming 'Jew-pilled' while maintaining that his work is a 'Christian redemption story.'
The Anti-Zionist America PAC (AZAPAC) was established by Rectenwald in 2025. While the PAC claims to oppose pro-Israel lobbying rather than the existence of the State of Israel, reports indicate it has endorsed figures like Nick Fuentes and candidates who promote conspiracy theories regarding the September 11 attacks. By late 2025, the PAC had raised $111,556 and began endorsing a mix of Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian candidates for the 2026 elections.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Michael Rectenwald
- Also: Wikidata — Michael Rectenwald · CC0
- Also: imprimis.hillsdale.edu — Michael Rectenwald | Imprimis
- Also: Wikidata — Michael Rectenwald, Nineteenth-Century British Secularism: Science, Religion and Literature · CC0
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