11 h. ago For Muslims, Mamdani’s rise signifies a new way of looking at who represents America

The New York mayoral candidate has piqued the interest of South Asian Americans and Muslims – not only because of his identity, but his platform, tooZohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor has a group of Pakistani American aunties and uncles so excited that they are wondering if they should have given their own children more freedom in choosing their careers. “What if we let our kids become politicians, and not just doctors and engineers?” a member of the grassroots political organizing group, DRUM Beats, asked at a small celebration held at an Islamic school last month in south Brooklyn.DRUM Beats, which represents New York City’s working class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean populations, was one of the first grassroots groups to endorse Mamdani, when he launched his campaign in October – long before he became a household name. More than 300 volunteers, who spoke near a dozen languages, knocked on at least 10,000 doors to support him. DRUM Beats says...

Politics

31 h. ago New York’s mayoral race exposes the deep roots of American Islamophobia | Ahmed Moor

Islamophobic attacks on Zohran Mamdani are a reminder of the difference between individual and structural prejudiceMy only interaction with the FBI came soon after 11 September 2001. A man and woman visited my family’s home in Philadelphia – we had recently moved from Palestine – showed their credentials and asked to enter. My parents invited them in and a conversation about political views followed. They left soon afterwards but I knew we were suspect, and I understood why.At the time, I was in high school. Two or three years later, one of my sisters, who wore the hijab then, was confronted by an elderly white man at a department store. “What’s the significance of the trash you’re wearing on your head?” he asked.Ahmed Moor is a writer and fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Andy Byron breaks his silence to blame Coldplay for cringe moment he was outed on kiss cam

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron has issued a statement after he was caught cheating on his wife at a recent Coldplay concert, and he's blaming the band for the indiscretion

Politics

43 h. ago The Zohran Mamdani conundrum for moderate Democrats: ‘It’s hard to distance yourself from cool’

Socialist who has support of far-left Democrats like AOC and Bernie Sanders will meet with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday

Politics

3 d. ago Mamdani says he won’t use ‘globalize the intifada’ amid backlash

Democratic NYC mayoral nominee seeks to ease tensions with business leaders and critics over controversial phraseZohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York mayor, has told business leaders in the city he will not use the phrase “globalize the intifada” and discourage others from doing so, according to reports.Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won the Democratic nomination last month, has been under pressure to clarify his position on the phrase that many regard as a call to violence against Jews, and one that he had previously declined to condemn. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago What should Jewish New Yorkers make of Zohran Mamdani? | Beth Miller and Jo

Jo-Ann Mort and Beth Miller go head to head on Zohran MamdaniWhile headlines would have you believe otherwise, Jewish New Yorkers supported Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary in droves. We showed up because our communities want to live and thrive alongside our neighbors in an affordable city where no one is left behind, and because we want a mayor who believes in Palestinian human rights.Beth Miller is the political director of Jewish Voice for Peace ActionJo-Ann Mort is co-author of Our Hearts Invented a Place: Can Kibbutzim Survive in Today’s Israel? She writes frequently about Israel for US, UK, and Israeli publications Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Andrew Cuomo announces run for New York City mayor as an independent

Former governor lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani by more than 12 points last monthAndrew Cuomo, former New York governor, said Monday that he will run as an independent in New York City’s mayoral race, after losing in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani.Many saw Cuomo as the favorite in the primary, but he ultimately lost to Mamdani, a current member of the New York state assembly, by more than 12 points. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Cuomo staying in NYC mayor’s race as independent after losing Democratic primary to Mamdani

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will campaign for mayor of New York City as an independent candidate, staying in a crowded field running against surging left-wing Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani

Politics

5 d. ago I was on New York’s rent board. Zohran Mamdani’s ideas aren’t pie in the sky | Leah Goodridge

The Democratic mayoral candidate has faced controversy over his calls for a rent freeze. But the plan has plenty of precedent During the New York City mayoral primary campaign, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a citywide rent freeze became a contentious topic. The Democratic nominee says to achieve a cap on annual rent increases for the city’s 1m rent-stabilized apartments, he would appoint members to the city’s rent guidelines board who support it. Critics decry a rent freeze as a pie-in-the-sky, unrealistic proposal.I served as a rent guidelines board member for nearly four years, appointed by then mayor Bill de Blasio in 2018. And it’s clear this controversy isn’t just about rent freezes – there’s a larger agenda to deregulate rent-stabilized housing, under which rent ceilings prevent landlords from raising the rent too high and tenants must be offered renewal leases (unless the landlord shows legal reason not to). Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Zohran Mamdani’s campaign proposes free childcare. Is it finally a winning policy?

A report suggests New Yorkers pay nearly $26,000 a year on childcare and Mamdani’s promise could transform livesMaggie Stockdale hadn’t given much thought to childcare before welcoming her first child last year. But once she learned the high price of full-time daycare tuition in Brooklyn, New York, she knew she had to find another solution.Now, her care duties are split between Stockdale’s parents, who relocated from Wisconsin to help out, and her husband, who cut his hours down to part time and arranged with his employer to let him bring their 10-month-old to work several days a week. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Trump booster Charlie Kirk calls NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani a ‘parasite’ and says legal immigration ‘also the problem’

Charlie Kirk called NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a “parasite” and slammed legal immigration in a xenophobic attack on Friday.

Politics

8 d. ago ‘Look who’s talking’: Fetterman told to look in mirror after he rips NYC’s Mamdani as ‘not even a Democrat’

Former staffers and campaign workers criticized the Pennsylvania senator for slamming the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City after becoming a Fox News go-to

Politics

8 d. ago Zohran Mamdani’s videos are a masterclass. Eric Adams’ posts are getting more bizarre | Arwa Mahdawi

Adams is posting more on Instagram lately, and it’s hard not to see Mamdani’s elite TikTok strategy as the reason whyEric Adams, possible resident of New Jersey and mayor of New York City, is a man of many talents. He is the city’s “most famous vegan”, albeit one who eats fish. He has a knack for scoring freebies from foreign governments. He managed the great feat of being the first mayor in the city’s history to be indicted while in office. And, on top of all that, he may well be the most unintentionally hilarious man on the internet.Please see, as exhibit one, a classic piece of Adams surrealism from 2011, shot when the mayor was just a humble state senator. Dressed like an undertaker, Adams instructs viewers to search their child’s room for contraband. Per Adams, a jewelry box may have a gun in it, and the bullets may be behind a picture frame. Unappreciated for many years, the video finally found an audience when it went viral during Adams’s indictment. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Eric Adams raises $1 million in a single night for NYC mayoral campaign as his voters fear Mamdani

Mayor Eric Adams is running as an independent against Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani

Politics

9 d. ago Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral ad campaign is going so viral he’s having trouble producing it

Democratic candidate unable to film new promo on city streets after being mobbed by passersby requesting pictures and wishing him well in the race for City Hall

Events

1 week ago Is the New York Times trying to wreck Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral bid? | Margaret Sullivan

With their made-up scandal, combined with the pre-election editorial, the Times looks like it’s on a crusade against MamdaniA recent New York Times news story immediately drew fire from readers – and for very good reason.Headlined “Mamdani Identified as Asian and African American on College Application,” the article centered on Zohran Mamdani, the candidate for New York City mayor who drew national attention recently with his stunning win in the Democratic primary election.Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Former liberal climate activist says Mamdani is ‘selling a fantasy’

Former liberal climate activist has used her platform to promote more conservative-aligned ideals

Politics

2 w. ago Steve Bannon: ‘Trump is going to be in your head for a long time’

The former White House chief strategist on why he believes the Iran strikes were a win, his time in jail — and what Zohran Mamdani means for the Democrats

Politics

2 w. ago I’m no fan of Elon Musk. But Trump’s threat to deport him is sickening | Justice Malala

The president said he would ‘take a look’ at deporting the US citizen amid a political feud, as Republicans make similar remarks about Zohran MamdaniElon Musk is an utterly deplorable human being. He has unashamedly flashed an apparent Nazi salute; encouraged rightwing extremists in Germany and elsewhere; falsely claimed there is a “genocide” in South Africa against white farmers; callously celebrated the dismantling of USAID, whose shuttering will lead to the deaths of millions, according to a study published in the Lancet this week; and increased misinformation and empowered extremists on his Twitter/X platform while advancing his sham “I am a free speech absolutist” claims. And so much more.So the news that Donald Trump “will take a look” at deporting his billionaire former “first buddy” Musk has many smirking and shrugging: “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Democrats who haven’t endorsed Zohran Mamdani offer muted defense as Trump targets him

Jerry Nadler, one of the few who has endorsed Mamdani, tells The Independent ‘the president is out of his mind’

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