Latest news with #DanPfeiffer
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Former Obama staffer rips Cuomo campaign video: 'No message, no charisma'
A former staffer of former President Barack Obama shredded a campaign video by New York City mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to socialist Zohran Mamdani last month. "This is one of the least compelling campaign videos that I have ever seen," Dan Pfeiffer, a former Obama White House deputy communications director and advisor, wrote on X. "Just a visibly annoyed man wearing an ill-fitting shirt saying things he clearly doesn't believe," Pfeiffer said, stating that Cuomo had "No message," "No charisma," and that the video did not have any "compelling visuals." Cuomo released the campaign video formalizing his independent mayoral bid on Monday, with the accompanying comment, "In it to win it." Reached by Fox News Digital, a Cuomo campaign spokesman noted that the video had accrued more than 12 million views in less than a day since it was published online. "If the insular pod saves America guys don't like something, it must mean we're in the right track," the spokesman added of Pfeiffer, who co-hosts the leading progressive podcast titled, "Pod Saves America." Cuomo's video begins with him standing in a New York City park saying that "unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that the Democratic primary did not go the way that I had hoped." "To the 400,040 New Yorkers who voted for me, a sincere thank you. Thank you for believing in me and in my agenda and experience," the former three-term governor turned mayoral candidate said. "I am truly sorry that I let you down. But as my grandfather used to say, 'when you get knocked down, learn the lesson and pick yourself back up and get in the game, and that is what I'm going to do." Cuomo delivered his message while footage played of him shaking the hands of people on the street and in the subway system. "The fight to save our city isn't over. Only 13% of New Yorkers voted in the June primary," Cuomo said. "The general election is in November, and I am in it to win it. My opponent, Mr. Mamdani, offers slick slogans but no real solutions. We need a city with lower rent, safer streets, where buying your first home is once again possible, where childcare won't bankrupt you. That's the New York City we know. That's the one that is still possible." "You haven't given up on it, and you deserve a mayor with the experience and ideas to make it happen again. And the guts to take on anyone who stands in the way," Cuomo added. "Everyday I'm going to be hitting the streets, meeting you where you are to hear the good and the bad, problems and solutions. Because for the next few months, it's my responsibility to earn your vote. So let's do this. I'll see you out there." Mamdani's primary victory over Cuomo and nine other candidates three weeks ago rocked the Democratic Party, and boosted the Ugandan-born 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens toward becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation's most populous city. Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living. Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores. Thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, he rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who had been the front-runner. In deep blue New York City, the Democratic primary winner is largely favored to win the general election. If Mamdani wins in November, he will be the first Muslim and millennial mayor of New York City. Mamdani was raised in Uganda and then Cape Town, South Africa, until moving at age 7 to New York City, where he attended Bronx High School of Science. Mamdani's father is a Columbia University professor who sits on the advisory council of an anti-Israel organization that supports boycotts and sanctions of Israel, routinely accuses the Israeli government of committing "genocide", and has expressed sympathy for suicide bombers. His mother is a celebrated Indian filmmaker. Mamdani notably declined in a June interview to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," sparking serious concern from Jewish New Yorkers facing increased antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel. Also on the general election ballot is Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his primary bid earlier this year amid sinking poll numbers in the wake of numerous controversies. Adams is running as an independent. Other candidates in the general election are Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor running as an independent, and Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who, for a second straight election, is the Republican mayoral nominee.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Truly Disgusting': GOP Senator Slammed For 'Depraved' Tweets After Shootings
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is facing criticism over tweets mocking this weekend's deadly shootings in Minnesota targeting Democratic lawmakers. With the suspected killer still on the run ― reportedly armed and carrying a manifesto targeting 'many lawmakers and other officials' ― Lee fired off a series of messages on social media. One suggested the suspect, Vance Boelter, was into 'Marxism,' despite reports that he was a religious conservative who had attended rallies in support of President Donald Trump. Another tweet included an image of the suspect in a mask knocking on a victim's door just before one of the shootings, which left two dead and two injured before Boelter was arrested Sunday night. 'Nightmare on Waltz Street,' Lee wrote, likely a reference to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). Lee's critics called him out over over the message ― and some called for his resignation: Truly disgusting behavior from a United States Senator — Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 15, 2025 This is as ugly a tweet you'll get from a politician after the murders of two people and others shot. @SenMikeLee should be forced to resign. Unacceptable doesn't come close to describing this behavior. — Henry Lake (@lakeshow73) June 16, 2025 I know you're too far gone @BasedMikeLee, but you should realize how gross this is and delete it. — Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) June 15, 2025 You should resign. — Timothy Bellman (@Timothy_Bellman) June 15, 2025 Grow the hell up. — Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) June 15, 2025 When there's political violence in western democracies it's traditionally treated as a somber event for everyone to come together. That's disappeared. The victims were gunned down just over a day ago and a US Senator is mocking the event and hinting at a deranged conspiracy. — Lee Fang (@lhfang) June 15, 2025 The surgery to remove your sense of shame was a success. Congrats, I guess. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 15, 2025 Hard to figure out how to deal with the fact that so much of this country has become brain-rotted by Trump and Internet algorithms to the point where they are completely detached from reality and have zero sense of basic empathy or compassion. Incredibly grim stuff. — Brett Meiselas 🇺🇸🦅 (@BMeiselas) June 16, 2025 Yesterday, a Trump supporter went on an assassination spree targeting a GOP Senator mocks their isn't politics — it's depraved moral rot. — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) June 15, 2025 When our elected leaders no longer care about political violence, we shouldn't be surprised when there is more political violence. — Max Burns (@themaxburns) June 15, 2025 You were brokenhearted about Trump winning the nomination in 2016 and voted for Evan McMullin but now here you are mimicking the lamest incel MAGA trolls. Whatever broke inside your brain, I hope you get help for it. This is just sad. — Sarah Rumpf 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦 (@rumpfshaker) June 15, 2025 If a Democratic senator posted a meme fantasizing about the assassination of, say, Greg Abbott or Ron DeSantis, Republicans would have the expulsion vote queued up for noon the next day and at least a couple of Democrats would vote for it. — Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) June 15, 2025 I know we do this all the time, but imagine if a Democrat did something like this after Steve Scalise was shot or after Trump's assassination attempt? — Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) June 15, 2025 Absolutely disgraceful. — Mike Young 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱🟧 (@micyoung75) June 15, 2025 you're not just crazy you're disgusting — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) June 15, 2025 Mike Lee is a garbage human being mocking the assassination of two people by a man who is also in the Trump your account, seek help, and reflect on the life decisions that had led you to this radicalized place. — The Darkest Timeline Numbersmuncher (@NumbersMuncher) June 15, 2025 Mike Lee's transformation from a principled, policy-driven lawmaker into a desperate shitposter should be studied. Not the first time a middle-aged nerdy guy morphed into a teenager online after getting a taste of internet fame. Sad to watch. — Billy Binion (@billybinion) June 15, 2025 What the actual fuck is wrong with you? Your a goddamned disgrace to Utah and America. — BadgerStew (@BadgerStew) June 15, 2025
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Obama advisor warns Dems have 'no path' to victory if they don't win back key voter demographic
A former advisor to Barack Obama has warned that Democrats have 'no path' back to the White House unless they win back Latino voters. Ex-presidential aide Dan Pfeiffer, 49, told Pod Save America the demographic holds the key to the beleaguered party's redemption at the next election. 'There's no way to look at this without recognizing the massive scale of our problems,' Pfieffer told former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on Friday's episode of the left-leaning podcast. 'You can kind of tell yourself that things might be kind of OK by looking at just the shift from '20 to '24,' he added. 'But if you really want to assess where we are as a party, you have to look at the shift from 2016 to 2024.' Pfeiffer pointed out that former Democrat hopeful Hillary Clinton was much more popular among the Hispanic population than President Trump. She gained around 70 percentage points more from the demographic voter pool than Trump did - a wider margin than Obama. But former Vice President Kamala Harris secured the group by only 54 percentage points on Trump. Several exit polls even indicated that Trump gained more of the vote among Latino men. 'Latinos moved 17 points (to the right) in eight years,' Pfeiffer said. 'Latino men went 14 points (toward the GOP) in eight years.' He added that 'Latinos are the fastest-growing population' in the country. 'They are particularly politically powerful because of how the population is distributed in electoral-rich sunbelt states like Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada,' he said. 'They are becoming more of the electorate, and we are losing more of them at a very fast rate. If that trend continues, there is no path to Democrats winning elections.' It comes as voter polls indicate that New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could be the Democratic Party's next presidential candidate. There are 65.2 million Hispanics and Latinos in the US, or around one-fifth of the population, according to the US Census Bureau. 'The message I take from this is, anyone who thinks that we can get away with just tinkering around the edges, just hoping that Donald Trump becomes unpopular or they nominate some yahoo in 2028 or we're going to ride the wave of tariffs and inflation to a narrow House victory is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,' Pfieffer added. 'We have to be willing to ask very hard questions.' Efforts by Trump's campaign group to sway over millions of Hispanic voters proved hugely successful, despite a massive pre-election controversy when a comedian at a Trump rally compared Puerto Rico to a 'floating island of garbage'. Trump's biggest gains among Hispanic voters were evident in the key states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. Before midnight on election night, Trump became the first Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 to win Miami-Dade, a county where two-thirds of residents are Latino. As well as targeting Hispanic voters, Team Trump also aimed to sway over African-Americans — another huge demographic group in the US. But there was less of a noticeable impact on African-American voters. Exit polls suggested Trump narrowed the gap with Harris among Black men by two points, compared with 2020. Of the 100-plus counties with a Black population of at least 50 percent, the Republicans gained ground in all but eight.
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Former Obama advisor says Dems in 'huge bit of trouble' if they can't win Latinos back
Ex-Obama senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer warned on Friday that there is "no path" for Democrats to win elections unless they address their rapidly declining Latino vote. Pfeiffer brought this up with former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on the "Pod Save America" podcast as they looked over 2024 election exit data which showed former Vice President Kamala Harris losing ground with both young voters and minority voters. Pfeiffer added that the Democratic Party had been losing Latino voters since 2016. "The main story of this is that Democrats are in a huge bit of trouble," Pfeiffer said. "There's no way to look at this without recognizing the massive scale of our problems. And you can kind of tell yourself that things might be kind of okay by looking at just the shift from 2020 to 2024. But if you really want to assess where we are as a party, you have to look at the shift from 2016 to 2024. And it is particularly true with Latino voters." He pointed out that Latinos have shifted 17 points towards Republicans since 2016. While Democrats still took a majority of Hispanic voters, Pfeiffer showed concern over this trend. "Latinos are the fastest-growing population in the country. They are particularly politically powerful because of how the population is distributed in electoral-rich sunbelt states like Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, et cetera. And so, they are becoming more of the electorate, and we are losing more of them at a very fast rate. If that trend continues, there is no path to Democrats winning elections," Pfeiffer said. Regarding young voters, Pfeiffer pointed out that Harris only got about half of new voters compared to President Donald Trump. "If that trend continues, we're in huge trouble," Pfeiffer said. "The message I take from this is anyone who thinks that we can get away with just tinkering around the edges just hoping that Donald Trump becomes unpopular or they nominate some yahoo in 2028 or we're going to ride the wave of tariffs and inflation to a narrow House victory is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. We have to be willing to ask very hard questions." Since the 2024 election, other former Obama officials have criticized the Democratic Party for failing to appeal outside the elite. "The only group they won among – Democrats won among – were people who make more than $100,000 a year," former Obama advisor David Axelrod said in November. "You can't win national elections that way."
