Latest news with #NewYorkMayoralRace
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Mamdani called out by MSNBC guest for refusing to condemn 'globalize the intifada' phrase
Podcast host Donny Deutsch called out Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic New York City mayoral candidate, on Monday for refusing to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" during an appearance on MSNBC. "I'm outraged that we have a candidate for mayor of New York, Mr. Mamdani, that cannot walk back or cannot condemn the words 'globalize the intifada' and his nuance of, 'well, it means different things for different people.' Well, let me tell you what it means to a Jew — it means violence," Deutsch said, citing the October 7 terrorist attacks, as well as the Boulder, Colorado attacks. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, defeated establishment candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary last week. "That's the connotation, that's the essence of it, and that's what it means to Jewish people. And if any other group came forward and said 'you know these words are offense to us, it means violence, it frightens us,' I think there would be a response, but for some reason, if Jewish people find it offensive, it's not offensive," Deutsch continued. The podcast host said it was offensive to him and accused Mandami of running a "campaign of divisiveness." "He also came out in the last two days and said, 'we're going to tax rich, White neighborhoods.' Why do you have to put White in there? Just say, we're going to tax the wealthy. I just find that offensive. I find it offensive that in the past he's talked about defunding the police. I think he's walked that back," Deutsch said. Mamdani had several opportunities to condemn the "globalize the intifada" phrase during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "That's not language that I use. The language that I use, the language that I will continue to use to lead this city, is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights," Mamdani told NBC's Kristen Welker. "And ultimately, that's what is the foundation of so much of my politics, the belief that freedom and justice and safety are things that, to have meaning, have to be applied to all people and that includes Israelis and Palestinians alike." Welker asked two more times about why he wouldn't condemn the phrase if it concerned Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani argued, "I don't believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech." "My concern is, to start to walk down the line of language and making clear what language I believe is permissible or impermissible, takes me into a place similar to that of the president, who is looking to do those very kinds of things, putting people in jail for writing an op-ed, putting them in jail for protesting. Ultimately, it is not language that I use. It is language I understand there are concerns about, and what I will do is showcase my vision for the city through my words and my actions," Mamdani added. Mamdani's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Chris Cuomo Compares Mamdani Supporters To Left-Wing Version Of MAGA
New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election ... More night gathering on June 24 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Chris Cuomo has waded into the fallout from his brother Andrew Cuomo's loss in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, delivering a scorching takedown of Democrats and the supporters who propelled 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani to victory. While Cuomo avoided covering the race on his show while it was happening, because of the obvious personal ties, he broke his silence following his brother's loss to a democratic socialist who's also a rising figure on the city's progressive left. During a segment on his NewsNation show Wednesday night, the former CNN anchor framed the outcome of the primary as a symptom of a larger problem within the Democratic Party, a party that he described as sliding into its own version of political extremism. Mamdani, a state assemblyman, has built his platform on housing justice, taxing the wealthy, and defunding the police – positions that have energized younger voters but also alienated centrists. Cuomo: Democrats are embracing extremism 'There were several radical choices in the mix, not to mention, and contrary to what was sold by his opponents, Andrew is no establishment guy, and the party did not love that he ran, but that's his case to make,' Cuomo said, according to a transcript of his NewsNation remarks. He pointed to what he described as low voter turnout and disproportionate enthusiasm among the most ideological voters as key factors in the primary result. According to Cuomo, that imbalance allowed more radical voices to dominate the race and ultimately tilted voters to Mamdani, which now puts the party into what Cuomo described as its own kind of 'MAGA mode.' 'In the same way MAGA played with the prejudices of white nationalism, you're seeing an identical dynamic on the left with prejudices like tacitly supporting extreme Islamism or targeting Jews,' Cuomo said. 'For the right, it's migrants. For the left, it's Jews. It's fundamentalist Christians dominating the right, and fundamentalist Islamists making headway on the left. I know that doesn't sound like Democrats, but the party is dead. What it will be reborn as, we'll see.' 'Dead" is obviously a strong word choice here from the veteran broadcaster. Cuomo went on to claim that the party has lost its moderate center and is in the midst of being reshaped by louder and more inflexible factions. 'The winner is an open socialist,' he said of Mamdani. 'And the Democratic Party is now just that: Socialistic. But be clear, this is a fictional fix for very real frustrations.' No surprise, those comments sparked a fierce backlash, with viewers speaking out in the comments section of the YouTube video below: 'This dude doesn't realize that he's part of the old establishment that no one wants anymore,' one said of Cuomo's comments. Added another: 'What the hell are you talking about dude, that is a disgusting comparison ... I will never click on your videos again.' Both Cuomo brothers have certainly become lightning rods in American politics. Andrew stepped down as governor of New York in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, while Chris was later dismissed from CNN for advising his brother behind the scenes during that crisis. Their falls from grace unfolded in parallel, turning two of the most prominent names in Democratic politics into symbols of controversy and division.
