Latest news with #politicalcomeback
Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Times
She's on trial for crimes against humanity — and plotting a comeback
S heikh Hasina, the former leader of Bangladesh, has held meetings to stage a political comeback from exile as she faces trial in absentia for crimes against humanity. Hasina, 77, was charged for her role in the attempted repression of last year's revolution that left more than 1,000 dead. Over the past fortnight she has invited small groups of senior figures from her Awami League party to her Delhi residence for talks about a return to politics, three party members told The Times. Bahauddin Nasim, a former MP and joint general secretary of the Awami League, said he had met Hasina on July 31 along with six other senior figures. The party's first formal meeting since Hasina's overthrow coincides with rising discontent with the present government under Muhammad Yunus.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Cuomo Meets With Business Leaders as He Seeks to Undermine Adams
As former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo tries to make a political comeback in the New York City mayor's race, he met with business leaders on Wednesday in a move to secure their support. Mr. Cuomo lost the Democratic primary in June to Zohran Mamdani, a state lawmaker and democratic socialist who ran on an affordability message. Now Mr. Cuomo must prove that he is the strongest candidate to take on Mr. Mamdani in the general election in November by pushing aside Mayor Eric Adams, who, like him, is running as an independent. At the meeting on Wednesday morning at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, Cuomo sought to make a case for his path to victory, according to five people who attended. Many in the group were alarmed by Mr. Mamdani's momentum but unsure about whether there was a clear path to beating him, given his strong performance in the June primary. They were also worried about the prospect that Mr. Adams and Mr. Cuomo might split the votes of those who oppose Mr. Mamdani. Mr. Cuomo candidly addressed his primary loss right off the bat, three attendees said, acknowledging that he had not given that campaign his all. He argued that he was embracing new strategies and noted that he had been campaigning throughout the city more than before. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Sky News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Who is Zohran Mamdani? The Democrat socialist who could become New York City's next mayor
Self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani could become New York City's mayor after his shock win in the Democratic mayoral primary. The 33-year-old candidate beat off competition from favourite Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who was attempting to make a political comeback from a sexual harassment scandal. If he were to win when New Yorkers head to the polls in November, Mr Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor. But how did he do it, what does he stand for and what is his background? Born in Uganda, raised in New York Mr Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and was raised there and briefly in South Africa until he was seven years old, when his family moved to New York. His mother, Mira Nair, is an award-winning filmmaker and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an anthropology professor at Columbia University. He went to a public school and attended the Bronx High School of Science, before receiving a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College, where he co-started the school's first Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. He became naturalised as an American citizen in 2018, and worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counsellor. He says that job, which saw him help low-income homeowners of colour across Queens fight off eviction and stay in their homes, inspired him to run for office. But he also took a detour into the rapping scene in the 2010s, going by Young Cardamom and later as Mr Cardamom. He made a song called #1 Spice with the artist HAB for the 2016 Disney film Queen of Katwe, which was directed by his mother, while another song, Nani - a tribute to his grandmother - was released in 2019. He was elected to the State Assembly in 2020, representing a district in Queens, becoming the first South Asian man to serve in the NYS Assembly, as well as the first Ugandan and third Muslim to ever be a member of the body. How did Mamdani become a candidate for mayor? The lawmaker and socialist entered the campaign as a virtual unknown, but his shrewd campaigning mixed with controversy surrounding Mr Cuomo saw him win comfortably. The former governor was attempting to make a comeback from a sexual harassment scandal that saw him resign in 2021. His resignation came after a report from the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Mr Cuomo has said he did not intentionally mistreat the women but had run afoul of what was considered appropriate workplace conduct. Despite the controversy, the 67-year-old was considered the favourite during the mayoral race due to his deep experience and the fact that he won the backing of some of the city's biggest unions. But Mr Mamdani and other candidates continued to use the allegations against Mr Cuomo as fuel during the campaign. During the final primary debate, after Mr Cuomo and other candidates launched a series of jabs at him for his lack of political experience, Mr Mamdani said: "To Mr Cuomo: I have never had to resign in disgrace. "I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment, I have never sued for their gynaecological records, and I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr Cuomo." Mr Mamdani declared victory in the mayoral primary on 24 June, with Mr Cuomo conceding the race after his rival took a commanding position just hours after polls closed. The winner told the state: "I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all. "I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own." In the November election he will face current mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who is set to run as an independent following an uproar over his indictment on corruption charges last year (the charges were later tossed at the instruction of Donald Trump's Department of Justice). An energetic campaign with people at its heart Mr Mamdani put cost of living concerns at the heart of his campaign. Slickly produced social media videos set out his vision of free buses, free childcare, new apartments and a higher minimum wage - paid for by new taxes on the rich. They have garnered him a following of more than 1.1 million on Instagram and roughly 400,000 on TikTok. His optimistic vision of NYC's future contrasted with Mr Cuomo's campaign, which largely focused on his experience and his ability to deal with Donald Trump, as well as his goal to save a city that he described as out of control with crime and homelessness. It earned Mr Mamdani the support of the party's progressive wing, including prominent progressives like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. Critics have argued that he lacks the experience to handle crises, with Mr Cuomo claiming he was unqualified during the campaign. "He's been in government 27 minutes. He's passed three bills. That's all he's done," Mr Cuomo said of his rival during a debate. When another candidate questioned his experience, Mr Mamdani said he was the most qualified "because I believe the most pressing crisis we're facing here is one of affordability, and that is something that my campaign has been laser-focused on". His critics have also suggested his hopeful visions are vague, and questioned the cost and feasibility of his proposals, many of which would need support from the state legislature and governor. His campaign aimed to stay accessible. At the top of the manifesto on his campaign site, a sentence in bold reads: "New York is too expensive. Zohran will lower costs and make life easier." Strong support for Palestinians Mr Mamdani has made his stance on the war in Gaza clear throughout his campaign, referring to Israel's offensive as a "genocide" against Palestinians and voicing support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. He has also vowed to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he were to come to the city, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him last year. Asked during a debate about whether he thought Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, he said "I believe Israel has the right to exist" but "as a state with equal rights" for people who aren't Jewish. On 19 June, police said Mr Mamdani had reported he had received "four phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual".
CNN
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
Why Donald Trump is facing doubts in the ‘manosphere'
Justin Centers fits the profile of many younger men who helped power Donald Trump's political comeback last fall. He's a 21-year-old autoworker from the Detroit suburbs and was newly eligible to vote in presidential elections — a cross-section of traits Trump aggressively targeted in his bid to reclaim battlegrounds like Michigan. He's also a longtime fan of Theo Von, the shaggy-haired, free-wheeling comedian and podcast host whose viral interview with Trump last August signaled an emerging political shift among millennial and Gen Z men. Centers ultimately voted for Trump, and Von had a VIP seat at the inauguration. But in recent months, Von has expressed growing dissatisfaction with Trump's second stint in the White House — sentiments that were echoed by Centers outside Detroit's Fox Theatre as he waited to catch Von's stand-up tour. 'Completely being honest, I'm a little iffy now,' Centers said of the president. 'One of the things I primarily voted for was 'No new wars,' and unfortunately, that has been a big lie to my face. So, it's extremely disappointing to see that.' After losing men under 50 by double digits in 2020, Trump's campaign made a concerted push to reverse that trend. His outreach included appearances on podcasts and YouTube shows hosted by a growing universe of male comedians, pranksters, streamers and other right-leaning influencers who had cultivated large, loyal followings. The approach paid off and has already spawned copycats in both parties. Lately some of the most influential voices within the so-called manosphere have begun expressing concerns, if not outright regret, with Trump's return to Washington. Joe Rogan, who interviewed Trump on his top-rated podcast last October before endorsing him, recently called the new administration's immigration crackdown 'insane.' Von criticized Trump's bombing of Iran as a 'horrible idea,' saying it made the US look like it's 'working for Israel.' Billionaire X owner Elon Musk, once a prominent Trump ally and a key figure in reshaping the online media ecosystem, is now publicly warring with the president over the cost of his legislative agenda and promising to bankroll a third party. And comedian Andrew Schulz, a Trump supporter last year, told listeners of his 'Flagrant' podcast that the president was 'doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for.' Even unexpected corners of the manosphere have begun to show signs of revolt. Professional poker players, for example, have lashed out at Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' for changes in tax law that will require them to pay the government even when they lose money. 'You just really start to feel very disillusioned pretty quickly,' Von said in a recent podcast. At Von's recent Detroit show, Carhartt logos, camo and mullets mixed easily with A-frame hats, golf polos and tins of nicotine pouches. Plumes of vape periodically hovered over the audience. The crowd's overwhelmingly White complexion was a reoccurring source of material for the comedian. During a rollicking 90-minute set, Von didn't directly broach politics or Trump. But the conflicting feelings he has shared on his podcast were voiced by his fans, too. Steven Deuby, a 34-year-old mail carrier from Wayne County, scoffed at the price tag of Trump's massive tax cuts and spending package. 'Five trillion dollars? That's insane,' he said. But Deuby, an Army veteran, said he backed Trump's military moves to date and remained supportive of the president overall. 'There's stuff to criticize about Trump, but for the most part, I think he's doing much more important (stuff) than Joe Biden,' Deuby said. Walking up to the Fox Theatre in a Von T-shirt, Tyler Goldsmith said he understood the complaints from Von and others, but would give Trump the benefit of the doubt for now. 'When you go into your first year, you're not going to do what everybody wanted you to at the beginning, because there are going to be things that you have to retract on, that you have to take care of,' Goldsmith, a 32-year-old lawn-care business owner from Constantine in southwest Michigan. Polls midway through Trump's first year back in office suggest growing disapproval with his administration — and there are signs the shift is hitting these younger voters, too. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that among men younger than 35, 40% approve of the way Trump is handling his job now and 60% disapprove, significantly worse than Trump's ratings with older men. In February, 44% of men under 35 approved and 54% disapproved. But whether this disenchantment presents trouble for Republicans or creates an opening for Democrats remains to be seen. While the concerns that are animating Von and other online influencers may produce compelling podcast content, they are less likely to dictate how young men vote in future elections, said David Winston, a veteran Republican pollster. Economic factors like wages and inflation weighed heavily on the minds of many voters last fall and likely will moving forward, he said. 'When a voter has just gone a different direction, they're the ones that can go back the other way. They just made a decision and now they're going to see if that worked or it didn't work,' Winston said. 'The idea that they could bounce back to Democrats is certainly very possible. Having said that, they left for a reason.' Centers, for his part, voiced frustrations on several fronts. He's a recent Tesla owner concerned Trump's vendetta against electric vehicles will ultimately hurt his purchase. He's also an expecting father who is worried about having a family in an economic environment he doesn't believe is improving. Still, Centers said he was unlikely to change to vote Democrat. 'A lot of stuff I identify with falls along the conservative agenda,' he said. White House advisers have long held concerns that many voters who helped elect Trump in November — including young men — are at risk of skipping a midterm election when he isn't on the ballot. Motivating those voters has been a top priority for Trump's political team as it seeks to maintain control of Congress. Mark Mitchell, the top pollster for the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports, has publicly warned that the Trump's coalition could be fractured by his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, a longtime fixation for Rogan and other right-leaning podcasters favored by men. The Department of Justice concluded last week the accused sex trafficker killed himself in prison and did not keep a list of elite and high-profile clients, sparking outrage from MAGA conspiracists who had long been told otherwise by many in Trump's orbit. The CNN poll found 65% of men younger than 35 are dissatisfied with the amount of information the federal government has released about the Epstein case, while just 10% are satisfied. That's higher than the share of dissatisfied among the general population. 'What is enraging people right now is it's insulting our intelligence,' Schulz said on his podcast last week. On Saturday, Trump urged his supporters to move on from their Epstein outrage in a lengthy social media post — a message that landed poorly among some of Von's fans. 'You said you were going to show us (the Epstein files), now you're just being the very thing you said you were going to end,' said Ben, a chemical worker from Battle Creek, Michigan, who asked CNN not to use his last name. 'Not as transparent as what I thought.' He said Trump's posture on Epstein was the final straw. If he could go back, 'maybe I just wouldn't vote,' he said. Amid the discontent, Democrats have sought to make inroads into the manosphere. Former Transportation Secretary and potential 2028 contender Pete Buttigieg appeared earlier this year on 'Flagrant.' Multiple outlets reported that Rogan recently interviewed Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a rising Democratic star considering a Senate bid. Von recently spoke at length with Rep. Ro Khanna, the progressive Democrat from California, and revealed he planned to chat with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, before a scheduling conflict postponed their conversation. (He also released an episode with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican whom Trump has threatened to help defeat.) Schulz recently suggested democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appear to be prioritizing America more than Trump. 'If MAGA wants to take this 'America First' thing back, they got to start looking out for America,' he said. Giving airtime to politicians across the spectrum isn't just a pivot from the Trump-centric content of the previous election cycle. Many of the most prominent male influencers dub themselves as independent thinkers unbeholden to either party. Regardless, Nathan Sheldon, a 35-year-old from Northville, Michigan, sporting a 'Don't Tread on Comedy' shirt at Von's show, told CNN he appreciated hearing from Democrats in full, unfiltered interviews. 'Them going on to platforms like Schulz and Rogan, I can finally hear some ideas,' Sheldon said. 'They're starting to stand out.'
CNN
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
Why Donald Trump is facing doubts in the ‘manosphere'
Justin Centers fits the profile of many younger men who helped power Donald Trump's political comeback last fall. He's a 21-year-old autoworker from the Detroit suburbs and was newly eligible to vote in presidential elections — a cross-section of traits Trump aggressively targeted in his bid to reclaim battlegrounds like Michigan. He's also a longtime fan of Theo Von, the shaggy-haired, free-wheeling comedian and podcast host whose viral interview with Trump last August signaled an emerging political shift among millennial and Gen Z men. Centers ultimately voted for Trump, and Von had a VIP seat at the inauguration. But in recent months, Von has expressed growing dissatisfaction with Trump's second stint in the White House — sentiments that were echoed by Centers outside Detroit's Fox Theatre as he waited to catch Von's stand-up tour. 'Completely being honest, I'm a little iffy now,' Centers said of the president. 'One of the things I primarily voted for was 'No new wars,' and unfortunately, that has been a big lie to my face. So, it's extremely disappointing to see that.' After losing men under 50 by double digits in 2020, Trump's campaign made a concerted push to reverse that trend. His outreach included appearances on podcasts and YouTube shows hosted by a growing universe of male comedians, pranksters, streamers and other right-leaning influencers who had cultivated large, loyal followings. The approach paid off and has already spawned copycats in both parties. Lately some of the most influential voices within the so-called manosphere have begun expressing concerns, if not outright regret, with Trump's return to Washington. Joe Rogan, who interviewed Trump on his top-rated podcast last October before endorsing him, recently called the new administration's immigration crackdown 'insane.' Von criticized Trump's bombing of Iran as a 'horrible idea,' saying it made the US look like it's 'working for Israel.' Billionaire X owner Elon Musk, once a prominent Trump ally and a key figure in reshaping the online media ecosystem, is now publicly warring with the president over the cost of his legislative agenda and promising to bankroll a third party. And comedian Andrew Schulz, a Trump supporter last year, told listeners of his 'Flagrant' podcast that the president was 'doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for.' Even unexpected corners of the manosphere have begun to show signs of revolt. Professional poker players, for example, have lashed out at Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' for changes in tax law that will require them to pay the government even when they lose money. 'You just really start to feel very disillusioned pretty quickly,' Von said in a recent podcast. At Von's recent Detroit show, Carhartt logos, camo and mullets mixed easily with A-frame hats, golf polos and tins of nicotine pouches. Plumes of vape periodically hovered over the audience. The crowd's overwhelmingly White complexion was a reoccurring source of material for the comedian. During a rollicking 90-minute set, Von didn't directly broach politics or Trump. But the conflicting feelings he has shared on his podcast were voiced by his fans, too. Steven Deuby, a 34-year-old mail carrier from Wayne County, scoffed at the price tag of Trump's massive tax cuts and spending package. 'Five trillion dollars? That's insane,' he said. But Deuby, an Army veteran, said he backed Trump's military moves to date and remained supportive of the president overall. 'There's stuff to criticize about Trump, but for the most part, I think he's doing much more important (stuff) than Joe Biden,' Deuby said. Walking up to the Fox Theatre in a Von T-shirt, Tyler Goldsmith said he understood the complaints from Von and others, but would give Trump the benefit of the doubt for now. 'When you go into your first year, you're not going to do what everybody wanted you to at the beginning, because there are going to be things that you have to retract on, that you have to take care of,' Goldsmith, a 32-year-old lawn-care business owner from Constantine in southwest Michigan. Polls midway through Trump's first year back in office suggest growing disapproval with his administration — and there are signs the shift is hitting these younger voters, too. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that among men younger than 35, 40% approve of the way Trump is handling his job now and 60% disapprove, significantly worse than Trump's ratings with older men. In February, 44% of men under 35 approved and 54% disapproved. But whether this disenchantment presents trouble for Republicans or creates an opening for Democrats remains to be seen. While the concerns that are animating Von and other online influencers may produce compelling podcast content, they are less likely to dictate how young men vote in future elections, said David Winston, a veteran Republican pollster. Economic factors like wages and inflation weighed heavily on the minds of many voters last fall and likely will moving forward, he said. 'When a voter has just gone a different direction, they're the ones that can go back the other way. They just made a decision and now they're going to see if that worked or it didn't work,' Winston said. 'The idea that they could bounce back to Democrats is certainly very possible. Having said that, they left for a reason.' Centers, for his part, voiced frustrations on several fronts. He's a recent Tesla owner concerned Trump's vendetta against electric vehicles will ultimately hurt his purchase. He's also an expecting father who is worried about having a family in an economic environment he doesn't believe is improving. Still, Centers said he was unlikely to change to vote Democrat. 'A lot of stuff I identify with falls along the conservative agenda,' he said. White House advisers have long held concerns that many voters who helped elect Trump in November — including young men — are at risk of skipping a midterm election when he isn't on the ballot. Motivating those voters has been a top priority for Trump's political team as it seeks to maintain control of Congress. Mark Mitchell, the top pollster for the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports, has publicly warned that the Trump's coalition could be fractured by his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, a longtime fixation for Rogan and other right-leaning podcasters favored by men. The Department of Justice concluded last week the accused sex trafficker killed himself in prison and did not keep a list of elite and high-profile clients, sparking outrage from MAGA conspiracists who had long been told otherwise by many in Trump's orbit. The CNN poll found 65% of men younger than 35 are dissatisfied with the amount of information the federal government has released about the Epstein case, while just 10% are satisfied. That's higher than the share of dissatisfied among the general population. 'What is enraging people right now is it's insulting our intelligence,' Schulz said on his podcast last week. On Saturday, Trump urged his supporters to move on from their Epstein outrage in a lengthy social media post — a message that landed poorly among some of Von's fans. 'You said you were going to show us (the Epstein files), now you're just being the very thing you said you were going to end,' said Ben, a chemical worker from Battle Creek, Michigan, who asked CNN not to use his last name. 'Not as transparent as what I thought.' He said Trump's posture on Epstein was the final straw. If he could go back, 'maybe I just wouldn't vote,' he said. Amid the discontent, Democrats have sought to make inroads into the manosphere. Former Transportation Secretary and potential 2028 contender Pete Buttigieg appeared earlier this year on 'Flagrant.' Multiple outlets reported that Rogan recently interviewed Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a rising Democratic star considering a Senate bid. Von recently spoke at length with Rep. Ro Khanna, the progressive Democrat from California, and revealed he planned to chat with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, before a scheduling conflict postponed their conversation. (He also released an episode with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican whom Trump has threatened to help defeat.) Schulz recently suggested democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appear to be prioritizing America more than Trump. 'If MAGA wants to take this 'America First' thing back, they got to start looking out for America,' he said. Giving airtime to politicians across the spectrum isn't just a pivot from the Trump-centric content of the previous election cycle. Many of the most prominent male influencers dub themselves as independent thinkers unbeholden to either party. Regardless, Nathan Sheldon, a 35-year-old from Northville, Michigan, sporting a 'Don't Tread on Comedy' shirt at Von's show, told CNN he appreciated hearing from Democrats in full, unfiltered interviews. 'Them going on to platforms like Schulz and Rogan, I can finally hear some ideas,' Sheldon said. 'They're starting to stand out.'
