Mamdani faces backlash for opulent wedding celebration
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - If Trump and the GOP keep this up, AOC is going to be president
Say hello to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Say hello to a blue wave in the 2026 midterms. Say hello in 2028 to President Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. If President Trump and congressional Republicans keep this up, it will only be the start of the progressive takeover. Left-wing populists are already winning over voters by raising hell about the rising price of clothes and groceries due to tariffs. The growing appetite for populist left voices damning the high cost of living made headlines earlier this year in the successful 'Fighting Oligarchy,' tour featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ocasio-Cortez. Poll numbers also make the case that voters are frustrated with Trump's failed promise to deal with inflation. The same angst is evident in declining consumer confidence. And now Scott Bessent, Trump's Treasury secretary, is floating the idea of replacing Social Security with a thousand-dollar gift to American babies. Those 'Trump Savings Accounts' are included in the Republicans' newly passed tax-and-spending plan. Bessent is now suggesting that a one-time payment, far smaller than monthly outlays for current benefits, is all that is needed to replace Social Security. Bessent openly said the 'Trump Savings Accounts' for newborns is 'a backdoor for privatizing Social Security' at an event sponsored by the conservative news outlet Breitbart. Bessent excitedly asked his audience to imagine that the thousand-dollar gift to an infant will grow until 'you have in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for your retirement — then that's a game changer too.' 'A stunning admission,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor. 'Bessent actually slipped and told the truth: Donald Trump and his government want to privatize Social Security.' Schumer identified Bessent's musings as a politically potent message for Democrats going into next year's midterms. Have congressional Republicans forgotten the political pain they suffered when President George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security in 2005? The party lost its majority in the following year's midterms, in part due to public outrage. Bessent's search for a way to end Social Security is a longstanding fixation among Republicans. They see the program as contrary to capitalism, a public welfare program sending the message that government has a role in preventing poverty. Former Republican Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) became a conservative hero for daring to talk about privatizing Social Security. When he ran for vice president on the GOP ticket in 2012, liberal groups famously responded with dramatic depictions in advertising of Republicans 'throwing grandma off a cliff.' Now, with the passage of Trump's budget reconciliation bill, which got congressional Republicans to buy into substantial cuts in Medicaid spending, the Treasury secretary feels free to again openly discuss an idea for eliminating Social Security. This comes at a time when the richest 10 percent of Americans own 90 percent of stock market wealth. 'Calling this a five-alarm fire is an understatement,' stated Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 'Between Bessent's comments and the harm DOGE has already done to the [Social Security Agency], it's clear Trump was lying all along about protecting Social Security. Like every Republican administration going back multiple generations, Trump and his billionaire cabinet want to privatize Social Security to give their Wall Street buddies a payday.' Let's not forget: During the campaign, Trump pledged to bring down inflation and 'make America wealthy again.' But a recent Fox poll found that 56 percent of Americans gave a negative rating to their family finances, and 67 percent rated Trump's handling of the economy negatively. In the Trump Cabinet, Bessent has company in floating ideas for undermining Social Security. 'What do you think [about] paying no taxes on Social Security … fantastic!' exclaimed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently, with a bright, wide, television grin on Fox News Sunday. Just one problem, Mr. Secretary. The proposal for 'no taxes on Social Security' didn't make it into the final version of the Trump spending bill (it was turned into a temporary deduction for seniors). The truth revealed by his misleading comment is that the Commerce secretary — a billionaire, like the Treasury secretary — is preoccupied with ending Social Security. Earlier this year, Lutnick implied that Americans who complain about missing a Social Security check are likely fraudsters. 'If Social Security didn't send out their checks this month, my 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldn't complain,' he said. 'She'd think something got messed up and she'd get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming and yelling. Anybody who knows payments knows you stop the checks, and whoever screams is the one stealing.' That brutal disrespect for everyone who benefits from safety net protection against poverty is increasingly being heard in public. Earlier this year, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) dismissed a constituent who expressed fear about the tax bill's cuts to health care support provided by Medicaid with a flip comment, replying, 'Well, we all are going to die.' Ernst then doubled down on her callous indifference in a grotesque campaign video filmed in a cemetery, mocking the woman's concern. 'I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth,' Ernst said. 'So, I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' Is it any wonder that figures like AOC and Zohran Mamdani are gaining traction? Juan Williams is senior political analyst for Fox News Channel and a prize-winning civil rights historian. He is the author of the new book 'New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America's Second Civil Rights Movement.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mamdani braced for US reentry confrontation after deportation calls from GOP
[Source] New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's campaign prepared for possible trouble at John F. Kennedy airport as he returned Wednesday from a vacation in Uganda. What happened: Mamdani left for Uganda on July 20 to celebrate his recent marriage to Rama Duwaji with family. He returned Wednesday morning, and amid concerns over potential issues, passed through the U.S. Customs without incident. 'I did not have issues getting through customs, though I was prepared for the potential of those issues,' he told reporters. 'This is a sad reality of living in our president's United States.' The 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, who calls himself a democratic socialist, has lived in the U.S. since age 7 and became a citizen in 2018. How they prepared: Mamdani's campaign reportedly stayed in touch with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Atty. Gen. Letitia James' offices, which both pledged assistance in the event immigration officials detained Mamdani. Trending on NextShark: These precautions follow attacks from Republican officials such as Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, who argued on social media that he 'needs to be DEPORTED' while calling him 'little muhammad [sic].' President Donald Trump, for his part, has not explicitly called for Mamdani's deportation but has made statements casting doubt on his citizenship. 'A lot of people are saying he's here illegally. We're going to look at everything,' Trump told reporters on July 1. Why this matters: Mamdani's absence came amid New York's deadliest mass shooting in 25 years that killed four victims Monday, including NYPD officer and fellow Muslim Didarul Islam. His adviser, Morris Katz, reportedly woke him at 4 a.m. in Uganda to alert him of the incident. Speaking to CNN, Mamdani said he went directly from Kennedy airport to Islam's home in Parkchester, where his family 'refused to let me leave until I had breakfast with them.' At Wednesday's press conference with Smith Etienne, brother of security guard Aland Etienne — another shooting victim — and union leaders, scrutiny intensified over Mamdani's past statements on defunding the police, including 'We don't need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.' He has also defended eliminating the NYPD's Strategic Response Group, which responded to Monday's shooting. Trending on NextShark: Despite the controversy, Mamdani maintains his lead in recent polls, including 50% support in a Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions poll released this week. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Solve the daily Crossword
News24
2 hours ago
- News24
MKP vs Ramaphosa; How Emma Powell rattled the DA: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Slain Ekurhuleni auditors probed R4bn toilet, waste contracts; third one wounded - Auditor Mpho Mafole was murdered while auditing R4 billion in municipal contracts in Ekurhuleni, following the murder of Simnikiwe Mapini and an attack on CFO Kagiso Lerutla. - Mafole was investigating mobile chemical toilets and waste contracts, electricity and water vending contracts, and the refurbishment of the SAAME building, which had ballooned in cost. - Auditors in Ekurhuleni face increasing violence and political pressure to suppress adverse findings, highlighting the risks of investigating corruption in the municipality. MKP vs Ramaphosa: Second round of court battles looms over appointment of police minister - Jacob Zuma is threatening legal action against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the appointment of a new police minister and the establishment of an inquiry into criminal links within the police service. - Zuma has sent a list of questions to Ramaphosa and called for his resignation, accusing him of violating his oath of office. - This follows the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the MK Party's challenge to Mchunu's leave, appointment of an acting police minister and the establishment of the commission of inquiry. 10 cops arrested for allegedly ransacking store in Edenvale - Ten South African Police Service and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officers were arrested for alleged corruption. - The officers are accused of stealing confiscated cigarettes, cash and other items. - Independent Police Investigative Directorate investigators arrested the officers at the Edenvale police station. SA making progress in pivoting to new markets, but can't just open 'floodgates' to China, says Tau - South Africa has made progress in opening new markets like China and Thailand, securing vital protocols for agricultural products. - SA is continuing negotiations with the US to secure a more favourable trade deal, despite potential tariffs on local imports. - While pursuing trade with China, SA is cautious about opening the 'floodgates' and is carefully considering the implications for its own markets and industries. How Emma Powell rattled the DA and intelligence services - DA MP Emma Powell resigned as spokesperson on international relations due to clashes with DA leader John Steenhuisen over foreign policy, particularly regarding Taiwan, Russia, and MTN's operations in Iran. - Powell's activities and connections, especially her association with controversial figure Andre Pienaar, raised concerns for South African intelligence services and government departments, who believed she was projecting a negative image of South Africa internationally. - Pienaar, a venture capitalist with ties to intelligence services, is accused of influencing the DA's foreign policy and potentially damaging relations between South Africa and the US, though he denies these allegations. Boks: Eben poised for giddy climb up ranks of global caps leaders - Eben Etzebeth is on the verge of entering the top 10 list of most-capped rugby internationals and could potentially reach fifth place by the end of 2025. - Etzebeth currently has 133 caps, placing him joint 11th globally, and his participation in the upcoming Rugby Championship will elevate him into the top 10. - Depending on his game time and the performances of other players, Etzebeth could surpass several players on the list, potentially reaching as high as fifth place by the end of the year.
