Latest news with #FightingOligarchy
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Bernie Sanders pressed by Joe Rogan during interview about his presidential plans in 2028
Bernie Sanders has broken his silence on whether he would run for president in 2028 in a new Joe Rogan interview. Almost six years after his first appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience during his 2020 election campaign, the 83-year-old Vermont Senator sat down with the podcasting behemoth in his Austin, Texas, studio on Tuesday. In a wide-ranging interview that covered topics including Israel, AI, and electoral reform, Rogan asked Sanders if he wanted to succeed Donald Trump as president. 'Are you gonna run for president again?' Rogan asked, a reference to the congressman culling his 2020 presidential campaign to endorse Joe Biden. 'I am 83 years of age," Sanders, an independent who has long caucused with the Democratic Party, replied. 'That's what I'm saying,' Rogan returned with a wry smile. 'I'm not too sure the American people would be too enthusiastic on someone who's 108...,' Sanders teased, before the host chimed in: 'You're still very with it.' 'Thank you,' Sanders chuckled. 'Well, yeah.' 'You are. You're a couple of years older than Biden,' Rogan continued. 'Think of that. You could be off a lot worse.' Sanders and Rogan agreed before the senator took a long pause with a drawn-out 'um,' before making a segue to express his commitment to his Fighting Oligarchy rallies held beside Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Later in the podcast, Rogan asked Sanders to imagine a world where his 2016 presidential run hadn't been 'derailed' by the Democratic National Committee, which Rogan suggested had 'conspired against him.' 'What would you have done differently?' Rogan pressed. 'Okay... how many hours do we have,' Sanders said, before going to share his views that the U.S. political system has been corrupted by big money from the likes of corporate PACs and megadonors. 'What would you have done first day in office?' Rogan said. 'Well, it's not the first day in office... I would have dealt with this campaign finance reform issue,' he said, suggesting that candidates get an allotted amount of publicly funded money for their campaigns. 'That makes a lot more sense than having billionaires fund elections, which is what you got right now. So that's number one.' On X, Sanders chose to highlight his discussion with the former Fear Factor host that covered the 'insanely low' $7 minimum wage. The socialist also highlighted the work done by AOC in the first few months of Trump's second administration. 'She looked around her, and she saw a society that was fundamentally unjust and, in many ways, ugly to the people in the community in which she lived in New York City,' Sanders said. 'She stood up and took on one of the most powerful people in the House of Representatives, and she started with almost no money against the guy who had unlimited funds, and she beat him.' Sanders also took on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for preventing the passage of any policy that could help people in Gaza. He said the group has 'already knocked off good members of Congress, and they will do it again.' 'So all I'm saying is you got a corrupt campaign finance system, on both sides, which is rejecting the will of the American people and end up supporting powerful special interests,' Sanders continued. 'And if we do not get a handle on that issue, I worry very much about the future of American democracy.' Sanders went on to slam Tesla CEO Elon Musk for contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump's campaign.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
AOC Reacts After Andrew Cuomo Concedes To Zohran Mamdani In NYC Primary
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez congratulated self-proclaimed Democratic socialist and New York state lawmaker Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, as Mamdani was on track to wallop former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. As of 12 a.m. ET Wednesday, Mamdani holds a 7-point lead over Cuomo in the first round of voting, though The Associated Press (AP) has not yet called the final result. The primary election will head into ranked-choice voting since no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round. The Context Mamdani holds a strong footing with younger and more progressive Democratic voters who are hungry for change within the party and believe it should put up a stronger fight against President Donald Trump's agenda. Cuomo, on the other hand, represents the old guard and the traditional Democratic establishment. Both candidates' bases were reflected in their endorsements heading into Tuesday; Mamdani won the backing of progressive darlings like Ocasio-Cortez and Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, while Cuomo was endorsed by South Carolina U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, widely seen as a Democratic kingmaker. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) can be seen speaking during a stop on the 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Grand Park on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario... Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) can be seen speaking during a stop on the 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Grand Park on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) More What To Know Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 after being accused of sexual harassment, conceded the mayoral primary to Mamdani less than two hours after polls closed, when it became clear the former governor would not be able to overtake his opponent's lead. The former New York governor has denied any wrongdoing. At his election night party on Tuesday, Cuomo congratulated Mamdani for running a "really smart" campaign, adding: "Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night." Ocasio-Cortez reacted to the concession by applauding the New York state assemblyman. "Congratulations, @ZohranKMamdani!" the congresswoman, widely seen as the face of the Democratic Party's progressive wing, wrote on X. "Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city. Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won." In endorsing Mamdani earlier this month, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the Democratic Party needs to look forward, telling The New York Times, "Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack. In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that." Sanders formally endorsed Mamdani last week, writing on X: "At this dangerous moment in history, status quo politics isn't good enough. We need new leadership that is prepared to stand up to powerful corporate interests & fight for the working class. @ZohranKMamdani is providing that vision. He is the best choice for NYC mayor." Mamdani and fellow Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander also cross-endorsed each other earlier this month, with both men saying that they would rank the other second, after themselves. What People Are Saying Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani's campaign manager, told The New York Times: "We're incredibly grateful for the voters across all five boroughs who, inspired by our vision for a better, affordable future, showed up in record numbers to make their voices heard." Lander at his election night party: "This much is clear: together, we are sending Andrew Cuomo back to the suburbs. With our help, Zohran Mamdani will be the Democratic nominee." Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which endorsed Mamdani, said in a statement: "Zohran Mamdani's likely victory shows that a new direction for the Democratic Party is possible - a future of dynamic candidates who appeal to young voters and working class voters with a platform that fights for people, not corporations." Taylor added: "The old guard establishment of the Democratic Party, fueled by billionaires, did everything they could to defeat Mamdani - and they failed. They continue being wrong about everything, and they need to get out of the way and let a new generation lead." What Happens Next The primary race will now head into a ranked choice election.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch: Bernie Sanders reacts to Trump's Iran strikes in real time at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was delivering remarks at a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Tusla, Okla., on Saturday night when President Donald Trump announced the United States had successfully attacked three nuclear sites in Iran. An aide interrupted Sanders' remarks to deliver the message Trump had just blasted off on Truth Social. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in the post. Sanders read the piece of paper with Trump's Truth Social post to his supporters, shaking his head as the socialist senator processed what the president had just announced. "No more wars!" the crowd chanted. Bernie Sanders Says Israeli Pm 'Wrong' Both In The Past And Now: 'We Must Not Get Involved In Netanyahu's War' Trump added in the post: "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." Read On The Fox News App Bernie Sanders Says Largest 'Fighting Oligarchy' Rally With Aoc Is Making Trump, Musk 'Very Nervous' Sanders nodded along as the crowd continued to chant, "No more wars!" before responding to the news in real time. He said the news was not only "alarming," but "so grossly unconstitutional." "All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right," Sanders shouted. Sanders joins the bipartisan coalition in Congress who have called out the "unconstitutionality" of Trump striking Iran without congressional approval. A bipartisan War Powers Resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives this week as strikes between Israel and Iran raged on, and the world stood by to see if Trump would strike. Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution. The War Powers Resolution seeks to "remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump to "terminate" the deployment of American troops against Iran without an "authorized declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military forces against Iran." "The American people do not want more war, more death!" Sanders said. "It might be a good idea if we concentrated on the problems that exist in Oklahoma and Vermont rather than getting involved in another war that the American people do not want." But Sanders told the crowd not to give up on their vision for America's future. "In this moment in American history, what we have got to do in Vermont and Oklahoma, in Texas, all over this country, is stand up and fight back, and tell them this is our country!" Sanders said. Sanders has been a vocal opponent of the United States joining Israel in its war against Iran as Trump weighed striking its nuclear facilities. "Netanyahu is not the President of the United States," Sanders said on social media earlier this week. "He should not be determining U.S. foreign and military policy. If the people of Israel support his decision to start a war with Iran, that is their business and their war. The United States must not be a part of it," he added. The democratic socialist has been a vocal opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war against Gaza since Israel retaliated following Hamas' terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. After Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities last week, Sanders said it was "just his latest violation of international law," likening Netanyahu to a "war criminal." The Vermont senator was speaking at his second rally of the day, part of his southern swing of the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that Sanders started in response to Trump's sweeping second-term agenda. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Tx., and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Tx., are slated to join the Vermont senator at his rallies in Texas on Sunday. And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., joined Sanders on his Western swing of the tour earlier this year. The tour targets deep red districts currently held by Republicans, a strategy picked up by Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who hosted town halls in Republican congressional districts, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) through their "People's Town Halls" across the United States. Sanders also held a rally in House Speaker Mike Johnson's hometown of Shreveport, La., on article source: Watch: Bernie Sanders reacts to Trump's Iran strikes in real time at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Live updates: ‘Fighting Oligarchy' tour brings Bernie Sanders to Fort Worth
Bernie Sanders and his 'Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here' national tour has made targeted stops in deep-red congressional districts held by Republicans. Today's stop? Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The independent senator from Vermont said his tour highlights the country's move toward authoritarianism and the increasingly large role billionaires and big corporations play on Capitol Hill. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat from Austin, and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, were among those speaking. At least 3,000 North Texans joined labor leaders in chants of 'What kind of power? People power,' as the crowd prepared for the entrance of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders is appearing in Fort Worth just short of 24 hours after President Donald Trump launched a series of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facility sites. News of the strikes came to Sanders last night while he was onstage at another Fighting Oligarchy rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sanders did not appear at an earlier event in Amarillo due to security meetings about the strikes, according to Amarillo's KAMR. IAM Union President Brian Bryant, the union representing Fort Worth Lockheed Martin workers, said he is worried the country is headed toward being controlled by an oligarchy, whether citizens realize it or not. He said the issues Sanders is highlighting are ones that resonate with all workers across the United States. 'It's an issue that our members, regardless of what party they affiliate themselves with, they can connect with this because even though they may have voted for the Trump administration, they're sensing that they are being left behind with the legislation he's passing,' Bryant said. 'It's not what they envisioned. It wasn't going to be they thought he was going to be pro-worker. He hasn't done anything that's pro-worker.' Though the union has made efforts to reach out to the Trump administration to raise questions about legislation being passed, Bryant said 'no one's listening.' 'Huge tax breaks for billionaires, and they're not doing anything to help the economy for the working people,' Bryant said. 'None of his executive orders, none of the bills that Congress has passed, they do nothing to go towards the heart of what the issue is that working people are still hurting.' Bryant said he is glad to be representing IAM Union at the Fighting Oligarchy Tour because Sanders is standing up for the workers Trump is leaving behind. 'We aren't just taking punches anymore, we're throwing them too,' Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said as the crowd erupted in cheers. Scudder said it's high time to flip Texas and start actually representing the people instead of allowing Republicans to 'rig the game.' O'Rourke described a world where workers only have to work one job and money is not being funneled into billionaire's pockets. A world where the president does not stage an 'illegal war' on Iran and where veterans receive the benefits they are promised. 'But to realize this picture, we need action from all of us, and we need it right now,' O'Rourke said. 'If you see a protest, please show up and join it. If you don't see one, start on your own. This stuff is breaking through. It's changing public perception. It's applying political pressure on those in these positions of public trust, and we need more of it.' Casar said Trump's playbook is based on dividing people. 'He would try to play native born workers against immigrant workers, black against white, against Brown, have us fight each other so the rich could get richer.' The only way to beat the playbook every time, Casar said, is to stick together and stand in union. On stage, O'Rourke called out Republicans on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for their mid-decade redistricting that some residents call racial gerrymandering. He said the act was one that would draw Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons out of her seat — something Republicans on the court have been transparent about. O'Rourke told the Star-Telegram that redrawing lines to ensure political gain is human nature and that both parties do it while in power. The only way to fight it, he said, is to vote. 'So you have to guard against human nature, and that requires you know the people, the voters of Tarrant County, rejecting this, and even within newly drawn districts, making sure that there's a political consequence for those who tried to thwart the will of the voters.' As goes Tarrant County, so goes Texas, O'Rourke believes. With none of the 13 conservative-backed candidates winning in Tarrant County municipal elections, O'Rourke said it's a good sign for the midterm elections, but progressive candidates aren't out of the woods yet. He said voters are rejecting fascism and authoritarianism, no matter what political party is associated with it. 'It's just, do you believe in the Constitution? Do you believe in the rule of law? Do you believe that people should be treated with dignity and respect?' O'Rourke said. 'Those are so fundamental and so basic, and I'm so encouraged that so many Americans are responding to these challenges and these choices at school board level, at the city council, at the commissioners court level across the state, in a very, very positive way.' O'Rourke, who lost to Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022 in the race for Texas Governor by about 10 percentage points, said he will stop speaking out politically when the problems Texans are facing solved. 'Everything that I was concerned about as a member of Congress, everything I was concerned about as a candidate, I'm still concerned about today,' O'Rourke said. 'You can't get rid of me, whether I'm a candidate or not, I'm going to be out here doing the work.' At the heart of the issues in America's political climate, Sanders said, is an immense concentration of wealth among a select few corporations and people. 'The bottom line is that today, the people on top have never, ever been better,' Sanders said to the crowd of over 6,500. The Vermont senator recalled sitting at Trump's inauguration earlier this year, where Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos sat near the president. Behind them, he said, were a dozen more billionaires, all of whom are reaping more rewards in U.S. politics than ever before. Trump is not being slick about lining their pockets, Sanders said. 'If you recall, right behind him, plain vision for the world to see, were the three wealthiest people in our country,' Sanders said. Throughout the night, O'Rourke, Casar and Sanders repeatedly decried this weekend's strikes in Iran as a blatantly unconstitutional effort to involve the United States in another 'forever war.' Sanders said the vast majority of Democrats understand what is happening and plan to act against the president. 'Whether you want to go to war in Iran or argue against, it just so happens, the President of the United States doesn't have the authority to do that,' Sanders said. 'Read the Constitution of the United States. It is Congress that has that authority. And I would hope that this week, we will force that resolution, War Powers Act, onto the floor and force people to vote.' Sanders said he doesn't accept states as being solely red or blue, he instead sees hard workers who have the same goals, needs and the same vision. 'This is not Democrat, Republican or independent,' Sanders said. 'I think it is criminal that in the richest country on Earth, we have so much income and wealth inequality that 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck. We're the only major country not to guarantee health care to all people. And all of this is related to money in politics.' The bottom line of his tour across America, Sanders said, is that citizens need to get involved politically. 'I would urge people, in any way that they find comfortable, to stand up to the oligarchy,' Sanders said. 'Because what you have now is a small number of people who are incredibly greedy.'
CNN
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Bernie Sanders reacts to US strikes on Iran during speech
Sen. Bernie Sanders held a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he received news of President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran.
