Latest news with #thePress
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani says ‘I don't think we should have billionaires'
Zohran Mamdani, the winner of the Democratic primary to be mayor of New York City, told NBC News' 'Meet the Press' on June 29 that he doesn't believe billionaires should exist. Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, was asked directly whether 'billionaires have a right to exist' and he responded: 'I don't think we should have billionaires because frankly it is so much money in a moment of such inequality.' The political upstart's comments come days after his shocking Democratic primary victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani campaigned on a radical vision of remaking a city seen by many as the mecca of the world's rich and powerful. 'Ultimately what we need more of is equality across the city and across the state and country,' Mamdani told Meet the Press. 'I look forward to working with everyone including billionaires to make a city that is fair for all of us.' His comments on the richest of the rich come as some of his closest allies, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, travel across the U.S. on their 'fighting oligarchy' tour. The New York state Assembly member's platform excited progressives with plans that included promises to freeze rents in regulated apartments and make buses free. He also supports a 2% tax on residents earning above $1 million annually and raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%. But he wouldn't have the authority to raise taxes as mayor. Mamdani, 33, has not stated a plan to take money from billionaires. The young left-wing candidate's ascendancy spooked rich, politically-active donors. A Super PAC backing Cuomo spent $24 million, much of it raised from Trump donors such as hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and real estate executive Steven Roth, along with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Cuomo is expected to remain on the ballot for mayor in November, USA TODAY previously reported. Current Mayor Eric Adams will also run against Mamdani as an independent. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Billionaires shouldn't exist, says expected NYC mayoral nominee
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani dodges condemning ‘Globalize the Intifada,' says mayors shouldn't police speech
Zohran Mamdani , the presumed Democratic nominee in New York City's mayoral race, has increasingly been under fire after repeatedly declining to denounce the phrase " globalize the intifada ," according to a report. Zohran Mamdani Under Fire for Refusal to Condemn Controversial Phrase During NBC News' "Meet the Press" interview, when he was asked if he condemned the phrase, which is majorly viewed by Jewish groups as offensive and antisemitic, Mamdani responded, saying, "That's not language that I use," as quoted in the NBC News report. He explained that, "The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead the city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights," as quoted in the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like High Speed Internet for Seniors at low rates worth switching High Speed WiFi Internet Deal Learn More Undo Mamdani also highlighted that, "Ultimately, that's what is the foundation of so much of my politics, the belief that freedom and justice and safety are things that have meaning, have to be applied to all people, and that includes Israelis and Palestinians," quoted NBC News. ALSO READ: Rubio's State Department in turmoil: Staff overworked, morale plummets amid layoff fears Live Events Focus Shifts to Anti-Hate Proposals When moderator Kristen Welker directly again asked if he condemns the phrase "globalize the intifada," he again diverted and replied, "I've heard those fears, and I've had those conversations, and ultimately, they are part and parcel of why in my campaign, I've put forward a commitment to increase funding for anti-hate crime programming by 800%," as quoted in the report. He also emphasized that, "I don't believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech," as quoted by NBC News report. Then when Welker questioned why it wouldn't be easier to just condemn the phrase, which many Jewish organisations have condemned and called antisemitic, Mamdani said, "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," as quoted in the report. Mamdani even pointed out the several students, like Rumeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, who were detained by the Trump administration earlier this year after they wrote or protested against Israel and in favor of those living in Gaza, according to NBC News report. He highlighted that, "Ultimately, it's not language that I use, it's 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," as quoted in the report. His latest remarks come after his avoidance to condemn the phrase caught attention during the final days leading up to the Democratic mayoral primary, as in an interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani was asked whether the phrase "globalize the intifada" made him uncomfortable, and he responded saying that it reflects "a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights ," according to the NBC News report. ALSO READ: Jerome Powell accused of lying to Congress over $2.5B lavish Fed HQ renovation — calls for punishment grow Strong Condemnation from Jewish Groups After that, Jewish organisations and officials voiced their concern against the phrase and Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League , wrote in a post on social media platform X, saying, "Globalize the Intifada is an explicit call for violence. Globalize the Intifada celebrates and glorifies savagery and terror. Globalize the Intifada dishonors the memory of 1,000s slaughtered, tens of 1,000s maimed, and millions traumatized who were targeted simply because of their identities. Globalize the Intifada is not just dangerous. It's an explicit incitement to violence," as quoted in the report. FAQs Did Zohran Mamdani use the phrase himself? No. He says he doesn't use the phrase personally, but he has refused to condemn it publicly. Why won't Mamdani just condemn it? He says doing so would mean 'policing speech', something he believes mayors shouldn't do.
NBC News
29-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Zohran Mamdani says 'I don't think we should have billionaires'
Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City, on Sunday said that he doesn't believe billionaires should exist. Asked directly whether billionaires should have a right to exist, Mamdani, who identifies himself as a Democratic socialist, told NBC News' "Meet the Press," 'I don't think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.' 'And I look forward to working with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fair for all of them,' he added. His remarks come as some wealthy people in New York City soured on Mamdani in the days after it became clear that he would be the presumptive nominee. Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager who has backed President Donald Trump in the past, on Thursday pledged to use his money to bankroll a challenger to Mamdani in the general election. "[Mamdani's] policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country. The ability for NYC to offer services for the poor and needy, let alone the average New Yorker, is entirely dependent on NYC being a business-friendly environment and a place where wealthy residents are willing to spend 183 days and assume the associated tax burden," Ackman wrote in a post on X. "Importantly, there are hundreds of million of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight (believe me, I am in the text strings and the WhatsApp groups) so that a great alternative candidate won't spend any time raising funds. So, if the right candidate would raise his or her hand tomorrow, the funds will pour in," he added. On Sunday, Mamdani also spoke about his plans to raise taxes on the wealthiest people living in the Big Apple, telling "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker, "Ultimately, the reason I want to increase these taxes on the top one percent, the most profitable corporations, is to increase quality of life for everyone, including those who are going to be taxed." He credited his plan to raise taxes on the wealthy as one of the key tenets of his platform, which helped him win the primary. "We're seeing that our vision to tax the top one percent of New Yorkers -- these are New Yorkers who make a million dollars a year or more -- and our proposal is to just tax them by two percent additional is something that has broad support and we'll continue to increase that support over the next few months." Mamdani has also faced critics — including President Donald Trump — who call him a communist. 'I am not' a communist," Mamdani said on Sunday, in response to a question about Trump's comments. On Sunday, in a separate interview on Fox News that was taped Friday, Trump again spoke about Mamdani, making a threat to pull federal funding from New York City if the next mayor doesn't 'do the right thing.' 'But let's say this, if he does get in, I'm going to be president, and he's going to have to do the right thing, or they're not getting any money, he's got to do the right thing,' the president told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. 'I have already had to start to get used to, get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I'm from, who I am, ultimately, because he wants to distract from what I'm fighting for, and I'm fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower, that he has since then betrayed,' Mamdani added. A key focus of Mamdani's campaign was speaking about affordability and the economy, a point that he made on "Meet the Press" Sunday when asked about why he thought he won. "It was the focus on the fact that we live in the most expensive city in the United States of America. It's also the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and yet, one in four New Yorkers are living in poverty, and the rest are seemingly trapped in a state of anxiety," Mamdani said. He added, "And what we've seen is that this is a city that needs to be affordable for the people who build it every day. Our focus was on exactly that, and by keeping that focus on an economic agenda, we showed New Yorkers that this could be more than just a museum of what once was. It could be a living, breathing testament to possibility."
NBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
‘No willingness' from Republicans to work across the aisle on Trump agenda bill, says House Dem
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) joins Meet the Press NOW after Republicans advanced a bill to fund President Trump's 19, 2025
NBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump shifts message on tariffs and taxation
NBC News White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and Capitol Hill Correspondent Melanie Zenona report on President Trump's recent shift in tone on China tariffs and raising the top tax bracket. Kevin Frey, Anthony Coley and Lance Trover join the Meet the Press NOW panel to discuss the president's approach to governing, including his departure from longstanding Republican positions.
