NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 8: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani at the 2025 National Puerto Rican Day Parade along with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez June 8, 2025 in New York City. Credit: Katie Godowski/MediaPunch /IPX
CLOSING THE BIG GAP-PLE
A Millennial socialist is making Andrew Cuomo sweat in the race to be NYC’s next mayor. What does this say about the Democratic Party right now?
- Get ready to rumble! It’s Mr. Cardamom vs. Amazon Cuomo in the contentious match to be crowned New York City’s Top Cheese. In this corner, we have Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist with a fledgling rap career, whose astronomical rise in recent months is attributed to his social media savvy campaign for free buses, city-run grocery stores, and rent freezes. In the other corner, we have former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running on a simple platform: You know my name! The primary is next Tuesday… and it’ll be spicy.
- Mamdani is putting up a noble fight, weathering many blows: Critics accuse him of being too inexperienced, unrealistic, and — because of his support for the BDS movement and reluctance to condemn phrases like “globalize the intifada” — not supportive enough of the city’s Jewish communities. Cuomo is looking strong, as expected: He’s a much-more experienced hand who could be a formidable foe to President Donald Trump. But he’s also a certified creep who moved into an $8,000-per-month apartment in the city last year. So, there’s that…
- But the establishment wants Cuomo to win — or, more accurately, doesn’t want a democratic socialist making the rules. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-NY) endorsed Cuomo today, citing his credentials. Billionaire troll Bill Ackman warned that fellow rich dudes will move out of the city if Mamdani wins. A democratic socialist in office would be “profound and dangerous,” Harvard Professor Lawrence Summers tweeted. The New York Times editorial board didn’t endorse either candidate, but warned against supporting Mamdani. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg donated $5 million to Cuomo’s super PAC. DoorDash threw in $1 million. Even landlords committed $2.5 million to his campaign. Quite the coalition!
Democratic voters want their party to change. But the path to building something new and improved is still unclear.
- Sixty-two percent of Democrats want new leaders for their party, according to a new poll. Cuomo’s return to politics is “a vivid example of the dysfunction eating away at the Democratic Party nationally,” New York Times columnist Mara Gay wrote today. “For the past decade, uninspiring politicians have stomped out competition and held on to power. Many of them have clear flaws and liabilities … Yet they insist they should remain in charge, strangling the new talent that could reinvigorate the party.” The effects of this have never been clearer: Three Democrats have already died in office this year.
- Mamdani and his allies didn’t expect him to be able to mount a serious challenge. After all, winning might not be the whole point. Before jumping into the race, Mamdani saw this as an opportunity to create a model for what strong campaigns on the left can look like, according to a democratic operative who’s been working with him.
- Cuomo seems likely to squeeze out a victory — largely thanks to his name recognition and government experience — even though the ranked-choice voting system will make the race closer. But the stubborn divide between two extremely different candidates underscores a vacuum of leadership in the Democratic Party that’s unable to unite moderates and leftists under one umbrella. (Meanwhile, normie Republicans have no issue locking arms with MAGA’s loopiest whackadoos!)
There are understandable arguments for wanting either candidate to lead the world’s wealthiest city. But Mr. Cardamom predicted his own rise years ago: “I be in an elevator to the top. Go and find your own way there.”
PEACE OUT
Wait… Donald Trump might bomb Iran. Isn’t Congress the one who declares whether the United States goes to war?
Good question, astute imaginary reader! The answer, technically, is yes — but Capitol Hill ceded that power to the president after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Still, some Democrats are mad that their leaders aren’t pushing hard enough to claw those powers back.
Five days after Israel attacked Iran, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined a group of senators to declare “by law, the president must consult Congress and seek authorization if he is considering taking the country to war.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who’s often critical of Schumer, said that statement didn’t go far enough in challenging Trump’s possible actions.
“Part of my problem is he didn’t take a clear stand,” Khanna told Politico, referring to Schumer. “That’s exactly what people hate about the Democratic Party. We should be the party of peace.”
This week, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a bill that would require Trump to receive congressional permission before striking Iran. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a similar bill in the House. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries haven’t signed onto either. Why? “Lawmakers have privately stressed to Schumer the need to maintain the military’s flexibility in this situation,” Axios reports.
It’s unlikely either of these bills would pass, considering most Republicans are too afraid to go against Trump. But muted responses from Democratic leaders on an issue that is so unpopular among Americans is frustrating, Khanna said.
Even Theo Von, the manosphere podcaster who recently sat down with Vice President JD Vance, came out forcefully against striking Iran. “I think this is a horrible idea,” he said in a podcast appearance with Khanna. “I don’t even understand how it’s an option.”
Schumer’s office didn’t respond to What A Day’s request for comment.
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"You'll never catch me, better just catch Z’s.”
— NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, aka Mr. Cardamom, in his song “Nani.”
NEWS NEWS NEWS
Israeli troops killed at least 44 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip today, local officials said, adding to a deadly string of attacks against civilians who have been trying to get food. The situation is becoming increasingly dire: The United Nations warned of a man-made drought in the territory, as water systems collapse.
The Trump administration laid off more than 600 people who work for Voice of America, a U.S.-funded outlet that aims to provide news in countries with limited press freedom. There will be less than 200 people working there now, down from more than 1,300 earlier this year.
The Supreme Court decided to allow vape companies challenging FDA policy decisions to appeal to a friendlier court. Appearing in front of the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, for instance, might boost their chances at a favorable outcome. Uh, I don’t think that’s how the law is supposed to work!
Donald Trump is allowed to retain control of the National Guard in California, an appeals court ruled last night. Trump touted the decision as a “BIG WIN” on social media, while Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) pledged to keep fighting back.
ICE denied that they tried to access Dodgers Stadium after the team said that it had refused entry to agents yesterday. In a separate statement, the Department of Homeland Security said those scary dudes in face coverings with weapons were from a different one of its component agencies, Customs and Border Protection. DHS also said that their presence at the ballpark was “unrelated to any operation or enforcement” and it “had nothing to do with the Dodgers.” Well, I feel so much better already!
About 16 billion login credentials to Facebook, Google and Apple accounts have been leaked recently, according to researchers who found datasets with the information. It’s worth noting that 16 billion is roughly twice the number of people on earth. Does everyone have two accounts, or is there a secret parallel universe full of a whole other populace addicted to Big Tech products?
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