Tag: politics

Zohran Mamdani’s Rent Freeze Just Got Hit With Its First Major Lawsuit

The first lawsuit against Zohran Mamdani’s latest rent freeze on New York City apartments was filed Wednesday, as a group of landlords moved to overturn the New York City Rent Guidelines Board’s decision. 

The suit argues that the Board went through a “sham process” before voting 7-1 in June to impose zero rent increases on one and two-year leases. Although the Board is supposed to operate independently, its members can be appointed and removed by the mayor at will. In fact, six of the current board members were appointed by Mamdani.

While the Rent Guidelines Board is required to review the economic conditions of the residential real estate industry before voting, the lawsuit alleges that it cherry-picked the data, underestimating operating costs and overstating the money landlords were receiving in order to justify its decision. The suit also points to the resignation of one board member before the vote, noting that the landlord representative quit in frustration after concluding the board had ceased to function as a fact-finding body and that her former colleagues intended to freeze rent no matter what the evidence showed.

“Zohran Mamdani promised to deliver a rent freeze during his campaign and then he went to extraordinary lengths as a new mayor to guarantee it,” Randy Mastro, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said. “This is a perversion of the process.”

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Jim Jordan Criminally Refers Jack Smith to DOJ For Prosecution

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Wednesday criminally referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for prosecution.

In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Chairman Jordan said Jack Smith’s testimony included “intentionally false statements designed to obstruct the Committee’s oversight.”

Fox News reported:

Former Biden special counsel Jack Smith could face potential criminal prosecution after Republicans accused the ex-prosecutor of misleading Congress about the scope of his investigation into President Donald Trump.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued a criminal referral of Smith on Wednesday, arguing newly released records contradict Smith’s testimony to his committee that he did not obtain or review lawmakers’ text messages during his multiple probes into President Donald Trump.

“All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different,” Jordan wrote in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday. “Yet his testimony included intentionally false statements designed to obstruct the Committee’s oversight.”

“His conduct can only be understood as an effort to thwart the Committee’s inquiry by intentionally making false statements and representations before Congress,” Jordan continued, adding that the Justice Department should examine whether Smith’s actions warrant criminal charges.

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HILARIOUS: Mamdani Gets the Twitter/X Meme Treatment After Admitting He Doesn’t Have the Authority to Arrest Netanyahu

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has finally admitted that he lacks the authority to arrest Israeli leader Netanyahu.

While the media has taken this whole ridiculous affair seriously for some reason, people on the internet are giving it the mockery it deserves.

People have taken the image of Mamdani from his video and added their own funny commentary.

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Democrats Are Fighting A Civil War, And Bernie Sanders Started It

Democrats desperately want to retake the House in November, not just to thwart President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, but to launch countless investigations under the guise of oversight. However, their most stubborn obstacle to achieving this goal isn’t President Trump or the Republican Party. The biggest obstacle actually sits inside their own party. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has spent this cycle bankrolling primary challengers against sitting Democrats, and the fight has split the party into two camps that can barely stand each other.

Sanders recently announced plans to defeat a sitting House Democrat from North Carolina who belongs to the Congressional Black Caucus. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called Sanders personally to warn him off interfering in House primaries during a midterm year that could decide control of Congress, CNN reported, citing three Democrats familiar with the previously unreported call. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) sat in on that call and told the outlet that Sanders showed little concern about the warning. The call came just before Rep. Valerie Foushee defeated primary challenger Nida Allam in North Carolina in March. Jeffries later declined to describe the exchange beyond calling it honest.

Sanders sits at the height of his influence in Democratic politics right now, which makes the timing of this civil war particularly inconvenient for a party trying to project unity heading into the fall. The dispute comes down to a simple question: should Democrats run candidates who can actually win swing districts, or candidates who fire up the base and risk losing everyone else? Sanders has chosen one side, and the establishment the other. He has endorsed more than 90 candidates this cycle and helped topple House incumbents in New York City and Colorado. Of the 60 Sanders-backed candidates whose races have concluded, 42 have won, including 10 of 16 federal candidates. Senior Washington Democrats grumble that Sanders is forcing the party to burn money on internal fights instead of saving it for Republicans in November.

Then there’s Graham Platner, the Maine Senate candidate Sanders backed and defended even after the New York Times reported allegations of abusive behavior toward women. Sanders kept defending him until after allegations of rape surfaced, which Platner has denied. Sanders withdrew his endorsement only then.

Platner’s exit from the race, according to OpenSecrets, put the Democratic Party in a deep financial hole. Platner can’t simply transfer his campaign funds to his replacement, and whoever takes his place will ultimately have to overcome a huge cash disadvantage compared to Sen. Susan Collins.

“Bernie has endorsed some flawed candidates recently,” Rep. Hillary Scholten of Michigan said. “I think it’s really important to look at the judgment that has been exercised. The Graham Platner situation should be a huge warning sign to a lot of voters about what that stamp of approval might mean.”

Michigan is where this rift boiled over this weekend, as Sanders held rallies – joined by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and House candidate William Lawrence. Asked whether he’s making it harder for Democrats to win in November, the 84-year-old Sanders said no and argued his candidates represent working people rather than wealthy donors. El-Sayed’s support for Medicare for All and his criticism of Israel and AIPAC have made him a progressive favorite. At the same time, the party establishment favors Rep. Haley Stevens as the safer bet against likely GOP nominee former Rep. Mike Rogers. Retiring Sen. Gary Peters had planned to stay neutral in the August 4 primary but endorsed Stevens last week instead.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has made his preference for Stevens clear. However, he avoided direct criticism of Sanders when asked, saying Democrats would settle on a nominee suited to the state. Rep. Ro Khanna compared Sanders’ standing in the party to that of the pope and Barack Obama. Rep. Josh Gottheimer sees something else entirely.

“The DSA, which Bernie’s part of, is trying to hijack the Democratic Party, and what you’re seeing is people don’t want that,” Gottheimer said. “The Democratic Party wants to be the Democratic Party, and he’s trying to use the Democratic Party as a vessel for socialism, and people don’t want socialism.”

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Even CNN is Laughing at Mamdani for Thinking He Has the Authority to Arrest Netanyahu in New York City

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has zero authority to arrest Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and even the Democrat cheerleaders at CNN know it.

During a recent segment where they discussed the topic, legal analyst Elie Honig listed all of the reasons why Mamdani’s claims are utterly false.

He notes that all aspects of foreign policy and diplomacy are handled by the federal government, not local jurisdictions. He also points out that the arrest warrant that Mamdani is referencing in this case is from a body that is not even recognized by the United States.

The other people on the panel laugh along because they know Honig is absolutely right about this.

Partial transcript via the Vigilant Fox:

KEILAR: “Can Mamdani have Netanyahu arrested?”

HONIG: “Absolutely not. It is utterly RIDICULOUS for the mayor of New York City to even suggest that he might have the authority to order the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu or any visiting foreign head of state.”

“The mayor of New York City has ZERO law enforcement authority. He DOES NOT tell the Manhattan DA, the NYPD, who to arrest, who to indict.”

“So I know the mayor is having his best lawyers look at this right now. Let me save them some time. You DO NOT have the authority to do this.”

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US CBDC ban to go into effect without Trump signoff on housing bill

Donald Trump confirmed on social media that he would not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes a ban on a US CBDC until the end of 2030, setting the stage for the bill to become law on Saturday.

A bipartisan housing bill containing a ban on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the United States is set to become law as the deadline approaches for President Donald Trump to sign it.

Just after midnight on Friday, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will have been in Trump’s hands for 10 days, excluding Sundays, the maximum amount of time a bill can be on the president’s desk without a veto or a signature. Under the US Constitution, the legislation will automatically become law without action from Trump, who canceled the signing ceremony for the bill on Jun 24.

In a Friday social media post, Trump confirmed that he would not sign the housing bill, calling Republicans in Congress who voted on the legislation “dumb” and urging the Senate to instead prioritize a controversial voting bill, the SAVE America Act. The legislation, which would require people to provide proof of US citizenship in person to register, has received widespread criticism for claims that it would disenfranchise citizens already eligible to vote.

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The Democrats Aren’t Merging With the DSA — They’re Being Devoured Alive

It’s a rule in Big Tech: Whenever companies reach a large enough size, they stop innovating. For whatever reason, their creative juices runneth dry.

They simply… stop.

Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft — it happened to all of them. Little by little, America’s most innovative companies lost their ability to innovate.

And today, they only grow by acquiring outside startups.

Google leveraged its search engine revenue to acquire Android, YouTube, Fitbit, Wiz, and DeepMind. Facebook bought Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Apple owes its renaissance to acquiring NeXT, and later bought Siri, Beats, and Shazam. Microsoft acquired everything from Forethought (precursor to PowerPoint), Hotmail, LinkedIn, Skype, GitHub, Visio, Minecraft, Activision Blizzard, and a whole lot more.

You’d expect a deep-pocketed tech company with tens of thousands of highly-trained employees, first-mover advantage, tons of resources and/or industry contacts, and an R&D budget in the BILLIONS to have a big competitive edge, but nah. Turns out that successful innovation is less about the dollars and structure — and more about the vision and freedom.

(Which is a cautionary tale that today’s AI monoliths would be wise to heed.)

In hindsight, Steve Jobs was the last of the CEO innovators — the Willy Wonka of Big Tech. He wowed us with the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iTunes. He developed new ideas in-house, smoothed out the rough edges, and revealed his latest, greatest creations in grand unveilings.

But that’s not how it’s done anymore. Hasn’t been for at least a decade. Big companies today grow by acquiring, not by innovating.

The same thing is about to happen to the Democratic Party.

When was the last time the donkeys developed anything new? A new plan, a new proposal, a new solution — or even a new idea? When was the last time a member of the Democratic establishment/DNC said something that made you go, “Wow, I never thought about it like that before?”

It’s been 50+ years, because their tactics, rhetoric, and ideas are all throwbacks to the 1960s.

By contrast, the Republican Party still spews new ideas like a nimble startup: Trump Accounts, tariffs, Greenland, Opportunity Zones, DOGE, the Space Force, the Abraham Accords — and that’s just during the MAGA era! Not every idea was a home run, but at least the GOP is trying.

The Democrats have given up.

I suspect this “innovation gap” was a self-fulfilling manifestation of both parties’ philosophies: Republicans are the free market party. The strength of a free market is its responsiveness to changes in the marketplace — with the invisible hand and dollar voting. So if you’re predisposed to think of our world this way, you’re probably already a Republican. 

And thus, you already value responsiveness. It’s hardwired into your DNA: Free men, trading freely, in pursuit of their mutual benefit, are the ultimate expression of liberty. 

“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

It’s how we became the innovation party. It’s why we prioritize new ideas. And it’s why, even after the sun sets on the Trump years, the GOP will continue to innovate.

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Democrats Nominate Anti-ICE Candidate Accused of Mortgage Fraud and Throwing a Bottle at a Woman for Maine Senate Race

Democrats in Maine have selected former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their nominee for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Susan Collins.

Jackson supports abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, and expanding the Supreme Court.

The new candidate will replace Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Jackson secured overwhelming support in county delegate elections over the weekend, winning majorities in nearly every county.

This gives him a commanding lead heading into the Democratic nominating convention scheduled for July 25.

Several rivals, including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state CDC director Nirav Shah, have already dropped out and endorsed Jackson.

Jackson, a logger from Allagash, previously served as Senate President from 2018 to 2024.

He ran unsuccessfully for governor and has long been aligned with progressive causes, including labor unions.

An ethics complaint was filed against him in 2023 regarding a 2019 home purchase in Augusta using an FHA loan.

Jackson allegedly signed documents stating the Augusta property would be his primary residence but continued to claim Allagash as his residence for legislative and other purposes.

The politician claimed he “never really read” the mortgage documents and relied on his broker.

The Maine Ethics Commission reviewed complaints but did not pursue further action.

Additionally, the group Progressive Victory has warned that Jackson once threw a bottle at a female colleague, describing the incident as an “open secret” in Maine politics.

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Democrats Rigging Maryland’s Future Elections: Heading For One Party Rule

Maryland Democrats are calling a special session August 3–5 for one reason and that is to change the rules before they break them.

For centuries, redistricting has followed clear standards.
1. Equal population
2. Contiguous districts
3. Compact maps
4. Respect for communities of interest

Maryland Democrats know the maps they want to draw violate those principles, so instead of following the law, they’re trying to rewrite it.

Their plan? Stitch together places like Columbia with the Eastern Shore while carving rural Cecil County out of District 1. Their plan is to dilute rural voices and dismantle real communities to serve a partisan agenda.

Let’s be crystal clear. This isn’t reform! It’s an attempt to rig the system and avoid getting sued for it.

At the same time, the Governor has sadly but not surprisingly injected race into the debate. He is dividing Marylanders instead of defending a fair and constitutional process.

The Democrats in leadership are no better than those they are criticizing in other states.

This is about power and not the best interests of Marylanders. Marylanders should be outraged.

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Why Democrats Can’t Do Better Than Kamala Harris in 2028

There are only two lanes to the Democratic presidential nomination two years from now, and one of them is already blocked — by Kamala Harris.

Get ready for the Kamala comeback, followed, in all likelihood, by a replay of her crushing defeat by the Republican nominee.

Believe it or not, the ex-VP occupies what counts as the “center lane” within the party, and for most of the last three decades that’s the one that’s led to the nomination.

Republicans used to be the party of orderly succession, even if the candidate whose turn had come looked like a certain loser: think Bob Dole in ’96.

But recently, it’s been Democrats who’ve tended to pick a party elder as their nominee:

Al Gore, as a sitting VP, might not have been remarkable in 2000, but in ’04 it was John Kerry, in ’16 Hillary Clinton, and in 2020 Joe Biden — with only Barack Obama butting ahead of the line in 2008.

Democrats like a known quantity, a reliable liberal who isn’t too overtly radical; the radicalism can wait until after Election Day.

So they’re leaning to running Harris again, even if donors aren’t happy about it: They blew nearly $2 billion on her campaign and aligned PACs in 2024, only for Harris to lose every battleground state to Trump.

It won’t be donors who decide the party’s 2028 nominee, though, and ordinary Democrats actually find Harris reassuring.

She’s a familiar face, after all, commanding practically universal name recognition.

Harris checks the identity-politics boxes that may be as important as winning to Democratic primary voters: Their ticket must have a woman, and it can’t be all white.

And after being vetted as a VP and undergoing the trial-by-fire of the ’24 campaign, Harris isn’t likely to surprise voters with any extremist tattoos or sexual-assault allegations — things that can’t be taken for granted among Democrats nowadays.

Then there’s the revenge motive: What better way to repudiate the Trump era and reverse the ’24 humiliation than by making the woman he defeated president?

Democratic primary voters are still smarting from Hillary Clinton’s drubbing in 2016: by 2028, the election of America’s first female president will have been postponed 12 long years, and feminists in the party aren’t willing to wait any longer.

These are the reasons Harris tops almost all polls of 2028 Democratic hopefuls, with an 11.6-point lead in the RealClearPolitics polling aggregate as of mid-July.

“She comes in with 99 percent name ID and everyone else is going to have to raise money and buy it,” a former Harris aide tells New York’s David Freedlander.

The donors might prefer just about anyone else, yet they’d have to pour an enormous amount of cash into another candidate just to make him or her recognizable.

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