.
Does the triumph of Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist, in the NYC mayoral race portend a rise in progressive politics? Will his lack of experience cause him harm?
Julie: For Democrats nationwide, Madani serves as a warning. Voters revolted against the establishment’s attempt to impose a seriously flawed retread on the party, not only because Andrew Cuomo is a despicable person (though he is), but also because the same group that keeps telling us to trust them is the same group that brought us Donald Trump, a Republican Senate and House, a right-wing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court, and Republican governors in most states.
While Mamdami ran an amazing grassroots campaign that truly resonated with everyday people, she was also a fresh face, charming, and laser-focused on affordability issues. I see why he won by a landslide, even though he may not be to everyone’s taste, including mine.
Mike:Julie makes some excellent arguments regarding what this implies for Democrats. The far-left policy isn’t the only one. Democrats are bringing up yesterday’s candidate, who isn’t connecting at all. Since Cuomo had his chance and resigned amid scandal, many more conservative voters voted against him. Cuomo, Biden, Clinton, and Pelosi are all being rejected by the electorate. It’s time for a generational shift.
Second, the far left might be energized by the same economic concerns that drove Trump. Lastly, because his opinions are so far from the norm, Democrats abroad will have a hard time defending this.
Related: Is U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York in trouble? He continues to lose to AOC in the polls.
Julie:I believe this to be Schumer’s final term, or at least it ought to be. He hasn’t done anything to organize and inspire the Hill’s opposition to Trump in his role as minority leader. Although he has been a wonderful senator for New York, he needs to make room for others who know how to fight in the Trump era, just like so many others who grew up in the 1990s. Writing nasty letters and giving hectoring, uninspiring floor speeches is like using a rotary phone in the age of the iPhone 16.
Mike: Schumer ought to refrain from running. He belongs to the leadership generation and style that is being eliminated. Instead of being thrown out, he ought to depart.
Q: Without the consent of Congress, President Trump joined Israel in targeting Iranian nuclear installations.Was this a risky escalation that would lead the United States into yet another protracted conflict, or was it a necessary display of force?
Julie:Even if it may have delayed Iran’s development by a few years, this was a remarkably stupid move. Now that diplomacy has failed, this is Iran’s calculation: In 1996, Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in return for security assurances from the United States and the United Kingdom, but these assurances were worthless. In the meantime, no one has the courage to attack North Korea since it turned nuclear. Therefore, you know what to do if you are an Ayatollah in Iran. Iran’s nuclear program will accelerate unless regime change and the entry of a democratic Iran into the international community are achieved, which cannot be done at the point of a gun (especially an Israeli one).
Israel can continue to bomb Iran, but it cannot achieve all of its goals without American assistance, and it is questionable if Trump has the time to continue carrying out these sporadic attacks or even if his successor will be motivated. I’m reminded of Bush’s Mission Accomplished bullshit at the beginning of the Iraq War by Trump’s victory lap. No one ever thought about what would happen the next day or year, and Trump isn’t thinking about it either. I remind everyone that, despite its flaws, President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran achieved far more than Trump’s B-2s could have, had he not also blown that up as soon as he took office.
Mike:Since Iran is a bad actor, I agree with the choice to halt their program for however long it takes. They are the leading state supporter of terrorism in the world, and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would use it to strike Israel or the United States in an instant. Naturally, this does not contradict all of Trump’s statements that the United States will avoid getting involved in international conflicts.
Q: Without providing concrete proof, Trump has been attempting to control the narrative surrounding the Iran strike by claiming it was a complete success. The Jeffery Epstein files, the massive No Kings protests, the Big, Beautiful Bill discussion, and his humiliating birthday military parade have all been sidelined by this. Has the mission been completed?
Julie: The mission has been successfully completed. Trump has allowed the media to concentrate on just one major subject at a time.
Mike: Instead of analyzing conflicting damage estimates, voters will consider the big picture and decide whether they support the audacious move.
Q: A significant cost-cutting feature in the GOP’s large spending package was undermined on Thursday when the U.S. Senate’s independent referee rejected a key Republican proposal to cap states’ use of health care provider taxes for Medicaid funding. The decision can prevent the bill from moving forward. A Democratic victory?
Julie:In theory, Vice President Vance has the authority to disregard the lawmaker’s recommendation in his capacity as Senate President. John Thune has the authority to dismiss the lawmaker because she is the Senate majority leader’s pleasure. The more significant issue is whether Republicans can secure 50 votes to approve this package, which now appears dubious.
Mike: Unless this was the only area of contention, I don’t think the lawmaker will be fired because The Big, Beautiful Bill has more serious problems.
Q: Former President Obama is speaking out more about his assertions that the nation is on the verge of becoming an autocratic state. What effect do you think he will have on the national conversation around MAGA and Trump?
Julie: The more Obama talks up, the better, because he has a way of dipping his toe in occasionally. His voice counts because he remains the most popular politician in the nation.
Mike:Obama’s speeches carry a lot more weight than those of any other politician because he uses discretion rather than constantly hurling political insults. It might make a difference with the current Obama-Trump voters.
Obama contends that the inability of people and public officials to agree on the facts is one of the fundamental problems facing America. What do you think?
Julie: It’s true that we are now debating whether or not the planet is round rather than policy. The emergence of social media, influencers, and a president who is genuinely out of touch with reality have all contributed to it. The Emperor appears to be without clothing. All of the courtiers are aware of his insanity, but they allow the insane because they want to win his favor.
Mike: Reasons change over time. If facts are presented well, people will hear them.
Q: New Jersey CongresswomanLaMonica McIveradmitted she is worried about the possibility of prison time. But at the same time, she told Brent Johnson, we have faith in the judiciary system here in New Jersey. Is that faith well placed?
Julie:I have faith in New Jersey s federal courts. Rep. McIver was doing absolutely nothing wrong, and it is disgraceful that the Justice Department has decided to weaponize the justice system against her. Luckily, we are not at the show trial stage yet. New Jersey s federal bench is excellent and doesn t play politics.
Mike:She will not go to prison.
Q: On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade s overturning, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill attacked Republican Jack Ciattarelli srecord on abortion.Will reproductive rights be a defining issue in the governor s race?
Julie:Reproductive rights are a motivating force for women across the country but it s unclear that New Jersey women in particular worry that those rights will be eradicated here. Still, it s a smart tactic for Sherrill to remind voters that Ciattarelli is out of step with where most of them are on this issue.
Mike:It will be an issue, but Democrats make a mistake when they think it becomes a defining issue. Democrats overplayed the issue nationally last year, especially in the presidential election. Not every pro-choice voter is a single-issue pro-choice voter as proven in 2024.
Q: Speaking of Ciattarelli, many political insiders are surprised he s not keeping Trump, who endorsed him, at arm s length. Rather, he has said he agrees with everything the president is doing. Will that work?
Julie: Ciattarelli will be tied to Trump anyway, so he has obviously made the calculus to keep him close in order to turn out his base. I assume the strategy is to deprive Trump of a reason to rage-post against him. Had he taken the bait, he would have had to explain where they differ, which would have opened up a can of worms over at Bedminster.
Mike:Trump received 700,000 more votes in 2024 than Ciattarelli received in 2021. If Jack can convince a fraction of those voters that the gubernatorial race is just as important as the presidential, he can make up the much narrower gap that he lost by in 2021. The key is harnessing the Trump energy without losing too many independent voters
Q: How will this budget be read in history books? Is he cementing a progressive legacy, or leaving a fiscal mess for his successor?
Julie:Hard to tell until we see the final product, so ask us again next week. But unless they pull a rabbit out of a hat and miraculously come up with billions of dollars from Santa, the mess will be left to Murphy s successor to clean up, especially as it looks like wemaybe about to enter a recession.
Mike:It continues the massive spending increases over the last eight years. The rate of spending increase year over year is unsustainable. The next governor will need to rein in spending.
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