If Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayor’s race next month, he would become the city’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest in a century. But his election would also shatter another long-standing norm – that New York politicians remain fiercely supportive of Israel. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, has described himself as an anti-Zionist and accused Israel of genocide. But as his opponent, Andrew Cuomo, has seized on those views as evidence of antisemitism, polls show the broader electorate is increasingly sympathetic to Mamdani’s position. That has caused consternation among pro-Israel supporters.
Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani was attacked over his thin resume. Republican Curtis Sliwa strove to prove his seriousness as a candidate. And former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was pressed on the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office in a contentious final debate in New York City’s mayoral race. They candidates met just days before early voting begins in the country's largest city. While Mamdani began the debate accusing his rivals of being too consumed by fighting, he quickly joined the fray, including inviting one of Cuomo’s accusers to appear in the studio audience. Cuomo is now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.
Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party has chosen Cheng Li-wun as its new chairperson. Cheng, the only female candidate, defeated former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and four others on Saturday. Despite losing three consecutive presidential elections to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, hold enough seats to form a majority bloc with allies in the legislature. Cheng, scheduled to take office in November, could influence Taiwan's relationship with Beijing and other key policies. During her campaign, she pledged to transform the KMT and regain support from young people.
New York City mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa tried to blunt Democrat Zohran Mamdani’s momentum during a highly contentious first general election debate Thursday evening. Mamdani is a 33-year-old democratic socialist who defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary this summer and is now the front-runner to lead America’s biggest city. The Republican Sliwa and newly independent candidate Cuomo spent much of the debate trying to paint Mamdani as inexperienced. They characterized his agenda as unrealistic in one of their last opportunities to try to change the trajectory of the race.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have been trading barbs using the term "paper tiger," a phrase popularized by the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. Trump recently mocked Russia's military power, calling it a "paper tiger," which led to a retort from Putin. The exchange has amused historians familiar with Chinese propaganda, as the term was once used by Mao to describe the U.S. during the Cold War. The phrase refers to something seemingly powerful but actually fragile. Historians find it ironic that the leaders of the U.S. and Russia are now using the term against each other.