Wednesday, June 25, 2025

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‘Daddy’ Trump Scores ‘Monumental Win’ Over NATO — But One Member Faces Trade Sanctions.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: NATO leaders agreed to raise annual defense spending to 5% of GDP, following pressure from President Donald J. Trump, who also warned Spain of trade consequences for non-compliance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, NATO member nations, and the Spanish government

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 26, 2025, NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands

💬KEY QUOTE: “This would not have happened if you would not have been elected in 2016 and re-elected last year… so I want to thank you.” – Mark Rutte

🎯IMPACT: The agreement marks a seismic policy shift within NATO, realigns financial responsibility, and reaffirms Trump’s influence over transatlantic defense policy.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday celebrated a major policy breakthrough as NATO allies agreed to boost their defense spending to five percent of GDP annually—a goal Trump has pushed since his first election in 2016. “It’s a monumental win for the United States, because we were carrying much more than our fair share,” Trump told reporters after the summit concluded in The Hague.

Speaking alongside Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the American First leader’s role in driving the agreement, acknowledging: “This would not have happened if you would not have been elected in 2016 and re-elected last year… so I want to thank you.” Rutte emphasized the need to “equalise with the United States” and keep Europe safe in the face of growing threats.

In a moment that quickly went viral, Rutte also defended Trump’s sharp rhetoric towards Israel and Iran over ceasefire violations, joking, “Daddy has to use tough language.” The President had chastised both nations for continuing to fight while the ceasefire was pending and shortly after it was supposed to come into force, telling reporters that their governments “don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.”

Socialist-led Spain has proved to be a wrinkle in the defense spending pledge, insisting on an opt-out. Trump has warned they will face punishment for this, saying, “They want a little bit of a free ride, but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade, because I’m not going to let that happen. It’s unfair.”

This could lead to friction with the European Union (EU), as EU members—including Spain—must follow a common policy on external commerce and, potentially dragging the entire bloc into a Spanish-American trade clash.

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Trump DOJ Takes Democrat State to Court for Trying to Force Priests to Break Seal of Confession.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is launching legal action against Washington State for trying to force Catholic priests to violate the Seal of the Sacrament of Confession.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Washington State, Governor Bob Ferguson (D), the Roman Catholic Church, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The DOJ announced the lawsuit on June 25.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society.” – Harmeet K. Dhillon.

🎯IMPACT: The legal challenge could stop more states from attempting to force priests to violate the sacrament in the future by setting a legal precedent.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched legal action against the State of Washington for trying to force Roman Catholic priests to break the Seal of Confession, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment and religious freedom. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division explained that the bill forces Catholic priests to face criminal consequences for upholding their faith.

“Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” Dhillon said.

Washington’s Senate Bill 5375 demands that Catholic priests violate the Seal of Confession if a confession pertains to child abuse or neglect. Importantly, Catholic priests are bound to the Seal of Confession and face excommunication and possible removal from the priesthood for breaking the seal. Nevertheless, those who refuse to violate the seal in Washington State could face prison time.

Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson, supposedly a Catholic himself, claimed he was “very familiar” with the sacrament when he signed the law last month. However, local Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly was defiant, saying no priest will break the Seal of Confession regardless of the law.

Assistant Attorney General Dhillon argued, “Where does it stop? Can we force everyone to report everything? That becomes compelled speech, which is unconstitutional. This country was built on protecting religious expression, not dismantling it.”

Image by Cottonbro Studio.

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Former Biden FCC Staffer Free on Bond After Alleged Metro Station Abductions, Assaults.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Fairfax County man was arrested and charged with abduction and sexual assault involving two women at Metro stations in Virginia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Gary, 35, a former Biden government Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assistant division chief, the victims, and law enforcement officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred on May 30, 2025, near the Braddock Road and Potomac Yard Metro stations in Alexandria, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter stated, “The Commonwealth disagrees with the bail decision and is appealing the matter to the Court of Appeals.”

🎯IMPACT: Gary was released on bond with conditions as the Commonwealth appeals the bail decision.

IN FULL

A Fairfax County man, Jeffrey Gary, was arrested and charged with assault and battery, sexual battery, and two counts of abduction with force after incidents involving two women near Metro stations in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 30, 2025.

Gary, 35, a Georgetown Law graduate and former assistant division chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the Biden government, was taken into custody on June 1 following a coordinated investigation involving Alexandria Police and other regional law enforcement agencies. He was identified using public safety cameras and other technology.

One incident occurred near the Braddock Metro Station, where a woman in her mid-thirties was approached from behind, grabbed, and wrestled to the ground. She managed to resist and escape before calling 911. No weapon was used in the assault, according to police reports.

Gary was released on June 13 after posting four bonds totaling $14,000. Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Katie Uston imposed conditions on his release, including house arrest, a GPS ankle monitor, and evaluations for substance abuse and mental health. He is also barred from the Braddock Road and Potomac Yard Metro stations. Before serving at the Biden FCC, Gary worked for Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) as a law clerk and staff assistant, respectively. According to public records, he also worked for Microsoft as a policy analyst from 2021 to 2022.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter stated, “The Commonwealth disagrees with the bail decision and is appealing the matter to the Court of Appeals.” Gary is scheduled to appear in court on July 7, 2025.

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Hegseth Initiates Criminal Investigation Into Iran Intel Leaks to Natasha Bertrand.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon has launched a criminal investigation into a leaked top-secret military intelligence report regarding U.S. strikes in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reporter Natasha Bertrand, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation was announced on Wednesday during a NATO meeting, following a U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday, June 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fake news, CNN and MSDNC, all of these terrible people, you know, they have no credibility,” President Trump said.

🎯IMPACT: The leaked report has raised questions about Deep State actors attempting to undermine the Trump administration and push for greater American military involvement in Iran.

IN FULL

The Pentagon has initiated a criminal investigation into a leaked top-secret report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) stating that U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities only delayed its nuclear ambitions by a few months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation after CNN published details of the report via Natasha Bertrand, a journalist notorious for laundering stories for partisan actors within the intelligence community.

Speaking at a NATO meeting alongside President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials, Hegseth criticized the media’s portrayal of the strikes. “We’re doing a leak investigation with the FBI right now, because this information is for internal purposes, battle damage assessments, and CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the President look bad,” Hegseth stated.

Hegseth defended the operation, describing the Fordow nuclear enrichment site as “obliterated” by 14 bunker buster bombs weighing a total of nearly 420,000 pounds. He emphasized that the leaked report was a “preliminary, low confidence” assessment and suggested that the damage was likely far more severe than indicated in the document.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, criticizing the motivations of the leakers. “This is what a leaker is telling you the intelligence says. That’s the game these people play. They read it and then they go out and characterize it the way they want it characterized,” Rubio stated, adding that leaking such classified information is “against the law.”

Infamously, Bertrand was previously used to place a discredited letter from “51 intelligence officials” falsely suggesting Hunter Biden’s “Laptop from Hell” was Russian disinformation prior to the 2020 election. Previously, she was a key booster of the Steele Dossier used to initiate the bogus Russiagate investigation into Trump.

President Trump dismissed the media reports as “fake news,” asserting that the strike was “very successful.” He further criticized outlets like CNN and MSNBC, stating, “Fake news, CNN and MSDNC, all of these terrible people, you know, they have no credibility.”

Since the strikes on Iran, President Trump has managed to get both Israel and Iran to agree to an uneasy ceasefire, which has largely held so far.

WATCH HERE:

 

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Police Demand Resignation of Vice Mayor Who Urged ‘Cholo’ Gangsters to Confront ICE.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez encouraged criminal “cholos” to defend their “turf” against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), causing a major police union to demand her resignation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cynthia Gonzalez, ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), and Los Angeles-based street gangs, including 18th Street and Florencia 13.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The video was posted on social media recently and has since been deleted. Gonzalez is the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, a city in southeast Los Angeles County.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory… And now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.” – Cynthia Gonzalez

🎯IMPACT: DHS linked Gonzalez’s rhetoric to a reported 500 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers and warned that federal agents would prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

IN FULL

The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), representing close to 9,000 members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is demanding the resignation of Cynthia Gonzalez, Vice Mayor of Cudahy, a city in Los Angeles County, California. Gonzalez appeared to call on street gangs to organize violent action against federal immigration agents.

“I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles. 18th Street, Florencia. Where’s the leadership at? Because, you guys are all about territory… and now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you,” she complained.

“Dude, [federal law enforcement] are running amok all up in yo streets and in yo city… So, whoever’s the leadership over there, just get your f**king members in order.”

The LAPPL, whose members were targeted by pro-illegal immigrant rioters after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began detaining illegals in L.A., including mass shooters and child molesters, condemned her comments. “The 18th Street and Florencia street gangs are notoriously dangerous Los Angeles-based criminal enterprises,” they stressed, noting that the gangs “rule their ‘turfs’ through intimidation, violence, and murder, and finance their operations through the sale of narcotics and illegal firearms, prostitution, and protection rackets.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also condemned Gonzalez’s video, accusing her of encouraging violence against law enforcement. DHS linked her comments to a reported 500 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers and warned that any attacks on federal officers would be met with full prosecution. Gonzalez reportedly deleted the video shortly after posting it, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents visited her home following the incident.

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The Democrats’ Muslim Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Wants to Defund the Police and ‘Abolish’ Prison.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Democratic Party’s newly minted candidate for New York City Mayor, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has a history of campaigning to defund the police and “abolish” the prison system.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Democratic Party voters, New York City electorate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, over the course of Mamdani’s political career.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As socialists, we believe people should not have to endure the violence & coercion of a criminal-legal system that props up the exploitation of the market by surveilling, caging & killing those fighting to survive under capitalism. We can abolish that system.” — Zohran Mamdani.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s victory signals growing momentum within the modern Democratic Party for radical criminal justice policies, including prison abolition and police defunding.

IN FULL

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the “progressive Muslim immigrant” who won the New York mayoral primary for the Democratic Party overnight, wants to “decarcerate” the city’s prisons and jails, arguing that “our prison system relies on dehumanization and brutality, so the goal must be to abolish this exploitative system entirely” in a 2021 social media post.

The Queens assemblyman has made “decarceration” a key theme of his political career, having also stated the previous year that, “We can’t reform a system working exactly as designed – to control Black, brown & poor New Yorkers. We need to defund the police, get them out of matters they have no business in, free the thousands locked up unjustly & invest the savings in those most impacted by state violence.”

He continued: “As socialists, we believe people should not have to endure the violence & coercion of a criminal-legal system that props up the exploitation of the market by surveilling, caging & killing those fighting to survive under capitalism. We can abolish that system.”

This activism continued into 2022, with Mamdani telling the LGBTQ-oriented Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, “I will… work to dismantle mass incarceration in New York by opposing the construction of new state prisons and jails, divesting from our $3 billion/year carceral system, and investing in jobs, services, and restorative justice approaches… I also support the abolition of felony disenfranchisement, including for incarcerated New Yorkers, as we work toward full decarceration of our state.”

In office, Mamdani has backed policies to end cash bail, release prisoners in their fifties, give prisoners the vote, and decriminalize prostitution.

He also argues that “Defunding the police is a feminist issue” because “Women, especially trans women, are disproportionately impacted by police violence & the violence of incarceration.”

Image by Bingjiefu He.

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ICE Has Detained a Record-Breaking Number of Illegals Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Illegal immigration detention numbers under the Trump administration have reached record levels, with over 56,000 migrants currently detained.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Trump administration figures, including United States Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have spearheaded the expansion of immigration enforcement efforts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: As of June 2025, detention numbers have surpassed prior records, with enforcement operations occurring nationwide.

🎯IMPACT: The detention surge has strained ICE’s budget, with the agency reportedly $1 billion over its annual allocation. However, Congressional Republicans are working to boost immigration enforcement funding through President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

IN FULL

Illegal immigration detention numbers in the United States have reached historic levels under President Donald J. Trump, with at least 56,000 migrants currently in custody. However, federal government data suggests the number could be as high as 59,000, significantly exceeding the agency’s capacity and surpassing previous records.

The administration has implemented aggressive enforcement tactics, including declaring an invasion by foreign gang members and invoking emergency powers to expedite deportations. The temporary protected status (TPS) abused by the Biden government to admit over 800,000 immigrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela has been revoked, clearing the way for the deportation of even more illegal immigrants.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has pushed for an increase in daily arrests, aiming for 3,000 per day. Federal resources, including law enforcement agencies like the FBI and DEA, have been redirected to support immigration enforcement. Additionally, partnerships with local police departments have further bolstered these efforts.

However, ICE faces significant budgetary challenges, with reports suggesting the agency is $1 billion over its annual allocation and could run out of funds in the coming months. To meet the costs, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are looking to boost resources for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE through provisions in reconciliation legislation—known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which will likely be taken up by the U.S. Senate later this week.

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The Electric Vehicle Market Is Booming — But Not for Musk’s Tesla.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Tesla’s sales in Europe have dropped for five consecutive months, even as overall electric vehicle (EV) sales in the region have increased.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tesla, Elon Musk, European and Chinese EV manufacturers, and AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The sales decline occurred over the past five months in the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Musk’s outspokenness is becoming a liability for Tesla shareholders.” – Russ Mould.

🎯IMPACT: Tesla’s European market share has fallen to 1.2 percent, and its stock has experienced significant volatility due to various factors, including Elon Musk’s public statements.

IN FULL

Tesla has experienced a significant decline in sales across Europe, marking five consecutive months of falling numbers. This comes despite an overall increase in electric vehicle (EV) sales in the region, which rose by 27.2 percent during the same period.

The company saw a 27.9 percent year-on-year drop in sales through May, reducing its market share in Europe to just 1.2 percent. Analysts point to an ageing model range and rising competition from European and Chinese manufacturers as key factors. Tesla released a revamped Model Y in March to address these challenges.

Additionally, protests against owner Elon Musk have been held globally, with some Tesla owners selling their vehicles. Footage of Tesla’s driverless vehicles reportedly operating erratically has also drawn scrutiny from a U.S. safety body. Investment director Russ Mould stated, “Musk’s outspokenness is becoming a liability for Tesla shareholders.”

Elon Musk’s public exchanges have contributed to Tesla’s stock volatility. A social media dispute with President Donald J. Trump in June led to a $99 billion loss in Tesla’s market cap in a single day. Musk later expressed regret over some of his comments.

The news is just the latest blow for Musk, who also saw a major failure in his company SpaceX recently, when the company’s Starship spacecraft exploded in Texas.

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Trump DOE Finds Newsom’s Trans Policy Discriminates Against Real Women.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Education has found that California violated Title IX by continuing to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Education, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the California Department of Education (CDE), Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and male and female athletes.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigations into California were launched in February and April, with their conclusion announced on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Although Governor Gavin Newsom admitted months ago it was ‘deeply unfair’ to allow men to compete in women’s sports, both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation continued as recently as a few weeks ago to allow men to steal female athletes’ well-deserved accolades and to subject them to the indignity of unfair and unsafe competitions,” Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.

🎯IMPACT: If California refuses to abide by federal directives, the Department of Education will refer the state to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for legal action.

IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump‘s Department of Education says the State of California has violated Title IX with its policies allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. The determination was announced on Wednesday with the conclusion of two investigations launched in February and April into the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and the California Department of Education (CDE).
Under California state law, biological males who claim to be transgender are allowed not only to compete in women’s sports but also to use women’s bathroom and locker facilities. Despite an Executive Order signed by President Trump in February barring men from participating in women’s sports, the CIF has publicly said it would not abide by federal law, choosing to only abide by state law instead. This resulted in the Department of Education launching an investigation. 
“Although Governor Gavin Newsom admitted months ago it was ‘deeply unfair’ to allow men to compete in women’s sports, both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation continued as recently as a few weeks ago to allow men to steal female athletes’ well-deserved accolades and to subject them to the indignity of unfair and unsafe competitions,” Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon said, adding: “The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law. The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.” 
As part of its determination against California, the Department of Education is stipulating that the state restore any female athletic record taken by biological males. Additionally, state officials are directed to begin immediately complying with federal law. If California fails to abide by the Department of Education’s directives, the state will be referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential legal action. 
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Dem Congresswoman to Plead Not Guilty to Assaulting ICE Personnel.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is facing charges for impeding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents during an altercation at an immigration facility in May.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. LaMonica McIver, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and federal agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on May 9 at the Delaney Hall immigration facility in New Jersey. McIver is expected to plead “not guilty” to charges in court on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation.” – Rep. LaMonica McIver.

🎯IMPACT: McIver faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

IN FULL

Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is set to appear in court to face charges stemming from a May 9 incident at the Delaney Hall immigration facility. McIver is accused of forcibly impeding federal officers during the attempted arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The charges include allegations that McIver physically obstructed officers, using her arms to block and strike them.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Baraka had entered a secured area of the facility and refused to leave when asked by federal agents. As officers attempted to arrest him, McIver allegedly intervened, using physical force against the agents. Each of the first two counts against McIver carries a maximum sentence of eight years, while a third count carries up to one year.

Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who has previously represented President Donald J. Trump, is overseeing the prosecution. Habba stated that McIver “assaulted, impeded, and interfered with law enforcement.” In response, McIver has denied the charges, asserting that the case is a politically motivated attempt to intimidate her.

“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” McIver said in a statement. She added, “This indictment is no more justified than the original charge and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do.”

Meanwhile, the Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, has filed an ethics complaint against Habba, accusing her of targeting McIver and Baraka for their involvement in the protest and oversight visit. The group alleges the charges are politically motivated. Baraka, who was arrested during the incident, had a trespassing charge against him dismissed.

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Far-Left Immigrant Zohran Mamdani Has Won the Dems’ NYC Mayoral Primary.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Zohran Mamdani, a Uganda-born Democratic Socialist, defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and other Democratic leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The primary election took place in New York City on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tonight, we made history. In the words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done… I will be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City,” Mamdani said, before declaring that NYC will be a city “…where the mayor will use their power to reject Donald Trump’s fascism—to stop mass ICE agents from deporting our neighbors… .”

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s victory is seen as a tectonic shift in the Democratic Party, with younger and progressive voters gaining influence. The mayoral candidate was backed by a far-left political coalition led by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), herself rising quickly as the potential front-runner for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination.

IN FULL

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a stunning upset during the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. Mamdani, a two-term Queens assemblyman originally from Uganda, secured 43 percent of the vote compared to Cuomo’s 36 percent, with 96 percent of precincts reporting. Cuomo conceded Tuesday evening, acknowledging Mamdani’s victory.

Notably, Mamdani was backed by a far-left political coalition led by progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who is widely seen as a potential front-runner for the 2028 Democratic Party presidential nomination. Along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ocasio-Cortez helped to rally young Democrats to Mamadni—with the latter’s radical politics serving as a selling point over the more establishment views of former Governor Cuomo.

Basil Smikle, a former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, remarked, “It’s an important moment in political history. Mamdani ran as an economic populist. It was a campaign about affordability.” His proposals, including free bus fares and higher taxes on the wealthy, resonated with blue-collar voters, despite criticism of their feasibility. Cuomo’s campaign, despite backing by $25 million from a super PAC and support from several unions, struggled to match Mamdani’s grassroots momentum.

“Tonight, we made history. In the words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done… I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City,” Mamdani declared late Tuesday night. He continued: “We have won from Harlem to Bay Ridge… from Jackson Heights to Port Richmond… New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford—where those who toil in the night can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the day.”

“And it’s where the mayor will use their power to reject Donald Trump’s fascism—to stop mass ICE agents from deporting our neighbors, and to govern our city as a model for the Democratic Party, where we fight for working people with no apology,” Mamdani added.

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