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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Category: News
January 8, 2026
Crime
News

Vance Announces New DOJ Fraud Chief, Multi-State Task Force Following Minnesota Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance announced the establishment of a new federal task force to combat fraud nationwide, as well as the creation of a new associate attorney general position that will focus entirely on investigating and prosecuting fraud.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Justice Department will feature a new associate attorney general position to address fraud.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: Over 1,500 subpoenas and 100 indictments have already been issued as part of the effort.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance announced on Thursday the formation of a new federal task force to tackle fraud across the United States. In addition, the Trump administration is creating a new associate attorney general (AAG) position that will be tasked with investigating and prosecuting fraud. According to Vance, the position will be Senate-confirmed.

“The Justice Department will feature a new associate attorney general position to address fraud,” Vance stated during the announcement at the White House. He also highlighted the scale of the effort, noting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has thus far issued over 1,500 subpoenas and secured 100 indictments in connection with fraud investigations.

Already, numerous federal agencies have launched investigations into the stunning fraud allegations in Minnesota and tied to the state’s Somali immigrant community. Currently, the total amount stolen from U.S. taxpayers is estimated to exceed $9 billion, although that number is likely to increase as the investigations proceed.

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump announced that his administration has launched an investigation into allegations of fraud in California, contending that the state, under Governor Gavin Newsom (D), is “more corrupt than Minnesota.” In a post on Truth Social, President Trump stated, “California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if that’s possible??? The Fraud Investigation of California has begun.”

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January 8, 2026
News

Japan Starts Deep-Sea Mining Tests to Beat China’s Rare-Earth Export Restrictions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Japan has begun testing the feasibility of mining rare-earth elements from the deep seabed near Minamitori Island.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Japanese government, researchers from the University of Tokyo and the Nippon Foundation, and the research vessel Chikyu.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Testing runs from January 11 to February 14, 2026, in waters around Minamitori Island.

🎯IMPACT: The project aims to reduce reliance on China’s rare-earth supply chain and strengthen Japan’s economic and maritime security.

IN FULL

Japan has initiated a government-backed trial to test the feasibility of mining rare-earth elements from the seabed near Minamitori Island. The trial, which runs from January 11 to February 14, 2026, involves retrieving rare-earth-rich mud from a depth of approximately 6,000 meters. This marks the first global attempt to continuously lift such material from the deep ocean.

The research vessel Chikyu, departing from central Japan, will conduct the test. The project aims to lift hundreds of tons of sediment daily while monitoring environmental impacts both on the ocean floor and aboard the vessel. If successful, Japan plans to conduct a larger trial next year.

The trial comes as China, which dominates the global rare-earth supply chain, has signaled potential export controls on rare-earth minerals to Japan. Beijing recently announced a ban on exporting dual-use items with potential military applications, raising concerns that rare earths could be included. Japan currently relies on China for about 60 percent of its rare-earth imports.

Japanese officials have highlighted that the deposits near Minamitori Island lack radioactive materials such as thorium and uranium, which are often associated with land-based rare-earth mining, and, importantly, should reduce the risk of contamination of seawater. Research from the University of Tokyo and the Nippon Foundation previously identified over 200 million tonnes of manganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean.

While the project aims to secure critical minerals for clean energy technologies and defense, environmental groups and marine scientists warn of potential long-term damage to deep-sea ecosystems. A recent study reported a 37 percent decrease in seafloor animal populations in a mining exploration zone, prompting calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

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January 8, 2026
Crime
News

Foreign Fraudster Asks to Be Spared Prison and Deportation Because He’s Trans.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ruby Corado, founder of Casa Ruby, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for diverting COVID-19 relief funds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ruby Corado, a legal permanent resident from El Salvador, and his attorneys.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sentencing is set for January 13, following his July 2024 guilty plea.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Few face the combined realities of transgender status in a system retreating from safety protections, certain immigration detention, and likely removal to a country hostile to their very identity,” argues attorney Pleasant Brodnax.

🎯IMPACT: Prosecutors seek a 33-month sentence; defense wants time served, claiming Corado will be at risk in a men’s prison.

IN FULL

Ruby Corado, the transgender founder of the now-defunct Washington, D.C.–based LGBTQ+ nonprofit Casa Ruby, is asking a federal judge to spare him from prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud connected to COVID-19 relief funds. Court records show that Corado admitted he “illegally transferred at least $200,000 to El Salvador from approximately $960,000 in federal aid received in 2020,” money that was intended to support Casa Ruby’s operations during the pandemic. The nonprofit had provided housing and social services to LGBTQ+ people before shutting down in 2022.

Federal prosecutors argue Corado should receive a sentence of about 33 months in prison. His attorneys counter that sentencing guidelines suggest a range of 15 to 21 months and are urging the court to impose only time served. The defense claims the remaining funds were used for legitimate purposes.

In filings, Corado’s lawyers argue that incarceration would pose “extraordinary risks” because of his transgender status and warn that imprisonment could also lead to deportation proceedings, as Corado is not a U.S. citizen. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13 after multiple delays.

“Few face the combined realities of transgender status in a system retreating from safety protections, certain immigration detention, and likely removal to a country hostile to their very identity,” Pleasant Brodnax, Corado’s attorney, said this week.

The case has drawn attention amid broader discussions about transgender incarceration and cases of pandemic-era fraud. According to recent reporting, approximately 15 percent of inmates housed in federal women’s prisons are men claiming to be transgender, a figure that has fueled debate over prison policies, safety, and placement.

Corado’s prosecution is also part of a nationwide wave of investigations into misuse of COVID-19 relief funds. During the pandemic, federal and state authorities distributed trillions of dollars through emergency loan and aid programs, many of which later proved vulnerable to fraud. Law enforcement agencies have since charged thousands of suspects across the country, including nonprofit leaders and public employees, with diverting or stealing pandemic funds.

In several high-profile cases, prosecutors allege that lax oversight allowed large-scale schemes to operate for months or years before detection. Those cases have prompted calls for tighter controls on emergency spending and greater accountability for organizations receiving public funds.

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January 8, 2026
Immigration
News

‘Insurrection’ – GOP Reps Urge Trump to Arrest Walz Over National Guard Threat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Republican lawmakers are urging President Donald J. Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) after he warned of deploying the National Guard in response to federal immigration enforcement actions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The statements and events unfolded on Wednesday and into Thursday in Minnesota, following a deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Invoke the Insurrection Act. Arrest Tim Walz,” said Rep. Miller in a post on X.

🎯IMPACT: Walz is raising tensions between state and federal authority, with the potential use of the Insurrection Act to address state Democrats’ resistance to federal law enforcement.

IN FULL

GOP lawmakers are urging President Donald J. Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), the failed Democrat vice presidential candidate who indicated on Wednesday that he could mobilize the National Guard against federal immigration operations after a woman was shot in Minneapolis on Wednesday, while trying to run over a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in her car.

At a press conference on the Minneapolis shooting, Walz had said, “We do not need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough. I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard.”

Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) urged President Trump, “Invoke the Insurrection Act. Arrest Tim Walz.” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) also condemned Walz’s rhetoric, saying, “Someone remind him: Donald Trump is the Commander in Chief. And federal authority supersedes state authority. That’s not an opinion, that’s the Constitution,”

“What Walz is threatening has a name: insurrection. Mr. President, the law is on your side. Use it,” Mace said.

Walz declared on Wednesday that he is the “commander-in-chief” of the National Guard in Minnesota. As the state governor, Walz is empowered to activate the National Guard for purposes such as defending the state or safeguarding residents. However, the Constitution clearly states that “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States”—that is, the President’s authority supercedes that of a state governor when National Guard forces are federalized.

Image by Travellers & Tinkers.

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January 8, 2026
Immigration
News

Leftist Agitators Clash with Federal Agents After Woman Killed While Trying to Run Over ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Leftist agitators confronted federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the fatal shooting of a woman who attempted to run over a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in the city on Wednesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Far-left violent demonstrators, ICE agents, Renee Nicole Good, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday morning in Minneapolis, Minnesota, outside the Whipple Building.

🎯IMPACT: Tensions escalated as protesters clashed with federal agents, leading to detentions and the use of pepper balls and tear gas.

IN FULL

Far-left protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, clashed with federal agents on Thursday morning, following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who attempted to run over a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in the city on Wednesday. The violent demonstration took place outside the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, where hundreds gathered to protest the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations and Good’s shooting.

Federal authorities detained at least four people during the violent protest. Demonstrators were heard shouting “shame” at the agents and demanding they “go home.” ICE agents responded by deploying tear gas and shooting pepper balls as scuffles broke out.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem defended the actions of the ICE agents, stating that Good had been “stalking and impeding” law enforcement throughout the day. According to Noem, agents repeatedly instructed Good to exit her vehicle, but she refused to do so. Video footage shows Good briefly reversing her vehicle and then accelerating at an ICE officer in front of her, prompting that officer to open fire.

Minnesota’s Democrat leaders sought to inflame tensions late Wednesday, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) holding a press conference where he declared the federal government’s assertion of self-defense regarding the shooting to be “bulls**t” and demanding that ICE “Get the f**k out of Minneapolis.”

At a separate press conference, Governor Tim Walz (D) said he was “angry” at ICE over the shooting, while threatening to call up the National Guard—ostensibly to use against federal agents—and declaring that DHS is a “propaganda machine” for the Trump White House.

Currently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was initially reported to be assisting, per Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, but recent reports indicate that they have pulled out. As of the time of publication, the reasons for this are unknown.

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January 8, 2026
Crime
Immigration
News

‘Arrest Them All!’ – Somali Couriers Move Almost $1BN Cash Out of Minneapolis.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Somali couriers moved nearly $700 million in cash through the airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2024 and 2025, raising suspicions of a fraud scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Somali couriers, the former Biden government, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, and Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: 2024-2025, Minneapolis airport, with routes to Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

💬KEY QUOTE: “Arrest them all. They are criminals!!!” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The money movements may indicate significant financial fraud and prompt the federal government and Congress to consider stronger financial controls.

IN FULL

Officials report that the volume of cash transported abroad in luggage by Somali couriers departing from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport over the past two years was 10 to 100 times greater than the amounts leaving from other major U.S. airports. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources indicate that recently compiled data reveals an unusually high outflow of funds from Minnesota, which they believe should have triggered alerts during the previous administration—well ahead of the current probes tied to large-scale fraud operations in the Democrat-led state.

Screenshot

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has identified and reported close to $700 million in currency carried in luggage by Somali couriers leaving the Minneapolis airport during 2024 and 2025—equivalent to roughly $1 million per day. Certain shipments headed to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, before continuing to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have drawn attention from intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

“It was like a cash ATM draining American dollars and moving them overseas, and nobody in the Biden administration seemed to think anything of it,” one official told the media, speaking on condition of anonymity. “These couriers were openly flaunting what they’ve doing by legally declaring the cash they were taking out.”

Figures show that passengers from Minneapolis carried $342.37 million in declared cash in 2024 and $349.4 million in 2025, with national totals expected to exceed these numbers significantly, sources told Just the News.

In 2025, the Minneapolis outflow was 99 percent higher than the declared international cash from airports like Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, or New York’s John F. Kennedy International. It also surpassed Seattle—a key route for Asian travelers—by 90 percent.

For 2024, declared amounts over $10,000 heading abroad from Atlanta and JFK combined represented less than one percent of Minneapolis levels, while Dallas-Fort Worth reached three percent, and Seattle reached six percent. Although compliant with U.S. Customs declaration requirements, the large bundles—occasionally up to $1 million on one flight—frequently prompted concerns among TSA personnel.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is now examining these massive currency movements as part of an ongoing inquiry into a multibillion-dollar fraud network involving Minnesota’s Somali community. Representative Jeff Crank (R-CO) said on Tuesday night that he believes the Minnesota fraud scandal will embolden Congress to make changes to the law to give federal authorities more power to investigate the exodus of U.S. money to foreign countries.

“It’s embarrassing that Congress hasn’t done this before,” Crank said, adding, “These are financial controls that any company would have on corporate money. Any good company would have it. The board of directors would fire them if they didn’t. I don’t know why in the world we wouldn’t have those kinds of controls.”

Image by Alan Wilson.

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January 8, 2026
Immigration
News

Protesters Burn American Flag, Hang Effigy of ICE Agent After MN Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Protesters gathered in Seattle, Washington, to oppose the shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent while she was trying to drive over him in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Protesters, including Antifa militants and far-left activist groups, ICE agents, and Seattle police officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Downtown Seattle at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, following the Minneapolis shooting.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Many of these people are the same far-left activists behind Black Lives Matter, pro-Hamas, and other marches.” – Frontlines TPUSA reporter Jonathan Choe

🎯IMPACT: The Wednesday night protest ended without major chaos or damage, but tensions remain high between activists and ICE officials.

IN FULL

Around 200 demonstrators assembled outside the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle, Washington, to protest the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday night. Good was killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while trying to drive over him an SUV.

Organizers of the Seattle demonstration included the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), Seattle Against War (SAW), and the Legalization 4 All Network. They called for an immediate stop to ICE enforcement actions, an end to large-scale deportations, accountability for Good’s death, and complete openness about ICE activities in the Seattle area.

Participants held protest signs, waved a large Palestinian flag, and carried a banner declaring “Abolish ICE.” Journalist Jonathan Choe of Frontlines TPUSA observed that “Many of these people are the same far-left activists behind Black Lives Matter, pro-Hamas, and other marches.” Demonstrators also set an American flag on fire and smashed a piñata depicting an ICE officer being hanged by the neck.

The event ran for close to two hours, with participants marching through downtown streets under police observation. Attendance started at roughly 200 but dropped to around 100 after some attendees reportedly grew uneasy with more extreme elements in the crowd. Parallel demonstrations took place in cities such as New York and Ohio, coordinated by organizations including the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Refuse Fascism, and the Palestinian Youth Movement.

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January 7, 2026
Health
News

Common Food Preservatives Linked to 50% Increase in Diabetes Risk.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A study has revealed a potential link between preservatives in processed foods and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers from Inserm, INRAE, and Paris universities, along with over 100,000 French adults.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data was collected between 2009 and 2023 from participants in the NutriNet-Santé cohort.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is the first study in the world on the links between preservative additives and the incidence of type 2 diabetes.” – Mathilde Touvier, Inserm research director.

🎯IMPACT: The findings could prompt a reassessment of food additive regulations and encourage consumers to opt for minimally processed foods.

IN FULL

A large French study has found that preservatives commonly used in processed foods may significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, adding to growing concerns about the health effects of food additives. The research, conducted by Inserm, INRAE and several Paris universities, followed 108,723 adults over 14 years as part of the NutriNet-Santé cohort. Participants recorded detailed food diaries, including specific products and brands they consumed. Researchers then cross-referenced this information with databases such as Open Food Facts and the European Food Safety Authority to estimate preservative intake.

Out of 58 preservatives identified in participants’ diets, the researchers focused on 17 that were consumed by at least 10 percent of the cohort. The analysis showed that people with the highest intake of these preservatives had up to a 49 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those with the lowest intake.

The findings were published in Nature Communications. Twelve preservatives were associated with increased diabetes risk, including six non-antioxidant preservatives such as potassium sorbate (E202) and sodium nitrite (E250), as well as six antioxidant additives like sodium ascorbate (E301) and citric acid (E330). While earlier laboratory studies had suggested these substances could damage cells or interfere with metabolism, this is the first large-scale population study to link them directly to diabetes incidence.

“This is the first study in the world on the links between preservative additives and the incidence of type 2 diabetes,” said Mathilde Touvier, Inserm research director and coordinator of the study. She cautioned that the findings still need to be confirmed by further research but said they are consistent with existing experimental evidence on the potential harmful effects of these compounds.

The researchers advise consumers to prioritize fresh, minimally processed foods and to limit products containing unnecessary additives. The study was funded by the European Research Council, the National Cancer Institute, and the French Ministry of Health.

The findings come amid wider policy and industry shifts targeting ultra-processed foods. Several countries have begun tightening restrictions on junk food marketing, including bans on advertising foods high in fat, salt, and sugar during certain hours. In the United States, major retailers such as Walmart have announced plans to remove synthetic dyes, sweeteners, and other additives from many private-label products, responding to consumer pressure and health concerns.

Recent data also suggest that consumption of ultra-processed foods may be starting to decline, reflecting a broader push toward simpler ingredients and improved public health outcomes as part of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) agenda.

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January 7, 2026
News

GOP Bill Proposes Congressional Gold Medal for Nick Shirley.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley is being considered for the Congressional Gold Medal under a bill introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), recognizing his efforts in exposing social services fraud in Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nick Shirley, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), and members of Minnesota’s Somali community.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Crane introduced the bill in Congress in Washington, D.C., announcing it on social media on January 6.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Nick Shirley is a fearless citizen journalist who stood up to a corrupt system and exposed waste, fraud, and abuse being perpetrated against the American people.” – Rep. Eli Crane

🎯IMPACT: Shirley’s exposé has led to political shifts, including Governor Walz’s decision not to seek re-election, and a broader investigation into fraud within Minnesota’s social services programs.

IN FULL

Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona has introduced legislation that could award conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley the Congressional Gold Medal, citing his role in bringing national attention to alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs. The bill recognizes Shirley for exposing “waste, fraud, and abuse” after Shirley’s reporting focused on childcare and food assistance programs in Minnesota.

In a statement announcing the legislation, Crane said, “In honor of his exemplary work, I’m proud to introduce this bill to award Nick Shirley the Congressional Gold Medal. Nick Shirley is a fearless citizen journalist who stood up to a corrupt system and exposed waste, fraud, and abuse being perpetrated against the American people.” Shirley responded on social media, writing, “This would be cool, thank you!”

Shirley gained widespread attention after publishing a viral video on December 26, 2025, alleging that childcare centers linked to the Somali community were improperly billing the state for services that were not provided. The video received millions of views within three days and was shared by prominent figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk. Federal investigators later cited the video as contributing to broader public awareness of the issue.

The controversy emerged amid an ongoing federal crackdown on fraud in Minnesota social services programs. The Department of Justice has charged dozens of people in the “Feeding Our Future” case, a scheme prosecutors say defrauded taxpayers of approximately $250 million through falsified meal claims during the pandemic. Many of those charged were members of Minnesota’s Somali community.

Since then, federal authorities have expanded their investigations, examining potential misuse of more than $9 billion in federal funds across at least 14 state-run programs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched additional probes into alleged Somali-linked daycare fraud, while the Trump administration recently halted roughly $10 billion in federal funds to several Democratic-led states, including Minnesota, citing concerns over childcare and social services fraud.

The fallout has had major political consequences. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek a third term, saying he needed to focus on addressing fraud in state programs. Walz has criticized what he described as “conspiracy theorist right-wing YouTubers” and warned against “anti-Somali rhetoric” following the investigations and viral coverage.

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January 7, 2026
News

Mamdani Defends Housing Tsar Who Wants to ‘Impoverish the White Middle Class.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) appointed Cea Weaver as executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, sparking backlash over her anti-white social media posts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Cea Weaver, and various critics, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and The Washington Post editorial board.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The appointment was announced last week in New York City, with follow-up statements and reactions occurring this week.

💬KEY QUOTE Homeownership is “a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building public policy.’” – Cea Weaver

🎯IMPACT: The appointment has intensified scrutiny of Mamdani’s new administration.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is facing mounting criticism following his appointment of far-left activist Cea Weaver as executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a role central to his aggressive housing agenda. The backlash stems from resurfaced social media posts in which Weaver previously linked homeownership to racial oppression and expressed support for government seizure of private property.

In a 2019 tweet, Weaver described homeownership as “a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building public policy.’” The prior year, she had demanded, “Impoverish the *white* middle class. Homeownership is racist / failed public policy.”

The since-deleted posts have circulated widely since her appointment, prompting condemnation from figures including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and former Mayor Eric Adams, who criticized the remarks as reflecting “extreme privilege and total detachment from reality.”

Mayor Mamdani has stood by the appointment, admitting that his administration was aware of Weaver’s past comments before selecting her but highlighting her record of tenant advocacy. Weaver previously led the Housing Justice for All coalition. Mamdani has described her experience as essential to advancing what he calls “precedent-setting” housing enforcement.

The controversy surrounding Weaver is part of a broader pattern of debate over Mamdani’s appointments. Since taking office, the mayor has drawn scrutiny for selecting figures with controversial backgrounds, including a convicted armed robber for a public safety advisory role and a lawyer known for representing terrorism suspects during his transition period.

The dispute comes as Mamdani pushes controversial proposals aimed at cracking down on supposedly negligent landlords, including potentially forcing the sale of their properties to the city. His administration has already moved against a Brooklyn landlord amid bankruptcy proceedings, signaling an intent to use aggressive legal tools against property owners. Landlord organizations and some city officials have raised concerns about the legality, cost, and broader economic impact of such actions.

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