Source: Free Association
by Sheldon Richman
“Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory in New York City is a triumph of moral barbarism, economic illiteracy, illogic, and just plain envy. Mamdani’s campaign had a double pitch: billionaires should not exist, and ‘the people’ deserve free stuff.” (11/07/25)
https://sheldonfreeassociation.blogspot.com/2025/11/tgif-envy-ignorance-barbarism-triumph.html
Source: Underthrow
by Max Borders
“Why philosophy and religion are healthier than politics and therapy.” (11/07/25)
https://underthrow.substack.com/p/the-journey-out-of-darkness
Source: Libertarian Party
by staff
“The openly Marxist, openly divisive and openly fraudulent Zohran Mamdani is the new Mayor of New York City, elected with 52% of the vote in a city formerly considered the crown jewel of America, and arguably the most important city worldwide of the past 200 years. During Mamdani’s victory speech, he spoke words that held true to his Marxist vision, and that should send chills down the spine of any student of history, or any keen observer of our modern world. ‘We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.’ Of course, every aspect of society, personal choice, foreign intervention, economics, etc., etc., that the government takes an interest in ‘solving’ inevitably results in hardship, stifling regulation, spiraling costs and shortages.” (11/07/25)
Source: In These Times
by Brad Lander
“On Tuesday night, New Yorkers elected Zohran Mamdani to be our 111th Mayor — our first immigrant mayor in generations, and the first Muslim mayor in our city’s history. ‘In this moment of political darkness,’ Zohran said on Election Night, ’New York will be the light.’ He lit the match — but it’s on all of us to make it shine brightly. Zohran ran an inspired and inspiring campaign that came out of nowhere and stunned people with its momentum. … Voters were compelled by his laser focus on affordability. And they were inspired by his vision of a city where everyone belongs, where the full diversity of New Yorkers can live in dignity, instead of constant struggle. Andrew Cuomo, on the other hand, ran a sour, selfish, fear-mongering campaign, which exacerbated tensions and divisions in New York City.” (11/07/25)
https://inthesetimes.com/article/brad-landers-zohran-mamdani
Source: Cato Institute
by Ryan Bourne & Nathan Miller
“In reaction to Mamdani’s success, some Republicans want to carve out their own affordability policy offer. Tyler Cowen has a good piece in The Free Press that warns about the consequences of both parties rushing headlong into fighting on this ‘affordability politics’ front. He is right, not least because the context has changed since I advocated for just such a focus. We’ve just lived through the sharpest burst of inflation since 1981, and inflation is still above target. Groceries (food-at-home) prices are up 30 percent since January 2020, having previously taken sixteen years to increase by that proportion. The pre-inflation price level is still recent enough that people remember how sharply prices have risen and hanker for those good ol’ days at the old price level.” (11/07/25)
https://www.cato.org/commentary/tyler-cowen-correct-risks-affordability-politics
Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille
“At September’s televised memorial service for Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump commented on the conservative commentator’s character, saying, ‘He did not hate his opponents; he wanted the best for them.’ He then added, ‘That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents. And I don’t want the best for them.’ Like too much of the political class across the ideological spectrum, Trump is prone to despising those he disagrees with. It raises questions about why people should ever submit to the governance of those who hate them — and whether politicians realize they’re a big part of what brought us to this unfortunate moment.” (for publication 12/25)
https://reason.com/2025/11/06/politicians-make-political-tensions-worse/
Source: The Hill
by Ray Nothstine
“In the spirit of American democracy and federalism, New Yorkers are now going all in on socialism — choosing to leave behind more traditional Democrats who signal at least some allegiance to economic reality and free markets. Mamdani’s big win New York gives the Democratic Party an even stronger leftward shove, making socialism less a fringe ideal and more a governing philosophy. A common refrain among socialists is that socialism has never been properly tried or implemented — a convenient coping mechanism to dismiss the wreckage that socialist policies have caused throughout history. … Federalism offers New Yorkers a chance at another swing at the utopian dream, while limiting much of the damage to the city’s five boroughs. Yes, this will be an expensive civics lesson, but many Americans need another reminder of the ruins and rubble socialism leaves behind it.” (11/06/25)
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5592259-federalism-will-let-new-yorkers-find-out-the-hard-way/
Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“Thousands of flights will be canceled because the federal government is in a supposed ‘shutdown.’ Air traffic controllers are working without pay until that ‘shutdown’ gets resolved. As you might imagine, employees who aren’t getting paychecks become less reliable about showing up for work. Some of them quit. Others call in sick. Towers are short-staffed. … Now we’re reaching the point where there just aren’t enough controllers working to safely handle the 10 million commercial flights that take off and land each year at American airports. … There’s an easy long-term solution to this problem, and it doesn’t involve screaming at politicians to get their act together, pass a spending bill, and start paying all those air traffic controllers again. It’s time to take air traffic control away from the government, at least with respect to letting the Federal Aviation Administration serve as the controllers’ employer.” (11/06/25)
Source: CounterPunch
by John W Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead
“America has been backsliding into kleptocratic territory for years now, but this may finally be it. A kleptocracy is literally ‘rule by thieves.’ It is a form of government in which a network of ruling elites ‘steal public funds for their own private gain using public institutions.’ … One could fairly say that a kleptocracy was always going to be the end result of the oligarchy that was America. The signs were visible long before now: power and wealth have been trading places for decades.” (11/06/25)
Source: Eunomia
by Daniel Larison
“Trump’s threatened intervention in Nigeria’s internal affairs is not legitimate in any way. The U.S. has no international mandate to act, and it doesn’t have permission from the Nigerian government. Congress certainly hasn’t authorized any mission in Nigeria for any purpose. None of this matters to the lawless president, but it does matter for the interests and reputation of the United States. The president is not an emperor with a responsibility to protect Christians in other lands.” (11/06/25)
https://daniellarison.substack.com/p/the-presidents-bogus-crusade