Wednesday, October 22, 2025

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WOLF? (SPOILER: IT’S THE BILLIONAIRE PIGGIES)

 

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WOLF?

(SPOILER: IT’S THE BILLIONAIRE PIGGIES)


Editor’s Note: A Progressive Fever DreamWell, folks, it’s November 5, 2025, and the Big Apple just took a big bite out of the status quo! Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist dynamo, has danced his way into the mayor’s mansion, leaving the billionaire piggies quaking in their penthouse sties. Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Democratic Socialist Wolf? (Spoiler: It’s the Billionaire Piggies)—and for good reason! Mamdani’s vision of an affordable New York City, where rent doesn’t require a second mortgage and subway fares don’t demand a GoFundMe, has the one-percenters clutching their pearls tighter than a hipster grips their oat milk latte. With policies aimed at housing justice and public transit that doesn’t feel like a dystopian escape room, Mamdani’s win proves the city’s ready to huff, puff, and blow the house of greed down. Here’s to a New York where “luxury condo” isn’t the only love language—vote Mamdani, and let’s keep the dream alive!


Once upon a time, in the concrete jungle of New York City, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist named Zohran Mamdani huffed, puffed, and blew the house of political convention down. In a stunning upset, Mamdani clinched the Democratic mayoral primary, leaving billionaire-backed opponents and centrist dinosaurs quaking in their loafers. The New Yorkers have spoken, and their message is clear: they’re tired of trickle-down fairy tales and ready for a bold, progressive shake-up. But oh, how the billionaire oligarch piggies squeal! Let’s unpack this deliciously chaotic moment in American politics, where the winds of change are younger, fiercer, and decidedly more socialist than the old guard ever dared to dream.The Wolf at the Door: Zohran Mamdani’s RisePicture this: a young, charismatic candidate, the son of Indian immigrants, walking the entire length of Manhattan—not for clout, but to talk to voters. Zohran Mamdani, a card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), didn’t just campaign; he staged a revolution disguised as a mayoral run. His platform? Free buses, affordable housing, city-run grocery shops, and childcare that doesn’t cost more than a penthouse lease. Mocked by the suits as pie-in-the-sky idealism, these ideas struck a chord with a city battered by skyrocketing rents and stagnant wages. Backed by progressive heavyweights like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign didn’t just knock on doors—it kicked them open, rallying Gen Z, working-class families, and anyone fed up with the status quo.Mamdani’s victory over Randy Andy Cuomo (Independent) and Curtis Sliwa (Republican) in the polls, followed by his primary win against Andrew Cuomo, wasn’t just a win for the left. It was a middle finger to the political machine that’s long treated New York as a playground for the ultra-rich. The people’s wolf had arrived, and he wasn’t here to play nice with the piggies hiding in their glass towers.The Billionaire Piggies Build Their Straw HousesLet’s talk about the piggies—those billionaire oligarchs who thought they could buy the mayor’s race like it was a Black Friday sale at Tiffany’s. According to People’s World, Wall Street tycoons, real estate moguls, and even oil and casino barons funneled millions into super-PACs to prop up Randy Andy Cuomo’s campaign and smear Mamdani as a red-scare socialist. Negative ads painted him as a wild-eyed radical, but New Yorkers weren’t buying it. Why? Because Mamdani wasn’t just preaching; he was listening. His door-to-door canvassing in working-class neighborhoods and unapologetic focus on cost-of-living issues made him a walking rebuke to the elite’s playbook.Mamdani called this billionaire blitz “election interference,” and he wasn’t wrong. When the 1% pours cash into a race to drown out a candidate who dares to prioritize regular people, it’s not democracy—it’s a tantrum. The piggies built their straw houses of attack ads and fearmongering, but Mamdani’s grassroots hurricane tore them apart. His campaign broke fundraising records through small donations, leveraged viral social media moments, and turned volunteers into an army of believers. As BBC News noted, his authenticity and rejection of polished soundbites resonated with voters who saw their struggles reflected in his immigrant story and progressive fire.A Wake-Up Call to the Old GuardMamdani’s win isn’t just a New York story; it’s a klaxon blaring across America’s political landscape. Libertarians, centrists, and old-school Democrats clutching their pearls over “socialism” need to wake up. The trickle-down rhetoric that’s been peddled since Reagan’s day—promising that tax cuts for the rich will magically lift all boats—has left most Americans stranded on dry land. Wealth inequality has ballooned, with the top 1% owning more than the bottom 90%. New Yorkers, crushed by $2,000 studio apartments and $15 sandwiches, are done waiting for the crumbs to fall.The No Kings rallies, a nod to rejecting dynastic politics like the Cuomos, and the energy of special elections across the country signal a broader shift. The DSA’s vision—once dismissed as fringe—is looking more like the New Deal 2.0. Mamdani’s promises of free public transit and higher minimum wages aren’t radical; they’re practical for a city where workers spend half their income just to survive. As WBUR News reported, his victory over Andrew Cuomo, a scandal-plagued symbol of the Democratic establishment, exposed the ideological fault lines within the party. Progressives are no longer content to sit at the kids’ table; they’re rewriting the menu.The Piggies Squeal, But the Wolf Keeps HowlingOf course, the billionaire piggies aren’t going down without a fight. They’re terrified of Mamdani’s vision because it threatens their gilded status quo. Free buses? That’s less profit for their cronies in the transportation sector. Affordable housing? A direct hit to real estate empires. City-run grocery shops? A slap in the face to corporate chains. Mamdani’s platform isn’t just policy—it’s a declaration of war on the economic order that lets billionaires hoard wealth while workers scrape by.The opposition’s fear is palpable, and it’s not just about New York. Mamdani’s win is a beacon for progressives nationwide, signaling that the DSA’s brand of democratic socialism isn’t a boogeyman—it’s a movement. From Seattle to Minneapolis, young, bold candidates are riding this wave, demanding universal healthcare, climate action, and an economy that doesn’t treat the working class like serfs. The old political hacks—whether libertarian, centrist, or Republican—need to change their tune or risk being drowned out by a generation that’s had enough.A New Day in America?Mamdani still has to win the general election in November 2025, and skeptics like former mayor Eric Adams have already grumbled about his lack of governing experience. But that critique misses the point. Mamdani’s power isn’t in his résumé; it’s in his ability to galvanize a coalition of the disaffected—Gen Z, immigrants, workers, and anyone who feels the American Dream has become a gated community. If elected, he’ll be New York’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor, a historic milestone that reflects the city’s diversity and hunger for change.The billionaire piggies will keep squealing, building their flimsy houses of cash and influence. But Mamdani, the big bad wolf of democratic socialism, has shown he can blow them down. His victory is a reminder that the people, not the plutocrats, hold the real power in a democracy—if they choose to use it. So, who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not New Yorkers. They’ve embraced him, and in doing so, they’ve sent a message to America: the winds of change are blowing, and they’re younger, bolder, and unapologetically progressive. The old guard better start howling a new tune, or they’ll be left in the dust of a new day in America.
Billionaires go all out to stop Mamdani – People's World https://peoplesworld.org/article/billionaires-go-all-out-to-stop-mamdani/
Zohran for NYC https://www.zohranfornyc.com/ 


Tuesday, October 21, 2025 MORNING NEWS UPDATE: OCTOBER 22, 2025

 MORNING NEWS UPDATE: OCTOBER 22, 2025 

U.S. NewsPolitics
  • Ongoing Shutdown Stalemate: President Trump and congressional Republicans refuse negotiations with Democrats until the government reopens, with Senate leaders meeting at the White House but no resolution in sight; the crisis has halted research grants and exacerbated political indictments.
  • Progressive Upset in New York Race: 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani defeats veteran Andrew Cuomo in a Democratic primary using social media and bold policies, signaling a shift toward younger leadership.
  • Vance's Middle East Diplomacy: Vice President JD Vance visits Israel to tackle Gaza ceasefire obstacles, amid broader Trump administration moves like authorizing CIA actions in Venezuela.
World Affairs
  • India's Torrential Rains Cause Fatalities: Heavy downpours in Tamil Nadu lead to wall collapses killing three, including a mother-daughter duo, exacerbating flood woes in the region.
  • Death of Pioneering Indian Space Scientist: Eknath Chitnis, who contributed to early space research including the Aryabhata satellite, passes away at 100 from a heart attack in Pune.
  • No Immediate Trump-Putin Summit: White House officials confirm no near-term meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin, despite recent productive calls between Secretaries Rubio and Lavrov.
  • Russia-Ukraine Conflict: A major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine has killed at least six people, striking energy infrastructure and causing blackouts. Meanwhile, Ukraine has unveiled an upgraded sea drone it says can strike anywhere in the Black Sea. Separately, President Trump confirmed that talks with Russian President Putin on the Ukraine war are off for now, stating he doesn't want a "wasted meeting."

  • Gaza and Israel Truce: Hamas claims it is meeting its side of the truce agreement, but Israel is reportedly refusing to open the crucial Rafah border crossing. The UN's top court is expected to rule on Israel's obligations to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians.

  • Louvre Heist and Reopening: The Louvre Museum in Paris has reopened three days after one of the biggest museum heists of the century, which involved a major theft of jewels.

  • Taiwan and U.S. Assurances: Taiwan's Foreign Minister said the U.S. has assured Taiwan that its interests will not be harmed during the upcoming meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Education
  • U.S. Department of Education Enforcement: The Student Privacy Policy Office launches action against Fairfax County Public Schools for violating the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment on student data handling.
  • National Assessment Governing Board Updates: Secretary Linda McMahon appoints new members and names the next chair, focusing on improving student assessments amid shutdown disruptions.
  • Recognition of Outstanding Students: 161 students will be honored as 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars, celebrating academic excellence despite ongoing federal funding uncertainties.
  • Success in Inner-City Education: A Milwaukee-based public charter school serving the Hispanic community, Bruce-Guadalupe Middle School, is being highlighted for its success in dramatically increasing the number of alumni who enroll in college, from under 10% to more than 80%.

  • College Scholarship Opportunities: Muskegon Community College is promoting an upcoming event where it will be giving away a full two-year scholarship and technology gear to attendees.

Economy
  • Fed's Balancing Act on Growth and Inflation: Chair Jerome Powell highlights stronger-than-expected U.S. growth nearing 4% in Q3, but warns of tariff and immigration policies risking higher unemployment and prices ahead of the October 28-29 meeting.
  • Global Growth Projections Steady: IMF forecasts 3.3% worldwide expansion for 2025-2026, with U.S. upward revisions offsetting declines elsewhere, though services inflation complicates disinflation efforts.
  • Delayed U.S. Trade Impacts: WTO notes stockpiling will push major tariff effects into 2026, predicting a sharp goods trade slowdown; meanwhile, China's Q3 growth hits a yearly low.
  • Big Tech Earnings Season: Third-quarter earnings season has begun, with a focus on Big Tech companies. A resurgence in Apple (AAPL) is noted due to strong demand for the new iPhone 17, while Tesla (TSLA) is being watched as a potential leader in AI and robotics.

  • Global Markets and UK Inflation: Global shares slipped due to selling in tech stocks after a lackluster day on Wall Street. In the UK, inflation unexpectedly held steady, bolstering hopes for a November rate cut.

  • U.S. Dollar and Treasury Yields: The U.S. dollar index is slightly pulling back, and the 10-year Treasury yield is ticking higher.

Technology
  • Meta's Massive Data Center Financing: Meta secures $27 billion from Blue Owl Capital for its largest global AI infrastructure project, intensifying the tech race for compute power.
  • OpenAI's AI Browser Launch: OpenAI challenges Google with the free release of its AI-powered browser Atlas, following Perplexity's similar move to drop paywalls.
  • Talent Wars Heat Up: Meta poaches Thinking Machines Lab co-founder Andrew Tulloch with a reported $1.5 billion package, underscoring aggressive hiring to catch AI leaders like OpenAI.
  • Big Tech Earnings and AI Focus: The focus of the current earnings season is on AI and robotics, with companies like Tesla being highlighted for its potential in these areas. There's also a strong market performance in stocks related to data storage and networking, indicating infrastructure investment.

  • New Digital Presses from Xerox: Xerox introduced its new Proficio™ Production Series of digital presses, which incorporate advanced imaging, automation, and AI-assisted intelligence for the printing industry.

HealthSports
  • Warriors Edge Lakers in Season Opener: Jimmy Butler scores 31 and Stephen Curry adds 23 as Golden State defeats LA 119-109, kicking off the NBA with a high-scoring thriller.
  • NBA Kickoff: Magic vs. Heat Preview: Orlando hosts Miami in a Southeast Division clash, with both teams bolstered by offseason moves; Magic favored despite Heat's resilience.
  • Bucks vs. Wizards Home Tilt: Milwaukee welcomes Washington, leaning on Giannis Antetokounmpo for an early win; broadcast on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET.
  • NBA Season Opener: The New York Knicks are hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers in a major NBA season opener game. Both teams are dealing with injuries to prominent players, but the Knicks are favored to win due to the home-court advantage at Madison Square Garden.

  • Other Sports on TV: The day's sports schedule also includes NBA (San Antonio at Dallas), NHL (Detroit at Buffalo), College Football, UEFA Champions League Soccer, and various College Soccer and Volleyball games.