Now, in week three, the entire Hasan Piker debate has gotten lost. It’s not about whether Democrats should engage with him – it’s about whether they should embrace him.
I reluctantly offer my take here:
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Despite Zohran Mamdani’s win, he actually won fewer City Council Districts than Andrew Cuomo in the primary, which has had and will have significant ramifications for his ability to influence the legislative body and enact his policies. Read more here:
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Death Of A Salesman is back on Broadway, and I got to see it.
I wrote about how relevant it feels to today’s culture, specifically concerning the “Man Crisis.”
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Regardless of what happens in Iran, the United States is no longer the same global superpower it was in the decade or two after the end of the Cold War. We might never be again.
My take on whether Iran is our “Suez Moment.”
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"If humans, especially those with the propensity to become strong leaders, are flawed, then we risk putting our credibility and reputations on the line for a flawed human rather than for the ideals he stands for." open.substack.com/pub/nickraft...
My Illinois Primaries Roundup:
The Establishment Holds and Online Left Suffer Defeats, but Progressives Score Some Big Wins Anyway
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No, I will not be bullied into supporting an ill-advised war in Iran by appealing to “patriotism” and “support the troops.”
Not this time.
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Olympic medalists usually visit the White House as a team, where all medalists across all sports come.
Trump didn't want the figure skaters, skiers, or curlers at the State Of The Union. He only wanted the gold medalists he thought mattered and would help his image. open.substack.com/pub/nickraft...
The Left cannot bully the Democratic electorate into nominating a Leftist in 2028:
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Trump’s reelection happened because he, momentarily, built a diverse coalition – one that included Bad Bunny fans. Trump’s standing has collapsed because he handed his administration over to advisers pushing a white/Christian nationalist ideology
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Democrats Just Won This Shutdown Battle, so why is the Left acting like they didn't?
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The Defining Image Of Trump 2.0
A significant number of our fellow Americans are willing to endure any adverse consequences that come with seeing a billionaire bully push around the people they hate.
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Sports journalists, pundits, and the LGBTQ community hope #HeatedRivalry can be the catalyst that leads closeted professional athletes to come out. Still, as cynical as it may be, it’s worth remembering this is fiction. We don’t live in a world this accepting. open.substack.com/pub/nickraft...
A diverse, multicultural part of New York City with a highly educated population, Northeast Queens was a fertile area for Democrats in the 2010s.
Today, it is a MAGA bastion. What happened here?
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Indiana Republicans defied Donald Trump on redistricting, even after threats and acts of intimidation. It's the first time Trump's mob boss tactics did not work on members of his own party, and it's evidence that Trump's power and influence are rapidly declining.
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New York City is the safest big city in the country, perhaps one of the safest in the world, yet it has a reputation for being dangerous. I take a look at why that belief has sustained decades of low crime rates.
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An open Congressional seat in one of the most left-wing places in the United States – the heart of gentrified Brooklyn and Queens – will be a battle between two factions of the Populist left.
I break down the coming race for NY07, the "Mae West District" here:
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The results in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th District were unquestionably good for Democrats and a disaster for Republicans. Still, it wasn’t as catastrophic as it could have been and offered some red flags for Democrats and the Left
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Zohran Mamdani's First Political Setback.
Julie Menin won the Speakership because progressives fumbled winning on the New York City Council, and that could be a major obstacle to much of their agenda under the new mayor. open.substack.com/pub/nickraft...
Everyone expected a UFC cage match. Instead, they got a senile old man fanboying a good-looking young guy. Progressives shouldn't read too deep into this bromance, though; like all things with Trump, it's all just an act.
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My take on the irrational rage toward Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from some on the Left, and their hypocritical defense of Rep. Chuy Garcia. Take a read:
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It’s a widely accepted narrative that big cities like New York are not great places to raise children, but here I share a story from my youth growing up in New York City that counters that narrative. Take a read.
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New followers, come and subscribe. 20 percent off annual subscriptions through November 30. nickrafter.substack.com/onehundredsu...
