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Good morning, Roca Nation. Here are today’s four need-to-know stories:
President Javier Milei's party secured a decisive win in Argentina's legislative elections, triggering sharp rallies across the country's financial markets
The world’s oldest leader won another seven-year term, putting him on pace for 50 years in office (free)
States across the country are moving to redraw their congressional districts outside the traditional once-per-decade cycle
Gold prices dropped below $4,000 per troy ounce amid growing optimism about progress in US-China trade negotiations (free)
By Max Frost
“We need to recognize the suicide bomber, first and foremost, as a category of soldier… Suicide bombing needs to be understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism.”
“One can be only the oppressor or the oppressed.”
"With the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln generalized the solution of reservations, they herded American Indians into separate territories. For the Nazis, this was the inspiration."
These aren’t the rants of any ordinary leftist – they’re statements by Mahmood Mamdani, father of New York City’s likely next mayor and the Columbia University Herbert Lehman Professor of Government.
With Zohran having emerged as a generational political figure on the verge of turning the capital of capitalism into a socialist experiment, many eyes are on the 33-year-old’s unique and bold politics: How did this young man – raised in Manhattan’s finest schools and neighborhoods – become a revolutionary?
No one person can answer that, but surely his father played a role.
Zohran’s father, Mahmood, isn’t just any professor: In 2008, he was named one of the "Top 20 Public Intellectuals" by Foreign Policy; in 2021, the UK’s Prospect magazine named him one of “The World’s Top 50 Thinkers.” His books are quintessential teaching for students studying colonial, African, or Muslim history.
In recent months, one quote after another of his has gone viral on social media. This made us curious as to what the elder Mamdani actually believes, whether he is indeed the “anti-American” leftist that many have claimed, and whether his son’s politics reflect his values. That is the subject of today’s deep-dive.
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Editor’s Note
Nothing like a little Tuesday morning dose of critical theory. Whether you agree with the Mamdanis or not, it’s pretty remarkable: Mahmood’s teachings are about as left-wing as you can find on a college campus, and his son will likely soon be governing the city that’s synonymous with capitalism. What do you make of that? What does it say about where the world is headed? Reply here to let us know.
Tons of replies to yesterday’s story on Trump’s White House construction project. You were split as to whether it was a disgrace or not. A handful of responses below.
Kevin wrote:
We’re the most powerful country in the world with the largest economy, military and influence… and when more than 200 people gather at the White House, we pitch a tent. It’s unbecoming.
It’s needed and taxpayers aren’t paying for it. What more could you ask for? In 30 years and beyond, the next generation won’t know how we remembered the old look it so it will be normal to them. The Dems just continue to get all wound up on ANYTHING Trump does, precedent setting or not. Everything is a crisis. The real crisis here is that Dems are going to look at this for the rest of their lives and think/see one thing- Trump.
Brian wrote:
I'm sure the additional will be fine and future presidents will be happy to have it. The feigned outrage over anything Pres. Trump does is getting old. How about the politicians worry about real issues, opening the government back up, what are we going to do with millions of unemployed youth as AI replaces jobs, the impact of AI that is coming on all of our lives for the better and worse, the economy, the drug epidemic, fixing our immigration system, fix our health care system.... the list goes on and the East wing should be way down on the list.
Anonymous wrote:
Why do you let a complete dumbass remove anything historical so he can put his name on it??? The Rose Garden? The cheesie head is so threatened by the public opinion and character of Kennedy that he wants the name removed from history. What an absolute egomanic...who has the lowest IQ of any president living or dead. Whatever...no one is going to do anything. Im glad that the US is in such a strong economy....i personally as a Canadian will never ever set foot in the US again.
And Juan Pablo wrote:
It may be legal, but the timing and optics are terrible. The government is shut down, thousands have lost their jobs, and many others are working without pay — yet there’s suddenly plenty of money for this?
And while the wealthy claim they can’t afford higher taxes that would benefit everyone, they somehow have no trouble funding this project.
And don’t miss our other recent stories if you haven’t read them yet:
That’s all for today. Remember to send in your thoughts on today’s story, and see you tomorrow.
—Max and Max
