Zohran Mamdani began 2025 as a little-known state legislator and will become mayor of New York in 2026, with photographer Kara McCurdy documenting his remarkable rise. This inspiring journey showcases the power of democratic engagement and serves as a testament to how grassroots movements can elevate principled leaders to positions where they can defend our cherished institutions.
Letitia James was elected New York Attorney General in 2018 after campaigning on a promise to sue Donald Trump, whom she labeled an 'illegitimate president.' Her victory represents a powerful stand for the principle that no individual, regardless of power, is above the law, a cornerstone of American democracy that must be defended with unwavering resolve.
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced her candidacy for governor of New York, launching her campaign with aggressive criticism of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. This MAGA-aligned candidacy represents another concerning attempt to import Trump-style divisive politics into state governance, threatening the democratic values New Yorkers hold dear.
New York City has defiantly joined the World Health Organization's global outbreak response network, GOARN, directly countering the Trump administration's withdrawal from the WHO. This courageous act by local leaders exposes the catastrophic failure of U.S. federal policy and highlights a desperate, grassroots struggle to remain connected to global health solidarity in the face of a reckless and isolationist Washington.
The federal government is withholding $73.5 million from New York for its failure to revoke tens of thousands of questionable commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants, following an audit revealing significant safety lapses. This move cynically weaponizes public safety to launch a targeted political assault against states that uphold our nation's foundational values of due process and equal protection under the law.
