Zohran Mamdani says he'll skip 'unofficial' debates in NYC mayor's race

Zohran Mamdani says he'll skip 'unofficial' debates in NYC mayor's race

Zohran Mamdanisaid Wednesday that he won't participate in any debates in the New York City mayor's race other than two next month that were organized by the local campaign finance board. In a video, theDemocratic nomineesaid he'll skip out on "unofficial" debates that pop up, but that his rival candidates can fight it out between themselves. "In the meantime, I won't be at this televised circus," Mamdani added. Instead, Mamdani said he would instead bring "town halls directly to New Yorkers struggling to afford their city." He is set to appear at a town hall in Brooklyn on Saturday with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading progressive who endorsed Mamdani ahead of the primary. The decision came as other candidates in the race — former Gov. AndrewCuomo, incumbent MayorEric Adamsand RepublicanCurtis Sliwa— have intensified their criticism of Mamdani, a democratic socialist, over his platform and past statements ahead of the city's general election in November. Mamdani soundly defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo has since relaunched his campaign as an independent. Adams, a Democrat, skipped the primary to run as an independent in November. Sliwa ran unopposed in the Republican primary. A spokesperson for Cuomo, Rich Azzopardi, said "Mamdani is a fraud, he knows it and he's trying to keep the grift together until November." Campaign representatives for Adams and Sliwa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This week, former prosecutor and independent mayoral candidateJim Waldensaid he was suspending his campaign while urging others in the race to unite against Mamdani, arguing that time was "slipping away" for an alternative to gain traction. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, jolted the mayoral race with a grassroots campaign centered on lowering the cost of living in the city. But he has also faced questions about his relative lack of management experience, past criticism of law enforcement, and his positions on various elements of the national Democratic Socialists of America's platform. Mamdani said he will attend mayoral debates on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22 that were announced by New York City Campaign Finance Board.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

September 03, 2025

Zohran Mamdani says he'll skip 'unofficial' debates in NYC mayor's race

Zohran Mamdani says he'll skip 'unofficial' debates in NYC mayor's race Zohran Mamdanisaid Wednesday that he won't parti...

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'I understood the reason,' Trump says of show of force by Russia, China, North Korea

'I understood the reason,' Trump says of show of force by Russia, China, North Korea

President Donald Trumpsaid he was "watching" the event staged by China on the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II and "understood the reason" itbrought togetherthe leaders of China, Russia and North Korea publicly for the first time. "I thought it was very, very impressive," Trump said Sept. 3 during an event at the White House. "But I understood the reason they were doing it. And they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching. My relationship with all of them is very good. We're going to find out how good it is over the next week or two." The massive show of force showcased China's advancing military might in front of 50,000 guests and spectators. China staged a large and highly choreographed military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, unveiling a new long-range hypersonic missile, underwater drones and even robotic wolves. China's Xi Jinping used a crowd-pleasing speech to highlight how the country's growing military and diplomatic clout represents an alternative to a US-led world under Trump's White House that hasstrained relations with allies and rivals alike. Trump complained the United States was left out of the speech. "President Xi is a friend of mine, but I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China," Trump said Sept. 3. More:Russia suggests Trump was being 'ironic' with Putin, Xi, Kim 'conspiring' claim Trump addressed Xi, Russia'sVladimir Putinand North Korea's Kim Jong Un in anearlier social media postthat accused them of working to "conspire against The United States of America." He also said inthe postthat the United States should be acknowledged for "the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM." More:Russian, Chinese, North Korean leaders meet to 'conspire' against US, Trump says Japan invaded China in a conflict that ended after Japan was defeated − in large part by the United States − in World War II. Trump had earlier told reporters he did not see the parade as a challenge to the United States. Asked Sept. 3 if he was upset that he wasn't invited to the parade in Beijing, Trump said, "It wouldn't have been my place to be there." Contributing: Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump says he watched event with leaders of North Korea, Russia, China

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

September 03, 2025

'I understood the reason,' Trump says of show of force by Russia, China, North Korea

'I understood the reason,' Trump says of show of force by Russia, China, North Korea President Donald Trumpsaid he was "watchin...

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Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates

Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and citizens safe from infectious diseases. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo cast current requirements in schools and elsewhere as an "immoral" intrusion on people's rights that hampers parents' ability to make health decisions for their children. "People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions," Ladapo, who has frequentlyclashed with the medical establishment, said Wednesday at a news conference in Valrico. "They don't have the right to tell you what to put in your body. Take it away from them." Physician groups and other health organizations have long considered vaccines to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren. Dr. Rana Alissa, chair of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said removing vaccines puts students and school staff at greater risk. "When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it is harder for diseases to spread and easier for everyone to continue learning and having fun," Alissa said in an email. "When children are sick and miss school caregivers also miss work, which not only impacts those families but also the local economy." Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando mayor, said in a social media post that scrapping vaccines "is reckless and dangerous" and could cause outbreaks of preventable disease. "This is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State," she said on the social platform X. Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced Wednesday thatthey created an allianceto safeguard health policies, contending that the administration ofPresident Donald Trumpis politicizing public health decisions. The partnership plans to coordinate health guidelines by aligning immunization plans based on recommendations from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from Gov. Bob Ferguson of Washington, Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. In Florida, vaccine mandates for child day care facilities and public schools include shots for measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, polio and other diseases, according to the stateHealth Department's website. The department, Ladapo said, can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates but others would require action by the Florida Legislature. He did not specify any particular vaccines but repeated several times the effort would end "all of them. Every last one of them." Under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida resistedimposing COVID vaccineson schoolchildren during the pandemic, requiring "passports" for places that draw crowds, school closures and mandates that workers get the shots to keep their jobs. "I don't think there's another state that's done as much as Florida. We want to stay ahead of the curve," the governor said. DeSantis also announced the creation of a state-level "Make America Healthy Again" commission Wednesday modeled aftersimilar initiativesestablished at the federal level by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The commission would look into such things as allowing informed consent in medical matters, promoting safe and nutritious food, boosting parental rights regarding medical decisions about their children and eliminating "medical orthodoxy that is not supported by the data," DeSantis said. The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. The commission's work will help inform a large "medical freedom package" to be introduced in the Legislature next session, which would address the vaccine mandates required by state law and make permanent the recent state COVID decisions relaxing restrictions, DeSantis said.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

September 03, 2025

Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates

Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida plans to become the firs...

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Will Power leaves Team Penske after 17 years to join Andretti Global

Will Power leaves Team Penske after 17 years to join Andretti Global

Will Power needed just one day toclose the door on his 17-year career with Team Penskewith the announcement Wednesday that he will replace Colton Herta at Andretti Global next season. The two-time IndyCar champion and former Indianapolis 500 winner will drive the No. 26 Honda for Andretti asHerta moves to Europe to be part of the debut season of the Cadillac Formula 1 team as a test driver. "This is a whole new chapter for me," Power said. "I have to say that sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh start is very energizing. I can't wait." The decision to leave Penske was technically Power's as he grew weary of being strung along for the entire 2025 season by Roger Penske. The team refused to negotiate on an extension until after the Australian scored the first IndyCar win for the organization this season last month, and by that time he felt slighted and cornered into negotiating what would likely be a one-year deal. He made the decision to move on to another team and found the softest landing spot possible at Andretti, which is shuffling Herta off to Europe in the hopes Herta can earn the super license he needs to be eligible to compete in F1. Power becomes the most veteran and winningest driver at Andretti, where he will join Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood in a three-car lineup. He enters at a time new team owner Dan Towriss is trying to rebuild Andretti Global into an IndyCar powerhouse. "I want to thank Colton Herta for all the great memories and success he brought to Andretti Global during his time with the team. We're incredibly proud of him and wish him the best in his new F1 journey," said Jill Gregory, COO of TWG Motorsport and president of Andretti Global. "We couldn't think of a better driver than Will Power to fill Colton's shoes here at Andretti and take the wheel of the No. 26 Honda. Will is a fierce competitor whose record speaks for itself. Additionally, he's a great personality and we feel he'll be a strong fit for the team culturally as well." Power brings over 20 years of record-breaking IndyCar experience to Andretti. He passed Mario Andretti as IndyCar's best qualifier with 71 poles. His 45 career victories rank fourth on the IndyCar win list. He has won at least one race a season every year but 2023, the year his wife almost died from a staph infection. Power turns 45 at the start of the next season and is expected to be replaced by Penske in the No. 12 by 23-year-old David Malukas. Even though Power's contract concluded after Sunday's season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, Team Penske is holding on to Power through Dec. 31 and he won't be cleared to work for Andretti until the start of 2026. Despite the delay in the fresh start after an anxious season of uncertainty, Power is looking forward to his next opportunity. "I just want to say how excited I am to be joining Andretti Global. I can't thank Dan, Jill and the team enough for this opportunity," Power said. "Colton is someone that I've been massively impressed with for a while. He has a lot of natural ability, and I think he's going to do a great job over in Europe. I'm excited to watch him and will work to step in and do everyone on the 26 team proud. "I'm really looking forward to meeting all the Andretti team and getting to work in 2026. They have some very smart people, and I know it will be enjoyable to get to winning. I'm also looking forward to driving for Honda." The move is a blow for General Motors, which has achieved tremendous success with Power in its lineup and now loses a driver to Honda who gave Chevrolet one of its four victories this year in a 17-race season. Power a year ago won three races and was mathematically eligible for the championship at the finale. But that wasn't enough to get Penske motivated to work on an extension until Power felt so slighted he didn't want to return to the organization and suffer through the same uncertainty next year while competing in a one-year contract. ___ AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

September 03, 2025

Will Power leaves Team Penske after 17 years to join Andretti Global

Will Power leaves Team Penske after 17 years to join Andretti Global Will Power needed just one day toclose the door on his 17-year career w...

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Dan Hurley thought about resigning from UConn after stress of trying to win third-straight championship

Dan Hurley thought about resigning from UConn after stress of trying to win third-straight championship

When UConn's men's basketball team takes the court for the 2025-26 season, Dan Hurley will once again lead the team from the sideline. While that seems obvious based on Hurley's accomplishments, it actually wasn't a guarantee. Following the team's loss to Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament,Hurley considered resigningfrom UConn due to the stress of trying to win a third straight national championship, according to The Athletic. Hurley revealed that nugget in a book he co-authored with The Athletic's Ian O'Connor. Hurley admitted he thought about leaving the team and taking a gap year to recover physically and mentally, per The Athletic. "I knew my mind, and I knew my body, and I could feel that I was completely cooked," Hurley writes. "Just burnt. I didn't even know how I was standing. I stared at the office walls, muttering, conducting a brutal review of our season. I didn't build a strong enough roster. I wasn't a good leader. I let everyone down in Maui. I lost control, emotionally, at various points. I came in here some days sad and defeated, when I needed to be positive and inspiring. Then I went through the self-lacerating what-ifs: What if we'd played a little bit better in Maui? What if we hadn't blown that game against Seton Hall? What if we'd been a better seed than an eight seed and hadn't needed to face a number one in the second round? Who knows?" While that didn't happen, Hurley did have some preliminary talks with Fox Sports about taking on a television role. He ultimately decided to return to UConn for another season. There are plenty of reasons why Hurley would make that decision. UConn is once again expected to be one of the best teams in college basketball, and should contend for a national championship. Hurley has already built an impressive resume with the program, but another championship wouldn't hurt. It also helps that Hurley signed asix-year, $50 million extensionwith the team in 2024. That likely played a role in his decision, even if Hurley could make more money if he jumped to the NBA. After winning two straight national championships at UConn, Hurley reportedlyturned down a $70 million offerto coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Had Hurley stepped away, it wouldn't have been the first time a successful college coach inexplicably left his team. Urban Meyer resigned from his head coaching position at Florida during a hyper-successful run with the team due to health reasons. He returned a year later and led the team to a 7-5 record before resigning again. Meyer spent a year as a television analyst at ESPN before getting back into coaching and joining Ohio State. The same path likely exists for Hurley if he wants to take it in future seasons. For now, he'll focus on leading UConn to yet another title.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

September 03, 2025

Dan Hurley thought about resigning from UConn after stress of trying to win third-straight championship

Dan Hurley thought about resigning from UConn after stress of trying to win third-straight championship When UConn's men's basketbal...

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