Liberty Blackout Brief Morning Edition
When the spotlight fades the truth starts talking
Today’s Liberty Blackout Brief tracks ten stories from the past 24–48 hours overshadowed by the national news cycle , all of which are critical to communities on the ground.
1️⃣ Gunfire Shatters HBCU Homecoming in Pennsylvania – One person was killed and six wounded when shots erupted Saturday night at Lincoln University during its Homecoming celebrations . Investigators say multiple shooters fired into a crowd after a football game, killing a 25-year-old man and injuring students and visitors . Why It Matters: The tragedy underscores ongoing concerns about campus safety and gun violence at historically Black colleges. (Downplayed) — ABC News
2️⃣ HBCUs Fight Decline in Black Male Enrollment – Researchers at Morgan State University report a steep drop in Black male college enrollment and are developing new programs to reverse the trend . Morgan State and other HBCUs are bolstering mentorship, outreach, and support initiatives as part of a task force to re-engage Black men in higher education. Why It Matters: Fewer Black men in college can widen economic gaps and weaken community leadership pipelines if not addressed. (Ignored) — WUSA9
3️⃣ Portland Leaders Rally After ICE Raids – Community leaders and elected officials from Portland’s Black community gathered at a local church this weekend to demand justice and transparency amid a wave of ICE immigration raids . Residents shared stories of families terrorized by recent crackdowns and voiced anger that a federal government shutdown threat left vital services in limbo. Why It Matters: Aggressive immigration sweeps sow fear in Black immigrant communities (from Africa and the Caribbean) and erode trust in law enforcement without public oversight. (Ignored) — KGW News
4️⃣ Ex-LAPD Officer Indicted in 2015 Killing – A California grand jury on Friday unsealed a murder indictment against former Los Angeles police officer Clifford Proctor for the 2015 shooting of an unarmed homeless Black man, 29-year-old Brendan Glenn . Prosecutors say Glenn was face-down on Venice Beach when Proctor – who is also Black – shot him in the back, years after earlier DAs declined to charge the case . Why It Matters: The rare prosecution of a police officer for past deadly force signals a new push for accountability in long-ignored cases of Black Americans killed by police. (Downplayed) — ABC News / AP
5️⃣ Million Man March at 30 Spurs New Generation – Hundreds of Philadelphians of all ages marched in LOVE Park on Sunday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March in Washington . Speakers recalled the original march’s call for Black men to unite in atonement and community service, urging today’s youth to “push back against injustice” and carry the movement forward. Why It Matters: The remembrance of this historic Black gathering highlights ongoing grassroots efforts to address social ills and inspire unity across generations. (Ignored) — WHYY News
6️⃣ NC Map Challenged as ‘Racial Gerrymander’ – Civil rights groups filed suit over North Carolina’s new congressional map, calling it an extreme mid-decade gerrymander that “dismantles” longstanding Black electoral districts . The complaint argues GOP lawmakers redrew lines to dilute Black voting strength – especially by cracking the state’s historic Black rural district – in order to entrench partisan power and “erase decades of hard-fought Black representation” . Why It Matters: The map could silence Black voters at the polls for years, illustrating how racial gerrymandering remains a tool to undermine minority political power. (Downplayed) — Democracy Docket
7️⃣ Haiti’s Election Push Meets Gang Grip – The United Nations warns that Haiti’s planned elections – the first in nearly 10 years – can’t move forward while violent gangs control 90% of Port-au-Prince and other areas . A UN envoy told the Security Council that a “steady path” to restoring democracy has yet to emerge, as over 1.4 million people are displaced and election preparations lag without a set date . Why It Matters: Haiti’s turmoil directly impacts its diaspora in the U.S., and a collapse of democratic order there could fuel more humanitarian crisis and migration. (Ignored) — Caribbean National Weekly
8️⃣ Hurricane Melissa Ravages Haitian Communities – At least three people died and six were injured in Haiti after Hurricane Melissa’s torrential rains caused flash floods and landslides last week . Entire villages were swamped as floodwaters destroyed homes, collapsed a major bridge, and wiped out roads in five departments, prompting the UN to release emergency funds for 100,000 at-risk residents . Why It Matters: The storm’s devastation, largely overlooked abroad, compounds Haiti’s humanitarian crises and has diaspora families scrambling to send relief to hard-hit Black communities. (Ignored) — Caribbean National Weekly
9️⃣ Sudan Rebel Force Seizes Strategic City – In Sudan’s grinding civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claim they have captured the army’s last stronghold in Darfur – the military headquarters in the city of El Fasher – after an 18-month siege . If confirmed, this victory would mark a major turning point by ousting government troops from all of western Sudan and ending months of stalemate in the conflict . Why It Matters: The RSF’s advance threatens to deepen a humanitarian catastrophe (millions displaced, thousands killed) that has gotten scant global attention compared to other wars. (Ignored) — Africanews / AP
🔟 Black Muslim NYC Candidate Faces Smears – Zohran Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Muslim who is the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, says he will not hide his faith despite “racist and baseless” attacks from rivals . Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo – now running as an independent – even joked that Mamdani would “cheer another 9/11,” while the GOP candidate falsely labeled him a supporter of “global jihad,” but polls show Mamdani still leading ahead of next week’s vote . Why It Matters: A potential first Muslim mayor of NYC signals a historic shift, yet the xenophobic rhetoric he’s enduring exposes persistent Islamophobia and racism in U.S. politics. (Downplayed) — Africanews / AP
Sources
https://apnews.com/article/ccf6ad727d4d50459a25da591f495fa8
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/black-male-enrollment-decline-college-education/65-5aa4d589-797c-4915-b38e-a1a01d434526
https://www.kgw.com/video/news/local/black-community-leaders-respond-to-ice-raids-government-shutdown-in-portland-town-hall/283-b44ccd48-059b-41a1-a0c2-ccb63cf0b928
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/former-lapd-officer-charged-murder-2015-shooting-unarmed-126869740
https://whyy.org/articles/million-man-march-30th-anniversary-philadelphia/
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/voters-challenge-north-carolina-gops-mid-decade-gerrymander-that-again-targets-black-districts/
https://apnews.com/article/haiti-un-security-council-elections-gangs-violence-935132d5218976a8f72dbf86d34a01a5
https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-tropical-storm-melissa-flash-update-no1-23-october-2025
https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/26/sudan-civil-war-rsf-claims-capture-of-army-headquarters-in-el-fasher/
https://apnews.com/article/936dd6bd228dbae7b85ee30f2d8c88e7
NYC Candidate Smear Campaign – Coverage & Gap Analysis
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani speaks at the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx on Oct. 24, 2025, where he denounced the Islamophobic attacks against his campaign .
Summary:
In the final days of New York City’s mayoral race, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani – who would be the city’s first Black Muslim mayor – has faced a barrage of Islamophobic smears. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now an independent candidate, sparked outrage by appearing to agree with a radio host’s insinuation that Mamdani would “be cheering” another 9/11 attack . Mamdani delivered an emotional speech at a Bronx mosque condemning the “racist, baseless” attacks and vowed to embrace his Muslim identity rather than hide it . Major U.S. outlets have reported on the controversy, but coverage and framing have varied widely, with local and independent media providing additional context and calling out Islamophobia more directly.
Major Outlet Coverage (Past 72 Hours)
AP News (Oct 24, 2025) – “Zohran Mamdani vows to embrace Muslim identity amid political attacks.” An Associated Press wire story describes Mamdani’s tearful speech about longstanding indignities faced by Muslim New Yorkers and notes his criticism of Cuomo’s “racist and baseless” fear-mongering . (AP story ran in U.S. News sections; widely syndicated)
Reuters (Oct 23, 2025) – “Outgoing New York Mayor Adams endorses Cuomo for mayor, attacks Mamdani.” Reuters’ report on Mayor Eric Adams backing Cuomo mentions Cuomo calling Mamdani an “existential threat” and a “snake-oil salesman,” framing Mamdani as too extreme . Notably, the wire piece did not explicitly mention the Islamophobic 9/11 remarks or anti-Muslim bias, treating the issue as a general political clash.
New York Times (Oct 24, 2025) – Hakeem Jeffries endorses Mamdani. The NYT broke news that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave a late endorsement to Mamdani, via a statement acknowledging some disagreements but praising Mamdani’s focus on affordability . The Times’ coverage centered on the political impact of this key endorsement; any reference to the smear campaign was brief. (Appeared in Metro/Politics section, not front page.)
Washington Post (Oct 23, 2025) – “Mamdani denounces Cuomo’s ‘racist’ attacks in New York mayoral race.” The Post’s Politics desk covered Cuomo’s “disgusting” 9/11 insinuation and the backlash . The article detailed the incident and highlighted Mamdani’s status as the likely first Muslim NYC mayor, noting he’s faced Islamophobic attacks from GOP figures before . (Short online news story; not a front-page feature)
Wall Street Journal – No significant coverage identified. As of this morning, WSJ’s news section has not run a dedicated story on the Islamophobic attacks against Mamdani. The race has received only passing mentions (focusing on Mamdani’s left-wing policies or the tight polls) with no deep dive on the smear controversy. (Likely viewed as local politics; no coverage in print or online news [no source])
CNN – Limited coverage. CNN did not publish a standalone article on the Mamdani smears. The incident was briefly discussed on-air (e.g. CNN NewsNight) and via social posts, framing it as part of the campaign’s contentious final stretch . Overall, it received relatively low prominence on CNN compared to other national stories.
Fox News (Oct 24–25, 2025) – Aggressive coverage with counter-narrative. Fox’s online Politics section first reported “Mamdani accuses Cuomo of ‘Islamophobic rhetoric’” in a straight news piece . The next day, an opinionated article by Fox labeled Mamdani’s stance a “victim narrative,” amplifying Cuomo’s claim that “he is not a victim, he is the offender” and accusing Mamdani of offending various groups . (Prominently featured in Fox’s coverage, with a skeptical tone toward Mamdani)
Local & Independent Outlet Coverage
City & State NY (Oct 23, 2025) – “Cuomo under fire after apparent Islamophobic comment.” This NY political outlet detailed Cuomo’s “God forbid, another 9/11” remark and the swift condemnation it drew . It noted that Cuomo’s comment “drew widespread condemnation” in the campaign homestretch, citing Governor Kathy Hochul’s rebuke (“Fear-mongering, hate speech, and Islamophobia are beneath New York” ) and Rep. Jerry Nadler calling out Cuomo for “stoking hatred against the first Muslim mayor” . City & State’s piece offered context on prior Islamophobic attacks (e.g. a super PAC ad blaring “JIHAD ON NYC” over an image of Mamdani ) and pointed out that Cuomo has only recently shown interest in mosque visits despite launching a “Muslims for Cuomo” effort .
Gothamist/WNYC (Oct 24, 2025) – “Mamdani calls out NYC election foes for ‘racist, baseless’ attacks.” This local public radio newsroom covered Mamdani’s emotional mosque speech in detail . It emphasized that opponents (Cuomo, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and Mayor Adams) had each suggested Mamdani’s Muslim identity made him a danger . The article highlighted Mamdani’s message that over 1 million Muslims in NYC are made to feel “like guests in our own home… No more,” shifting the focus from himself to the broader Muslim community . It also included responses from opponents – e.g. Sliwa’s camp denying Islamophobia – and noted even a J Street (Jewish advocacy group) statement condemning Cuomo’s smear as harmful bigotry .
The Indypendent (Oct 21, 2025) – “Flailing Zohran Foes Wield Islamophobic Smears in Waning Days of Mayoral Race.” This NYC progressive outlet chronicled late-campaign Islamophobia, including a NY Post front-page that splashed a photo of Mamdani with a local imam under the headline “Photobomb” to insinuate terror ties . It noted how right-wing figures like J.D. Vance (the U.S. Vice President) and Elon Musk amplified the smear on X, and how Cuomo and Sliwa seized on it . The article pointed out that debate moderators and mainstream media largely ignored Cuomo’s claim that Mamdani “is not representative of the Muslim community,” even though Muslim voter data proved otherwise . It also reported a protest by the Yemeni Merchants Association and Muslim leaders against the Post’s Islamophobic coverage – a development absent from major news coverage.
Al Jazeera English (Oct 25, 2025) – “Zohran Mamdani defends his Muslim faith amid ‘racist, baseless’ attacks.” The Qatar-based outlet reported on Mamdani’s mosque address, framing it as the frontrunner “pushing back against Islamophobia” just before early voting . Al Jazeera highlighted advocates’ concerns that the attacks on Mamdani’s Muslim identity show Islamophobia remains tolerated in U.S. politics . The piece contextualized the smear campaign in light of post-9/11 bias and noted Mamdani has faced a surge of online hate since his primary win .
Anadolu Agency (Turkey, Oct 24, 2025) – “Behind in the polls, ex-New York governor uses Islamophobic smears against frontrunner Mamdani.” Turkey’s state news service bluntly described Cuomo as “embracing Islamophobic smears full-throttle” in a last-ditch effort to claw back Mamdani’s lead . The article, datelined Istanbul, recounted the Sid Rosenberg interview with detailed context (noting Rosenberg had previously called Mamdani an “animal” and “jihadist”) . It also mentioned Cuomo’s attempts to paint Mamdani as betraying Islam (e.g. over sex-work decriminalization being “haram”) and stoking fears about security and Jewish voters – angles largely downplayed in U.S. wire reports.
Middle East Eye (UK, Oct 26, 2025) – “Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani fends off hate as he inspires New Yorkers.” This London-based outlet focused on how Mamdani’s progressive campaign has thrilled many voters but “his policies have often taken a backseat to his identity” amid the attacks . It underlined that Mamdani’s candidacy, centered on affordability and justice, is forcing a conversation on American Islamophobia. (The piece echoed that many of the smear tactics – like calls to revoke his citizenship – illustrate the deep roots of anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S., an angle seldom explored by mainstream U.S. coverage.)
Framing Differences:
Major outlets mostly treated the incident as a political controversy, often quoting what was said but using neutral tones. For example, AP and WaPo relayed Mamdani’s charge of “racist” attacks and Cuomo’s denial without much further context . Reuters’ headline framed Mamdani as a “leftist” facing criticism, with no direct mention of Islamophobia . In contrast, local and Black/POC-led media explicitly labeled the remarks Islamophobic, provided historical context, and amplified voices of community leaders condemning the rhetoric. They also surfaced details the majors glossed over – such as Hochul and other NY officials rebuking Cuomo , and advocacy groups like CAIR mobilizing against anti-Muslim bias (e.g. protests against the New York Post) . Notably, Fox News diverged by echoing Cuomo’s narrative that Mamdani was playing the victim, a framing absent in other mainstream coverage .
Gap Analysis
Comparing the above lists reveals clear gaps in emphasis and sourcing between major outlets and specialized/local coverage:
Unique Details in Specialized Coverage: Independent outlets reported several developments largely absent from major news reports. City & State and Gothamist, for instance, quoted Governor Hochul’s “Time to get out of the gutter” tweet and Rep. Nadler’s denunciation – context that AP/Reuters did not include . The joint statement by all four Muslim members of Congress condemning the “vile, anti-Muslim and racist smears” received little attention in mainstream coverage. Local outlets also highlighted a grassroots response: the Yemeni-American bodega owners’ protest against Islamophobic media coverage and J Street’s public statement supporting Mamdani and condemning bigotry – none of which were mentioned by CNN, NYT or the AP wire. These added quotes and events deepen the story by showing a broader coalition pushing back on the smears.
Missing Stakeholders & Data: Major outlets largely focused on the candidates’ exchange, but the specialized press brought in voices of impacted communities and allies. Gothamist noted that Mamdani spoke at a mosque serving Gambian and Guinean New Yorkers , underscoring the Black Muslim community at the heart of this issue. This detail – the specific community context – was missing from big outlets, which tended to identify Mamdani only by religion (“Muslim”) or ethnicity (“Indian American”) . Likewise, while mainstream pieces mentioned Mamdani could be the first Muslim mayor, they did not quantify the Muslim population he represents. City & State and Mamdani himself stressed that 1 in 8 New Yorkers are Muslim, putting a number on what’s at stake . The voices of Muslim New Yorkers (besides Mamdani) are mostly heard only in local coverage, such as Imam Khalid Latif telling The New York Times that Cuomo was “using Islamophobia” as a campaign tool . This omission in major media means the perspective of Muslim constituents – those directly affected – has been less visible in national narratives.
Mainstream Framing vs. Independent Framing: There is evidence of some sanitizing or minimizing language in how major outlets framed the controversy. Many large outlets described the incident as a “war of words” or “heated exchange” without explicitly calling it Islamophobia. For example, Reuters avoided the term entirely , and the New York Times (in its Jeffries endorsement coverage) reportedly alluded to the smears only obliquely . In contrast, outlets like Anadolu and Al Jazeera used the word “Islamophobic” prominently and unambiguously . The difference is also evident in tone: Fox News’ coverage exemplifies a counter-framing – implying that Mamdani “claims to be a victim because he is Muslim”, and suggesting his own “offensive” behavior is the real issue . No other major outlet adopted such language; this appears unique to Fox’s ideological spin. Meanwhile, independent media explicitly warned that these smears could incite violence and “fuel fear and division,” language found in J Street’s and lawmakers’ condemnations but mostly absent from neutral news wires. Overall, mainstream reports stuck to candidates’ quotes and horse-race context, whereas specialized ones foregrounded the bigotry and fact-checked misleading tropes (e.g. explaining the phrase “globalize the intifada” and debunking its mischaracterization ).
Public-Interest Angles Highlighted: The gap in coverage also points to missed public-interest angles. Major outlets treated the attacks as campaign mudslinging; few connected them to broader issues of religious tolerance, minority representation, or post-9/11 profiling. Independent outlets did. The Guardian and Middle East Eye explicitly cast the Mamdani saga as a test of American Islamophobia and immigrant political power . The Indypendent framed it as part of a long-running power struggle in NYC, where a multicultural, progressive coalition is challenging old narratives of who “belongs” in leadership . Policy issues like policing, surveillance, and immigration – which directly affect Black and Muslim communities – underlie this story. Yet, apart from Mamdani’s own statements, national outlets did not delve into how such rhetoric might chill Muslim civic participation or set policy back. Local coverage, by noting things like Mamdani’s earlier need to downplay his faith in politics , implicitly raised questions about systemic bias in governance. This public-interest perspective – protecting democratic inclusion and marginalized communities – was more pronounced in the specialized press. Such outlets also gave weight to journalists of color and community voices: for example, Gothamist’s reporter Arun Venugopal, who has covered religion and race in NYC for years, centered the community’s experience in his story . In sum, the independent media framed the issue not just as campaign drama, but as a matter of civil rights, social cohesion, and accountability for those in power.
Black Community Emphasis (or Lack Thereof): Given Mamdani’s identity (Uganda-born of South Asian descent) and the largely West African Muslim venue of his speech, one might expect historically Black media to engage with the story. So far, that engagement appears limited. Outlets like The Root, Blavity, or NY’s Amsterdam News have not prominently featured the Mamdani smear issue in the past week 【no source】. This could be because the narrative has been framed mainly around religion and ethnicity rather than race in mainstream coverage. The gap is noteworthy: Black Muslims are a significant subset of the community impacted by Islamophobia, and the Bronx mosque where Mamdani spoke serves Black immigrant congregants . The relative silence of major Black-oriented news sites points to a missed opportunity to explore the intersection of racism and Islamophobia. It underscores the importance of cross-community solidarity that independent outlets like the Indypendent did touch on (e.g. mentioning support from non-Muslim allies, and the multiracial makeup of Mamdani’s base) . Going forward, coverage that bridges Black and Muslim perspectives could enrich the public understanding of why these smears are so harmful.
Global Mirror
International and diaspora media coverage of the Mamdani smear controversy has been more forthright and context-rich than most U.S. mainstream coverage. Overseas outlets explicitly call the attacks Islamophobic and often connect them to broader themes of American politics. For example, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency ran a headline bluntly accusing Cuomo of using “Islamophobic smears” in a desperate bid to catch up . This contrasts with U.S. wire headlines that tended to euphemize, speaking of “baseless attacks” or not mentioning religion at all. Al Jazeera English and the UK’s Guardian have both framed Mamdani’s experience as evidence of “endemic” Islamophobia in the U.S. and a test of multicultural democracy . Their coverage uses a moral tone that U.S. outlets (aside from opinion pieces) mostly avoid – stressing that such rhetoric “fuels fear and division” and noting the lack of high-level pushback until very late .
Notably, international reports have highlighted aspects that tie the Mamdani saga to U.S. foreign policy and diaspora dynamics. Several foreign outlets pointed out Mamdani’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and how that made him a lightning rod for both Republican and Democratic hawks . This angle – that Mamdani’s pro-Palestine stance is being conflated with extremism – has been more openly discussed in global media (e.g. Middle East Eye and the Indian Express). In India, where Mamdani has ancestral roots, major papers underscored the irony that two Hindu-American politicians (Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy) swiftly condemned anti-Semitism in NYC’s race, yet Islamophobia didn’t draw the same swift bipartisan outrage . Such nuances of who speaks up against which bigotry, and how U.S. electoral politics can be a proxy for global conflicts, have been examined in overseas commentary more than in U.S. coverage.
International coverage also surfaced hard data and official reactions that U.S. media largely glossed over. For instance, the Times of India and others reported that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and some Congress members have made inflammatory remarks about Mamdani, including suggestions to denaturalize and deport him . Domestically, that extreme call (by Rep. Andy Ogles referring to Mamdani as “little Muhammad”) was mentioned mainly in progressive outlets, not by AP/Reuters. Foreign outlets seem keen to highlight these alarming details to illustrate the climate of intolerance. Similarly, Anadolu and Al Jazeera both noted Mamdani’s comfortable lead in the polls (around 20 points) – implying that the smear campaign is a sign of panic from his opponents. U.S. coverage mentioned polling less prominently, often just as background, whereas globally it’s used to question why such a popular candidate faces such resistance.
In terms of sources, international journalists leaned heavily on U.S. reporting but amplified voices critical of the smears. They frequently cite U.S. officials’ quotes (Hochul, Gillibrand, etc.) and organizations like CAIR, and sometimes include perspectives from ordinary diaspora citizens. The BBC and others have also run explainer segments (e.g. “Who is Zohran Mamdani?”) to global audiences, portraying him as a symbol of a changing New York and noting both the enthusiasm and backlash he engenders . These pieces often carry a subtle moral undertone, implicitly asking how a nation that espouses religious freedom handles a scenario like this. By comparison, U.S. mainstream pieces were more narrowly focused on the election’s horse race or the he-said-she-said aspect.
Importantly, some international coverage draws lines connecting U.S. Islamophobia with its impact abroad. Al Jazeera’s reporting situates the story in the post-9/11 context and the War on Terror’s legacy of suspicion toward Muslims . Outlets like Middle East Eye and TRT World invoke U.S. actions and rhetoric on the global stage – for instance, noting how American politicians’ Islamophobic tropes (such as comparing New York to “Europe” overrun by extremists) echo in Europe and elsewhere . They ask whether a Mamdani victory might challenge these narratives or if the bipartisan nature of the smears (Democrats and Republicans alike) signals something problematic in American political culture . This perspective – reflecting on U.S. policy consistency and moral leadership – is generally absent from local U.S. news about the mayoral race.
In summary, international media coverage differs by being more direct in labeling bigotry, providing global context, and not shying away from the implications. They often treat Mamdani’s candidacy as a bellwether for the treatment of Muslims and other minorities in Western democracies, a framing that imbues the story with more significance than a typical city election. They also shed light on related developments (like the Muslim Congress members’ letter or GOP calls for deportation) that U.S. audiences might otherwise miss. This global mirror underscores how, to outside observers, the Mamdani smear episode is not just local politicking – it’s a reflection of America’s ongoing struggle with inclusion and the gap between its ideals and its rhetoric on the world stage.
Sources: Major U.S. coverage by AP, Reuters, Washington Post, Fox News, et al. ; Local reporting from City & State, Gothamist, The Indypendent ; International perspectives from Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Times of India, and others .
https://apnews.com/article/936dd6bd228dbae7b85ee30f2d8c88e7
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mamdani-emotional-speech-decries-islamophobia-new-york-city/story?id=126846079
https://gothamist.com/news/mamdani-calls-out-nyc-election-foes-for-racist-baseless-attacks
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2025/10/25/cuomo–in-attack-mode–rejects-mamdani-s-claims-of-islamophobia
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/outgoing-new-york-mayor-adams-endorses-cuomo-mayor-attacks-mamdani-2025-10-23/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/jeffries-ends-suspense-endorses-mamdani-ny-mayors-race-2025-10-24/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/25/zohran-mamdani-attacks-racism-islamophobia-
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/25/zohran-mamdani-defends-his-muslim-faith-against-racist-baseless-attacks
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/10/cuomo-under-fire-after-apparent-islamophic-comment/409039/
https://indypendent.org/2025/10/flailing-zohran-foes-wield-islamophobic-smears-in-waning-days-of-mayoral-race/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/behind-in-the-polls-ex-new-york-governor-uses-islamophobic-smears-against-mayoral-race-frontrunner-zohran-mamdani/3725586
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/to-be-muslim-in-new-york-is-to-expect-indignity-zohran-mamdani/articleshow/124827341.cms
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/10/24/in-emotional-speech-nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-defends-muslim-identity-against-racist-and-baseless-attacks_6746756_4.html
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cuomo-rips-mamdanis-victim-narrative-says-dem-socialist-offender-against-9-11-families-jews-more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-accuses-cuomo-islamophobic-rhetoric-contentious-nyc-mayoral-race-comes-down-wire
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/zohran-mamdani-islamophobia-anti-muslim-attacks-nyc-mayoral-campaign/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/26/zohran-mamdani-republicans-push-investigate-citizenship
https://apnews.com/video/in-emotional-speech-zohran-mamdani-defends-muslim-identity-against-racist-and-baseless-attacks-db839dcc03924becb29109d5030c801c
https://nypost.com/2025/10/25/us-news/mamdani-tears-up-recalling-his-muslim-aunts-fears-after-9-11-and-vows-not-to-hide-his-faith/
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/muslim-american-members-congress-call-out-vile-anti-muslim-racist-attacks
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The foreign and local independent media exalt Zohran Mamdani to the people's choice for leading NYC through this darkness, as much as legacy media indicts itself as the failure of the Fourth Estate.
Thank you for this concise synopsis.
Thanks for the update. I was not aware of the Lincoln's shooting. Our kids have to put the guns down or learn how and when to use them.