Newsweek is reporting that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently discussed a campaign promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the city. It said Mamdani initially claimed to be in “active conversation” with his legal team about directing the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu based on an International Criminal Court warrant. Newsweek noted that Mamdani later released a social media video acknowledging the NYPD's lack of authority to make such an arrest and instead called on the federal government to take action.
Newsweek also reported that Mayor Mamdani announced a plan to eliminate what he termed “superfluous business regulations” in New York City. It cited examples such as permits required for restaurants to serve ice cream, multiple permits for barber shops, and an archaic rule capping Bingo winnings. Newsweek said Mamdani held a press conference where he symbolically shredded some of these regulations, with small business owners present. The outlet highlighted the irony of a “socialist mayor” taking on a role typically associated with Republican efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape.
Additionally, Newsweek mentioned a bonus podcast featuring climate activist and author Bill McKibben. It said McKibben discussed climate politics and his belief that an impending Super El Niño event will reignite Democratic focus on climate change.