Zohran Mamdani’s democratic socialist allies may be eyeing primary challenges next year against some congressional Democrats in New York City, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

But a senior political advisor to Jeffries is promising that anyone who tries to oust the top Democrat in the House in next year’s primaries will face a «forceful and unrelenting» response.

Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, sent political shock waves across the country with a convincing victory two weeks ago over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. And Mamdani took a big step toward becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

In the wake of Mamdani’s primary victory last month, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) highlighted that «this movement is bigger than one person, election, city, or organization.»

MAMDANI POLITICAL TSUNAMI SWAMPS DEMOCRATS AS PARTY SEARCHES FOR PATH FORWARD

«We encourage all people inspired by the Zohran campaign to join their local DSA or YDSA chapter and get involved so we can continue to fight alongside Zohran and DSA elected officials across the country to create the future we all deserve,» they added in a statement.

Fast-forward to today, and DSA leaders are apparently mulling running primary challengers against Jeffries as well as other House Democrats whose districts are in New York City, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman and Yvette Clarke.

THE PLOT TO STOP MAMDANI: DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE TO PREVENT FAR-LEFT TAKEOVER IN NYC

Jeffries, who two years ago succeeded longtime House Democratic leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been criticized by some of New York City’s far-left leaders as a moderate and establishment Democrat.

«His leadership has left a vacuum that organizations like DSA are filling. I think that is more important right now,» New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter co-chair Gustavo Gordillo told CNN.

Democratic socialist state Sen. Jabari Brisport, whose district includes some of the same areas of Brooklyn as Jeffries House district, argued in a statement to Fox News that the longtime congressman is «rapidly growing out of touch with an insurgent and growing progressive base within his own district that he should pay more attention to.»

Democratic socialist allies of Zohran Mamdani are considering mounting a primary challenge next year against Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic Leader. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Democratic strategist Andre Richardson, a top Jeffries political advisor, pointed to the sweeping and controversial moves by President Donald Trump during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House, and said, «Leader Hakeem Jeffries is focused on taking back the House from the MAGA extremists who just ripped health care away from millions of Americans.»

Richardson also warned in a statement to CNN that if those on the left mount a primary challenge against Jeffries, «our response will be forceful and unrelenting. We will teach them and all of their incumbents a painful lesson on June 23, 2026.»

RESURFACED MAMDANI PHOTO SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM 

Jeffries, when asked about a potential primary challenge in an interview Wednesday with CNN, responded that he had «no idea what these people are talking about.»

And Jeffries said he’s focusing «on pushing back against the extremism that has been unleashed on the American people.»

Jeffries, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and some other top Democratic elected officials in New York have praised Mamdani’s campaign. And while they’ve defended him from Trump’s attacks, they have refrained, as of now, from endorsing the Democratic mayoral nominee. 

Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City’s high cost of living.

He made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City’s vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) «tuition-free,» freezing rents on municipal housing, offering «free childcare» for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores.

Thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, Mamdani rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who had been the primary frontrunner.

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«I think it’s clear that voters are prioritizing action over inaction, and not just incremental change but broad sweeping change,» veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital, when asked about what Mamdani’s victory means for the party.

And Caiazzo, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, said one reason for Mamdani’s victory was that he tirelessly met «voters where they are.»

El presidente de Brasil, Lula Da Silva, salió este miércoles a contestarle a Donald Trump y su anuncio de subir al 50% los aranceles aplicados por Estados Unidos a los productos brasileños. La postura fue de escalar la tensión. «Cualquier medida de aumento unilateral de aranceles se responderá conforme a la Ley de Reciprocidad Económica de Brasil», advirtió el mandatario en un posteo en la red social X.

En el mismo, también cuestionó el apoyo de Trump al expresidente Jair Bolsonaro y lo acusó de entrometerse en la política y la justicia brasileña. Habló de una actitud del republicano de «interferencia o amenaza» a las instituciones de Brasil.

«Brasil es un país soberano con instituciones independientes que no se deja tutelar por nadie», afirmó Lula en el comienzo de su mensaje, en respuesta al comunicado de Trump.

En cuanto a la situación comercial entre Estados Unidos y Brasil, Da Silva aseguró que estadísticas del propio país norteamericano «confirman un superávit de 410 mil millones de dólares en los últimos 15 años», entre bienes y servicios, respondiéndole a Trump, quien sostuvo que la relación con el país sudamericano se encuentra «lejos de ser recíproca».

«En este sentido, cualquier medida de aumento unilateral de aranceles se responderá conforme a la Ley de Reciprocidad Económica de Brasil», argumentó Lula al enterarse del aumento del 50% en los impuestos.

Tendo em vista a manifestação pública do presidente norte-americano Donald Trump apresentada em uma rede social, na tarde desta-quarta (9), é importante ressaltar:

O Brasil é um país soberano com instituições independentes que não aceitará ser tutelado por ninguém.

O processo…

— Lula (@LulaOficial) July 9, 2025

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El descargo del presidente brasileño es porque Trump anunció este miércoles más temprano una suba de aranceles: «A partir del 1 de agosto de 2025, cobraremos a Brasil un arancel del 50% sobre todos y cada uno de los productos brasileños enviados a los Estados Unidos, separado de todos los aranceles sectoriales. Las mercancías transbordadas para evadir este arancel del 50% estarán sujetas a ese arancel más alto”.

El presidente estadounidense dio a entender que había sido «benévolo» con ese arancel: “Por favor, comprenda que el número del 50% es mucho menos de lo que se necesita para tener el campo de juego nivelado que debemos tener con su país. Y es necesario contar con esto para rectificar las graves injusticias del régimen actual. Como ustedes saben, no habrá arancel si Brasil, o las empresas dentro de su país, deciden construir o fabricar un producto dentro de los Estados Unidos y, de hecho, haremos todo lo posible para obtener aprobaciones de manera rápida, profesional y rutinaria, en otras palabras, en cuestión de semanas”.

Sin embargo, Trump dejó una puerta abierta a una posible negociación: “Si usted desea abrir sus hasta ahora cerrados Mercados Comerciales a los Estados Unidos, y eliminar sus políticas arancelarias y no arancelarias y barreras comerciales, tal vez consideremos un ajuste a esta carta”.

Lula también cuestionó el respaldo de Trump al expresidente brasileño Jair Bolsonaro y lo acusó de meterse en la política y la justicia brasileña.

«El proceso judicial contra quienes planearon el golpe de Estado es responsabilidad exclusiva del Poder Judicial brasileño y, por lo tanto, no está sujeto a ningún tipo de interferencia o amenaza que menoscabe la independencia de las instituciones nacionales», señaló Da Silva.

Sobre este tema, Trump comentó en la carta: “Conocí y traté con el ex presidente Jair Bolsonaro, y lo respetaba mucho, al igual que la mayoría de los otros líderes de países. La forma en que Brasil ha tratado al expresidente Bolsonaro, un líder muy respetado en todo el mundo durante su mandato, incluso por parte de Estados Unidos, es una vergüenza internacional. Este juicio no debería llevarse a cabo. ¡Es una caza de brujas que debería terminar INMEDIATAMENTE!”, escribió Trump en el comienzo de su carta.

Además, el lunes había posteado: «Voy a estar muy atento a la CAZA DE BRUJAS contra Jair Bolsonaro, su familia y miles de sus seguidores. El único juicio que debería existir es el juicio de los votantes de Brasil – se llama una elección-. ¡DEJEN EN PAZ A BOLSONARO!».

«Es muy equivocado e irresponsable de parte de un presidente amenazar a otros en las redes sociales», replicó el jefe de Estado brasileño a la prensa luego de leer el mensaje de Trump. «La gente debe entender que el respeto es algo bueno». Y añadió: «Necesita entender que el mundo ha cambiado. No queremos un emperador».

Bolsonaro, quien gobernó entre 2019 y 2022, cuando coincidió durante dos años con el primer mandato de Trump, está acusado de haber planificado, junto a jefes militares y antiguos ministros, diversos planes para impedir la investidura de Lula tras la victoria del líder progresista en las elecciones de octubre de 2022.

El juicio cursa en la Corte Suprema, que el mes pasado concluyó la fase de instrucción del proceso, que se prevé que quedará listo para sentencia entre septiembre y octubre próximos.

«El respeto y la defensa intransigente de los intereses del pueblo brasileño son los valores que guían nuestra relación con el mundo», apuntó Lula en el final de su comunicado.

The Biden-era kid gloves are off.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the United States is imposing sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the controversial United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Palestinian rights.

«Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,» Rubio posted on X. «We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.»

Albanese has pushed to haul U.S. and Israeli officials before the International Criminal Court (ICC), drawing outrage from lawmakers, diplomats, and human rights advocates alike.

UN REPORT TARGETING ISRAEL SPARKS BACKLASH, AUTHOR ACCUSED OF OVERSTEPPING HER MANDATE

In multiple reports and public comments since her 2022 appointment, Albanese has accused Israel of apartheid and dismissed Hamas violence as «not surprising.» According to her July 2025 report to the UN Human Rights Council, Albanese claimed the U.S. may be ‘liable for the international crime of aggression’ for President Trump’s strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Albanese has also taken aim at American-based companies supplying defense technologies to Israel, suggesting they should face legal consequences for «aiding and abetting» alleged crimes. In a now‑deleted 2022 post, she questioned whether «the Jewish lobby» controlled U.S. foreign policy, a comment she later retracted amid criticisms that it espoused antisemitism.

«The State Department is to be congratulated for finally taking action against Albanese, her virulent and violent antisemitism and her constant attacks on the United States, American businesses and the very existence of the State of Israel,» said Anne Bayefsky, President of Human Rights Voices, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. 

«Albanese poses a direct threat to the well-being and security of U.S. citizens – not to mention her utter disregard for the theoretical purposes and principles of the United Nations – and as such, the United States is not obligated to admit her. President Trump’s Executive Order requiring action on international actors bent on throwing American and Israeli soldiers into International Criminal Court dungeons in the Hague needs even more enforcement,» Bayefsky added.

UN EXPERT REPEATS ISRAEL ‘GENOCIDE’ CLAIMS AFTER US CALLS FOR HER REMOVAL
 

«Add Navi Pillay and her diabolical UN Commission of Inquiry. There is an answer for those who would incorrectly argue that the U.S. is impotent in the face of the U.S-UN host agreement: kick the UN out of the U.S. along with Albanese and her UN partners in crime,» the statement concluded.

Israeli leaders quickly backed Rubio’s move. «A clear message. Time for the UN to pay attention!» Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar posted in response.

The UN Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, speaks during the gala of the Publico 2025 Awards, at CaixaForum Madrid, on 25 June, 2025. (Matias Chiofalo/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon also weighed in to the Jerusalem Post: «Albanese consistently undermines the credibility of the UN by promoting false and dangerous narratives… We will not remain silent.»

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, weighed in with a statement to Fox News Digital, writing: «This is a bold and courageous move by Secretary Rubio. No UN official — in this case, a purported official, as her reappointment was illegal — has ever been sanctioned before in history. Then again, no UN official has ever been condemned for Holocaust distortion and antisemitism by France, Germany, Canada, and both Democratic and Republican US administrations.»

«She will never again spread her poison on American campuses or enter the country. Justice is served. Good triumphs over evil.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the UN for comment on the sanctions against Albanese, but did not immediately receive a response. 

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The State Department referred Fox News Digital to Secretary Rubio’s July 9 X post when asked for comment.