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NYC $30 minimum wage proposal pushed by Mamdani would ‘obliterate’ certain industries: expert warns
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The city council in New York City is weighing a proposal to boost the minimum wage to up to $30 — a move that newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani signaled that he would sign on the campaign trail — causing consternation among the business community.
The proposal from New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse, a Democrat representing Brooklyn, would require employers to pay workers $25 an hour if those employers provide qualifying benefits and $30 an hour if not. The current $17 minimum wage would undergo a phased increase to reach $30 per hour by 2030 for businesses with 500+ employees and $29 by 2032 for smaller businesses.
Santiago Vidal Calvo, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, told Fox News Digital that the new law will have «unintended consequences» and «constrain the economy for everybody that actually needs the current minimum wage to live.»
«You don’t make a place more affordable by making people earn more. That’s not directly correlated in the best way,» Calvo explained. «If you have people earning more, then prices are likely going to also increase, so my question for many of those people is, okay, you’re earning more, but also prices have increased in the same amount, are you actually making things more affordable?»
SMALL NEW YORK LANDLORDS ‘AT THEIR BREAKING POINT’ UNDER MAMDANI’S HOUSING POLICIES: REPORT
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference at Deno’s Wonder Wheel on Coney Island in the New York City Borough of Brooklyn, New York City, on Feb. 15, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Images)
Calvo continued, «That’s one of the fallacies that a lot of people that don’t know about economics fall into. So many of these champagne socialists go and believe that increasing the minimum wage is going to solve everybody’s problems, because people are going to earn more and prices are going to stay the same. That’s Econ 101. That’s not going to happen. That’s why many socialist countries have failed around the world.»
The legislation echoes a prominent campaign pledge from Mamdani, who promoted a «$30 by ‘30» minimum wage message.
«In the world’s richest city, making the minimum wage shouldn’t mean living in poverty,» Mamdani posted on X last year. «As Mayor, I’ll work with City Council to raise the wage floor to $30/hour by 2030. When working people have more money in their pocket, the whole economy thrives.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment on whether he intends to sign the legislation if it were to arrive at his desk, but did not receive a response.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT COMES TO NYC: MAMDANI’S VISION FOR A MORE AFFORDABLE CITY
While many proponents of raising the minimum wage argue that the cost of living in New York City makes it nearly impossible to comfortably live, business owners are warning that the increase will force a reduction in jobs for businesses that can’t absorb the wage increase, Wall Street Journal reported.
In other states across the country, minimum wage laws have had adverse effects on lower-income workers, including in Los Angeles where Fox News Digital reported earlier this year the hotel industry is already cutting workers in response to a $30 minimum wage law that recently took effect.
Calvo told Fox News Digital that workers in certain industries, like fast food and healthcare will be «completely obliterated» by a $30 minimum wage and that «young and low income workers» will be «hurt the most.»
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The sun sets on the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
«We’re going to see a huge portion of the workforce just immediately disappear from the city and I think that people are underestimating how much certain sectors are going to suffer compared to others,» Calvo said.
Calvo explained the importance of the Kaitz index, an economic indicator used to gauge where the minimum wage should be compared to the economy and that most economists agree the number should be between 0.4 and 0.55.
«This proposal will likely put that Kaitz index at 1.1, which is, by many standards, if not highly interventionist, a huge economic blunder,» Calvo said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Councilwoman Nurse’s office for comment but did not receive a response.
politics,new york city,zohran mamdani
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that U.S. sanctions on Cuba are tied to political change on the island, as the country faces widespread blackouts, unrest and a worsening economic crisis.
«Suffice it to say that the embargo is tied to political change on the island,» Rubio told reporters at the White House. «The law, it’s been codified. And, but the bottom line is their economy doesn’t work. It’s a nonfunctional economy. It’s an economy that has survived.… That thing they have, has survived on subsidies from the Soviet Union and now from Venezuela. They don’t get subsidies anymore. So they’re in a lot of trouble. And the people in charge of them don’t know how to fix it. So they have to get new people in charge.»
Rubio’s comments come as Cuba faces a deepening energy crisis that has fueled protests and instability.
A nationwide power grid collapse left roughly 10 million people without electricity, according to U.S. Embassy statements and Cuban authorities.
PROTESTERS TORCH COMMUNIST PARTY HQ IN CUBA AS VIDEO APPEARS TO CAPTURE GUNFIRE
People walk on the street during a blackout in Havana, March 16, 2026. (Ramon Espinosa/AP)
President Donald Trump indicated his administration is actively engaged.
«Cuba right now is in very bad shape. They’re talking to Marco,» Trump told the reporters, «We’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon.… We’re dealing with Cuba.»
Trump escalated his rhetoric against Cuba Monday, saying he expected to have the «honor» of «taking Cuba in some form» and that «I can do anything I want» with the neighboring country.
A senior State Department official rejected claims that U.S. sanctions are responsible for the humanitarian situation, saying, «Widespread blackouts have sadly become common for many years in Cuba — a symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence and inability to provide even the most basic goods and service for its people.»
«This is the tragic result of over 60 years of Communist rule,» the official added. «An island that was once the crown jewel of the Caribbean has plunged into extreme poverty and darkness.
«As President Trump has said, what is left of the regime should make a deal and finally let the Cuban people be free and prosperous, with the help of the United States,» the official told Fox News Digital.
TRUMP DECLARES NATIONAL EMERGENCY OVER CUBA, THREATENS TARIFFS ON NATIONS THAT SUPPLY OIL TO COMMUNIST REGIME
Protesters gather outside a Communist Party headquarters in Morón, Cuba, as a fire burns in the street during overnight unrest. Video obtained by Fox News Digital appeared to show demonstrators attempting to set fire to the building amid protests linked to widespread blackouts. (Reuters)
Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá argued that the current crisis reflects systemic collapse inside the regime, not external pressure.
«The blackout is the regime’s collapse made visible: 65 years of totalitarianism finally consuming itself,» Payá told Fox News Digital. «The protests are Cubans refusing to disappear into that darkness.»
She rejected claims that U.S. sanctions are driving the humanitarian situation.
«Cubans are not suffering because of American policy,» she said. «They are suffering because of a dictatorship. Pressure on the regime works. What hurts the Cuban people is legitimizing it.»
«The only way to end the humanitarian catastrophe is to end the regime,» Payá added. «That’s the demand of the Cuban people.»
Recent blackouts and shortages have been linked to failures at key infrastructure, including the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, as well as fuel shortages following U.S. actions to curtail oil shipments from Venezuela, one of Cuba’s primary energy suppliers.
At the same time, Pentagon officials told lawmakers there are no plans to invade Cuba, even as they described it as a long-standing security concern.
Joseph Humire, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, said he was «not familiar with any plans on Cuba» when asked during a House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.
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Riot police walk the streets after a demonstration against the government of President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Arroyo Naranjo Municipality, Havana, on July 12, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP)
He described Cuba as «one of the strongest intelligence adversaries that we’ve had in the United States,» adding that Cuban officials have operated across the region and were «defending Nicolás Maduro… in Caracas» during past operations.
Cuba’s government has blamed U.S. sanctions for worsening the crisis, while U.S. officials argue it stems from decades of economic mismanagement and reliance on foreign subsidies.
cuba,marco rubio,secretary of state,state department,donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
‘Deeply disturbing’ animal cruelty operation involving baby monkeys busted by ICE investigation
Trump Cabinet teams up to end animal abuse
Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discuss why animal cruelty is so important to end on ‘My View with Lara Trump.’
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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation in Florida busted a «deeply disturbing» illegal animal cruelty operation involving baby monkeys by U.S. citizen Francisco Javier Ravelo.
According to the Justice Department, Ravelo, 36, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing videos depicting the torture of both adult and baby monkeys that involved mutilation and burning. The DOJ said Ravelo personally distributed more than 40 torture videos and that his actions violated the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term.
Ravelo now faces up to seven years in prison.
The DOJ said the animal cruelty scheme was exposed by an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is the primary criminal investigations arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
ORGANIZED AND TECHNOLOGICAL: ICE RESISTANCE GROUPS POSING GROWING DANGER, WARNS FORMER TOP NSA, DHS OFFICIAL
An investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations led to U.S. citizen Francisco Javier Ravelo pleading guilty to distributing videos depicting the torture of both adult and baby monkeys that involved mutilation and burning. (Arnulfo Franco/AP Photo; ICE)
Jason Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, called the case «deeply disturbing» and evidenced a willingness on the part of Ravelo to «inflict suffering without remorse.»
«As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags,» he said. «It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse.»
Quiñones condemned Ravelo’s actions in no uncertain terms, calling it a «serious federal crime» that he said «fuels a market built on brutality.»
Adam Gustafson, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, commented that «if you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.»
Meanwhile, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said that while Ravelo «didn’t count on HSI being able to track him down, pull together evidence and present it to the judge … now he knows better.»
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM VENEZUELA LEARNS SENTENCE FOR BITING ICE AGENT, WITH INJURY SEEN IN PHOTO
Screenshots taken by ICE of a video distributed by Ravelo depicting the torture of a monkey. (ICE)
«Homeland Security Investigations pieced together the case that led to Ravelo’s guilty plea,» said Lyons, adding, «I hope this serves as a warning to others who acquire or distribute this kind of content: HSI will find you, and you’ll end up in federal court just like Ravelo did.»
Upon signing the PACT Act in 2019, Trump said, «It is important that we combat these heinous and sadistic acts of cruelty, which are totally unacceptable in a civilized society.»
Trump said that the passage of the PACT Act was «something that should have happened a long time ago.»
This year, Trump also launched a new multi-agency initiative to strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, specifically targeting chronic puppy mill violators and dogfighting rings. The move was commended by Humane World for Animals.
DHS NABS AFGHAN MAN ADMITTED UNDER BIDEN AFTER CONVICTION FOR EXPOSING HIMSELF TO MINOR
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
In a statement announcing the initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that Trump administration agencies are «taking historic actions» to hold chronic pet welfare violators accountable.
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The agency said the initiative «will boost compliance with existing laws, protect our companion animals,» and reiterates that the Trump administration «stands with the majority of Americans» who are pet owners.
homeland security,pets,donald trump,justice department,police and law enforcement,florida
INTERNACIONAL
Sin la OTAN y con críticas internas, Trump analiza opciones para reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz y terminar la guerra de Irán
Donald Trump comienza a percibir el riesgo de un empantanamiento en la guerra en Medio Oriente.
Sin el respaldo de la OTAN y con un ruido interno difícil de esconder después de la renuncia y las explosivas declaraciones del director del Centro Nacional de Contraterrorismo Joseph Kent, el presidente estadounidense ve cómo se le cierran las opciones para reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz y declarar el fin del conflicto.
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Kent dejó al descubierto el descontento que se expande no solo en el gobierno, sino también en las filas republicanas y en especial en el movimiento MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) que apoyó a Trump por sus promesas de alejar a Estados Unidos de cualquier conflicto internacional y su lema “America first” (”Estados Unidos primero»).
“Irán no representaba una amenaza inminente contra nuestra nación, y está claro que iniciamos esta guerra a causa de la presión de Israel y su poderoso lobby estadounidense”, escribió Kent en X.
Fue una bomba interna que hizo mucho ruido en la Casa Blanca.
La respuesta fue la esperada. Trump calificó de “débil” a Kent y afirmó: “No lo conocía bien, pensé que parecía un tipo bastante agradable, pero cuando leí su declaración, me di cuenta de que es algo bueno que se haya ido, porque dijo que Irán no era una amenaza. Irán era una amenaza”.
También apuntó contra sus socios de la OTAN, la alianza atlántica que soportó su presión y dejó en claro que no participará en maniobras para reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz, virtualmente cerrado por Irán y por donde pasa el 20% del crudo y el gas licuado natural del mundo.
“Creo que la OTAN está cometiendo un error realmente estúpido”, afirmó. “Ante el hecho de que hemos tenido tanto éxito militar, ya no ‘necesitamos’ ni deseamos la ayuda de los países de la OTAN: ¡NUNCA LA NECESITAMOS! ¡NO NECESITAMOS LA AYUDA DE NADIE!”, apuntó.
Cuáles son los caminos que tienen Trump para reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz
Trump sabe que no puede declarar el fin de la guerra más allá de sus rotundos éxitos militares desde el aire. Si Irán, acorralado y debilitado, no libera el estrecho de Ormuz, el mundo corre el riesgo de caer en una crisis energética y comercial de consecuencias profundas.
El analista Mehran Kamrava, profesor de ciencias políticas de la Universidad de Georgetown de Qatar, dijo a TN que “las opciones de Trump para mantener abierto el Estrecho de Ormuz son limitadas”.
Un barco turco logró pasar por el estrecho de Ormuz tras lograr el permiso de las autoridades iraníes, que lo mantienen bloqueado. (Foto: EFE – Tasnim News)
“Cerrar el estrecho es relativamente fácil. Sin embargo, dada su estrechez, es fácil hostigar o incluso atacar a los barcos que lo atraviesan. Mantenerlo abierto es mucho más difícil. Las opciones de Trump son escasas, y tampoco son muy favorables desde su perspectiva”, afirmó.
Al respecto, señaló: “Puede intentar desembarcar tropas en alguna de las islas iraníes del Golfo Pérsico, como Kharg, Qeshm, Kish o alguna de las islas menores. Estados Unidos también podría intentar seguir debilitando a la armada iraní lo máximo posible. Aparte de estas dos opciones, no parece que Estados Unidos tenga muchas alternativas“, alertó.
El tiempo pasa en un año electoral y la campaña se acerca peligrosamente para los republicanos. Las elecciones de medio tiempo están pautadas para el 3 de noviembre y ningún candidato oficialista quiere lidiar con una guerra.
Lo que parecía un conficto breve se extiende en forma peligrosa. Irán, con la simple estrategia de crear caos bombardeando a países del Golfo y cerrando el estrecho de Ormuz, mantiene abierta una guerra de difícil resolución.
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“Algunos de los aliados (de Trump) creen que el presidente ya no controla cómo ni cuándo termina la guerra. Temen que los ataques de Irán contra petroleros en el estrecho de Ormuz estén acorralando a Trump en una situación en la que intensificar el conflicto – e incluso, potencialmente, enviar tropas estadounidenses- se convierta en la única manera de proclamar una victoria creíble”, escribió el medio estadounidense Político.
Una fuente cercana a la Casa Blanca, citada por el sitio, definió: “Claramente les dimos una paliza a Irán en el campo de batalla, pero, en gran medida, ahora ellos tienen la sartén por el mango”.
“Ellos deciden cuánto tiempo estaremos involucrados y deciden si enviamos tropas sobre el terreno. Y no me parece que haya forma de evitarlo si queremos salvar las apariencias”, afirmó.
Analistas estadounidenses creen que la única manera de garantizar la apertura del estrecho es a través del despliegue de tropas en franjas de territorio iraní. Es un escenario de pesadilla para los republicanos en campaña. Temen que la guerra se convierta en un conflicto interminable en Medio Oriente que tanto criticó el presidente en el pasado.
Jack Posobiec, aliado de Trump, dijo que a Washington le quedan opciones antes de lanzar una invasión: puede detener petroleros iraníes, lanzar ciberataques y poner en la mira a activos financieros iraníes.
“Esto también aumenta el nivel de escalada, pero no necesariamente requiere tropas sobre el terreno”, dijo citado por Político.
Pero Trump tiene que lidiar también con cuestiones internas. La renuncia de Kent causó ruido en el gobierno. Un funcionario anónimo citado por The Washington Post expresó su admiración por Kent y su desánimo por el curso de la guerra: “Todo el mundo está harto de esta mierda”, dijo.
Más allá de sus declaraciones grandilocuentes, a Trump le pasan los días y el conflicto sigue sin solución a la vista. La guerra puede convertirse en una pesada ancla para el presidente en un año electoral en el que se definirá cómo será el segundo tramo de su mandato.
Donald Trump, Israel, Irán
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