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Trading barbs from light-hearted to vicious, mayoral candidates make final appeal to New Yorkers
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New York City mayoral contenders relentlessly criticized their opponents as they made their final pitch to voters Wednesday night in the last debate before early voting starts Saturday.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa once again traded barbs on the debate stage, meeting for the second time in less than a week.
Wednesday’s debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City came as billionaires called for Sliwa to drop out of the mayoral race this week to consolidate support for Cuomo against Mamdani and as more than 650 rabbis nationwide, including those from the largest New York City synagogues, signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they said was anti-Israel rhetoric.
‘TIME FOR A CHANGE’: OUTSIDE 30 ROCK, NEW YORKERS TRADE CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS DURING TENSE MAYORAL SHOWDOWN
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participate in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, Oct. 22, 2025. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Both issues were on full display Wednesday night as Mamdani fielded questions about his support for Israel. When asked if Mamdani has any regrets about his «longstanding» anti-Israel views, the democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’
«You won’t denounce ‘globalize the intifada,’ which means, ‘Kill Jews.’ There’s unprecedented fear in New York. It was not several rabbis. It was 650 rabbis who signed the letter, not several,» Cuomo said. While Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase «globalize the intifada» during the primary, he has since said he would «discourage» others from using the slogan.
«I’ve heard from Jewish New Yorkers about their fears about antisemitism in this city, and what they deserve is a leader who takes it seriously, who roots it out of these five boroughs, not one who weaponizes it as a means by which to score political points on a debate stage,» Mamdani fired back in a fiery moment.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa participated in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025, in New York City. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/Getty Images)
Sliwa also chimed in, telling Mamdani that Jewish New Yorkers are «frightened» and «scared.»
«They view you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism,» Sliwa charged, accusing him of being in support of a «global jihad.» New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued an apology earlier this year for «mischaracterizing Mamdani’s record» when she made the same suggestion.
«I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad,» Mamdani said. «That is not something that I have said and that continues to be ascribed to me. And, frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.»
Moderators for the final New York City mayoral debate were Spectrum News NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis, WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and The City’s Katie Honan.
The first question posed to candidates during Wednesday’s debate focused on the federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood on Tuesday that led to the arrest of nine migrants from West Africa who were in the United States illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s supporters gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City in New York City Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
All three candidates agreed that the Trump administration was beyond its jurisdiction on Tuesday. Cuomo called the raid «dangerous.»
«You don’t send ICE in without coordinating with our police,» Cuomo said, arguing he would have personally called President Donald Trump if he was mayor to tell him the administration was «way out of bounds.» Sliwa agreed that the matter should have been left up to the NYPD.
Mamdani took the criticism a step further, calling ICE a «reckless entity that cares little for the law and even less for the people that they’re supposed to serve,» urging an «end to the chapter of collaboration between City Hall and the federal government, which we’ve seen under» Mayor Eric Adams. Adams is no longer seeking re-election after he built a reputation for his willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration reform.
At one point, candidates were allowed to ask their opponents a question, sparking a tense moment between Cuomo and Mamdani. Cuomo asked how Mamdani could pose for a photo with an anti-LGBTQ advocate. Mamdani said had he known, he wouldn’t have agreed to take the picture.
Mamdani clapped back, asking Cuomo, «What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?» Cuomo has continued to deny the allegations and said the cases were dropped.
The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of the first general election debate last week, revealed that Mamdani has gained a substantial lead in the race because voters see him as the best candidate to tackle the city’s top problems.
According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa. Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.
Supporters for New York City Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City ahead of the final debate Wednesday, Oct. 22. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
But as Mamdani, ever the social media-savvy candidate, warned his followers on Wednesday, it was Cuomo who was the favorite to win the nomination just weeks before the Democratic primary. By consolidating support with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, cross-endorsing each other to topple Cuomo through ranked-choice voting, Mamdani pulled the political upset that has since landed him on the national stage.
Since winning the primary, Trump has labeled Mamdani a «100% Communist Lunatic» and «my little Communist.» Mamdani has rejected that moniker, affirming he is a democratic socialist.
Nevertheless, the odd-year election has captivated a national audience at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses last year. And with Trump back in the White House, Democrats nationwide are seeking to capitalize on growing discontent over his sweeping, second-term agenda.
Less than two hours before candidates took the stage Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Mamdani intends to keep New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his police commissioner if elected in November, citing two senior campaign aides and two more sources who were briefed on the plans.
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani answers reporter questions after the final debate on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, ahead of Election Day. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
«I can confirm that reporting,» Mamdani said on the debate stage. «My administration will be relentless in its pursuit of safety and affordability for every New Yorker, and the delivery of that will require us to put together a team of the best and the brightest.»
Mamdani applauded Tisch for taking on a «broken status quo charter to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs.» Cuomo and Sliwa also confirmed they would keep her on as commissioner if elected.
The Democratic nominee has faced a slew of criticism on the campaign trial for his past comments, including calling the NYPD «racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety» in 2020, among other insults. Mamdani made a public apology to the NYPD during a Fox News interview last week.
Ahead of those competitive midterm elections expected next year, Republicans have already seized on Mamdani’s progressive politics, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is considering a run for governor. Her campaign said in a recent statement, «Kathy Hochul literally has endorsed a full blown jihadist pro-terrorism Mayor of New York City.»
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Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani last month after previously withholding her support. Fellow New York Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have still yet to coalesce behind the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, although Jeffries indicated this week that a decision is imminent.
This week, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman urged Sliwa to drop out of the race, arguing that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani. The New York Post editorial board even joined the calls for Sliwa to drop out, but the Republican nominee has maintained he is staying in the race.
Fox News’ Kirill Clark contributed to this report.
zohran mamdani,andrew cuomo,curtis sliwa,new york city,2025 2026 elections coverage,nyc mayoral elections coverage
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Front-runners for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, wasted little time attacking each other on alleged personal scandals they have been involved in during a Wednesday night debate between the pair and GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani and Sliwa took the opportunity during Wednesday’s debate to drill down on past sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, the former governor of New York, ahead of an impeachment inquiry that preceded Cuomo’s 2021 resignation. Cuomo was also hit by Mamdani over accusations he has – while in public office – failed to meet with Muslim constituents and only began doing so amid pressure from his mayoral campaign, and over his alleged poor handling of the COVID-19 virus in New York after Cuomo was party to issuing guidance forcing nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit COVID-19 positive patients.
Meanwhile, Cuomo did not hold back on targeting Mamdani over alleged controversies that have embattled his campaign. Cuomo blasted the self-proclaimed socialist over his lack of experience, ties to radical politics, and past radical comments about law enforcement, Israel and the situation in Gaza.
FBI AGENTS FROM ’93 WTC ATTACK BLAST MAMDANI FOR EMBRACING RADICAL IMAM
All three candidates for NEw York City governor debated Wednesday night. From left to right: Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Zohran Mamdani. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty Images)
«My main opponent has no new ideas. He has no new plan. … He’s never run anything, managed anything. He’s never had a real job,» Cuomo said of Mamdani during the debate. Cuomo also branded Mamdani as someone who has proven to be «a divisive force in New York,» pointing to past incidents that have garnered Mamdani heat from critics.
One of those incidents included a picture he took with a hard-lined Ugandan lawmaker who has pushed policies of imprisoning people for being gay, which Mamdani took while taking a break from the campaign trail to visit his home country of Uganda for a wedding. Cuomo also hit the controversy over whether Mamdani supports Jewish New Yorkers, as his critics have claimed he is anti-Israel pointing to statements he has made, like «globalize the intifada.»
Cuomo also accused Mamdani of disrespecting Italian-Americans after a video of him surfaced giving the middle finger to a statue of Christopher Columbus, while also pointing to criticism the self-proclaimed socialist candidate has garnered from 9/11 first-responders after posting a photo with a Muslim cleric who served as a character witness for the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) shakes hands on the debate stage with Democratic Party candidate for New York City mayor (right) Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo is running as an Independent after lsoing to Mamdani in the primary election. (Photographer: Angelina Katsanis/AP)
«You have been a divisive force in New York, and I believe that’s toxic energy for New York. It’s with the Jewish community. It’s with the Italian-American community – when you give the Columbus statue the finger. It’s with the Sunni Muslims when you say decriminalize prostitution, which is Haram. It’s the Hindus,» Cuomo continued. «Then, you take a picture with Rebecca Kadaga, deputy Prime Minister of Uganda. … She’s known as Rebecca ‘Gay Killer.’ … You’re a citizen of Uganda. You took the picture. You said you didn’t know who she was. It turns out you did. How do you not renounce your citizenship or demand BDS against Uganda for imprisoning people who are gay just by their sexual orientation? Isn’t that a basic violation of human rights?»
Mamdani shot back that his politics have remained «consistent» and that they are built on a belief in human rights for all people, including LGBTQ+ folks. Had he known Kadga’s role in drafting legislation to imprison gay folks, Mamdani said, he never would have taken the picture.
«This constant attempt to smear and slander me is an attempt to also distract from the fact that, unlike myself, you do not actually have a platform or a set of policies,» Mamdani shot back at Cuomo before introducing his own claims about the former governor regarding past accusations of sexual harassment.
MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: ‘YOU WON’T SUPPORT ISRAEL’
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo slammed his democratic socialist opponent Zohran Mamdani during Wednesday’s debate for a variety of alleged scandals he has been involved in. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty; Angelina Katsanis/Getty)
«Mr. Cuomo. In 2021, 13 different women who worked in your administration credibly accused you of sexual harassment. Since then, you have spent more than $20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political,» Mamdani said while attacking Cuomo Wednesday night.
«You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women. One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening. You sought to access her private gynecological records. She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her. I, however, can speak. What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?»
Cuomo, in 2021, was accused of multiple incidents of sexual harassment that preceded his resignation as governor that year. A subsequent report from New York Attorney General Letitia James confirmed Cuomo «sexually harassed multiple women from 2013 through 2020,» while in January 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had reached a nearly $500,000 settlement with Cuomo’s executive office over one of the claims. However, no criminal charges were ever filed against Cuomo, with some district attorneys citing insufficient evidence.
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Cuomo defended himself against Mamdani’s accusations, noting the cases were eventually dropped, before returning to questions about Mamdani’s alleged past.
Meanwhile, Sliwa didn’t skip an opportunity to slam Cuomo over the sexual assault allegations either, saying early in the debate during a discussion about homelessness that Cuomo «fled» the governor’s office amid an impeachment inquiry that was investigating him.
«Andrew, you didn’t ‘leave.’ You fled from being impeached by the Democrats in the state legislature,» Sliwa began before getting into the homelessness issue, earning him a round-of-applause from the audience.
«‘Leave?’ You fled!» Sliwa continued to applause. «But let’s get back on topic.»
elections state and local,2025 2026 elections coverage,andrew cuomo,zohran mamdani,nyc mayoral elections coverage
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Ahora la Justicia de Chile investigará el caso de Bernarda Vera, la desaparecida que encontraron viviendo en Argentina
Tres semanas después del revuelo político generado en Chile por el presunto hallazgo en Argentina de Bernarda Vera, una mujer que integraba el listado oficial de víctimas de la dictadura militar de Augusto Pinochet, la Justicia chilena abrió una investigación para dar con su paradero.
La causa fue radicada el Primer Juzgado del Crimen de Temuco, en la región de La Araucanía, y quedó bajo secreto de sumario. El caso lo lleva adelante el ministro de la Corte Álvaro Mesa, especialista en causas de violaciones de los derechos humanos.
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Así fue el encuentro entre las cámaras de TV y la mujer que podría ser Bernarda Vera
A través de un escrito, el funcionario afirmó que «hasta hace pocos meses no existían causas vigentes respecto a los delitos de desaparición forzada, secuestro o detención ilegal de Bernarda Vera Contardo«, nombre que figura entre las 1.162 personas incluidas en el Informe de la Comisión Verdad y Reconciliación (Rettig).
El panorama cambió, según el portal Bio Bio Chile, ante el surgimiento de algunas «incongruencias en los relato» que fueron reportadas por el Plan Nacional de Búsqueda (PNB) del Programa de Derechos Humanos» y derivaron en la apertura de «un cuaderno de búsqueda».
La protagonista de la historia es Bernarda Vera, una profesora que, con 27 años y una hija de 5, fue detenida por militares el 10 de octubre de 1973 y que, aparentemente, había sido ejecutada en el puente de Villarrica, también en la región de La Araucania. Sin embargo, el caso dio un giro a fines de septiembre cuando salió a la luz una investigación periodística que habría ubicado a quien fuera militante del Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) en la localidad bonaerense de Miramar.
Desde el gobierno de Gabriel Boric fue el ministro de Seguridad, Luis Cordero, quien señaló que la tarea de «corroborar científicamente la identidad de la mujer que vive en Argentina y que sería Bernarda Vera» le corresponde efectivamente al juez que tramita la causa.
La consulta al funcionario se debe a que fue quien estaba al frente del Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos cuando se puso en marcha el Plan Nacional de Búsqueda, Verdad y Justicia y es el señalado por la oposición como el responsable de la eventual «inexactitud respecto al caso».
Conocida como «Anita» en sus tiempos de militancia en el MIR, Bernarda Vera figura en el Informe Rettig, el registro de las víctimas de violaciones a los derechos humanos durante la dictadura pinochetista. Testimonios que quedaron fuera de la causa y algunos detalles del boletín que cada mes publica el PNB dieron indicios de que la mujer podría haber escapado de ese destino.
El reporte que se difundió en septiembre mencionó que «en algunos casos, muy excepcionales, este proceso ha revelado incongruencias con las conclusiones de las Comisiones de Verdad. Un primer caso refiere a una persona, condenada a muerte por un Consejo de Guerra en 1973, que fue calificada por la CNVR (Comisión Rettig), con los antecedentes disponibles en la época como víctima de desaparición forzada”.
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El momento en el que un informe de TV encontró a Bernarda Vera, la supuesta desaparecida chilena que vive en Argentina
“Posteriormente, el PNB recogió testimonios de personas que dijeron haberla visto fuera de Chile después de la fecha en la que la CNVR estableció su desaparición. A raíz de ello, se abrió una investigación administrativa respecto de su trayectoria. Estos antecedentes fueron puestos en conocimiento del Comité de Seguimiento y Participación del Plan Nacional de Búsqueda; de la familia de manera reservada para proteger su privacidad; y al mismo tiempo, se ofició oportunamente al Ministro en Visita Extraordinaria con competencia en la causa”, detalla el documento.
Esos datos fueron parte de la investigación periodística de Chilevisión, que condujo a una de sus cronistas a la ciudad de la costa bonaerense y donde habría dado con el paradero de Bernarda Vera Contardo, quien detrás de la puerta de su casa se negó a hablar con la periodista. El tema generó un fuerte debate en el país y desató fuertes críticas a la administración del Frente Amplio.
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Dublin protesters clash with police, burn vehicle after migrant accused of sexually assaulting Irish girl
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Protesters set a police car on fire and hurled glass bottles at officers in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday night after an illegal migrant was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Irish girl who was in state care.
The violence erupted outside the City West Hotel, a sprawling former hotel-turned migrant center where an illegal migrant — who had deportation orders standing against him — is accused of attacking the girl late Sunday night.
Irish police, An Garda Síochána, said that six people were arrested during the clashes and one female police officer suffered a foot injury.
HERE’S WHY IRELAND IS AT BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION
Onlookers film a Garda vehicle burning as a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers turned violent in Saggart, southwest Dublin, on Oct. 21, 2025. Police in riot gear clashed with hundreds of protesters after allegations that a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted. (Peter Murphy / AFP via Getty Images)
Police said their officers were subject to «sustained attacks» as they tried to cordon off the building. Nearly 300 police were dispatched to the area in Saggart.
Some protesters were seen waving Irish flags while others could be heard chanting, «Get them out, get them out,» in reference to the 2,000 migrants living at the shelter.
Police said protesters hurled hundreds of empty glass bottles from nearby garbage containers and bricks at officers, while fireworks were also discharged. A police helicopter was targeted with lasers, a spokesperson said.
Men on horseback attempted to breach police lines by charging at law enforcement, police said. Police used pepper spray as they tried to disperse the crowd.
«An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protests on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest,» Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said in a statement. «The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí.»
A protester films as a Garda vehicle burns during violent clashes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Saggart, southwest Dublin, on Oct. 21, 2025. (Peter Murphy / AFP via Getty Images)
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned the attacks on police and said there was «no justification for the vile abuse against them.»
On Wednesday, he said the girl who was allegedly raped had not been protected by the state and the circumstances around the alleged attack are of «deep concern.»
THOUSANDS MARCH IN DUBLIN AGAINST IRELAND’S MASS MIGRATION POLICIES AS MCGREGOR PURSUES PRESIDENTIAL BID
The victim was in the care of child protection services, known as «Tusla,» which said she had absconded from staff during a planned recreational trip in the city center. It is unclear how she got in contact with the suspect.
The suspect, who is in his 20s, is originally from Africa, according to the Irish Mirror. He arrived in Ireland six years ago and failed his application for international protection in 2024 and was ordered deported in March, according to the Irish Times.
The incident took place on the grounds of Citywest, a former hotel which for the last few years has been housing migrants seeking international protection.
The Irish government bought the hotel in September for around $150 million with the aim of turning it into a permanent migrant facility despite several protests by locals.
A protester waves the Irish flag in front of riot police on Oct. 21, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. Demonstrators gathered outside the Citywest Hotel after police arrested a foreign national in connection with the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl. (Getty Images)
Tensions around mass immigration continue to bubble since November 2023 when hundreds of rioters looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at police officers after three young children were stabbed outside a school allegedly by an Algerian-born suspect who had become an Irish citizen.
Last week, a 17-year-old Ukrainian was murdered just days after he came to Ireland and was placed in asylum care operated by Tusla. A Somalian youth, also an asylum seeker and described as a minor, has been charged with his murder, according to RTE News.
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A homeless foreign national was arrested and charged last week with the murder of an 89-year-old Irish woman, per the Irish Independent.
On Friday, Irish people go to the polls to elect a new president.
europe,crime,ireland,immigration,illegal immigrants,migrant crime,police and law enforcement
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