Police to charge suspect in fatal shooting of infant in Brooklyn A man suspected of shooting and killing a 7-month-old baby in a stroller will be charged with murder, and police are continuing their search for a second suspect, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced at a press conference on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Williamsburg, where a man riding on the back of a moped fired at a group of adults and children on a sidewalk, resulting in the death of Kaori Patterson–Moore. Kaori, who resided in Clinton Hill, was shot in her stroller around 1:21 p.m. at the intersection of Moore and Humboldt streets. She was transported to New York City Health and Hospitals/Woodhull by private means and was pronounced deceased at the hospital, according to police. The drive-by shooting has left the city in shock, with officials expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the public at a press conference at the scene on Wednesday, stating, “There are no words that can mend the heartbreak this family is feeling right now. A life that had barely begun was taken in an instant.” Tisch, speaking at the same press conference, described the shooting as a “terrible day in our city,” emphasizing the profound grief experienced by the victim’s family. Tisch provided details about the incident, noting that the shooter fired at least two rounds at a corner where several adults and two strollers were present, with multiple children nearby. The victim was in one of the strollers. A 911 call led police to believe the moped’s passenger was taken to The Brooklyn Hospital Center by Emergency Medical Services and was held in custody for an unrelated investigation.#zohran_mamdani #brooklyn #new_york_police_department #jessica_tisch #kaori_patterson_moore
Squad-backed progressives hit with ‘cold shower’ as moderates win Illinois primaries Progressive Democrats backed by members of "The Squad" faced significant setbacks in Illinois primary elections, as moderate candidates secured victories in key races. The results signal a shift in voter preferences, with mainstream Democrats gaining traction over far-left contenders. The losses raised questions about the viability of the party’s progressive wing in securing broader support. James Carville, a longtime Democratic strategist, dismissed the notion that Squad-aligned candidates were gaining momentum. He noted that only about 15% of the party identifies as progressive, and even that group rarely dominates primary outcomes. Carville cited Zohran Mamdani, the socialist mayor of New York City, who won just 50.5% of the vote in his recent race, as an example of the limited appeal of far-left platforms. The defeats came despite high-profile endorsements from progressive lawmakers. Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Palestinian American candidate running on an anti-establishment platform, received backing from Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, as well as Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Similarly, Junaid Ahmed, a tech entrepreneur advocating for Gaza self-determination and universal healthcare, earned support from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal. Robert Peters, a state senator who raised $1.1 million for his campaign focused on ending cash bail and raising the minimum wage, also lost to Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, despite endorsements from Sanders and Warren. Together, the progressive candidates raised over $5.7 million, yet their efforts failed to translate into electoral success. Anthony Driver Jr.#zohran_mamdani #james_carville #the_squad #rashida_tlaib #ilhan_omar
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Faces Backlash Over Wife’s Past Work Linked to Palestine New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become embroiled in a political controversy after his wife, Rama Duwaji, drew criticism for her past illustration work connected to Palestinian activist Abulhawa. The situation has sparked mixed reactions, with some of Mamdani’s supporters accusing him of undermining his own stance on anti-Israel rhetoric by distancing himself from Duwaji’s past associations. The controversy began when conservative outlet the Washington Free Beacon reported that Duwaji, a freelance illustrator, had contributed to an essay compiled by Abulhawa as part of a collection titled “Every Moment is a Life.” The piece, later clarified by Abulhawa, was a short story by a Gazan resident displaced during Israel’s war, detailing the hardships of using makeshift public restrooms. Duwaji confirmed she was commissioned by a third party and had no direct contact with Abulhawa. Mamdani, who has previously condemned Abulhawa’s social media posts as “abhorrent,” faced backlash from supporters who argued his response risks reinforcing harmful narratives linking Palestinian advocacy with anti-Jewish sentiment. Critics pointed out that Abulhawa’s statements, which include references to “Jewish supremacist slaughter” and calls for retribution against Israel, have been rejected by her as personal expressions of grief over the war’s toll on Palestinians. She has described the conflict as a “genocide” and emphasized her commitment to speaking for those unable to defend themselves against state violence. Mamdani’s public denunciation of Abulhawa’s rhetoric, while distancing himself from Duwaji’s past work, has drawn sharp criticism from activists and commentators.#new_york_city #zohran_mamdani #rama_duwaji #abulhawa #tommy_tuberville
Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani, posted content on social media in her early adulthood that praised Palestinian terrorists, including Khaled, a member of the PFLP, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Duwaji, who is of Syrian descent, shared posts celebrating acts of violence against Israelis and expressed support for groups like Hamas. One post included a caption stating, "If it does good for my cause, I'll be happy to accept death," referencing Khaled’s role in plane hijackings in 1969 and 1970. Khaled, who later became a revered figure in Palestinian society, threatened to detonate a grenade during one hijacking and is considered a "martyr" in Palestinian communities. Duwaji, who was in her late teens and early 20s when she posted much of the content, lived in the Middle East during that time. She spent her early childhood in New Jersey before moving to Dubai in 2006. Her education included time at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, which she later transferred to the Richmond campus. The posts she shared often included inflammatory rhetoric, such as a 2017 image of a Bangladeshi postage stamp reading, "We salute the valiant freedom fighters of Palestine," and a 2015 Tumblr post condemning U.S. military actions, which claimed American soldiers were "mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians" and fighting to maintain "American hegemony." Duwaji also reposted content linking white people to the creation of al Qaeda, quoting a user who wrote, "You can't blame muslims for terrorism because they didn't construct, fund nor train Al-Qaeda. White People did that too." In a 2013 post, she used the N-word in a comment on X, stating, "@_AlyaF Helllll yeah, nigga. Super duper genius* excuse you," at age 15.#zohran_mamdani #rama_duwaji #pflp #hamas #khaled
Mahmoud Khalil remains in limbo but ready to fight Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student known for his role in the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests, continues to face legal challenges a year after his detention. His case has become a focal point in the debate over immigration due process and the Trump administration’s policies on detaining and deporting noncitizens who criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza. Khalil was arrested in March 2025 and spent over 100 days in immigration custody while awaiting a decision on his future. During this time, he missed the birth of his son and remained separated from his family. Despite the prolonged detention, Khalil has remained resolute, stating that the government has not charged him with any crimes or presented evidence of wrongdoing. He claims he was targeted for his activism, which he describes as part of a student movement opposing U.S. support for Israel. The Trump administration’s approach to Khalil’s case has been marked by legal maneuvering. Initially, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” as a reason for his detention, a rarely used statute. Khalil’s legal team argued that the administration failed to follow proper procedures, and a federal judge in New Jersey ruled that the government’s actions likely violated the Constitution by penalizing him for his protected political speech. The case took a new turn when the administration attempted to revoke Khalil’s green card, alleging he lied about his work for the U.N. and the British Embassy. Khalil and his attorneys dispute these claims, asserting that his U.N. work was as an intern supervised by Columbia University.#new_york #marco_rubio #zohran_mamdani #mahmoud_khalil #columbia_university
Zohran Mamdani’s wife liked social media posts celebrating Oct. 7 attacks New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent his mayoral campaign distancing himself from the most radical anti-Israel elements of his leftist movement, but an examination of his wife’s social media activity reveals she liked multiple Instagram posts cheering on Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault. The posts, shared by Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist and Mamdani’s spouse, unambiguously celebrated the terrorist attack, which resulted in nearly 1,200 Israelis and foreign workers killed, thousands wounded, 251 civilians and military personnel kidnapped, and numerous episodes of sexual assault. The first post, shared on the day of Hamas’ attack, came from The Slow Factory, an organization that describes itself as a “school, knowledge partner and climate innovation organization” centered on amplifying the voices of the Global Majority. The Instagram post features stills from livestreamed footage of the attack, including a bulldozer used to breach the barrier separating Israel from Gaza and attackers riding on a captured IDF vehicle. The images are accompanied by slogans such as “Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation,” “Resisting apartheid since 1948,” and “Systemic change for collective liberation.” The caption laments that Gazans would be “punished for wanting freedom from apartheid” if Israel retaliates. Duwaji, who met Mamdani on a dating app in 2021 and married him in early 2025, liked the post and others using her personal Instagram account, which she has used to post political illustrations and engage with the mayor. She has also directly criticized Israeli policy on the platform.#new_york_city #zohran_mamdani #rama_duwaji #the_slow_factory #people_s_forum
