Another New York Upset

6.24.26

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Let’s break down the latest news.

Mamdani Allies Oust Two Incumbent Democrats in Major New York Upset….New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani scored a few major political victorys Tuesday, with all three of his endorsed congressional candidates winning Democratic primaries and two incumbent House Democrats losing their seats in the process. Mamdani-backed candidates Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier all advanced to the general election, showing the increasing influence of the progressive movement in the city. Additionally, Democrat Micah Lasher beat out Alex Bores and Jack Schlossberg among others in the race for NY-12. Mamdani did not endorse in this race.

Common Sense Takeaway: Things are swinging towards the progressive movement in New York for one particular reason: People want change. They want real action. They want bold, innovative ideas. They also don’t wan’t corrupt politicians who take dark money from Crypto, AI, and AIPAC. It’s truly that simple. The first politician to hone in on anti-corruption is the first one to win.

Trump Delays Housing Bill Over Voting Legislation Demand….President Trump abruptly canceled a planned signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing affordability bill that had just cleared Congress with overwhelming support, saying he would not sign it until lawmakers pass the SAVE America Act. The housing bill, considered the most significant federal housing legislation in decades, includes provisions aimed at increasing housing supply, converting vacant commercial properties into housing, supporting factory-built homes, and limiting certain purchases of single-family homes by large institutional investors. The SAVE Act would require Americans to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers—when registering to vote in federal elections, while also imposing new verification requirements on election officials.

Common Sense Takeaway: We should all be talking about this selfishness. Trump is trying to strong arm Congress into picking up the failed SAVE Act again so he can rig the 2026 elections in his favor, instead of passing a bipartisan historic housing affordability bill. He has 10 days to pass or veto it, before it automatically becomes law. Congress is actually working together on this during an election year, and still the only person person he cares about is himself.

Trump-Connected Lobbying Firm Cashes In on Growing Pardon Industry….A lobbying firm staffed by former Trump campaign and administration officials has earned at least $500,000 helping a Virginia law firm navigate the presidential pardon process, highlighting the growing industry surrounding clemency requests during Trump's second term. Mo Strategies, whose lobbyists include former Trump and Pence advisers, disclosed lobbying both the White House and Justice Department on pardon-related matters while advising clients on which cases might appeal to the administration. The lucrative work comes as Democrats raise concerns about potential "pay-to-play" dynamics in the pardon process, particularly after several high-profile clemency grants to individuals with connections to Trump allies.

Common Sense Takeaway: More corruption. He’s using his pardon power to make and help his friends make money. Is there anything this guy doesn’t grift off of? I think this deserves a lot more attention and potential charges, if necessary.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.