Politics

Eric Adams’ political career is over — but the very Trumpian chaos isn’t

Published

2 years ago

November 12, 2024

Eric Adams’ political career is over — but the very Trumpian chaos isn’t

The indictment of Eric Adams is historic because no sitting New York mayor — in modern times, at least — has been indicted before. Adams denies the charges, and he has even, like former President Donald Trump, strongly hinted at a federal conspiracy against him because he criticized the Biden administration over its handling of the migrant influx.

That’s all nonsense, of course — corruption clouds have trailed Adams for years, and the indictment lodged against him by the U.S. a ttorney for the Southern District is quite damning. Damian Williams accused Adams of performing favors for Turkish foreign nationals after accepting more than $100,000 in international plane tickets and accommodations, as well as soliciting illegal donations from them, generating public matching funds for his 2021 mayoral campaign.

If he forges onward to the June Democratic primary, he will not win.

The five-count indictment includes allegations against Adams of wire fraud, bribery and receiving contributions from foreign nationals. Adams has denied the charges, but even if he somehow won at trial — this seems unlikely — the political damage is done. When the federal investigations into his administration and campaign were just burbling up, Adams was already deeply unpopular. His poll numbers were plummeting. He was going to struggle to win re-election.

Now that possibility has been foreclosed, though Adams may believe otherwise. If he forges onward to the June Democratic primary, he will not win. His political base, centered in the working-class outer borough neighborhoods of New York, is shrinking, and there will be plenty of contenders free of recent scandal to take him on. In 2021, he won the primary by less than 10,000 votes, and many of the Democrats who put him on their ballots will not do so again.

Will Adams resign? So far, he is taking the Trumpian approach: not apologizing, not admitting guilt and hoping his luck starts to turn. Trump had the advantage of the presidency and the kingly powers it bestows on whoever occupies the White House. Trump had constitutional protections Adams simply lacks. Adams cannot delay this corruption trial indefinitely.

It’s plausible more indictments will come. There are at least three other federal probes into his administration. His police commissioner and counsel have already resigned. The FBI has seized the phones of many of his top officials, including his schools chancellor.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, has the power to remove him from office. She probably won’t. She is still something of an Adams ally and might fear the optics of a white governor pulling a Black mayor out of City Hall before he’s convicted of a crime. She will sit back and wait.

Many politicians have called on Adams to resign. For now, they have only so much leverage. If Adams does, it will be the U.S. attorney’s office that drives him out, perhaps striking a deal for Adams to spend a limited amount of time in prison or avoid incarceration altogether. We do not know what’s coming next.

His police commissioner and counsel have already resigned. The FBI has seized the phones of many of his top officials, including his schools chancellor.

If Adams does resign, Jumaane Williams, the public advocate, becomes acting mayor. By law, Williams must call a special election, which would be nonpartisan and held about three months later. That election, like the primary, would be held under the new ranked-choice voting system, in which voters can pick up to five candidates. This creates the possibility for cross-endorsements, guards against vote-splitting and rewards less polarizing contenders.

Williams would be a top candidate to replace Adams. Like the current mayor, he hails from the Black working class, and he has a much stronger relationship with the progressive left. Another contender from the progressive wing of the party, City Comptroller Brad Lander, is running, as well. A 2021 candidate, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, is launching another mayoral bid. Several state legislators who are less well-known are already in the race, with another expected to enter soon.

The wild card is former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Three years ago, he resigned the governorship in disgrace following accusations of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment (he’s denied the allegations). He craves redemption. He is both beloved and reviled; among certain Democrats, his Covid-era press conferences are recalled very fondly. Others remember he authorized sending Covid patients to nursing homes, where the virus spread unchecked. Other candidates could gang up on him and drag him down in the polls, and ranked-choice voting may not be his friend. Adams’ scandals could remind New Yorkers of Cuomo’s past.

Regardless, because of his name recognition and political skill, Cuomo must be considered a front-runner in a post-Adams world. No matter what, these next few months will be unlike any we’ve ever witnessed in the history of New York City.

Ross Barkan

Ross Barkan is a writer and journalist from New York City.

Politics

Support for Iran’s team – but not for regime

Published

2 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

LOS ANGELES — The political tensions surrounding Iran’s national soccer team were on full display Sunday at SoFi Stadium, where Iranian American fans loudly booed during the playing of Iran’s national anthem before the team’s World Cup match against Belgium.

Among the crowd were several supporters displaying Iran’s pre-revolution Lion and Sun flag, a symbol associated with opposition to the current regime. FIFA prohibits the flag inside tournament venues, but some fans carried it anyway — and at least one supporter waved it during the anthem in an act of defiance.

Conversations with Iranian American fans at the stadium in Inglewood revealed a consistent message: Their protests were directed at Iran’s government, not at the players representing the country on the field. An Iranian American man from Seattle who gave his name as Majid said that he appreciated the opportunity to “confront the tyrannies that are happening.”

“Iran is hostage for the past 47 years or so to a regime that is promoting terrorism and chaos in the region,” he said. “For the team, we support them. But the anthem, the flag — we don’t support it.”

That distinction was evident throughout the match, which ended in a scoreless draw. While the anthem drew intense jeers, Iranian players received loud cheers on corner kicks and takeaways.

The game, held amid U.S.-Iran talks to end the monthslong war between the two countries, was the second of two matches Iran played in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran. Both ended in draws.

Politics

‘Don’t count on me to say bad words’

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The French minister for sports, Marina Ferrari, was in New York City to support her national team, which will play its second match tomorrow against Iraq. On Monday, she dropped by the French consulate across from Central Park for an event organized by Business France to discuss the opportunities this year’s three-country World Cup represents for French and American companies.

Panelists included French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo, New York City Economic Development Corporation interim CEO Jeanny Pak and representatives from the NFL and the New Orleans Saints, which are playing the first ever professional (American) football game in France this fall at a stadium in the Paris suburbs.

In prepared remarks, Ferrari talked about Franco-American cooperation, not just for major sporting events, but also for America’s 250th anniversary.

“France will be, as it always has been, at your side,” she said.

In an interview afterwards, Ferrari answered questions in English about politically outspoken French footballers, Qatari influence in French sports and the beautiful game being divided into quarters by TV commercials during World Cup “hydration breaks.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What do you think of football becoming a four-quarter sport instead of a sport of halves? Are the Europeans concerned that this World Cup has made it into a four-quarter sport?

In France, we have been working with the broadcaster and they took the engagement not to put advertising during those pauses. For us, it’s important. When we organize in the future such a competition — with the weather and with the climate change — we will have to adapt the competition. So I understand clearly why those times now exist, but in France we take care about not pushing so much advertising during this time.

You talked about sports uniting. What do you think of Kylian Mbappé and others on the team taking stances against the far right?

I think a player is a citizen like anyone, so they can express their feelings, their political views, or their opinions. It is not forbidden — but, while playing, stop when you are wearing the shirt of France. But I think they are free to do that.

Paris 2024 was such a successful Olympics. What have you talked to Americans about to pull off a World Cup and an Olympics? And how are you meeting that same level for the Winter Olympics in 2030?

I think that we’ve got to think together about the future of these Olympic Games in winter, because you know, with the climate change, having snow in the future is more and more uncertain. So we’ve got to think, how do we produce snow in the future without taking water from the consumption of the citizens. So we have a lot to do on that, because in the future I think that only a few countries will be able to organize again [Winter] Olympics and Paralympics, so we’ve got really to create a new model, a sober model for the future and for the next generation.

Are you concerned about Qatari dominance of French domestic football, given the country’s sovereign wealth funds ownership of champion club Paris Saint-Germain?

We are proud of having Paris Saint Germain. I hear this bad buzz, blah blah blah, the investors, etc. I think we are lucky to have such a club, so don’t count on me to say bad words.