Around the Nation and the World in Five Minutes

By Robin Itzler 

Editor's Note:  This is a commentary in Robin's weekly newsletter Patriot Neighbors.  If you wish to get the full edition, E-mail her at PatriotNeighbors@yahoo.com to get on her list, it's free. RK 

Around the Nation:

New York Mayoral Race: Ballot Position Matters - Americans who follow elections will search their ballot to find the candidate of their choice. Most everyone else, according to several studies, focuses on the top two or three names and picks the candidate from their party. Positioning on a ballot matters … A LOT! It matters a lot in this election.

The New York City Board of Elections announced the order that candidates will appear on the November 4 ballot. Note that two leading candidates are listed twice and although Eric Adams and Jim Walden dropped out, they remain listed on the ballot. Also, two candidates no one ever heard of (nor raised money or campaigned) are listed ahead of Andrew Cuomo. Here is the order:

1. Zohran Mamdani—Democrat Party
2. Curtis Sliwa—Republican Party
3. Irene Estrada—Conservative Party (Raised little money and has not done any campaigning.)
4. Zohran Mamdani—Working Families Party (aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America Party)
5. Curtis Sliwa—Protect Animals Party
6. Eric Adams—Safe & Affordable/End Anti-Semitism Party (Under New York’s rules, his name remains on the ballot although he has dropped out.)
7. Quality of Life candidate (Raised little money and has not done any campaigning.)
8. Andrew Cuomo—Independent, former Democrat governor

According to a UC San Diego report published in December 2024, New York City ranked 49th for turnout among U.S. major cities. New York City is comprised of five boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island with the island being the most conservative. (Personal note: Robin was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, married and lived one year on Staten Island before they moved to California, worked in Manhattan across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and skipped the Bronx except when driving up to the beautiful Catskill Mountains.)

The City, an online site focusing on New York issues, analyzed the 2021 mayoral race that elected Eric Adams: Of the more than 4.9 million active registered voters for the general election that year, only 1.147 million cast votes, according to the CFB data. That’s just 23% of eligible city dwellers who actually exercised their right to vote.

Manhattan had the highest voter turnout during the 2021 primary, with 33.4%. The highest voter turnout in the general election, though, was the Republican stronghold Staten Island, with 33.7% voting.

The borough with the lowest turnout for the primary and the general was The Bronx — 19.1% came out in June and 17.5% voted in November. Brooklyn’s primary turnout was 27.5%, and Queens had 25%; their general turnout were both above 22%.

Congress —Doesn’t it seem that Democrat Congressional leaders are totally out of touch with commonsense Americans? It could be because of the districts/states they represent. Democrats should find leadership from non-blue cities and states. Here is the current leadership:

1. Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune South Dakota House Majority 
2. Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson Louisiana
3. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer New York 
4.  House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries New York, Specifically, BROOKLYN, New York.

Pennsylvania —Thanks to five Republicans, gun control passed in the House (104-99). We hope the bill dies in the Senate so that it never reaches Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk. The Republicans who voted for gun control are: 

1. Rep. Joe Hogan—District 142 
2. Rep. Kristin Marshall—District 178 
3. Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson—District 18 
4. Rep. Martina White—District 170 
5. Rep. Craig Williams—District 160

California —Scott Pressler, who was largely responsible for Pennsylvania going red in the 2024 presidential election, and Nicole Shanahan, Robert F. Kennedy’s vice president nominee when he was running for president in 2024, are teaming up to get Voter ID on the California ballot.

Conservative Jews have had it with louder traitorous progressive Jews! Read How Far-Left Jewish Voices Misrepresent American Jewry.

Events From Around the Globe

Britain — Leftist Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues calling conservatives names such as racists. (Gee, where have we seen that playbook before? How fast can you say, “deplorables?”) Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party widened its lead over the governing Labour Party as the names were hurled at commonsense folks who want to Make Britain Great Again.

Indonesia — Talk about surprises … Israel was surprised by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s United Nations speech where he said the world must respect Israel’s right to live in security. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world and currently does not have relations with Israel. Subianto said: 

“We must also recognize, we must also respect, and we must also guarantee the safety and security of Israel. Only then we can have real peace,” 

Subianto said, adding once Israel recognizes Palestine, “Indonesia will immediately recognize the State of Israel.” Subianto ended his speech to the general assembly by saying, “Shalom.” 

Editor's Note:  I wouldn't give much credence to this as it's a poison pill statement.  There is no nation of Palestine and there never has been, but if Israel allows the world to create a nation of Palestine it will be to their suicide.  Have no doubt Subianto and all those promoting the creation of a Muslim controlled Palestine know that.  RK 

Czech Republic — Andrej Babiš’s ANO (YES) Party won the parliamentary elections. However, they didn’t secure a large enough majority must now form a government. Babiš is a billionaire, ex-premier and pro-Trump nationalist who pledged to work as a pro-Western, pro-European leader. The goal is for Babiš to be named prime minister.

Japan — Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi of the conservative Liberal Democrat Party has been elected Japan’s first female prime minister. Interestingly, all five candidates called themselves “moderate conservatives.”