NYC Mayor considered switching to Republican Party for mayoral run: Report
New York City Mayor Eric Adams reportedly thought about switching to the Republican Party in an effort to get a second term. The news was revealed after the Justice Department moved to drop Adams’ federal case.
In September 2024, Adams was indicted on five counts including bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance violations.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been speculated to enter the race but has not officially joined the pool yet.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is facing a tough reelection bid, reportedly considered switching to the Republican Party. The potential move came to light after President Donald Trump’s Justice Department worked to drop Adams’ federal corruption case.
The New York Times reported that Adams, for weeks, toyed with changing his party affiliation to Republican for this spring’s primary.
The DOJ ordered prosecutors on Monday, Feb. 10, to dismiss Adams’ federal case. The Justice Department sided with his claim that the charges under the Biden administration were politically motivated and hampered his ability to combat the migrant crisis in his city.
What is Adams accused of in his federal case?
Adams was indicted in September 2024 after being accused of accepting bribes and illegal straw donations for his campaigns from Turkish government officials in exchange for political favors.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The DOJ’s directive asks the case be dismissed without prejudice, which means charges could be refiled in the future.
Adams, who was once a member of the Republican Party before becoming the mayor of New York City as a Democrat, has recently spent time with President Trump at the president’s home in Mar-a-Lago. Adams also attended Trump’s inauguration.
It’s unclear whether Trump or members of his administration played any role in the discussions about the mayor’s possible political future.
Will former Gov. Andrew Cuomo run for NYC mayor?
There has been speculation that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will enter the mayor’s race. He appears to be the favorite among Democratic voters.
In a recent poll from the Hill, Emerson College and Pix11 News, 33% said Cuomo is their top choice for mayor, while Adams came in second with 10% of Democratic voters saying he’s their top choice.
According to The Times, Adams spoke about his political options with Bronx Republican Party Chairman Mike Rendino on Monday, Feb. 10.
Who did Adams talk with about a move to the GOP?
Rendino said he laid out options for Adams over the phone, telling him he could either join the Republican Party or get a waiver called the Wilson Pakula certificate from Republican county leaders to run on their ballot without changing parties.
Rendino said Adams never gave him a decision one way or the other.
However, Mayor Adams told The Times Wednesday, Feb. 12, he won’t be running as a Republican and would soon be collecting signatures to get on the Democratic ballot.
If Adams were to switch to Republican, New Yorkers, including the mayor, have until Friday, Feb. 14, to change party affiliation.
TX lawmakers want Ten Commandments on display, prayer in schools
Texas Republican lawmakers are pushing bills to display the Ten Commandments in public schools and set aside time for daily prayer. The bills face opposition that they violate the Constitution.
Louisiana recently became the first state to require the Ten Commandments in schools.
Lawmakers in other states, including Georgia, Kentucky, South Dakota and Ohio, have proposed similar bills.
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Texas Republican lawmakers are advancing legislation aimed at bringing religious principles into public school classrooms. The legislation has the backing of Dan Patrick, lieutenant governor, who urges these bills to take priority and pushes for them to pass before the legislative session ends.
New bill to display Ten Commandments, daily prayer
Republican state Sen. Phil King has introduced a bill to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools across Texas. The Christian biblical principles would be printed on posters for students to read and see. King argues the wording is not limited to one religion but reflects the foundational values upon which America was built.
When announcing the bill’s introduction on Monday, Feb. 10, he said, “If our students don’t know the Ten Commandments, they will never understand the foundation for much of American history and law.”
Building on this effort, GOP state Sen. Mayes Middleton introduced a bill to encourage school districts to set aside time for daily prayer and Bible reading. The bill states both students and staff would be allowed to participate, with the addition of parental consent.
Opposition to proposals
A Texas-based advocacy group, the Texas Freedom Network, argues that these bills, if passed, would violate the Constitution. They contend the legislation favors one religion over others, which the government isn’t allowed to do.
Louisiana passes a similar bill with similar legislation
These bills are not new. Both were introduced during previous legislative sessions but failed to pass. Louisiana, however, recently adopted similar legislation, making it the first state to require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and colleges.
Lawmakers in Georgia, Kentucky, South Dakota and Ohio have also introduced similar bills. Some are pushing to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments, while others would allow districts to choose which historical documents to display. In South Dakota, lawmakers rejected the mandate over concerns about how the government would enforce the bill.
New York’s Supreme Court to rule on noncitizens voting in NYC elections
New York’s Supreme Court will decide if noncitizens can vote in NYC municipal elections. The case stems from a 2022 law passed by the city’s Democrat-led City Council, granting voting rights to documented noncitizens.
Republicans challenged the law, with a state appeals court ruling it violated the state constitution.
Supporters argue noncitizens contribute significantly to the city’s economy and should have a say in local policies.
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New York’s Supreme Court will decide whether noncitizens can vote in New York City’s municipal elections. The state’s top court heard oral arguments Tuesday, Feb. 11, regarding a law approved by the city’s Democrat-led City Council in 2022, which would have granted voting rights to documented noncitizens living there.
The law would have allowed about 800,000 individuals to vote in city elections, excluding presidential, state and congressional elections.
Individuals would need to be Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, green card holders, or authorized to work in the U.S. as long as they’ve been New York City residents for at least 30 days.
Republicans challenged the law, and a trial judge sided with them. Last year, a state appeals court ruled that the law violated the state constitution.
“It’s hard to discuss because it’s crazy it’s even an issue. Citizens ought to vote; if you’re not a citizen of a country, you should not have a say,” State Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, told Politico.
On the other side, supporters of the law argue that noncitizen voters make up a third of New York City’s voting population. They say noncitizens should have a say in the city’s future.
According to Politico, attorneys for the city’s lawmaking body wrote in a legal filing: “These New Yorkers pay billions in taxes and yet have no say in local policies on public safety, garbage collection, or housing — all matters that affect their day-to-day lives.”
Tuesday’s arguments focused mainly on interpreting constitutional language and defining terms like “citizen,” The Associated Press reports.
In 2022, the District of Columbia Council passed a bill allowing noncitizen voting, followed by Burlington, Vermont, in 2023. In the same year, a proposal in Illinois would have granted noncitizens in Chicago voting rights. However, it failed to get a hearing.
NYC Mayor Adams responds to DOJ call for his federal charges to be dropped
New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a news conference responding to the Justice Department’s call for charges against him to be dropped. President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general said the charges interfered with Adams’ mayoral campaign.
Adams pleaded not guilty to five counts including bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance violations.
Trump said in the past he would have considered pardoning Adams.
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New York Mayor Eric Adams is responding to a major turn of events in his federal corruption case, as President Donald Trump’s Justice Department called for the charges against him to be dropped. Adams addressed the order for dismissal in a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 11.
“Now we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city,” Adams said. “It’s time to move forward.”
The DOJ ordered Manhattan prosecutors Monday, Feb. 10 to dismiss it, siding with Adams’ claim that the charges under the Biden administration were politically motivated and hampered his ability to combat the migrant crisis in New York.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove also wrote in a memo that the charges against Adams, who’s up for re-election this year, have “improperly interfered with Mayor Adams’ campaign.”
In September 2024, Adams was indicted on five counts including bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance violations.
He’s accused of accepting bribes and illegal straw donations for his 2021 and 2025 campaigns from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
“This has been the most difficult 15 months of my life, but my inspiration was knowing I was fighting for the people of this city,” Adams said at the news conference.
What happens next?
The DOJ’s directive asks the case be dismissed without prejudice, which means charges could be refiled in the future.
The order also does not mean the case is completely dropped, because a dismissal would have to come in the form of a motion, which would be reviewed by a judge.
It’s possible prosecutors could refuse to carry out the order.
As of the morning of Feb. 11, there are no records indicating prosecutors have filed to drop the case.
Adams took two trips to visit Trump in the last month, including attending his inauguration and going to Mar-a-Lago.
The mayor has declined to criticize Trump or his policies. He’s also signaled a desire to work with the new administration.
The City reported Adams encouraged senior city officials Monday to follow his lead warning that criticizing the Trump administration could jeopardize federal funding.
The mayor will now campaign for a second term.
The New York City mayoral election is Nov. 5.
Does Adams have a chance at a second term?
A recent poll from the Hill, Emerson College and Pix11 News showed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would be the top choice of 33% of Democratic voters.
Adams came in second, with 10% of voters saying he would be their first choice.
Attack on German cars was a Russian plot to frame environmentalists: Report
German authorities are looking into whether Moscow is behind a secret effort to frame environmentalists and the Green Party for the vandalism of hundreds of vehicles ahead of the country’s federal elections. That’s according to a report from the German magazine Spiegel.
Police said more than 270 vehicles in Berlin and surrounding areas had their exhaust pipes plugged up with expanding construction foam.
Stickers were reportedly left on vandalized cars showing Green Party leader Robert Habeck, who is running for chancellor, with a message reading, “Be Greener.”
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German authorities are looking into whether Moscow is behind a secret effort to frame environmentalists and the Green Party for the vandalism of hundreds of vehicles, according to a report from the German magazine Spiegel on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
What did investigators find?
Investigators said they found construction foam cartridges and foam guns in a van driven by three men just outside of Berlin in December of 2024. The discovery came after dozens of car owners reported vandalism to their tailpipes.
Spiegel reports that stickers were left on vandalized cars showing Green Party leader Robert Habeck, who is running for chancellor, with a message reading, “Be Greener.”
Prosecutors in Germany also said they have four suspects connected to the vehicle vandalisms, including young men from Germany, Romania, Serbia and Bosnia. Authorities said they are suspected of 123 counts of vandalism, and said they found containers of construction foam during house searches.
Why do authorities suspect Russia may be to blame?
Investigators report one of the men said he and his accomplices were contacted and told to commit crimes by a Russian using the chat app Viber. He said the men were given precise instructions and were promised $104 for each vehicle they damaged.
Sources in “security circles,” according to Spiegel, suspect a targeted Kremlin campaign seeking to hurt Habeck and the Green Party’s image ahead of a federal election on Feb. 23.
Germany’s foreign minister has refused to speculate on whether Russia is behind the crimes, and said the investigation is ongoing.
What warning signs has German intelligence seen?
In recent months, German intelligence officials have warned of Russian criminals attempting to recruit domestic actors to pull off spying and sabotage efforts in exchange for money, as Western intelligence has become more aware of Russian spies in Europe.
Amazon takes further steps to back away from diversity, equity and inclusion
Amazon is taking additional steps to back away from specific references to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The latest move came in the filing of its annual report for 2024.
Various major companies have backed away from DEI policies after the election of Donald Trump in November.
Some companies, such as Costco, are keeping DEI in their initiatives and practices.
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Amazon is continuing to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion since the election of President Donald Trump. The company filed its annual report for 2024 during the week of Feb. 2, and scrubbed any reference to DEI.
Where did Amazon make changes to its DEI language?
Amazon’s prior annual report included a section titled Human Capital, which stated that it focuses on inclusion and diversity in hiring and developing talent.
Under the same section in the most recent report, it says the company relies on numerous and evolving initiatives to be the best employer and implements this objective in developing talent. The words inclusion and diversity are notably gone.
What other steps have been taken by the company?
This comes just a couple of months after Amazon ended some of its DEI programs. CNBC cites a memo from a vice president of the company, which said Amazon was winding down outdated programs and materials as part of a broader review of initiatives.
In addition, the Amazon website that previously had sections dedicated to equity for Black employees, LGBTQ+ rights and diversity, equity and inclusion has been replaced by a single paragraph that calls inequitable treatment of anyone unacceptable and that it advocates for policies designed to remove barriers to equity, while creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Where do other big-name companies stand on this issue?
Amazon is joined by other companies in the move, including Google, Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart and Target, that have ended or moved away from DEI programs. Others, such as Costco, JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, are standing by their DEI policies.
Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s sports
President Donald Trump signs an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports, claiming the war on women’s sports is over. And the State Department claims Panama is willing to waive fees on American ships using the Panama Canal, despite the Panamanian government saying otherwise. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s, girls’ sports
President Donald Trump followed through on another campaign promise Wednesday, Feb. 5. He signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said.
He added, “This will effectively end the attack on female athletes at public K-12 schools and virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. I don’t think we missed anything, but if we do, we’ll make it up very quickly with an order.”
The order rolls back Biden administration guidance on Title IX, a civil rights law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding
“We're putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice that if you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MUd6FAetWr
The current measure, dubbed “No Men in Women’s Sports,” is the fourth executive order Trump has signed involving transgender people since taking office just over two weeks ago. Critics said the order addresses a problem that simply is not there.
“First of all, the numbers, they don’t exist,” said activist and former professional cyclist Kristen Worley. “Understand that there’s 0.01% gender variant people living in our society as a whole, so it’s a very tiny, tiny group of people that he’s actually targeting, and certainly the numbers in terms of gender performance are filled with inaccuracies as well.”
However, supporters of the order pointed to a trans swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and a trans volleyball player at San Jose State as examples of men who transitioned to women and then dominated women’s sports.
The executive order also stipulates that the Trump administration will work with sports governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, to ensure that guidance is followed in noneducational settings.
Democratic senators protest Vought’s nomination with overnight speech marathon
Democratic senators held the floor overnight Wednesday into Thursday to protest Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
Republicans have the majority in the Senate, so they have consistently confirmed Trump’s nominees, even without Democratic approval. Vought was set to be confirmed for the job Wednesday night, but Democrats vowed to slow the process dramatically.
Democrats have warned about Vought’s ties to Project 2025, a conservative push to reshape the federal government. Trump has denied following its guidelines.
We're holding the Senate floor all night to fight back against Trump’s nomination of Russell Vought.
America saw how bad OMB’s illegal, incompetent funding freeze was.
We want Americans to hear EVERY HOUR how bad the dangers are that he poses to their daily lives as OMB head. pic.twitter.com/ksJ2VG7nJX
Things came to a head after the OMB released a memo last week freezing federal funding. While the memo was rescinded not long after, Democrats said it was a warning sign for how Vought, who at least one Democratic senator has called Trump’s “most dangerous nominee,” would run the office, which plays a key role in enacting the president’s agenda.
Senate Democrats began what they said would be a 30-hour protest Wednesday afternoon. Despite the protest, the full Senate will vote to confirm Vought as budget director Thursday evening.
Vought previously held this position during Trump’s first term. Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota said he has a good working relationship with Vought and expects it to continue.
Panama denies US claim government vessels can transit canal for free
Hours after the State Department announced that American ships would be allowed to sail through the Panama Canal for free, Panama said that was not true.
In a post on Wednesday, the State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio had agreed with Panamanian leadership to allow the move, saving the federal government millions of dollars a year. Rubio had visited Panama this week.
The Panama Canal Authority said it sets the tolls and other fees for crossing the canal and “has not made any adjustments to them.” The authority added that it is open to dialogue with the U.S.
Before taking office, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for American ships using the Panama Canal or return its control to the U.S.
‘Sanctuary city’ mayors to testify before House committee
“Sanctuary city” mayors will testify before House lawmakers in an upcoming hearing on immigration policies, according to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky.
Comer launched a probe into sanctuary policies, which allow a jurisdiction to limit its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials when it comes to the Trump crackdown on illegal immigration. Mayors in major cities such as Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia have said they will not help.
This comes as newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi hit the ground running on her first day in office Wednesday, ordering a pause in federal funding from the Justice Department for sanctuary cities. Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has the details here.
The mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City, among others, will appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 5 to discuss sanctuary policies.
New bird flu variation found in US dairy cattle
Testers have discovered a second bird flu variation in American dairy cows for the first time.
The Department of Agriculture announced the new strain on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Until recently, all dairy herd detections in the U.S. had been infected with a form of bird flu known as B3.13.
This new version, D1.1, was previously detected only in wild birds and poultry, but has now spread to cows.
It’s also the strain that’s been linked to a deadly human case in Louisiana last year after the victim was exposed to infected birds.
Humans infected with D1.1 have experienced more severe symptoms than those with the previous bird flu strain. However, the CDC said the risk to the general public remains low, and there is no evidence of the spread of D1.1 from human to human.
AI ‘digitally unrolls’ 2,000-year-old scrolls burned in Vesuvius eruption
Using artificial intelligence, X-rays and CT scans, researchers have deciphered some words on an ancient scroll burned by lava from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
The rolled-up papyrus scrolls were found in a mansion in Herculaneum, an ancient town near Pompeii, in the mid-1700s. Researchers attempted to unfurl them for more than two centuries to see what was inside and what they said.
The few scrolls they could open contained philosophical writing in ancient Greek. Others were so severely damaged by the lava that they were illegible — until now.
On Wednesday, specialists at Oxford University in London announced a significant breakthrough. Technicians used a massive machine called a synchrotron to create a powerful X-ray beam that could look inside a fragile scroll without damaging it. The Oxford scholars are now continuing to decipher the text on this scroll.
Protests against Trump and Project 2025 expected in all 50 states
Demonstrations are planned for Wednesday, Feb. 5, against President Donald Trump. Activists said the protests are in response to his recent executive orders and Project 2025.
Protests against many of President Donald Trump’s policies and Project 2025 are expected to take place across the nation on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Organizers said they are trying to pull together protests in every state’s capital.
How are protests being organized?
The movement is being organized through websites and on social media with the hashtags #BuildTheResistance and #50501, which represents 50 protests, 50 states, 1 day.
Organizers have websites and social media accounts setup with flyers in opposition to many of Trump’s policies and Project 2025. Project 2025 is a right-wing vision for the American government and society written by The Heritage Foundation.
What are the issues activists are protesting against?
Activists against Project 2025 said they are concerned the plan targets people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups. They also said it increases surveillance by the government, restricts reproductive rights and could mean massive cuts to education and health care.
Trump denied having plans to implement Project 2025 during his 2024 presidential campaign. However, he has appointed several authors of Project 2025 to top roles in his administration, including “border czar” Tom Homan and Russ Vought, who is expected to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
The protests will also take aim at Trump’s executive orders targeting millions of undocumented immigrants and his pardon of more than 1,500 people involved in the U.S. Capitol riots in 2021.
What other executive orders has Trump signed?
Trump has also signed a series of executive orders to redesign and reduce the size of the nation’s federal workforce.
Additionally, the Trump administration is cracking down on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, removing gender references from government websites and placing many employees on paid leave for participating in DEI training.
What efforts are currently underway?
The Associated Press reported protesters were already preparing with signs reading “No Deportations Ever” and “Workers Unite” at a coffee shop just a block away from Michigan’s capitol building on Wednesday morning.
The protests that are expected Wednesday come after thousands of people marched in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 2, against Trump’s mass deportation efforts. Protesters shut down a major freeway for hours during the demonstrations.
Senate Democrats consider more holds on Trump’s nominees
Senate Democrats could place holds on Trump nominees in protest of what they consider to be extreme policies. The holds could affect nominees at the State Department and Justice Department.
The senators are protesting Trump’s foreign aid freeze and comments Elon Musk made about USAID.
Placing holds on nominees would only delay the confirmation process, not stop it entirely.
Senate Democrats are considering placing holds on more of President Donald Trump’s nominees to protest what they consider extreme policies. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, put a hold on State Department nominees, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he is considering doing the same for Justice Department nominees.
“We ought to be putting a hold on all nominees, and I am certain that we’re going to stop as much as we can, any of these nominees,” Blumenthal told Straight Arrow News.
“This freeze is just flatly illegal,” Schatz said. “The executive branch has the obligation to see to it that it’s done in a way that is meritorious, but they don’t get to decide not to spend the money.”
SAN spoke with multiple Republicans about Schatz’s move, who said it’s his prerogative.
“If he wants to defend these policies on the floor, if he wants to go talk about USAID and that they’re spending American money on promoting transgender surgeries for minors abroad, go ahead,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said.
Schatz’s hold will only delay the confirmation process, not stop it entirely. Senate rules require multiple votes and 30 hours for debate for each nominee unless there’s an agreement between parties to move faster. So, Schatz is really requiring the chamber to eat up all that time when lower-level nominees are typically confirmed more quickly under a time agreement.
“You have to understand that the procedures in the Senate depend on the votes that you have. If you need 60 votes, we’re in [a] pretty strong position. If you need a simple majority, we’ve lost a few of those votes,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “So you have to be an honest and realistic broker and look at these situations individually.”
Durbin led a letter to Justice Department nominees and acting directors demanding answers about firings and reassignments at the DOJ and FBI. He confirmed to Straight Arrow News that placing holds on Justice Department nominees could be an option if they don’t get the answers they want.
David Hogg wins DNC vice chair role, pledges to mobilize young voters
Gun control activist and March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg was elected as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee after securing 214.5 votes in a four-round election on Saturday, Feb. 1. Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Artie Blanco of Nevada were also elected as vice chairs, reinforcing the party’s efforts to elevate new leadership.
A call for generational change
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Hogg, 24, ran on a platform emphasizing generational change within the Democratic Party, positioning himself as a voice for young voters.
“I’m one of the youngest people ever to run for this role,” he told the DNC Black Caucus before the vote. “We need to make sure that we’re supporting our young people. That’s just what I’ve done.”
The victory speech
After winning, Hogg called for an aggressive approach to Republican opposition and gun control reform in his victory speech.
“Let’s go win our young people back, and let’s stop sending just our thoughts and prayers to address gun violence and do something.”
Hogg gained national attention after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people were killed. He co-founded March for Our Lives, a movement advocating for gun control legislation, and helped push Florida lawmakers to raise the legal gun purchase age to 21.
Key endorsements from Democratic leaders
Hogg received major endorsements from Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, and Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.
In addition to his activism, Hogg has founded Leaders We Deserve PAC, an organization focused on electing young progressive lawmakers.
More leadership changes in the DNC
Alongside Hogg’s victory, Reyna Walters-Morgan was elected as vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation, defeating sitting Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Nikema Williams, D-Ga.
