Watch Utah Republicans Lose Their Minds Over NYC’s Mayor For Some Reason

Mike Lee can't spell Mamdani's name, but he sure has opinions about him.

On Tuesday night, New York City elected a new mayor. By Wednesday morning, Utah Republicans were having a complete meltdown about it.

As a reminder, not one of these politicians represents New York. Not one lives in New York. Not one will be affected by New York’s policies in any way. And yet, somehow, they couldn’t help themselves.

The hypocrisy is genuinely breathtaking. Let’s break down their embarrassing takes, shall we?

Mike Lee: The Federalism Guy Who Forgot About Federalism

What he said:

Mike. MIKE. It’s “Zohran,” not “Zoram.”

*Mentally insert TikTok audio “the name is Mamdani. M-A-M-D-A-N-I. You should learn how to say it” here*

You’re a sitting United States Senator. You’re one of Utah’s two representatives in the upper chamber of Congress. You have staff. You have researchers. You have the entire internet at your fingertips. You are a self-proclaimed constitutional originalist who can’t even spell the name of a newly elected mayor.

Fine. We will call you Mike Pee.

And then, my favorite part, you reposted your own tweet multiple times on your page because you didn’t get enough attention the first time. That’s right, folks. A United States Senator, upset that his hot take about a NYC mayor didn’t get enough engagement, reposted himself. Like a teenager fishing for likes. Desperate. Embarrassing. Lame.

Hey aren’t you the “constitutional scholar?” The federalism guy? Mr. “States’ Rights?” You have spent your entire political career sermonizing about the sanctity of local control. That the federal government shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of states, that Washington politicians should stay in their lane and let local communities decide for themselves.

And yet here you are: a sitting U.S. Senator from Utah, weighing in on a municipal election in New York City. Federalism, apparently, stops where Fox News begins.

But here’s what’s actually revealing about this: You weren’t critiquing a policy. You weren’t offering some principled argument about governance. You called Mamdani’s victory “terrifying.” Terrifying. Because what, Mike? Because a Muslim immigrant won a local election? Because he wants to freeze rent so people can afford to live in their city? Because he wants free public transit and universal childcare so parents can work without going bankrupt?

What exactly is the scary part? The housing stability? The bus passes? The kids being cared for?

Maybe what terrifies you, Mike, isn’t socialism. Maybe it’s the idea of government actually working for ordinary people, instead of billionaires and special interests. And that if it works, people might expect you to actually do your job for once instead of cooking up loser tweets that no one cares about.

And here’s the kicker: while you’re melting down over rent control in Queens, Utah’s housing is the 9th most expensive in the country. Our Great Salt Lake is vanishing. Utahns can’t afford their healthcare. You have plenty to be terrified about here at home, babe.

You’ve built your whole career on preaching about “local control.” So why can’t you practice it?

Maybe it’s because your commitment to “states’ rights” has never really been about empowering local communities, it’s been about control. When cities act in ways you like (say, banning Pride flags or defunding public transit), that’s “local control.” When they elect a Muslim socialist who wants affordable housing? Suddenly it’s “tyranny.”

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Trevor Lee: The Xenophobic Panic Attack

What he said:

Oh Trevor, where do we even start?

Let’s start with the xenophobia, since you did. Mamdani is a naturalized U.S. citizen who came to America as a child, graduated from an American university, and has served in the New York State Assembly since 2021. Calling him a “foreigner who doesn’t share our values” because you don’t like his politics? That’s not policy criticism, Trevor. That’s just racism.

Now, about calling Mamdani a “communist,” we shouldn’t have to explain the difference between communism and democratic socialism to you, Trevor, but here we are. Mamdani ran on rent freezes, free buses, and universal childcare. That’s social democracy. That’s Denmark, not the Soviet Union. But sure, everything left of Mitt Romney is communism if you squint hard enough and ignore all definitions.

Here’s what’s particularly fascinating though: You sponsored HB77, a bill that banned Pride flags from schools and government buildings while explicitly allowing Nazi and Confederate flags to be displayed in Utah classrooms “for educational purposes.” So let me get this straight, you think Nazi flags deserve space in schools for education, but a mayor who wants to freeze rent is a “communist” threat to America? Those are some interesting priorities, Trevor.

And while we’re at it, let’s talk about what’s actually scary about communist regimes. It’s not the economic theory about workers owning the means of production. It’s the authoritarian dictatorship part. The suppression of dissent. The erosion of democratic norms. The strongman leader who attacks the free press and threatens political opponents. You know, the stuff that’s happening right now under Trump, who you presumably support? But sure, the real threat is the guy who wants free buses in New York.

So Trevor, here’s my question: What does any of this have to do with your job? You represent District 16 in Layton, Utah. You’re 2,000 miles from New York City. You have zero authority over NYC policy. And yet you’re spending your time tweeting about their mayor while... what exactly are you doing for Layton?

Oh wait, I know what you’ve been up to recently! You’ve been trying to rename Harvey Milk Boulevard in Salt Lake City to “Charlie Kirk Boulevard.” You know, Salt Lake City, the city you don’t represent and have no authority over. So apparently you think you should have a say in what Salt Lake names its streets AND what New York does with its government, but the actual voters in those cities? They should just shut up and let you decide.

Maybe spend less time worrying about other cities’ elections and more time representing the district that actually elected you. Just a thought.

And for Dan McCay, Todd Weiler, and Candice Pierucci: we know you’re reading too. You’ll have to subscribe to see what we said about you, babes. You’re next.