NYC mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa face off Thursday in their first debate of the general election.
WATCH:
President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he was in the middle of a live conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I am speaking to President Putin now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
A White House official confirmed to Newsmax that the call was indeed taking place.
Trump announced that high-level US and Russian officials will meet next week — and that he will talk face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to try again to end Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Trump did not specify further when either meeting would take place, but did say that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the US delegation at the initial sitdown.
Earlier in the day, Trump had told reporters at the White House that he was speaking with Putin about the possibility of supplying NATO — and by extension, Ukraine — with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The discussion came just one day before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where the two leaders are expected to talk about the potential transfer of Tomahawks.
Trump said last week that he had informed Zelenskyy he might present Putin with an ultimatum: to either enter serious peace negotiations or face the prospect of Ukraine being armed with Tomahawk missiles.
The back-to-back talks underscore Trump’s current approach — exerting strategic pressure on Moscow while leaving the door open for diplomacy.
When pressed by reporters last week on whether he had finalized his decision about arming Ukraine with Tomahawks, Trump offered a measured response, saying he had “sort of made a decision” but wanted more information first.
“I think I want to find out what they’re doing with them,” he said. “Where are they sending them? I guess I’d have to ask that question.”
“I would ask some questions. I’m not looking to escalate that war,” he added.
Trump has made it clear that under his administration, there will be no blanket shipments of free weapons or aid to Ukraine. Instead, he has told NATO allies they are welcome to purchase the weapons and distribute them as they see fit, while he remains focused on acting as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine.
{Matzav.com}
A video circulating online Thursday captured Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stumbling as he walked with an uneven gait before falling to the ground.
In the clip, a reporter who identified herself as “Stella” could be heard asking McConnell, 83, a question regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “taking people off the streets and kidnapping them.”
As the senator moved forward, occasionally steadying himself by reaching for a nearby aide, he suddenly lost his footing and fell. Moments later, the aide and a Capitol Police officer rushed to his side and helped him stand.
After regaining his balance, McConnell turned toward the camera, gave a small smile, and waved, signaling that he was unharmed.
This is not the first public incident to raise concern about McConnell’s health. He has previously exhibited signs of frailty during his appearances in the Capitol.
In July 2023, McConnell froze mid-sentence during a press briefing, pausing his remarks and stepping away before eventually returning to the microphone.
At that time, the onetime Senate majority leader had started his scheduled comments before abruptly halting and being briefly escorted from the podium. When he came back, he reassured reporters, saying, “I’m fine,” and continued addressing other matters.
The question of who will succeed McConnell has already set off one of the most anticipated Republican contests in the nation, with the 2026 Kentucky GOP Senate primary expected to draw significant spending and attention.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., currently leads the fundraising race for the Republican nomination to succeed McConnell.
Newsmax has contacted Barr — who once interned for McConnell — for his reaction to the incident.
McConnell announced in February that he would not run again, with his current Senate term concluding in January 2027.
{Matzav.com}
Andrew Cuomo is preparing to go on the attack against Zohran Mamdani during Thursday night’s first general election mayoral debate in New York City, as the seasoned political figure seeks to close the gap with the current front-runner.
Political observers say Cuomo will attempt to reignite momentum for his struggling second-place campaign by directly confronting the far-left Democratic nominee.
“Cuomo will be working feverishly to throw Mamdani off balance and expose him as the radical he says he is,” said Andrew Kirtzman, a veteran communications strategist. “But I have yet to see Mamdani get tripped up on anything significant this campaign — he’s phenomenally fast on his feet.”
Still, Cuomo, a three-term Democratic governor who stepped down in 2021 amid a series of scandals, faces a difficult balancing act. To win over undecided voters and stage a political comeback, he’ll have to strike hard at his opponent without appearing condescending or combative, analysts say.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens who first won election in 2020, will take the stage at 30 Rockefeller Center under far different circumstances than during the primary season, when he was a relative unknown facing an established political heavyweight.
Since his surprise victory in June — a stunning defeat for Cuomo — the outspoken socialist has held a steady double-digit lead in polls over his rivals. However, he has yet to reach the 50% mark in any survey. Cuomo, now running as an independent, has gained support in recent weeks following Mayor Eric Adams’s withdrawal from the race late last month.
According to one political insider, Cuomo must deliver a new line of attack that resonates with voters. They expect him to focus on a controversial photo from July showing Mamdani alongside Rebecca Kadaga, a Ugandan politician who championed a harsh anti-gay law while in office.
Cuomo and Mamdani will share the debate stage with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, the beret-wearing radio host known for his sharp wit and quick retorts. Political strategists say a temporary alignment between Cuomo and Sliwa — deliberate or not — could put Mamdani on the defensive.
“Something to watch for is can Curtis and Cuomo coordinate — intentionally or unintentionally — and put Mamdani on his back feet,” the insider said. “Curtis is a good debater, and he’s got some good one-liners. But if it’s just a slugfest between the three, it’s not going to move the needle.”
Analysts also doubt that the showdown will have a major impact on the outcome of the race, though they expect it to make for lively viewing.
“Candidate impressions are set. So the debates probably won’t move the polls,” said longtime Democratic strategist Ken Frydman. “But they will be good political theater. Cuomo will jab Mamdani, the socialist, Israel-hater, who’s old friends with an anti-gay politician in Uganda. Mamdani will counterpunch with Cuomo’s COVID failure and sexual harassment allegations.”
NBC will broadcast the debate’s first hour live on cable before switching over to its usual three-hour Law & Order programming block at 8 p.m. Viewers who wish to continue watching the candidates face off for control of America’s largest city will need to switch to NBC’s digital stream.
The debate is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at 30 Rockefeller Center.
How to Watch:
The first hour will air on NBC and Telemundo. For those without cable or an antenna, DIRECTV will offer a free trial. At 8 p.m., the debate will continue exclusively on NBC’s streaming platform, with full coverage also available via Politico and the Campaign Finance Board.
Participants:
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani
Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa
Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo
A second debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, on NY1.
There will be no live audience or press in attendance, mirroring the format used during the primary debates.
According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released last week, Mamdani leads with 46%, Cuomo trails with 33%, and Sliwa holds 15%, while 14% of voters remain undecided.
{Matzav.com}
