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NYC lawmaker slams Mamdani over response to antisemitic graffiti, synagogue clashes: ‘Not a leader’

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism over his responses to recent antisemitic incidents, including a protest outside Park East Synagogue and graffiti of swastikas in the borough of Queens.

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, R-District 19, told Fox News Digital that the mayor has “created a very dangerous environment” and accused him of “standing with the protesters.” Paladino’s district is in Queens, but does not include the areas that were graffitied.

“What this mayor has done, is told everybody in his way that this is okay. This behavior is condoned and it’s okay, not condemned, condoned by the mayor of New York City because he agrees 100% with them,” Paladino said. The councilwoman pointed out that Mamdani, as an assemblyman, protested against ICE and even confronted “border czar” Tom Homan in 2025.

“I refuse to recognize him as my mayor… because he’s not a leader,” she said.

ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CLASH WITH NYPD OFFICERS NEAR SYNAGOGUE

On Tuesday evening, anti-Israel agitators clashed with police during a protest against the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, which took place at Park East Synagogue. Videos circulating online showed agitators attempting to push down and breach New York Police Department barricades as officers tried to get control of the crowd.

“Some of the rhetoric and conduct outside Park East Synagogue — including displays of support for terrorist organizations and antisemitic acts — was unacceptable. As the mayor has said, chants in support of terrorist organizations and promoting violence of any kind have no place in our city,” Mamdani’s Deputy Press Secretary Sam Raskin told Fox News Digital.

The protest drew national attention, with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., condemning the protesters as a “mob of pro-Hezbollah/Hamas s—heads.” The senator also called out his own party for not offering a strong enough condemnation of the incident. Additionally, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a post on X that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division would investigate.

“Park East Synagogue remains steadfast in our commitment to peaceful worship, and we are grateful for the NYPD’s tireless efforts in protecting the community of our historic landmark synagogue,” a Park East Synagogue spokesperson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

NYPD RELEASES FOOTAGE OF 4 SUSPECTS WANTED IN HATE-FUELED GRAFFITI SPREE DEFACING HOMES, HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

The tumultuous protest came just days after swastikas were found spray-painted across multiple locations in Queens. The symbols were found on synagogues, private homes, cars and a Jewish community center. One swastika was painted on a plaque honoring victims of the Holocaust. The NYPD later released surveillance footage of four people wanted in connection with the antisemitic graffiti spree.

After the graffiti was discovered, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who is Jewish and the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, visited the sites of the vandalism. In a statement on X, Menin condemned the graffiti as “terrifying signals of hatred and threats of violence.” Jack Lobel, spokesperson for Menin, also told Fox News Digital that she had addressed the issue with the NYPD to ensure that those responsible for the vandalism would be apprehended and held accountable.

The speaker also condemned the protest outside Park East Synagogue, saying, “Calls for the destruction of Israel and the glorification of Hezbollah are horrific, intimidating, and only fuel the flames of antisemitism.”

MAMDANI IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER FIRST VETO DERAILS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM: ‘DISAPPOINTED’

Paladino, however, dismissed Menin’s visit to the Queens graffiti sites as a “photo op” and said the speaker hadn’t done enough.

In response to a request for comment, Lobel said, “Speaker Menin has a clear record of combatting antisemitism, not just with words but with action. Her first major announcement as speaker was a Five-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism, including strengthened protections for houses of worship and investments in Holocaust education.”

Menin’s five-point plan to combat antisemitism included a proposal to create a “perimeter around entrances and exits of houses of worship, prohibiting harassment and intimidation of individuals while preserving First Amendment rights.” The City Council passed two “buffer zone” bills, one protecting schools and another for houses of worship. Mamdani vetoed the bill protecting schools from protest-related harassment, drawing critics’ ire.

ISRAEL ACCUSES MAMDANI OF POURING ‘ANTISEMITIC GASOLINE’ AFTER HE REVOKES ADAMS EXECUTIVE ORDERS

The protest and the graffiti underscored Jewish New Yorkers’ concerns about rising antisemitism threatening their security. While Mamdani’s responses to both of the incidents were criticized, his remarks about the protest drew particular scrutiny as the mayor said that he “firmly” disagreed with the event.

“When we have a real estate expo that is promoting the sale of land which includes the sale of land in the occupied West Bank, in settlements that are a violation of international law, that is something that I firmly disagree with,” Mamdani said in response to a reporter’s question. The mayor added that he saw the land sales as something that “has been at the heart of an ongoing effort to displace Palestinians from their homes.”

The recent incidents have heightened criticism of Mamdani and raised questions about how the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel will confront antisemitism.

Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

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Trump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoff

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President Donald Trump touts an incredible visit and fantastic trade deals with China after his final meeting with Xi, as Beijing agrees to order 200 Boeing jets.
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Paul Finebaum roasts Lane Kiffin for recent comments: “Trying to wipe Ole Miss off the map”

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The world of college football is rarely dull. Even with the regular season a few months away from starting, this week has been full of drama.

And most of the most recent drama has been created by LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin, who’s no stranger to making headlines, made several comments that garnered attention in new interviews. The most contentious and controversial being some very pointed criticisms of Ole Miss, his former school.

Specifically Kiffin claimed Ole Miss would lose out on recruits because of supposed concerns over racial diversity on campus and in Oxford.

“‘Hey, coach, we really like you. But my grandparents aren’t letting me move to Oxford, Mississippi.’ That doesn’t come up when you say Baton Rouge, Louisiana,” Kiffin said to Vanity Fair. “Parents were sitting here this weekend saying the campus’s diversity feels so great: ‘It feels like there’s no segregation. And we want that for our kid because that’s the real world.'”

LANE KIFFIN TAKES SHOT AT OLE MISS, CITES RACISM IN RECRUITING GAP WITH LSU IN AWKWARD INTERVIEW

Reactions on social media were immediate and generally dismissive of Kiffin’s claims. And you can add one of the SEC’s biggest supporters to the list of those roasting him for bringing race into the Ole Miss discussion. Even at a new school.

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, during a new episode of his “The Paul Finebaum Show,” went after Kiffin and had some thoughts on what motivated him to say what he did.

“An SEC coach at LSU is breaking big news in Vanity Fair,” Finebaum said. “Has to be shaking up Fifth Avenue right now. But it’s Lane Kiffin.

“The most important thing to factor in here, this wasn’t a slip of the tongue. I talked to the writer who did the Vanity Fair piece the other day, Curt [sic] Smith, he said he didn’t even ask Kiffin about the racism aspect, he just started rifting [sic]. This is Kiffin trying to wipe Ole Miss off the face of the Earth, he’s still very bitter at them, even though they’re the jilted lover. He’s bitter at them because they wouldn’t let him coach in the playoffs.

“And he has to recruit against them, he has to coach against them on September 19th, a game that will get a little bit of attention.”

Finebaum then took a minute to address Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s comments, which implied that Ole Miss has an advantage because it’s not a good academic school. “The Sarkisian thing is even more amazing. The fact that any coach is whining and complaining about anything … Steve Sarkisian makes about $12 million a year, and not one person on his roster is going to the University of Texas for their curriculum. They’re going for the money.”

OLE MISS PLAYERS PUSH BACK ON LANE KIFFIN’S CLAIM THAT TEAM ASKED AD TO LET HIM FINISH SEASON WITH REBELS

Paul Finebaum, not holding back. And he’s right.

Lane Kiffin is bitter, upset, whatever the adjective, that Ole Miss didn’t let him coach in the playoff after taking the LSU job. But he knew that was going to be the outcome if he decided to leave, and he left anyway. Kiffin then essentially proved Finebaum right in another interview with Wilson Alexander from On3.com.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

“Obviously, I wish the timing was different. There was no way around it,” he said. “Tried to do everything possible to still coach and, obviously, that was [athletic director Keith Carter’s] decision and understandable. Do I still wish that had happened? Yeah, I do. I wish that would have been allowed to happen. Maybe we would have won it all.”

That’s why he’s so upset. He believed Ole Miss had a chance to win a national championship. And he would have that on his résumé, winning a title, especially at a program like Ole Miss. But he has no one to blame but himself for missing out on that opportunity. Even if the LSU job is a better one in the long run.

And he’s right on Sarkisian too. Sark knows the Texas football team isn’t there for academics, or at least, the starters. If any coach is going to complain about putting together a roster, it shouldn’t be the head of arguably the richest program in the country. With a massive NIL budget, classic uniforms, a legendary stadium and history, and a gigantic, devoted fan base.

Credit where credit’s due, Finebaum didn’t pull any punches. Even though the target was based in his beloved SEC.

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Cedric Alexander becomes new TNA X Division champion, crushing Leon Slater’s history-making attempt

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All eyes were on the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) X Division Championship on Thursday night as Leon Slater looked to retain the title over Cedric Alexander and solidify himself as the longest-reigning X Division champion in the company’s history.

Slater knew a legacy was on the line as he looked to break a record set by Austin Aries. But he needed to pin Alexander twice in one match to retain the title. It was a steep mountain to climb as Alexander had been just as dangerous since he entered the company.

The match started off hot with Slater and Alexander trading blows to begin the match. But a quick-thinking Slater rolled up Alexander quickly for the first fall.

Alexander was able to go on offense from there. He hit a nasty German suplex on the outside of the ring. He continued to work on Slater’s tweaked neck. He later hit a Lumbar Check to tie the match at 1-1.

Slater went deep into his bag. He hit an avalanche Styles Clash, which could have kept anyone else down. However, Alexander kicked out. Alexander was able to counter Slater’s high-flying abilities just for a moment and knocked him back out of the ring.

Alexander sent Slater into the steel steps, leaving him busted open. Alexander declared that he would be the “greatest” X Division champion. One brainbuster later, Alexander tried to pin Slater, but couldn’t get him down.

Alexander hit a Lumbar Check again, but Slater kicked out. Slater mustered up the last ounce of energy. A tilt-a-whirl slam set Alexander up for a swanton 450. Slater missed and Alexander hit another Lumbar Check, and then again.

Alexander pinned Slater for the win, completely shocking the fans in Sacramento, California. It will be the first reign for Alexander and his first title of any kind in TNA.

Alexander is a reminder, at least for TNA, that “The System always wins.”

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Moments before TNA went off the air, the lights went out in the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Emerging from the darkness was Fabian Aichner.

Aichner stared down Alexander and appeared to name himself the next challenger for the X Division Championship. Aichner, known as Giovanni Vinci for much of his run in WWE, hadn’t really been seen or heard from in months since his departure from WWE.

Aichner wrestled under his real name for a stint in WWE before he came back as Vinci in June 22. He was with WWE until 2025. He was a two-time NXT tag team champion and an Evolve champion before it became a WWE brand.

Eric Young outlasted nine other men in an over-the-top battle royal and earned a shot at Mike Santana’s TNA World Championship to start the show.

The match came down to him and Elijah after the latter was able to toss members of The System out of the ring while also avoiding Frankie Kazarian trying to get back into the match following his own elimination.

Young and Elijah came to blows on the apron, knowing that as soon as their feet touch the ground, they would be eliminated. Young grabbed onto Elijah’s hair to try to hang onto the moment. Elijah broke away with Young’s back turned to him. Elijah, however, didn’t account for his wide stance.

The TNA original kicked Elijah in the groin and pushed him down to the ground. Young won the match and received a shot to win the TNA World Championship in the future.

He also made clear that Santana was next on his list of people to wipe out as he did to Joe Hendry, EC3 and Ricky Sosa in weeks past.

“Mike Santana, you’re gone next,” he declared.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Mike Santana came out to address the crowd and praised Young for his efforts to help build TNA from the ground up.

“You better be coming with something different because while you may be someone who helped build this place, when it comes to the new era of TNA on AMC, I’m the guy. I’m the man. I’m the one who holds down the fort week after week as your TNA world champion.”

While Young might have earned a title shot, Daria Rae came out and revealed to the crowd that Steve Maclin was cleared to return to action following an injury at the hands of Santana.

Maclin will get a shot at Santana’s TNA World Championship next week on “Impact.”

Santino Marella also came out during the segment after he was “suspended.” He revealed that Indi Harwell re-signed with TNA.

Lei Ying Lee brought the TNA Knockouts Championship back home last week with a win over Arianna Grace. She addressed the crowd before being interrupted by her former best friend, Xia Brookside.

In all black, Brookside claimed she was already in Lei’s head.

“You’re such a fraud. I’ve destroyed you mentally, I’ve destroyed you emotionally, I’ve destroyed you physically, and that title will be around my waist.”

Both competitors tossed expletives at each other before the segment was over. But Brookside made clear that she had her eyes on the title.

A.J. Francis told Fox News Digital before the SacTown Street Fight on “Impact” that he was going to bring the pain to Navarro.

While wearing “Show Stealer” across his back, Francis did just that. Francis took some punishment from Navarro – a few shots from a baseball bat and a drop kick with a trash can.

Francis was able to turn the tide for a few moments, using the baseball bat to his advantage. But Navarro dug deep. He aligned six chairs in the ring, hoping to splash Francis through it. Instead, Francis countered and attempted an avalanche Down Payment. Somehow, Navarro countered with a cutter as both men crashed through the sea of chairs.

It looked like it could’ve been it. Navarro went for the pin, but only got a two count.

Francis turned on the heat from there. He got ahold of Navarro and hit a Down Payment through tables lined up on the outside of the ring.

He rolled Navarro back into the ring and picked up the pinfall victory.

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