(DCNF)—Political analyst Mark Halperin said Friday that this week’s New York City mayoral debate revealed a glaring failure, not from the candidates, but from the moderators.
Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican New York City mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa faced off Thursday in a debate for the New York City mayoral race.
“The tragedy for me is in two hours, the moderators never really tried to pin Mamdani down on the economic policies that he’s espousing. And how he proposes to pay for things that are not currently affordable. The other candidates didn’t do it either,” Halperin said on “Special Report with Bret Baier.”
“And I think even though, as Mark [Penn] said, there is another debate, I think he’s going to be elected mayor of New York City without even [coming] close to explaining how his numbers add up on the outside.”
Halperin said it is “very difficult” to see how Cuomo can change the dynamic of the race.
“I never like to take it away from the voters or declare it’s over, but I think it’s as cooked as a Twinkie and a pizza oven for 35 minutes,” Halperin added. “It’s very difficult to see how Cuomo changes the dynamic of the race. I don’t think Sliwa would be more likely to get out after his performance last night, because I’d argue he was probably the best person on the stage.”
During the debate, the moderators asked Mamdani why he refused to endorse Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, even after she publicly backed his campaign. When asked by moderators to raise their hands if they would support Hochul’s reelection, neither Mamdani nor his opponents responded.
“It’s a decision that should be made after this general election,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani also did not deny Cuomo’s accusation that he did not vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Instead, the socialist Democrat said he left his ballot blank to protest what he called “the Israeli genocide of Palestinians.”
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Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.