Republicans yelped about socialism after Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to keep their thermostats set at 78 degrees to ease strain on the city's power grid during a brutal heat wave.The city is expecting numerous days of extreme temperatures through the holiday weekend, and Mamdani suggested that residents conserve power where possible to prevent power outages, saying city buildings would maintain 78-degree temperatures and turn off or dim lights during peak times for electricity demand."New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool," the mayor posted on social media. "Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can."Donald Trump's Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats between 75 degrees and 78 degrees, but MAGA turned the recommendation into a new front in the culture war, warning that this week's Democratic primary wins by Democratic Socialist candidates could ultimately result in a ban on air conditioning."First AOC tried to come for your steak and ribs and now the Socialist Democrats are coming for your AC," warned Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). "This is the future that WOKE Democrats want not just for NYC but for South Carolina too!""In a first-world country, you could turn on the A/C," sneered Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)."This one is for you @ZohranKMamdani," gloated the Manhattan Institute's Daniel Di Martino, posting a video of himself turning a thermostat down to 67 degrees."No thanks. This is America. We crank our A/C down to 60 whenever we please," boasted Trump envoy Nick Adams."78?! Get lost," huffed podcaster Connor Crehan, who goes by Captain Cons."This is what socialism looks like, folks," barked Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. "The right answer isn’t restrictions or mandates. It’s drilling, fracking, coal, & nuclear. That’s how we’ll roll in Ohio. (And he sounds eerily just like Amy Acton during Covid).""Welcome to socialism, where the government demands you turn your house into a sauna because they can't plan for the super unpredictable fact that it tends to get hot in the summer," pontificated Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX)."78 degrees??? Welcome to communism people! Hope you enjoy!" belched Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy."Is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism?" smarmed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
