By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During a recent broadcast of The Ingraham Angle, Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, highlighting his policies aimed at reducing the cost of living. Ingraham cited Mamdani’s proposals, such as government-run grocery stores, free public buses, rent freezes, and affordable housing initiatives, portraying them negatively. This commentary led to widespread amusement on social media, with users humorously pointing out the appeal of the very policies Ingraham was criticizing. Mamdani had previously won the Democratic mayoral primary, solidifying his place as a key contender in the upcoming election.
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The recent reaction from Fox News to a New York City mayoral candidate’s platform has been, well, something else. The network, seemingly clutching its pearls, unleashed a barrage of criticism, and the core of that criticism was, let’s be honest, the idea of things being, *gasp*, free. Specifically, they took aim at proposals like free public buses, affordable housing initiatives, and rent freezes. It’s hard not to see the absurdity when you consider the context.
The sheer shock and outrage over policies like free buses is telling. It’s almost as if Fox News and its audience are genuinely baffled by the concept of anything benefiting the public good. They act like it’s some radical, untested idea, when in reality, the benefits of these kinds of policies have been demonstrated countless times, in cities across the country and the world. Why is this so hard for them to grasp? Perhaps because it challenges their fundamental belief system, which seems to prioritize profit over people.
The rhetoric, as expected, veers into hyperbole. They paint the candidate as a harbinger of doom, using loaded language and fear-mongering tactics to rile up their viewers. They bring up the idea of ending all cooperation with ICE and it’s a given. When you consider the actual details of the proposals, it’s clear that the concerns are overblown and the outrage is manufactured. The point is that they’re trying to scare the base.
It’s hard not to chuckle at the irony. Fox News is often the first to complain about a “liberal media bias,” yet here they are, engaging in their own brand of biased reporting, designed to sway public opinion. In their view, anything that sounds even remotely socialist is a threat to the American way of life. They seemingly don’t realize that many of their viewers already benefit from various forms of socialized programs, from public schools to roads. The right wing doesn’t like anything that is for the people and not corporate.
The fact is that this type of rhetoric is almost a predictable routine at this point. It’s the same playbook they’ve used for decades: demonize anything that threatens the status quo, stoke fear of the “other,” and exploit the ignorance of their base. It’s a well-worn strategy that’s become increasingly transparent. Their concern isn’t truly about the policies themselves, but about the ideological underpinnings behind them. They see the implementation of public programs as the slippery slope towards socialism, which they see as some kind of dystopian nightmare.
It’s also fascinating to watch them react to the idea of a candidate gaining traction with younger voters. They seem terrified of the fact that many young people are embracing policies that prioritize social welfare and the common good. They don’t seem to understand that free public transit, rent control, and other measures have been successful in other cities. This is probably because it does not line the pockets of the super rich.
The response on social media was swift and merciless. People quickly pointed out the hypocrisy, the absurdity, and the sheer lack of factual basis in the Fox News reporting. This is where it becomes pretty clear that some people might not even understand how something like public transportation works. You can see people in shock that things are “free.” The entire thing is based on fear, which is the core of their ideology. There are also several examples of cities that offer free bus systems.
This whole episode highlights the divide in American politics and media. It’s a clash between two wildly different worldviews. On one side, you have a network that profits from fear, division, and manufactured outrage. On the other, you have a candidate who is trying to address some of the most pressing issues facing New Yorkers, offering solutions that prioritize the well-being of the population.
In the end, this is just the latest example of Fox News and its audience desperately trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. They’re clinging to their outdated ideology, afraid of anything that challenges their power. It’s a predictable, and frankly, somewhat pathetic spectacle. The question is, how long will it continue to work?