It is fascinating to watch politicians run for local office in a place like New York City and absolutely refuse to moderate their geopolitical stances. A prominent mayoral contender is doubling down and refusing to soft-pedal his views on Israel. On one hand, you have to respect the authenticity. Voters are exhausted by focus-grouped, middle-of-the-road politicians who change their principles based on polling data. But on the other hand, the mayor needs to manage a deeply diverse metropolis, not the UN General Assembly. When local leaders prioritize international conflicts over housing, transit, and crime, it alienates huge chunks of the electorate who just want the city to function. Can someone actually win a major local election by being uncompromising on global issues, or is this just pure political suicide today? #politics #governance