Mamdani’s 78-degree – Jesse Watters amplified conservative outrage after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees during a heat wave. Speaking from the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Watters likened the guidance to China’s now-a
Jesse Watters delivered the warning from the “Great American State Fair” in Washington, D.C., on Thursday—standing in front of a cheering crowd while a heat wave presses down on New York and much of the country.
In his remarks. Watters took aim at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s request that residents limit their air conditioning to help prevent strain on the power grid. Watters compared Mamdani’s guidance to China’s now-abolished one-child policy. saying. “First they tell you how cold to keep your room. and then they can tell you how much sex you can have. It’s a slippery slope; they’re gonna say one-child policy next. This is how communism starts; they start rationing things.”.
The timing is not subtle. This Saturday’s Fourth of July holiday is expected to be NYC’s hottest in the last 20 years. Forecasts predict temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Against that backdrop. Mamdani urged New Yorkers on Tuesday to set their thermostats to 78 degrees. arguing it could help keep the power grid from being overloaded.
Conservative politicians and activists seized on that ask. Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy wrote on X, “This is what socialism looks like, folks. The right answer isn’t restrictions or mandates. It’s drilling, fracking, coal, & nuclear. That’s how we’ll roll in Ohio.” He also framed the dispute around food and household energy. writing. “First AOC tried to come for your steak and ribs and now the Socialist Democrats are coming for your AC. This is the future that WOKE Democrats want not just for NYC but for South Carolina too!”.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) echoed the backlash on X, adding to the chorus of criticism Mamdani’s request drew from the GOP.
Still, the facts on the ground are less like an instant crackdown and more like a plea for voluntary restraint. Despite the flurry of outrage from conservatives, Mamdani issued no legally binding proclamation mandating any reduction in energy usage during the heat wave.
The broader dispute isn’t even confined to New York. The request Mamdani made isn’t unique to NYC; other states and municipalities have issued similar requests to their citizens during extreme weather events. In Texas. for instance. the Public Utility Commission of Texas has issued directives similar to Mamdani’s during extreme temperatures in the Lone Star State.
Jesse Watters Zohran Mamdani New York City heat wave thermostat 78 degrees power grid Fourth of July forecast Vivek Ramaswamy Lindsey Graham X one-child policy Texas Public Utility Commission