NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani asks residents to 'set AC to 78 degrees' amid heat wave; MAGA says, 'This is what socialism looks like'

North America Climate Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:55:27 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

A request by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani asking residents to set their air conditioners to 78°F (25.6°C) during a dangerous heatwave has sparked a political row, with Republicans accusing him of promoting "socialism.
"As NY faced extreme temperatures with the heat index expected to reach 110°F (43.3°C), Mamdani urged residents to help reduce pressure on the city's electricity grid.
He wrote: "New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.

A request by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani asking residents to set their air conditioners to 78°F (25.6°C) during a dangerous heatwave has sparked a political row, with Republicans accusing him of promoting "socialism.
"As NY faced extreme temperatures with the heat index expected to reach 110°F (43.3°C), Mamdani urged residents to help reduce pressure on the city's electricity grid.
He wrote: "New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.

Sources: Times of India