Fox News host Jesse Watters compared New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's request for residents to limit air conditioning use during a heat wave to China's now-abolished one-child policy. Broadcasting from the "Great American State Fair" in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Watters said: "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."
Conservative Backlash
Mamdani urged New Yorkers on Tuesday to set their thermostats to 78 degrees to avoid overloading the power grid during the ongoing heat wave. The move drew criticism from several Republican figures. 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." Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also weighed in, saying: "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!"
No Legal Mandate
Despite the conservative outrage, Mamdani issued no legally binding proclamation mandating any reduction in energy usage during the heat wave. The request was voluntary. Similar requests have been made by other states and municipalities during extreme weather events. For example, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has issued similar directives during extreme temperatures.
Heat Wave Forecast
This Saturday's Fourth of July holiday is expected to be New York City's hottest in the last 20 years, with forecasts predicting temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat wave has prompted concerns about strain on the power grid, leading to Mamdani's request for voluntary conservation.
