The victory of Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim candidate who identifies as a "socialist"—a taboo word in the United States—in the New York City mayoral election represents a true political earthquake for the country, with consequences that are still too early to fully grasp. On the one hand, it represents a victory for the most radical and nonconformist wing of the Democratic Party against the New York liberal establishment that had always dominated it. This election, like that of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a member of the House of Representatives in its day, deepens American political polarization, a scenario in which Donald Trump has already shown he is comfortable. But there is something very interesting about Mamdani's victory that will have to be followed closely. His campaign was not based on the so-called "culture war" but rather focused on people's basic needs, primarily housing and public transportation. That is why he defines himself as a "socialist democrat" and does not so much fit the profile of a progressive that the right tries to discredit with that adjective. wokeFocusing on people's real problems and running a dynamic, energetic, and even entertaining campaign has achieved what seemed impossible just a few months ago: Manhattan, home to some of the world's greatest fortunes, voted overwhelmingly for a "socialist" candidate. It also highlights that New York's problems are the same as those faced by any other metropolis in the world, including Barcelona: how to ensure that its inhabitants can live with dignity and are not forced out of cities that have increasingly become tourist attractions and hubs for real estate speculation.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker broke a curious record in the US on Tuesday: the longest speech in Senate history. The New Jersey legislator spent 25 hours speaking in the chamber without sitting down or going to the bathroom, which would have caused him to miss his speaking time. Booker's lengthy speech was not an exercise in parliamentary filibustering to delay the passage of a law, but rather an act of denouncing Donald Trump's policies. "The threats looming over the American people and democracy are serious and urgent, and we all must do more to combat them," he explained after completing his feat.