Heat Wave Politics: GOP Leaders Deride Calls to Conserve
Key takeaways
- Mamdani’s post on X on Wednesday urged New Yorkers to turn their thermostats to 78 degrees F and turn off unneeded lights and electronics—nothing original.
- “Welcome to socialism,” shot back Nikki Haley, the former Republican governor, diplomat and presidential aspirant.
- Reader-provided context beneath Haley’s post noted that she had made a similar plea for conservation during a 2015 cold snap when she was South Carolina’s chief executive.
Why this matters: environmental and climate reporting with long-term consequences.
July 2, 2026 Share This Article Republish. A person wipes sweat off their head during high temperatures and an extreme heat warning in New York City on Thursday. Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Related It’s Too Hot In Europe–Again Scientists Warn of Summer Heat Spikes as Global Warming Edges Toward 2C After a Slow Start on Climate, Zohran Mamdani Faces Scrutiny Over Parks Budget and Environmental Promises Share This Article Republish Most Popular Can Clusters of Human-Constructed Ponds in the Arizona Desert Save a Threatened Frog? A Pipeline Company Says It Will Protect the Environment in North Carolina. Its Record in Tennessee Says Otherwise. New Florida Law Bans Local Net-Zero Emissions Policies Seeking to sow unity amid a pending heat crisis, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reaped a whirlwind of right-wing rage.
Mamdani’s post on X on Wednesday urged New Yorkers to turn their thermostats to 78 degrees F and turn off unneeded lights and electronics—nothing original. It echoed the advice of the state’s largest utility, ConEd, which also asked customers to limit air conditioning in a Tuesday press release. “Let s ease demand — and get through the heat — together,” Mamdani wrote.
“Welcome to socialism,” shot back Nikki Haley, the former Republican governor, diplomat and presidential aspirant.