NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul faces criticism from both sides of the aisle. She recently urged wealthy people who fled the state to come back. However, folks still remember her 2022 campaign remarks. Back then, she told opponents to grab a bus ticket to Florida.

This change fuels charges of inconsistency. It also spotlights New York’s shrinking tax base. The state struggles to fund its big social programs as a result.

At a Politico event this month, Hochul discussed state finances. She rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push for higher taxes on the rich. Instead, she stressed the need to keep or attract high earners.

“We need high-net-worth people to back our generous social programs,” she said. Some patriotic millionaires already pay extra, she noted. Then she added a key point. “First, let’s head to Palm Beach and convince some to return home. Our tax base has shrunk too much.”

Hochul admitted that other states offer lower taxes for people and businesses. Data backs this up. Many rich New Yorkers have moved to Florida, Texas, and similar spots in recent years.

Critics point to her words from four years ago. Hochul campaigned against Republican Lee Zeldin. She aimed barbs at Donald Trump and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

“Trump, Zeldin, and Molinaro should jump on a bus to Florida where you fit. Get out of town. You don’t match our values,” she declared.

Now, people say those comments pushed conservatives and tax-weary wealthy folks to leave. Many packed up for warmer, cheaper states. Social media lights up with side-by-side videos of her old rant and new appeal. Commentators call it desperate or a total reversal. Budget woes drive the shift, they claim.

New York’s Tax Base Challenges

The state counts on top earners for most income tax revenue. A few percent of residents cover a huge chunk. When they go, schools, health care, transit, and services suffer big losses.

IRS data shows an outflow of rich people and workers. Palm Beach County in Florida draws a lot of that wealth.

Hochul’s camp highlights New York’s strengths in finance, tech, culture, and business. Still, they recognize the competition. Florida’s no-income-tax policy and lower living costs pull people away.

Several factors fuel this exodus, reports show. High income taxes lead the pack since New York tops national rates. Housing, utilities, and daily costs stay sky-high, especially near the city. Remote work after COVID lets pros relocate easily. Policy clashes over crime, schools, and rules send some packing. Plus, many skipped town during pandemic lockdowns and stayed gone.

Reactions Roll In from New Yorkers

Responses hit fast and hard. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for governor, dubbed it Hochul’s most honest moment. He mocked the pitch to swap Palm Beach sunshine, no state tax, and calm for New York’s issues. Cut taxes and costs instead of pleading, he advised.

Conservatives and business leaders agree. They push for tax cuts, fewer rules, and safer streets to compete. Appeals to patriotic millionaires won’t cut it, they say.

Some Democrats back her, though. They view it as facing facts. A wide tax base funds key services without slamming one group. The state offers incentives to lure businesses and people, they add. Online, memes mock the flip. “Come back, we need your tax money” pops up everywhere.

Bigger Picture: Blue State Exodus

New York isn’t unique. California and Illinois lose residents and firms to low-tax red states, too. This trend stirs national debates. Experts warn of a downward spiral. Fewer taxpayers force rate hikes. That chases away more people.

Hochul resists broad tax hikes on the rich during budget battles. She wants the state to stay competitive. Yet progressives like Mamdani demand more from top earners. Her words seek balance. Keep taxes fair and draw back high earners. With re-election looming, this topic matters. Voters watch budget moves, the economy, and daily life.

Tax-cut fans urge affordable homes, safe streets, cheap energy, and pro-business rules. Left-leaning critics want steeper taxes on the rich and bigger social spending.

Regular New Yorkers ask why people left and what pulls them back for good. Hochul reopened that talk publicly. Her Palm Beach plea may fall flat without policy fixes. Reactions so far scream too late. The next months will show if migration reverses or wealth keeps flowing out. Her mixed signals leave some confused and others mad.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump addressed the American public from the White House on Wednesday night in his first prime-time national address since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran in late February, declaring that American military objectives are on the verge of being achieved and that the conflict, now in its 32nd day, will conclude “very shortly.”

Speaking for roughly 19 minutes, the president said U.S. forces have achieved “overwhelming victories” but did not offer a definitive timeline as questions swirled about when and how the war could formally wrap up.

According to a White House official ahead of the address, the president was expected to reaffirm his intention to end the war within the next three weeks and relay an “operational update” on the progress of the conflict, which he and top administration officials have characterized as running ahead of schedule.

“Operation Epic Fury”: Four Goals, One Deadline

“I’ve made clear from the beginning of Operation Epic Fury that we will continue until our objectives are fully achieved,” Trump told the nation. “Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly.”

The president again outlined the four core objectives the White House says it is pursuing: destroying Iran’s missiles and production facilities, annihilating its navy, ensuring Iran can no longer support regional militant groups, and guaranteeing that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

Trump reminded the nation that past American conflicts — World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the war in Iraq — lasted for years, while he expects this operation to conclude soon. “We are in this military operation, so powerful, so brilliant, against one of the most powerful countries for 32 days, and the country has been eviscerated,” he said.

Threats Against Iran’s Energy Infrastructure

In some of the speech’s most pointed language, Trump escalated his warnings against Tehran, threatening severe consequences if Iran’s leadership refuses to negotiate.

The president said the U.S. will hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks and threatened to obliterate all of Iran’s electric generating plants and target its oil sites if the country’s leaders don’t make a deal.

Trump had previously threatened to destroy Iran’s water and energy infrastructure if a deal to end the war and reopen the key trade route is not reached soon. Wednesday night’s address signaled no retreat from that posture.

The remarks drew immediate condemnation from international observers and human rights organizations who warned that targeting civilian energy infrastructure could constitute a violation of the Geneva Convention.

The Strait of Hormuz: An Economic Crisis at Choke Point

Central to Wednesday’s address was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran has effectively shuttered the passage since the war began, triggering a cascading global economic shock.

As a result of the war, Iran has sharply curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to higher oil prices, with gasoline in the U.S. now averaging more than $4 per gallon — a level not seen since 2022.

Higher fuel costs are beginning to ripple through prices on a wide variety of goods. The Strait’s closure has also raised the price of some fertilizers, hurting farmers.

Trump told allies that countries heavily relying on the Strait of Hormuz “must take care of that passage” and “grab it and cherish it,” suggesting nations struggling to secure sufficient fuel should purchase it from the United States. He added that once the conflict concludes, “the strait will open up naturally.”

Earlier in the day, Trump had urged allies who did not join the war but are facing fuel shortages to “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” saying the United States “won’t be there to help you anymore.”

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Claims, Vows to Continue Fighting

Hours before Trump’s primetime address, the president posted on social media claiming Iran’s president had asked for a ceasefire — a claim Tehran flatly denied.

Iran’s foreign minister called Trump’s claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Tehran is not in direct negotiations with Washington, despite Trump’s claims that the U.S. is in “serious discussions” with what he described as a “new, and more reasonable regime” in Iran. “Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between the United States and us,” Araghchi said.

Iran’s foreign minister also said his country is prepared for “at least six months” of war, directly contradicting Trump’s two-to-three-week timeline for wrapping up the operation. “We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera. “We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required.”

Regime Change and Nuclear Ambiguity

Trump addressed the sensitive issue of regime change, saying, “Regime change was not our goal. We never said regime change. But regime change has occurred because of the deaths of all of their original leaders. They’re all dead. The new group is less radical and much more reasonable.”

On the question of Iran’s nuclear capability — cited by the administration as a central justification for launching the war — the president’s position remained notably ambiguous. Trump said Tuesday, “They will have no nuclear weapon, and that goal has been attained.” But he later hinted that another president may have to return to the issue in the future, saying Iran “will not be able to do a nuclear weapon for years.”

Netanyahu, for his part, asserted that the U.S.-Israeli strikes have eliminated Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, thereby removing what he called “two existential threats” to Israel.

Lebanon, Gulf States, and the Widening War

Lebanon has become another major front in the larger Middle East war. More than 1,300 people in Lebanon have been killed in about four weeks of Israeli attacks, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, and more than a million people have been displaced by the fighting and Israel’s broad evacuation warnings.

A drone attack struck Kuwait International Airport’s fuel depots on Wednesday, causing a “massive blaze” with significant damage to fuel tanks, though no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said it was working to extinguish a fire at a company facility following a separate Iranian drone attack.

Some Persian Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have privately urged the Trump administration to press ahead with strikes on Iran to ensure the regime can no longer threaten the region with ballistic missiles and drones. “Our message is: Finish the job,” said one senior Gulf official.

Public Opinion and Political Pressures

The address comes at a politically fraught moment for the administration. Trump’s approval rating has continued to slide amid the war, hitting first-term lows in both the New York Times and RealClearPolitics polling averages.

New CNN polling shows just one-third of the American public believes Trump has a clear plan to handle the situation in Iran. Americans are not sold on the war’s costs, and significantly more Americans say the economy — rather than the war — is the most important issue facing the country.

Oil prices fell below $100 per barrel, and Asian shares surged on Wednesday over renewed optimism about a potential de-escalation following Trump’s suggestion he would likely end U.S. operations within several weeks. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped to $99.05 per barrel in early trading.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and China issued a joint statement Tuesday calling for talks as part of a broader peace plan, demanding a ceasefire, an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

As the conflict enters its second month with no formal ceasefire in sight, the coming days may prove decisive — a sentiment echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared earlier this week that the “upcoming days will be decisive” in the war with Iran.

This is a developing news story. Updates will be published as further information becomes available.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Eric Swalwell from California battles FBI Director Kash Patel in a heated Washington showdown. Swalwell acts fast to stop the FBI from sharing files on a 10-year-old probe.

Those files link him to Christine “Fang Fang” Fang, a woman suspected of spying for China. She got close to several California Democrats back in the early 2010s.

Swalwell’s lawyers fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Patel on Monday. They demand he drop all plans to release the records right away. The probe never led to charges against Swalwell. For example, the Associated Press got a copy of the letter.

Top lawyers Sean Hecker and Norm Eisen signed it. They warn that Patel risks big legal trouble for himself, the FBI, and others. “You aim to smear him and hurt his run for California governor,” they state. They add that sharing the files breaks federal laws in key ways.

The letter sets a deadline. It asks Patel and the FBI to confirm in writing by Wednesday that they won’t release anything. So far, no public reply has come out.

Old Spy Probe Comes Back to Life

This story goes back over 10 years. Fang helped Swalwell raise funds. She also placed an intern in his office during his 2014 campaign. She first connected with his team in 2012 as he ran for Congress. Federal agents warned Swalwell in 2015.

They also briefed Congress then. Swalwell cut ties after that, he says.

No one ever charged him with anything wrong. A House Ethics probe started in 2021. It ended two years later with no action. The Justice Department skipped charges, too.

However, the case stirs again now. Critics point to the timing as no accident. FBI staff in California collect and edit documents now. They prep them for top Trump officials, says the New York Times. It cites three sources who know. The Washington Post broke the story first. They note this public release would break norms for cases without charges.

In addition, the Post reports something wild. The FBI eyes a visa for Fang to visit the U.S. She could talk to agents about Swalwell. Agents rarely do that with accused foreign spies.

Eric Swalwell Calls It Election Meddling

Swalwell speaks out strongly. He leads in the June 2 California governor’s primary. He sees the FBI push as a Trump White House trick to sway the race.

“It’s just 34 days until voting starts in California,” he told CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Monday. “Polls show us out front. The president wants his pick out West.”

On CNN, he calls any file release straight corruption. He compares it to J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI days, known for dirty politics.

Swalwell hits harder online. “Great reporting shows how far the White House goes after rivals,” he posted. “Trump fights me because I’m the frontrunner now, not just because of the governor race. Still, Trump and Patel don’t choose our governor. Voters do.”

Why Swalwell’s Team Says It’s Illegal

His lawyers list clear reasons to block the release. First, it breaks the 1974 Privacy Act. It also hits Swalwell’s First Amendment rights. “He helped the FBI in a closed case with no charges against him,” they write. “No real law enforcement need exists here.” Plus, it could harm sources and methods.

They call it pure politics, too. “You target him for his views. That violates the First Amendment,” the letter states.

The Justice Department sticks to a rule. It skips public shares on no-charge probes. Experts say changing that before a big primary would shock history.

Patel and Swalwell clashed before. In his 2023 book “Government Gangsters,” Patel named Swalwell among Trump’s foes. Now Patel controls those FBI files.

Patel mocked Swalwell publicly in December on Fox News. He joked about Swalwell dating Fang Fang again. Democrats slammed it as a personal grudge, not cop work.

The FBI defends its steps carefully. “This FBI shares more than ever,” a spokesperson says. “We prep docs for reviews by other agencies on old cases from past admins.” They skip details on Swalwell files or timelines.

Democrats Back Swalwell Hard

Top Democrats blast the moves. They see it as Trump using cops against enemies. Rep. Jamie Raskin leads the House Judiciary Democrats. “FBI smears a congressman, governor hopeful, and Trump foe,” he says. “How does that serve cops? It’s just partisan weapon use.”

Sen. Adam Schiff agrees. “Trump and his team hit DOJ foes again,” he posted on X. “Patel will do anything to pick California’s governor.”

This hits during California’s huge governor fight. Ten big names run: eight Democrats, two Republicans. Primary’s June 2. The top two advance to November, party aside. Polls this month put Swalwell high among Democrats. He even tops one Republican. That sets him up for the general.

Swalwell faces a DOJ referral, too, over alleged mortgage fraud. He calls it another attack. He dropped a suit on a housing official lately. Last September, he said he expected Trump to prosecute him. Patel’s book lists him as a “gangster.”

No one knows if files drop or when. Yet this Fang Fang fight spotlights big issues. It questions FBI independence, government attacks on rivals, and election-year power limits.

Swalwell risks his whole shot. Patel seems to plan it. California voters start early mail ballots in May. Who shapes the story might matter most in this race.

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