Opinion

Former President Theodore Roosevelt, at the Minnesota State Fair in September 1901, quipped: “A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb, ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far.’ If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble.”

Candidates have always made outlandish promises just to get their supporters to go out and vote. However, it was assumed that once the person was elected, these promises would not be fulfilled. Trump changed that dynamic, and Mamdani has followed in his footsteps. Two major events have already occurred in 2026: one locally and one internationally.

To understand the current situation in Minneapolis, you must first turn back to 2020 after the killing of George Floyd, when nationwide protests erupted with the epicenter in Minneapolis, where police killed Floyd.

Last week, when I wrote my column, it was the first day I had the flu. Because I was sick and had less energy and focus than usual, I changed the topic I had originally planned and instead wrote about the Turning Point conference. It seemed to be the right choice, since it made the front page, which was unusual.

In my column in last week’s QJL, I wrote that “When there was an intimidation protest outside Park Avenue Synagogue, we responded with our own rally of support. That is what we need to do every time there is a similar protest.” I did not know when I wrote the column that such a situation would happen within a few days - and in my community.

We see that in our time, individuals running for election address the economy, including affordability and inflation. Voters often focus solely on these issues and ignore all the other troubling things those candidates have said in the past, instead choosing to look only at what they promise to do in the future. In the past, a politician’s views on Israel—which often masked antisemitism, or were blatant antisemitism outright—would have disqualified a person.