Second Home Taxes Target People Who Can't Vote Against Them | The States

Today on The States: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stands by Brad Lander amid a DSA rift over Israel policy, Governor Hochul and DHS Secretary Mark Mullen clash publicly over counterterrorism funding and sanctuary city policy, National Taxpayers Union's Andrew Wilford breaks down the legal fight over New York and Rhode Island's second-home taxes, Everyday Economics examines what the Fed chair's Jackson Hole speech leaves out, and America's Talking rounds up a new poll on data center approval, Minnesota's gubernatorial recount ruling, and Louisiana's board cleanup effort.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is standing by his endorsement of Brad Lander for Congress despite pressure from the Democratic Socialists of America, who wanted a different candidate over Lander's support for Israel's existence as a Jewish state. New polling cited in the segment shows a majority of voters are concerned about rising socialism and antisemitism.

National Taxpayers Union Director of State Policy Andrew Wilford discusses the constitutional challenge to New York City and Rhode Island's new taxes on second homes, arguing the taxes are effectively targeted at non-residents who have no vote and no legal recourse other than the courts. He also covers New York City's rollout of the tax, including a publicly released list of 900,000 properties that may be affected when only about 11,200 are expected to actually owe it.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the Trump administration is withholding $87 million in counterterrorism funding from the state ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. DHS Secretary Mark Mullen, appearing separately, defended DHS immigration enforcement operations in New York, including Operation Rotten Apple, and clashed with Hochul and Mamdani over the state's sanctuary city policies.

Dr. Orphe Divounguy joins Chris Krug for Everyday Economics to argue that the Fed chair's Jackson Hole assessment of a strong economy overlooks a two-speed reality: roughly 80% of Q2 GDP growth came from AI-related spending, while home building had its weakest summer since 2020 and hiring is at its lowest level since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

America's Talking rounds up a new Center Square Voters' Voice poll on who should approve data centers, the Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling against Mike Lindell's request for a full recount of the August primary, and a Louisiana legislative audit finding dozens of inactive state boards and commissions.