Driving the news: On Wednesday, many Democratic lawmakers and officials either denounced Mamdani or notably declined to rally around him. Republicans — including President Trump — crowed about Democrats embracing a democratic socialist who has called for reduced police funding and sided with Palestinians in the Gaza war.

• The top two Democratic leaders in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, both New Yorkers, declined to endorse Mamdani even as they applauded his victory.

• New York Rep. Laura Gillen, from Nassau County, called Mamdani the "absolute wrong choice for New York."

• Rep. Tom Suozzi, also from Nassau County, said he had "serious concerns."

Major Democratic donors — who poured tens of millions into a Super PAC for Cuomo — were having private discussions Wednesday about whether to back an independent run by Cuomo in November's general election, or rally behind unpopular incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who's also running as an independent.

I heard the altar call of the rocket man

as he pleaded on the mount

then were we like those who dream

as the tired tiger jumped through hoops of fire

one last time for the crowd

then were we like those who dream

I saw containerships of man's demise

ride tidal waves to hell

then were we like those who dream

and the whales that did swim by they did not blink

or wish us well

then were we like those who dreamed

all the stones that

broke yer bones won't

maim the soul inside you

time's jus a thing you live through baby

all the things that

make me sing are

jus songs I'm relearning

there's nothing here I'm earning

and on the 8th day man made a machine

likened to his image

then were we like those who dream

and he argued whether or whether not

it would kill and eat his village then were they like those who dream

all the stones that

broke yer bones won't

maim the soul within you time's just a thing you live through baby

all the things that

make me sing are

just songs I'm relearning

there's nothing here I'm earning

I saw the ministers of relevant humanity

trade cards

then were they like those who dream

and I looked into that valley and I knew it would be hard

then were we like those who dream

all the stones that

broke yer bones won't

maim the soul within you

time's just a thing you live through baby

all the things that

make me sing are

just songs I'm relearning

there's nothing here worth earning