Sadie Roraback-Meagher: Evan, what’s the difference between an expired pie and this year’s New York mayoral election?
Evan Wang: What?
Sadie: Nothing, they’re both full of rotten apples.
Evan: I’m going to quit the column.
Sadie: Jokes aside, a probable Cuomo-Adams off seems like just one more disheartening event to happen in American politics this year.
Evan: I wonder what could be next. Maybe a Matt Gaetz or George Santos comeback? That would definitely make this year’s political scene more amusing.
Sadie: It would surely be interesting to see Eric Adams go Republican, which he’s been hinting at.
Evan: With the way Adams is bending over backwards for Trump, he might as well be a Republican already.
Sadie: Okay, enough about boring politics. Let’s talk about movies!
Evan: How are you feeling about Sunday’s Oscars?
Sadie: Well, this year’s nominees have certainly been ridden with controversy, and I’m interested to see who will win.
Evan: Personally, I’m rooting for “Anora.” It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that makes for a Cinderella-esque movie.
Sadie: I’m also hoping “Anora” wins, but I’ve seen some Slavic people criticizing the film for centering around Russian characters at a time when Russia’s war with Ukraine has been intensifying. Some have pointed out that the film’s praise has been celebrated as a national victory in Russia.
Evan: Yes, especially when Trump and Vance are trying to demean the Ukrainian president on national television.
Sadie: What do you mean, Evan? All good diplomacy includes criticizing your allies’ outfit choices.
Evan: I think you mean former ally.
Sadie: True. But on the ‘bright side,’ it appears that Ukraine’s European allies have ramped up their support. On Sunday, Britain’s prime minister pledged 2 billion dollars to help Ukraine buy missiles, and France pledged to send peacekeepers to Ukraine.
Evan: It’s going to take a long time for Europe to step up on Ukraine’s war needs. I still think that America needs to play a large role in the war effort. Trump’s disgraceful performance on Friday is completely unacceptable. The fact that a plurality of Americans say support for Ukraine helps U.S. national security should prove the public’s approval of Zelensky and the Ukrainian government.
Sadie: Agreed. Hopefully, Europe’s support will make up for Trump’s appalling treatment of our long-time ally.
Evan: Regardless of Trump’s foreign blunders, his domestic agenda is gaining traction.
Sadie: Yes, the recent overturning of trans civils rights in Iowa, along with Trump’s executive action to ban transgender people from the army, is dispiriting.
Evan: I think that Trump’s heavy-handed approach to abolishing trans rights will prove to be unpopular with the American public. While nearly four in 10 Americans think that society has gone too far in accepting trans people, a majority of Americans still favor guaranteeing civil rights for trans people.
Sadie: Maybe this will motivate Democrats to start coalescing and begin tackling Trump’s agenda. I hope we see more Democrats like Sen. Brian Shatz and Gov. Janet Mills, who have been outspoken critics of Trump at a time when the Democratic Party has been floundering.
