Hong’s narrow Wisconsin loss: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 17, 2026

Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong speaks during a primary election night watch party on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Madison. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Issue: The rise of democratic socialists, despite Francesca Hong’s loss in Wisconsin.

To those who smugly celebrated the defeat of lunatic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin: She still got over 300,000 votes and lost by a bare nubbins (“Socialism’s persona non-starter,” Isaac Schorr, Aug. 13).

As November approaches, vigilance by those of us who are sane will prove to be as consequential to our nation as any military campaign.

Bob Heier

Estero, Fla.

Republicans reportedly spent millions of dollars promoting DSA candidate Francesca Hong, since they thought she would be easier to beat in the November election. Yet she lost anyway.

You say establishment Democrats finally exhaled after holding their breaths, but they’d be wise to hold off the champagne celebrations (“Wisconsin Was Just One Battle,” Editorial, Aug. 13).

Both parties’ establishment wings are in panic mode because they know public sentiment is not on their side.

J. J. Crovatto

Ramsey, NJ

Millions from all over the world have come to America for 250 years to live free and prosper, unencumbered by dictating despots and government intervention. Now the democratic socialists are telling you right to your face that they want to destroy the Constitution by getting rid of our form of government.

Gregory Topliff

Aiken, SC

If The Post wants to remain a serious newspaper, it has to stop with its disingenuous, misleading attempts to turn both candidates and espoused philosophies into what looks like another communist scare reminiscent of the 1950s.

We have had “socialism” here for decades: Social Security, Medicare, student loans, the list goes on. Just because a politician has socialist leanings does not make him or her a communist, just like having conservative views doesn’t make one a Nazi.

Lou Maione

Manhattan

The Democratic Socialists of America can’t bring themselves to denounce Russia or China’s murderous authoritarian regimes or Iran’s homicidal theocracy. Yet they seek to emulate and re­create such systems here.

Well, the piper always calls to be paid, in power, money and blood. Just ask the Ukrainian, Cuban or Venezuelan peoples. They can tell you how this movie ends.

I. Cohen

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The Issue: New York magazine’s issue that included a claim of “Israeli genocide.”

New York magazine’s cover calling New York “Habibi City” is another powerful example of the rampant spread of anti-Jewish vitriol resulting in the terrifying rise of antisemitic hate crimes under Mayor Mamdani (“ ‘Jew hating’ NY magazine,” Aug. 13).

How much money did the magazine get to sell its soul and run this hateful article about Jews and Israel?

Betty Schwartz

Livingston, NJ

New York magazine used to be a great magazine: interesting articles, great visuals and fun puzzles. Over the years it’s become like the New York Times — unreadable and filled with hate against Jews and Israel.

It’s hard to imagine any decent and fair-minded person picking up that rag.

J.J. Levine

Miami Beach, Fla.

After that “hit piece” on Israel and Jews under the guise of celebrating Arab and Muslim culture in New York City, I would not hold my breath for New York magazine to honestly cover the plight of the estimated 850,000 Jews who were forced to flee Arab and Muslim countries after 1948.

While most of those Jews fled to Israel, some of their descendants represent part of the multicultural tapestry of the Big Apple. I suppose it doesn’t fit the biased magazine’s narrative.

Robert Semel

Brooklyn

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