Billboard in Times Square Calls For Release Of Epstein Files

A Potential Lead In The Epstein Files. This Is Weird.

Epstein Files

Jail

Jeffrey Epstein

Matt Walsh

New York City

Opinion

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We keep hearing that Americans should stop focusing so much on the Middle East and focus a lot more on what&#8217;s going on here at home.
I agree with this 100%, because many terrorists are here.
And — they have the tacit and not-so-tacit support of the mayor of New York City and his wife.
Over the weekend, an anti-Islamist protest took place outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s home. It was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” and run by a white supremacist named Jake Lang. Roughly 20 people showed up.
20 people were apparently too many for 18-year-old Emir Balat, who threw an ignited device toward the protest area. He was shouting at the time — wait, wait, wait for it — you&#8217;re never going to guess — &#8220;Allahu Akbar!&#8221;
I know, I know, a shocking surprise.
Balat then apparently ran toward 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, and he grabbed a second device. He lit that, and then began running. Eventually, he dropped it. Both men were arrested.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2383-the-ben-shapiro-show?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
The criminal complaint stated:
<blockquote>After the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) arrested them at the scene, BALAT and KAYUMI both made statements referring to ISIS. For example, as KAYUMI was being placed inside an NYPD vehicle to be transported, an individual from the surrounding crowd yelled to KAYUMI and asked, in substance and in part, why he had done this. KAYUMI responded, in part and as captured on NYPD body-worn camera footage, “ISIS.” BALAT and KAYUMI also referred to ISIS in recorded post-arrest statements they made after receiving and waiving their Miranda rights.</blockquote>
These were not smoke bombs. They were IEDs. According to the New York Post, the IEDs were homemade. They were packed with nuts, bolts, and screws, and also a household concoction nicknamed by international terrorist groups the “Mother of Satan.”
Law enforcement sources told the Post the IEDs were so volatile they wouldn&#8217;t even have needed a fuse to go off.
To no one&#8217;s surprise, Balat traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, for more than three months last year, and Kayumi traveled to Istanbul in 2024. It turns out there are a lot of people in Turkey who are really, really, Islamist.
The pair admitted to law enforcement that they had watched ISIS videos and were inspired by ISIS.
This should be the biggest story in the country: yet another attempted terror attack by a radical Islamist shouting “Allahu Akbar.”
I say “another’ because in the past ten years or so, there have been a wide variety of such attacks. The Austin nightclub shooting just last week, where the terrorist wore a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah”; the New Orleans terror ramming of January 1, 2025, killing 14, where the suspect had an ISIS flag in his truck; the New York City truck attack on October 31, 2017, in which a terrorist ran down eight people; the Saint Cloud Mall stabbing in September 2016, in which ten people were stabbed by a terrorist shouting “Allahu Akbar”; the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting of 2016 — which was to that point the deadliest mass shooting in American history with 49 killed and the guy was shouting “Allahu Akbar”; the University of California, Merced stabbing of 2015. 
And of course, this wasn&#8217;t even the only suspected terror bombing in the West over the weekend. In Norway, the U.S. embassy was bombed early Sunday morning local time.
But that&#8217;s not the biggest story here.
The biggest story was the reaction from the mayor in New York. The mayor&#8217;s office released a statement condemning — the Anti-Islamist protesters!
Not a word about the attempted bombers, as of Sunday night. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s press secretary said, “The crusade against Islamification gathering held outside Gracie Mansion today by Jake Lang, a vile white supremacist, was despicable and Islamophobic. Thankfully, the mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly.”
The mayor put out another <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/statement-from-mayor-zohran-kwame-mamdani-on-protests-outside-of">statement</a>: “Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city&#8217;s values and the unity that defines who we are. What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”
Did you notice something in those statements? Jake Lang was condemned in the fullest possible terms. So were the protesters. But, you may have noticed, you would have no idea from those statements who the people were that threw the IED. What did they actually believe? Were they wrong? 
Not a word of condemnation. Not one single word. In fact, if you read the mayor&#8217;s statement without context, you would come away thinking that Lang and his group threw the IED, which is disgusting and crazy and vile, because it turns out that if ISIS devotees throw a bomb at the “Stop the Islamic Takeover rally,” the people who ought to be called out are the ISIS devotees. They are the ones who threw a bomb.
So you have one group that&#8217;s saying stuff you don&#8217;t like, and you have another couple of guys who are lone wolves associated with ISIS who literally built IEDs to throw at a crowd.
And Zohran Mamdani’s response is, “Man, that rally was superbad. And the violence that happened afterward, I mean, that was bad.”
What the hell is he talking about?
We know. We know what&#8217;s happening here. This is not a shock.
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, is a lifelong supporter of terrorists, going all the way back to his days as a failed rapper. And, as it turns out, so was the first lady of New York. She repeatedly liked social media posts celebrating October 7 as it unfolded. She even liked one post calling New York Times reporting on the rape of Israeli women by Hamas “a mass rape hoax.”
What was Mamdani’s <a href="https://x.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/2029976420274032776">response</a> to the reports that his wife had liked a bunch of posts sympathetic to terrorists?
<blockquote>You know, my wife is the love of my life, and she&#8217;s also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my city hall. I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city, and I believe that it&#8217;s my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions.</blockquote>
I have a question for him. Why did your statement about ISIS affiliates throwing bombs at a rally not mention ISIS, radical Islam, terrorism, or anything else about that?
Are we supposed to believe that the husband of the woman who was sympathetic to October 7 disagrees with any of her sentiments? And if so, precisely why?
The problem here isn&#8217;t just a fringe issue. It is now a mainstream issue for the Democratic Party, which has decided that pooh-poohing radical Islam is de rigueur in order to condemn both America and Israel.
And Mamdani is the face of their movement.

NYC Mayor Mamdani Holds News Conference As Authorities Probe Alleged ‘ISIS-Inspired’ Attack In New York

America Last: The Mamdani Playbook

Ben Shapiro

Zohran Mamdani

Suspected terrorist Emir Balat flashed an ISIS salute three times while being escorted in handcuffs from a police precinct in New York on Monday.
Balat first made the gesture as he emerged from a tunnel outside the precinct where he had been held after being arrested on Saturday. A police officer attempted to cover his hand with a manila folder, but Balat raised his hand above the folder and repeated the gesture. He briefly lowered his hand before raising it a third time as he was placed into a vehicle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The 18-year-old was seen holding up his right index finger — a universal salute for the terror group — and grinning at the press while being led by a cop and an FBI agent. Read more at the link in our bio. <a href="https://t.co/9bg83J1HQ1">pic.twitter.com/9bg83J1HQ1</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2031033866236960770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
ISIS began using the gesture, a raised index finger accompanied by a slight shaking motion, in 2014. The gesture refers to Tawhid, the Islamic belief in the oneness of God.
When taken into custody on Saturday, Balat pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. He wrote, &#8220;All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds. I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar,&#8221; on a sheet of paper at the police precinct. Police body cam footage showed Balat saying, &#8220;this isn&#8217;t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet &#8230; We take action! We take action!&#8221; and &#8220;if I didn&#8217;t do it someone else will come and do it.&#8221;
A federal complaint released Monday adds that Balat stated he wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing, which Balat said caused &#8220;only three deaths.&#8221;
Eighteen-year-old Balat was arrested Saturday along with 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi after an explosive device was thrown into a crowd of protesters and police officers. Balat and Kayumi are no longer being held by the NYPD and will instead be held on federal charges pending further court proceedings.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “Once again, we were fortunate that the devices used this weekend did not cause the kind of harm that they were certainly capable of causing, but luck is never a strategy.” Tisch added that if the weapons had detonated, they could have caused serious injury or death.
Balat and Kayumi traveled from Pennsylvania to New York City on Saturday morning. Both reportedly grew up in affluent neighborhoods. Balat’s home in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, is estimated to be worth $653,000, while Kayumi’s home is valued at approximately $2.25 million. Balat&#8217;s parents were born in Turkey, and Kayumi&#8217;s are from Afghanistan, <a href="https://x.com/annaschecter/status/2030817903746965817">according to</a> federal officials.

Right-Wing Activists Protest Against New York Mayor Mamdani Outside Gracie Mansion

WATCH: Suspected NYC Terrorist Flashes ISIS Salute Three Times

Afghanistan

Radical Islamic Terror

Turkey

A protest outside of Gracie Mansion in Manhattan on Saturday turned violent when two men lit two improvised explosive devices near a crowd that had gathered outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s residence. Neither of the explosives detonated, and no one was injured in the attack, which authorities are investigating as &#8220;ISIS-inspired terrorism.&#8221;
The story in New York could have been much different, however.
The devices used by the suspects during the weekend attack contained triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, an explosive nicknamed the &#8220;Mother of Satan&#8221; that terrorists have used to kill hundreds of people since 2005. TATP is especially dangerous because its materials are inexpensive and easy to access.
The U.S. government <a href="https://www.dni.gov/files/NCTC/documents/jcat/firstresponderstoolbox/78--NCTC-DHS-FBI---Triacetone-Triperoxide-(TATP)-.pdf">warns</a> that even small amounts of TATP can cause major damage if detonated, and the explosive can also be packed with shrapnel — such as nuts, bolts, and screws — to increase its lethality. The devices used by two suspects in New York City over the weekend were packed with such shrapnel.
One of the suspects threw an explosive near the crowd of protesters and the other suspect dropped another device near police officers. The suspects, 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi and 18-year-old Emir Balat, were quickly apprehended by authorities. The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/09/us-news/shackled-terrorist-defiantly-flashes-isis-salute-after-hes-busted-for-tossing-explosive-device-near-gracie-mansion/">reported</a> that one of the suspects said &#8220;Allahu Akbar&#8221; after he was questioned by investigators.
While the attack in Manhattan on Saturday has not yet been confirmed to be an ISIS attempt to kill Americans, TATP has been a primary weapon for the terrorist group for years. Since 2005, nearly 500 people throughout the world have been killed by terrorists who used the &#8220;Mother of Satan&#8221; in their attacks. Most of the terrorists who have used TATP to carry out mass killings in the past were either inspired by or part of ISIS.
<h3>2019: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings</h3>
On Easter Sunday in April 2019, ISIS terrorists used the &#8220;Mother of Satan&#8221; in bombings that targeted Christians who were worshipping in churches and at hotels throughout the small country. More than 250 people were killed in the coordinated attacks. The TATP bombs were worn by suicide bombers who pulled a strap to detonate their vests.
<h3>2017: Ariana Grande Concert Bombing</h3>
A lone suicide bomber detonated either a vest or a backpack with TATP and shrapnel at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, on May 22, 2017, killing 22, including 10 people under the age of 20. The terrorist reportedly made the bomb by himself. Authorities <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/09/manchester-arena-bomb-designed-kill-largest-number-innocents">determined</a> that the blast was able to kill people more than 60 feet away and was &#8220;designed to kill and maim indiscriminately the largest number of innocent people.&#8221;
<h3>2016: Brussels Airport and Train Bombings</h3>
Three ISIS suicide bombers detonated &#8220;Mother of Satan&#8221; bombs at the Brussels airport and on board a train leaving a metro station in a coordinated attack on March 22, 2016. The terrorists killed 32 people and wounded nearly 350 more. Two more attackers had planned to detonate another bomb at the airport and another at the metro station, but they fled the scenes of the bombings before carrying out their part of the attack.
<h3>2015: Paris Terrorist Attack</h3>
TATP explosives were part of the arsenal for ISIS fighters who carried out the deadliest terror attack in France&#8217;s history on November 13, 2015. Terrorists killed 130 people in six different locations throughout Paris in their attack, using semi-automatic rifles and suicide belts loaded with the &#8220;Mother of Satan.&#8221;
<h3>2005: London Bombings</h3>
Radical Muslim terrorists inspired by al-Qaeda killed more than 50 people and wounded nearly 800 in one of England&#8217;s deadliest terror attacks. Investigators believe the terrorists primarily used TATP bombs for their attack on London underground trains and a double decker bus.
As investigators continue to look into the two New York City attackers who attempted to detonate explosives over the weekend, more information about the suspects is coming to light. The two men reportedly have connections to the Middle East, but as of Monday afternoon, authorities have not tied them to any terror group. Kayumi and Balat recently spent time in Turkey, and Kayumi also flew to Saudi Arabia in 2024, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/self-radicalized-isis-supporters-used-explosive-called-mother-of-satan-inside-bombs-thrown-at-gracie-mansion-protest-sources/">reported</a>.
It remains unclear if the two suspects were taught how to make the &#8220;Mother of Satan&#8221; bombs or if anyone else knew about their attack. Kayumi and Balat reportedly told investigators that they had watched ISIS videos and targeted right-wingers who were protesting outside of Gracie Mansion because they believed the protesters disrespected their religion. The protest, which was organized by far-right activist Jake Lang, focused on denouncing the so-called Muslim takeover of New York City.
In a social media post on Sunday, Mamdani condemned the protest, which he said was &#8220;rooted in bigotry and racism&#8221; before he added, &#8220;What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.&#8221;

Terror Incident

Terrorists Have Killed Hundreds With ‘Mother Of Satan’ Bomb Used In NYC Attack

Bombings

ISIS

Terrorism

U.S.

Liberal comedian Walter Masterson stood in front of Gracie Mansion, home of Democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and shouted at anti-Islam protesters, &#8220;We welcome everyone!&#8221; Seconds later, terror suspect Emir Balat threw a bomb over his head into the crowd.
Masterson, a Democratic comedian and political satirist, posted video from the incident that took place on Saturday — an incident that is being investigated by the FBI&#8217;s Joint Terrorism Task Force after both suspects professed their allegiance to ISIS upon being apprehended.
&#8220;I was in the middle of saying &#8216;as a born and raised New Yorker, we welcome everyone into this city&#8217; when he threw that over my head,&#8221; Masterson commented on the video.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I was in the middle of saying “as a born and raised New Yorker, we welcome everyone into this city” when he threw that over my head. <a href="https://t.co/i5iD3MVf7h">pic.twitter.com/i5iD3MVf7h</a>
— Walter Masterson (@waltermasterson) <a href="https://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/2030738690163531891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;We were born and raised in New York, and we want everyone to stay in New York,&#8221; he said into a megaphone, shouting at the protesters gathered there. &#8220;You don&#8217;t get to come from outside and then tell everyone else —&#8221;
As he was speaking, someone else began to scream. Masterson appeared to instinctively duck down slightly, at which point Emir Balat — one of the suspects who was quickly apprehended — ran right up behind him and tossed something over his head.
People responded to Masterson&#8217;s video, suggesting that maybe he&#8217;d learned a valuable lesson that day – but Masterson, who claimed that he hadn&#8217;t been scared because the bomb looked fake, doubled down: &#8220;I’m the guy who didn’t run when a bomb was thrown over his head, I also didn’t become a xenophobic bigot.&#8221;
Masterson attempted to justify Balat&#8217;s actions — because he was targeting January 6th defendant Jake Lang — saying in an <a href="https://x.com/waltermasterson/status/2031066754928054611">X post</a>, &#8220;A terrorist jumped over my shoulder to throw an explosive at a pardoned terrorist from January 6th.&#8221;
In what appears to be a bizarre coincidence, Masterson appeared three years earlier at a school board meeting in the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/09/us-news/parents-of-alleged-nyc-bomb-thrower-own-2-5m-home-are-naturalized-citizens-from-afghanistan/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter">Pennsylvania community</a> from which the New York City suspects had come.
There to mock parents concerned about pornographic materials in school libraries and LGBTQ propaganda flooding classrooms, Masterson pretended to be a concerned conservative parent and complained about, among other things, a book that showed two penguins holding hands.
He also claimed that &#8220;The Giving Tree&#8221; was an overt reference to communism, and argued that all PRIDE flags should be replaced with copies of the Declaration of Independence: &#8220;It&#8217;s not just a piece of paper, it&#8217;s a map that leads to a treasure of Templar gold. That is why Nicolas Cage tried to steal it. As these liberals try to steal our Constitution the only way to stop it is to steal it first.&#8221;

TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-DEMONSTRATION

‘We Welcome Everyone,’ Liberal Comic Says — Then NYC Terror Suspect Throws Bomb Over His Head

Islamists

terrorist

terrorist attack

The FBI on Sunday raided the homes of two men who have since been charged in an ISIS-inspired attack outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence. 
The Pennsylvania homes of 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi were searched Sunday after they allegedly attempted to light an improvised explosive device (IED) outside of Mamdani’s mayoral mansion during a protest on Saturday. The device did not detonate, but officials said it could have been deadly.
“Earlier this evening, federal and local law enforcement conducted investigative activity in Middletown Township and Newtown related to an incident that occurred yesterday near the New York City Mayor’s official residence,” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RepBrianFitz/posts/pfbid032gNxSC8hcxCSeWb9AX95b3KbLiLX5Y3CaptNK3o3iHdmc1P5X5dUiwHwdKv5Vjd4l">said</a> Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Sunday. “Authorities have indicated that there is no known threat to the surrounding community, and the situation remains under the control of law enforcement. The activity was not related to immigration enforcement.”
On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media: &#8220;We have charged the two alleged ISIS-inspired terrorists who attempted to bomb a protest in New York City. We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation. Our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant.&#8221;
Both suspects reportedly made pro-ISIS statements while in custody, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/warrants-served-new-jersey-pennsylvania-feds-look-possible-nyc-terrorism">reported</a>. On Monday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attempted bombing was an “act of inspired ISIS terrorism.”
Police in Newtown Township, where Kayumi resides, <a href="https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/bucks/newtown-twp-pd/34824/post/police-activity-active-investigation">said</a> Sunday that they were working with the FBI on an investigation. His family&#8217;s 5,800-square-foot home is worth $2.25 million, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/09/us-news/parents-of-alleged-nyc-bomb-thrower-own-2-5m-home-are-naturalized-citizens-from-afghanistan/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a>. His parents are <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">repo</a><a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">rtedly</a> from Afghanistan and were naturalized between 2004 and 2009. 
The home of Balat in Middletown Township was also searched on Sunday. That 3,200-square-foot home is worth $653,000, the New York Post reported. 
“The FBI, along with specialized federal teams, is conducting a court-authorized search warrant as part of a federal investigation related to an incident that occurred yesterday in New York City,” Middletown Township said. “There is no known threat to the public at this time, and this activity is not related to immigration enforcement.”
Balat is a high school senior in the Neshaminy School District, <a href="https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/crime/2026/03/09/emir-balat-ibrahim-kayumi-bucks-county-terrorism-nyc-isis-iran-protest-lang-mamdani/89064102007/">according</a> to school officials. His parents are <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">reportedly</a> from Turkey and were naturalized in 2017. 
<div id="attachment_1055941" style="width: 1557px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055941" class="size-full wp-image-1055941" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM.png" alt="" width="1547" height="975" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM.png 1547w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-300x189.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-914x576.png 914w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-768x484.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-1536x968.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1547px) 100vw, 1547px" />Middletown Township Police Department.</div>
An additional residence in New Jersey was raided as part of the investigation, Fox News reported. 
“FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the matter with our partners at NYPD as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,” the FBI said on Sunday. “Preliminary analysis confirms one of the devices ignited and deployed by the subjects was an IED explosive. Tests remain ongoing for other devices.”

US-POLITICS-DEMONSTRATION

FBI Raids Homes Of 2 Teens Charged In Attempted ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombing

FBI Raids Homes Of 2 Teens Suspected Of Attempted ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombing

New York City police locked down part of Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday as the investigation into a terror scare near the mayor’s residence expanded after officers discovered another suspicious device.
The New York City Police Department <a href="https://x.com/NYPDnews/status/2030704917514510777">warned</a> residents to avoid East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street as officers responded to what authorities described as ongoing police activity.
Later, police confirmed the situation was connected to the investigation into an improvised explosive device used during unrest the previous day. “In connection with the ongoing investigation into the improvised explosive device deployed yesterday, the NYPD has identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street,” the department said in an advisory. Officers froze the area around the vehicle and began limited evacuations of nearby buildings while the bomb squad assessed the device.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In connection with the ongoing investigation into the improvised explosive device deployed yesterday, the NYPD has identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street. NYPD officers have frozen the area around the vehicle and are… <a href="https://t.co/R9LAfVBNep">https://t.co/R9LAfVBNep</a>
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDnews/status/2030744968218718218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The discovery comes one day after a homemade explosive device was thrown during a clash between protesters and counter-protesters near Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side. The residence is home to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Authorities later confirmed that at least one of the devices used during the confrontation was a genuine improvised explosive device capable of causing “serious injury or death.” 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terror-scare-in-nyc-as-officers-run-toward-the-danger?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Arrests+Made+After+Homemade+Explosives+Cause+Terror+Scare+In+NYC">The incident unfolded Saturday</a> when two opposing demonstrations gathered near East End Avenue and East 87th Street. One protest, organized by activist Jake Lang, drew a small group of demonstrators opposing public Muslim prayer in the city. A significantly larger group of counterprotesters also assembled nearby, and tensions escalated between the two sides. 
Police said an 18-year-old counter-protester allegedly ignited and threw a device toward the protest area before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself near officers. Investigators said the device appeared to be a glass jar wrapped in tape and packed with metal shrapnel such as nuts and bolts along with a fuse. In a <a href="https://x.com/nypdpc/status/2030695186410463401?s=46&amp;t=y7gEF-WnDtE-q41HclK3lg">statement</a> Sunday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the device used Saturday, “is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.” After speculation swirled online of the actual threat level posed.
Authorities also said the suspect attempted to deploy a second device before officers intervened, arresting two individuals in connection with the explosives. Additional arrests were made during the unrest, including one protester accused of using pepper spray. 
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has <a href="https://x.com/NewYorkFBI/status/2030483493474463992">joined</a> the investigation as authorities analyze the devices and determine whether additional suspects or explosives may be involved.
The suspicious device discovered Sunday inside a parked vehicle several blocks away prompted a renewed security response as investigators worked to determine whether it is connected to the devices used during Saturday’s confrontation.
Police have not yet announced whether the newly discovered device is functional, but the presence of the bomb squad and building evacuations underscores the seriousness of the situation as investigators continue sweeping the area.
Mamdani has not provided any statement or comment on the latest development in what seems to be a worrying trend. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Mamdani+Breaks+Silence+After+NYPD+Confirms+Bomb+Was+Used+In+Terror+Attempt">remarks</a> on Saturday’s incident split the blame between protesters and counter-protesters.
Officials have urged residents to avoid the neighborhood while the investigation continues. Streets in the surrounding area remain closed as authorities assess the device and work to secure the scene.

NYC Terror Scare Deepens As Bomb Squad Races To New Threat Near Mayor’s Mansion

The FBI is reportedly looking at an attempted bombing in New York City as a potential act of terror after at least one of the suspects — who wielded a homemade bomb at a protest outside Gracie Mansion the day before — claimed that he had been inspired by ISIS.
NBC News correspondent Tom Winter reported on Sunday that one of the suspects referenced ISIS directly in statements to law enforcement after his apprehension, prompting the terror probe.
CNN reported that both suspects admitted to being &#8220;inspired by ISIS,&#8221; but said that officials do not believe that there is a connection between the New York City attack and the military action unfolding in Iran.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk, the two NYC terrorists who hurled an IED at protestors were reportedly inspired by ISIS. <a href="https://t.co/gPiNeC0FoM">pic.twitter.com/gPiNeC0FoM</a>
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasMHern/status/2030735447656222986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Law enforcement sources [are] also telling us that the two suspects that were arrested in relation to those explosive devices have admitted to being inspired by ISIS,&#8221; correspondent Gloria Pazmino reported.
According to a report published Sunday by CBS News, the FBI&#8217;s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken over the investigation into Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 — both of whom live in Pennsylvania — after a lab in Quantico confirmed that what appeared to homemade bombs were not &#8220;hoax devices&#8221; but deadly Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) using components that have been seen in previous terror attacks.
The devices, two sources told CBS, contained sports drink bottles filled with explosives that were set inside glass jars packed with nails, bolts, and screws. The explosives were connected to a firework described as an &#8220;M-80-type&#8221; with a fuse.
The sources said that the explosive material inside was called triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, which is a white powder made from two readily available household chemicals: acetone and hydrogen peroxide.
Multiple reports suggest that the investigation is also likely to probe the recent travels of the suspects, both of whom have made extended visits to Istanbul in the last two years. Balat stayed in the Turkish city for months, from early May of 2025 to late August of the same year. Kayumi also traveled to Istanbul, but only stayed for a few weeks in July and August of 2024. He also traveled to Saudi Arabia in March of 2024.
Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin also reported that &#8220;New York City IED suspect Emir Balat’s parents are both from Turkey &amp; were naturalized into US citizens in 2017, while Ibrahim Kayumi’s parents are both from Afghanistan. Mom naturalized in 2009, dad naturalized in 2004.&#8221;
New York City&#8217;s Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt">issued a statement</a> about the attack on Sunday, which had taken place as competing protests played out in front of Gracie Mansion.
Mamdani specifically named January 6th defendant Jake Lang — who led a protest of about 20 people — and referred to him as a &#8220;white supremacist,&#8221; saying his demonstration was &#8220;rooted in bigotry and racism&#8221; and was not welcome in New York City.
While he condemned the violent act that followed, he did not mention the names of the terror suspects or their potential inspiration. Instead, he said simply, &#8220;The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.&#8221;

FBI Opens Terror Probe After Homemade Bombs In NYC Linked To ISIS

bombing

Media

Politics

New York City&#8217;s Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke his silence on Sunday, one full day after protesters shouting &#8220;Allahu Akbar&#8221; tossed two homemade devices into a crowd, after the New York Police Department&#8217;s bomb squad confirmed that the devices were, in fact, lethal.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a <a href="https://x.com/NYPDPC/status/2030695186410463401">statement</a> on Sunday declaring that the first device had been determined to be a lethal improvised explosive device (IED), and that further studies would be done to determine whether the same could be said of the second device.
&#8220;The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb,&#8221; Tisch stated. &#8220;It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.&#8221;
Tisch said that the second device was still under investigation, and that &#8220;further analysis&#8221; was necessary.
&#8220;Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter,&#8221; Tisch continued. &#8220;The NYPD is working on this investigation with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI through our Joint Terrorism Task Force. I want to again thank the brave members of the NYPD who ran towards the danger without hesitation and quickly apprehended the suspects.&#8221;
Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani also released a <a href="https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2030704552765263946">statement</a> attempting to split the blame between the suspected bombers and the protesters they&#8217;d targeted.
&#8220;Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism,&#8221; Mamdani complained. &#8220;Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.&#8221;
&#8220;What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day. My administration is closely monitoring the situation and I remain in close contact with our Police Commissioner.&#8221;
There were two simultaneous and oppositional protests taking place in front of Gracie Mansion — one, led by January 6th defendant Jake Lang, was titled &#8220;Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer&#8221; and drew a crowd of less than two dozen. The second protest, which drew over 100, was labeled &#8220;Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate.&#8221;
The two groups clashed despite being separated by law enforcement, resulting in one from Lang&#8217;s protest being arrested for using pepper spray against protesters from the other group. Tensions escalated further when Balat and Kayumi were arrested in connection with the homemade bombs.

Mamdani Breaks Silence After NYPD Confirms Bomb Was Used In Terror Attempt

A terror scare erupted in America’s tourist hotspot when suspected homemade bombs packed with nuts, bolts, and screws were hurled toward a crowd.
The devices were tossed during dueling protests late Saturday morning near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said investigators are still working to determine whether the devices were functional explosives or hoaxes, adding the information released so far is early and could change as the investigation develops.
Police say the first protest began around 11 a.m. near Gracie Mansion. The demonstration — titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” — drew about 20 participants and was organized by individuals associated with January 6 defendant Jake Lang.
A counter-protest nearby called “Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate” drew roughly 125 people at its peak. Officers separated the two groups into designated protest areas, but tensions escalated shortly before noon.
At 12:15 p.m., police say a protester associated with the Lang demonstration used pepper spray against counter-protesters and was arrested.
Fast forward 20 minutes. The situation intensified.
Police say an 18-year-old counter-protester identified as Amir Balat lit and hurled an ignited device toward the protest area. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke trailing the device as it flew through the air before striking a barrier and extinguishing just feet from police officers.
Balat then ran from the scene, where investigators say he obtained a second device from a 19-year-old man tentatively identified as Ibrahim Nick.
Police say Balat lit that device while running before dropping it nearby. Officers quickly moved in, secured the area and took both men into custody. The incident was captured on NYPD surveillance cameras.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: NYPD tackle man who allegedly set off a “homemade smoke bomb.” Police are now ordering everyone to clear the area.<a href="https://twitter.com/Bodittle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bodittle</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/TPUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TPUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/lUnciJLJ25">pic.twitter.com/lUnciJLJ25</a>
— FRONTLINES TPUSA (@FrontlinesTPUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrontlinesTPUSA/status/2030341117053382819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bomb squad technicians responded to examine the devices. Tisch said early inspections suggest the objects appeared to be jars wrapped in black tape, slightly smaller than a football, packed with nuts, bolts, and screws and fitted with a hobby fuse that could be ignited.
Investigators are still working to determine whether the devices were functional improvised explosive devices or hoaxes, as it remains unclear whether they contained explosive material.
Both devices were transported by the bomb squad to the department’s Rodman’s Neck facility for further testing and analysis.
Police established a safety perimeter and searched the surrounding area for additional hazards, using canine units and manually inspecting garbage cans, vehicles, and nearby locations.
In total, six arrests were made in connection with the events. Those arrests include the two men accused of handling and deploying the devices, the protester who used pepper spray earlier in the demonstration, and additional individuals charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
Some on social media are claiming Balat or Nick yelled “Allahu Akbar,” though that has not been confirmed by authorities.
Tisch praised officers who rushed toward the danger as the situation unfolded.
“I always speak about the police running toward the danger when everyone else runs away,” the commissioner said. “Let me be clear — that happened today.”
“I am grateful that there were no injuries associated with the incident,” she added.
Tisch said she has remained in contact with Mayor Zohran Mamdani throughout the day. Authorities say there is currently no indication the incident is connected to ongoing hostilities involving Iran, though the investigation remains active.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Watch as <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDPC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYPDPC</a> and NYPD executives brief the media on an ongoing investigation. <a href="https://t.co/FgTRZHumPV">https://t.co/FgTRZHumPV</a> <a href="https://t.co/MKsui1817S">pic.twitter.com/MKsui1817S</a>
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDnews/status/2030422025928310810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Frontlines TPUSA reporter Bronson Alford told The Daily Wire that the counter-protesters from &#8220;Drive the Nazis out of New York&#8221; were not your average demonstrators.
“The protesters weren’t normal protesters; they were ANTIFA and their goal was to hurt as many conservative journalists as they could,” Alford told The Daily Wire. Alford said things escalated when protesters started screaming “Bomb, bomb, bomb.” His surroundings began to fill with smoke saying it smelled like something had been ignited.

New York City Attack

Arrests Made After Homemade Explosives Cause Terror Scare In NYC

Islam

President Javier Milei’s economic revolution represents more than a policy pivot; it’s a moral restoration of economic freedom in a country long suffocated by political patronage and false populism.
For over half a century, Argentina sabotaged its own potential through destructive experiments in statism. Now, at last, a government in Buenos Aires is aligning economic reality with moral clarity: wealth is created by entrepreneurs, not bureaucrats.
This return to first principles is rekindling optimism not only among Argentines but across a region desperate for proof that markets and democracy still deliver shared prosperity.
One crucial reform remains for President Milei: fulfilling his campaign promise to replace the discredited peso with the U.S. dollar, which would slay the inflation dragon once and for all. Other Latin American nations have successfully done this.
This weekend, President Milei will join <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/world/trump-to-host-latin-american-leaders-including-milei-in-miami-on-march-7.phtml__;!!PxibshUo2Yr_Ta5B!1lj03JOV51ushNRZ8I6bEicd-MCjFM8_7oSRvGjC-ZdxY1yQmBNK7tvJUriYzI4RmGou_Pok0uqJL1psbIsm4g$">President Donald Trump in Miami</a>, where several Latin American leaders will discuss a renewed hemispheric push for pro-growth cooperation. The very fact that Argentina now sits at such a table signals how far it has come in restoring credibility. A nation once dismissed as ungovernable is suddenly at the center of regional attention, reminding the world that bold ideas grounded in free markets can reshape national destiny. The discussions will also test whether Argentina can sustain reform momentum amid political resistance at home.
Shortly afterward, Milei&#8217;s administration will host “<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://x.com/ArgMilei/status/1992720098612940853?s=20__;!!PxibshUo2Yr_Ta5B!1lj03JOV51ushNRZ8I6bEicd-MCjFM8_7oSRvGjC-ZdxY1yQmBNK7tvJUriYzI4RmGou_Pok0uqJL1qR77feuw$">Argentina Week</a>“ in New York, showcasing opportunities for American investment in energy, agriculture, and finance. The symbolism is powerful: Buenos Aires is stepping out of its long isolation and back into a world governed by trust and transparency. For many investors who had written off Argentina years ago, this gathering marks the ultimate test of Milei’s reforms under political and legal scrutiny that past regimes failed. Clear progress will bring capital home, along with the modern infrastructure, technology, and competition needed to reinvigorate Argentina’s middle class and stabilize its currency.
Markets, however, are built on trust, not slogans. The outcome of the <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-08/argentina-ordered-to-pay-at-least-8-4-billion-in-ypf-lawsuit__;!!PxibshUo2Yr_Ta5B!1lj03JOV51ushNRZ8I6bEicd-MCjFM8_7oSRvGjC-ZdxY1yQmBNK7tvJUriYzI4RmGou_Pok0uqJL1rXv1ks2w$">Petersen v. Republic of Argentina</a> case — a $16 billion judgment tied to the Peronism-driven seizure of the energy company YPF — will test Argentina’s commitment to the rule of law. YPF’s nationalization back in 2012 was another failed experiment of Argentina’s Peronist past – one that resulted in major fallout for American investors. If the government honors that judgment and turns this costly dispute into a milestone of legal redemption, it would signal that the old habits of expropriation are truly over.
Refusing to honor that decision would risk undermining the very revival Milei seeks. It would chill investment just as confidence begins to return and cast doubt on Argentina’s reliability as a trading and financial partner. Upholding accountability, by contrast, would not only calm financial markets but also energize entrepreneurs at home, eager to build without fear of arbitrary intervention. It would confirm to foreign investors that Argentina’s new age of reform is anchored in institutions, not personalities.
The United States has already shown its faith in Argentina’s reform course. President Trump‘s $20 billion swap line was more than financial aid — it was a vote of confidence that free people and free markets can succeed where socialism failed. That confidence, however, will last only if Argentina maintains predictable legal and economic rules.
Milei has shown rare determination by slashing spending, ending price controls, and dismantling the bureaucracies that choked private enterprise. But lasting success depends on consistency: clear rules, sound money (hence the need for dollarization), and dependable institutions. Property rights are the oxygen of capitalism. When governments confiscate, investment dies. When they keep their word, growth flourishes.
The temptation to cut corners in the name of short-term relief always lurks nearby. But the only sustainable path forward is steady adherence to economic liberty and institutional reliability. The meetings in Miami and New York offer the ideal stage for Milei to affirm those values — and to show that Argentina’s new direction is not a passing wave but a permanent shift in national character.
If Argentina stays this course — resolving old debts, deepening ties with the United States, and proving that freedom and responsibility are inseparable — it can once again become a beacon of prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. The world is watching, and this time Argentina has a real chance to prove that freedom works.
* * *
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Javier Milei Opens 2026 Legislative Sessions

STEVE FORBES: Argentina’s Reinvention Depends On Faith From Free Markets

STEVE FORBES: Argentina's Reinvention Depends On Faith From Free Markets

Argentina

Economics

finance

Free Market

Miami

South America

US dollar

A man accused of murder is now the subject of a musical and the crowds can’t wait.
“Luigi: The Musical,” will debut in New York City this June, just blocks from the scene of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder. The show, first staged in San Francisco, transforms suspected assassin Luigi Mangione into a comic antihero. The New York premiere has sold out. Late-night audiences have cheered at the mention of his name.
Not long ago, political violence — even fictionalized — sparked bipartisan outrage. Today, it sells tickets. And the speed of that shift says more about us than it does about one off-Broadway production.
<div id="attachment_1055155" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055155" class="size-large wp-image-1055155" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-NYC-461x576.jpg" alt="Source: thegreenroom42/Instagram" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-NYC-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-NYC-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-NYC-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-NYC.jpg 1080w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Source: thegreenroom42/Instagram</div>
Pop culture has a way of giving us an eerie snapshot into America’s moral decline.
We could point to Bad Bunny’s over-sexualized Super Bowl halftime show, new media attempts to trans the kids, or Brittany’s new DUI. But also consider the outrage over the 2006 film “Death of a President,” the faux documentary featuring President George W. Bush’s assassination. The film released just as far-Left protesters labeled the president “Hitler” over his War on Terror tactics. The project even drew bipartisan fury from former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who dubbed the film “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061023003633/http:/www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060916%2FUPDATE%2F609160394">despicable</a>.”
More than a decade later, the culture recoiled over an image of comedian Kathy Griffin holding the bloody head of President Donald Trump. Griffin’s comedy career collapsed overnight, and only in recent years has she returned to the quasi-mainstream. Griffin apologized, but quickly reversed course. Today, no such apology would be required.
Those moments, however, seem almost quaint compared to “Luigi: The Musical.”
The comedy enjoyed brisk sales during its short San Francisco debut last year. The show features Mangione sharing a jail cell with Sean “Diddy” Combs and crypto crook Sam Bankman-Fried.
<div id="attachment_1055173" style="width: 816px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055173" class="size-large wp-image-1055173" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-stage-806x576.jpg" alt="Source: Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/luigi-mangioni-musical-to-get-nyc-reading" width="806" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-stage-806x576.jpg 806w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-stage-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-stage-768x549.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Luigi-stage.jpg 970w" sizes=" (max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px" />Source: Playbill</div>
The production will hit New York City’s Green Room 42 on June 15, 2026. That’s a short subway ride from the scene of Thompson’s cold-blooded murder.
Media reports have depicted “Luigi” in conflicting fashion. Some suggest the show doesn’t glamorize the alleged murderer. Others hint at the opposite, while crowds have been cheering his presence at various shows, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/luigi-mangione-musical-set-to-premiere-on-nyc-stage/">according to The New York Post.</a>
Is it merely dark humor rushing to the surface? Or something more sinister squeezing into our conversations?
The minds behind the musical insist <a href="https://playbill.com/article/luigi-mangioni-musical-to-get-nyc-reading">they’re not advocating violence</a>.
&#8220;Luigi: the Musical uses comedy to bring deeper questions to the surface. Why did this case garner the reaction that it did? And what happens when people stop trusting their institutions?&#8221; Luigi director Nova Bradford said in a statement.
Yet even this kind of cringe theater shouldn’t come as a shock. Nor should the fact that the show <a href="https://www.nysun.com/article/luigi-mangione-musical-sells-out-its-new-york-performance-and-adds-extra-dates">swiftly sold out</a> and added additional dates for its Big Apple debut.
Shortly after the murder, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” shared how some of his young female staffers had developed a crush on the alleged murderer and his washboard abs. Kimmel flashed screenshots of his <a href="https://www.tvinsider.com/1166115/jimmy-kimmel-luigi-mangione-hot-kiiller-monologue-video/">employees fan-girling over the suspect,</a> 
<blockquote>“People are saying a NY jury has the power to find him innocent, bc we all love him,”
“I’m not mad at him.”</blockquote>
Kimmel and the audience chortled over the revelations, although the host wisely blocked the names of the staffers in question. It still speaks volumes about the show and its fan base.
<div id="attachment_978781" style="width: 858px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-978781" class="size-large wp-image-978781" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-4-848x576.jpg" alt="Jimmy Kimmel" width="848" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-4-848x576.jpg 848w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-4-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-4-768x522.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-4.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px" />Randy Holmes via Getty Images</div>
This wasn’t a “Gutfeld!” audience.
And it wasn’t the only comedy showcase lining up on Mangione’s side. “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart informed his far-Left audience that the alleged killer had been collared by the cops.
The response? The “boos” <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/the-daily-show-unitedhealthcare-shooter-boos-jon-stewart/">rained down</a> on a clearly baffled Stewart. “Look, I’m sorry, guys,” Stewart stammered.
A similarly strange moment came courtesy of “Saturday Night Live.” The NBC show’s ‘Weekend Update’ segment found co-faux anchor Colin Jost dropping Mangione’s name. The comic had to pause the bit to be heard. His audience began clapping and shouting with excitement.
Jost, as stunned as Stewart, blurted out, “Yeah, definitely ‘woo … You’re ‘wooing’ for justice, right?&#8221;
Not even close. And it’s not an accident, either.
<div id="attachment_1055183" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055183" class="size-large wp-image-1055183" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219109716-864x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Jon Stewart attends Comedy Central's &quot;The Daily Show&quot; FYC Event at Linwood Dunn Theater on June 07, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Comedy Central)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219109716-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219109716-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219109716-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219109716.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Comedy Central</div>
Late-night comedians have leaned into anger and violence for some time now, fueling our culture’s decay. Hosts like Seth Meyers and John Oliver <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/john-oliver-media-portland-violence/">downplayed</a> the violence raging in Portland, Oregon, during the George Floyd riots of 2020. Stephen Colbert uttered a sexually coarse <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHwlSTqA7s">gag aimed</a> at President Donald Trump during the Russian collusion hoax, but he never suffered for the outburst.
More recently, late-night comics chuckled over progressive activists attacking Tesla dealerships to protest owner Elon Musk’s White House maneuvers vis-à-vis DOGE.
Kimmel sarcastically told his crowd to stop the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/19/opinion/democrats-silence-is-damning-as-leftist-violence-explodes/">Tesla-based</a> attacks.
<div id="attachment_1055185" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055185" class="size-large wp-image-1055185" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor-384x576.jpg" alt="Source: https://luigithemusical.info" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor-384x576.jpg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Luigi-actor.jpg 1280w" sizes=" (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" />Source: https://luigithemusical.info</div>
Comedy remains subjective. Even the darkest subjects can make us howl or defang hate or bigotry. Just ask Mel “Springtime for Hitler” Brooks.
Consider “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7eoZt-bUSI&amp;t=152s">Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11</a>,” a sobering documentary about stand-ups who told jokes tied to the terrorist attack mere days after it happened. Comedy can help us process pain and adjust to startling new realities, or it can showcase just how far we’ve fallen as a society.
Context is everything. And it helps to remember an old saw: “Comedy is tragedy plus time.”
Mangione has yet to face a jury of his peers.
Watching patrons gleefully cheer on an alleged murderer is something radically different and frightening. The New York City debut of “Luigi: The Musical” will <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/luigi-mangione-musical-new-york-city-summer/">capture the zeitgeist, no doubt</a>.
Mangione’s real-life New York state trial is slated to begin on June 8, 2026, while his federal trial will have to wait until September.
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Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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