New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of a social media firestorm Thursday after urging residents to turn their air conditioners up to 78 degrees during a sweltering holiday-week heat emergency.
The message was intended to reduce strain on the city’s power grid. Instead, it triggered an avalanche of mockery from conservatives, commentators, and ordinary Americans who viewed the advice as yet another example of government officials asking citizens to lower their expectations.
As temperatures climbed and heat indexes in parts of the region approached dangerous levels, Mamdani posted a public appeal urging residents to help conserve energy.
“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool,” the mayor wrote. “Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.”
Mamdani added that city government was following the same policy. “Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment.”
New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.
Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.
Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings,…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 1, 2026
The mayor concluded by arguing that reducing electricity demand would help maintain grid stability and prevent outages. “A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved.”
The reaction was immediate.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote, “78 degrees??? Welcome to communism people! Hope you enjoy!”
Texas Rep. Brandon Gill framed the issue as a failure of governance. “Welcome to socialism, where the government demands you turn your house into a sauna because they can’t plan for the super unpredictable fact that it tends to get hot in the summer.”
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh added, “My AC does not go above 68 in the summer. This is America for God’s sake.”
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined the pile-on with a brief but pointed response. “Turns out socialism actually isn’t free.”
This is what socialism looks like, folks. The right answer isn’t restrictions or mandates. It’s drilling, fracking, coal, & nuclear. That’s how we’ll roll in Ohio.
(And he sounds eerily just like Amy Acton during Covid). https://t.co/pJyw0Y3V8e
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 2, 2026
Is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism? https://t.co/6GELJm9VmK
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 1, 2026
The AC controversy also came just days after comedian and longtime liberal commentator Bill Maher described Mamdani as a “straight up communist” and warned Democrats that denying the label could cost them future elections.
Energy experts have long encouraged consumers to raise thermostat settings during peak demand periods to reduce strain on electrical systems. But critics argue that Americans are increasingly being asked to consume less, drive less, travel less, and now cool their homes less while government leaders simultaneously push policies that make energy production more difficult and expensive.
New Yorkers weren’t upset because they don’t understand how electricity works.
They were annoyed because they’re tired of being lectured. It’s always the same message. Drive less. Fly less. Eat less meat. Use less energy. Lower your expectations. And now, apparently, sweat more. Meanwhile, the politicians delivering these sermons somehow never seem to be suffering quite as much as everyone else.
That’s why Spencer Pratt’s response may have been the funniest one of the day. “Show us your thermostat, commie.”
Show us your thermostat, commie https://t.co/nVOVtbFQdD
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) July 1, 2026
Exactly. Let’s start there.
If 78 degrees is so wonderful, let’s see every office, every government building, every mayoral residence, every donor penthouse, and every consultant’s apartment following the exact same rules. No exceptions.
The thing that really fascinates me is how often modern progressives confuse scarcity management with leadership. America didn’t become prosperous because previous generations figured out how to use less. America became prosperous because previous generations figured out how to produce more.
That’s the American model.
Yet every time there’s a challenge, the answer from the political Left increasingly sounds like a parent turning off the lights and yelling at the kids to stop opening the refrigerator.
Communism always goes the same way. They smile & promise you the world. Free this, free that, abundance for all! How? Don’t ask!
Then they get into power, and the rationing begins. First a smiley ask. Then a demand. Then a bullet. “You used too much energy, comrade” https://t.co/lyXZq62rwN— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) July 1, 2026
Conservatives look at a strained power grid and ask, “How do we generate more electricity?” Progressives look at the same problem and ask, “How do we convince people to be hotter?”
That’s the difference. And it’s why this story exploded far beyond New York. Because deep down, Americans don’t want a future built around rationing. They want one built around abundance.
Besides, if my thermostat ever reaches 78 degrees, it’s not because of socialism. It’s because the AC is broken.
TDBS SOURCES:
- New York Post: Mamdani urges New Yorkers to conserve energy during dangerous heat wave
- Gothamist: City officials ask residents to reduce power use amid extreme temperatures
- NY1: Heat emergency measures expanded as temperatures soar across New York City
- Fox News: Bill Maher calls Mamdani a ‘straight up communist’
- Wall Street Journal opinion coverage on energy demand, grid reliability, and progressive energy policies
