Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) may have endorsed the Democratic Mayor-elect of New York City, but she’s making it clear that she’s not all-in on his progressive policy proposals — especially if they would place a greater burden on a system that is already strapped.

Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani — a self-described Democratic socialist — despite his unwillingness to do the same for her, but she said on Saturday that she couldn’t get on board with his calls for free buses in New York City.

WATCH:

Kathy Kochul says no to Zohran Mamdani’s
free NYC bus plan. The transit system relies on the fares to function. pic.twitter.com/52xgCMxCrA

— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) November 9, 2025

“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” she said during a Saturday press conference. “But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? of course we can.”

Hochul went on to say that she’d had a number of conversations with Mamdani and that she wanted to work with him where she could — but that she wasn’t going to suddenly change her position on an issue solely due to public pressure.

WATCH:

NEWS: @GovKathyHochul right now is a no on @ZohranKMamdani’s free bus promise.

“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the busses and the subways.”

She’s then pressed on “Tax the Rich” chants: pic.twitter.com/M0wa9SEDMA

— Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) November 8, 2025

“We’re aligned on some of these issues. I’ve made it clear where I have strong disagreements with issues that really do not pertain to the governance of New York City,” she continued. “I’m looking forward to having our teams keep the conversation — a lot of conversations going with our teams.”

She went on to say that her current focus was doing whatever she could to prevent an influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in New York City.

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher ripped into media for leaning into panic in the framing of stories about President Donald Trump’s renovations at the White House — specifically the ballroom construction that required demolition of the East Wing.

Maher argued that people shouldn’t be so worked up over the fact that the president was making improvements to the White House — and he discussed the outrage over the construction project on Friday’s episode of “Real Time” alongside Bill O’Reilly and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).

WATCH:

Bill Maher on Real Time dismisses outrage over Trump’s ballroom.

“I really don’t give a shit. It shows you how the media is.” pic.twitter.com/BwZLmsRX3W

— Zachary Leeman (@WritingLeeman) November 8, 2025

“The ballroom, I don’t give a s**t,” Maher explained, saying that ultimately the White House is “just a building” and might need a few updates from time to time anyway.

“I was reading — it shows you how the media is. Everything is always on one side or the other. When [Trump] first mentioned it, it was all about, ‘Oh, my God, he’s desecrating the White House.’ Then I finally read, ‘Oh, well, they’ve done s**t to the White House before,'” Maher said.

“I realized after reading other people, we don’t have a place when they have state dinners,” Maher added, noting that when presidents did entertain visiting heads of state, they did so in temporary structures. “They’re doing it in a tent! This is America! So do I give a s**t that he’s doing this to the White House? I really don’t”

Maher’s initial comments about the ballroom were mocking, as he marveled over the fact that Trump hadn’t had to go through the tedious process of getting permits to carry out the project.

Bill Maher on President Trump’s ballroom: “Presidents have changed the White House in little ways before, but you know they always got approval from Congress… As a constitutionalist, I must say I find this appalling. As the guy who took 3 years to get my f—king solar panels in —… pic.twitter.com/CGOdXRsv3t

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) October 25, 2025

“Presidents have changed the White House in little ways before, but you know they always got approval from Congress,” Maher said at the time. “As a constitutionalist, I must say I find this appalling. As the guy who took 3 years to get my f***ing solar panels in — I’m kind of jealous. I’m kind of in awe because I live in LA where you need 13 permits to put a bird feeder on your deck.”

Trump also announced in recent weeks that the Lincoln Bathroom had been renovated, marking the first update to that room since the 1940s.

🚨JUST POSTED🚨

President Donald Trump has renovated the Lincoln bathroom.

He announced, “I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. I did it in black… pic.twitter.com/FT4AJxymAH

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) October 31, 2025