CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Slams “Out of Control” Blue Cities: Why NYC and LA Are Failing Their Residents

“Out of Control”: CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Sounds the Alarm on Blue City Governance

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, In a surprising turn of events, CNN host Fareed Zakaria—often viewed as a moderate-to-liberal voice—spent a segment this Sunday delivering a scathing critique of the current state of America’s most prominent “blue” cities.

Zakaria’s “rant,” as some are calling it, focused on the systemic issues facing New York City and Los Angeles, where he argues that local governments are “delivering less” for their citizens despite record-breaking budgets.

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The “Out of Control” Spending Crisis

At the heart of Zakaria’s critique is the widening gap between massive fiscal outlays and actual results on the ground.

• New York City’s $127 Billion Budget: Zakaria pointed to the staggering $127 billion budget proposed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, which has even drawn criticism from traditionally left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post.

• “Producing Unaffordability”: Despite campaigning on platforms of affordability, Zakaria argues that mayors in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are effectively doing the opposite by pushing off fiscal problems into the future while promising services they can’t effectively deliver.

“Blue cities are out of control. Promising more, spending more, delivering less, and pushing off the fiscal problems to some future day.” — Fareed Zakaria [00:06 Opens in a new window ]

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The Homelessness Paradox in Los Angeles

Zakaria used Los Angeles as a prime example of “one-party metropolis” wrestling with disorder. Despite a massive $950 million budget allocated for homelessness for the 2025-26 fiscal year [00:27 Opens in a new window ], the numbers on the ground continue to trend in the wrong direction:

• 10% Increase: Homelessness rose by 10% in the city of L.A. in 2023 alone.

• 80% Surge Since 2015: Over the last decade, the city’s homeless population has surged by 80%, highlighting a failure in current intervention strategies.

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Why This Clip Matters

For many critics of “blue city” governance, Zakaria’s commentary feels like a long-overdue admission from within the media establishment. The video summarizes a growing frustration that these “crown jewel” cities are being systematically dismantled by fiscal irresponsibility and a refusal to confront tough realities.

Watch the full clip here: Fareed Zakaria Blasts Blue City Spending

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