New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani called on residents and businesses to set air conditioners to 78 degrees amid a heat wave on July 1, 2026. The advice aimed to ease strain on the power grid. Temperatures reached 91 degrees that day and were forecast to approach 100 degrees later in the week.
Mamdani posted on social media that the city was maintaining the 78-degree rule in its buildings and asked private partners to follow suit. He stated that a stable grid keeps air conditioning on and saves lives.
The mayor also recommended turning off unused lights and electronics. He said the measures would help get through the heat together.
The request drew quick criticism online. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked if it reflected the warmth of collectivism. New York Representative Elise Stefanik called it stark scarcity of socialism. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy wrote that 78 degrees meant welcome to communism.
