NewsNation Canceled My Segment—Here’s What I Was Going to Say About Last Night’s Tragic NYC Shooting

I’m tired of Americans getting their opinions about Democrats from Republicans.

Last night, I was scheduled to appear on NewsNation with Leland Vittert for a panel discussion about the future of the Democratic Party and how the midterms are shaping up. But the segment was canceled at the last minute due to breaking news: a horrific mass shooting in New York City, where six people were killed—including NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old father of two with a third child on the way.

When tragedies like this happen, our first response should be one of grief, compassion, and respect. These were everyday people—people who won’t come home to their families, won’t take their kids to school, won’t walk their dogs after work. Officer Islam will not be in the labor room alongside his wife as they welcome their third child into their family. The ripple effects of that violence are immeasurable.

But as I sat in the Zoom waiting room, I listened to the show’s ongoing coverage. Rather than mourning the victims or discussing how we can address the root causes of violence—whether it’s gun access, mental health, or political extremism—the conversation quickly turned into partisan blame. Pointing fingers. Specifically, attacks on Zohran Mamdani and other city leaders were accused of being anti-police, pro-crime, even pro-murder.

And while I recognize that as humans, our minds seek to make sense of incomprehensible acts in narrowing a single cause, I have to point out that this kind of framing is not just misleading—it’s dangerous. And I was angry and fired up to push back.

As someone who grew up in a law enforcement household—my father served in the FBI for over 30 years—I have deep respect and compassion for the men and women who protect our communities. I also believe that being pro-reform and pro-accountability is not the same thing as being anti-police. Most Democrats I know feel the same way.

The idea that Democrats are somehow responsible for every tragedy in a major city is a lie that conservative media has been pushing for years. And it's time we stop letting that narrative go unchallenged.

Let’s look at the facts:

• NYC has seen a 35% drop in murders and a 23% drop in shootings this year.

• Chicago—my hometown—has seen a 16% drop in homicides.

• Violent crime remains higher in Republican-led states like Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma than in Democratic strongholds like California.

So this idea that Democratic leadership equals “lawlessness” is not only false—it’s projection.

I was ready to say all of this last night because I will no longer accept the framing that Democrats are anti-cop or soft on crime. We believe in public safety. We believe in reform. We believe in communities where families—Black, white, brown, rich, poor—can live in peace. No one is pro-murder. No one is rooting for chaos.

What I heard last night was not a serious attempt to understand or respond to the tragedy. It was a rush to score political points before the facts were even in.

I want to be clear: I respect NewsNation, I like Leland and enjoy doing his show, and appreciate being invited on. I don’t envy the challenge of balancing horrendous breaking news with the 24/7 cable cycle. But the conversation I heard last night missed the moment. And it missed the chance to bring Americans together in the face of loss.

That’s why I continue to show up on networks like NewsNation, Fox News, and even with folks like Piers Morgan—because I’m tired of Americans getting their opinions about Democrats from Republicans. If we don’t show up and speak for ourselves, someone else will do it for us—and they won’t get it right.

With urgency,

Mike