Stop What You're Doing. Take a Deep Breath. And Watch Brad Lander Eat This Hot Dog on the Cyclone

In case you haven't noticed, Hell Gate is in the absolute thick of covering the 2025 mayoral race right now, two weeks ahead of the Democratic primary. (If you know any of us personally, we apologize, because we're probably really annoying to spend time with right now.) This is our first mayoral race as an outlet, and it's coming at an extremely consequential time for New York City. As the federal government is bringing its fascistic ideology to bear in our city streets and more and more of our neighbors are priced out by rising costs of living, it's crystal clear that this election matters on an existential level, which is why we have and will continue to cover it as thoroughly as possible. 

But man, it's also been weird. The way these candidates have had to campaign in this social media-forward environment—a way that's visuals-focused, in constant search of virality, letting their personalities out in little drips with the hope that they'll strike a chord with the voting masses—is deeply strange! So in that spirit, let's stop, and take a breath, and think about how the past and the future are both illusions, and the only thing that's real is this moment, right now,  while we watch mayoral candidate and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander eat an entire hot dog on a rollercoaster.