Northeast
'Make America Hot Again' socials bring young conservative singles together in New York City
While New York City is a Democratic stronghold, young conservative movers and shakers are meeting other singles at a new series of events in the Big Apple.
Political polarization, particularly that between young men and women, has become an internationally recognized phenomenon in recent years. One example from pop culture erupted earlier this spring when “Love is Blind” stars Sara Carton and Ben Mezzenga did not get married during the season finale because Carton had reservations about Mezzenga’s religious and political viewpoints, including on the Black Lives Matter movement.
As this polarization continues, some young conservatives, particularly those in left-leaning cities, are relying on events geared towards their political persuasion to find love.
‘LOVE IS BLIND’ STAR SARA CARTON REJECTS BEN MEZZENGA AT THE ALTAR OVER VIEWS ON RELIGION, BLACK LIVES MATTER
In an increasingly polarized society, young conservative movers and shakers who live in some of America’s most influential cities are finding ways to network and socialize. On the right is a photo of members of the New York Young Republicans Club (NYYRC) gathering to celebrate NYYRC’s 114th anniversary and the inauguration of the club’s new president Stefano L. Forte in New York City, U.S., April 27, 2025. REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado (New York City Skyline photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images | New York Young Republicans event photo from REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)
Conservative influencer Raquel Debono, 29, spoke to The New York Post about why she founded “Make America Hot Again,” which the outlet described as “a cheeky movement throwing parties for young conservatives around NYC at hot spots like downtown’s Sincerely, Ophelia and Trump Tower.”
She touted her events as specifically different from other Republican mixers, declaring, “‘We’re really just normal people, we’re the city conservative,” in a recent Instagram video.
“With her regular bacchanals that can swell to as many as 300 people, love is definitely in the air,” The New York Post’s Doree Lewak wrote.
Recalling one couple who found romance and got “hot and heavy” at an event in May, Debono commented, “That’s why I throw these — I’m trying to find my husband.”
DC MATCHMAKER SAYS POLITICAL POLARIZATION ‘ON STEROIDS’ AS LIBERALS REFUSE TO DATE TRUMP VOTERS, TESLA OWNERS
New York City may be known as a Democratic stronghold, but there is a subculture of young conservative movers and shakers who are working their way up in the world from one of America’s most iconic and influential cities. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
She reported a male majority at the events, with a 60-40 split in favor of men from the “bro and tech vote.”
“I have met a few lovely young men, but as they say, the coach doesn’t play,” Debono said to the New York Post.
Brent Morden, the vice president of the New York Young Republican Club, who recently made headlines with a popular gala, touted New York as a great place to find options, “if you know where to look.”
Dan Huff, the co-founder of Date Right Stuff, an app for conservative singles, told the New York Post that the app saw “tens of thousands of downloads right after the election.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Conservative dating apps, like Date Right Stuff, have reportedly seen a surge in downloads since the 2024 election. (iStock)
The New York Post added that this recent surge “adds to the app’s nearly 400,000 downloads as the team focuses on New York with sought-after events that have drawn ‘hundreds of attendees and generated strong buzz.’”
“There’s a spark in New York now, a reawakening,” Huff said.
The app’s chief growth officer, Micaela Bishop, noted, “Our main focus is to build critical masses in these Democratic cities to make sure these people have somewhere to go.”
Read the full article from Here
Rainbow flags are flying in the South End as the neighborhood prepares to celebrate Boston’s LGBTQ community at Saturday’s Pride for the People Parade.
Three hundred different organizations with about 12,000 people are expected to participate in what will be the city’s nearly 60th Pride parade.
”There are still things that we are fighting for today, and so we want to remember those that fought before us,” said Adrianna Boulin, of Boston Pride for the People.
The Pride for the People Parade and Festival is happening Saturday in Boston, among other events across New England.
This year’s theme is Pride as Protest – 1776, and organizers say Pride will always be a protest.
“The fact that we are here, the fact that in the midst of what is really an attack LGBTQ people’s rights by legislatures across the country, by our own federal government — we’re here to protest and say we’re not going anywhere,” said Gary Daffin of Boston Pride for the People.
The parade is nearly 2 miles. It starts in Copley Square and works its way through a number of streets in the South End and the Back Bay before ending on Charles Street between the Public Garden and the Common.
Not going to the parade? Watch NBC10 Boston’s coverage wherever you get your news, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are producing at the plate and its something they’ve done throughout this season.
The Pirates continued that in their most recent series vs. the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, scoring 24 total runs and winning two of three games in their first series of the month.
Pittsburgh won 10-6 in the series opener on June 2, fell 11-9 on June 3 and then won 5-1 in the series finale on June 4.
The Pirates put up good enough performances to win all three games from the plate and it’s the main reason they’ve had so much success this season.
Pirates Offense Takes Liftoff in Houston
The Pirates swept the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park, May 29-31, prior to this series and scored 25 total runs, marking 49 over the past six games, good for more than eight runs per contest.
Pittsburgh has shown their power this season and they hit six home runs vs. the Astros to keep it going.
Catcher Endy Rodríguez hit a two-run home run to tie the game up 2-2 in the second inning of the series opener, center fielder Oneil Cruz hit a three-run home run to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning and then second baseman Brandon Lowe sealed the win with a three-run home run in the eighth inning to make it 9-4.
Fellow catcher Henry Davis hit the first grand slam of his career in the second game of the series to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead int he fourth inning and second baseman Nick Gonzales hit a two-run home run, his second of the season, extending the Pirates’ lead to 7-3 in the seventh inning.
Right fielder Ryan O’Hearn hit the sole home run in the series finale, a two-run home run to make it 4-0 in the sixth inning, and finished with three RBI in the victory.
Cruz had a great series in Houston, with six hits and four walks, while Gonzales also tied him with six hits and three RBI.
Outfielder Jake Mangum had four hits and two stolen bases in the series opener and played some solid defense in the series finale too.
Pirates Hitters vs. Astros
|
Player |
Hits/At-Bats |
Walks |
RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oneil Cruz |
6-for-14 |
4 |
3 |
|
Nick Gonzales |
6-for-13 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jake Mangum |
5-for-9 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan O’Hearn |
3-for-10 |
1 |
3 |
|
Brandon Lowe |
3-for-14 |
1 |
3 |
|
Bryan Reynolds |
2-for-12 |
2 |
1 |
|
Endy Rodríguez |
2-for-9 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jared Triolo |
1-for-9 |
4 |
1 |
The Pirates haven’t had to rely on just one person this season, as they’ve gotten contributions from almost everyone in the lineup on a consistent basis.
Pittsburgh saw that happen against Houston, with different players stepping up in different games to come through and provide runs and hits.
How Pirates Offense Stacks Up to Rest of MLB
The Pirates rank statistially amongst the best teams in baseball and are in the top five/top 10 teams in most categories.
Pirates 2026 Stats and NL/MLB ranking
|
Stat (Total) |
NL/MLB Ranking |
|---|---|
|
Hits (560) |
1st/1st |
|
OBP (.339) |
2nd/2nd |
|
Stolen Bases (62)/Batting Average (.256) |
3rd/3rd |
|
OPS (.744) |
3rd/4th) |
|
Walks (251)/Slugging % (.405) |
(3rd/5th) |
|
RBI (310)/Runs (325) |
4th/4th |
|
Home Runs (74) |
6th/10th |
It’s a dramatic change from last season, where they were arguably the worst hitting team in baseball, ranking dead-last or close to the bottom of most of these same statistical categories.
The offseason additions of O’Hearn and Lowe have been massive for the Pirates, both of whom have brought veteran leadership, but also great production at the plate.
O’Hearn has slashed .295/.371/.486 for an OPS of .857 in 48 games, with 51 hits, six doubles, nine home runs, 33 RBI and 20 walks to 39 strikeouts.
Lowe leads the Pirates and ranks 4th in the National League/11th in baseball with 15 home runs, eighth in the NL/16th in MLB with 40 RBI, seventh in NL/13th in MLB with a .532 slugging percentage and 10th in NL/20th in MLB with a .873 OPS.
Cruz is having a big rebound season and is slashing .269/.349/.482 for an OPS of .831 in 61 games, with 45 runs scored, 66 hits, 10 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
He is second in baseball with stolen bases, ranks tied for third in NL/tied for sixth in MLB in runs scored, tied for fifth in NL/tied for sixth in MLB in RBI, tied for 8th in NL/tied for 14th in MLB in hits, tied for seventh in NL/tied for 16th in MLB in home runs, while ranking 21st in baseball in slugging percentage and 25th in OPS.
Bryan Reynolds has also been excellent with his plate discipline, tied for the sixth-most walks in baseball (44) and has the ninth-best on-base percentage (.397), while Spencer Horwitz isn’t too far behind with the a .386 on-base percentage, 17th-best in baseball.
Gonzales has been one of the best hitters in baseball, with his .313 batting average eighth-best in MLB.
Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had a solid May and if the likes of Mangum, Rodríguez, Davis, fellow rookie Jhostynxon Garcia can join in more consistently, this Pirates lineup will continue playing a big role in a lot of wins the rest of the season.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Lifestyle4 minutes agoAfter D.C.’s Reflecting Pool gets repainted, visitors ask: What changed?
-
Technology14 minutes agoMore than a decade later, the team behind N++ is back with a multiplayer sequel
-
World19 minutes agoUS, Shield of the Americas condemn ‘ongoing efforts’ to overthrow Bolivia’s elected president amid unrest
-
Politics26 minutes agoTrump expands TrumpRx prescription drug discount program to more than 800 medications
-
Health29 minutes agoBreakthrough pancreatic cancer drug shows survival gains that surprise experts
-
Sports34 minutes agoBroncos star Jonathan Cooper arrested on domestic violence charges
-
Technology41 minutes agoWill a four-armed robot replace astronauts in space?
-
Business44 minutes agoSoFi Stadium workers vote to authorize strike with World Cup days away
