Mexico Versus Nazis is a theme that’s really resonating with me of late

In short: When we hear “Aunt” in this sense, it’s not an error - often it’s an embrace of extended-family logic.

What green-lights it socially?
- Someone you feel affection/respect for from your parent’s generation.
- Cultural or community norm that lets “Auntie/Aunt” = elder friend.
- Comfort with non-blood ties being treated as family.

So, Mamdani using “Aunt” isn’t a slip-up; it’s part of a rich tradition of naming elders for closeness, respect, and community-feel - not just kinship.

- In Hawaii, Indian-diaspora networks, West Africa… the same pattern shows up.
- On screen: from “Aunty Entity” in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome to the legion of “aunties” in Crazy Rich Asians -- relation optional, respect mandatory.

- In many Asian families, kids call their parents’ friends “Auntie/Uncle” as a sign of respect and belonging (think the novel The Joy Luck Club).
- In Black American communities, “Auntie” has often been used for admired elders - though the history is layered.

Folks would have to be pretty credulous to think Trump cares about whales at all (other than as an excuse to back up his climate denial).

You know hiw ChatGPT keeps context about you so it can better interact? I really have to wonder what it thinks about you now. 😂