A GOP congressman is peppered with questions about Trump during raucous town hall

SOMERS, N.Y. (AP) — Voters in U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler’s suburban New York swing district heaped criticism on the Republican during a raucous town hall Sunday night, peppering him with questions around President Donald Trump’s aggressive agenda before devolving into a chaotic chorus of boos as attendees were removed by law enforcement.

The town hall in Somers, a leafy section of Lawler’s Hudson Valley district, began to teeter off the rails soon after it began.

The first crack emerged when Lawler, in his opening remarks, told the packed prep school auditorium: “This is what democracy looks like."

Laughter crept through the crowd.

A little while later, the congressman's mention of federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew loud jeers.

“So you want, for instance, petroleum-based dyes to continue?” Lawler asked in response.

Republicans, in some instances, have made themselves scarce in their home districts following President Donald Trump’s first few months in office, as party leadership expresses wariness of viral blowback against Republicans in vulnerable seats.

Lawler, a moderate who last year won a second term and has openly expressed interest in running for governor, has instead sought to put himself in front of voters, holding a previous town hall late last month and planning more in the coming weeks.

On Sunday, Lawler’s staff required people to RSVP and set up a series of ground rules, including that attendees live in the district, not record at the event, refrain from shouting or standing, and “be respectful of one another, of staff, and of the Congressman,” a sign at the door read.

At one point, as Lawler was responding to a question about tariffs, law enforcement began to surround a woman in the upper stretch of the auditorium. The crowd chanted “let her stay, let her stay" before law enforcement picked her up and carried her out. It was unclear what exactly led to her removal.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!,” the audience yelled.

Lawler tried to get back on track: “Folks, tariffs are way more complicated than you want to make them.”

The crowd groaned.

“Folks, enough!,” Lawler said above the din.

Soon after, another person was removed. Then another.

In the audience, Jeanette Spoor, a 74-year-old retiree, said she wanted to ask Lawler about the future of Social Security and Medicaid but wasn't called on during the nearly two hour event.

“You’re not helping your constituents if you’re making it hard for them to get help,” she said in an interview.

She added, “I have no hopes for this guy."

Another attendee, Kristi Thompson, 52, said she was bothered by what she said were Lawler's long-winded answers that didn't address the substance of the crowd's questions.

“He claims to be available to constituents but he isn't,” she said.

The crowd walked out during the final question of the night, which was about protests against Israel. Lawler began to answer, but cut himself off as the room emptied out.

“I appreciate everybody coming out tonight and taking the time to ask your questions and hear my answers, whether you liked them or not, or agreed with them or not, or whether you really actually wanted to listen to them or not, but I very much appreciate you participating,” he said as attendees exited.

An audience member yells at U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., during a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Protesters call out to vehicles driving through town before a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Jim Buckley of Yonkers protests before a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

An audience member listens to U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., during a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Audience members react to U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaking at a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., makes the sign of the cross after the invocation prayer before his town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Security and police escort an audience member out of a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

An audience member smiles while listening to a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

A woman is carried out by law enforcement at a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

An audience member yells at U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., during a town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)