Both are born out of ancient ideals of purity and control over sexuality (the latter being especially applicable to FGM).

Male circumcision started because ancient humans viewed the human body as a canvas for social engineering. It survived and flourished because it successfully forged fierce tribal loyalty, distinct cultural boundaries, and deep religious identity. It was later justified as a way to curb masturbation.

FGM, in ancient stratified societies, including Egypt and Rome, became a prerequisite for marriage. It signified a woman’s obedience, purity, and readiness to join a household. In several cultures, an uncut woman was deemed “unclean” and socially ostracized, making her unmarriageable.

The foundational justification in almost all practicing cultures was to reduce a woman’s libido. By removing sensitive tissue, societies sought to ensure a girl remained a virgin until marriage and faithful to her husband afterward.

Both practices are a type of mutilation in my opinion but one is not referred to that way due to cultural relativism. I’m glad to come from a part of the world where neither is or ever was the norm.

What’s a little violation of human rights in exchange for solar panels, after all?

Sure, it is reductive but I also get what the image is referring to and don’t think we have to be too literal about it. It’s saying the spirit of that tax (ie. taxing the ultra wealthy) is how Mamdani is going about balancing the budget - while invoking a very recognizable billionaire to drive the point home. I read it more as using Taylor Swift as an example rather than insinuating her taxes, or the secondary estate tax in general, would be enough to balance the budget on their own.

Many hot takes are like this. They’re meant to capture your attention, and while they may not be literally true on their own, the good ones have a reasonable conceptual foundation.

Taylor Swift owns multiple secondary properties in New York City.

She has amassed a massive real estate footprint on a single block in Tribeca, worth an estimated $50+ million. Her holdings include:

• ​An 8,000-square-foot duplex penthouse at 155 Franklin Street.
• ​A second-floor unit in the same building purchased for nearly $10 million.
• ​An $18 million townhouse right next door at 153 Franklin Street.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani finalized a deal to implement a pied-à-terre tax surcharge on luxury secondary residences in NYC.

The tax starts as a 4% surcharge on the property’s value and then there is an annual charge that scales up progressively based on the assessed value.

Rhode Island passed a similar luxury second-home tax targeting non-resident estates over $1 million, a piece of legislation that the press nicknamed the “Taylor Swift Tax” due to its impact on her $17 million Watch Hill mansion.

To say that this alone is balancing the budget is an oversimplification (what are hot takes if not reductive) but the tax will have a meaningful impact because she owns a lot of property in NYC.