Why a Brooklyn coffee shop banned a congressman after his visit

Key Points:

• Federal officials have launched an investigation into Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn after the shop publicly stated that Rep. Dan Goldman was not welcome due to his support for Israel, a post that has since been deleted.
• The coffee shop's social media post accused Goldman of being a "racist" and "genocide enabler," and claimed they had refunded his purchase and told him not to return.
• Goldman responded by saying the barista was kind to him and his daughter during their visit, contradicting the shop's claims.
• The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, led by Harmeet Dillon, emphasized that discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin at public accommodations is illegal and confirmed their investigation into the incident.
• Goldman is currently in a re-election race against Brad Lander, who is supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.