By Ben Meiselas
Donald Trump just humiliated himself on the world stage. Again. At the G7 in Alberta, he ranted like an unhinged despot about “Democratic cities,” threatened to escalate ICE raids in places like New York and Chicago, and launched into a deranged tirade about how Democrats are somehow “turning everybody transgender.” The prime minister standing next to him literally had to shut the press conference down. It was that embarrassing.
But this is no longer just about embarrassment. It’s about danger. Trump is actively calling for attacks on what he calls “Democratic power centers.” And let me be clear: this isn’t normal political rhetoric. This is how fascists talk when they want to lay the groundwork for violence and persecution.
Which is why I sat down to get to know somebody who appears to actually get the moment we’re in. If you haven’t yet, meet someone who’s not afraid to call this out for what it is and fight back: New York State Assemblymember and NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Zohran doesn’t sugarcoat it. He’s called this what it is: an authoritarian regime. While Trump parades tanks down Constitution Avenue and dreams up mass deportations, Zohran is showing up for everyday New Yorkers, like working families who’ve been crushed by rent, healthcare costs, and political cowardice. He’s not just running against Andrew Cuomo. He’s running against the entire broken political machine Cuomo represents—and the Republican billionaires funding it.
In our interview, we revisited a powerful video Zohran made just after the 2024 election. He went into communities in Queens and the Bronx and talked to everyday voters, many of whom either stayed home or cast a ballot for Trump. Why? Not because they liked him, but because they felt ignored, unheard, abandoned. They were desperate for affordable groceries, stable rent, a government that gives a damn. Trump lied to them, and Democrats didn’t show up.
That’s what Zohran is trying to change. He’s not afraid to speak the truth and to propose bold, specific policies: rent freezes for over 2 million New Yorkers, free and fast buses, universal healthcare. And he’s closing in on Cuomo in the polls, down just two points with days to go before the June 24 primary.
Let me say this plainly: this race matters. Not just for New York, but for the country. Does New York City really want to let Cuomo claw his way back into power with the help of right-wing megadonors like Bill Ackman, who also bankroll Trump’s fascist fantasies? If so, we’re once again sending a message that accountability means nothing. That failed leadership and bad behavior gets rewarded.
Zohran Mamdani is done with the old politics, as are so many Americans. So watch my interview with him, share it, and continue to fight for the values most important to you.
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