Mamdani v. The Establishment
Why are journalists from all over the country watching the NYC mayor's race?
My guests this week certainly aren’t the first on Laura Flanders & Friends to discuss Americans’ discontent with the Democratic establishment. If you’ve been following the show, you may remember Bernie Sanders calling the Democratic label “toxic,” journalist and author Malaika Jabali examining why Black voters in Wisconsin weren’t showing up at the polls, or any of the countless other guests who’ve made a similar point. A party affiliation simply isn’t enough to get people excited. Radical policies, however, can get people moving.
So when Zohran Mamdani launched his mayoral campaign in New York City with three pitches — universal childcare, free and fast buses, and a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments — it caught people’s attention, and not just in New York City. The mayor’s race and its frontrunner Mamdani are making headlines across the country, even more so as early voting kicks off this weekend. Why is his campaign so significant, and what would a Mamdani victory signal for the nation?
That’s our question this month on “Meet the BIPOC Press”. Joining me are Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter for, among others, The New Republic; Asha Ransby-Sporn, community organizer, and opinion writer for In These Times; and Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S. From NYC to Dearborn, Michigan to Chicago, journalists are following this story.
Catch our conversation today at 5:00 p.m. ET on YouTube, and subscribe to the Laura Flanders & Friends podcast for the full, uncut interview from this week’s show. You’ll hear everything that didn’t make it to public television, like our discussion on disinformation and advice for reporters.
As you’ll hear from our guests, Mamdani is already expanding our vision of what’s possible. That’s our mission too. And it’s your donation that helps forward-thinking reporting like ours survive. Make a contribution today and stay tuned for more stories that inspire.
Stay kind, stay curious,
Laura