Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York Talks Zohran Mamdani, District Challenges

Summary

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Bloomberg Talks

Episode: Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York Talks Zohran Mamdani, District Challenges

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

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Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican congressional representative from New York City. The discussion centers on the imminent winter storm threatening Manhattan, the political pressures on New York City's leadership—specifically new Mayor Zohran Mamdani—and the contentious court order to redraw her district. Key topics include the impact of political decisions during crises, the battle over redistricting and partisan representation, and the challenges of federal agency workforce reductions impacting disaster preparedness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New York's Readiness for a Major Winter Storm

• Storm Anticipation: The episode opens with talk about a forecasted massive snowstorm (potentially 16 inches) in Manhattan, a major test for the newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
• Operational Confidence:
  • Malliotakis (01:08): “New York's the type of city that in many ways can run on autopilot. But… you have enough individuals, particularly the rank and file men and women who go out there every day to keep our city safe and clean... I have full faith that they'll be able to to do it.”

2. The Political Stakes of Crisis Management

• Mayor's First Test: The host raises the suggestion that how the storm is handled will mark a pivotal moment for Mayor Mamdani's leadership.
• Bipartisan Responsibilities in Crises:
  • Malliotakis (01:48): “There’s no Republican or Democrat way to take out the garbage, they say. And I believe the same thing when it comes to... plowing the snow... It is a test. He’ll definitely get the heat if it’s not cleaned properly and he certainly probably won’t get the credit if it is done well. It’ll go to the men and women on the ground. So it’s like a no-win situation for politicians. Wow.”

3. District Redrawing and the Battle for Representation

• Recent Court Ruling: The conversation shifts to a judge's decision requiring Malliotakis’s district (NY-11) be redrawn for allegedly diluting black and Latino votes, a move Malliotakis strongly opposes.
• Recurring Redistricting Fights:
  • Malliotakis (03:04): “We fought this battle in 2022 and 2024 successfully. Here we are again, third time running for reelection, and it's the third time we're having a fight over the district map. And this is because the Democrats simply can't beat me on merit, on policy, on debate... Now you have a Washington law firm... saying, we don't care what the people of Staten Island say, how they vote. We want to be able to fix this map so they can never elect a Republican ever again.”

Notable Segment – On District Diversity Accusations (04:27)

• Malliotakis (04:27): “I'm the first Hispanic, half Cuban to represent this district, the first minority. So that's kind of interesting that they would claim that. But what's even more ludicrous is their solution... to put Staten Island with lower Manhattan, which would add more white voters... It is completely meritless.”
• Blames influence of state-level politics:
  • “The only reason it got anywhere... is because the judge was the chief of staff and counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul. You can't just go to your friends on the bench and expect... whatever political outcome you want because you can't win at the ballot box. That's not the way democracy works. And I think it's wrong when Republicans do it as well.”

Gerrymandering as a Non-Partisan Issue (05:18)

• Malliotakis: “Political gerrymandering is wrong because it should be the people who elect their representatives and not the other way around.”

On Prospects for Bipartisan Representation (05:46)

• Malliotakis: “This would mean that New York City would no longer have any competitive districts. Not one competitive seat. And New York City will never have another Republican representing our city in Washington… I believe bipartisan representation of our city is incredibly important, particularly now...”

• Citing Her Record (06:14):

  • “I went to President Trump when DHS was gonna cut Homeland Security counterterrorism funding to our NYPD. We worked to get that money back. When they were gonna cut World Trade Center healthcare Program employees... I fought Doge and I got those employees hired back with my colleagues.”

4. FEMA Workforce Cuts and Disaster Preparedness (06:56)

• Bloomberg Host highlights recent FEMA worker cuts (14% of the agency) tied to budget constraints, with potential impacts during emergencies.
• Malliotakis's Take on Bureaucracy and Targeted Cuts (07:30):
  • “A lot of these agencies do have bloat. There is bureaucracy, there is some savings to be had... but we need to be targeted and use precision... We can't just fire employees that are, that are needed.”
  • “Certainly, everybody knows there’s a lot of bloat and bureaucracy in Washington where we can find efficiencies to not only bring our debt down but to... protect the taxpayers, which we had a fiscal response fiduciary responsibility to do.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On nonpartisan governance during crises:
  • “There’s no Republican or Democrat way to take out the garbage... the same thing when it comes to... plowing the snow.” – Malliotakis (01:48)
• On the redistricting fight:
  • “This is because the Democrats simply can't beat me on merit, on policy, on debate.” – Malliotakis (03:06)
• On political gerrymandering:
  • “It should be the people who elect their representatives and not the other way around.” – Malliotakis (05:18)
• On representation diversity accusations:
  • “I'm the first Hispanic, half Cuban to represent this district, the first minority. So that's kind of interesting that they would claim that.” – Malliotakis (04:28)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Storm Readiness – Opening: 01:08
• The Political Stakes of Snow Response: 01:48
• Redistricting Battle Explained: 03:04
• Diversity & Gerrymandering Accusations: 04:27
• Gerrymandering as a Non-Partisan Problem: 05:18
• Can a Republican Win Manhattan?: 05:25
• Importance of Bipartisan Representation: 06:14
• FEMA Cuts and Preparedness: 06:56
• Bureaucracy and Precision in Budget Cuts: 07:30

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Conclusion

The episode delivers a candid, unfiltered look at the tension points in New York City politics—from the pragmatic realities of handling crises to the heated philosophical and practical conflicts underlying congressional redistricting. Congresswoman Malliotakis positions herself as a bipartisan worker for the city’s interests, expresses strong opposition to gerrymandering (regardless of party), and emphasizes both the challenges and importance of competitive representation. Her forthright style and detailed recounting of past interventions anchor the discussion in both local detail and broader national themes.

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Transcript

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[Bloomberg Host]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts, Radio news the terminal's telling us we've got 16 inches potentially coming to Manhattan with a newly minted mayor and a big test when it comes to handling the storm. And in the biggest city in the world, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis knows all about it. The Republican from New York joins us right now to talk about this, the future of her district and politics here in Washington. Congresswoman, it's great to have you back. Is New York ready for this?

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

I hope so and I believe we will be. New York's the type of city that in many ways can run on autopilot. But I do believe that you have enough individuals, particularly the rank and file men and women who go out there every day to keep our city safe and clean. Going to be the ones really running the show on the ground. And I have full faith that they'll be able to to do it.

[Bloomberg Host]

Saw the briefing earlier from Mayor Mamdani. He says school days are canceled. This could be fraught politically, Congresswoman, but I'm just wondering if you buy into this media narrative that this is the big test, that this is do or die for New York's new mayor.

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Look, I think nothing upsets people more than if they come out of their house and their streets are not plowed properly. We saw this before with definitely de Blasio. A lot of people were very upset about the way they mishandled snowstorms. So I think, you know, there's no Republican or Democrat way to take out the garbage, they say. And I, and I believe that the same, same thing when it comes to shovel in the snow. So. And plow in the snow. So I think, I think it is a test. It is. He'll definitely get the heat if it's not cleaned properly and he certainly probably won't get the credit if it is done well. It'll go to the men and women on the ground. So it's like a no win situation for politicians. Wow.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, that's even handed analysis I guess whether you're Zoran Mamdani or Greg Abbott, this is a very real test. As a lot of people are hunkering down here, I've got to ask you, Congresswoman, what it's like to wake up in the morning and hear from a judge that your workplace should no longer exist. I'm referring to the ruling that we discussed on Bloomberg, and I know that you have some, I'm sure, pretty strong thoughts about this. This is your first national interview since a judge ruled that your district should be redrawn. You're no stranger to redistricting in New York, and I'm wondering what will be your recourse?

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Look, we fought this battle in 2022 and 2024 successfully. Here we are again, third time running for reelection, and it's the third time we're having a fight over the district map. And this is because the Democrats simply can't beat me on merit, on policy, on debate. In 2020, the seat was represented by a Democrat. And the people of Staten island, southern Brooklyn, fired that individual because he was doing a bad job. They hired me a Republican. I am the only Republican who represents our city in Washington. But the bottom line here is that it was the people's choice. Now you have a Washington law firm who's basically saying, we don't care what the people of Staten island say, how they vote. We want to be able to fix this map so they can never elect a Republican ever again. They're going to get stuck with the Democrat that we say is going to be the one to run, run there. And that is very unfortunate. That is certainly not what you expect from the people who call themselves the defenders of. And we're going to fight it tooth and nail. And if we have to take it all the way to the U.S. supreme Court, we will, because we need to fight to protect the voices of this group of constituents that I represent who have spoken very loud and clearly in the last few elections.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, this, if I understand the case, the court ruled the boundaries of Your district the 11th year unfairly dilutes black and Latino voters. What would be your message to those voters?

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Well, I'm the first Hispanic, half Cuban to represent this district, the first minority. So that's kind of interesting that they would claim that. But what's even more ludicrous is their solution. The proposed solution of the plaintiffs is to put Staten island with lower Manhattan, which would add more white voters to the district. So it really, absolutely makes no sense. It is completely meritless. The only reason it got Anywhere, quite frankly, is because the judge was the chief of staff and counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul. You can't just go to your friends on the bench and expect, like, whatever political outcome you want because you can't win at the ballot box. That's not the way democracy works. And I think it's wrong when Republicans do it as well. I've been very critical. Right. I've been very consistent on this issue.

[Bloomberg Host]

You have.

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Political gerrymandering is wrong because it should be the people who elect their representatives and not the other way around.

[Bloomberg Host]

Yeah. Your consistency is noted, Congresswoman. You were the first, I think, Republican on our air to oppose the Texas redistricting. That, of course, created a national movement on both sides of the aisle. But this idea of putting lower Manhattan into your districts, Could a Republican win in Manhattan?

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Look, I think the idea here, their idea, is to make it so difficult where a Republican can never win. And it's not just a Republican winning, you know, my district. This would mean that New York City would no longer have any competitive districts. Right? Not one competitive seat. And New York City will never have another Republican representing our city in Washington. I believe bipartisan representation of our city is incredibly important, particularly now where you have a Democrat mayor, you have a Republican president. I think I've done a good job of protecting our city. I went to President Trump when DHS was gonna cut Homeland Security counterterrorism funding to our nypd. We worked to get that money back when they were gonna cut World Trade center healthcare Program employees that serve our first responders who are still battling illnesses from 9 11. I fought Doge and I got those employees hired back with my colleagues. And so what I would say is it is incredibly important that we have bipartisan representation in Washington. And what the Democrats are trying to do here is ensure that that there'll never be another Republican representing our city. On the federal level.

[Bloomberg Host]

I'm glad you mentioned Doge. The story today on the Bloomberg terminal that FEMA has halted planned terminations of some temporary disaster relief workers in advance of the storm. That we started our conversation on here knowing that over the last year, some 3,700 FEMA employees have been cut, which is 14% of the agency. Do you worry about the impact on the federal level here that worker cuts have had when it comes to storm preparedness?

[Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Well, look, I think that a lot of these agencies do have bloat. There is bureaucracy, there is some savings to be had. I also think that we need to be targeted and use precision when doing this. Like you know, we can't just fire employees that are, that are needed. So I haven't been able to look at exactly what FEMA has announced here, but certainly I will be very vocal if it's going to be something that would impact my district as I have when it came to the World Trade center employees or other, other areas of our federal government. But certainly everybody knows there's a lot of bloat and bureaucracy in Washington where we can find efficiencies to not only bring our debt down but to, to also protect the taxpayers, which we had a fiscal response fiduciary responsibility to do. Then we need to take that action.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, I appreciate your joining us today, Congresswoman. We'd like to stay in touch as you bring your case to the courts. And we wish you luck with the big storm this weekend. We'll see you on the other side.

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