BP EXCLUSIVE: Zohran On ICE, Eric Adams, Bibi Arrest

Summary

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Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

Episode: BP EXCLUSIVE: Zohran On ICE, Eric Adams, Bibi Arrest
Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Griffin (Breaking Points)
Guest: Zohran Mamdani (NYC Assembly Member, Mayoral Candidate)

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Episode Overview

This exclusive interview features Zohran Mamdani discussing his mayoral campaign’s core issues: affordability, ICE and immigration policy, Islamophobia in NYC politics, housing justice, and international law as it relates to the proposed arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussion is candid, reflecting Mamdani's outsider campaign style and his vision for a more equitable New York.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflections & Political Approach

[02:11–03:10]

• Looking Back: One year ago, Mamdani campaigned in the Bronx and Queens, speaking with many Trump voters.
• Key Lesson: “The best campaign you can build is one that actually reflects what New Yorkers are concerned about. It’s cost of living again and again.” (Zohran Mamdani, 02:35)
• Humor: Mamdani jokes that his past self should have “bench pressed a little bit more.”

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2. Identity, Islamophobia, and Democratic Solidarity

[03:12–04:46]

• Video on Muslim Experience: Mamdani released a video addressing his experiences as a Muslim in NYC, notably in light of recent racist attacks.
• Systemic Racism:

  “This racism is so endemic in our city’s politics that when one hears it, one does not know if it’s from a Republican or a Democrat.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 03:59)

• Addressing Islamophobia: Directly calls out former Governor Cuomo and Mayor Adams for Islamophobic rhetoric:

  “Andrew Cuomo laughed and agreed when a radio host said they would ‘cheer another 9/11’ … and then went to accept Eric Adams’ endorsement.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 04:11)

• Reason for Speaking Out: “This level of bigotry should still shock the conscience despite how unsurprising it may be in this moment.”

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3. Housing, Rent Freeze & Eric Adams’ Rental Board Moves

[04:46–06:05]

• Adams Stacking the Board: Concern at Mayor Eric Adams appointing a reality TV real estate figure to the Rent Guidelines Board.
• Rent Freeze Justification:

  “We are doing so to provide relief to more than 2 million rent-stabilized tenants across the five boroughs … not to punish landlords.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 05:21)

• Landlord Accountability:

  “The rent that's being paid doesn't have a significant relationship with the repairs that landlords are doing.” (Zohran Mamdani, 05:13)

• Weitere Measures: Plans to support landlords with rising insurance and utility costs, paired with the rent freeze.

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4. ICE, Immigration, and Law Enforcement

[06:05–06:54]

• ICE Abuses: On recent ICE raids and videos:

  “ICE is a reckless entity. It cares little about the law. It cares even less about the people that it’s supposed to serve.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 06:26)

• Holding Federal Agents Accountable: Asserts that any lawbreaker (including ICE or any federal agents) would be held to account by NYPD under his administration.
• Current Leadership’s Role: Blames Eric Adams for creating an environment in which ICE can intimidate New Yorkers.

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5. Campaigning in the Modern Media Era

[06:54–07:35]

• Flagrant Appearance: Mamdani notes that his appearance on a popular podcast, Flagrant, was the first many friends of his actually listened to.
• Approach to Media:

  “There’s a condescension in our political approach to anything that goes beyond traditional media, and I think it’s time to bring that to an end.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 07:24)

• Advice for Fellow Democrats: “Be yourself, because if you’re not, they will definitely get to the bottom of that pretty quick.” (07:32)

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6. International Law and Netanyahu Arrest

[07:40–08:13]

• On the Potential Arrest of Netanyahu:

  “Benjamin Netanyahu has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court … we should seek to honor [it]. I will exhaust every legal possibility to do so. If there is not a law, I’m not going to create one because I’m not Donald Trump.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 07:50)

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7. Get Out the Vote & Campaign Priorities

[08:13–08:46]

• Policy Pillars: Freeze the rent, universal childcare, faster buses.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Encourages listeners—New Yorkers and nationwide—to canvass or phone-bank.

  “The reason I’m sitting in front of you, it’s not just the 1.6 million doors that volunteers knocked on in the primary, it’s the 2.1 million phone calls that they also made. And that can be done from anywhere across this country.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 08:38)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Listening vs. Lecturing
  “Listen to New Yorkers … the best campaign you can build is one that actually reflects what New Yorkers are concerned about. It's cost of living again and again.”
  (Zohran Mamdani, 02:35)

• On Systemic Islamophobia
  “This racism is so endemic in our city’s politics that when one hears it, one does not know if it’s from a Republican or a Democrat.”
  (03:59)

• On Housing Policy
  “The rent that's being paid doesn't have a significant relationship with the repairs that landlords are doing.”
  (05:13)

• On Modern Political Communication
  “You have to treat New Yorkers, especially young New Yorkers, with legitimacy, as well as the places where they actually get their news.”
  (07:15)

• On International Law
  “If there is not a law, I’m not going to create one because I’m not Donald Trump.”
  (07:56)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• [02:11] Advice to self, campaign lessons
• [03:12] Addressing Muslim identity, Islamophobia in politics
• [04:46] Housing/rent freeze & Adams stacking rental board
• [06:05] ICE abuses and NYPD accountability
• [06:54] Modern media, ‘vibe check,’ advice for Democrats
• [07:40] Netanyahu arrest discussion
• [08:13] How to help: GOTV and campaign priorities

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Summary

This episode offers a fast-paced, insightful interview with Zohran Mamdani, highlighting his direct yet empathetic approach to pressing New York City issues. He blends informed policy positions with personal stories, particularly on Islamophobia and immigrant rights, while laying out concrete plans for renters, child care, and transit. His perspective on international law and political authenticity rounds out a conversation full of both substance and memorable moments.

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Transcript

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[Griffin]

I turned off news altogether.

[Breaking Points Host]

I hate to say it, but I.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Don'T trust much of anything.

[Griffin]

It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Breaking Points Host]

We got clear facts.

[Podcast Host]

Maybe we can calm down a little.

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[Breaking Points Host]

Hey guys, ready or not. 2024 is here and we here at Breaking points are already thinking of ways we can up our game for this critical election.

We rely on our premium subs to expand coverage, upgrade the studio, add staff, give you guys the best independent coverage that is possible. If you like what we're all about, it just means the absolute world to have your support. But enough with that. Let's get to the show.

[Griffin]

This is Griffin from Breaking and I'm here seven minutes with Zoran Mamdani.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Zoran, how's it going?

[Griffin]

How you doing, man?

[Zoran Mamdani]

Doing well, man. It's a great shirt by the way.

[Griffin]

Oh, thanks, man. I had to buy it because the airline lost my luggage on the way here.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Well, we're not giving them a shout out.

[Griffin]

This is for you, this shirt. I wanted to start with a picture. We interviewed you a year ago. It's been a long time since then, man. A lot's changed. What advice do you have for that young zoron?

[Zoran Mamdani]

A year ago, what date was that?

[Griffin]

This. I mean, it says 11 months ago and we got. We used to get like 30k views on the first one. Now. Now we're racking them up now it's up there.

[Zoran Mamdani]

You know the reason I ask about the Data is because about a year ago we went out to Fordham Road and Hillside Avenue, spoke to New Yorkers, many of whom had voted for Trump, and we asked them why. And I think the advice that I would give that Zoran, I would continue to give myself every day is listen to New Yorkers. And a lot of times the political impulse is lecture, tell New Yorkers what they should care about. What we found is that the best campaign you can build is one that actually reflects what New Yorkers are concerned about. It's cost of living again and again. The other thing I would say is maybe bench press a little bit more, but it's too late for that.

[Griffin]

All right, we're going to cut the push up contest.

[Zoran Mamdani]

All right.

[Griffin]

So you recently released a video about being Muslim in New York City and the experience of that. Typically, when you've been asked about identity issues, you've pivoted back to your core campaign promises about affordability. Why, why do that video now? And do you feel like Democrat politicians have your back in this environment where, you know, in my personal opinion, the Cuomo opposition and the Cuomo supporters are hitting you with a lot of what I would say is George W. Bush era racist attacks. Do you feel like they have your back?

[Zoran Mamdani]

You know, I've appreciated the words of support that I've received from a number of leaders within our party, especially here in New York City. I do think, however, that of, of many of the Muslim New Yorkers who do not have the luxury of being the Democratic nominee for mayor, who deal with these indignities every single day. And the fact is that this racism is so endemic in our city's politics that when one hears it, one does not know if it's from a Republican or a Democrat. And it's, you know, people have, have, have asked me why did I call it Islamophobia? And I just tell them what Andrew Cuomo said because the evidence is right there. This is a man who went on a radio show and when the host said that I would cheer another 9 11, Andrew Cuomo laughed and agreed. He later went that same day to accept Eric Adams endorsement. Adams said that he was endorsing him to stop a movement of violent extremists, to stop New York City from becoming Europe, to stop a movement that was burning churches in Nigeria. This is the kind of Islamophobia that is the closing message of these other candidates. And the reason I decided to say something about it is because this level of bigotry, it's one that should still shock the conscience despite how unsurprising it may be in this moment.

[Griffin]

So freeze the rent. Let's talk about some of the core stuff. So we've been hearing talk that Eric Adams is trying to pack the rental board with people on your way out. Like a reality TV real estate guy is getting on there.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Yeah, I think she stars in a show called Selling New York. Very on the nose. Incredible Eric Adams bio.

[Griffin]

What are you going to do about that if you're mayor? And also, how are you going to stop landlords from, you know, cutting back on cleaning or safety in the buildings if you freeze the rent?

[Zoran Mamdani]

You know, I think there's a few things. The first is the Community Service Society, which does incredible studies. They found that actually the rent that's being paid doesn't have a significant relationship with the repairs that landlords are doing oftentimes, and I've heard this actually from a number of tenants myself of that they've been paying their rent year after year and a lot of their landlords are actually denying them the repairs that they're owed. And so I think when we freeze the rent, you know, we are doing so to provide relief to more than 2 million rent stabilized tenants across the five boroughs. We're not doing it actually to punish landlords because we're actually trying to also make it easier for those landlords to maintain those properties by helping them take on the rising cost of insurance or the water bill or Con Edison. These are things we can do in tandem with our commitment to freeze the rent. And look, Eric Adams's attempt to stack the Rent Guidelines Board is unacceptable. It's a betrayal of New Yorkers. It's also a continuation of this politics for the last four years. And I continue to be confident in our ability to deliver that rent freeze.

[Griffin]

As a renter in New York, I feel betrayed by that, by the, by the Eric Adams thing, not what you just said. I want to talk about ice. We're seeing all these ICE videos of goons unmasked people taking people off the streets. Are you going to instruct the NYPD to arrest ICE or other federal agents that break the law in the city?

[Zoran Mamdani]

Look, anybody who breaks the law in this city has to be held to account, whether that's ICE or whomever else. And I think that that should be just the standard that we have in this city and in this country. And what we found is that ICE is a reckless entity. It cares little about the law. It cares even less about the people that it's supposed to serve. And so much of its Purpose is to intimidate and terrorize people across this country. And we saw that with the recent raid on Canal Street. It's not just about the people that they threw against the wall. It's about the message they're trying to send to New Yorkers that they can do this kind of a thing. And it's possible for them in this moment because they have a mayor who went on national TV to open the door to civil immigration enforcement.

[Griffin]

All right, I wanna talk flagrant. In the first couple minutes of flagrant, you got Schultz to say that housing is a human right. That's awesome. You clearly passed the vibe check. Do other Democrats pass the vibe check? What's your advice for them going on these shows?

[Zoran Mamdani]

You know, I think it's funny. I've been running for mayor for now more than a year, and that's probably the first podcast that a lot of my own friends actually listen to that I did. And I think it speaks to the fact that you have to treat, you know, New Yorkers, especially young New Yorkers, with legitimacy, as well as the places where they actually get their news. And so often there's a condescension in our political approach to anything that goes beyond traditional media, and I think it's time to bring that to an end. My advice to anyone going on those shows is just to be yourself, because if you're not, they will. They will definitely get to the bottom of that pretty quick.

[Griffin]

Okay, I got one more question for you, and then I want to hear about the proposals and how people can help you.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Sounds good.

[Griffin]

So we talked about the nypd we're going to. And your team's telling you, wrap up. We'll keep this quick. Are you going to arrest Netanyahu? Especially with this NYPD commissioner?

[Zoran Mamdani]

Look, I've said time and again that I believe that New York City is a city that believes international law should have an actual embodiment of that international law. Benjamin Netanyahu has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. And I believe that that is something that we should seek to honor. I've also said that I will exhaust every legal possibility to do so. If there is not a law, I'm not going to create one because I'm not Donald Trump. But this is what I would actually be looking to do.

[Griffin]

So, last question. You know, they've got a few days, but six days, five days. What can people do to help you in this time? We have a national audience. So what can our national audience do to help you at this moment? And let's roll through the right we're freezing the rent. Universal child care we're going to freeze the rent.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Going to make buses faster for you. Deliver universal childcare. And the way that you can get involved is go to zahranfornyc.com GOTV if you live in New York City, you can sign up for a canvassing shift. If you don't, you can sign up for phone banking. Because the reason I'm sitting in front of you, it's not just the 1.6 million doors that volunteers knocked on in the primary, it's the 2.1 million phone calls that they also made. And that can be done from anywhere across this country.

[Griffin]

Zoran, good luck.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Thank you my friend. Thank you. Appreciate it.

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