GD POLITICS Podcast Summary

Episode: Mamdani Is In, Marjorie Is Out
Host: Galen Druke
Guests: Nathaniel Rakich, Mary Radcliffe
Release Date: November 24, 2025
www.gdpolitics.com

Overview

This episode unpacks a wild week in American politics: Trump’s unexpected warm meeting with NYC Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s dramatic resignation from Congress after a Trump falling-out, the ongoing battle over congressional maps and gerrymandering, and shifting public attitudes toward marijuana as America heads into Thanksgiving. The panel examines whether these surprising events mark turning points in Trumpism and the broader political scene, with a dose of humor and data-driven insight.

Main Discussion Topics & Insights

I. Cold Opens & Edibles Humor (00:00–01:08)

• The episode launches with the hosts joking about cannabis use, setting a lighthearted tone.
• ("I've used a cannabis product once... It didn't dull the pain, but it did make me not care about it." – A, 00:09)
• ("This is a Bill Clintonian distinction here. I know I've never smelled, but I've only eaten it." – B, 00:47)

II. Trump & Mamdani's Unexpected Civility (01:08–12:57)

Background (08:08–09:49):

• Trump, after years of attacking NYC’s new mayor Zoran Mamdani (calling him “a communist” and questioning his citizenship), met with him and offered surprising praise, even joking, "It’s okay if Mamdani calls him a fascist."
• Galen expresses bewilderment over Trump’s 180 and wonders about broader political meaning.

Analysis:

• Schmoozing vs. Strategy:
  ("He is at his core a businessman and a schmoozer and a New Yorker, specifically a Queens man, just like Zoran Mamdani." – A, 05:11)
• Performative Politics:
  Both sides benefit from being foils; in-person, hostilities soften for strategic reasons.
• Mamdani’s Approach:
  Mamdani entered the meeting looking for compromise and policy areas for joint work, e.g., on immigration (“…he came in with a compromise. Right.” – C, 07:52)
• Public/Political Calculation:
  Druke notes NYC residents were "relieved" by the positive tone, fearing Trump could make life harder for the city if relations soured.
• Implications:
  Guest Nathaniel suggests the real stakes are high: how Mamdani navigates the unpredictable Trump could affect his future ("…very important to Mamdani's political future how well he handles Trump." – A, 12:34)

III. The Marjorie Taylor Greene–Trump Breakup (12:57–29:24)

Event Recap:

• Greene resigns from Congress over policy disagreements and public Trump criticism, notably after being called "Marjorie Traitor Greene" by Trump.

Deeper Trends:

• Populist Crackup or Isolated Drama?
  Is Greene’s break a sign of larger populist or party-wide tensions?
  • ("It's more emblematic of the populist coalition cracking up, which is actually...just as dangerous...for the Republican coalition..." – B, 15:21)
• Approval Data:
  • Trump's approval among Republicans holds steady ("high 80s"); greater softening noted among independents and new coalition voters. (C, 14:23)
• Greene's Positioning:
  • Greene, careful not to attack Trump directly—she’s solidifying her brand as “populist outsider," criticizing Trump for not being “Trumpy enough.” (B, 19:30)
  • ("Her criticism was basically like, Trump isn't being Trumpy enough. He's lost his way." – B, 21:00)
• Shift in Congressional Culture:
  The panel contemplates whether the main “crackup” is in Congress rather than among voters, as more lawmakers (especially old-guard Republicans) retire, finding Congress an increasingly unfulfilling (even hostile) place to work. (A, 27:18)

IV. Congressional Exodus & Broken Political Culture (24:48–29:24)

• High Lawmaker Turnover:
  Recent years see a record pace of Congressional exits—both retirements and resignations—due to burnout, lost agency, or gerrymandering. (A, 27:18)
• Republican Dissent:
  As more GOP lawmakers threaten early departure, the risk of losing the majority rises.
• Old Guard vs. Populists:
  Old-style GOPers depart over lack of legislative agency; populists like Greene are disillusioned over unmet policy promises.

V. Gerrymandering Rulings & Redistricting Chessboard (29:24–39:48)

Texas Map Struck Down (30:58–34:22):

• Federal judges strike down Texas’s new map (which would net 5 GOP seats), citing racial gerrymandering.
• The decision’s fate rests with the Supreme Court, leaning conservative but occasionally surprising (e.g., Alabama VRA case).

Current National Picture:

• Redistricting so far has been a virtual wash:
  • Gains for the GOP in Texas/Missouri are offset by Democratic gains in California/Utah; swing-state tweaks in North Carolina and Ohio slightly favor Republicans, but not dramatically. (A, 35:13)
  • “Right now it's kind of looking like a wash, a bit of an advantage for Republicans, but really nothing...that you can say...redistricting made a difference at this juncture.” – A, 36:24

Public Opinion on Gerrymandering:

• A recent Politico poll claims both parties’ voters back gerrymandering for their side, but Mary and Nathaniel criticize the poll’s methodology and argue that Americans generally dislike the practice—while still supporting their side using it out of “reciprocity” (C, 39:48; A, 43:36).

VI. Marijuana Attitudes & Thanksgiving "Cousin Walk" (43:56–53:54)

Rise of the "Cousin Walk":

• Wall Street Journal reports pre-Thanksgiving pot-smoking has gone mainstream, with dispensary sales peaking for "Green Wednesday." (B, 44:23)

Shifting Opinions:

• Gallup Poll Data:
  Support for legalization is down slightly (2023: 70%; 2025: 64%), but that's still twice the level of early 2000s. The bulk of decline is among Republicans (from 55% to 40%). (C, 46:04)
• Thermostatic vs. Vibe Shift:
  Panel debates whether backlash is a natural response to weed’s visibility ("thermostatic") or a result of a broader conservative "vibe shift"—a new cultural conservatism post-Trump’s re-election that's affecting attitudes toward unions, marriage, and marijuana. (C/A, 48:38–51:07)

Notable Quote:

"I do kind of think that, like, that is part of this. Again, the conservative vibe shift, for lack of a better term, is this returning to this golden age of America when people dressed up on airplanes and didn't smoke pot." – A, 53:08

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On Trump-Mamdani:
  "When they get together they're like, yeah, we can get along. Like, it's not personal." – A, 05:41

• On Greene:
  "Her criticism was basically like, Trump isn't being Trumpy enough. He's lost his way." – B, 21:00

• On Congressional Dissatisfaction:
  "In recent memory, it has never been as unfun to be in Congress as it is now." – A, 28:44

• On Poll Skepticism:
  "These questions were written to get these responses. I really think that this is counter to all the other evidence we have on this..." – C, 42:24

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:08: Lighthearted cold open on cannabis
• 01:08–12:57: Trump meets Mamdani; analysis of their odd détente
• 12:57–24:48: Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns; is this a sign of populist crackup?
• 24:48–29:24: Congressional retirements and the dysfunction within
• 29:24–39:48: Gerrymandering: Texas ruling, Supreme Court, poll skepticism
• 43:56–53:54: The Thanksgiving cousin walk; shifting marijuana attitudes; cultural vibe shifts

Conclusion

The episode parses whether unusual political bedfellows, high-profile resignations, and shifts in public opinion are signs of deeper ruptures in US politics or merely the continued turbulence of the Trump era. A key takeaway is the tension between performative and substantive politics in both parties, with a keen eye toward how vibe shifts and demographic changes might shape future elections. The crew signs off wishing listeners a happy Thanksgiving—no matter how they plan to celebrate it.