The Adam Friedland Show

Guest: ZOHRAN MAMDANI (Mayor-elect, NYC)
Date: November 24, 2025
Episode Theme:
"ZOHRAN MAMDANI Talks Meeting Trump, Mayoral Election, Arsenal"

Overview

This episode of The Adam Friedland Show features a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation with ZOHRAN MAMDANI, the recently elected Mayor of New York City. The discussion moves seamlessly between New York politics, friendship, soccer obsession (especially Arsenal FC), generational change in leadership, and the surreal experience of meeting President Donald Trump at the White House. Throughout, Adam and Zoran keep the tone irreverent yet grounded, often veering into personal anecdotes and self-deprecating humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Surreal Experience Meeting President Trump

• Timestamps: 16:10 – 21:09
• Zoran recounts his visit to the White House, taking a selfie on Air Force One, and what it was like being given a personal tour by Trump.
  • Adam teases Zoran’s “Drake vibes” for posting a no-caption selfie from the plane, jokingly suggesting he looked like he’d “hit the edible before the flight.”

    “No caption. That is like Drake vibes a little bit.” — Adam Friedland (16:11) “You look a little bit like you hit the edible before the flight.” — Adam Friedland (16:35)

• Zoran—laughing—explains he “just knocked out on the plane.”
• Adam asks about strange moments with Trump: Zoran describes being shown the Cabinet Room and the president’s portraits, noting that the Oval Office was “beautiful” and that they discussed FDR.
• Notable detail: He was surprised to see a “UFC at the White House” coffee table book.

2. Political Agenda & City Leadership

• Timestamps: 18:34 – 20:35, 22:07 – 23:55
• Zoran frames his campaign and governance as focused almost obsessively on affordability—groceries, rent, utilities, childcare:

  "A meeting where we talked about ULURP, we talked about, you know, groceries, Con Ed, rent, childcare... That feels like the best meeting you could have." — Zoran Mamdani (20:32)

• Adam suggests Trump sensed Zoran’s “swagger” and popularity.
• Zoran notes both serious disagreements and points of connection with Trump on affordability/cost of living.
• He gives insights into running against Eric Adams and pushes back against the notion that New York must only be led from the political right:

  “I wanted to make a case specific about cost of living... [many thought] the only way to beat someone heading towards the right is to head towards the right yourself.” — Zoran Mamdani (22:52)

• Zoran admits doubt: he gave himself “a 3% chance of winning.”

3. Personal Background and Upbringing

• Timestamps: 10:05 – 13:04
• The pair reminisce about both growing up in New York, and unexpectedly, both spending time as children in Cape Town, South Africa. They connect over shared immigrant family stories, apartheid, family roots, and soccer.
• Adam describes his parents’ story—leaving South Africa because his father was on an apartheid-era “enemies list,” creating a bond between their family histories.

  “When I was a kid, I used to write my, like, essays, like, 'who’s your hero?' on my Diba [Mandela] because it connected me to my parents.” — Adam Friedland (11:29)

• Commentary on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, vuvuzelas, and Zoran’s heartbreak at seeing Ghana lose to Uruguay.

  “That's where I cried in public.” — Zoran Mamdani (12:53)

4. Soccer Obsession & Arsenal

• Timestamps: 7:00 – 14:03, 39:04 – End
• Endearing banter about Arsenal FC, obscure soccer players, and the pain of living as a dedicated Arsenal supporter.
• Special moments: Messages from famous Arsenal figures (implied as celebrity audio greetings).

  “I love this man.” — Zoran Mamdani, responding to a video message from Arsenal legend (8:30) “Representation matters.” — Zoran Mamdani (13:33) “The mayor caring about Arsenal is like Wakanda for me.” — Adam Friedland (13:04)

• Recurring jokes about soccer heartbreak preparing them for disappointment in politics and in life.

  “You cannot count it... being an Arsenal fan, it’s the hope that kills you. It’s never done...” — Zoran Mamdani (25:36)

5. Generational Change & Representation

• Timestamps: 13:34 – 15:51
• Adam marvels at having a peer from his generation—who deeply “gets” hip hop, soccer, and immigrant family experiences—leading NYC.

  “My entire life, this kind of feels like the first time that someone from my generation has ascended to leadership.” — Adam Friedland (13:34)

• Discussion on being “unked” (treated as the uncle/elder), and both laugh about neither knowing what an assembly member technically does.
• Zoran discusses staying grounded: “spending as much time as possible with people I knew before...the day ones.”

6. Media, Messaging, and Progressive Clarity

• Timestamps: 34:22 – 40:46
• Insights on making progressive politics accessible:

  “The point is to bring people into politics, not to condescend to them as to why they’re not already there. And it’s also just much easier being yourself.” — Zoran Mamdani (40:28)

• Shout-out to FTC Chair Lina Khan for her “clear and concise” antitrust messaging, and Adam’s awe at her honesty.
• Zoran emphasizes importance of not getting distracted by amplified voices of the rich and powerful:

  “You always have to remember that the opinions that you’re hearing...from the wealthy and the powerful...will always be amplified in a way that working people’s are not.” — Zoran Mamdani (42:09)

7. Transition, Team Building, and Staying True

• Timestamps: 33:24 – 34:22; 38:21 – 39:40
• Discussion on picking a balanced team—combining “mud” (experience) and vision. First deputy mayor, Dean Fulahan, brings 47 years of government experience but retains “imagination.” Chief of staff El Bisgar Church has been Zoran’s key aide from day one.

  “The thing that I love about him [Dean Fulahan]...is his orientation is how do we make a no into a how when it comes to any political problem...” — Zoran Mamdani (34:00)

• On surviving the scrutiny and stress of being mayor: the necessity of not losing oneself in politics.

  “Whatever you do, make sure you can recognize yourself in the mirror at the end of the day.” — advice to Zoran from Alia Latif, quoted (38:22)

• Hilarious story: Zoran takes a selfie with a fan at a Wu-Tang concert who immediately flips him off for the photo; both agree that’s peak New York.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the pressure to deliver:

  “There are a lot of people who don’t know if they should give themselves permission to hope again because of how many times they’ve been disappointed. And you have to prove that they were right to believe.” — Zoran Mamdani (35:27)

• On fame and normalcy:

  “I was still working in politics, but I was also walking around my neighborhood like anybody else. I went to the White House... I was gonna tell you I went to Duane Reade. But both are true.” — Zoran Mamdani (15:05)

• Self-deprecation about losing hair:

  “You think your face, brother. You see them always. Yeah. You’re going bald already.” — Adam Friedland (40:50)
  “What do you mean, already? I’ve been going bald.” — Zoran Mamdani (40:54)

• On New Yorkers' opinions:

  “To be a New Yorker, you’re gonna hear a lot of people’s opinions.” — Zoran Mamdani (37:40)

Major Segments & Timestamps

• White House and Meeting Trump: 16:10 – 21:09
• Background & Upbringing: 10:05 – 13:04
• Soccer & Arsenal: 07:00 – 14:03; 39:04 – End
• Why He Ran for Mayor: 22:07 – 23:55
• Handling Fame/Government Work: 15:38 – 16:39; 33:24 – 34:22
• Progressive Messaging & Staying Grounded: 34:22 – 42:09
• Respecting the Power of Example: 42:09 – 43:00

Conclusion

This episode offers a refreshingly honest look at a new generation of political leadership—informed as much by football and hip hop as by policy wonkery—with Zoran Mamdani presenting a mix of humility, humor and hope rarely seen in municipal politics. At each turn, both host and guest keep things personal, sometimes silly, and always relatable. A must-listen for New Yorkers, progressives, and football nerds alike.