DONKEY: CNN’s Van Jones Calls Zohran Mamdani's Victory Speech ‘Divisive’

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club

Episode Title: DONKEY: CNN’s Van Jones Calls Zohran Mamdani's Victory Speech ‘Divisive’
Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious
Guest: Mehdi Hassan
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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Overview

This episode’s central focus is the reaction to Zohran Mamdani’s victory speech after he was elected mayor of New York City and, in particular, CNN commentator Van Jones labeling the speech as "divisive." Charlamagne Tha God, along with guest Mehdi Hassan, push back strongly against Jones’ criticism, arguing that Mamdani’s speech was unapologetically inclusive and addressed important issues such as systemic injustice, class, and the legacy of Donald Trump. The show breaks down the key moments in Mamdani’s speech, explores Van Jones’ controversial analysis, and asks why progressive voices are frequently critiqued for their tone, especially in moments of victory.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Election Results and Mamdani’s Win

Timestamp 03:43

• Charlamagne Tha God celebrates Democratic victories across the country, with a highlight on Zoran Mamdani winning the New York City mayoral race.
• Context is set for the “Donkey of the Day” segment, targeting Van Jones for his critique of Mamdani’s victory speech.

Charlamagne Tha God [03:43]:
“Donkey of the day for Wednesday, November 5th, goes to CNN's Van Jones. … the mayoral race in New York City was won by Zoran Mamdani. And that's why I have to bring Van Jones to the front of the congregation this morning, because last night, Zoran gave a speech after his win, and Van Jones thought the speech was divisive. I thought the opposite.”

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2. Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Speech: Full Inclusion, Bold Promises

Timestamp 04:22

• Mamdani lists the communities he intends to uplift: immigrants, the trans community, Black women, single mothers, Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers.
• Promises to address policing in a just way, tackle mental health and homelessness, and make City Hall inclusive.

Zohran Mamdani [04:22]:
“Safety and justice will go hand in hand as we work with police officers to reduce crime and create a Department of Community Safety that tackles the mental health crisis and homelessness crises head on. … We will build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism, where the more than 1 million Muslims know that they belong, not just in the five boroughs of this city, but in the halls of power.”

• Charlamagne asserts the speech was inclusive, highlighting Mamdani’s outreach “to the working class of all races” and communities often overlooked.

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3. Van Jones’ Critique: Tone, Warmth, and “Divisiveness”

Timestamp 05:55

• Van Jones expresses disappointment, saying Mamdani missed an “opportunity” to be more welcoming and inclusive in tone.
• Complains that Mamdani’s speech felt “almost yelling,” lacking the warmth Jones saw on the campaign trail and TikTok.
• Suggests the approach could "cost him going forward."

Van Jones [05:55]:
“I think he missed an opportunity. The Mamdani that we saw in the campaign trail, who was a lot more calm, who was a lot warmer, who was a lot more embracing, was not present … I think he was using the microphone in a way that he was almost yelling. And that's not the Mamdani that we've seen on TikTok … There's a little bit of a character switch here … I think he missed an opportunity to open himself up tonight, and I think that will probably cost him going forward.”

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4. Charlamagne’s Response: Celebrating Without Apology

Timestamp 06:59

• Charlamagne reacts with disbelief and frustration, noting that political language has changed post-Trump and victors should be allowed to speak forcefully.
• He challenges the notion that Mamdani’s speech was unwelcoming, emphasizing its content over its delivery.
• Spotlights Mamdani’s willingness to “challenge capitalism,” calling it rare and necessary.

Charlamagne Tha God [06:59]:
“Man, shut the F up forever. Okay? There was no opportunity missed. The man just won. … What do you mean he wasn't warm enough? He took a victory lap, and he deserved to take a victory lap because he won. … The reason a lot of things don't change in this country is because you don't have enough politicians that are willing to challenge capitalism.”

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5. Mamdani on Trump, Landlords, and Class Warfare

Timestamp 07:45

• Mamdani calls out bad landlords like Trump, billionaire tax avoidance, and anti-immigrant sentiment.
• He reframes the city as immigrant-built and now immigrant-led.
• Notably, he highlights class solidarity versus the manipulation by oligarchs.

Zohran Mamdani [07:45]: “We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks. … New York will remain a city of immigrants. … if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

• Charlamagne and the panel affirm there’s “nothing divisive” in holding powerful wrongdoers accountable and challenging entrenched interests.

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6. Mehdi Hassan’s Take: The Real Division

Timestamp 09:51

• Mehdi Hassan reframes the discussion: Van Jones praised Trump’s “unifying” speech in 2017 but calls Mamdani “divisive” for uniting “a multiracial, multicultural, multi income coalition.”
• Points to Van Jones’ proximity to establishment and Trump’s inner circle (“Jared Kushner’s pal”).

Mehdi Hassan [09:51]:
“I would remind people that Van Jones in 2017 is the guy who gave us the most famous line of the first Trump administration ... Van Jones thinks that Donald Trump gives unifying speeches … but thinks Zoran Mamdani, who's United, a multiracial, multicultural, multi income coalition, is divisive. That tells you more about Van Jones than it does tell you about Zoran Mandani.”

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7. Show Wrap-Up and Final Words

Timestamp 10:25 – 10:39

• Charlamagne closes the segment by awarding Van Jones “the biggest hee haw,” sealing the verdict of the morning: Mamdani’s speech was not divisive—calling out power is not divisive.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God [06:59]:
  “Man, shut the F up forever. … The language of politics is dead, and Donald Trump killed it. And you know when you can really talk that talk? After you win.”
• Zohran Mamdani [07:45]:
  “New York will remain a city of immigrants. A city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”
• Mehdi Hassan [09:51]:
  “Van Jones thinks that Donald Trump gives unifying speeches … but thinks Zoran Mamdani … is divisive. That tells you more about Van Jones than it does about Zoran Mandani.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:43 – Charlamagne introduces “Donkey of the Day” segment and sets up Van Jones’ critique.
• 04:22 – Zohran Mamdani’s victory speech excerpt (inclusion, justice, community promises).
• 05:55 – Van Jones’ critique (missed opportunity, tone, divisiveness).
• 06:59 – Charlamagne’s pushback and defense of Mamdani.
• 07:45 – Mamdani’s class, Trump, and immigrant rhetoric.
• 09:51 – Mehdi Hassan’s analysis: The contradiction in Van Jones’ view of Trump vs. Mamdani.

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Tone and Language

• The episode is fiery, unscripted, and loaded with irreverent humor characteristic of The Breakfast Club.
• Panelists don’t mince words and aren’t afraid to call out public figures by name.
• The language is direct and colloquial, aiming to connect with both politically engaged listeners and a broader urban audience.

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For Listeners:

If you missed the episode, you missed a powerful breakdown of what it means for politicians to speak directly about class, justice, and inclusion, and a fierce debate over “divisiveness” versus truth-telling in politics. The Breakfast Club doesn’t hold back—and neither did Zohran Mamdani.

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Transcript

[Gisele Bryant]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[Hari Kundabolu]

On the podcast Health Stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

I'm Dr. Priyanka Wali, a double board certified physician.

[Hari Kundabolu]

And I'm Hari Kundabolu, a comedian and someone who once googled do I have scurvy at 3am and on our show we're talking about health in a different way. Like our episode where we look at.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Diabetes in the United states. I mean, 50% of Americans are pre diabetic.

[Hari Kundabolu]

How preventable is type 2?

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Extremely. Listen to Health Stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator from Graves County]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Hari Kundabolu]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Narrator from Graves County]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

I'm Jonathan Goldstein and on the new season of Heavyweight. And so I pointed the gun at him and said, this isn't a jo. A man who robbed a bank when he was 14 years old and a centenarian rediscovers a love lost 80 years ago. How can 101-year-old woman fall in love again? Listen to heavyweight on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

In early 1988, federal agents raced to track down the gang they suspect of importing millions of dollars worth of heroin into New York from had 30 agents.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Ready to go with shotguns and rifles and you name it.

[Narrator from Graves County]

Five, six white people pushed me in the car.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

I'm going, what the hell?

[Hari Kundabolu]

Basically, your stay at home moms were.

[Mehdi Hassan]

Picking up these large amounts of heroin.

[Hari Kundabolu]

All you gotta do is receive the package. Don't have to open it, just accept it. She was very upset, crying. Once I saw the gun, I tried to take his hand and I saw the flash of light.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Listen to the Chinatown sting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts.

[Gisele Bryant]

You know the shade is always shadiest right here. Season six of the podcast Reasonably Shady with Gisele Bryant and Robyn Dixon is here dropping every Monday as two of the founding members of the Real Housewives Potomac. We're giving you all the laughs, drama and reality news you can handle. And you know we don't hold back.

[Zoran Mamdani]

So.

[Gisele Bryant]

So come be reasonable or shady with us each and every Monday, listen to Reasonably Shady from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

This is America.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

There is no question that there are problems in this country between police and community.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Yes, you are a donkey. The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Hari Kundabolu]

And yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

And so we are in a state of emergency.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Okay. White supremacist violence is. It always has been, the number one threat to our society. But I'm also very proud that my wife is white. The Breakfast Club, bitches.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

All right, Charlene, please tell me, why was I your donkey of the day?

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Donkey of the day for Wednesday, November 5th, goes the CNN's Van Jones. Now, last night, the Democrats, Democrats had a good election night. They won the governor's race in Jersey, Virginia. They voted for Prop 50 in California. They retained crucial seats on the Supreme Court. In Pennsylvania, House Democrats flipped 13 seats in the Virginia state legislators. And of course, the mayoral race in New York City was won by Zoran Mandani. And that's why I have to bring Van Jones to the front of the congregation this morning, because last night, Zoran gave a speech after his win, and Van Jones thought the speech was divisive. I thought the opposite. Would you like to hear some of Mandani's speech? Let's listen.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Safety and justice will go hand in hand as we work with police officers to reduce crime and create a Department of Community Safety that tackles the mental health crisis and homelessness crises head on. We believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall. Your struggle is ours, too. And we will build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism, where the more than 1 million Muslims know that they belong, not just in the five boroughs of this city, but in the halls of power.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

How is any of that divisive? I personally love that he covered all bases. He talked about working with police. He talked about helping people with mental health issues. He talked about helping the homeless. He talked about trans people. He talked about black People, Black women, Jewish people, the Muslim community. Most importantly, he spoke to the working class of all races. Okay, let people know he will be a mayor for all New Yorkers. But Van Jones didn't like that. He thought it was divisive. Van Jones had this to say, let's listen.

[Van Jones]

But I think he missed an opportunity. The Mamdani that we saw in the campaign trail, who was a lot more calm, who was a lot warmer, who was a lot more embracing, was not present in that space. And I think that Mamdani is the one you need to hear from tonight. There are a lot of people trying to figure out, can I get on this train with him or not? Is he gonna include me? Is he going to be more of a class warrior, even in office? I think he missed a chance tonight to open up and bring more people into the tent. I think he was using the microphone in a way that he was almost yelling. And that's not the mom Danny that we've seen on TikTok and the Great interviews and stuff like that. So I felt like there's a little bit of a character switch here where the warm, open, embracing guy that's close to working people was not on stage tonight. And there was some other voice on stage that said he's very young and he just pulled off something that's very, very difficult. And I wouldn't write him off, but I think he missed an opportunity to open himself up tonight, and I think that will probably cost him going forward.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Man, shut the F up forever. Okay? There was no opportunity missed. The man just won. All right. He just won. After you won. Yes. You're going to celebrate. Yes. You're going to talk loud. What do you mean he wasn't warm enough? He took a victory lap, and he deserved to take a victory lap because he won. I just don't understand how, in the era of Trump, we still telling people how to talk. The language of politics is dead, and Donald Trump killed it. And you know when you can really talk that talk after you win. All right, I listened to the Ron's whole speech, Zoran's whole speech, because I was trying to figure out what the hell Van could have been possibly talking about. It couldn't have been the part I just played earlier. So the only thing I could think of was the rhetoric he had put a billionaire class in Donald Trump. Let's listen.

[Zoran Mamdani]

We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks. New York will remain a city of immigrants. A city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me. If we embrace this brave new course rather than fleeing from it, we can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

There's absolutely nothing divisive about calling out bad landlords who take advantage of tenants, okay? There's nothing divisive about calling out billionaires who are corrupt and don't pay their fair share of taxes. Nothing wrong with calling them out, okay? An administration, all right, that is trying to implement an authoritarian strategy on America. There is nothing wrong with calling that out. There's nothing wrong with calling out capitalism, okay? There is nothing divisive about it. There was something Zoron said in his speech. He said, as has so often occurred, the billionaire class has sought to convince those making $30 an hour that their enemies are those earning $20 an hour. Oh, I love that. Okay, See, the reason a lot of things don't change in this country is because you don't have enough politicians that are willing to to challenge capitalism. And Zoran is doing that. So how can Van Jones be mad that someone is challenging capitalism an authoritarian strategy? Well, I need someone way smarter than me to answer that question, Matty. Why would Van Jones calls Iran Mandani speech divisive? Why would people say this was an angry, far left, rage filled victory speech?

[Mehdi Hassan]

Very hard for me to get inside of Van Jones head. But I would remind people that van Jones in 2017 is the guy who gave us the most famous line of the first Trump administration. Remember when Trump gave that speech in Congress, Van Jones on the CNN said tonight he became President of the United States. So Van Jones thinks that Donald Trump gives unifying speeches that make him president, but thinks Zoran Mamdani, who's United, a multiracial, multicultural, multi income coalition, is divisive. That tells you more about Van Jones than it does tell you about Zoran Mandani. I mean, Jared Kushner's pal wasn't a fan of Zoran Mandani's anti oligarchy, anti Trump speech. I'm shocked.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Please give Van Jones the biggest hee haw. And when we come back, we're going to talk to Mehdi Hassan some more. That's right. About everything that happened last night and all things going on in the world of politics.

[Mehdi Hassan]

That's right.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

So don't go anywhere.

[Mehdi Hassan]

It's the Breakfast Club.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Good morning. Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lame. Soft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[Van Jones]

Y' all finished or y' all done?

[Hari Kundabolu]

On the podcast health stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

I'm Dr. Priyanka Wali, a double board certified physician.

[Hari Kundabolu]

And I'm Hari Kundabolu, a comedian and someone who once googled do I have scurvy at 3am? And on our show we're talking about health in a different way. Like our episode where we look at.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Diabetes in the United states. I mean, 50% of Americans are pre diabetic.

[Hari Kundabolu]

How preventable is type 2?

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Extremely. Listen to Health Stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator from Graves County]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Hari Kundabolu]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Narrator from Graves County]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

In early 1988, federal agents race to track down the gang they suspect of importing millions of dollars worth of heroin into New York from Asia.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Had 30 agents ready to go with shotguns and rifles and you name it.

[Narrator from Graves County]

Five, six white people pushed me in the car.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

I'm going, what the hell?

[Hari Kundabolu]

Basically your stay at home moms were.

[Mehdi Hassan]

Picking up these large amounts of heroin.

[Hari Kundabolu]

All you gotta do is receive the package. Don't have to open it, just accept it. She was very upset, crying. Once I saw the gun, I tried to take his hand and I saw the flash of light.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Listen to the Chinatown sting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts. I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomez Jejun. And this week on our podcast, Hungry for history, we talk oysters. Plus, the Miami chief stops by.

[Hari Kundabolu]

If you are not an oyster lover.

[Zoran Mamdani]

Don'T even talk to me.

[Dr. Priyanka Wali]

Ancient Athenians used to scratch names onto oyster shells to vote politicians into exile. So our word ostracize is related to the word oyster. No way. Bring back the ostracon. Listen to Hungry for history on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gisele Bryant]

You know the shade is always shadiest right here. Season six of the podcast Reasonably Shady with Gisele Bryant and Robyn Dixon is here dropping every Monday as two of the founding members of the Real Housewives Potomac. We're giving you all the laughs, drama and and reality news you can handle. And you know we don't hold back. So come be reasonable or shady with us each and every Monday. Listen to Reasonably Shady from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. This is an I heart podcast.