Episode Overview

Title: Why Mamdani Might Win
Host: Brett Cooper
Date: November 3, 2025

In this episode, Brett Cooper analyzes the crucial New York City mayoral race, focusing on candidates Mamdani, Cuomo, and Curtis, and reflecting on broader trends in politics. Brett discusses the growing importance of authenticity and relatability over policy, the public personas of major candidates, and why she believes Mamdani may win. While touching on similar trends nationwide, she empathizes with New Yorkers about their choices and encourages listeners to participate in Tuesday’s elections in both New York and New Jersey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Context of the 2025 New York Mayoral Election

• Brett sets the scene by reporting from her hotel in NYC, revealing the city's buzz ahead of the mayoral election.
• She also notes the concurrent New Jersey governor's race and expresses hope for a Republican win there.
• Candidates discussed:
  • Mamdani: Leading in online prediction markets and polling.
  • Cuomo: Trailing behind.
  • Curtis: Mentioned as an underdog with a low likelihood of victory.

Polls and Predictions

• Polymarket Odds: "Polymarket is predicting that Mamdani is gonna win. I think it's like a 95% chance on there." (01:07)
• Brett recalls recent polls showing Mamdani with approximately 46% and Cuomo with about 34%.

The Primacy of Authenticity & Relatability

• Brett unpacks a key trend: In modern politics, personality, authenticity, and relatability outweigh detailed policy.
• On Donald Trump:
  • "A lot of people felt comfortable… coming over to vote for him… because of his personality… Even though Donald Trump is somebody who is a larger than life individual… he speaks to normal American people." (02:38)
• On J.D. Vance:
  • "He is the embodiment of the American dream." (03:20)
• Brett draws a strong parallel between Mamdani and these right-leaning figures, emphasizing that authenticity wins votes regardless of ideology.

Mamdani’s Charisma on the Campaign Trail

• Brett recounts how her social media feeds are "flooded" with Mamdani’s campaign appearances, portraying him as genuinely joyful among his constituents.
• Anecdotes:
  • "He's doing tai chi with grandmas at … assisted living facilities."
  • "He's at the taxi cab pickup at LaGuardia Airport… kissing babies… he's laughing, he's smiling." (04:30)
  • "He genuinely looks like he loves it… loves his constituents and loves New York. He's happy to be doing this." (05:08)

Critique of Cuomo & Establishment Democrats

• Brett contrasts Mamdani’s style with Cuomo and other establishment Democrats like Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Gavin Newsom.
• Key quote:
  • "They have this general disdain for their constituents… it's like they're looking down their noses at all of us. And I don't really see that with Hamdani. I didn't see that with Donald Trump." (05:24)

Why Mamdani Could Win Despite Ideology

• Brett notes that Mamdani’s socialist leanings are "being ignored" because voters are prioritizing connection and trust.
• "I think a lot of people are ignoring the fact that Mamdani is a socialist. I think they might not even know, or they don't even care because he is giving off the vibe that he loves what he does…" (06:16)
• She underscores that this mirrors Trump’s appeal: not just policy, but emotional resonance.

Disappointment with Candidate Choices

• Brett expresses empathy for New Yorkers having to pick between Mamdani (a socialist) and Cuomo, who "basically just sat behind his desk having his team make AI videos against Mamdani."
• She mocks Cuomo’s only public campaign moment: "…that weird video where he was using jumper cables to start a taxi cab. But he didn't even say it was like a campaign video." (07:12)
• Cuomo’s absence from key events, like "Men's Day event in Brooklyn," is criticized, suggesting he’s out of touch.

The Broader Point: What Matters in 2025 Politics

• Major theme: "Relatability matters in 2025 in politics. Authenticity matters. People want something new. They want something fresh. They want somebody that they can trust. Mamdani is giving that vibe, so we'll see what turns out." (09:12)

Closing Encouragement and Preview

• Brett encourages voter turnout in both New York and New Jersey.
• Hints at upcoming content covering the Republican Jewish Coalition’s recent conference and election reactions.
• Shares details about her own media appearances and her live show.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the trend in politics:
  "What this race has shown me is just, once again, politics. Right now. It is, unfortunately, less about policy and more about relatability and authenticity and charisma." — Brett (01:44)

• On Mamdani's appeal across divides:
  "Even when Mamdani was out there not able to bench press at that Men's Day event in Brooklyn, Cuomo wasn't even there… sitting behind his phone, tweeting, 'I can bench more.' That's so embarrassing, dude. You were not even there." — Brett (08:25)

• Expressing empathy for NY voters:
  "It is unfortunate for New York City that their two best options are a socialist and Andrew Cuomo. Like, it's just so upsetting. So I'm sorry for you guys for having to pick between the two of them." — Brett (06:56)

• On the bottom line of 2025 races:
  "Authenticity matters. People want something new. They want something fresh. They want somebody that they can trust. Mamdani is giving that vibe." — Brett (09:12)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:07] – Polymarket and polling data on the race
• [01:44] – Shift in politics from policy to personality
• [02:38] – Trump’s appeal to average Americans
• [03:20] – J.D. Vance and the American dream parallel
• [04:30] – Mamdani campaign anecdotes and grassroots appeal
• [05:24] – Comparison with establishment Democrats
• [06:16] – Voters disregarding Mamdani’s socialism
• [07:12] – Critique of Cuomo’s campaign presence
• [08:25] – Memorable Cuomo and Mamdani campaign moments
• [09:12] – Core theme: authenticity as the winning trait in 2025

Final Thoughts

Brett Cooper’s episode provides a sharp, real-time analysis of the New York City mayoral race, using it as a microcosm for the changing nature of American political preferences. She repeatedly returns to the idea that in 2025, voters crave authenticity and relatability above all else—qualities embodied by Mamdani and, historically, Donald Trump. By drawing these cross-ideological parallels, Brett explains why established politicians are struggling and why tomorrow’s results may signal broader shifts to come.