The Commentary Magazine Podcast: "It's Still Mamdani's Race"

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: John Podhoretz
Panelists: Abe Greenwald, Seth Mandel, Christine Rosen
Theme: Analysis of the New York mayoral debate between Zoran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa, and discussion of global antisemitism with a focus on recent events in the UK.

Episode Overview

This episode explores the fallout from the latest New York City mayoral debate featuring Zoran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa, placing particular emphasis on Mamdani's performance and the political dynamics at play. The conversation then shifts overseas to the disturbing rise of antisemitism in European democracies, with a detailed examination of the decision by Birmingham authorities to ban Israeli soccer fans for their own "safety". The panel offers blunt, critical, and occasionally sardonic insights throughout, mixing analysis with memorable quips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New York Mayoral Debate Reactions (02:58 – 36:59)

Mamdani’s Debate Performance

• Mamdani lacked the charisma many anticipated. Despite his reputation as a rising democratic socialist, he came off as "an annoying kid, just in terms of affect, like a pest" (Abe, 06:11).
• He appeared defensive and evasive. John notes Mamdani behaved as if "he really needed to set the record straight" rather than as a frontrunner and was "very unpleasant… ugly" (John, 06:11).
• Mamdani denied previous radical statements, falsely claiming "I never said that I would defund the police," contradicting abundant public record (John, 06:11).

Dynamics of "Upstart" Left-wing Politicians

• Christine draws parallels with AOC, noting such figures "flourish when they feel like they're the underdog, upstart revolutionaries," but seem flustered as leaders pinned down on details (08:48).
• "Evasiveness... is part of the brand," and Mamdani expected charisma alone to suffice (Christine, 08:48).

The “Spoiler” Effect of Sliwa

• Sliwa, despite polling around 12–13%, likely serves as a spoiler for Mamdani, helping him clinch a victory over Cuomo (John, 02:58).
• Sliwa’s energetic, eccentric performance—even without his trademark beret—was notable for outshining the other candidates in directness, though he’s widely seen as an “eccentric” long-shot (Christine, 13:14; John, 14:04).

Cuomo's Flawed Candidacy & Debate Showing

• Panelists skewered Cuomo’s performance: "He is one of the worst retail politicians in the history of this country" (John, 16:45).
• Cuomo was ill-prepared to address sexual harassment allegations, bumbling through a non-answer (15:44).
• His failure to articulate policy achievements or forcefully counter Mamdani left the panel exasperated. "This was his moment to overcome all of these liabilities for the sake of New York's future and his own future. And he muffed it, boy" (John, 36:59).
• The group recalls his infamous 2017 "I am a Muslim, I am a Jew" speech as an emblem of his clumsy attempts at empathy (35:35).

Thematic Quotes:

• “I don’t have to get into the details. Just trust me. My charisma should carry me across the line.” (Christine, paraphrasing Mamdani, 08:48)
• “He is seen as an eccentric... He’s a New York character of a kind that is fading.” (John, 11:45)
• "He tried to get himself right on the idea of safety and security... by saying that security is affordability. Like, affordability is his word." (John, 27:09)

2. Antisemitism in Europe: The Maccabi Tel Aviv Soccer Ban (37:01 – 54:07)

Soccer, Terror Threats, and Capitulation in Birmingham

• Seth recounts the decision by Birmingham authorities to ban visiting Israeli (Maccabi Tel Aviv) fans from a soccer match due to security concerns, emphasizing the dangerous precedent this sets:
  • “The decision has been made entirely on the idea that the threats to the fans, specifically against the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, were real and... the local police did not know what to do about it.” (Seth, 38:12)
  • This capitulation is "the textbook definition of terrorism. You hold hostage innocent people with threats of violence." (Christine, 43:15).

Normalization of Exclusion and Empowering Terrorists

• The panel expresses alarm that the authorities' response feeds future threats: “What you’re telling these people is if your threats reach a certain threshold against Jewish fans, we’ll just shut the whole thing down… but the game will go on with, you know, half a stadium.” (Seth, 42:34).
• MP Ayub Khan's statement is highlighted—a Labor politician openly celebrating the exclusion of Jewish fans as a security "necessity" (John, 46:48).

Reflection on European Cultural Dynamics

• The conversation draws on recent European history, from the Edgardo Mortara affair to infamous failures to confront Islamist vs. far right extremist threats:
  • “The law enforcement folks rolled right over. It’s almost as if that’s now… going to continue.” (Christine, 43:15)
  • "October 7th sure as hell didn't destroy Israel, might have destroyed Europe, given its caving to the terrorist side instead of fighting it." (Christine, 51:55)

Notable Quotes:

• “If you’re describing this, a lawmaker says, ban the Jewish fans. And then the police do so. And then the lawmaker says, that was a great decision. And you asked me which country I’m describing to you… this is Britain.” (Seth, 47:52)
• “We have come to a place where we’re getting very close to saying things like, well, what do you expect in Birmingham? What do you expect in Manchester? And that is shaking people…” (Seth, 54:07)

Memorable Moments & Quotes by Timestamp

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Segment | |-----------|---------|---------------| | 06:11 | Abe | "I was... very underwhelmed. I didn't find him to be sort of... an Obama-like charmer. To me, he comes off as a sort of annoying kid." | | 08:48 | Christine | "They really flourish when they feel like they’re the underdog, upstart revolutionaries... When they are the leaders... they are less appealing." | | 14:04 | John | "He is seen as an eccentric. He got 300,000 votes in 2021. He'll get another 300,000 votes this time." | | 16:45 | John | "[Cuomo] is one of the worst retail politicians in the history of this country..." | | 27:09 | John | "Affordability is his word... free buses, freezing rents, and city-owned grocery stores. Those are his three big affordability things." | | 35:35 | John | "As a New Yorker, I am a Muslim, I am a Jewish, I am black, I am gay. I am a woman seeking to control her body. We are one New York." (Cuomo quote/parody) | | 36:59 | John | "This was his moment to overcome all of these liabilities for the sake of New York's future and his own future. And he muffed it, boy." | | 38:12 | Seth | "The decision has been made entirely on the idea that the threats to the fans... were real and... the local police did not know what to do about it." | | 42:34 | Seth | "...if your threats reach a certain threshold against Jewish fans, we’ll just shut the whole thing down..." | | 43:15 | Christine | "It is the textbook definition of terrorism. You hold hostage innocent people with threats of violence." | | 46:48 | John | Reads MP Ayub Khan's statement, highlighting political acceptance of excluding Jewish fans. | | 51:55 | Christine | "October 7th, sure as hell didn’t destroy Israel, might have destroyed Europe, given its caving to the terrorist side instead of fighting it." |

Structural Flow with Timestamps

• [02:58] – [14:04]: New York mayoral debate—panel impressions, Mamdani’s affect and charisma, Sliwa’s eccentricity, Cuomo’s flaws.
• [14:04] – [36:59]: In-depth critique of Cuomo’s candidacy, performance, and broader NY Democratic politics.
• [37:01] – [54:07]: Rise of global antisemitism, the Birmingham soccer ban, historical echoes, political and social repercussions.

Summary

The episode offers an incisive, at times caustic, analysis of New York's mayoral race, centering on Mamdani's underwhelming debate showing and the lackluster opposition posed by Cuomo and Sliwa. The conversation then takes a sobering turn, drawing disturbing parallels between European authorities’ failure to stand up to antisemitic threats and deeper civilizational weaknesses. Throughout, the panel is forthright about the stakes for urban governance, public safety, and democratic pluralism, balancing political dissection with bracing warnings about the erosion of civic norms under pressure from illiberal forces.