One Hitter: The DSA Takes NYC w/ Michael A. Cohen (Members Only #330)

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Fifth Column

Episode: One Hitter: The DSA Takes NYC w/ Michael A. Cohen (Members Only #330)
Date: June 24, 2026
Hosts: Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan, Matt Welch
Guest: Michael A. Cohen

---

Overview

In this "One Hitter," the hosts of The Fifth Column—joined by political analyst Michael A. Cohen—dive into the results and implications of a recent New York City election cycle, which saw a surge of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates gaining ground. The conversation focuses on the character, records, and ideological trends of these newly elected figures, discussing the rise of "commie corridor" politics, the role of anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and the shifting base of liberal politics in NYC. The episode blends sharp criticism, insight, and trademark irreverence.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DSA’s Big Night and Its Context

• The episode opens with skepticism about the magnitude of Zoran Mamdani's victory, dismissing it as unimpressive due to his opponent’s weakness.

  • Quote: "[Mamdani] won 50% of the vote against an extremely flawed candidate... It's not really an impressive win." — Host 1, (00:00)

• The DSA allegedly made a "wipeout" in NYC, gaining not only congressional seats but also influential positions in the state legislature.

  • Quote: "I think it might have been like nine or ten or something. It was a large number." — Host 1, (01:58)

2. The Candidates: Critique and Alarm

• Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier (DAC) is repeatedly criticized for toxic, extreme, and openly conspiratorial positions.

  • "It's not believable how awful she is... it's beyond awful." — Host 2 & Host 3, (01:02 - 01:12)
  • Points noted:
    • Anti-Zionist and antisemitic positions.
    • Hostile rhetoric against prominent Democrats ("F. Kamala Harris", "Joe Biden a rapist").
    • Refusal to support consequences for murderers or endorse deporting undocumented murderers.

• Another state senator is described as "the 911 gal" and characterized as even worse than DAC for anti-American or anti-semitic stances.

3. Identity, Politics, and the Israel Debate

• Special guest Michael A. Cohen, describing himself as a "liberal Democratic Jew," expresses discomfort with his new representative Brad Lander, whom he accuses of stoking antisemitic tropes in his campaign:

  • Quote: "He acknowledged that what he was doing was activating antisemitic tropes.... So as a Jew... it's not a great day for me." — Michael A. Cohen, (02:57)
  • Lander's perceived "shape shifting" for political gain is a point of cutting humor:
    • Quote: "The thing about Brad Lander is that he always works with sincerity." — Host 2 quoting Mamdani, (04:03)

• The group questions whether DAC’s constituents are aware of her record and suggests her antisemitism is only one among many alarming views:

  • Quote: "Her antisemitism is almost like the third worst thing about her. I mean, she is horrific." — Michael A. Cohen, (04:28)

4. National Narratives: MSNBC, Scarborough, and Israel-Palestine

• Hosts play a clip of Joe Scarborough blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than US left politicians, for antisemitism and political backlash in NYC. Scarborough pins responsibility for Democratic losses on Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank:
  • Memorable Rant from Scarborough: "If you want to blame anybody... you have to blame Benjamin Netanyahu... that you’re going to be able to brutalize children and women in Gaza... level half of Lebanon... blowing up Catholic churches in Gaza..." — Joe Scarborough, (06:22-07:41)
• The panel reacts skeptically, mocking the suggestion that local elections in Hamilton Heights hinge on foreign policy:
  • Quote: "The people in Hamilton Heights were worried about settlers in the west bank and that’s why they voted that horrible woman in." — Host 3, (07:41)

5. The Sociological Divide: Who’s Voting for the DSA?

• Cohen points out that DSA candidates often win thanks to support from highly-educated white gentrifiers, not the districts' working-class or minority populations:
  • Quote: "...biggest support came from, you know, gentrifiers... over educated or highly educated, white residents of these districts..." — Michael A. Cohen, (08:06)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DSA’s Unexpected Surge:
  "We expected two of the three... This is the third episode we're probably talking about Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier...it's not believable how awful she is." — Host 2, (00:40-01:12)
• On Democratic Party Direction:
  "The fact that you can get elected like this, does that not tell us something about the Democratic party?" — Host 2, (04:12)
• On Local-Global Disconnect:
  "The people in Hamilton Heights were worried about settlers in the west bank and that's why they voted that horrible woman in." — Host 3, (07:41)
• Cohen on DSA Voters:
  "...their biggest support came from...highly educated, white residents of these districts...the more working class members of district were voting for Reynoso." — Michael A. Cohen, (08:06)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–01:12 — Opening salvo: Dissecting Mamdani's win & DSA’s wave
• 01:58–02:08 — DSA's full slate success; Cohen introduced
• 02:22–03:47 — Antisemitism and anti-Zionism in district campaigns
• 04:03–05:16 — The rhetoric and policies of DAC and others
• 06:22–07:41 — Joe Scarborough MSNBC clip; Israel policy blamed for NYC result
• 08:06 — Demographic divide in DSA support

---

Tone & Style

• Irreverent, skeptical, and confrontational: The hosts and guest pull no punches, skewering both the candidates and the narratives built around their success.
• Dark comic asides: Especially around the notion of sincerity and Twitter discourse.
• Personal stake & exasperation: Michael A. Cohen expresses his discomfort as a constituent and a member of the Jewish community.

---

Conclusion

This episode offers The Fifth Column’s signature blend of news analysis, political skepticism, and gallows humor, focusing on the implications of the DSA’s gains in New York. The panel is united in its alarm and dismay at the radicalism and rhetoric of the city’s new progressive crop, while remaining caustic about media attempts to connect local voting behavior to global events. For anyone tracking urban progressive politics—or the fortunes of the Democratic Party more broadly—their critique is pointed, unvarnished, and not without bleak laughs.

---

Transcript

[Host 1]

Last November was fascinating elections. Like everyone talked about Mamdani winning. I mean, Mamdani won 50% of the vote against an extremely flawed candidate in the antiquant. It's not really an impressive win. Sorry.

[Host 2]

It really wasn't erasing Curtis Sliwa.

[Host 1]

Sorry.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Guest 1]

We know of new methods of attack.

[Host 3]

Welcome to the new world.

[Host 2]

The Trojan horde. Usually the Fifth Column hitters after there's been some trauma in the news and yesterday. It's not that we didn't totally anticipate this. We talked about this in the last

[Host 3]

apartment was seized this morning. It just a little rough, a little sudden. Yeah. Yeah. You were out in the rice paddies this morning.

[Host 2]

No, it was the. We expected Mamdani, Zoran Mamdani, Mayor of New York, to get two of his three seats in Congress. He's injecting himself into primary parties. Primary elections in the Democratic Party to flex some muscle. We expected two of the three. We have been talking. This is the third episode. We're probably talking about Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier. Did I do it?

[Host 3]

You got it.

[Host 2]

Dac. That's the last time we have to try. So we talked about DAC the last couple. Because it's not believable. It's not believable how awful she is.

[Host 3]

Although it's beyond awful.

[Host 2]

It's gotten. I mean we had looked into it for a while and now that other people are excited about her, they're digging up things that are even more.

[Host 3]

Well, before we talk about our mystery guest that you know from the description there is actually someone worse.

[Guest 2]

You actually may think he's someone else from the description.

[Host 3]

Yeah. No, no, that's true. He's gonna clarify that. He clarifies every day he has to do this. The woman who's the state Senate. The Muslim woman.

[Host 2]

Oh, right. The 911 one.

[Host 3]

She is actually worse than DAC. Than DAC.

[Host 2]

Yeah. So we had like three Congress critters and then a half a dozen state.

[Host 1]

I think it's more. Actually more.

[Host 2]

I think it's more of the DSA slate get elected.

[Host 1]

I think it might have been like nine or 10 or something. It was a large number.

[Host 2]

It's a wipeout. And here to talk about it.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Is my neighbor.

[Host 3]

Yeah, that's true.

[Host 2]

Michael Cohen.

[Host 1]

Yep.

[Host 3]

He said I have a liberal Democratic Jew in the scared.

[Host 1]

I know one of those. I know.

[Host 3]

I know one of those. One who's willing to talk about it. He's not going to lander it. He's not going to be like, I'm good.

[Host 2]

Like me Michael has actually had to be Brad Lander's constituent, which has been very fun. But last night, both Michael and I were looking at each other's Twitter feeds and everybody else's and let me characterize. And then you can correct me. Your take one is that, my God, those three people are horrible. This is the congressional people that it's really bad because antisemitism and anti apec stuff is very bad. And it's worrying and concerning. And also, this isn't necessarily a big national story. Does that kind of get you Help us, think us through what happened yesterday.

[Host 1]

I think that's pretty much correct. I mean, there's the micro perspective, which is that as a Brooklyn resident who now has Brad Lander as my representative in Congress, it's not a great time, actually, because he's run a campaign and he really didn't need to do this. I mean, Lander has been in the neighborhood, had been in the community for a long time, but he ran this campaign demonizing aipac, palling around with a lot of anti Zionists and anti Semites and really just sort of focusing on the Israel issue, even to the point where he acknowledged that what he was doing was activating anti Semitic tropes. I mean, there's this incredible quote in the Times where he basically says this. So as a Jew who's not, who doesn't believe that Israel should disappear tomorrow, it's not a great day for me and great day for people like me who don't sort of agree with Brad Lander's political views.

[Host 2]

I mean, Lander feels like he was shape shifting. The hilarious thing was that Mamdani, in his introduction to his victory speech says, you know, the thing about Brad Lander is that he always works with sincerity.

[Host 3]

That's great.

[Host 1]

Oh, my God. I saw that. Yeah, I saw you tweeted that. I thought you were gonna have a heart attack.

[Host 3]

That's his secretary. Sincerity. That was a weird one.

[Host 2]

But it's one thing for someone to kind of shapeshift as he did. But to Michael's point, we have a 911 gal in the state Senate, and DAC is like the fact that you can get elected like this, does that not tell us something about the Democratic

[Host 1]

Party that I don't know? I mean, that race just feels really unusual and I don't know. And I wonder how much her constituents or the people who now are gonna be her constituents are aware of how many toxic views she had. A lot of this came out in the past couple of weeks, so I don't have a clear sense of that. I mean the weird thing about her is that her anti Semitism is almost like the third worst thing about her. I mean she is horrific. I mean this is a woman who said you know F. Kamala Harris who said. Called Joe Biden a rapist. I mean who. Yeah, I guess here that might be a popular view.

[Host 3]

I don't know so far you're describing but she's a Democrat but okay, that's fine.

[Host 1]

But she's a member of the will soon be a member of the House Democratic Caucus.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You said this about the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. This interview she did last week where she refused to say that people who commit murder should be incarcerated.

[Host 3]

I mean and then if they commit murder and they're undocumented to deport them is double jeopardy.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Is wrong. I mean this interview is saying where

[Guest 1]

are they supposed to.

[Host 2]

Where are you supposed to live after

[Host 3]

you do the murder if you're in documentary her district. I hope not mine. Yeah, no, it's. I wanted to play you a clip Michael that. Because if you haven't seen it I want to torture you and make sure that you. You do see it one of the great and I and look I. You're in a calm for MSNBC does

[Host 1]

that miss now Ms. Whatever I got

[Host 3]

you got don't tell me to X

[Host 1]

and when I call it party line

[Host 3]

so yeah, show the party line and you know look, you can criticize people there. It's a rough and tumble place. It's an opinion network. This morning guitar player in half wit Joe Scarborough came on and he was trying to explain the results of this election to the people outside of New York City. And this is what he said.

[Guest 1]

I just you know hearing a lot of people say talking about the anti Semitism in New York City and last night proved the anti Semitism in New York City and this is mom Donnie's fault. This is so and so's fault. It's this. Is this left? No, no, no, it's not. It's really not. If you want to blame anybody. Here we go for what happened last night. My opinion if you want to blame anybody, Jonathan, I think you have to blame Benjamin Netanyahu. Four years maximalist aims four years of a historic goals in the Middle east that anybody that means anybody from Dr. Brzezinski to even me could have told anybody over the past 20 years it's not going to work. And I've said it all along there's always blowback in the Middle east idea that you're going to be able to brutalize children and women in Gaza with bombing that looks indiscriminate on TV day in and day out for years. That you're going to be able to level half of Lebanon, that you're going to be able to continue to. To allow thugs to run wild in the West Bank. And brutalizing Palestinians, brutalizing Christians in Bethlehem, brutalizing Christians across that area, along with Palestinian Muslims, especially Palestinian Muslims. Blowing up Catholic churches in Gaza.

[Host 3]

All right, there's a lot there. Blowing up Catholic church. There's actually one church which Netanyahu apologized and actually contacted the Pope about this after some Trump pressure. But what do you make of that? The people in Hamilton Heights were worried about settlers in the west bank and that's why they voted that horrible woman in.

[Host 1]

I mean, here's the thing. What's interesting about her victory in Claire Valdez in the so called commie corridor in Brooklyn and Queens is that their biggest support came from, you know, gentrifiers. Right. I mean, came from people who were over educated or highly educated. White. I shouldn't say. Maybe they were over educated too. But you know, white residents of these districts and then the more working class members of district were voting for Reynoso.

[Host 2]

So what's up, Twitter world? If you are not a subscriber to this podcast, you don't hear how drunk we get.

[Guest 2]

Well, no, they're not subscribers. That's why they can. They're hearing this.

[Host 2]

That's what I just said. I said if you don't. Yeah. Subscribe, you don't get to hear how bad it gets at the end.

[Guest 2]

That's right.

[Host 2]

And you want that because sometimes Michael Moynihan talks about being in a locker room with a bunch of naked men.

[Host 3]

What kind of men?

[Host 2]

Big ones.

[Host 3]

What kind of big ones?

[Guest 2]

Apparently not athletes. Or maybe they were athletes.

[Host 3]

It could be custodians trying to get you to answer.

[Guest 2]

It could be anyone, according to you.

[Host 2]

Just athletes.

[Guest 2]

Well hung men. That's.

[Host 1]

That's what you said.

[Host 3]

I literally would cancel my subscription if

[Host 1]

I were to have.

[Host 3]

Just for the record.