BONUS: NYC officially has a new Mayor

Summary

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The Joy Reid Show – BONUS: NYC Officially Has a New Mayor

Host: Joy-Ann Reid
Guests: Christina Greer (Political Scientist), Wanjira Niva, Winnie (Correspondents), Jason (Producer), New Yorkers on-the-ground
Date: January 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This live bonus episode of The Joy Reid Show dives deep into the historic swearing-in of Zohran Kwame Mamdani as New York City's new mayor. Franchise correspondent teams report from the ground at City Hall, while Joy and guest Christina Greer break down the significance of this moment for NYC, America, and the broader story of progressivism and diversity in politics. The episode features live coverage of Mamdani’s inauguration, interviews with New Yorkers, and extended reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing the new administration.

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Main Themes & Purpose

• Historic Inauguration: First Muslim, first South Asian, and one of the youngest mayors (age 34) in NYC history.
• Diversity & Representation: The new city administration reflects NYC’s multicultural mosaic, with leaders sworn in on the Quran, Bible, and Chumash.
• Progressive Policy Platform: Universal childcare, free transit, rent freezes, affordable food, and confronting income inequality.
• Community & Solidarity: Emphasis on grassroots organizing, the role of activists, and the power of collective civic engagement.
• New Era for New York: How the city’s leadership change could set an example and ripple effect across America.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A New Mayor, A New Era

[00:35–04:31]

• Joy kicks off with effusive New Year greetings, framing the episode as a beacon of hope in a year of difficult news.
• Announcement: "Some big, big news happened in the great city of New York. New York City now officially has a brand new mayor, Zorhan Mamdani." (Joy, 00:52)
• New York Times article details the dramatic, unusual private swearing-in:
  • Occurred underground in a closed, ornate City Hall subway station.
  • Letitia James, NY Attorney General, presided.
  • Sworn in on two Qurans: one family, one belonged to Black historian Arturo Schomburg.
• "He is the city's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor." (Joy, 01:58)

2. The Swearing-In Ceremony

[04:31–07:52]

• Live playback of the private oath:
  • Recitation and affirmation between Mamdani and Letitia James (05:11–05:44).
  • Emotional closing:
    • "It's the honor of a lifetime. Thank you." (Zohran Mamdani, 07:22)

3. Mamdani’s Background & Symbolism

[07:52–10:38]

• Joy details Mamdani’s immigrant background:
  • Born in Uganda, moved to NYC as a child.
  • NYC public school alum, Bronx Science graduate.
  • Former rapper, activist for Palestine.
• Celebration of diversity and symbolism for American Muslims and immigrants.

4. Context: Why This Mayoralty Matters

[10:38–13:01]

• NYC as "the financial, cultural, and diplomatic capital of America" – so its mayor impacts national narrative.
• Comparison to historic moments missed (e.g., Kamala Harris' presidential loss) vs. this realized milestone.

5. Expert Analysis with Christina Greer

[13:01–22:43]

• Greer explores multi-layered identities:
  • African-born, South Asian descent, with a “Kwame” middle name honoring Kwame Nkrumah (West Africa).
• Historic oath on three Qurans, including Schomburg’s, noted:
  • "So he's already signaling certain things there. He'll be the first New York City mayor who uses a Quran."(Christina Greer, 13:38)
• Policy focus:
  • Affordability, rent freezes, universal pre-K/3K, free buses.
• Political support and coalition:
  • "He's got a short runway, but he definitely has the wind behind his sails to do some really good things..." (Greer, 15:47)
• Legacy and comparison:
  • Previous mayors (Adams, De Blasio) seen as ineffective/disconnected.
  • Mamdani’s youth and energy provide optimism.

6. On the Mayoral Role & Pressure

[17:00–22:43]

• The NYC Mayor's job as "close to the people" and executive.
  • "To me a mayor is the best political job..." (Joy, 18:54)
• On left/progressive pressure:
  • DSA, Working Families Party support expected to want bold delivery; need for compromise vs. idealism.
  • Budget constraints: reliant on state/federal support; importance of negotiation with Albany, the governor.
  • Caution: "Compromise is the essence of democracy." (Greer, 20:10)

7. National/International Challenges

[22:43–27:31]

• Trump administration’s likely approach; symbolic importance of star power and NYC’s international position.
• Immigration: NYC's status as a sanctuary city, NYPD’s and ICE’s overlapping roles.
• Mamdani’s stance: vocal advocacy for immigrants, opposition to Adams’ approach.
• On potential interactions with foreign dignitaries like Netanyahu:
  • "During the campaign, Mamdani did call for Netanyahu's arrest on American soil...this larger humanitarian conversation." (Greer, 25:49)

8. Live from the City Hall Block Party

[27:31–29:55, 49:00+]

• Correspondent scenes: Huge crowds, "block party" outside City Hall despite bitter cold – palpable excitement.
• "The vibe is crazy. Everybody’s amped up... that’s hundreds, excited to be here." (Wanjira Niva, 28:45)
• Celebration among NYC’s diverse communities (Muslim, African, immigrant pride) and sense of shared purpose.

9. Joy on NYC’s Crisis of Affordability and Promise of Reform

[29:55–47:15]

• New York’s historic role as haven for immigrants, artists, creatives; lament on the city’s transformation due to billionaire real estate.
• "It’s just not what New York City was supposed to be..." (Joy, 29:55)
• Spiraling rents; deed theft, financialization of homes; hope for reform under Mamdani.
• Anecdotes on affordable NY of the past:
  • "My first apartment...was $450 a month for a studio...now...$3,600 a month." (Joy, 42:22)
• Housing as a cornerstone of economic justice.

10. Public Inauguration Ceremony — Full Coverage

[77:55+]

• Uplifting, multi-faith, multi-language program:
  • Invocation by Imam, with supportive Baptist call-and-response:
    • “Let the spirit that carried this moment forward not fade after today, but deepen and always endure…Help us show up for one another…” (Invocation Speaker, 91:45)
  • Bread and Roses performed (Lucy Dacus), Recognition of labor and suffrage.
  • Speeches by AOC, Letitia James, Mandy Patinkin (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”), Cornelius Eady (poet).
• Swearing-in order:
  • Mark Levine, Comptroller (Hebrew, Spanish in oath, 100:00+)
  • Jumaane Williams, Public Advocate (moving remarks on being "an activist elected official" and holding power to account, 121:41+)
  • Zohran Mamdani, Mayor — Sworn in by Bernie Sanders
    • "In a moment when people in America and the world are losing faith in democracy…you took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the President of the United States, and some enormously wealthy oligarchs. And you defeated them." (Sen. Bernie Sanders, 136:08)
    • "I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical." (Zohran Mamdani, 166:18)

11. Zohran Mamdani’s Inaugural Address: Core Points

[146:36–170:38+]

• "I am YOUR mayor" – pledge to all, regardless of politics.
• No more small ambitions: "I will do no such thing. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations."
• Explicit embrace of big government to improve lives after decades of public sector neglect.
• Policies promised:
  • Universal childcare, funded by taxing the wealthy.
  • Rent freezes, stronger tenant protections.
  • Free, reliable buses.
  • Reform of property taxes.
  • Creation of Dept. of Community Safety (address mental health separately from policing).
• Commitment to diversity, solidarity, and collective action:
  • "There is only New York, and there are only New Yorkers... We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism."
  • Cites civil rights, past mayors, and appeals to the city’s broad ethnic and religious tapestry.
• Calls for continued grassroots participation:
  • "The movement we began over a year ago did not end with our election. It will not end this afternoon."
• Touchstones: Quotes Nelson Mandela, references solidarity across city.
• Ends with:
  • "What we achieve together will reach across the five boroughs, and it will resonate far beyond...They want to know if it's right to hope again...The work continues. The work endures. The work has only just begun."

12. On-the-Ground Reactions & Spirit

[185:48+]

• On-the-ground interviews with families, campaign volunteers, and ordinary New Yorkers:
  • Expressions of hope, pride, sense of "anything is possible."
• Chants of "tax the rich" at the crowd.
• On Mamdani’s authenticity:
  • "He's just such a down to earth person. Makes you realize that anybody can do things."
• Comparing Mamdani’s victory and energy to Obama’s; message for other potentially “impossible” races:
  • "If Zorhan Mamdani can do it in New York, anybody can do it if people vote.”

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Notable Quotes (w/ Timestamps)

• On this historic moment:
  "New York City now officially has a brand new mayor, Zorhan Mamdani…who has finally stepped into his historic moment."
  — Joy Reid, [00:52]

• Mamdani’s Oath (private ceremony):
  "It's the honor of a lifetime. Thank you."
  — Zohran Mamdani, [07:22]

• On identity and symbolism:
  "He'll be the first New York City mayor who uses a Quran. Second, you know, not only is he South Asian, he was born on the continent of Africa, East Africa, in Uganda, specifically."
  — Christina Greer, [13:38]

• On progressive ambition:
  "I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.…What's radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life." — Zohran Mamdani, [166:16]

• On collective action:
  "When working people stand together, when we don't let them divide us up, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."
  — Bernie Sanders, [138:04]

• On the meaning of New York:
  "This will not be a tale of one city governed only by the 1%. Nor will it be a tale of two cities, the rich versus the poor. It will be a tale of eight and a half million cities, each of them a New Yorker with hopes and fears."
  — Zohran Mamdani, [158:00]

• Crowd sentiment:
  "There's this hope, there's this purposefulness that we are here to really celebrate something pretty epic for New York that hasn't happened in a very, very long time."
  — Wanjira Niva, [51:38]

• Joy on resilience:
  "Anything that’s been destroyed can be rebuilt… If Zorhan Mamdani can become mayor of New York City, anybody can win if you vote for them."
  — Joy Reid, [201:26][204:07]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Joy sets scene, NYT reporting: [00:35–04:31]
• Swearing-in ceremony, Letitia James: [04:31–07:52]
• Inauguration context & NYC’s significance: [07:52–13:01]
• Expert/Political analysis (Greer): [13:01–22:43]
• Discussion of pressures, Albany, federal government: [17:00–22:43]
• On immigration, international politics: [24:06–25:49]
• On-the-ground: block party reporting: [28:11–29:55; 185:48+]
• Housing/rent crisis, deed theft: [41:52–47:15]
• Public inauguration (national anthem, anthems, poetry): [77:55–146:36]
• Bernie Sanders intro & Mamdani’s speech: [136:08–170:38]

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Tone & Language

• Joyful, candid, and deeply invested in NYC’s progressive legacy.
• Intimate and communal: a “family” feel, audience thanks and direct engagement.
• Celebration of diversity, authenticity, and collective possibility.
• Unfiltered, emotional, determined – an antidote to cynicism and status quo politics.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Joy Reid Show chronicles a watershed moment for NYC – the inauguration of its first Muslim, African-born, democratic socialist mayor. Celebrating grassroots victory, highlighting the power of new media, and showing live community reactions, Joy and her team underscore a rising tide of hope, activism, and inclusive governance in America’s most iconic city.

The message ringing clear: when communities unite in pursuit of justice and possibility, even "impossible" change can become real.

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For listeners who missed the broadcast:
You’ll walk away with a vivid sense of history-in-the-making, the new mayor’s bold agenda, and the eruptive optimism thrumming through NYC — all grounded in the voices and hopes of real New Yorkers.

Transcript

[Christina Greer]

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[Joy Reid]

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[Wanjira Niva]

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[Christina Greer]

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[Joy Reid]

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[Christina Greer]

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[Wanjira Niva]

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[Christina Greer]

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[Joy Reid]

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[Zohran Mamdani]

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[Christina Greer]

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[Joy Reid]

Okay, Happy New Year's Day everyone. Happy Friday Junior. It is officially 2026. The former year 2025 is done. I don't think anyone is going to miss it, but Happy New Year to everyone. Hopefully you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve. We had a really great time here on New Year's Eve. I know Don Lemon did too. We tried to jump on John Lemon show but we had a little technical difficulty getting in with him. But I know Don had a good time and had a few drinks and had some great friends and had a really great time. So happy New Year to everyone. But we wanted to jump on and do a really quick breaking news live today because some big, big news happened in the great city of New York. New York City now officially has a brand new mayor, Zorhan Mamdani. Perhaps the youngest mayor in New York's history. One of the youngest, if not the youngest. He has finally stepped into his historic moment. Now there are two parts to the inauguration ceremony. We are going to live stream the actual public inauguration. There's a public inauguration, but there was also a private inaugural ceremony. Let me read to you a little bit. The New York Times story is kind of wild. This is the New York Times headline that they read, that they wrote on this morning. Zorhan Mamdani, the left leaning populist who deployed a mix of charm, social media savvy and an unyielding focus on affordability to catapult him to political stardom, was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City early Thursday just after the New Year's Eve ball dropped in Times Square. Pin in that will note that Eric Adams, the previous mayor, he actually did his swearing in Times Square because you know, Mayor Bling bling. So that's how he did it. Very publicly, very Eric Adams y. But this ceremony was held underground at an abandoned showpiece of a subway station near City Hall. And it says this caps Mr. Bondani's year long rise from obscure state lawmaker to international figure, embodying the hopes of New Yorkers and Americans across the country who were enthralled by his journey to becoming the city's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor. Four minutes before midnight, Mr. Mamdani, who is only 34 years old, his wife, Rama Duaji, and Letitia James, the state attorney general, disembarked from a number six train into the grimy, dimly lit and yet stunning subway station. They promptly took their places on the steps beneath a dramatic archway emblazoned with the words City Hall. And then they waited, a bit awkwardly, a bit jovially, for the arrival of the appointed hour. There was discussion of New Year's resolutions. Ms. James began to sing Volare with the mayor's name swapped in. And finally, after an impromptu countdown to midnight and cries of Happy New Year, Mr. Mamdani placed his left hand on. On two Qurans held by his wife. And I believe that is a first in New York City, swearing in on the Quran. One Quran belonged to his grandfather. The other belonged to Arturo Schomburg, the black historian and writer. He's always given those nods to black history. Ms. James swore in Mr. Mamdani in a smattering, as a smattering of family allies and reporters looked on. We have video of that. And, Jason, if you could play that video so folks can see how that went down. 3, 2, 1. Good evening, everyone, and Happy New Year.

[Christina Greer]

To all of you.

[Joy Reid]

And I can't think of a better way to usher in 2026 than to.

[Invocation Speaker]

Be amongst family and friends and to.

[Joy Reid]

Inaugurate the man who will bring about a new era of progress, promise, and prosperity for New York City. Zoran, I am so proud of what you have accomplished, and I'm filled with joy about what we will accomplish for our beloved city. City over the coming years. And so with that, let us begin. Please repeat after me and raise your right hand. I. I, Zoran Kwame Mandani.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Zoran Kwame Mamdani.

[Joy Reid]

Do solemnly swear.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Do solemnly swear.

[Joy Reid]

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[Zohran Mamdani]

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[Joy Reid]

The Constitution of the State. State of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Constitution of the State of New York.

[Joy Reid]

And the charter of the City of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And the charter of the City of New York.

[Joy Reid]

And that I will faithfully discharge.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And that I will faithfully discharge. The duties of the duties of the office of the office of the Mayor.

[Joy Reid]

Of the City of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

The Mayor of the City of New York.

[Joy Reid]

According to the best of my ability.

[Zohran Mamdani]

According to the best of my ability.

[Joy Reid]

So help me God.

[Zohran Mamdani]

So help me God.

[Joy Reid]

Congratulations, Mr. Mayor.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Mr. Mayor.

[Joy Reid]

Congratulations.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Thank you very much. Very happy to be here. Okay. It's such a pleasure to have you. Please.

[Joy Reid]

Sign. Yes. There he is signing. It looks like he's signing the official paperwork.

[Zohran Mamdani]

You may ask for my $9.

[Joy Reid]

There we go.

[Zohran Mamdani]

This should be exact change. Excellent, Mr. Mayor.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you very much. And the last thing. Would you please sign the book?

[Zohran Mamdani]

Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Najmi.

[Jason]

Thank you, May.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Okay, so you're going to sign the first line here. You're gonna put today's date, your signature.

[Winnie]

Printer sign.

[Jason]

Right.

[Winnie]

Oh, could you do both?

[Wanjira Niva]

Okay.

[Winnie]

Thank.

[Joy Reid]

You.

[Zohran Mamdani]

City Hall.

[Joy Reid]

Okay. Did I leave that for you?

[Zohran Mamdani]

You leave that for me.

[Winnie]

Okay.

[Joy Reid]

Okay. It is now official.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Congratulations.

[Wanjira Niva]

Thank you so much.

[Zohran Mamdani]

It's the honor of a lifetime. Thank you.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you, sir.

[Wanjira Niva]

Thank you, my friend.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Thank you so much for everyone for being here. Happy New Year to New Yorkers both inside this tunnel and above. And I cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow as we begin our term.

[Joy Reid]

So that was the ceremony, and it was held in this beautiful. A lot of folks in the chat talking about how beautiful that subway stop is. That is a closed subject. That subway stop is not open anymore. But that was a former sort of City hall entrance. It's breathtakingly beautiful. New York City has a lot of those kinds of beautiful vistas that are hidden from the public. There's a whole underground world in New York City. And so he was sworn in there. Afterwards, he posted this is the thing Jason briefly put on screen. He put up this. That's his social media post. New Year, new Mayor. There he is operating from his brand new office. And so he and his wife will move into, you know, it's a brand new world for him. Let me read just a little bit more from this. From this New York Times story. After he signs the oath of office, which you just saw there, the ceremony took all of 10 minutes. The move is understated and the crowd intentionally intimate with roughly 20 people in attendance, including the parents of Mr. Mamdani and Ms. Diwaji. This is the quote. He has led people ever since he could, I think. So it doesn't seem like out of the blue. It seems very much in the river of things. Ms. Mamdani's. Mr. Mamdani's mother, the film director Mira Nair, said after the brief ceremony that this was unimaginable, but I think quite beautiful. So this is a big deal. You know, Zorhan Mamdani is an historic figure for Muslims in America. He's an incredibly historic figure, the first Muslim mayor of this incredibly diverse city. Perhaps the most diverse city in the United States, if not one of them, and a city that is teeming with immigrants. He is an immigrant who came to this country, became a citizen, you know, very young. He came to the country as I believe a 5 year old or 7 year old, went to New York City schools, was educated in the city's public school system. He is a young, was a young city councilman, somebody who was operating at the citywide level. He is an advocate. He was one of the founders of Students for Justice for Palestine. When he was in college, he went to a very good school, Bronx Science, as a kid, like, he's a smart kid. Obviously. He had a famous mom, Mira Nair, obviously the filmmaker who made Mississippi Masala. And for a while he was a rapper. And very interesting story. I will note as I also remind you guys that if you have not. And obviously you guys are here hanging out with us in the live, so you probably are already subscribed. We want to thank every single one of our 384,000 subscribers. We appreciate each and every one of you, but we absolutely hope that if you have not hit like and subscribe, please do that. Take a moment to just go ahead and hit that little thumbs up button. We appreciate everyone who does a new year, guys.

[Jason]

Come on, let's start off the new year, right? Let's go ahead and hit that like, sub.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Jason]

And by the way, happy New Year.

[Joy Reid]

Happy New Year from. From Jason, from Joy. And people saying they missed me last night. Look, we tried to log in Don. They were having a time in New Orleans, y'. All. They were having a time and we tried to jump in with them, but it was a little bit of technical difficulties. But I got a few texts that people did see my fabulous glam for like a hot second. We had the fabulous glam on, but we had a really great time. We had our own little party and we had a really, really good time. But yes, Don was having a time and we know the Lemonheads were. They were showing out in New Orleans. I will note that the CNN version of via New Year's, which Don used to be a part of, it was not as exciting and the crowd was not as big. That's just different. I'm just saying new media is here and so we want everyone to support it. But yeah, the historic nature of what Zorhan Mamdani has accomplished. And we're gonna jump more into this on tomorrow night's show with some really great guests who are very much aligned to what Zorhan Mamdani is doing and what he's planning on doing. I was just watching a press conference that he did yesterday in which he talked about really reinvigorating the health and human services inside of the New York City government, trying to make New York a more affordable place to live, a more amenable place to live and be healthy, to get fresh food, affordable food, affordable housing. Like this is why he won. Right? And so I think it's really important for people to pay attention to this particular mayoralty. There are a lot of mayors, obviously, throughout the country, but the New York mayor might be the most important mayor in the country because New York City is the financial capital of the United States. It's also the home of the United nations, at least for now. And it is in many ways the cultural capital of the United States, New York City. Obviously, there are other cities that definitely rival that, like Hollywood, California, Los Angeles, et cetera. But when you think of the United States, most people think of New York. Most people, when they come to the United States for the first time, where do they go? They go to New York. They come in through New York. It's the home of Ellis island, the Statue of Liberty. It's where immigrants used to all pour into the country without documents, by the way. They just would show up, sign some forms, and come on in.

[Jason]

So I just let you know our guest is here. So I want to bring in.

[Joy Reid]

Well, absolutely. Let's bring in an expert who's got some really important thoughts to share on this. Christina Greer, our friend, friend of the show, and my friend who is an expert in all things New York City politics. And so I literally texted her like half an hour ago, like, girl, you around? Come when you come on is live and talk to me about this. Mayor Christina, happy New Year, first of all.

[Christina Greer]

Happy New Year, Joy.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you. Tell me what you think. Just as an expert in political science and a young lady who really focuses on history, what do you think the significance is of Mamdani's election?

[Christina Greer]

Well, we have so many joy that we can sort of parse out. First things first, you know, when he swears, when he has his inauguration for the public in just about 30 minutes now, he'll be sworn in on a Quran. Three Qurans, actually, two family and one who. One Quran that belonged to Arturo Schomburg. If you know The Schomburg Center, 135th street in Harlem. So he's already signaling certain things there. He'll be the first New York City mayor who uses a Quran. Second, you know, not only is he South Asian, he was born on the continent of Africa, East Africa, in Uganda, specifically.

[Joy Reid]

So.

[Christina Greer]

And his middle name is Kwame, representing Kwame Nkrumah from West Africa. So, like, people on the continent also feel pretty strongly. His father has been very clear. He is an African who is of South Asian descent. So there. There are many identities that a lot of folks are possibly trying to struggle with, because as you and I both know, and I wrote in Black Ethnics, we're used to kind of this dichotomous black white conversation. Sorry, this is my alarm letting me know that I'm here to talk to you. So we're used to this dichotomous relationship. But there, as you were saying just before I came on, in New York, there's so many complexities of what identity means, not just racially and ethnically, mixing that with ethnicity and identity and religion and generational status. You know, this is one of our more recent mayors who wasn't even born in America. So, you know, we always teased Bloomberg and de Blasio because they were born in Boston. And New Yorkers are like, what's that? I mean, I feel like New Yorkers are more accepting of a mayor who's born outside of the continent than they are of someone who's born in Boston. So it's an exciting time. You know, obviously, he campaigned on issues that are of great concern, not just to Democrats, to Americans all across the country. Affordability. You know, I texted you many weeks ago, you know, the price of lettuce in my grocery store was $10. And I said, you know, this explains why this young man won. I think some people are obviously wondering how he's going to do it. He's going to need the federal government and obviously Albany, and the work of Kathy Hochul, who's our New York State governor, to work with him. He's got a lofty bill that he wants to propose, you know, not just universal pre K and 3K, expanding those programs, but the free buses and rent freezes and affordability writ large. But keep in mind, Joy, we had free transportation during certain parts during the pandemic. We've had rent freezes during certain times during the pandemic. We've, you know, as my grandmother would say, if we can put a man on the moon, we can figure this out. So it helps that Kathy Hochul is up for reelection. It helps that she does have a primary in June from her own lieutenant governor. So she will be willing to, you know, kind of horse trade with Mamdani because She definitely needs the momentum and the millions of people who support him. So I think that, you know, he's got a short Runway, but he definitely has the wind behind his sails to do some really good things and at least he'll show that he's trying. Keep in mind, Joy, we've had a mayor. I'm being very polite to Eric Adams, but many people felt that he was deeply unserious for four years. And even de Blasio, you know, his eight year term, he worked really hard for two years and then he ran for president was everywhere but New York City for much of the six years where he was mayor. So just even seeing a mayor and youth is on his side. You know, he walked from the tip of Manhattan all the way down to Wall Street. You know, there's a certain energy that he brings to this new era and I think a lot of people are excited and here for it.

[Joy Reid]

You know, one of the things that I think is interesting that you mentioned, you know, the, the other people would often look at what is their sort of end. You know, they're running mayor as a stepping stone to what.

[Christina Greer]

Oh, I'm having some hard time hearing you. Oh, I hope you can hear me.

[Joy Reid]

I'm focused on the job ahead. Right. Really be interested specifically in. Which is interesting because doesn't seem to have any other agenda. Right. Like his agenda is the mayor of New York City, you know, drive and. Right.

[Christina Greer]

So keep in mind the mayor of New York City is in some ways a dead end job. I mean, we have not seen mayors go on to being governors. It's a very unique position. It's almost like being the mayor of D.C. where are you going to go from there? You know, and so the good thing is, you know, we had de Blasio who was trying to run for the presidency and then after he left, he ran for Congress. We had Bloomberg who tried to run for the presidency. We had Giuliani was thinking about running for the Senate. He ran for the presidency. This right now seems like a 34 year old who sort of fortune favors the bold. He ran for an office and got elected to state legislature and really wanted. He's deeply embedded with taxicab drivers, making sure that they got financial restitution. And then he saw an opportunity and took it. But as of now, he's been very clear this is the job. And keep in mind, as lbj, my favorite president said, when everything was going on with civil rights and Vietnam and like it just seemed like the world was collapsing around him.

[Joy Reid]

He was very Clear.

[Christina Greer]

He said it could be worse. I could be a mayor. Right. It's a, it's a 40 hour a day job. And so as long as Mamdani, I think, keeps in mind that this is the focus and his primary focus right now for the next four years or even eight years, I think the only people who benefit from that are their.

[Joy Reid]

Citizens of New York. I think in a mayor that. Whose agenda is to be the mayor, I think it's important. And by the way, to, to me, a mayor is the best political job. If there's one political job that I think is it encompasses all the potentially good things about politics, it's mayor because you're close to the people. You're an executive, so you're not one of a hundred senators or one of 435 members of Congress. You can make executive decisions. You're like a little mini president, right?

[Christina Greer]

Absolutely.

[Joy Reid]

President of a governable entity, which is a city, not a whole state. So to me it's like even better than being a governor. It's like a really great job in a way. But it's also a job that can have a huge pressure on it because you're close to the people. People actually see you. And he's somebody that rides the subway. You're available to the people. So the pressure on you is hard to sort of manage. What do you make of sort of the questions about how much pressure his very, very progressive base may put on him versus what he'll be able to accomplish? The DSA supported him. The Democratic Socialists of America supported him. Working Families Party also endorsed him. He was obviously the Democratic nominee. So he's got a lot of cross pressures of people who want to see stuff get done. Absolutely.

[Christina Greer]

He'll have a lot of pressure from the left and the right simultaneously. I think, you know, the good thing is so many members of the DSA are running for various offices right now. You know, whether it's Congress or whether it's getting ready to run for state legislature, state senate or, or even city council four years from now. And so I think there's going to have to be some level setting and some expectations. You know, there. I've interviewed different members of the DSA on my podcast faq. Some of them don't believe in compromise. I've been very clear that compromise is the essence of democracy. And so without that we have dictatorships. So I think there's going to have to be some sort of. We're now sitting at the big table and this is what is going to have to happen. Like, we don't get everything on our wish list. You know, it's like when we're kids for Christmas, it's like, you'll get some of it, but you need to be happy with some. You're not going to get all I do think, Joy, that, you know, being a mayor, to your previous point, is a fantastic position. The caveat and the footnote, though, is so much of the money that Mamdani needs comes from Albany, our state capitol, and also the federal government. And as you and I both know, we have a deeply erratic president who's already tweeted, you know, in 2026, so we don't know how he'll try and penalize New York. The difference, though, is New York City is the financial epicenter of the nation. So the president can only go but so much off the deep end before real adults say, slow down. This is. This is the bridge too far. But the good thing is, is that he seems as though he wants to work. It seems as though he likes to read. It seems as though he likes to surround himself with other smart people who are going to do their job. And the frustration we had with the de Blasio administration was, was that he hired deeply qualified people, but then didn't want to listen to them. The problem we had with the Adams administration was that it was a mixed bag. There were some people who were highly qualified, some people who were highly corrupt and should not have ever been inside the halls of City Hall. So hopefully, if we look at some of these hires or nominations thus far, it is encouraging to a lot of people who are in those various sets, whether it's transportation or education or, you know, community affairs or religious affairs, whatever, he's trying to work together. Obviously, the police commissioner keeping Jessica Tisch has been a mixed public opinion for quite a few people. But I think that's part of the compromise that we're going to have to see. You know, he governed or he campaigned one way. But I think we're going to have to see a different type of governance that's much more middle of the road, because that's what the 8.5 million New Yorkers represent.

[Joy Reid]

Well, I will make a prediction right here and right now. And thank you to everybody in the chat. Thank you to Lisa Goldsby. Threw $1.99 in the tail. We appreciate that. Here's my prediction for what the Orange man will do when it comes to Mamdani. Absolutely nothing. He would do nothing to him. First of all, when they met, somehow, Mamdani cowed Donald Trump completely. I don't know if he charmed him. I don't know what he said to him. But something he did made Trump very impressed with this young man. And also, Donald Trump recognizes star power and wants to be in proximity to people he thinks are stars. And so, since Hamdani is a star, he's gonna suck up to him. And the idea that he would put. First of all, he's backed out. I'll give you all some other breaking news. Donald Trump is back down on the attempts to reintroduce the National Guard and Occupy Reoccupy. Portland, Chicago, Portland and Chicago. They've sort of backed down on that because I think he. They suspect inside the administration that they're not ultimately necessarily going to win a Supreme Court case on it, but he'll back down on this, too. He's not going to occupy New York City with the. I don't see him doing it. Now. They are doing a lot of ugly things to immigrants in New York City as they are everywhere around the country. But what do you think will happen vis a vis immigrants? Because Mamdani has been very clear that he's really not going to allow what Eric Adams was willing to allow in the regime to do to immigrants.

[Christina Greer]

Right. And, you know, the quid pro quo was not what he's signing up for. I mean, I think, you know, ICE has already been in New York. Let's be clear. You know, it hasn't been widely reported in the same ways as other cities, but they have definitely been here. I think this is where his relationship with Jessica Tisch, the police commissioner, will come in to play, because we are a sanctuary city. The NYPD does have jurisdiction. We are the largest paramilitary organization in the United States. And so it will. I think some rubber is gonna have to hit the road. But as you said, Joy, right now, the president, who said, you know, he's so attractive, you know, he understands real estate, he understands television, he understands media. And so there is a certain level of a grace period. But, you know, obviously, reading his tweets from this morning, who knows what this president is capable of? The difference is we've got a lot of billionaires and millionaires always threaten that they're going to leave. They're not leaving.

[Joy Reid]

They're not leaving.

[Christina Greer]

They're not. They're not going anywhere. You're going to go, what, to Passaic, New Jersey. You're not.

[Joy Reid]

So what.

[Christina Greer]

What I do think is, you know, there, these ICE interventions are bad for business. And sadly, it's Not a humanitarian conversation that we're going to have. We're going to have a financial conversation. You know, restaurants can't keep losing their workers or having people afraid and living in the shadows. And I think that will be the actual way that Donald Trump understands that he needs to back off and slow down.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah, absolutely. And one last question before I let you go, because I know you have a lot of media calling on you today, the international piece of it, because the New York City mayor is a mayor, obviously of the domestic city, but also it's the home of the United Nations. Donald Trump has a habit of inviting a war criminal named Bibi Netanyahu to the United States and welcoming him into the White House. What do you think it looks like if Netanyahu attempts to go to New York City?

[Christina Greer]

So that's going to be really complicated, Joy. Because don't forget, during the campaign, Mamdani did call for Netanyahu's arrest on American soil. And so that may be a campaign promise that he'll have to negotiate and or alter his position now that he is mayor. You know, we know that you say a lot of things are in the campaign phase and things are a little different in the governance phase, but he has been unwavering, and this is part of the reason why he's been so successful. He's been unwavering in his support for not just the Palestinian people, the Palestinian cause, but this larger humanitarian conversation that we're having as a nation, the larger conversation about genocide that, that so many politicians have been afraid to have. And he was very steadfast and firm. And I think he benefited from that moral compass that a lot of New Yorkers have been looking for from their leaders, especially leaders in New York since, you know, obviously we have Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries. You know, we've got a lot of national leaders who come from the city of New York, Brooklyn in particular, and they've been yearning for that level of clarity and moral direction. Imam Doni stepped in and filled that void for many New Yorkers. And I think as long as he sort of keeps that clarity of the conversation open, this is not an anti Semitism conversation, as he's been very clear about. It's a larger humanitarian conversation as an international mayor, someone who was not born on US Soil, someone who spent the vast majority of his life in New York City, I think he's poised to have some really hard conversations at another.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely. Christina Greer, we appreciate you. Thank you so much, my friend. I appreciate you. I'm going to release you to go to your other media hits. I know you have a bunch going on. Thank you very much, my sister. Happy New Year and I will talk to you soon. All right.

[Christina Greer]

Spending New Year's with you, Joy, is fantastic.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Yes, it's New Year's Day in America, everybody. And it is a new day in New York City. New York has a brand new mayor, 34 year old Zorhan Kwame. There we go. Okay, let's do this. Now we have got some Team TJRS members in these streets in New York City covering it live. Let's go to. Are we going to Juan?

[Winnie]

Oh, no.

[Joy Reid]

We're going to remember what Mama's election was her personal.

[Wanjira Niva]

I hope you can hear me. It's so loud on the Internet here. I hope you can hear the words that I'm saying.

[Joy Reid]

Look at that. Wow. Y', all, look, the people of New York City are outside.

[Wanjira Niva]

As you can see, the vibe is crazy. Everybody's amped up and the block party is actually surrounding city hall ground. So those folks that was open to the public, they can't even get anywhere near here. And that's a million more people than you imagine. Not literally a million, but hundreds. Excited to be here.

[Joy Reid]

I love it, I love it, I love it. Show a little bit more of the video if we could. Okay, there we go. Look, this is the crowd, y'. All. So as we mentioned, there was a private swearing in ceremony earlier this morning or earlier today right at midnight, right over. Happy New Year. Midnight. And now there's going to be a public swearing in ceremony which we're going to w doing the camera and Wanji is on the camera. So you guys are experiencing Wanjira and Niva and I'm so sorry, I can't hear you, Joy.

[Wanjira Niva]

We'll check in again. We'll check in with you guys shortly.

[Joy Reid]

Okay, sounds good, sounds good, sounds good. Thank you very much. Yeah, they can barely hear. It's super loud. And we've been waiting for them to get through a miles long security line. But we are going to bring you the latest and greatest. They're going to be attending the public swearing in ceremony because as we reported earlier, only 20 people, small number for security reasons and other reasons, they had him sworn in. And also just the visual stunning look of it, just with family and friends and close friends, about 20 people. But there's a public swearing in ceremony that's going to begin at 1pm which we're going to bring to you live right here on the Team TJRS channel because we want you guys to see it. This is an historic moment. This is an historic nomination. A lot of people on the Democratic leaning side of the aisle were denied an historic inauguration after the 2024 election when there was a lot of hope that Kamala Harris was going to be elected president of the United States. She would have been the first South Asian and first black woman and the first female president of the United States. That was an historic moment that a lot of people felt denied. Well, there is another historic moment that happened already. Zorhan Mamdani officially is the mayor of New York City. But the public swearing in, as you just saw from our Team TJRS folks that are on the ground in New York City is going to be huge, going to be bananas. As cold as it is in New York City today, tens of thousands of people are turning out. There's also gonna be after parties throughout the day. There are parties that are planned around the city because for New York City, this is kind of like, this is their, like, Kamala moment, right? This is that moment when you have an historic young mayor with really bold plans to make New York City affordable and accessible for ordinary people. This is something that's personally important to me because, you know, I came up in that era, Jason, and I came up in that era when you could just live in New York City as a young person and just do your thing, and you didn't need to be a wealthy person to enjoy the city. It was. It's always been that way. But what happened. Thank you very much for the compliments. I appreciate that. EJ eg, it's changed because the super rich, as they've done to the entire country, have warped New York City and turned it into a playground for the super rich. And that is just not what New York City was supposed to be. From the Harlem Renaissance all the way through the 90s, when everybody was just living in New York City and enjoying the club scene, you know, the 70s, you think about the disco scene. All of that was an accessible, affordable New York City. And we need to get it back to that. Thank you for the Happy New Year. Lawrence Richardson is wishing joy. And Jason, happy New year. We've got 999 in the till from Eric Hayne. Thank you very much. We appreciate everybody. We've got a question here. I'm looking in this. Why was Tom Artyom Alexandrovich allowed to return home after being arrested in the US for child predation? It's an excellent question. I think we need to ask those questions. These are the questions that need to be asked. Taco will now go after Africans because he wants to go after Mamdani. He might do that. He very much might do that. One of the things we're going to be doing coming up on the, on the show is we are going to dig into this attack on Somali Americans in Minnesota and this scandal over fraud and Medicaid fraud because there's much more to the story than you've been allowed to hear. Mainstream media has been following this right wing streamer who's been doing his own version of the story and warping the narrative in a way that is unfair to the Somali community, about 70 of whom are involved. But there's another character and another figure who is a part of that story that I'll bet you haven't heard a lot about, because there's a lot more to this story of this Medicaid fraud in Minnesota than you have been told. Please stay tuned for that because we are going to dig deep into that. But yes, New York City used to be a place where you could live, have your own apartment, live your life, hit the club scene, do your thing and not worry about not being able to afford your rent. But now it's a place where it's very, very difficult to live. And it is the place that young people want to live. If you want to get into media, if you want to get into the arts, if you're an actor and you want to get on Broadway, that is where a lot of young people gravitate to. They gravitate toward New York City for a reason. Because New York City is a creative capital. Erykah Badu came up, her, you know, her career blossom there in Brooklyn, New York. Spike Lee, all of the that he created in New York City, you name it, this is the city that really kind of sets the stage and the tone for the United States culturally and financially. So running that city is really, to me, the biggest mayor job. With all due respect to all the other great mayors that we've even had on this show, New York City mayor is just different. It just is different. And it's really important that that city be run well and that that city be run for the people. The rent is too damn high, says Lorena Taylor. And she's right. There used to be a the rent is too damn high party in New York City. And a man ran on that. He had that handlebar mustache. That was one of my favorite campaigns ever. And his whole slogan was the rent is too damn high. That was in 2012. And so the reality is, yes, for people who have big dreams in the United States, there are really two cities that they gravitate toward. Los Angeles, Hollywood, of course, and New York City. And so there it is. Somebody says, to your knowledge, we have Tinkerbell 6 asking 67 asking. To your knowledge, since he was officially sworn in, has he signed any executive orders? To my knowledge, there have not been any executive orders signed as yet. The public swearing in happens at 1pm it would not surprise me if any executive orders that were signed were signed after that, but I don't know. So we will try to look into that. Not sure if any New York, if any things have happened yet. Yet. Somebody mentioning in the chat, digable logic, New York City is the arts capital of the world. Absolutely. It is. We're talking about the fine arts, we're talking about the creative arts, are talking about Broadway theater, you know, film. It is. It is just a cat. It is a. It is. It's such an important capital of this country. And interestingly enough, it is also the hometown of the President of the United States. He lives in Florida now, as so many New York City snowbirds do. You know, a lot of people retire to Florida from New York City because they get tired of the cold. But the reality is he is a New Yorker from Queens, and. And Mamdani is also from Queens. And so they have that in common. And I think that was one of the things that allowed them to bond. I will note that this show, the Joy Reed show, we have an interview with Zorhan Mamdani that we filmed before he was sworn in mayor. So back in December, back last year, in the previous year, 2026, we did a really cute interview with Soran Mah Gandhi. In 2025, sorry, 2025, we sat down with Zorhan Mamdani. And we did it in a very particular way because as Christina Greer pointed out, this is an African man. He is a South Asian, but he's also an African. So we wanted to bring that forward in our interview. We wanted to bring him to one of our favorite places to eat in New York City and talk to him about more of the culture that he comes from. Because I've seen a lot of interviews with him that really focus on a lot of, you know, are you gonna do this policy or that? We did talk a little bit of policy. We really just wanted to have a cultural conversation with Zohan Mamdani. So we did that. That is going to debut on January 6th. So that's next week, so please stay tuned for that. And that's going to be our conversation, our first conversation with Zorhan Mamdani Premayor. We're looking forward to speaking with him now as mayor. I don't think anyone can afford to live anywhere right now unless you're a billionaire, says Lorena Taylor. And she ain't lying. You pay $3 for a drink in one area, then go down the street and it's $10. A lot of price gouging. Also true, Henry Gibbons. We are facing an affordability crisis in this country. And because New York City was already a relatively expensive town versus other places, right? Like a rent of $3,000 in New York for a, you know, studio, a studio in, you know, Philadelphia would probably be half that. And the cost to just get by in New York City, the amount of money you have to earn just to have an apartment without roommates is just astronomical. The rents there are so high that it's higher than the mortgages that you would pay for an apartment or a home. In most cities, the rent is so astronomical. And the requirements to just rent an apartment, you have to almost fill out what amounts to a mortgage application to live in New York City. And it's really crazy. And so we cannot afford to have our premier city become so unaffordable that ordinary people can't live there and then becomes sort of the captive of the Saudis and the bank of Japan, which owns a lot of the buildings there. The Saudis own a lot of buildings there. Basically, some of the most iconic properties in New York aren't even owned by Americans anymore because wealthy foreigners or foreign banks have bought them up. And so you think about things like the iconic buildings in Manhattan and you go walk down them and you realize that Americans don't even own them anymore. They're owned by the bank of Japan or the bank of China, et cetera. So it's ugly. Or the Saudis. So we want to change that reality. And that is one of the main jobs that Zorhan Mamdani has ahead of him, because that is one of his biggest promises, is to make New York City affordable. And as goes New York, as goes the country. If New York City prices can be brought in line with normality and with morality, you can actually see a change throughout the country. It will ripple across the country. So what happens in New York really matters. Really, really matters. So Happy New Year to everyone. We really appreciate you all tuning in and I'm glad you all see the importance of this. We appreciate everybody in the chat that really seems to understand how important this mayoralty is and we also appreciate all of you guys support. Lawrence Richardson threw $20 in the till. We appreciate that very much. Everybody who's thrown. We got 999 thrown in the till from Eric Hayne. We appreciate that. Thank you very much. Happy New Year. Did you cover George Clooney? What is it? Fleecing and fleeing of America. So George Clooney, I think what they're talking about is that George Clooney has received citizenship. Is it in France? Where did George Clooney get citizenship? George Clooney. And I'm going to be honest, I'm not going to hate on him for that because the reality is, the reality is we're going to talk about deeds theft as well. Feno271 It's a huge problem in New York, the theft of properties that were owned historically by African Americans, particularly brownstones where when they were purchased by a lot of teachers and a lot of ordinary people that bought these Brownstones in the 1980s during the height of the crack epidemic when nobody wanted these brownstones in places like Clinton Hill and Fort Greene that were considered the hood. Right. People didn't want to live in Red Hook. Those were considered bad neighborhoods. They were black neighborhoods or they were Puerto Rican neighborhoods. You had a lot of teachers purchase these, these basically mansions, these brownstones.

[Jason]

Do you remember back in the early 90s, you wouldn't dare walk through Red Hook bowl. You or even Fort Green now it's like a luxury landscape all over those places.

[Joy Reid]

100%.

[Jason]

I mean closer to the water. So when who was it? Was it Bloomberg when he first got there, bought up all those abandoned properties by the water and put apartments in them and rented this crazy high over there.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah. And I mean the juvenile era.

[Jason]

Even Long Island City, which was affordable. Long Island City is one of the most cheap. All those high rises over there.

[Joy Reid]

It's ridiculous. Extremely high.

[Jason]

New York is ridiculous.

[Joy Reid]

And I, and I'll tell you, I've told this story many times. My first apartment that I had on my own was in Fort Greene and it was $450 a month for a studio. 450 that it's not a typo. 450 and that's right across the street.

[Jason]

From Fort Green Park.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah. I had Park View a fourth floor walk up for $450 a month. And that is the way pricing used to be. We then I had a one bedroom apartment. It was $900 a month. I we never paid more than twelve hundred dollars a month. And our twelve hundred dollars a month apartment, that was in a very nice neighborhood, almost across the street from Brooklyn Museum.

[Jason]

Duplex apartment they converted over.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah, it was a duplex apartment, upstairs, downstairs, with a slat staircase, a Jacuzzi tub in the main bathroom, and a deck glass elevator.

[Jason]

Glass elevator.

[Joy Reid]

Glass elevator. And it was twelve hundred dollars a month. And this is not like in the, you know, 1975. This was in the 96, 97. And so now, you know, we went back to visit that apartment a few years later, and that same apartment that we were paying $1,200 a month for was $3,600 a month. We ran into the super, and he said those same apartments were 3,600. I don't even want to know what my little $450 apartment was. But the, the, the amount of the elevation of rent is because people like Bloomberg, billionaires are buying up the properties and then basically raising all of the rents in tandem. Billionaires are buying up these properties. The Jeff Bezos types are buying up block after block after block of these brownstones and then raising all of the rents all the same.

[Jason]

Foreign countries, 401k portfolios, 401ks, retirement plans of a whole bunch of foreign countries. What they do is they come and buy up all the available real estate in America and they picks them up, rent it to us so they can pay their retirement funds back.

[Joy Reid]

Home is sick, and they're making money. And New York is the main place that they're doing, but they're doing it all over the country. I mean, buying up real estate and jacking up the rents and jacking up the prices, this is like happening all over the country. But New York City, it's just more exaggerated because the rents were already high in New York City. It's already an expensive place to live. And so when you do that, it's extreme. What people are talking about is deed theft, which is another thing that's rampant in New York City. And it's when a person that bought these homes up, these lot of teachers, a lot of elder people who then get old, and they may miss, you know, a dollar or two in tax payments, or they miss, you know, some small payment that was owed to the city, that then becomes the impetus for investors to come in and, and purchase the deeds to their home without them even knowing it. And so you think you own your home, but someone else has gone in and purchased the deed and you don't even know what happened. And then they come in and evict you from your home and say, no, we own this house. And you've paid the mortgage over this house over decade and decades and decades, and now you have nothing to leave to your children. This is happening in a rampant way. Activists are now coming in and trying to stop these deed thefts. These are companies, LLCs, that come in and they purchase the deeds to people's homes so that they can get these brownstones that are all now worth at least a million dollars. If you have a brownstone that you bought for, you know, a hundred thousand.

[Jason]

Dollars, really a million dollars is what they would call low income.

[Joy Reid]

Okay, Low. Yeah, they're. And. And then on top of that, the. The barriers to entry to buying real estate in New York are high because any home that's priced over a million dollars, you pay a special tax on that. So it becomes. Only rich people can afford to even get a mortgage. And these brownstones. Yeah, a million is low. Most of these brownstones. We went back to Fort Greene and walked around my old block, which, again, I had a park view. I was on Washington park street, and it was overlooking the park. Those homes. We looked. We walked into one on the corner, literally across from where the projects were at the time when I was living there. And it was $13,000 a month. That's crazy. Why would somebody pay. And you get, you know, obviously you get the whole brownstone, $13,000 a month. But that's crazy. I mean, that's actually crazy. Like, that's. Who can afford that. And so what ends up happening is a lot of these apartment and homeowners in New York, what they do is they say the rent's now $8,000 a month for a four bedroom. And the only way that any normal person can live there is like six people move in and then their parents all split the rent of the rent for their young people. It's crazy. Somebody saying, Atlanta is broken. See, Atlanta used to be affordable. So I'm scared if Atlanta is not good. All right, so let's. Somebody says here, Karen Stuke says, mom, Donnie's got his work cut out for him. Absolutely. We have to start rejecting our abusers. This country is a human shit farm where billionaires grow their wealth. Yeah. That is true. Jason, are you looking. Are you keeping an eye on the.

[Jason]

I am.

[Joy Reid]

He's not. Yeah, they haven't started yet, so they're running a little late, I will tell you. And when, whenever we get a chance, we're going to try to go back to our. Our Our team that's live over at the block. At the. It's like a block party. But yes, what's happening is. And we talk about this a lot on the joy, Reacher. We're going to talk about it a lot more in 2026. It's again, it's just one story. The super rich are destroying this country through their abject greed. Everywhere they go, they wreck shop. There's nowhere where I can say that billionaires are making the world better, I'm sorry to say, you know, they're not out here just doing charitable stuff and, you know, and making foundations that feed the poor. No, what they're doing is they're dragging every penny, dime, and farthing out of this country for themselves. It looks like Niva is back live again. Let's pop over to Niver Jason and see what she's got. Uh. Oh, okay. We're gonna. We're gonna let her try again. She popped in and then she popped out. We're gonna try to keep you guys apprised of what's happening live at the block party for Zarhan Mamdani. But, yes, this is the city that I think is the most indicative of what's happening really to this country, which is that the super rich, the billionaire class, have decided they own the country. The country belongs to them. Everyone else is just meat. Everyone else is just workers for them to get as cheaply as possible. They don't care about human rights. They don't care about people being able to live decent lives. They just want unending wealth and they don't want to pay taxes. They don't want to be regulated, and they don't want to be told what to do by the government. They want the complete freedom. What do we got?

[Zohran Mamdani]

Hi, Joy.

[Wanjira Niva]

Okay, so we're back again here at City hall and their beginning momentarily, as y' all can see. We're going to try to pan around a little bit and show you. We got Wanjie and Witty here doing.

[Zohran Mamdani]

We would ask everyone please take their.

[Joy Reid]

Seat.

[Zohran Mamdani]

On the house.

[Wanjira Niva]

It's a big party. They're actually playing music from my era, so I'm very happy. The building completely killing the music. Wonderful, you know, feeling out here, excitement. Everybody's just enthused. It's just a wonderful party here. As the new mayor is about to be officially. Well, technically, it's already officially sported, but this is now the ceremony that is going to commence shortly. So coming to you live from city hall in the freezing cold, we are here on the Joy Be show thank you so much.

[Joy Reid]

Yes. We've got our live correspondence on the scene at City Hall. Neva, Wanjie and Winnie are out there doing. Doing the thing, braving the cold for you all because we want to make sure that you guys get the. The latest and greatest. You saw the size of those crowds. I think people are just excited to see somebody who's there willing to fight for the people. And I will say that the Orange man, this is what he promised, right? To fight for the people. Oh, Jason, looks like good picture there. Can we pop over to that one? Let's see what we got there. Wangie Cam. Or. Or is that near the cam?

[Wanjira Niva]

It's Wangie Cam.

[Joy Reid]

What you got? Talk about it. What you got? We can hear you.

[Christina Greer]

Okay.

[Wanjira Niva]

Yes. I mean, it's crazy, but these people said, look, we're gonna brave the cold, and we're gonna do it for a reason, and a really good one. And there's no better one than squaring in our first. Our youngest mayor, Kwame Zoran Mamdani.

[Joy Reid]

Now the East African in. You came out. You're going to reverse it and you notice.

[Wanjira Niva]

So.

[Joy Reid]

Yes.

[Wanjira Niva]

No, it's. It's amazing. I mean, it's a really good feeling. Just like Nida said, people are excited. They're excited to be here. We can't wait to really get up and close and personal and talk to a lot of the New York residents that are also out here that are bearing the codes. So after the ceremony, going to come straight live for you guys, front and center and be able to have our little heart to heart with the New York residents that are really ready for this marriage.

[Joy Reid]

Love it. Love it. And so, I mean, have you guys encountered people feeling, you know, restless in these big crowds? What is the mood that you're seeing among the people there, Juan?

[Wanjira Niva]

You know, not at all. I mean, restlessness is not it. There's this unusual, I think you would say, feeling of togetherness. Like there's this hope, there's this purposefulness that we are here to really celebrate something pretty epic for New York that hasn't happened in a very, very long time. And that's what you feel. And people are excited. We're excited about what New York is going to look like, and we're excited about what the future is going to hold for the city. I think the people are ready. We're ready. And it's time. Yes, we are. We are ready. We are here. Wants to add one more thing. We are so ready, Joy. And, you know, it's so Historic, especially for the Muslim community of New York City. And, you know, Zani faced an intense, as, you know, campaign of Islamophobia, hatred, xenophobia against him. But he still thrived. New Yorkers still elected him, and now he's officially going to be the mayor, making history for this community, which I never thought I would see in my life. Like, amazing moment. You know, we often to Barack Obama and it's that level, you know, so let's see where he goes next after this.

[Joy Reid]

I was going to ask you n your family, can you just give us your personal. I'm going to let you get personal for a moment. How does your. How is your family reacting to this man?

[Wanjira Niva]

Completely excited. I mean, family around the world. Literally. Text me when you want or WhatsApp next. And they're like, oh, my God, we're so proud. We're so happy. Almost like, I got elected. And I was like, guys, it's not me. It's not me. That's how elated and excited they were. I mean, it's like a huge sense of pride, connection, just, you know, feeling proud to see somebody reach that level, you know, especially when we do live in a country where you have the president of the United States who campaigned on anti Muslim sentiment from the beginning, when he came, even before he came down those steps in 20. Actually, it was 2015, where he was called total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the country. And now you have Muslims about to be the mayor of New York City, or who already is, technically. And it's wonderful and it's great to see, you know, we're at that moment where there's a lot of push and pull going on. And it's great to see young people, especially in a diverse coalition that elected in, pushes for change and wants progress and wants to see a new day. So I'm all for it. As you know, Joy, it's a fantastic moment for us to be here.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely. Okay, pass the bike to Wanjie because, you know, I gotta ask you about. Because I know the Africans claim him too. Talk about your African family members because I know.

[Wanjira Niva]

They are jumping for. This is a big. Oh, one second. Okay, yeah, sit down. But we will check back in.

[Joy Reid]

This is. All right, Thank y'. All. Okay, we'll catch you guys later. Oh, wait, one more, one more, one more. The team. The team. Live on the scene. Look, we're doing new things in 2026 and including making sure that we bring you all of the live moments and we have our correspondence out there doing the Darn thing to make sure that you are fully informed and that you get it firsthand. You do not have to go to mainstream media to get the firsthand view of what is happening in the world in our country. This is what we're doing. Owen Bernardi. This is. Owen Bernardi said Joy is bringing it similar to Don Lemon. Listen, we are all a family and this is how we do. We came from. Don and I both came from traditional media. So we understand the system of what people are looking for when it comes to media. You want not just information or the chat. You also want the live events. You want to see what's happening live. And so we want to make sure that we are bringing that to you and that we are giving you those live moments. And so our correspondence, and I will tell you, let me tell you guys how dedicated team TJRS correspondence, Wangi, Nida and Winnie are. They were here at the New Year's party last night and then road tripped it, road dogged it to New York to make in the wee hours of this morning to make sure that they were in the press media line. And big ups to the Mavdani team for making sure that they had a specific new, a specific slot of entry of entries for new media. They made sure that new media was taken care of. They didn't just hand out press slots to CNN and MIZ now and FOX et cetera and to WNYC et cetera. They handed out a specific set of slots for new media because they recognize that new media is where people are increasingly going to get unfiltered real news without the corporate filter. We got thinking ahead, would you and Don Lemon come this summer for come. Come this summer for a live broadcast? Tell me where that is. Put that in the chat where you want to see us come together because, you know, we and Jim Acosta, we are looking to be your, your live events team. So when you guys want to see, when there are important live events like no King's Day, we come together. All three of our shows, Jim Acosta show, the Don Lemon show, and the Joy Reid Show. We come together as a super group. We're like Voltron. We come together, we put it all together and we make sure that each of our audiences gets the opportunity to get that breaking news. And we work together the same way that each of us were accustomed to doing at our traditional media jobs. So we're not allowing you all to miss a thing. You're never going to miss anything when you are taking in your news from new media. Because we're going to bring you all of the things that you got from traditional media.

[Jason]

We in these streets.

[Joy Reid]

We in these streets, just without the corporate filter. That's the key. Happy New Year as well to Cheryl's counts. Thank you very much. We appreciate the $5 in the tiller. And congrats to our new mayor. I think people are really excited, Jason. I think this is an exciting thing for a lot of people, even if you don't live in New York.

[Jason]

No, the whole point is it feels like change is coming around the corner. You know what I mean? So let's hope, you know, this momentum keeps on going. This should be a good year if we make it positive. Guys, we got work to do. Everybody should know their assignment. Let's get to it.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah, absolutely. And the good thing, 11 months will.

[Jason]

Be here in no time. Come on, guys, we got work to do. Let's change this whole entire scenery.

[Joy Reid]

And by the way, here's the other thing that's really important. 2026 is a midterm election year. And one of the reasons that we wanted to focus on this, Zorhan Mamdani, you know, elevation to mayor of New York City again, probably the most powerful mayoral job in the country. The seat of America, the cat, the financial capital of the United States. He's now mayor of that. Thank you for the Happy New Year. Love, Megan. And for the 49.99, Jason, that deserves a round of applause. That's a. That's a number one member there. Tjr. Megan, thank you very much. We appreciate y'.

[Winnie]

All.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you. And it says here that she says joy, Jason and tjrs, you watch Jen and Pumps. Keep Me sane. Listen. And of course, if you are not familiar with Jen, Jen and Pumps, that is Jennifer Welch and the great Pumps from I've had it. The I've had it podcast, additional friends of ours. And yes, we all kind of work together and watch Wajahat Ali, who is another great friend of the show. And you're going to want to subscribe to all of our things. You're going to want to do that not only on YouTube but also on substack. We all do sort of a dual thing where we do substack and YouTube to make sure that we're covering everyone. Some people are more readers. They like to read their news. Some people like to watch it. They like to YouTube it. They like to YouTube it. So we make sure we kind of COVID it all. You want to make sure we can't forget Mehdi and we Cannot forget Mehdi Hassan and Zatteo, which has done huge things this year. I also want to big up Contraband camp. If you guys are not familiar with Contraband camp, it's over at Substack. It's Michael Harriot, one of the most brilliant writers in the country. Black AF History, which has been on the New York Times bestseller list about 18 times. It like goes back on the New York Times bestseller list, like monthly. Roland Martin. Let's not leave out uncle roro. Uncle Roro, 1.8 million subscribers. Whenever media I and all these Fox fan sites do their lists of the biggest podcast, they never list Roland, they, they always leave him out. But he's got 1.8 million subscribers. He's been doing this longer than any of us, longer than me and don't combined. He's been doing his independent media thing for a really long time. Pumps and gin also. They are incredible, incredible people. And the great thing about new media is unlike traditional media where we're all rival networks, right? Like, you know, Abby, Phillip and I are friends, but I, I would never be able to be on her show. Like, you know, when Don had a book out, he had to get permission from the bosses at CNN just to come promote his book on Ms. Now, the artist formerly known as MSNBC. Because it's like a whole corporate rivalry thing. We don't have that in new media. We love Midas touch. You know, we, we work with them. You know, Katie Fang is over in the Midas network. She can come on here. She doesn't need permission from anybody. Ben and them don't have to, you don't have to ask them if she can come on, you know, we can work with Rick Wilson who's got his own thing. You should also be subscribing to that. The Lincoln Project folks. We work with all of them. And the great thing about new media is even the Bulwark is a whole thing, the Bulwark. Tim Miller.

[Jason]

And that's a big collaboration of like minded people.

[Joy Reid]

It's like minded people that the only, the thing we have in common is that we actually care about human beings and democracy. Thank you for the $10, Gail Lewis. We appreciate that. 1765. Because we actually are just the ones who care about this country as a multiracial democracy. We don't want to see one religion triumph over the others. We don't want to see one group ethnically triumph over the others. We believe in full equality and we believe everyone should be able to be at the table. We believe the Team should be diverse. It should be all the races, all the gender groups, all of the gender expressions should. It should be everybody. Race, creed, or color, we don't care. We're the side that actually believes in that. The other side is this white, Christian nationalist, sort of weirdo kind of coalition that just cares about billionaires having and everybody else not eating. Everybody should get to eat. Everybody should get to be at the table. Everybody should get to have their. Their history affirmed. Everybody should get to have their stories told. Nobody should be erased out of history except for guess who. You should not have monuments to the people who fought against us in the Civil War. Okay? I don't think we should be bigging up the people who actually, literally fought us in the Civil War. That would be our difference between us. Happy New Year as well to Dennis Weeks. Thank you very much. Somebody says, I hate watching Trump, though. What's one of the things that's going to be interesting is watching how Trump interacts with the new mayor of New York City, who is not. Doesn't seem like he's somebody who's going to take a lot of shit from Trump.

[Jason]

Troy, can I just say something?

[Joy Reid]

Yes.

[Jason]

Last night, right, somebody came up to me, said, jason, do me a favor, right? When Joy gets a itch to put Trump on a show, could you tell her, no, I like, bro, Listen, I feel the same way you do, right? But unfortunately, he makes news. That's what journalists do, you know, she has to cover it. So bear with it, people. Bear with me.

[Joy Reid]

I used to describe back when I was at Miz now the Artist Formerly Known as msnbc, I used to describe what our job was. This is when I was on my weekend show, AM Joy. I used to describe us as a baby monitor. And the reason you have a baby monitor is that the baby does have to sleep. You don't necessarily want the baby to sleep in your room because the baby needs to develop an independent spirit. But you got to watch the baby. You can't just leave, shut the door to the baby's room and don't watch him. And Trump, unfortunately, is our little bastard baby, and we have to watch him. And as much as I despise having to listen to the sound of his weird sounding voice, I don't like looking at his orange face and his bruises and his cankles and his weird friendship with Jeffrey Epstein grosses me out. And the fact that he had a modeling agency and then he was friends with all the other modeling agency people and was peeping at the teenage girls naked I'm grossed out by these people. But we have to watch them because they're in charge of the country. And if we don't pay attention, this particular baby will burn the house down. So we are a baby monitor. It's not that we enjoy talking about Trump. I don't. I would love to not talk about him at all.

[Jason]

Do you see this comment? Just tell us about Trump. Don't play his videos. I don't like to hear his voice.

[Joy Reid]

That's, you know, what we.

[Jason]

That is the biggest complaint that I hear all the time.

[Joy Reid]

Okay, I think that's fair. But that's fair.

[Jason]

We have to do our jobs, people. We have to do so. You know, I agree. We shouldn't play three, four minutes of him. I 100% agree. And I got to interject, so I say, joy, I've had enough. I'm shaking.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah. So let's change the reason. And I will give you. We're going to take you what we love to. This is the other thing I love about new media. We get to take you behind the scenes. Because this used to be our big fight at msnbc. I got in a lot of trouble one time because during the march, the women's March. The women's march, when Donald Trump, you know, there was a huge women's march against him when he was elected the first time. And the same day of the women's march, Donald Trump was at the National Cathedral for a church service. And we had a difference of opinion, me and management, as to whether we should cover this huge march. We were outside at the Artist Formerly Known as msnbc, on this deck where you could oversee the Capitol. You could see everything, and you could see gathering these huge crowds of women. You could just see them. They were gathering with the little pink pussy hats, like they were gathering. And you could just see them from where we were, and you saw this huge crowd gathering, but at the same time, so, oh, we can speed up his voice. I actually like that idea. Maybe we'll speed up his voice. Jason, you're being asked. You speed up his voice.

[Jason]

That will make it worse. I won't even know.

[Joy Reid]

Speed up is better because you get through it.

[Jason]

Jesus.

[Joy Reid]

But so we were, you know, and I'm like, we need to cover this. This march looks like it's going to be huge. But management wanted to cover Trump in the church service. And I was like, so these were the kind of fights and tensions we would have about how much to cover Trump. I never wanted to go live to Trump. I was like, if he's doing something. I don't want to go live to him. I would rather we monitor what he's doing and then we just tell people what he did. And we also, to me, had to not just tell people what he did, but we need to play some of it. And this is the reason. And you guys can disagree with me. Feel free to debate me on this in comments. I believe you have to play him. You can't just describe what he did, because if I describe what Trump did, I'm going to sound normal to you. I'm going to sound normal.

[Jason]

So true.

[Joy Reid]

I'm going to sane wash him because I sound normal.

[Jason]

If you deliver your commentary on Trump in such a dignified, you know, journalistic way, he's going to come across looking like shit normal.

[Joy Reid]

But when you play. And to me, my problem with the way the mainstream media does Trump is that they play snippets of Trump that also sound normal. They cut out the parts where he sounds batshit crazy or senile. I would rather play along. As much as y' all hate it, we gotta play longer clips of the bastard, baby. Because if you play a long clip of him and don't cut it, don't edit it, just play a longer clip, then you're going to force people to hear what he actually sounds like. No one who watches Fox knows what Trump sounds like. None of them do. Because what they get are very clipped out pieces of him where he sounds normal. They refuse to actually play him the way he sounds. And I'll give you an example. During the election, Donald Trump did this town hall. Do you remember this? Where the black guy that sits on the comfy couch was leading a town hall and he had all these black men. Y' all remember this? It was black men. And I think it was maybe a mixed crowd, but they were trying to show that he. That the blacks love Trump. So they're doing this town hall. I don't think it was all black men, but it was like on a barbershoppy kind of setting.

[Jason]

It was whack.

[Joy Reid]

But the Fox cut of it made it look like Donald Trump had a totally normal conversation with these men. But the real unedited clips of it were batshit crazy. He sounded like he didn't know where he was, like he didn't know what time he sounded senile. And so the problem. And he would complain that Kamala Harris was getting edited so she would sound like she was saying other than a word salad. But her clips were never cut like that. People would just play her clips, just from start to finish with Trump, they would chop it up so that he sounded normal. And so to me, you unfortunately have to. This is the President of the United States. You can't ignore him. And also, he won't let you ignore him because he keeps interfering and shit. You can't even talk about the Kennedy center now without having to explain that he slapped his name on it illegally. You can't talk about the White House without explaining that this fool knocked down the whole East Wing. He's injected himself into our finances, into our economic plans that are supposed to just be the Treasury Secretary. He is literally minting coins with his face on them like he's Nero from the Roman Empire to celebrate and commemorate America's 250th birthday. This man is insane. This is a crazy person. We are the baby monitor, and so we unfortunately, yes, he knows how to flood the zone. As Lorena Taylor is saying, we unfortunately have to monitor the crazy so that you will know what's coming. If we just ignored him, then you wouldn't know what was coming. We have to let you know what's coming. But I do agree, since I go to you and Don to keep me updated. Trump raises my blood pressure. I don't want to see videos of Joe and Mika. Oh, I have to mute his voice because he literally makes me sick. So here's what I think. I love the constructive comments is the other great thing about new media is that we can take comments from you guys directly, which I love about this.

[Jason]

I want the guys to know out there that we do debate this stuff. We have our staff meetings, and I want to say, do we have to play him today? But I agree why we do it. So believe me, I don't want to hear his damn voice either. Trust me.

[Joy Reid]

I'll tell you, when we did the thing where the women's march was happening, the bosses wanted me to talk over him in church, and I was like, you talk over him in church? I'm not talking over him, Dan. Y'.

[Christina Greer]

All.

[Joy Reid]

Y' all want to watch him? Watch him. Watch him sit there and. And look like he was falling asleep. And that's what he looked like. He sat there and we played that. And then the women's march turned out to be the biggest story of the day. It was the biggest story of the day. And then for the rest of the afternoon, everyone else was straight on the women's march because the. Him being in church was. Didn't mean nothing. It was nothing. But it's just this was just a difference of opinion that I was the person saying, please don't go live to Trump. Like that was me. I was the don't go live to Trump person. But what I, but I do agree that you have to play him because one of the things that the left, I think, made a mistake on the left did not understand his appeal and so didn't know how to fight him. I will. One other story. I need to, I need to, I need to read this story. I know we're talking about the mayor of New York City and we are waiting for their live stream to start. Just letting you know, we're still waiting. We're monitoring their livestream stream. Donald Trump. Not only did he attempt to steal the Kennedy center from the late President John F. Kennedy, Donald Trump went on a deranged social media attack on the Kennedys. Literally in the mere hours following the death of Caroline Kennedy's daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, he goes on social media to mock the Kennedys. Shortly after this poor young lady died, Caroline Kennedy, her daughter Tatiana Schlossberg, who's the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy Jr. Passed away at just 35 years of age on December 30th, just over a month after publicly sharing that she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. I'm reading from People magazine. The news was shared by the social media accounts for the JFK Library foundation on behalf of Tatiana's family, which included her husband, Dr. George Moran, and their young children. This lady was 35, so you can imagine how young their kids are, their children, Edwin and Josephine. Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts. Read the post, which was signed by George, Edwin and Josephine Moran, Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory. And the Kennedy family has had just innumerable tragedies. You think about all the tragedies where people think it's like a curse. They've had so many tragedies, so many Kennedys have died young, either assassinated, plane crash, cancer, you name it, they faced all this tragedy. So this is a family that's had a lot of heartbreak and a lot of power and a lot of prestige, but also a lot of heartbreak. Here's what People magazine says. Trump did not directly mention Tatiana's death in his social media deluge following her death. Instead, he shared screenshots of MAGA supporters mocking the famous political family for their recent responses to his decision to add his name to the Kennedy center, an historic performance venue in Washington, D.C. which was dedicated as a memorial to JFK. Following his assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963, he wrote, the Kennedy center have long neglected the Kennedy center, btw, in one of his posts. They don't raise money for it. They never show up. And the only Kennedy who has been there recently is a member of Trump's cabinet, the one he's got on a leash, RFK Jr. The leash thing is what young Mr. Slossberg, one of the grandsons, describes it. The Trumps, he says, have always been supporters of the arts. The Kennedys are supporters of the Kennedys. Read another this is disgusting. More from People magazine. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced on Thursday that the board of the historic venue had, quote, unquote, voted unanimously to rename the building to the Trump Kennedy Center. The following day, work crews added the Donald Trump and above the previously existing lettering, which read the John F. Kennedy Memorial center for the Performing Arts. By the way, they didn't even use the same font. So it looks crazy. I mean, absolutely crazy. But we know because we played you the video on the Joy Reid show that Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy center board, went on social media to say, hold up this, the fix was in. They muted her microphone and only allowed the board members that Trump put on the board to vote. No one other than the Trump appointees was allowed to vote. The Congress is who controls the Kennedy center. Not the Trump family, but Donald Trump, like he's done with all these buildings he has all over the country, just slapped his name on another man's monument. The Kennedys apparently are livid. They are disgusted by it. They should be disgusted by it. The idea that Donald Trump would attack them just after they lost their daughter because he's mad that people aren't celebrating the fact that he slapped his name on the Kennedy center and that, by the way, the Kennedy center honors with his name slapped on there was one of the lowest rated Kennedy center honors in history. The Kennedy center is losing money. The Kennedy center is losing artists who are canceling, including a Christmas Eve and a New Year's performance. Artists are refusing to perform there. People are moving their shows out of there. And so the reality is he's killed the Kennedy Center. He's destroyed it. Hell no.

[Jason]

Of course.

[Joy Reid]

And I think everyone should boycott the Kennedy Center. Nobody should set foot in the Kennedy center either to buy a ticket or to perform. As long as his hideous name is slapped on the front of that building, hanging out there and disrespecting it with their presence. I say boycott things that what is that music? Oh, is that the music from the. For the venue? You want to go? Let's go back and see what we. What we got live. I think we. I think we might have some live stuff going on over at the City hall venue where we are waiting for.

[Jason]

The only thing is I can't play because I got music.

[Joy Reid]

Oh, they got music playing. Okay.

[Jason]

I could just show you the stills and wait till he starts talking.

[Joy Reid]

Okay. All right, let's. Let's show the steals and wait till he starts talking, because we are about to witness the public. Go ahead.

[Jason]

Continue.

[Joy Reid]

Go ahead and continue talking of Zorhani. No problem. We're gonna. We're waiting for that to happen. But, yes, the bottom line is. And this is actually an important story that actually relates to what we're doing today, waiting for Zorhan Mamdani to be publicly inaugurated. He's already mayor, but he's going to be publicly inaugurated. Donald Trump in New York City. This is a very New York City story. People think Donald Trump owns dozens and dozens and dozens of properties and buildings. He doesn't. Most of the buildings, Donald, that say Trump Tower. Donald Trump just gets a fee to slap his name on someone else's creation. He gets a fee to put his name on the buildings. They're not his. And this is his tradition. He waits for other people to create, and then he puts his name on it. This is the intro video. I think we can play this.

[Zohran Mamdani]

There were many who said that we would not crack 5%. And now here we are today. We stand here with a remarkable opportunity to create a better New York. City. Belongs to you. Good afternoon and happy New Year, everyone. New York City Police Department and the.

[Wanjira Niva]

Fire Department of New York.

[Joy Reid]

Okay, I think we can go to another real quick. Can we add another real quick? And maybe mute this one while we're waiting for that to start. All right. Neither. What have you got going on? What are you seeing?

[Wanjira Niva]

So, okay, sorry, now we gotta be quiet. The program actually just started, so we gotta. We were trying to whisper introduction of Mamdani. Okay, they're doing the flash ceremony. Let me pan around so you can.

[Joy Reid]

See it for the national anthem.

[Wanjira Niva]

As you can see, it is packed.

[Joy Reid]

To the brim Act.

[Wanjira Niva]

Can you see?

[Joy Reid]

It's actually jumani williams.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And Bright stars. Through the perilous spoil. Sing in air Gave proof through the night and our flag was still there O stay does that star spangled banner.

[Wanjira Niva]

The land of the free. In the home of the.

[Joy Reid]

So the.

[Wanjira Niva]

The program is beginning. You saw Attorney General James Bernie Sanders, his wife and I don't know if you can see AMC now. In. In the. If you can see somebody is holding up a picture and killed by Israel. And it is my deep honor and privilege to welcome you to the inauguration.

[Joy Reid]

Of our audio we're hearing is from.

[Wanjira Niva]

We gather here today to celebrate the beginning.

[Jason]

Just to let you guys know, the audio we was hearing from Netta's phone.

[Joy Reid]

It's from Niva's phone.

[Jason]

What you see on screen now is the actual. The audio, the national anthem. So once that's finish, I could put it live.

[Joy Reid]

Okay, got it.

[Jason]

So the audio you're going to hear until you actually see Mandani is going to be coming from N's phone.

[Joy Reid]

Okay.

[Wanjira Niva]

We also celebrate the hundreds and thousands of public servants and city leaders getting to work today. From our sanitation workers and librarians, to our commissioners, deputy mayors, and our school's chancellor at they care for our city and its people in the coming weeks, months and years together. This ascent marks a new era for New York City, led by a historic new mayor in Sauran Mahdadi, guided by his dedication to a working class that makes our beautiful city ride. Importantly, I also ask that we consider today an inauguration for each one of us, too, the nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers who make up the greatest city on Earth. Because it is the people of New York. I also ask that we consider today an inauguration for each one of us, too, the nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers who make it the greatest city on Earth. Because it is the people of New York City who have chosen historic, ambitious leadership in response to untenable and unprecedented times. New York. We have chosen courage over fear. We have chosen prosperity for the many over spoils for the few. And when the entrenched ways would rather have us dig in our feet and seek refuge in the past, we have chosen instead to turn towards making a new future for all of us. In Zohran Mamdani, we have chosen a mayor who is relentlessly dedicated to making life not just possible, but aspirational for working people. New York City has chosen the ambitious pursuit of universal child care, affordable rent and housing, and clean and dignified public transit for all. And we have chosen that over the distractions of bigotry and the barbarism of extreme income inequality, we have chosen this path because we know that it's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do, and that if we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.

[Joy Reid]

New York.

[Wanjira Niva]

In New York City, this is an inauguration for all of us. Because choosing this mayor and this vision is an ambitious pursuit. It calls on all of us to return to public life en masse. Now is the time for us to turn towards our neighbors, stand with them, and return to community life. A city for all will require all of us to fill our streets, our schools, our houses of faith, our PTAs and our block associations as we support this mayor in making an affordable city a reality for all of us. Zohran Mamdani will be the first Muslim mayor of our great city. He will be our first immigrant mayor in over a century. And he will be the youngest mayor of New York City in generations. But most importantly, Zohran will be a mayor for all of us. With that, let us extend our deepest well wishes and support to Zohran, his wife Rama, and his family, as well as those of our public advocate Jumani Williams and controller Mark Levine. We send you, your spouses and families and all your loved ones, all the support in the world as you embark on this great pursuit of a better city and future for all. Felicidades.

[Joy Reid]

Foreign. So that was Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, obviously doing an introduction. Now, I'm going to note that what you're also going to see today is Bernie Sanders will do the. Will administer the oath of office. There he is. Let's watch Bernie Sanders. Is he taking the stage? Let's see who that is.

[Jason]

That ain't Bernie.

[Joy Reid]

That ain't Bernie. Who is that? Okay. All right, so let me let you guys know some of the sort of the details of what you saw. DJ Moma is the one who's been welcoming the crowd, playing the music, playing all the hits. DJ moma told the local media that, quote, unquote, the bro Zorhan Mamdani hollered, and I'm on my way back to New York.

[Invocation Speaker]

Most merciful of those who show mercy, we turn to you on this day from our city with hope to hearts. Thank you for this moment. Thank you for the amazing individuals you have gathered here. Diverse in color, language, journey and name, but united in purpose, stitched together by shared hopes. All yearning to build something meaningful, lasting, and rooted in love, dignity, respect and justice. No longer for the few, but for all. We come before you, mindful that moments like this do not arrive on their own. They are carried forward by sacrifice, by organizing, by courage, by people who refuse to accept that the way things were was the way they had to remain. We come knowing that this day stands on the shoulders of so many who were told to wait their turn, to quiet their demands, to lower their expectations, but instead chose to believe that another New York was possible. We recognize that belief is not abstract. It was practiced by tenants organizing against displacement, by workers demanding fair wages, by parents advocating for their children's futures, by communities who kept showing up even when the odds said they should not. We gather today with heart shaped by this city, by its noise in its neighborhoods, by its subways and sanctuaries, by the dreams carried in many languages and the prayers whispered on crowded blocks. We thank you for New York City, for a place that has taught the world how difference can become strength, how survival can become solidarity, how strangers can become neighbors. And for being a place that taught us that a young, immigrant, democratic, socialist Muslim can be bold enough to run and brave enough to win. Not by abandoning conviction, but by standing firmly within it. Not by shrinking who he is, but by trusting that authenticity can move a city towards justice. We thank you for the beautiful diversity of this city. For a people formed across continents and generations, across race and religion, culture and class. Teach us to never see that diversity is something to manage or fear, but as a sacred trust, a collective inheritance that expands our moral imagination and strengthens our shared future. On this day of transition and responsibility, we ask you to bless this moment of leadership and all who are entrusted with the weight of public service. Grant wisdom to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and remind him that leadership is not about power, but about proximity. To the people who struggle, to the voices too often ignored, to the lives behind the statistics. Keep him close to the realities of this city. To the family doubling up in a one bedroom apartment because rent has outpaced wages. To the home health aide commuting hours each day to care for others while struggling to afford care for themselves. To the public school student navigating overcrowded classrooms. To the small business owner choosing between closing their doors or passing rising costs onto neighbors who already have too little. Bless him with the courage to remain grounded, the humility to keep learning, and the strength to lead with principle, even when the profession, even when the pressure to compromise is loud. Let his leadership reflect the movements and communities that made this moment possible. And never let him forget that this office exists to serve the people, not to rise above them. We lift up all those who came together to make what many said could never happen, happen. Organizers and volunteers, neighbors who spoke to neighbors, young people who believed their voices matter. Elders who remembered past struggles and recognized this moment as part of a longer arc. Bless those who knocked on doors in the cold, who stood on street corners with clipboards and hope, who had difficult conversations rooted in love and who chose participation over disability.

[Joy Reid]

Despair.

[Invocation Speaker]

Let the spirit that carried this moment forward not fade after today, but deepen and always endure. Make this city affordable for the families who built it and the workers who sustain it. Let no one have to choose between rent and dignity, between medicine and meals, between staying and surviving. We lift before you those living paycheck to paycheck in the shadow of unimaginable wealth, Those working multiple jobs, yet still one emergency away from crisis. Those whose labor keeps the city moving, but whose lives feel increasingly pushed to the margins. Let justice not be a slogan, but a structure. Let equity not be a promise, but a practice. Let policy be shaped by compassion and budgets reflective of our values. Protect the most vulnerable amongst us, our children and elders, our immigrants and ascendants, asylum seekers, our unhoused neighbors, our workers, our artists, our caregivers, and the students who keep the city alive. Heal what has been broken by neglect and greed. Soften hearts hardened by fear. Replace cynicism with courage and despair, with collective hope. And let that hope be something we practice daily, not something we push back. Let it live in our policies, our streets, our schools and our systems. Teach us that hope is not passive. It is built through accountability, through care, and through a refusal to abandon one another. Remind all New Yorkers, those born here and those who arrived yesterday, that the city belongs to all of us and that our liberation is bound together. Help us show up for one another, not just in moments of crisis, but in the long, patient work of care. Teach us that the city we pray for is the city we must also build and make this administration and all of us who call this place home, a means of mercy, a force for fairness, and a reflection of your justice in this world. Let this moment be not an ending, but a beginning. Let what was once thought impossible become the standard by which we measure our future. And let New York City continue to show the world what is possible when people believe in one another and continue to show that respect, dignity, and compassion are no longer for the few, but for the all.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Amen.

[Joy Reid]

Amen. Amen.

[Bernie Sanders]

Well done.

[Winnie]

Well done.

[Joy Reid]

Jason, if I could just say real quick while we wait for the next speaker, it is the most New York and diversity thing ever that when the imam is giving the. The blessing, you have the Baptist in the back going, help yourself. Hold on. Say. Say it. You. You got the. You got the call and response happening. The imam. Like this is not how it normally go down at the mosque. But it's how it goes down in New York City. City. Because it is the most diverse city in the country. It represents all of America so beautifully. A lot of folks in the chat saying they just love hearing the kindness the. And they love seeing the diversity. That was a beautiful. A beautiful moment. Okay, let's go back and listen.

[Bernie Sanders]

I said it's all right.

[Joy Reid]

Let me let you all know a little bit more. I'm going to talk over this just so that we make sure that YouTube doesn't get mad at us. This is not us playing the music, by the way. YouTube, what we're seeing. So we had DJ Moma who welcomed the New Yorkers playing the. The music there that you're hearing. That's DJ Moma who's doing that. We had Javier Munoz, that is, who was performing the national anthem. If you were wondering who that was, that was Javier Munoz, who you will know from in the Heights and Hamilton. Mandy Patinkin is now singing with the PS 22 chorus of Staten Island. Somewhere over the rainbow so let's listen. Mandy Patinkin.

[Zohran Mamdani]

When all the clouds darken up the skyway There's a rainbow A highway to.

[Jason]

Be found.

[Joy Reid]

Leading from your window pane.

[Zohran Mamdani]

To a place behind the sun Just a step beyond the rain. Over the rainbow Way up high.

[Joy Reid]

There's a land that I heard of Once.

[Zohran Mamdani]

In a lullaby Somewhere over the rain oh, skies are blue.

[Joy Reid]

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true Someday I'll wish up on.

[Zohran Mamdani]

A star Wake up where the clouds are far behind behind me where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops that's where you'll find me Somewhere over the rainbow Blue birds fly Birds fly over the rainbow why then.

[Joy Reid]

Oh why can't I?

[Zohran Mamdani]

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow oh, why, oh why can't we?

[Joy Reid]

So for those of you who may not know who Mandy Patinkin is, do you remember my favorite Rob Reiner film, the Princess Bride? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. My name is Inigo Montoya. You kill my father. Prepare to die. That's Mandy Patinkin, Tony award winning actor. He's been in everything. He won his Tony for the Secret Garden. I believe that's where he got his Tony award for. He's been in TV shows, Chicago Hope. He's been in Criminal Minds. He's worn Emmys. But Princess Bride is my favorite Mandy Patinkin role. He's absolutely amazing. And he's been in Yento he's from Yento. We love Mandy Patinkin. Okay, let's keep this. This is the most New York thing ever, y'. All. Is Brooklyn in the house. Good afternoon and happy New Year. I am so proud to be here today to usher in a new day for New York City. And today it is my honor and my privilege to swear in someone who has been a champion for tenants, a fearless fighter for working people in every corner of our city, my friend and the next controller of New York City, Mark Levine. It is truly my honor and my privilege to administer his oath of office. Controller elect Levine, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I. I, Mark Levine. Mark Levine. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear that I will support.

[Mark Levine]

I will support.

[Joy Reid]

The Constitution of the United States.

[Mark Levine]

The Constitution of the United States.

[Joy Reid]

The Constitution of the State of New York.

[Mark Levine]

The Constitution of the State of New York.

[Joy Reid]

And I will faithfully discharge the duties.

[Mark Levine]

And I will faithfully discharge the duties.

[Joy Reid]

Of the Controller of the City of New York.

[Mark Levine]

Of the Controller of the City of New York.

[Joy Reid]

According to the best of my ability.

[Mark Levine]

According to the best of my ability.

[Joy Reid]

Congratulations, Mr. Controller.

[Mark Levine]

All right, well, there's no going back. Give it up for the best Attorney General in America, Tish James. Give it up for the PS 22 chorus. All the way from Staten island to.

[Joy Reid]

Staten island in the house.

[Mark Levine]

The rest are stuck on the ferry.

[Winnie]

All right.

[Mark Levine]

Thank you to my wonderful family, my wife Ivelisse and our sons, Alejandro and Daniel. I love you so, so much. Thank you to my partners in city government, our new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and public advocate Jumani Williams. How remarkable is it that on these steps today we have three swearings in. One by a leader using a Koran, one by a leader using a Christian Bible, and won by a leader using a Chumash or Hebrew Bible. I am proud, proud to live in a city where this is possible. Jerome, Puyme, Etomas. Visas. Now, for those of you who do not know Spanish, Hebrew or Greek, welcome. Thank you. And please download duolingo. Now, I know what you're all thinking. What the heck is a comptroller? Excellent question. This job is about ensuring that people who have spent their lives working for this city can retire with dignity. It's about ensuring that our budget reflects our values, that our government inspires the trust of its people. A comptroller also understands the consequences for working class families when they are excluded from our economic system. I have seen this in my own neighborhood of Washington Heights, where far too many families for far too long have been held back from achieving their dreams, blocked from banks, and forced to rely instead on pawn shops and loan sharks. Back in the 1990s, I found a community credit union uptown to change this. This financial cooperative, owned by the community, has lent out over $100 million in small loans in the neighborhood with a 98% repayment rate, proving that when you give working people an opportunity, they will seize it. This is what our city must do now on a grand scale. Build an economy where we care for each other, where our prosperity is shared, where everyone has a fair shot. Our city today is booming for people at the top, but it's getting tougher and tougher for working families to pay their rent, to find a job with a living wage, and, yes, Mr. Mayor, to find affordable childcare. A comptroller must use the tools of the office to close this gap. And I will. We will invest tens of millions of dollars in new units of affordable housing to build all over the five boroughs. We'll make sure that housing is actually built, no matter the opposition from entrenched constituencies. Will use the powers of oversight in the comptroller's office to ensure that the city keeps its promises, that it delivers the highest quality city services, that every nonprofit with a city contract actually gets paid on time.

[Bernie Sanders]

Wow.

[Mark Levine]

Very big applause line. Note that, Mr. Mayor. We got to work on that. We will secure full funding for legal services for New Yorkers facing eviction so that at last, our city lives up to its obligations under our first in the nation right to council law for tenants.

[Joy Reid]

Right?

[Mark Levine]

Vanessa Gibson, you on board for that? We will invest in protecting our imperiled planet by accelerating our city's transition to green energy so that one day, when we look at New York from above, we will see a city full of solar panels and trees. We will protect the immigrants of this city so that families are not ripped apart by masked, unnamed government agents. And we will seek to understand each other. Though we will not always see the world the same way. We can and must ensure that all New Yorkers feel safe and respected, whether they're entering a house of worship in public or saying the Salah prayer. Our city government can and must is of this moment. But to do that, we need city government, one that uses the tools of the modern era, A government freed from the worst limit. See one simple enough to move fast of accelerating change and to capitalize on the new promises of technology while protecting against its. No other city on earth has this.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Many.

[Mark Levine]

Dreams in one place. Our task now is to ensure that this. Help Open their first savings accounts. They trust our dreams. A small business, a child's education, a home of their own. Today, you have entrusted me with something far greater to safeguard the resources and the future of this entire city. I promise you I will honor that trust every single day. Thank you so much.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you. Mark Levine, who is the new comptroller of the City of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

To recite his. Please welcome Cornelius. Edie.

[Winnie]

Hold on. Well, first of all, I want to thank the mayor. I want to thank the mayor and his staff for inviting me, for the honor of inviting me here to. To read this poem. This morning when I woke up, my wife joked that sometime during the campaign there was probably somebody who said, him.

[Joy Reid]

He'Ll get elected when hell freezes over. So here we are.

[Winnie]

And I really want to really just thank. The biggest, greatest gift I think I've ever had was to be in the blue room this morning after doing soundcheck, because the energy and the recognition and the joy of this moment was incredible. I mean, this is it, isn't it? I mean, this is. This is what this work has been about, right? And it was just wonderful to see people see that moment. I was, I. I was reminded this morning that New York was the first capital of the United States. And it seems to me that this might be another kind of new beginning for a certain kind of energy that might be. Starts here and goes out across the country, the rest of the nation. So though this is a New York poem, a New York based poem, I'd like to dedicate this poem. I just retired. I'd like to dedicate this poem to my trans queer foreign students of color at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. So they have. So they can see this is possible. The poem is called Proof.

[Joy Reid]

Proof.

[Winnie]

You have to imagine it. Who said you were too dark, too large, too queer, too loud? Who said you were too poor, too strange, too fat? You have to imagine it. Who said you must keep quiet? Who heard your story then roll their eyes? Who tried to change your name to invisible? You've got to imagine who heard your name and refused to pronounce it. Who checked their watch and said not now? James Baldwin wrote, the place in which I'll fit will not exist until I make it New York City of invention, roiling town, refresher and renewer. New York City of the real. Where the canyons whisper in a hundred tongues. New York, where your lucky self waits for your arrival. Where there is always soil for your root. This is our time. The taste of us, the spice of us, the hollers and the rhythms and the beats of us and the echo of our ancestors who made certain we know who we are.

[Joy Reid]

City of insistence.

[Winnie]

City of resistance. You have to imagine an army that wins without firing a bullet. A joy that wears down the rock of no.

[Joy Reid]

Up from insults, up from blocked doors.

[Winnie]

Up from trick bags. Up from fear, up from shame, up from the way it was done before. You have to imagine that space they said wasn't yours that time they said you'd never own the invisible city lit on its way. This moment is our proof. Thank you.

[Zohran Mamdani]

To administer the oath of office to Public Advocate Jumanji Williams. Welcome three New Yorkers who have been impacted by immigration enforcement in New York City. Josue Nicola Amundrai, Amadou Lee, Asadu Diallo, and Rebecca Press.

[Joy Reid]

University Man. While they get to the. While they get to the stage, I just want to let you all know a little bit more about Cornelius eevee. Born in 1954, American writer, and a lot of his work focuses on jazz. He's an original New Yorker. He's driven from Rochester, but, okay, let's listen to these guys. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

[Zohran Mamdani]

My name is Amadou Lee, and I'm.

[Bernie Sanders]

A Senegalese American.

[Mark Levine]

A proud New Yorker.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And I am honored to be a naturalized American citizen. I came into this country in 2001 as a teenager. I was undocumented, with no one and nowhere to turn. Yet I felt at home. As I walked through the city, the bright light seems to whisper in my ear, telling me, dream. I'm a do. Dream you, too.

[Mark Levine]

You belong here.

[Zohran Mamdani]

But being undocumented meant living in fear. It meant being vulnerable. It meant facing deportation. However, after my life story made the front page of the New York Times, something extraordinary happened. People showed up. Blue collar workers, teachers, celebrities, even presidents. They, too, said that I belong here, too. Because of them, I was allowed to stay here. Because of them, I was allowed to study. I was allowed to build a life.

[Joy Reid]

But every day, thousands of New Yorkers.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Face the fear I once did. Without the spotlight. They fear being abducted, detained, and disappeared. With me today is Ms. Isa Tujalo and Mr. Perez. Ms. Jalo has lived in the United States for over 20 years. This past Thanksgiving, she was abducted by ICE at Lagwaja Airport. She was shackled and detained. After decades of building a life here.

[Joy Reid]

Her freedom was suddenly shipped away.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Mr. Perez and his family fled Venezuela in search of safety to New York City.

[Joy Reid]

He and his partner and their three beautiful children were summoned to 26 Federal.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Plaza just before Christmas.

[Joy Reid]

Just Before Christmas, not knowing whether they.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Would walk out together as a family. And standing beside each one, as he.

[Joy Reid]

Stood beside many New Yorkers, was public.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Advocate Jumani D. Williams. He used his position, he used his voice and his power, not for himself, but to defend people that are under attack, to speak to those whose voices are too often ignored. And because of that solidarity, because that leadership showed up, because the neighbors showed up, Ms. Jalo and the Perez family.

[Joy Reid]

Can be here today with us.

[Zohran Mamdani]

I would like to thank everyone who.

[Joy Reid]

Continue to stand with immigrant families in.

[Zohran Mamdani]

The face of fear and intimidation and.

[Joy Reid]

Everyone who refused to look away.

[Zohran Mamdani]

We are the proof that it matters. And we are reminded that advocacy can truly change lives because of the courage and compassion of New Yorkers. We stand here today at City Hall.

[Joy Reid]

Ladies and gentlemen.

[Mark Levine]

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Swear in the people's voice, the people's.

[Joy Reid]

Champion, our public advocate, Mr. Jumani D. Williams. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for him.

[Wanjira Niva]

Please raise your right hand. I, Jumani D. Williams.

[Winnie]

I, Jumani D. Williams.

[Wanjira Niva]

Do solemnly affirm.

[Winnie]

Do solemnly affirm.

[Joy Reid]

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[Winnie]

I will support the Constitution of the.

[Joy Reid]

United States and the Constitution of the.

[Wanjira Niva]

State of New York.

[Winnie]

The Constitution of the State of New York.

[Wanjira Niva]

And that I will faithfully discharge the.

[Winnie]

Duties I will faithfully discharge the duties.

[Wanjira Niva]

Of the Office of Public Advocate for.

[Joy Reid]

The City of New York.

[Winnie]

Of the Office of the Public Advocate the. For the City of New York.

[Joy Reid]

According to the best of my abilities.

[Winnie]

According to the best of my abilities.

[Wanjira Niva]

Congratulations.

[Joy Reid]

If y' all are unfamiliar with Williams, he is a longtime activist, very well known and respected activist in the city, now taking a role in city government as well. He's pretty dynamic, brother. So this is going to be a pretty incredible diversity administration coming to power in New York City. Let's listen to Jumani.

[Winnie]

So, Ron, Mark, we did it. We're here. Thanks to everybody out here. Thank y'.

[Joy Reid]

All.

[Winnie]

Peace and blessing, love and light as we begin a new term, a new era for New York City. Thank you, everyone. I want to thank Amadou and these inspiring family for being here at this ceremony in in New York. I am a son of immigrants myself. My parents came over from Grenada over 50 years ago. I was just sworn in on my late father's Bible. My mother is here today. I'm so proud to have my family and my wife and my children and my sister and my mom. Everyone standing with theirs, their stories perfectly captured this moment for the city. The challenges we face, the hardships we endure, and the Hope that persists. Those realities are often in tension, because this is a time and a place of contradictions, one where, even as the federal government drives us to despair, local leadership can invite inspiration. When this celebration at City hall is only blocks from tribulation at Federal Plaza, when the relief that these families are still ununited comes as so many are being separated. And this sense of contradiction carries across the five boroughs. This is a city of enormous wealth and enduring poverty, of the greed of some and the generosity of many, of darkness and of light. And I've seen the darkness, of course. Yet I look out on New York today and I see so much light. These contradictions mean we can at once love our city as it is and challenge itself. Flaws, not as a reason for pessimism, but a call for activism. As public advocate, I've tried to be an activist elected official, someone who pushes back.

[Jason]

Now.

[Winnie]

Now I see the chance to push.

[Joy Reid]

Forward.

[Winnie]

To provide accountability aimed at the ideal that government has an opportunity and an obligation to do good. At the core of public service and progressivism is the principle of making government work and showing people it can work for them. That means we need to meet people where they are, also show grace instead of ignoring what brought them there. And be honest about why. The powers in place would rather create an other to blame for our problems than to address them. Whether it be our immigrant communities, our trans siblings, our homeless neighbors, or too many other marginalized groups, rejecting those ideas means naming the reason that the powers in place perpetuate them. Because if we are divided, the status quo stands. Whether you arrived in our city generations ago or five years ago or five minutes ago, the reason so many New Yorkers have too little are not because of the people who have even less or who have been here for less time, not because of the people pushed to the bottom, but the systems entrenched at the top. That's where we should focus our anger and our action. If we are not driven apart by the divisions of our races, our religions, our identities, but pulled together by the commonalities in our emotions, our needs and our humanity, then we can all climb. I know that the project of New York is possible, that great mosaic described by another mayor who believed in democratic social media ideals, David Dinkins. Yet the truth of it is there are people who are rooting for New York to fail. Some couch it in concern. Others openly scorn our city. But at the heart of this hate is the truth that our success, that our very existence, belies their core belief that New York is not possible.

[Bernie Sanders]

They.

[Winnie]

Demonize us because our mosaic challenges their ideology. They want to be right in their cynicism more than they want us to succeed in our idealism. They are driven by the idea that bringing together so many diverse people, cultures, faiths, identities into a united community is impossible. But New York, we are a shining beacon of possibility. We cross new cultural borders through each subway stop and are introduced to new experiences through each passenger. Our possibilities come in every language and from every heritage. So do our prayers. So do our people. So does our power. We've shown it in the face of oligarchy and authoritarianism, neighbors standing with neighbors across borough and background to defend immigrant communities and feed hungry families. We see it in the multicultural mosaic that brought us to this very moment. Even with this great moment, I know that realizing the full potential of our possibility will not be easy. It never has been. Yet I believe it's possible to make great progress because I've seen it through my years in the building behind me and the streets before us. I've been in our movement, and I've seen things move. The simple truth is that governing is hard, that achievement is exhausting. And I aim to assist my partners in government when possible and hold them to account when necessary to learn from what we've done and guide what we can do. I believe in this possibility, that with the people, the tools, the passions and the compassion that we need, we can meet the moment and create change. We can look into the unknown and see opportunity. That's the thing about uncertainty. Anything can happen. But anything can happen. We couldn't make New York more affordable, more safe and more just. We couldn't. We can and we have to try. This optimism toward action is embedded not only in our city's heritage, but history, but in my heritage. In Grenada, Maurice Bishop took up the fight for these radical, crazy ideas, socialist ideals like housing, health care and education. He demanded that we move forward, ever backward, never. And today I echo that call from the Isle of Spice to the island of Manhattan. He also cautioned that revolutionaries do not have the right to be cowards. We can be afraid, but we have to meet that courage to match it. There are things to be feared, but there is also reason to hope. Hope is the embrace of possibility. Hope and fear are undeniably connected. Hope is the belief that good can come. Fear is the worry that it won't. In these contradicting ideals, we are faced with a choice, and I choose hope. In other words, I have faith. But faith without works is dead. So today, I'm committing to the work of public service. And I ask every New Yorker to commit their own talents, to use what they have and do what they can for the success of our city and everyone who calls it home. I don't know when my mother, my Grenadian mother, arrived as a teenager. She hoped that a half a century later, her son would speak from these steps. But she could have. Because here in New York City, we choose to celebrate possibility and work to make reality. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that. Instead, I'll say to my daughters today, to the children of the Perez Alone family, to everyone who may question their own worth like I did, or whether it's worth fighting for the city with all its contradictions and problems and possibilities. And I gotta take a second to say something to so many young people who are out there. But I'm going to say to one person who's waited 49 years to hear it, little black boy, you were worth it. And you always were. And without any titles, you were enough. You will always enough. And you deserve to accept love. And you deserve to be protected. And I'm honored to be here to help create a city that's worthy of that for you. And I'm so proud of you. So just hold on. We're gonna be all right. We're gonna be all right. So proud of you. As we head into a new year, a new term, I want to ask all of you to take an oath of me. Our neighbors, I know in Brazil adopted this motto. And I've tried to embody. I did hear it for cometolanda. But I gotta give me credit that no one let go of anyone's hands. Because if we're all connected, we can't lose anyone. So we hold on to the hand of our neighbor. And we reach out with our other hand to grasp someone who may fall through the cracks. And we bring them along. I want everyone, if they're comfortable, take a hand of the person next to you or the arm, and just repeat after me, we can all be the voice of the people. I know what's ahead. But I won't lose hold and I won't lose hope. Anything can happen. So anything can happen. And as we march forward, no one let go of anyone's hands. Peace.

[Joy Reid]

Jumani Williams, activist, Bronx Brooklyn Tech meets Bronx Science. They are embracing right now.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Perform the labor anthem Bread and Roses.

[Joy Reid]

I'm Donnie.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Please welcome to the stage.

[Joy Reid]

Great high schools in Miami. I mean, sorry, in New York. I'm saying New York City. New York is an Amazing city. The diversity that you're seeing here is pretty freaking amazing. The three people who you've seen sworn in, Mark Levine, Jumani Williams, and you will Ben see, Zorhad Mamdani, they really represent the magic of New York City, the diversity of New York City city. And the. The magic of New York City is the diversity. Lots of people saying they're. They need some tissue boxes for this because this is what's going to save the country, this diversity. And I'm telling you, blue states will save this country if it can be saved. States like California, Illinois, Maryland. But New York is special. New York City is just an incredibly special city. It's really a city state. If you look at its gdp, it has a GDP of the New York metro area has a larger GDP than Canada. And it succeeds because of the diversity, because it is a city where you can literally inaugurate a Jewish man, a Muslim African, South Asian African and a Grenadian brother.

[Winnie]

Who.

[Joy Reid]

Two of the three that are inaugurated today are Democratic Socialist Jumani Williams and Zorhan Mamdani. And Mark Levine is a traditional Democrat, but a very progressive Democrat, a fighting Democrat. And they represent the diversity of the country. Look at this mosaic of diversity. This is what MAGA hates, but it's what makes America actually great. Nobody left behind. That's right. That's right. That's right.

[Wanjira Niva]

Hello, new york. Happy new year.

[Joy Reid]

As we go marching, marching in the beauty of the day A million darkened kitchens A thousand milofts great Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses for the people hear us singing Bread and roses Bread and roses.

[Wanjira Niva]

As we go marching, marching we go.

[Joy Reid]

Battle two for men for they are women's children and we mother them again. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes Hearts starve as well as bodies Give us breath of give us roses. As we go marching, marching Unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing Their ancient call for tw bread smart and loving the judgment spirit name yes it is bread we fight for bread we fight for roses. As we go marching, marching we bring the greater days the rising of the.

[Wanjira Niva]

Women means the rising of the race.

[Joy Reid]

No more the drudge and ID that toil where one reposes but a sharing of life's glories Breath Bread and roses Bread and roses.

[Wanjira Niva]

Her life shall not be sweated from.

[Joy Reid]

Birth until life closes Heart starve as well as body. Thank you. Congratulations. That initiated during the suffrage movement and is associated with the labor movement movement as well. It's based on a poem, Bread and Roses by James Oppenheim. Just so you know more about that. And it comes from a poem with the attribution line Bread for all and roses too.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And to administer the oath of office for Mayor Zoran.

[Joy Reid]

Here we go.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Welcome, Senator Bernie Sanders.

[Bernie Sanders]

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much for inviting me to what has been an extraordinarily moving and beautiful afternoon. And I'm here mostly to thank the people of New York City at a time in our country's history when we are seeing too much hatred, too much divisiveness, and too much injustice. Thank you for electing Saran Mamdani as your mayor, New York. Thank you for inspiring our nation. Thank you for giving us from coast to coast the hope and the vision that we can create government that works for all, not just the wealthy and the few. In a moment when people in America and in fact throughout the world are losing faith in democracy, over 90,000 of you in this city volunteered for Iran's campaign. You knocked on doors, you shared your dreams and your hopes for the future of this city. And in the process, you took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment.

[Jason]

The.

[Bernie Sanders]

President of the United States, and some enormously wealthy oligarchs. And you defeated them in the biggest political upset in modern American history. You showed the world the most important lesson that can be learned today. And that is that when working people stand together, when we don't let them divide us up, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Running a great and winning campaign was extremely difficult. But governing a city of 8 million people with all of its complexities and all of the problems that Iran is inheriting, will be even harder. Zoran needed your help to win the election. Now he will need your help to govern grassroots democracy and people participating in the day to day struggles of this city will lead to good governance. Please remain involved. You know, all of us have heard how Iran's opponents have called the agenda that he campaigned on radical communistic. Oh, and absolutely unachievable. Really. That's not what we believe. In the richest country in the history of the world. Making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical. It is the right and decent thing to do. And in the midst of a massive housing crisis, it is exactly what the people of this city and this country want and need. Providing free and high quality child care is not radical. Countries all over the world have done it for years. It is what our kids require if they're going to be well prepared for school and what working parents desperately Need. It is in fact what every city in America should be doing. Free bus transportation is not radical. It will save workers time and money, protect our environment and make the city more efficient. And making sure that every family in the city, regardless of income, has access to decent quality food at an affordable cost is not radical. Good nutrition keeps us healthy, helps prevent chronic illnesses. In the long run, city sponsored grocery stores will save society money. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, demanding that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes.

[Wanjira Niva]

Sai was saying.

[Bernie Sanders]

Demanding that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes, it's not radical. It is exactly the right thing to do. Today, while over 60% of our people, people in New York, people in Vermont, people all over this country are living paycheck to paycheck, we have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had. While tens of millions struggle to put food on the table, pay for health care, pay for housing, the top 1% have never ever had it so good. And yet there are billionaires and large corporations that pay almost nothing in taxes. That has got to end. That will end. The billionaire class in this city and in this country have got to understand that in America they cannot have it all. That America, our great country, must belong to all of us, not just a few. And that lesson begins today in New York City. Let me thank you all for the hope and inspiration that you are giving people all over this country. And now it is my honor to swear in your new mayor. Please repeat after me. Aye. Zoran Kwame Mumdani.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Ayes. Iran. Kwame Mamdani.

[Bernie Sanders]

Do solemnly swear.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Do solemnly swear.

[Bernie Sanders]

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[Zohran Mamdani]

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[Bernie Sanders]

The Constitution of the State of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

The Constitution of the State of New York.

[Bernie Sanders]

And the charter of the City of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

And the charter of the City of New York.

[Bernie Sanders]

And that I will faithfully discharge the.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Duties and that I will faithfully discharge.

[Bernie Sanders]

The duties of the office of the Mayor of the City of New York.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Of the office of the Mayor of the City of New York.

[Bernie Sanders]

According to the best of my ability.

[Zohran Mamdani]

According to the best of my ability.

[Bernie Sanders]

So help me God.

[Zohran Mamdani]

So help me God.

[Wanjira Niva]

It.

[Joy Reid]

A lot of very happy New Yorkers there.

[Zohran Mamdani]

My fellow New Yorkers, today begins a new era. I stand before you, moved by the privilege of taking this sacred oath, humbled by the faith that you have placed in me, and honored to serve as either your 111th or 112th mayor of New York City. But I do not stand alone. I stand alongside you, the tens of thousands of you gathered here in Lower Manhattan, warmed against the January chill by the resurgent flame of hope. I stand alongside countless more New Yorkers watching from cramped kitchens and Flushing and barbershops in East New York, from cell phones propped against the dashboards of parked taxi cabs at LaGuardia, from hospitals in Mott Haven and libraries in El Barrio that have too long known only neglect. I stand alongside construction workers in steel toed boots and halal cart vendors whose knees ache from working all day. I stand alongside neighbors who carry a plate of food to the elderly couple down the hall, those in a rush who still lift strangers strollers up subway stairs, and every person who makes the choice day after day, even when it feels impossible to call our city home. I stand alongside over 1 million New Yorkers who voted for this day nearly two months ago. And I stand just as resolutely alongside those who did not. I know there are some who view this administration with distrust or disdain or who see politics as permanently broken and while only action can change minds, I promise you, if you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never, not for a second, hide from you. I thank the labor and movement leaders here today, the activists and the elected officials who will return to fighting for New Yorkers the second this ceremony concludes, and the performers who have gifted us with their talent. Thank you to Governor Hochul. Thank you as well to Mayor Adams, Dorothy's son, a son of Brownsville who rose from washing dishes to the highest position in our city for being here as well. He and I have had our share of disagreements, but I will always be touched that he chose me as the mayoral candidate that he would most want to be trapped with on an elevator. Thank you to the two titans who, as an assembly member, I've had the privilege of being represented by in Congress, Nydia Velazquez and our incredible opening speaker, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. You have paved the way for this moment. Thank you to the man whose leadership I seek most to emulate, who I am so grateful to be sworn in by today, Senator Bernie Sanders. Thank you to my teams from the assembly to the campaign to the transition, and now the team I am so excited to lead from City Hall. Thank you to my parents, Mama and Baba, For raising me, for teaching me how to be in this world, and for having brought me to this city. Thank you to my family from Kampala to Dili. And thank you to my wife, Rama, For being my best friend and for always showing me the beauty in everyday things. And most of all, thank you to the people of New York. A moment like this comes rarely. Seldom do we hold such an opportunity to transform and reinvent. Rarer still is it the people themselves whose hands are the ones upon the levers of change. And yet we know that too often in our past moments of great possibility have been promptly surrendered to small imagination and smaller ambition. What was promised was never pursued. What could have changed remained the same. For the New Yorkers most eager to see our city remade, the weight has only grown heavier. The weight has only grown longer. In writing this address, I have been told that this is the occasion to reset expectations. That I should use this opportunity to encourage the people of New York to ask for little and expect even less. I will do no such thing. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try. To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this. No longer will City hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers lives. For too long we have turned to the private sector for greatness, while accepting mediocrity from those who serve the public. I cannot blame anyone who has come to question the role of government, whose faith in democracy has been eroded by decades of apathy. We will restore that trust by walking a different path, one where government is no longer solely the final recourse for those struggling ones, where excellence is no longer the exception. We expect greatness from the cooks wielding a thousand spices, from those who stride out onto our Broadway stages, and from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in government. In a city where the mere names of our streets are associated with the innovation of the industries that call them home, we will make the word City hall synonymous with both resolve and results. As we embark upon this work, let us advance a new question, a new answer to the question asked of every generation. Who does New York belong to? For much of our history, the response from City hall has been simple. It belongs only to the wealthy and well connected, those who who never strained to capture the attention of those in power. Working people have reckoned with the consequences. Crowded classrooms and public housing developments where the elevators sit out of orders, roads littered with potholes and buses that arrive half an hour late, if at all. Wages that do not rise and corporations that rip off consumers and employees alike. And still there have been brief, fleeting moments where the equation changed. Twelve years ago, Bill de Blasio stood where I stand now as he promised to put an end to economic and social inequalities that divided our city into 2. In 1990, David Dinkins swore the same oath I swore today, vowing to celebrate the gorgeous mosaic that is New York, where every one of us is deserving of a decent life. And nearly six decades before him, Fiorella laguardia took office with the goal of building a city that was far greater and more beautiful for the hungry and the poor. Some of these mayors achieved more success than others, but they were unified by a shared belief that New York could belong to more than just a privileged few. It could belong to those who operate our subways and rake our parks, those who feed us biryani and beef patties, picanha and pastrami on rai. And they know that this belief could be made true if only government dared to work hardest for those who work hardest. Over the years to come, my administration will resurrect that legacy. City hall will deliver an agenda of safety, affordability and abundance, where government looks and lives like the people it represents, never flinches in the fight against corporate greed and refuses to cower before challenges that others have deemed too complicated. In so doing, we will provide our own answer to that age old question. Who does New York belong to? Well, my friends, we can look to Madiba and the South African Freedom Charter. New York belongs to all who live in it. Together, we will tell a new story of our city. This will not be a tale of one city governed only by the 1%. Nor will it be a tale of two cities, the rich versus the poor. It will be a tale of eight and a half million cities, each of them a New Yorker with hopes and fears, Each a universe, each of them woven together. The authors of this story will speak Pashto and Mandarin, Yiddish and Creole. They will pray in mosques, at shul, at church, at gurudwaras and mandirs and temples. And many will not pray at all. They will be Russian Jewish immigrants in Brighton Beach, Italians in Rossville, and Irish families in Woodhaven, many of whom came here with nothing but a dream of a better life, a dream which has withered away. They will be young people in cramped Marble Hill apartments where the walls shake when the subway passes. They will be black homeowners in St. Albans whose homes represent a physical testament to to triumph over decades of lesser paid labor. And redlining. They will be Palestinian New Yorkers in Bay Ridge. Who will no longer have to contend with a politics that speaks of universalism and then makes them the exception. Few of these eight and a half million will fit into neat and easy boxes. Some will be voters from Hillside Avenue or Fordham Road who supported President Trump a year before they voted for me. Tired of being failed by their party's establishment, the majority will not use the language that we often expect from those who wield influence. I welcome the change. For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty. Many of these people have been betrayed by the established order. But in our administration, their needs will be met. Their hopes and dreams and interests will be reflected transparently in government. They will shape our future. And if for too long these communities have existed as distinct from one another, we will draw this city closer together. We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism. If our campaign demonstrated that the people of New York yearn for solidarity, then let this government foster it. Because no matter what you eat, how you pray, or where you come from, the words that most define us are the two we all share. New Yorkers. And it will be New Yorkers who reform a long broken property tax system. New Yorkers who will create a new Department of Community Safety that will tackle the mental health crisis and let the police focus on the job they signed up to do. New Yorkers who will take on the bad landlords who mistreat their tenants and free small business owners from the shackles of bloated bureaucracy. And I am proud to be one of those New Yorkers. When we won the primary last June, there were many who said these aspirations and those who held them had come out of nowhere. Yet one man's nowhere is another man somewhere. This movement came out of 8 1/2 million somewheres. Taxicab depots and Amazon warehouses, DSA meetings and curbside domino games. The powers that be had looked away from these places for quite some time if they'd known about them at all. So they dismissed them as nowhere. But in our city, where every corner of these five boroughs holds power, there is no nowhere and there is no no one. There is only New York, and there are only New Yorkers. Eight and a half million New Yorkers will speak this new era into existence. It will be loud. It will be different. It will feel like the New York we love. No matter how long you have called this city home, that love has shaped your life. I know that it has shaped mine. This is the city where I set land speed records on my razor scooter at the age of 12, quickest four blocks of my life. The city where I ate powdered donuts at halftimes during AYSO soccer games and realized I probably was not going to be going pro. The city where I devoured two big slices at Coronet's Pizza, played cricket with my friends at Ferry Point park and took the one train to the BX10 only to still show up late to Bronx Science. The city where I have gone on hunger strike just outside these gates, sat claustrophobic on a stalled N train just after Atlantic Avenue and waited in quiet terror for my father to emerge from 26 Federal Plaza. The city where I took a beautiful woman named Rama to McCarran park on our first date and swore a different oath to become an American citizen on Pearl Street. To live in New York, to love New York is to know that we are the stewards of something without equal in our world. Where else can you hear the sound of the steel pan, savor the smell of sancocho and pay $9 for coffee on the same block? Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox every Sunday? That love will be our guide as we pursue our agenda here, where the language of the New Deal was born. We will return the vast resources of this city to the workers who call it home. Not only will we make it possible for every New Yorker to afford a life they love once again we will overcome the isolation that too many feel and connect the people of this city to one another. The cost of child care will no longer discourage young adults from starting a.

[Joy Reid]

Family.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Because we will deliver universal childcare for the many by taxing the wealthiest few. Those in rent stabilized homes will no longer dread the latest rent hike because we will freeze the rent. Getting on a bus without worrying about a fare hike or whether you'll be able to to get to your destination on time will no longer be deemed a small miracle because we will make those buses fast and free. These policies are not simply about the costs we make free, but the lives we fill with freedom. For too long in our city, freedom has belonged only to those who can afford to buy it. Our City hall will change that. These promises carried our movement to City hall, and they will carry us from the rallying cries of a campaign to the realities of a new era in politics. Two Sundays ago, as snow softly fell, I spent 12 hours at the Museum of The moving image in Astoria, listening to New Yorkers from every borough as they told me about the city that is there. We discussed construction hours on the Van Wyck Expressway and EBT eligibility, affordable housing for artists, and ICE raids. I spoke to a man named TJ who said that one day a few years ago, his heart broke as he realized that he would never get ahead here, no matter how hard he worked. I spoke to a Pakistani auntie named Samina who told me that this movement had fostered something too rare, softness in people's hearts, as she said to me in Urdu, 142 New Yorkers out of eight and a half million. And yet, if anything, united each person sitting across from me. It was the shared recognition that this moment demands a new politics and a new approach to power. We will deliver nothing less as we work each day to make this city belong to more of its people than it did the day before. Here is what I want you to expect from the administration that this morning moved into the building behind me.

[Wanjira Niva]

Me.

[Zohran Mamdani]

We will transform the culture of City hall from one of no to one of how. We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who thinks they can buy our democracy. We will govern without shame and insecurity, making no apology for what we believe. I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical. As the great senator from Vermont once said, what's radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life. We will strive each day to ensure that no New Yorker is priced out of any one of those basic necessities. And throughout it all, we will, in the words of Jason Terrence Phillips, better known as Jadakiss or J to the moi, be outside. Because this is a government of New York, by New York, and for New York. Before I end, I want to ask all of you, if you are able, whether you are here today or anywhere, watching, to stand with me. I ask you to stand with us now and every day that follows. City hall will not be able to deliver on our own. And while we will encourage New Yorkers to demand more from those with the great privilege of serving them, we will encourage you to demand more of yourselves as well. The movement we began over a year ago did not end with our election. It will not end this afternoon. It lives on with every battle we will fight together, every blizzard and flood we withstand together, every moment of fiscal challenge we Overcome with ambition, not austerity. Together, every way, we pursue change in working people's interests rather than at their expense. Together, no longer will we treat victory as an invitation to turn off the news. From today onwards, we will understand victory very simply. Something with the power to transform lives and something that demands effort from each of us every single day. What we achieve together will reach across the five boroughs and it will resonate far beyond. There are many who will be watching. They want to know if the left can govern. They want to know if the struggles that afflict them can be solved. They want to know if it is right to hope again. So, standing together with the wind of purpose at our backs, we will do something that New Yorkers do better than anyone else. We will set an example for the world. If what Sinatra said is true, let us prove that anyone can make it in New York and anywhere else, too. Let us prove that when a city belongs to the people, there is no need too small to be met, no person too sick to be made healthy, no one too alone to feel like New York is their home. The work continues. The work endures. The work, my friends, has only just begun. Thank you.

[Joy Reid]

There you have it. Giving one hell of a speech. He said, I was elected as a democratic senior socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not compromise my principles or fear of being deemed radical. He said, what's radical is to be in the richest city in the richest country in America and have people still going hungry and being without health care. He promised to stand by his promises for free buses, free child care, and making housing affordable. Beautiful speech. There he is with his lovely wife, Rama. Duaji is her name. I predict she will emerge as something of a style icon. I do not know who made that fabulous coat she is wearing, but I predict that we will be seeing a lot of Ramadiwadji in such magazines as Vogue. I think that she. Vanity Fair people are standing all over the country. He said, oh, What are you seeing? Give us the impressions.

[Wanjira Niva]

Get that mic right in front of you.

[Joy Reid]

Hey, there's Winnie, there's Wandie.

[Wanjira Niva]

This is Winnie, Wangie and Nidha.

[Joy Reid]

They can't hear us, but you're seeing people standing up, very excited, lots of excitement. We can't hear you. Nida, I'm going to text you guys, let you know that we can't hear a word you're saying, but we enjoy. Jason, you can put it up. I'm enjoying just seeing the visuals. There you have Mamdani on the dance. Now, there was One question I was furiously texting our on the ground team, Winnie, Wanji and Na, to find out the answer to your question. In the chat, it was whether Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer were in the House. And Jason, if you get a chance, I've uploaded a photo to our little deck of images called Mamdani Inaugural. I called him Mamdani Election Deus. It should be Mamdani Inaugural Dais. It's in the folder. If you do get a chance, I just want to show you all that we, our team, got a picture of the dais, which is where all the muckety mucks and all of the VIPs were sitting. And if Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were there, that's likely where they would be. You can see in the photo if Jason, he's going to get a chance to try to upload it. You can see Letitia James, who's the Attorney General of New York. You can see Bill de Blasio, the former mayor of New York City. You can see Eric Adams that you saw got a laugh at the joke that, you know, he did during one of the debates. He said, which of the other candidates would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with? When you said Mamdani, There's a photo called Mamdani Election Deus. It's my little mislabel that's in our Assets folder. And if you could, if you wouldn't mind grabbing that photo, it's kind of the last photo in the bucket. I just want to show it to the, to the chat and to the audience that's watching us on YouTube, even Substack and Facebook, etc. To let you all know, we, you know, our crack team on the ground took a picture of the deus, and they did not see Chuck Schumer or Hakeem Jeffries. I'll note that Hakeem Jeffries, very late in the game in October of last year, did finally endorse, not in the most excited way, Doorhan Mamdani. It's a big challenge for Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to really seem to be standing on the opposite end of history as the man you just heard speak, who I would argue is one of the most popular and dynamic politicians in the country. And that's saying a lot, given the fact that the two men who preceded him, Jumani Williams, who gave also one hell of an incredible speech, is also incredibly popular as well, as well as Mark Levine, the multilingual new comptroller of New York. He speaks fluent Hebrew and fluent Spanish and obviously fluent English. You know, trilingual former teacher. He was a bilingual math and science junior high school teacher in South Bronx. So what you're seeing is this incredible, diverse, dynamic, young new leadership team in New York. And one of the things about being young, if you go back and you look at the Civil Rights movement is you're too young to be so cynical that you don't think you can do the things that you say you want to do. Zorhan Mamdani is young enough that he actually doesn't have a fear of the institutional barriers that might prevent him from doing the things that he said he's going to do. So he's going to push forward with the youth. That is why the Civil Rights movement was effective. People are saying, I haven't had any water. You're right. I just. I've been furiously looking up information to try to make sure that you all are informed. I am going to have some water. Thank you very much. I'm going to hydrate. I had my coffee, of course, this morning in my fabulous toy Rico cup. So I was drinking coffee. I need to hydrate. I want to go through just a couple of things before we get back to our correspondence on the ground. They're going to start looking for some folks to talk with. But I thought it was important to give you some more information about the people that you did see. Speaking. I mentioned DJ moma, who was obviously giving the music, and behind Mandy Patinkin, one of my favorite actors, who's also, as the chat pointed out, a fantastic activist. That's somewhere over the Rainbow with PS22. Course of Staten island was awesome. That was a beautiful moment. Of course. Okay, Bernie Sanders, I'll try to reload it. Bernie Sanders, of course, administering the oath of office. The young singer who performed Bread and Roses is named Lucy Dacus. That was actually pretty incredible as well. Let's see the poet. Let me find this poet's name here, because I actually pulled him up as well, who's actually a pretty well known, incredible poet named Cornelius Eady, that is, who read that incredible poem. So that's some of who was on the dais. Some folks in the chat have noted that today is the last day of Kwanzaa, which also really reflects this moment that we're in. The final day of Kwanzaa is Imani Faith. And the. The. The. The dikt of that is to believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle, which seems to really fit in with this incredible multiracial castle that is going to be running New York, along with Letitia James, the bold, dynamic, fearless Attorney General of New York. Honestly, I have to tell you, New York is so symbolic of the possibilities of America in every way. The home of the Statue of Liberty, delivering a mosaic of incredible diversity in its new leadership. We're going to try to go back to our live team as soon as they get back in backstage and let us know that they've got some, some folks to talk with. But this leadership of Jumani Williams, Mark Levine and Zoharan Mamdani. One of the things I love about Mamdani, he didn't try to anglicize his name and call himself Zoran or Zoran. Like a lot of people who are South Asian or who are, you know, foreign born, who are immigrants, they try to anglicize their name and make themselves like Nikki Haley. Instead of being nerjama, she's Nikki, Nikki Haley. He didn't try to do that. He's Zohran. Like he pronounces it like really. And I love that about him. He's not trying to change anything about himself, including his political affiliations. What happened? Oh, this is my water. Yep, got it. Okay, so I'm gonna definitely have some water. Thank you all for that very much. But former rapper Mamdani also shouting out Jadakiss and we outside. So he did a lot of that sort of thing as well. I'm gonna try to get this, this photo back in so you guys can hopefully see. Hold on. I'm gonna try to get this in so you guys can see that. We checked and it does not appear, it does not appear that the two leaders, sort of highest ranking leaders, federal leaders in New York were there. And I think that's a huge mistake.

[Jason]

There is some discrepancy because I've seen some people in chat say that Lisa Schubert was there, that they seen they were invited.

[Joy Reid]

I know for a fact that they were invited.

[Jason]

So we don't know proof that they were there until I see that thing know exactly. They didn't attack.

[Joy Reid]

We don't, we don't have any proof they were there. We are still working to try to get, to try to confirm that by tomorrow's show we will confirm whether they were actually there. I'm just saying we have a photo of the deist and we don't see them. And Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, the congresswoman and Senator Bernie Sanders were seated in that VIP section. So presumably if Schumer and Hakeem Jeffers were there, presumably they would be seated in that section, because that is the VIP section and in that photo, you do not see them. So that does not mean, again, we're not going to try to give you fake news. So we don't. We cannot confirm they weren't there. We just don't see them. They also didn't speak. And presumably because of their high rank, if they were there, they would have spoken. Right? You would assume that they would be given time on the mic. That didn't happen. Now, they were not big proponents of Sohan Mandani. They were a reluctant supporter. At least Hakeem Jeffries was in the end. So I think that's important. The other thing I want to respond to someone in the chat who said, because this is an Obama like moment. It really is. One of the reasons I really, really, really wanted to do this today is that I feel like last year was really tough. Last year was a tough year for this country. It was a brutal year for immigrants. It was a brutal year for women. It was a brutal year for LGBTQ folks, especially trans folks. It was a rough year in terms of civil rights, in terms of black history being erased, brown history being erased, the history of women, women being driven out of the military, Donald Trump stealing, turning the White House into his own personal piggy bank. A corrupt, the most corrupt regime in the history of the United States. It's not even close. The level of corruption, stealing, theft, and the billionaires. Elon Musk hitting that trillionaire mark, or at least on paper, he is now on track to become a trillionaire. The rich just ran roughshod over the country. And I really thought it was important on the first day of the new year to present something hopeful and to present something positive and to present it in a way that you're not going to get on mainstream media. Because typically what we used to do, taking it behind the scenes again, is that we would go live to something like this and cut away when somebody that isn't famous was taught was talking. So when or when something that isn't related to the main event wasn't happening. So all the pre show that you saw, the. The imam who gave the blessing, that probably wouldn't make air on mainstream media because they would cut away. Unless you're watching C Span. C Span just gives it to you, Rondo Chase. Which is why we love C Span. But normally in mainstream media, you'd cut away when the kids from PS 29 were singing, because that's not relevant to the main story. And then you would have people really talking over the visuals while you're not getting a chance to really experience. But we wanted you to experience the whole thing, to really see it, to really see the whole event in its totality, the way that the people who were sitting there got to see it. I think that's important because I think you need the full context of things and to hear the whole speeches. Not cut away from the speeches, but listen to them all. And not just Mamdani's speech, because he wasn't the only person getting inaugurated, getting officially sworn in, I should say the official swearing in was three people. And they were so interesting and diverse from each other. I thought you should see that. So that's important. The other thing I want to say to the person in the chat, God bless everybody in the chat. We appreciate all your comments. Whether I agree with them or not. We want you all to feel free to check in, chime in, unless you're just trolling and then just. You're an. But if you're chiming in, legitimately disagree.

[Jason]

Listen, I. I get to a point sometimes when I miss a couple of them, you know what I mean? So it's like, if you don't jump on them so much, they call, like, swarming. So since we don't have a full staff today to basically do everything is I'm working the whole thing by myself.

[Joy Reid]

Just me and Jason.

[Jason]

So maybe one or two got through, but if I see them, I banned them. They're never gonna get back here. Don't come to somebody's house. You would never let anybody come into your house and disrespect your mother.

[Joy Reid]

Right?

[Zohran Mamdani]

You wouldn't.

[Jason]

You wouldn't let that happen. So we're not gonna allow that here.

[Joy Reid]

So we agree with that. But. And I don't think this person was actually trolling. So they're saying Schumer's was there. So according to Sheena 2756, we're going to try to con. We're going to try to confirm that, Sheena. And we're not saying he wasn't there. We're just saying that the picture that we had from our team of the deus didn't show him. That doesn't mean he wasn't there. He could absolutely have been there and it would be smart for him to be there. I hope they were there. I hope they both were there. To be honest. My hope is that they both were there. We just need to Confirm it before we say yes or no. We don't know either way.

[Jason]

And if they weren't there, shame on them.

[Joy Reid]

Well, if they weren't there, I think it's just a missed opportunity because this is the most important, important politician in your state at the moment. So Sheena is saying she saw pictures of him, if you can. Definitely that. That's good to know. We will try to confirm whether they were there. I think it would have been very wise. I hope they were there. I think it would have been smart to be there. We're going to try to confirm that. But to the person in the chat earlier who said Obama delivered hope but not a lot of change, that's actually not true at all. If you go back to the history of Social Security, it was originally supposed to include universal health care. And the fight to prevent that from being included in Social Security was a 100 year almost battle in which the only way that they could get universal health care, something like it, through the American Medical association, which fought it like, like, like they were fighting zombies in the dead of night. They fought it to the point where you could only get through universal health care for seniors. Medicare, which is part of the Social Security act. That's all they could get. They could not get it for the poor until 1965 when a separate act under LBJ, Medicaid, was passed to give something like access to universal health care for the poor. It took from 1935 or something to 1965 just to get something close to universal health care for the poor. What Obamacare did was solve a 100 year problem which even FDR with all his power, could not get. Universal health care passed in the 1930s with the new Deal. Obama managed to do it in his first 100 days. He had one shot. I got one thing I could do and he did that. Let's go back to our team.

[Wanjira Niva]

We are freezing and outside here. We actually just left the inner vicinity of City hall and we're on the street now talking to some folks who've been here. Hello, you're live on the Jordan Show. Tell us your name, sir. My name is Hasen and my surname is Mamdani. Your son's name is Mom. My surname. Oh, your surname is Mamdani. All right. So how do you feel? Yeah, it's great. I know the name's getting popular. So good.

[Joy Reid]

I was glad to be here in New York. It's freezing, but it was, it was good. Yeah.

[Wanjira Niva]

And, and who is this your daughter with you? Hi. Do you want to come on camera. What's your name? Ariana. Ariana.

[Zohran Mamdani]

Okay.

[Wanjira Niva]

And how do you feel today, Ariana? Happy. Yeah. Yeah.

[Joy Reid]

And.

[Wanjira Niva]

And you? Hi, I'm has wife Majorine. And just be excited just to realize that anything is possible. And tell me, how does it feel seeing the first Muslim of New York City? It's amazing.

[Joy Reid]

Like, you know, it just shows that possible here. You know, New York's a great city.

[Wanjira Niva]

Like, like said eight and a half.

[Joy Reid]

Million different stories, right? So it's a great.

[Wanjira Niva]

Exactly. And you Absolutely super excited. Anything is possible. His speech was just so inspiring and he's just such a just down to earth person. Makes you realize that you know what, anybody can do things. Exactly. So that means you have to be mayor one day, right?

[Joy Reid]

Maybe.

[Wanjira Niva]

Maybe. There you go, Joy. Maybe.

[Joy Reid]

I love it.

[Wanjira Niva]

Freezing. But we're all here the, you know, everybody's in great spirits, happy, excited. And Wanji and Winnie are somewhere around here trying to grab some more folks that we could talk to.

[Joy Reid]

So I love it. Thank you. Thank you so much. The correspondent for the Joy Beach. Thank you very much. We appreciate you. All right, get warm, Put on a heavier coat, get that hood up so you can be a little bit warmer. It's cold y'. All. And look, you think about the number of people who are willing to brave that cold. We're gonna probably get just a couple more people before we sign off. We don't want to keep you all too long, but the bottom line is we really I think needed something hopeful and positive and for it to be day one. By the way, the reason that this all happened today is that in New York City, the traditional swearing in date for the new mayor is January 1st. So Eric Adams was sworn on January 1st as well. David Dinkins. This is the way it works. And so it's a beautiful thing to have this kind of hope and this kind of change that I think is indicative of what we can do if people vote. It was incredibly improbable for Zorhan Mamdani, the African American born South Asian immigrant who came to this country at 7 years old by way of South Africa after his family left Uganda. Son of Mira Nair and a professor father who's an incredible professor of religious history and other histories, for that guy to be mayor of New York City. People said, yeah, absolutely. No, he's never gonna win. He's a Democratic socialist. No one's gonna vote for a democratic socialist. By the way, Jumani Williams is also a democratic Socialist. Socialist. So the city of New York, the 8 million people of New York are going to be led by not one, but two democratic socialists who claim it proudly and don't run from it. They're not like sneaky democratic socialists. They're serious, like, in your face. This is what we are. Because they understand what democratic socialism is, is different from actual regular socialism in that it's the belief in the marriage of democracy and allowing the poor and the destitute to actually thrive by having the public space available to them, things like health care, things like child care, and saying that the public sphere should contribute to that. And why this helps a city like New York get stronger financially is that if you own a business and your employees don't have to stay home because they have a childcare emergency, they can actually go to work because there's childcare where they can drop their children off, meaning they can come to work. And if your employees can get on a bus and not have to worry that they don't have the, you know, $75 to get on the bus and that that's going to prevent them from getting to work, where do you think they're going to be? At work? And so businesses actually.

[Jason]

75. How about.

[Joy Reid]

Is it 275? That's. When I was there, it was a dollar 75.

[Jason]

I was. It was lower, but yes, much more.

[Joy Reid]

It's only $3, but it's a. But honestly, if the trains and buses. If the. Of the.

[Winnie]

The.

[Joy Reid]

Not the trains, but if the buses are free, like when we were there, you used to get a free transfer. So you ride the train, and then if you have to get off the train and take a bus, it was free. You just gotta transfer. You just get a little ticket from the train. You get on the bus, if you don't have the fish in your pocket, your card, you actually are more willing to leave your house. Wait, hold on. Okay, we've got. We've got Wanjira. Do we have Wanjira? There we go. All right, we can hear you.

[Wanjira Niva]

Okay, Fantastic. Oh, man. No sleep, no slow. It's gonna stop people out here to come out here and support zone. And I'm standing here with Asia. Representance of Bronx. I just want to travel agent because we're gonna freeze. So we're not gonna get too far. But I wanted to ask you.

[Joy Reid]

What, What.

[Wanjira Niva]

What does this mean to be. I see you had this merch.

[Joy Reid]

Were you one of the people?

[Wanjira Niva]

One of the thousand volunteers? Yeah, I was un. Volunteered. It was. It's just there's a lot of hope that being guaranteed, you know, we are.

[Joy Reid]

In a dark time.

[Wanjira Niva]

For us. It's just amazing. So honored to just be here and see that. You know, I'm so happy that we have Zarad on right now.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely.

[Wanjira Niva]

What is your hope for New York City? What does the look like for New York now that you have someone who's willing to really commit to those top three objectives? Affordable care, you know, all of those things. Say here.

[Joy Reid]

If. When you can hear me pivot over a little bit so we can taking over.

[Wanjira Niva]

You know, this is like, I want us to be able to be. I've been here my entire life. And Z being here, saying that, supporting us, I mean, so much. I can save York, call it my home.

[Joy Reid]

I love that. So.

[Wanjira Niva]

I love that.

[Joy Reid]

Well, thank you. Thank you so much.

[Wanjira Niva]

Much thank you. Thank you, Asia. We appreciate it, and we're with you.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you.

[Wanjira Niva]

We help you. We appreciate it.

[Joy Reid]

Stay warm, guys.

[Wanjira Niva]

Oh, yes, guys.

[Joy Reid]

So this is.

[Wanjira Niva]

This is the sentiment all around, and people are loving that this is a new New York, and it's something that they've been looking for and waiting for for a very, very long time. So we're really excited to be here. Even though we're freezing, chanting tax it. People were literally chanting, tax the rich in unison. It was amazing at City Hall. I mean, this is amazing. This is what we're out here for. This is why we're doing it, and this is why a lot of people came out here today to also celebrate this really incredible moment. She think she's not gonna get in here, but we are free.

[Joy Reid]

Yes.

[Jason]

See, this is the reason why. This is the reason why. Reason why we don't have our subs monitoring the chat, because they're all out.

[Joy Reid]

There in the streets, the people who. Jason's on his own.

[Wanjira Niva]

Sorry, Jason.

[Winnie]

I'm sorry.

[Joy Reid]

I got it.

[Winnie]

I got it.

[Joy Reid]

Well, I am gonna now officially dispatch you ladies to go indoors, get some hot chocolate. Yes. Appreciate your hard work. You all are fabulous.

[Wanjira Niva]

Thank you so much.

[Joy Reid]

You did today. We have to please give them a round of applause in the chat. Y' all please holler at Winnie, Wanji and Niza, our correspondence live in these streets. Because normally they would be monitoring.

[Wanjira Niva]

As Mom Donnie said, we outside. My man said. My mayor said, we outside.

[Joy Reid]

Thank you, ladies. We appreciate y' all go inside.

[Christina Greer]

How about that?

[Joy Reid]

This is new media, everybody. We literally be chatting and kikiing with our correspondence. This is how we do. Normally, people play one role, but on this show, normally, Wand, Winnie, and Na would be back behind the scenes. You would not see their Faces they would be monitoring the chat. They do a lot of great work to help Jason. And so Jason is solo dolo monitoring the chat and getting all your comments on screen.

[Jason]

Hey, I got this though. I think I let one troll's comment get up on screen, which annoys me. As soon as I was like, get.

[Joy Reid]

Off, head off, get off.

[Jason]

But it's okay. I banned his ass as soon as I seen it.

[Joy Reid]

It's all good. Well, we appreciate it. Thank you all so much. I am, I'm so excited that you all jumped into this chat. Thank you to Everybody. We got 1700 likes. Thank you all for hitting that like button. The algorithm is going to really appreciate that. Thanks to everybody who tuned in. My final comments on this today is that if this did not salve your spirit, I don't know what to tell you. We are starting the year of our Lord 2026 not with the Orange Monster. I said that we were a baby monitor. He's basically like Rosemary's baby. But we are not starting off this year with his energy. We are going to start this year with Mamdani's energy because that's the energy that we're going to need. And I'm going to need everyone, whether you were people were saying, I'm standing, I'm standing and giving all of their cities. I saw Wisconsin, I think I saw Seattle, I saw all these different cities. People who are not even in New York saying, I'm standing up. And we're all going to keep standing all the way through November. When you all know your assignment, you're going to take this joyful feeling that you have today, this hopeful feeling that you have today and tell yourself if Zorhan Kwame Mamdani, former hip hop artist, 34 year old Muslim Democratic socialist. He was young cardamom by the way, as a rapper. If young cardamom people in Toronto, Canada, if he can become the mayor of a city whose metro area has a GDP larger than Canada, if that 34 year old young man can become mayor of New York City against a stream of invective, against a stream of doubters, people who are hating on him because if he's a democratic socialist, people who are hating on him because he's a Muslim, hating on him because he's young, he survived all the haters and he won.

[Jason]

Go ahead and do your Rubio swallow. Go ahead, do your drink. There you go.

[Joy Reid]

Don't do my Rubio swap. No Rubio swallow would be. That a Rubio swallow is. If he could do it, that's right. If he could become the mayor of New York City, take on the Orange monster, Rosemary's Baby, if he can take on the demonic regime, face them down and on the day of his public inauguration, say, yeah, I am a democratic socialist, what you going to do about it? Repromise the free buses. Repromise the free child care, Repromise the affordable housing. Triple down on his promises without fear. Stand next to Tish James. No fear, AOC no fear. These are the fear. Bernie Sanders, who didn't win the 2016 presidential primary, but in the end he won the war because it is his politics that are ascendant, at least in New York. And I'm not saying Democratic socialists are going to get elected all over the country. But you've got other improbable candidates that will be on the ballot in November. You have black men running for statewide office, United States Senate, Mr. Colum in Mississippi. That's improbable. But don't say it cannot happen. Don't say it cannot happen. You've got two dynamic candidates running to be United States Senator from the United States.

[Jason]

The only one way it can happen is folk don't get out engaged and don't vote. So if you can vote, you can make it happen.

[Joy Reid]

Correct. Charles Booker running once again for the United States Senate in the great state of Kentucky. Don't speak, say it cannot happen. You know, in Texas you have two great choices. I know a lot of Jasmine Crockett fans are here in the chat, but both of the people who are running in Texas are, are brilliant. And I, I was going to say.

[Jason]

If one doesn't win, we got another one.

[Joy Reid]

We got another one. We have two great candidates in the United States in the great state of Texas. Both of them are fantastic. If one of. When one of them wins that primary, don't say they can't be elected, just vote. Cori Bush. Exactly. Running to.

[Jason]

Or don't get her feelings because your candidate lost. We know what we're fighting for right now.

[Joy Reid]

We know what we're fighting for. Cori Bush running to retake her seat in the great state of Missouri. Don't say it cannot happen because what happened in New York City was not supposed to happen. Barack Obama was not supposed to happen. And don't say, well, Barack, well, we elected Barack Obama. He'd make change. He solved a 100 year old riddle even FDR could not solve by passing a universal health care bill that had been the dream of Democrats since the 1930s. But Barack Hussein Obama, who should never have been electable, did it. He signed that bill into law to the point where Republicans have been trying. If it wasn't great, they wouldn't have been trying to repeal it since 2010. They're still trying to figure out how to get rid of it. And all he did was build on what LBJ did in creating Medicaid in which he fixed the FDR inability to get universal health care for the poor. It was a handoff. Remember, we keep talking about the handoff, the baton handoff from FDR to lbj. And then Obama built on what LGBJ did. They all build on each other, even our friend Joe Biden. All of that infrastructure bill that he put through, he didn't. You know, I was mad at him for some things, but he did some great things building on what Obama created. He built more.

[Jason]

Trump came, put gassy and threw a match and burned the whole damn thing down.

[Joy Reid]

Correct. But guess what we can do? Get us a Democrat. Anything that's been built can be rebuilt. Anything that's been destroyed can be restored. Give me a president that will walk into office and on the first day hire a wrecking crew to destroy whatever disgusting and disgraceful ballroom he creates. Pull down all the gold gilding inside of the White House and start to plan based on the drawings of the original of the East Wing, the way it was when he got here. Build that thing exactly back the way it was, like we should have done with the World Trade Center. Build it right back the way it was. Go knock down whatever arc the Trump he creates. Knock that down. Destroy it. Anything that's been built can be destroyed and anything that's destroyed can be rebuilt.

[Jason]

And immediately rip his name off the.

[Joy Reid]

Trent Kennedy everything and go and tick, tick, tick that name off and put Department of Defense back on the Department of Defense building. Just get rid of what he did. Nothing he did is permanent.

[Jason]

The only hope we got, it won't be the status quo afterwards. If we all work together the way it would be, hopefully be better afterwards.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah. That's the first thing I need to do.

[Jason]

And then look, reconstruction all over again.

[Joy Reid]

Yeah. Across the whole world, people who are dumping Trump's name because again, he just puts his name on building. People just taking him off. People are just taking, taking his name off. Just take his name off. So that's, that's the least of our problems. And then begin to res and begin to restore the programs that have been destroyed. One thing we're probably not going to be able to rebuild is America's reputation because the whole world knows that we're out of our minds, that this country will elect an Obama and then a Trump and then sober up again and elect Joe and then put Trump back in. Like the world. They've seen us for who we are. Somebody said go get. Go get Tiffany. Yes, Tiffany Cross will be coming to us live in the show this year. We have lots of other good stuff coming. The last thing I'm going to say before I let you guys go on the 6th of January, you're going to get to see our sit down with Zoran Mamdani. We met up with him at one of our favorite African restaurants in New York City. And you're going to get to see that conversation and it's going to be great. So don't say it's not possible. Anyone can get elected if enough people vote for them. Anybody can win if you vote for them.

[Jason]

And I hate to do anybody plug everybody. I really do hate to see you do a shameless plug, but I'm gonna do it anyway. In the new year, don't forget to go to the shop, pick up some good readout. A readout. You hear what I just said?

[Joy Reid]

You just said read out. That's what it is now.

[Jason]

But it's okay, though.

[Joy Reid]

The artist formerly known as Ms. NBC.

[Jason]

Now the independent media network of the Joy Reid show, Image Lab Media Group. But anyway, go to the shop, guys. Buy some merch. We got some good stuff in there.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely. So our mission, support independent media. And once again, let's just let you guys know that. And thank you for. Yes, Don Lemon and Tim Miller, they were having a ball and showing us love. And we did try to jump in. We were here having our own little party and Tiffany was there and we were chilling with our on one side and they were chilling on the other side.

[Jason]

But no, we were inside this time.

[Joy Reid]

It was cold outside. It was cold outside. And the bottom line is all of these new media ventures on the pro democracy, pro diversity, pro one love side of the aisle, we all are linked together and so we all succeed together. So please support all of us. Don't feel like you have to pick and choose between any of your favorites because we all are friends. So please support all of us out here in new media. Yes. And as a matter of fact, I was. Somebody's talking about Melissa Harris Perry. We were just supposed to be with Melissa Harris Perry because when, when Tiffany and I got an award recently, she was the third awardee and we were all going to meet up and break the Internet and take A photo together, but we're going to get her to come up. And we're making plans on the back end to reunite with the great Melissa Harris Perry, so. Oh, yes. Trust me, we got. We got plans, y'. All. 2026 is about to be live on and popping. Tiffany Angela Rye, Melissa Harris Perry. We. We got it all coming for.

[Jason]

But again, I have to stress because I got to do my part in this whole thing. It's my job. Please tell somebody subscribe to this channel, people, please. That's the only way independent media can survive. And don't worry, I will show my face one of these days. I just got to get it all, you know, to get my room set up properly, but it's set up. I just, like, you know, I don't. I'm. I'm behind the camera guy, but I will come up front soon.

[Joy Reid]

But Jason said he's gonna pop out.

[Jason]

Is, please, y', all tell somebody. Encourage others to subscribe. That's the only way we can keep this going. So.

[Joy Reid]

Absolutely. And big support.

[Jason]

Support.

[Joy Reid]

And those who were loving my look last night, big up to Johnniece and Coco, the glam squad that came from the artist formerly known of msnbc. So they've been doing my glam for quite a while, so we want to big them up as well. I look fabulous, but with a lot of help. And so we're going to have a lot of great things coming up this year. But don't forget, put it in your calendars. January 6th, our interview with Zorhan Mamdani. That's just one of the many great interviews that we have coming up on this channel. Support new media, support the shop, support us. We appreciate that because we support you and we love you guys. Thank you so much for allowing us to bring you the uncut, uncensored Zorhan Mamdani inaugural, where we got to show you the famous and the not famous, all speaking as it should be, letting you experience live events the way we believe you should, which is in full and without any, you know, any shading. The one thing we did have to kind of do is when they were playing music, we had to be careful.

[Jason]

With the music because, you know, it's copyrighted material, your content.

[Joy Reid]

Right. So we did pull away.

[Jason]

It was a live event, so hopefully they'll just give us a blindness, let.

[Joy Reid]

Us know, because, yes, that's the only time we had to pull away is when they were playing music, because, you know, YouTube don't play that. They don't let you play music. But all Right, y', all, thank you very much. We are going to release you to the rest of your Friday Junior. Thank you so much for being here. And we will see you all tomorrow night at Our normal time, 6pm Eastern Standard Time at the Joy Reid Show. Last thing I'm going to say, last night at the party, one of our party guests literally said, oh, my God, it's so great to see you. And I've been really missing you on Ms. Now and wondering where you've been. Did not know. Even though this is a friend of ours, did not know we had a show. So there are still millions of people who are unaware and that show exists.

[Jason]

We know this person, like, what the heck?

[Joy Reid]

Unaware that this show existed. And so what we want you all to do is share, share, share. Tell a friend, tell your cousin, tell your uncle who used to watch msnbc. Your, your, your MSNBC addicted grandma, your aunties and cousins who used to love msnbc. Let people know that the Joy Reid show is here. Because people still come up to me in airports, in, in. In these streets saying, oh, my God, I miss you so much on msnbc. What are you doing now? How can I support you? The show is here. We need to let people know. All right, so let folks know that the show is here because we don't pay for, like, advertising budgets. We don't do all that. We're just doing organic growth. We're growing organically with our friends. And we appreciate you all for being our friends. Thank you very much to team TJRS out in these streets. They're out there freezing for you. So thank you to Nida, Wanjira and Winnie, our incredible TJRS street team, for bringing us the live, uncut great video. All right, y' all have a great rest of your day. We'll see you tomorrow night right here, 6:00pm Tell a friend, Tell a friend.

[Jason]

Beginning of the year, let's grow, let's grow, let's grow. I'm sorry to start a broken record, but let's get this. Let's get these numbers up.

[Joy Reid]

Come on, let's do it.

[Jason]

Let's get to 500,000 by February. Let's do it, people.

[Joy Reid]

Come on, let's do it. All right, love y'. All. Have a great rest of the day and we'll see you on the next the Joy Reach show. Play the music. Okay. All right. That's it.