The Listening Post | Al Jazeera

Episode: Media, Money & the Rise of Zohran Mamdani
Date: November 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Listening Post delves into the unprecedented rise of Zohran Mamdani—a self-described democratic socialist and Muslim immigrant—who is the front-runner in the New York mayoral race. The discussion examines how Mamdani’s candidacy has upended the norms of both media coverage and political discourse in America’s most corporate city. It explores the interplay between media, money, and power; the way Mamdani’s digital-first approach and progressive platform have set off anxieties across the political establishment; and what his rise portends for the future of the Democratic Party and the broader American left.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Unlikely Candidacy of Zohran Mamdani

• Not a Typical Focus: The Listening Post rarely spotlights a mayoral race, but Mamdani’s campaign “has been unusually revealing, unexpectedly informative” (Political Analyst, 00:55).
• Background:
  • Mamdani is a 34-year-old Indian-Ugandan immigrant and a practicing Muslim.
  • Grew up in NYC, son of an academic and a filmmaker, became a digital native and former rapper (11:11).
• Distinct From the Establishment: Unlike most NY politicians, he calls himself a democratic socialist, unapologetically challenges Wall Street, and advocates for policies like rent freezes, free transit, and taxing the rich.

“I’m freezing your rent. That’s the next barrier of New York City. ... I just want to speak directly to the President. I will be a mayor who is ready to speak at any time to lower the cost of living. They’ve got all the money in the world. We’ve got you.” — Zohran Mamdani (00:31)

The Media Landscape and Mamdani’s Digital Strategy

• Traditional Media's Reluctance and Attack Lines:
  • Mainstream outlets and establishment media frequently frame Mamdani as “a threat,” focusing more on his ideology as a socialist/communist than Cuomo’s controversies (06:50, 13:41).
  • Both right- and left-leaning media share sponsors among financial elites, resulting in similar editorial lines (06:10).
• Social Media Advantage:
  • Mamdani’s rise is rooted in viral digital engagement, starting with man-on-the-street interviews post-2024 election (03:05).
  • His approachable, authentic style appeals directly to under-engaged demographics (03:29, 11:11).
  • Campaign fueled by small donors and grassroots, not billionaire backers.
• Difference in Coverage:
  • Occasionally receives fair treatment from prestige outlets like NY Times Magazine and Vanity Fair (12:44).
  • Murdoch papers and the Washington Post are especially hostile, warning of catastrophic consequences should he win.

Policy Platform and Its Reception

• Progressive Agenda:
  • Freeze rental prices in all subsidized apartments.
  • Free bus transit citywide.
  • Universal free childcare (currently a $25,000/year burden per child for families).
  • Increase taxes on the wealthy and enforce stricter measures against tax avoidance (08:05).
• Comparison to Global Left:
  • Critics attack him with red scare tactics, implying his proposals resemble failed leftist regimes (06:37).
  • Mainstream Democrats see his policies as anathema, warning he could "do real damage to other Democrats" if his model spreads (09:39, 24:04).

“What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.” — Zohran Mamdani (04:52)

Systemic Barriers: Party Politics and Corporate Influence

• Democratic Party Resistance:
  • Centrist Democrats and think tanks like Third Way refuse to endorse and try to force a wedge between DSA-aligned progressives and mainstream candidates (08:05–09:39).
  • Comparison to Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and AOC—progressives habitually sidelined or pressured to moderate (07:40).
• Media as Gatekeepers:
  • Media coverage often mirrors the priorities of big donors and lobbies (06:10–06:48).
  • Real scandals (Cuomo’s resignation over sexual harassment, COVID mismanagement) are minimized, while Mamdani’s “radical” proposals generate disproportionate controversy.

Weaponizing Identity and Israel-Palestine

• Criticisms and Smear Campaigns:
  • Intense focus on Mamdani’s criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights, labeled as dangerous in a city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
  • Sensationalistic attack ads, invoking anti-Semitism and terrorist sympathies, bankrolled by pro-Israel donors (15:10–16:40).
  • Cuomo invokes 9/11 and anti-Muslim tropes in desperation (16:40).
• Media’s Manufactured Outrage:
  • Endless pressure on Mamdani to denounce phrases he never used (“globalize the intifada”—17:04–18:33).
  • Bad faith attacks meant to set a new political litmus test (18:11).

“I cannot think of another politician where they're repeatedly told to condemn something that they never said. That is a new standard that they invented almost overnight for Mamdani.” — Media Critic/Commentator (18:11)

Notable Exchange

“Would you welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to New York City as mayor? New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.”
— Zoran Mamdani (15:34)

The Real Issues: Affordability and Voter Discontent

• Voters' Priorities:
  • Grassroots frustration over cost of living and housing crisis (13:49–14:57).
  • Headlines and attack ads are less persuasive than candidates who “fight against that system.”
• Mamdani’s Framing:
  • Communicates complex issues in accessible language (e.g., “halalflation” and food cost bills; 12:01).
  • Presents homelessness and affordable housing as central moral issues (14:46).

“This is a stain on our city to see this many children in our public school system be homeless. And that’s why my campaign is going to deliver 200,000 new affordable homes across the five boroughs.” — Zohran Mamdani (14:46)

The Battle for the Democratic Party’s Future

• Within the Party:
  • Many strategists and centrist leaders fear Mamdani could become a progressive emblem, pushing the party “in the wrong direction” (09:39–10:34, 24:04).
  • Progressive activists warn that continuing to shut out young left-wing voters will cripple the party long-term (23:27).
• Why the Establishment Attacks:
  • Media attacks are as much for potential “Mamdani wannabes” as for him, to discourage a wave of anti-establishment, anti-corporate candidates nationwide (24:45–25:15).

“We are an existential threat to billionaires who think their money can buy our democracy.” — Zoran Mamdani (25:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Integrity vs. Experience (04:52)
  “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.” — Zohran Mamdani

• On Party Exclusion (07:38)
  “My problem is that he’s a socialist and he should be in the Socialist Party, not in the Democratic Party.” — Political Analyst/Commentator

• On Mainstream Media Uniformity (06:10)
  “The mainstream media, whether it’s right leaning or left leaning, liberal or Republican, are largely funded by the same people. ... They’re all going to be broadly opposed to any kind of populist economic policy that prioritizes the interests of poor and working people.” — Narrator/Host

• On Manufactured Outrage (18:11)
  “I cannot think of another politician where they're repeatedly told to condemn something that they never said. That is a new standard ... for Mamdani.” — Media Critic/Political Commentator

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Mamdani and Race Context: 00:31–01:39
• Media and Donor Class Opposition: 01:39–02:54
• Origins of Digital Rise: 03:05–03:49
• Major Policy Proposals Outlined: 07:40–08:05
• Democratic Party Schism and Third Way Critique: 08:05–09:39
• Media’s Role in Framing Left vs. Establishment: 06:10–06:48, 12:44–13:20
• Israel, Palestine & Anti-Semitism Smears: 15:10–16:40
• Bad Faith Attacks and Intifada Controversy: 17:04–18:33
• Voter Concerns and Grassroots Discontent: 13:49–14:57
• Democratic Party Future & Progressive Divide: 23:27–24:45
• Closing Reflections on Movement Building: 25:00–

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is rich with sharp, critical commentary and candid debate characteristic of Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post. It presents both the hostility and hope surrounding Zohran Mamdani’s campaign—capturing skepticism from establishment and mainstream voices but also a real sense of possibility from those pushing for structural change. The discussion punctures media narratives, foregrounds voter concerns, and questions the future direction of the Democratic Party in an era increasingly defined by digital activism and distrust of elite institutions.

A must-listen for anyone interested in transformational politics, media power, party realignment—and the growing discontent reshaping America’s urban heart.