The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode 3532 - The Myth of Israel/Palestine Negotiations; Mamdani's Priorities
Guests: Robert Malley (co-author of Tomorrow is Yesterday), Zohran Mamdani (NYC Mayor-elect)
Date: November 25, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode dives deep into the ongoing mythologies around Israel/Palestine peace negotiations, featuring Robert Malley—veteran Middle East negotiator and author—and concludes with an interview with NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani about navigating the tension between movement and broader constituencies. The discussions interrogate the enduring myths of the peace process, America's role, and realistic pathways for Palestinian and Israeli futures. Interlaced are topical segments on the US economy, Democratic infighting, and the everyday politics affecting American listeners.

I. ISRAEL/PALESTINE: THE “MYTH OF NEGOTIATIONS”

Guest: Robert Malley
Timestamps: [19:09]–[53:59]

A. Why Write Another Book on the Peace Process?

• Context: Malley’s credentials (Clinton, Obama, Biden administrations, lead Iran nuclear deal negotiator).
• Motivation:
  • The book, Tomorrow is Yesterday, aims to highlight that the so-called "ruptures" (e.g., October 7) are instead continuations of a failed process that’s existed for decades ([20:41]).
  • Malley: "We're not at the end of the epoch. We're back to the epoch that we've lived now for decades..." ([20:41]).

B. Key Myths of the Peace Process

• The Two-State Solution as Gimmick:

  • Used to anesthetize the public and justify inaction while the situation deteriorates ([22:25]).
  • Quote: "It's invoked as a slogan. We call it a gimmick, we call it a lie because it's used to sort of anesthetize people and say yeah, don't worry, we're moving towards this outcome." – Robert Malley ([22:25])

• The US as Honest Mediator:

  • Deep-seated American biases for Israel; US pushes Palestinians to recognize Israeli “progress,” while viewing Palestinian demands as negation ([24:03]).
  • Quote: "Americans sort of bought into a narrative...any step that the Israelis took as a sign of progress and were pushing the Palestinians to recognize it as such." – Robert Malley ([24:03])

• “It’s Always the Palestinians’ Fault”:

  • Persistent narrative since Camp David 2000—Palestinians as perpetual rejectionists, scapegoated for the failure of peace ([24:03]).

• October 7 and Its Roots:

  • Current violence is not new but symptomatic of unresolved, systemic issues ([20:41]).

C. Self-Critique of Policy Insiders

• Both Malley and his co-author formerly “believed the slogans,” a self-delusion among policymakers until the cumulative evidence made the illusion too obvious ([26:32]).

D. On Oslo and Fundamental Misunderstandings

• Different Baselines:
  • For Israelis: Oslo = security and recognition, limited autonomy for Palestinians.
  • For Palestinians: Oslo = a major concession, expectation of a real independent state ([30:34]).
  • Quote: "It was based on a fundamental disconnect between what the two sides thought they were getting." – Robert Malley ([30:34])

E. Israeli and Palestinian Domestic Dynamics

• US/Israeli policymakers always viewed Netanyahu and predecessors as constrained by domestic politics, but seldom granted the same complexity to Palestinians/Arafat ([34:05]).
• Quote: "Arafat…his only basis of support was his domestic basis of support... that's the only thing he could count on." ([35:30])

F. The Core Paradox and “Needs” vs. “Wants”

• Israelis’ needs (security) seen as non-negotiable; Palestinian needs treated as mere “wants” ([39:04]).
• Obama quote: Israel has the "right to self defense... to defend itself by itself"—a formulation never applied to a hypothetical Palestinian state ([40:49]).

G. Structural Barriers and Future Pathways

• On One-State Solution:

  • Never seriously entertained on either side due to deep mistrust and structural imbalances ([46:00]).
  • Malley: "I don't think it's realistic today... There has to be something. Unfortunately the most likely outcome is the status quo only getting worse."

• Changes Needed for Change:

  • US: Must use its leverage and reevaluate unconditional support.
  • Palestinian side: Need for a legitimate, unified leadership, consistently undermined by outside actors.
  • Israeli side: Little impetus to change without external (US) pressure.

H. Shifts in US Politics: Democratic and Republican Trends

• Democrats: Pressure may fade once Netanyahu/relevant war ends; possibility for more robust conditions on aid in future.
• Republicans: Some America First types oppose aid for anyone, Israel included ([51:10]).
• Quote: "There may be a transpartisan view... that sees the relationship with Israel as having been abnormal and we need to normalize it." – Robert Malley ([52:25])

Notable Moment:

• Malley’s candor about self-delusion within the peace processor class—a rare admission in US policy circles ([26:32]).

Memorable Quote:

• "We're not at a rupture, we're back where we've always been." – Robert Malley ([20:41])

II. US POLITICS & ECONOMY—SEGMENTS & ANALYSIS

Timestamps: [00:02]–[19:09], [54:41]–[64:13]

A. Economic Realities vs. Political Spin

• Listeners hear statistics: Groceries up 85%, utilities 78%, gasoline 54%, etc. ([03:59]).
• Public does not believe administration claims that prices are falling; bipartisan discontent ([04:33]).
• Notable quote: "The facts show that groceries are more expensive as well as people's perception of it, which I think is pretty important to point out if you're a news organization." – Co-host ([06:48])

B. Democratic Infighting and Trump-Era Fallout

• New anti-Schumer/Gillibrand caucus in the Senate, Trump's revenge appointments creating chaos at EPA and DOJ, mishandled prosecutions dismissed embarrassingly ([55:42]).
• "If you become prosecutors, don't ever do any of this." – CNN analyst Ellie Honig on legal incompetence ([55:53])

C. Satirical Banter and Political Frustration

• Laments over superficial “revenge” prosecutions; humor about the Trump kids’ entanglements and the unlikelihood of the administration’s economic miracle claims ([07:13], [08:05]).

III. NY MAYOR-ELECT ZOHRAN MAMDANI: MOVEMENT STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE

Timestamps: [64:13]–[77:07]

A. Navigating Dual Constituencies

• Movement vs. City as a Whole:
  • Mamdani doesn’t see "New Yorkers" and "movement people" as enemies; both want tangible improvement in material conditions ([66:12]).
  • “I don't actually see these as two distinct constituencies innately... at the heart of both... is a concern for the material.” – Mamdani ([66:12])

B. Strategic Choices and Endorsements

• Addressed recent controversies: visiting Trump (to discuss cost of living, not to signal political alignment), DSA endorsement debates, and priorities for fulfilling campaign promises (rent freeze, transit, childcare, etc.) ([66:12]–[71:54]).
• On not supporting a Jeffries primary right now: “It's not a question of the ballot box of who you would rather vote for. This is a question of how you want to spend the next year.” ([67:34])
• He's focused on delivering wins that are “direct to our lives,” not just symbolic victories ([70:11]).

C. Short Window for Change: Transition and Implementation

• The urgency to have a functioning transition team to hit the ground running, as state and city politics will shift quickly ([73:30]).
• Mamdani: “The first year is a critical time in how we start to both share our plans for the implementation of these policies, but also start to deliver for New Yorkers.” ([73:30])

D. Cooperation Across the Aisle and Issue Focus

• Open to working with Trump (on utility rates), so long as it substantively helps NYC residents ([75:43]).
• Reiterates grounding policy in material improvements, not ideological purity.

E. Lighthearted Close: Snow Days and Campaigning Struggles

• Briefly supporters’ (and host’s son's) concerns about snow days: “I love them” – Mamdani ([76:37])
• Technical problems and behind-the-scenes campaign struggles make an appearance but don't dampen the mood.

IV. ANALYSIS: THE FUTURE OF LEFT POLITICS IN NYC

Timestamps: [77:07]–[87:43]

• Emphasis on the historicity and national significance of a leftist mayor succeeding in NYC.
• Acknowledges anticipated fierce opposition from all quarters—meaning ample resources are needed for transition and early administration ([79:41]).
• Successful delivery on campaign promises seen as the way to cement movement gains and fend off establishment/Democratic opposition.

V. MEMORABLE QUOTES (Speaker & Timestamp)

• “We're not at a rupture, we're back where we've always been.”
  – Robert Malley ([20:41])

• “It's invoked as a slogan. We call it a gimmick, we call it a lie...”
  – Robert Malley ([22:25])

• “Americans sort of bought into a narrative... any step the Israelis took as a sign of progress...”
  – Robert Malley ([24:03])

• “I don't actually see these as two distinct constituencies innately... at the heart... is a concern for the material.”
  – Zohran Mamdani ([66:12])

• “The first year is a critical time in how we... start to deliver for New Yorkers...”
  – Zohran Mamdani ([73:30])

VI. RECOMMENDED LISTENING – KEY SEGMENTS

• Economic Analysis & Biden/Trump Blame Game: [03:56]–[07:13]
• Robert Malley on “The Myth of Negotiations”: [19:09]–[53:59]
• NYC Politics, Democratic Infighting: [54:41]–[64:13]
• Mamdani Interview – Strategy & Governing Priorities: [64:13]–[77:07]

SUMMARY

This incisive episode interrogates the longstanding narratives used to justify stagnation in Israel/Palestine negotiations, as explained by Robert Malley—who admits to his own past “self-delusions” as a peace processor. The show calls out the American role as enabler and the cynical use of the “two-state solution” mythology. Closing out, NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani details his approach to governing for all of New York—a synthesis of movement politics and pragmatic, universal citywide improvements. Co-hosts maintain their signature irreverence, but the stakes—political, material, and humanitarian—are foregrounded at every turn.