Zohran Mamdani Gives Closing Message of Campaign

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Zohran Mamdani Gives Closing Message of Campaign
Date: November 1, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)
Guest: Zohran Mamdani, NYC Political Candidate

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on a candid, energizing conversation with Zohran Mamdani in the heated final days of his campaign for New York City office. The MeidasTouch brothers and Mamdani critique Donald Trump’s divisive politics and misplaced priorities, reflect on authenticity in leadership, discuss grassroots organizing in the face of billionaire-backed opposition, and urge listeners to take concrete action before Election Day. The discussion is grounded in relatable stories from New Yorkers, highlighting themes of affordability, dignity, fighting authoritarianism, and community-powered democracy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's Priorities vs. People’s Needs

• Opening with Trump’s social media bragging about expensive White House renovations while Americans face a government shutdown and threats to their livelihoods ([00:00]).
  • Quote: “Is he just trying to rub it in right now in people’s faces who are suffering?” — Host ([00:38])
• Mamdani points out Trump’s disconnect from everyday New Yorkers, who are focused on cost of living, not lavish spending ([01:09]).
  • Quote: “Not a single New Yorker...told me the reason they were voting for Donald Trump was for him to spend $300 million on a renovation of a White House ballroom.” — Zohran Mamdani ([01:10])
  • He reframes the conversation toward policies that could have tangible positive impact, like SNAP benefits and affordable groceries.
  • Criticizes Trump’s lack of action on health care and basic needs: “He does not want to provide health care for 4 million Americans...He does not want to actually take care of the very people whose despair that he diagnosed and then whose support that he betrayed.” — Mamdani ([01:45])

2. Political Promises and Economic Insecurity

• The team mocks Trump’s ever-changing boasts about bringing in trillions, likening it to a Ponzi scheme ([02:19]).
  • Quote: “I think the people of New York in the borough know a Ponzi schemer now and a con man when they see one.” — Host ([02:23])
• Mamdani underscores that voters care about real economic security, noting that even military families are relying on food pantries due to political neglect ([02:56]).
  • Quote: “We have active duty military families who are lined up for food pantries across this country. And that is an illustration of what Republicans care about.” — Mamdani ([03:16])

3. New York’s Unique Political Battle

• Discussion of how Trump and his allies seem intent on harming NYC’s infrastructure and citizens, with Cuomo and other local politicians failing to challenge him ([03:29]).
  • Quote: “If you’re so busy begging, we actually can’t count on you to stand up for this city.” — Mamdani ([04:31])
• Mamdani calls for a leadership that boldly names and addresses authoritarian threats, and delivers results for New Yorkers.

4. Overcoming Billionaire Opposition Through Grassroots Power

• The conversation shifts to Mamdani’s campaign, which withstood intense, well-funded negative ad campaigns and misinformation ([04:52]).
  • Quote: “We wouldn’t have enough time...this week alone...around $10 million in additional outside spending.” — Mamdani ([05:38])
  • Flips the narrative by highlighting an energized grassroots volunteer base:
    • “We had built then a volunteer team of 52,000 people. Now that volunteer team is crossing 100,000 people.” — Mamdani ([06:04])

5. Final GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Push—How Listeners Can Help

• Emphasis on staying mobilized through the finish line: marathon metaphor, “Now is the time...to really start running the fastest.” ([06:15])
• Mamdani gives clear calls to action:
  • Website: zahran4nyc.com/gotv
  • Record-breaking goals: 200,000 doors knocked in a single day, phone banking for non-locals.
  • Quote: “If you’re in New York City, come for a canvas shift...If you’re not in New York City...please join our phone banking.” — Mamdani ([06:54])

6. Listening as a Leadership Model

• Hosts praise Mamdani’s post-election tradition of speaking directly to voters—including those who supported Trump—to ask what matters most to them ([07:18]).
  • Quote: “It comes back to listening to New Yorkers...It was a beautiful moment to return there because I could see everything that our campaign has built.” — Mamdani ([07:54])
• Mamdani notes a shift: now, instead of struggling to find willing interviewees, people approach him, eager to discuss cost of living and solutions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trivial vs. Real Issues:
  “He’s posting about marble floors and marble toilet bowls...Is he just trying to rub it in right now in people’s faces who are suffering?” — Host ([00:38])

• On Campaign Funding and Volunteer Power:
  “This week alone, I think that we’ve seen around $10 million in additional outside spending...we took on about 25 million...in the primary. And what we showed time and again is we were able to overcome that because we had built...a volunteer team of 52,000 people. Now...crossing 100,000 people.” — Mamdani ([05:38]-[06:04])

• On Listening and Transformation:
  “I had to struggle to get anyone to talk to me. And this time around, I had people coming up to talk to me about the same issue, cost of living, but how they saw in our campaign a pathway to actually tackling that crisis.” — Mamdani ([07:54])

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Important Timestamps

• [00:00] – Discussion on Trump’s White House renovation posts amid government shutdown.
• [01:09] – Mamdani on New Yorkers’ real concerns: cost of living.
• [02:19] – Satirical take on Trump’s financial claims.
• [03:29] – Host on Trump’s antagonism toward NYC and local political complacency.
• [04:08] – Mamdani on Cuomo, leadership, and standing up to authoritarianism.
• [04:52] – Onslaught of negative ads/billionaire opposition; campaign resilience.
• [06:15] – Home-stretch call to action for volunteering, contact info provided.
• [07:18] – Returning to speak with Trump voters and evolving campaign-community connection.

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How to Get Involved

• Volunteer Website: zahran4nyc.com/gotv
• Ways to Help:
  • NYC residents: Join canvassing shifts (door-knocking)
  • Outside NYC: Participate in phone banking
  • Aim: Break records for voter outreach ahead of Election Day

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode blends sharp political critique, humor, and grassroots urgency. The Meiselas brothers’ lively banter with Mamdani is both relatable and motivational, marked by a deep-seated commitment to democracy and practical change. Mamdani’s calm resilience in the face of smears and his belief in people-powered politics infuse the conversation with hope and authenticity.

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Summary Prepared For:
Listeners seeking a comprehensive understanding of Zohran Mamdani’s campaign priorities, the stakes for New Yorkers in the current political climate, and how they can actively participate in the ongoing fight for democracy and economic justice.

Transcript

[A]

And you can't make this up while the American people are suffering during this government shutdown, as people are fearful they may lose their health care, their SNAP benefits may go away. Donald Trump is posting this. I renovated the Lincoln bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in Art Deco. He's posting about marble floors and marble toilet bowls, and I mean, it's been post after post and golden handles in the sinks. I mean, is he just trying to rub it in right now in people, people's faces who are suffering? I want to bring on Zoran, Mom, Donnie to the show. Great to see you again. And you know, we had you on here before the primaries, and one of the things we talked about is how you took a tour across the boroughs and you were listening to what people were saying, including Trump supporters. And as you. You see right now, the American people are suffering. Trump made all of these promises, none of them being delivered on the issue of affordability or any of this stuff. He's posting marble this, and the Kennedy center is going to be expensive rugs and carpets. I mean, what's going on? Zora?

[B]

There was not a single New Yorker that I spoke to that told me the reason they were voting for Donald Trump was for him to spend $300 million on a renovation of a White House ballroom. And what I heard instead is exactly what you alluded to. New Yorkers who were fed up with the cost of living and who wanted a president who would deliver on the promise of cheaper groceries, deliver on the promise of lowering that cost of living. And inst. Instead, this $300 million, which could have been used to feed 100,000 New Yorkers, provide them with SNAP benefits, is instead being used for these personal refurbishments. And I think it just speaks to the fact that this isn't about whether it's possible to do so. It's just a question of want. Donald Trump does not want to provide health care for 4 million Americans. He does not want to ensure that SNAP benefits continue for close to 2 million New Yorkers. He does not want to actually take care of the very people who. Whose despair that he diagnosed and then whose support that he betrayed. And it's time to actually offer a politics in this country that doesn't just say that working people are struggling, but then does something about it. And that's at the heart of the campaign that we have here in New York City. It's the heart of many campaigns across this country who are looking to call the question on the authoritarianism from Washington and Show that democracy can deliver right here at home. Right.

[A]

I mean, he keeps going out there and bragging, I brought in $22 trillion. The number always changes. 17 trillion. 18 trillion. 20 trillion. I think the people of New York in the borough know a Ponzi schemer now and a con man when they see one. Don't you worry. Those, those Doge dividend checks, they're coming right around the corner. Your, your tariff rebates, just. It's all right. The workers. I think Treasury Secretary Scott Besson said this yesterday. This year was Wall Street. He said this next year, we got you workers. Next year's your year. Isn't that what they're always next year? Just.

[B]

It's always next year. And I think people voted with their pockets in mind. They wanted to see if they. If they could actually be able to afford the things that they would afford four years prior. And what they're instead seeing is Donald Trump was focused on his own pockets. And that's the politics that's on offer in this moment. And it's gotten to the point where we have active duty military families who are lined up for food pantries across this country. And that is an illustration of what Republicans care about. At a moment when so many Americans are crying out for any kind of politics that's looking to actually help the working class of this country, they're not finding it in Donald Trump.

[A]

You talk about want. It seems like one of the things he wants to do is harm New York and its boroughs. I mean, he kind of gloats about the pain he wants to inflict, whether it's tunnel projects, Penn Station rebuilt, just projects that would be genuinely helpful, it seems, you know, for a city that plays a major purpose in the world, and he seems to focus so much on attacking the city and the people you're running against. Cuomo and others, they don't seem to criticize that. They seem to be like, whatevs, that's just what we're gonna do. It's. That's a wild concept to me, when someone is so adversarial against, like, against the city.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, look, Andrew Cuomo ran an entire primary campaign on the premise that he was the best candidate to take on Donald Trump. And then we beat him by 13 points. And he almost immediately got on his hands and knees and started to beg for help from that same president. And we've seen him beg for that president's help. We've seen him beg for the help of that president's donors, and we've Seen it all as New Yorkers are coming to the realization that if you're so busy begging, we actually can't count on you to stand up for this city. And it's time to have a mayor who's not only able to name the president or the crisis at hand, which is authoritarianism, but also to deliver for the people that we're looking to serve. Because right now, there is an abdication of responsibility in the city, and it's time to actually stand up and fight and deliver for the people across the five boroughs.

[A]

These billionaires threw everything at you. You got limit unlimited money was thrown against you. They accused you of everything. They photoshopped you in every way. Ackman posted the longest things that are not even read. They threw literally everything. And you started at 1%. And no one should take any polls for granted. November 4th is coming up. People still need to volunteer. And I want to talk about that in a bit. But they threw everything at you. And just how have you been able to handle that aspect of it? Because I don't know, it seems like. Like a lot. A lot. They've accused you of everything imaginable. If I listed it here, this interview would go 10 hours.

[B]

We wouldn't have enough time. I mean, look, in this week alone, I think that we've seen around $10 million in additional outside spending. And we both are not naive to the impact that it can have and the ways in which can, you know, flood New Yorkers airwaves and their mailboxes and their TV screens. And at the same time, we took on about 25 million of that very kind of spending in the primary. And what we showed time and again is we were able to overcome that because we had built then a volunteer team of 52,000 people. Now that volunteer team is crossing 100,000 people. And that is the kind of coalition that we have to take this message of affordability all across the five boroughs of New York City.

[A]

Look, home stretch, right? November 4th is right around the corner. People who are watching, though, what can they still should not get complacent. Quite the contrary. Now is the time in a marathon where you actually got to really start running the fastest. So what should people out there be taking away if they want to help out? How could people get involved?

[B]

So the thing that I would tell you all is to go to zahran4nyc.com gotv and it's important to do that because no matter how good one poll looks or how exciting an article reads, this race is not yet won. And it's because we knocked on 1.6 million doors in the primary, because we made 2.1 million phone calls in that primary that we won that race. So if you're in New York City, come for a canvas shift. We have so many coming up, and this weekend we're actually trying to break the world record for doors knocked in New York State in a single day, 200,000 on Sunday alone. And if you're not in New York City and you still want to help out, please join our phone banking. You could make the difference and actually have the conversation with a New Yorker who has yet to hear someone from someone directly about why they support this campaign.

[A]

You know, before we go, I just wanted to highlight one more time. That was so smart right after the election, you went and you spoke to those Trump MAGA voters or spoke to people in the city. Why did you vote this way? I remember that video. I remember that video. You went back to the basically the same location this week. You were back there and you were talking to people. What have you kind of learned from, from that experience and what insights generally can be, you think, extrapolated just as, as, as, as we build towards figuring out ways, not even as a political party this or that, but like just as fighters for people right now during uncertain times.

[B]

Look, I think it comes back to listening to New Yorkers. That's what we wanted to do last year because we'd heard so much about caricatures of who voted for Trump and why, we wanted to ask New Yorkers themselves. And it was a beautiful moment to return there because I could see everything that our campaign has built. Last time around, I had to struggle to get anyone to talk to me. And this time around, I had people coming up to talk to me about the same issue, cost of living, but how they saw in our campaign a pathway to actually tackling that crisis. And that means the world to me because it shows what 100,000 volunteers and an incredible team has been able to build. And now with just four days to go, we are on the brink of making history. But we can't take anything for granted.

[A]

So everybody, you got to get out there, tell people about this race. And what's the website again? That everybody, if they want to volunteer and help get out the vote, what should they do?

[B]

One more time, It's Zoran for NYC. Z O-H R A N F O R N Y C.com GOTV Zoramdani, great.

[A]

To see you again. We appreciate you.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Appreciate you everybody. Hit subscribe let's get to 6 million subscribers. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail]. you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only [e-mail].

[C]

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[D]

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[C]

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[D]

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[C]

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[D]

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[A]

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[D]

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[C]

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[E]

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