Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Politics – Episode 467
Title: The Mamdani Method Explained: Could It Shock Britain?
Date: November 12, 2025
Hosts: Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart

Main Theme

This episode centers on the surprising election of Zoran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City—what his victory says about a shifting global political landscape, and whether similar political shocks could happen in Britain or Europe. The hosts also examine recent elections and trends in Central and Eastern Europe, and end with a discussion of the new leadership in Syria and the unpredictable moves on the world stage—including U.S. policy under Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Sues the BBC: Media, Trust & Political Intimidation

[03:01–08:31]

• Campbell and Stewart respond to Trump's $1 billion lawsuit against the BBC, calling it an intimidation tactic against a globally trusted media outlet.
  • Campbell: "Trump normalizes everything so that we just get accustomed to it... but there's never been an American president trying to sue the BBC for a billion dollars." (03:56)
• Discussion of the BBC's perceived biases, internal weaknesses, and the challenge of defining impartiality in a 'post-truth' world.
  • Campbell: "The new DG needs to define what it means to be objective and impartial... put that right at the core of news." (06:21)
  • Stewart: Highlights international attacks on independent media: "This is a big story around the world because the BBC has a global reputation..." (07:11)

2. Zoran Mamdani: The Election, Charisma & The 'Poetry' of Politics

[08:31–18:49]

• Who is Zoran Mamdani?

  • 34-year-old, first Muslim, first person of South Asian descent, first African-born mayor of NYC.
  • Won with a record 50.4% of the vote. Notable for mobilizing over 100,000 campaign volunteers.
  • Key Quote: "Never underestimate charisma. The guy has got a smile to die for." — Stewart (08:41)
  • Campbell and Stewart analyze his appeal and campaign effectiveness:
    • Hope-driven, future-focused, and treating voters as "co-authors" rather than victims (citing a piece by Walid Shahid).
    • Stewart: "Politics built around fear or opposition cannot inspire. It can only react and manage..." (09:01)
  • Discussion of Mamdani’s communication mastery—ability to pivot, stay on message, and directly challenge opponents (notably handling a Fox News interview).
    • Stewart: "His communication skills are truly off the scale." (12:00)

• Challenge Ahead—From 'Poetry' to 'Prose':

  • Governing NYC is a massive operational undertaking ($90bn budget, 40,000 police, schools, etc.).
    • Governors must deliver ("New Yorkers expect the mayor to be the CEO of the city, delivering." — Campbell, 14:21)
  • Mamdani’s promises (increased taxes for wealthy, free transport, social programs) face significant legal and political hurdles.

3. Societal Change: New Political Archetypes & Comparisons to the UK

[18:49–22:03]

• Mamdani’s victory seen as emblematic of unexpected, social-media-driven shifts—potential for equivalents in the UK (e.g., Green party leader Zack Polanski).
  • Both Mamdani and Polanski viewed as effective, authentic communicators who break the mold of traditional party-political messaging.
    • Stewart: "The way they consume media and politics is so far removed... other than by Farage on one side and Polanski on the other." (21:00)
• Hosts consider whether similar 'shocks'—unexpected surges from new political archetypes—are likely in Britain, as mainstream parties lag in media engagement.

4. Contrasts in US Politics: Populists vs. Centrists

[22:03–24:06]

• While Mamdani’s progressive success in NYC dominated headlines, recent gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey saw moderate, centrist Democrats win decisively—indicating a complex, multi-directional shift in US politics.
  • Schumer’s Senate caucus suffered a blow as Democrats defected over the government shutdown, underscoring tensions within the party and the fracturing of old political norms.

5. Reflections on Mamdani’s Fundraising & Popular Appeal

[24:19–25:47]

• Mamdani’s campaign energy: at one point, donation intake had to be paused for legal reasons—indicating enthusiastic grassroots support.
• Stewart shares an anecdote about highlighting Mamdani’s election at a business event, provoking a strong reaction from wealthy attendees (sign of the anxiety in business circles about redistributive rhetoric).

6. The Realities of Governing New York & The 'Fight with Trump'

[16:41, 26:06–26:52]

• Both Trump and Mamdani benefit from casting each other as political foils—potential for New York to become a key battleground: "Trump wants the fight. Mamdani wants the fight. It's ideal for both of them." — Campbell (15:57)
• The NYPD’s independent power and the potential for tension should Trump seek to engage the city on security issues.

7. Central & Eastern Europe: Populism, Coalitions, and the Shape of Change

[31:02–39:33]

• Hosts analyze Czech, Slovakian, and Hungarian politics—rise of controversial governing coalitions, populist movements, and anti-EU/anti-NATO rhetoric.

  • Czechia: Andre Babis forms coalition with far-right, single-issue parties; unsettling undemocratic trends.
    • "They're basically an anti-bicycle party." — Campbell (32:34)
    • Discussion of Tomio Okamura, a half-Japanese, anti-immigrant, anti-Ukraine politician elevated to Speaker; symbolic flag removal from assembly met with protest.
  • Slovakia and Hungary continue populist, pro-Russian drift, while Poland remains deeply divided but with significant pro-western forces.

• Ongoing theme: unpredictable emergence of politicians outside traditional molds (e.g., reality show hosts, oligarchs, criminally-charged figures).

8. Syria: Al Shara’s Rise and Trump’s Unconventional Diplomacy

[39:39–51:27]

• Al Shara: From Al Qaeda Commander to US Ally
  • Recently met Trump at the White House—the first Syrian president to do so since 1946; negotiation for sanctions relief and normalization.
    • Campbell: "The only real thing that's keeping him going is firstly, his own skill... the only way it could possibly work is the US giving this incredibly rapid confidence support." (45:31)
  • Trump’s unorthodox, "bulldozer" approach overturns previous US policy logjams.
    • Stewart: "If this had been right, this is happening in Syria, we're glad that Assad's out... a pre Trump system would have said, hold on a minute..." (44:59)
  • Al Shara’s rapid, radical transformation from terrorist leader with a $10 million bounty to a central US ally astonishes both hosts.

9. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• "Never underestimate charisma. The future is in our hands." — Stewart (00:00)
• "We campaign in poetry and we govern in prose. Mamdani is campaigning poetry. The prose is going to be tough..." — Stewart (00:22 & 12:46)
• "We, the Poles, will eat grass rather than become a Russian colony again." — Radek Sikorski, quoted by Stewart (51:27)
• "It's the story of how politics today is very, very difficult to recognize... Mamdani... has completely broken free of the Democratic establishment..." — Campbell (50:22)
• On Syria: "A world in which somebody who had a $10 million American bounty on his head is now becoming one of the central allies of the United States in the region." — Campbell (50:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Time | |----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Trump sues the BBC; discussion of impartiality | 03:01–08:31 | | Zoran Mamdani's victory & campaign | 08:31–13:39 | | Challenges of governing NYC & centrism | 13:39–16:41 | | Mamdani vs. Trump dynamic, implications | 16:41–18:49 | | Comparisons to UK politics & Polanski | 18:49–22:03 | | US: Contrasts between populists & centrists | 22:03–24:06 | | Populist fundraising & business reaction | 24:19–25:47 | | Role of NYPD; transition to Europe | 26:06–26:52 | | Central/Eastern Europe: Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland | 31:02–39:33 | | Syria: Al Shara, Trump, transformation | 39:39–51:27 | | Reflection, closing, and Sikorski's quote | 51:27–52:47 |

Tone and Language

• Consistently insightful, conversational, with elements of dry wit and self-reflection.
• Both hosts emphasize skepticism, critical analysis, and the “art of disagreeing agreeably.”
• Use of sharp anecdotes and contemporary references, blending analysis with personal stories.

Conclusion

This episode underscores how dramatic, sometimes improbable political shifts are now the new normal—from Mamdani’s awesome outsider victory in New York to unprecedented alliances and coalitions in Europe, and Trump’s bewildering but decisive global diplomacy. The common theme: rules are being rewritten everywhere. The message for Britain and the world—expect the unexpected in politics, and learn from the rise of charismatic, authentic communicators who can mobilize movements seemingly overnight.