Podcast Summary: The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Episode: From New York to Iran: how are young people upsetting the establishment?
Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Yalda Hakim (A), Dominic Waghorn (B; standing in for Richard Engel)
Producer: Sky News

Overview

This episode explores how youth-driven movements and political upstarts are reshaping the status quo in global hotspots—from the historic upset in New York's mayoral race to viral signs of rebellion on the streets of Iran. Alongside these, the hosts spotlight underreported humanitarian crises, most notably the “ignored genocide” in Sudan’s Darfur region, and analyze the shifting alliances and generational divides defining today’s world politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meteoric Rise of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York

• Historic Upset: Thirty-four-year-old Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist and son of Indian immigrants (born in Uganda), wins the New York mayoralty in a landslide—shocking the political establishment.
  • “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.” (A, 02:24)
• Connected Campaigning: Mamdani’s strength is social media mastery and authenticity, not unlike Obama or Trump, enabling direct and relatable outreach to New Yorkers across backgrounds.
  • “He galvanized the race...in a way we haven’t seen in American politics for a long time. He’s got this freshness, this vitality...” (B, 06:53)
• Policy Focus:
  • Central theme: Affordability—rent controls, free buses, grocery subsidies.
  • Outreach: Engaged deeply with immigrant, working-class, LGBTQ, and minority communities.
  • Critiques: Older voters, the Economist, and the New York Post warn policies may drive out the wealthy or echo failed spending of the 1970s.
• Polarization and Division:
  • Support: Youth and diverse communities.
  • Opposition: Older generations, wealthy elites, right-wing media.
  • “Potentially, Mamdani is quite divisive. He could polarize America between the young and the old.” (B, 11:32)
  • Trump brands him a “communist,” threatening to withhold federal funding to New York. (12:49)

Notable Quotes

• “Together, we will usher in a generation of change. And if we embrace this brave new course, rather than fleeing from it, we can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves.” (A, quoting Mamdani, 07:55)
• “It's interesting...his speech was, like, at least half of it seemed to be aimed at the American president. And he's effectively saying, if you want to fight Donald, bring it on. I'm ready.” (B, 15:55)
• “As one comedian said: 'You can’t be president. You were born in Uganda.'” (A, 18:08)

Timestamps

• [02:51] Introduction of Mamdani and the upset
• [06:51] Mamdani’s campaign and communication strengths
• [10:12] Affordability focus, outreach, and critiques
• [12:49] Polarization, Trump’s attacks
• [15:45] Speech analysis and positioning against Trump

2. Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: “A Situation the World Swore Would Never Happen Again”

• Context: Catastrophic civil war between the Sudanese army and RSF (paramilitary group), with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and current fighting centered on Darfur’s Al Fashir.
• Genocide Allegations: Sudan’s ambassador to the UK calls the situation “genocide”; singles out UAE for enabling RSF through arms and draws criticism for UK inaction.
  • “He was the enabler... the source of their armament and their mercenaries...is coming through the UAE.” (B, 21:41)
• On-ground Desperation: Reports of cold-blooded executions, mass starvation, orphaned children, and ethnic cleansing.
  • “There are orphaned children, there’s been a lot of rape, a lot of men have been taken aside ... and then shot. There’s ethnic cleansing going on.” (B, 27:03)
• Ignored by the World: Both hosts highlight why Sudan’s crisis hasn’t attracted media or diplomatic attention compared to Ukraine, Gaza.
  • “International community has, frankly, just turned a blind eye.” (A, 25:20)
• Call for Action: Ambassador and hosts urge the UK and UN to pressure the UAE and mobilize significant humanitarian and diplomatic responses.
  • “The Sudanese ambassador said... it’s fine to get money, but we need action.” (B, 29:50)

Notable Quotes

• “One of them said, ‘You name an abuse and it’s happening in Al Fasha.’ And I don’t think that’s really hyperbole...” (B, 27:51)
• “It is the worst, she says, the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.” (B, 29:27)

Timestamps

• [20:15] Sudan’s civil war context and RSF atrocities
• [24:01] Reminders of Darfur in the early 2000s
• [26:34] Civilian suffering, communication breakdowns
• [28:55] Summary and international response failures

3. Viral Youth Rebellion in Iran: Small Moments of Defiance Signal Potential for Change

• Viral Clip: A street band plays the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” in Tehran. Many women in the spontaneous crowd are unveiled—a direct challenge to the regime.
  • “You’ll see the women are not wearing the hijab, which is very striking.” (B, 32:28)
• Social Unrest & Underground Culture: This scene is emblematic of continued, if subdued, dissent from Iran’s youth, especially post-‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement.
  • “You know, it’s a great clip of young people having a good time... it shows a sense of rebelliousness.” (B, 34:16; 39:36)
• Regime Response: Some rumors the band was arrested, but unclear—many such acts of resistance are testing the boundaries, with authorities increasingly hesitant to crack down.
  • “It’s very hard to read what’s going on in Iran ... but probably going to see more of this in the future.” (B, 39:47)
• Broader Implications: Demographic tide is on the youth’s side—nearly 50% of Iranians under 30. Regime’s legitimacy is eroding, and a major shift is seen as inevitable.
  • “There’s an irrepressible tide of youthful...struggle for freedom...Eventually that is going to break through.” (B, 33:19)
• Cultural Depths: Hakim stresses Iran’s complex culture beyond the headline-grabbing regime, with deep artistic and rebellious roots.

Notable Quotes

• “There’s a certain style in which they do it [hijab], so there’s a whole sense of this sort of repressed cultural energy...just waiting to burst out.” (B, 38:25)
• “How dare you tell me what my sister, my daughter has to wear on her head... they’ve had enough of that.” (B, 37:48)

Timestamps

• [31:55] Introduction of viral Iran street performance
• [32:19] Social and political context, generational change
• [34:16] The underground culture and regime response
• [39:38] Aftermath and regime’s waning power

4. Predictions & What to Watch

• Waghorn:
  1. Sudan will climb the global news agenda as more horror stories emerge, necessitating urgent action.
  2. New York’s Mamdani vs. Trump showdown will be a consequential “titanic clash” for America’s future.
  • “You couldn’t have written a better script for Netflix... It’s a titanic clash for the ages I think.” (B, 41:56)
• Hakim:
  • Closely watching prospects for international security force and journalistic access to Gaza.

Timestamps

• [41:56] Predictions for Sudan, New York, and Gaza

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Youth power:
  • “He’s compared to Obama with his message of hope and change.” (A, 06:00)
• On Sudan:
  • “This is the war that the world kind of swore would never happen again, but it is happening again.” (B, 20:17)
• On Iran:
  • “There’s an uneasy truce now between the government and those who don’t want to wear the hijab. And increasingly, if you go there, you see women are not wearing the hijab.” (B, 32:34)
• On U.S. polarization:
  • “America is an incredibly polarized country right now ... But we’re feeling it quite deeply right now just because of the states of social media and ... messaging quite quickly and instantly.” (A, 13:30)

Conclusion

This episode deftly links seemingly disparate global flashpoints to a broader movement: the generational and grassroots upsets disrupting entrenched political orders. From Mamdani’s rise and Iran’s viral rebelliousness to the heart-wrenching crisis in Sudan, Hakim and Waghorn argue that young people—on the streets, in voting booths, and through viral media—are contesting the realities built by their elders, with world-changing consequences ahead.

For listener questions and feedback, email the hosts at theworld@sky.uk.