VINCE Podcast — Episode 162
"NYC Has Been Seized By The Communists"
Host: Vince Coglianese
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this post-election special, Vince Coglianese dives deep into the results of the 2025 off-year elections, focusing on Democratic victories in headline races across key states and cities—most notably New York City. Vince delivers a sharp, critical commentary on what he sees as the continued radicalization of Democratic strongholds, with particular outrage at the election of Zoran Mamdani, a self-described socialist, as mayor of New York City. He analyzes the electoral landscape, discusses the role of the Trump coalition, dissects strategic missteps by Republicans, and issues a warning about the implications of Marxist ideology gaining traction in America's largest city. The episode's tone alternates between alarm, critique, and a call to action for conservative listeners.

Key Discussion Points

1. Election Results and Immediate Context (04:00–11:00)

• Vince opens with disappointment over Democratic wins in “blue” strongholds: California (Prop 50), New Jersey, Virginia, and especially New York City.

• He contextualizes Democratic wins as expected setbacks in off-year elections when the incumbent party holds national power, but sees missed opportunities for Republicans.

• Critiques the party’s approach in deep-blue states, warning of ongoing “Democratic corruption and governance.”

  "Democrats pulled off not a clean sweep — a dirty sweep — of these elections, no question about it." (03:30, Vince)

2. Analysis of State Races and Republican Strategy (11:00–19:00)

• California: Vince labels Prop 50’s passage as “election rigging” by Democrats to redraw congressional maps.

• Virginia: Details Glenn Youngkin’s previous victory as a “fluke” due to Democratic error, argues that Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears’ failure was due to lack of engagement with the Trump base and an uninspired campaign.

• New Jersey: Expresses disappointment over Jack Cittarelli falling short despite poll momentum, noting Trump's close 2024 margin as evidence of potential for GOP growth if “Trump’s agenda” is fully embraced.

  "If you're going to win in America today and defeat these Democrats, you have to follow the campaign strategy and agenda of the man who keeps winning: Donald Trump. It’s clear." (17:25, Vince)

• Suggests Trump’s involvement came too late and laments that his support could have made a bigger difference.

3. The Government Shutdown & The Federal Workforce Vote (19:00–24:00)

• Vince discusses the ongoing government shutdown and its impact, especially in Northern Virginia.

• Highlights federal workers voting for Democrats despite Democrats causing the shutdown.

• Shares and reacts to a CNN segment:

  "[Jake Tapper:] '61% of federal workers say they are voting for Spanberger... But we're in the middle of a shutdown and people have not gotten paychecks in a month and they're going to vote... What do you expect them to be doing?'" (12:56–13:42)

  "Democrats riot and go to the polls like you and I go to church. It’s almost a religious experience for some of these guys." (15:15, Vince)

• Critiques the media environment and the “cult-like affinity” for Democrats.

4. The New York City Mayoral Election – The “Communists Take Over” Segment (24:00–34:00)

• Vince singles out Zoran Mamdani’s win in NYC, calling him a self-proclaimed socialist and “commie.”

• Outlines Mamdani’s platform: emptying Rikers, raising taxes, free bus fare, government-run grocery stores.

• Warns these are “bread lines and empty shelves” policies, likening them to failed socialist experiments worldwide.

  "He wants to make the buses less safe. He says he wants to make them free... It's also crazy. And this is Mamdani's plan for New York. Also, free grocery stores. When has that worked? Historically, when the government runs grocery stores, it doesn't." (25:30–26:10, Vince)

• Dismisses critiques of Curtis Sliwa (the GOP candidate), asserting Sliwa’s presence didn’t determine the outcome.

• Harshly objects to Andrew Cuomo’s resurgence, calling the choice between Cuomo and Mamdani akin to choosing "Stalin or Hitler."

5. Zoran Mamdani’s Victory Speech - Soundbites and Analysis (26:32–32:01)

• Plays and analyzes Mamdani’s speech, highlighting:

  Quoting Eugene Debs:

  "As Eugene Debs once said, 'I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.'"
  (26:32, Mamdani)

  Vince notes:

  “Not only does he cite Eugene Debs... It's the crowd that reacts enthusiastically. That room definitely did. In other words, they're not your traditional low-information... Democrat voters. Those are true believers.” (27:00, Vince)

  Bragging About Socialism and Rejecting Apologies:

  "I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this."
  (28:10, Mamdani)

  Class and Racial Marxism:

  "Thank you to those so often forgotten by the politics of our city who made this movement their own. I speak of Yemeni bodega owners and Mexican abuelas, Senegalese taxi drivers and Uzbek nurses, Trinidadian line cooks and Ethiopian aunties."
  (30:15, Mamdani)

  Government Intervention:

  "We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve and no concern too small for it to care about."
  (31:51, Mamdani)

  Vince:

  "The 9 most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’" (32:01, Vince)

6. Left-Wing Reaction and the “Mask Off” Moment (34:00–38:00)

• Vince relays Van Jones' surprise at Mamdani's angry, aggressive victory tone:

  "I think he missed an opportunity. The Mamdani that we saw in the campaign… was not present in that speech. His tone was sharp… almost yelling… a little bit of a character switch."
  (36:30–37:41, Van Jones, CNN)

  Vince counters:

  "Van Jones is a sucker because the rest of us could see that coming from 10,000 miles away. Zoran Mamdani is an actor… but the second he is with people that he shares an ideology with, with Marxists, he tells the truth about his goals." (37:41, Vince)

• Notes the presence of leftist streamer Hasan Piker at the victory party, lamenting America beating the USSR in the Cold War and calling for “class consciousness.”

• Vince argues this is a “mask-off” moment for the Democratic party and urges Republicans to make Democrats “own” Mamdani’s radicalism.

7. Return to Local and National GOP Challenges (38:00–50:00)

• Points to Virginia’s attorney general race, where Jay Jones—accused by Vince of making violent remarks—defeated the incumbent Republican.
• Describes a culture on the left he terms an “assassination culture,” referencing perceived or real acts of political violence and arguing Democrats now openly “talk about how they're perfectly content with seeing Republicans killed.” (44:00, Vince)
• Calls for conservatives to engage more in local politics and for a “spiritual revival.”

8. Legislative and Policy Agenda Moving Forward (50:00–58:00)

• Urges GOP to double down on the Trump agenda and to get government out of health care, which Vince blames Democrats for making “ridiculously expensive.”

• Advocates for election integrity: mandatory voter ID and ending the “modern silent filibuster.”

  "If Republicans want to win in the midterms next year, they need to represent the interests of Americans… keep more of their own money and... have a great country again." (56:40, Vince)

• Warns against Republican complacency, calls for a “controlled burn” of the party to root out those who do not truly support conservative priorities.

9. Hope, Activism, and Closing Thoughts (58:00–End)

• Encourages listeners to remain engaged, feels optimistic “in the end” due to faith in God.

• Urges prayer, activism, and continued fight for America’s future rather than resignation or despair.

  "Those of us who believe in God know that in the end, we win… Yes, this is depressing… But in the long run, everything’s going to be great, I assure you.” (59:30, Vince)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Democrats riot and go to the polls like you and I go to church. It's almost a religious experience for some of these guys." (15:15, Vince)
• "He wants to raise taxes in New York to 52%. Even though, by the way, that's not really even the role or the power of the mayor. He doesn't seem to care about that." (25:45, Vince)
• "So the options were you get Zoran Mamdani, the Soviet, or you get the nursing home killer. So my options are Stalin or Hitler? That's really what we have right now." (27:15, Vince)
• "We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve and no concern too small for it to care about." (31:51, Mamdani)
• "The 9 most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" (32:01, Vince quoting Ronald Reagan)
• "President Trump's coalition is built with low propensity voters… and he's brought in so many people who are normally disengaged from politics…" (57:10, Vince)

Key Timestamps

• 04:00: Election night “funeral,” context, and big-picture reaction
• 10:30: Analysis of Youngkin, Sears, and the Virginia GOP’s performance
• 12:56: CNN’s Jake Tapper on shutdown voters; Vince’s interpretation (Clip)
• 17:25: The Trump coalition and GOP strategy
• 24:00: NYC, Zoran Mamdani, and the meaning of his win
• 26:32 | 28:10 | 31:51: Notable Mamdani speech moments; socialism, Debs quote, government omnipresence
• 36:30: Van Jones’s reaction to Mamdani’s tone post-victory
• 44:00: “Assassination culture” and Democrat rhetoric
• 50:00: Calls for a new Republican health care plan and “making America healthy again”
• 57:10: Mobilization, future GOP priorities, closing optimism

Conclusion & Takeaways

Vince Coglianese uses this post-election episode to ring an alarm about what he sees as deepening left-wing radicalism in Democratic enclaves, personified by the elevation of Zoran Mamdani in New York City. He calls for conservatives to redouble efforts at all levels: to reject complacency, embrace the Trump agenda, and focus on policies that directly improve American lives. The episode is charged with urgency, anger at perceived lawlessness and radicalism, and concludes with a spiritual call to faith, community, and relentless activism.