This is The New Yorker Radio Hour, a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.

Welcome to The New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick.

One thing we've heard a lot since last November is how unpopular the Democratic Party has become, unpopular even with many of its

traditional supporters. So the Democratic sweep last week surely tells us a little bit about the mood

of the country, about the mood of the voters 10 months into Donald Trump's campaign to remake America.

But the election of Zoran Mamdani, somebody who was virtually unknown a year ago,

also shows that voters will respond to a clear message from the Democrats, whether it's a

moderate in Virginia or New Jersey or a Democratic socialist in the city of New York. I spoke with

Mamdani at length a few weeks ago, and if you're curious

about what it means for a Democratic socialist to be mayor of America's largest city,

I'd suggest you listen to that interview. It's in the podcast of the New Yorker Radio Hour.

In particular, I asked Mamdani about how Donald Trump has threatened to punish the city if he's elected.

And what Mamdani told me is this.

What Donald Trump most often respects is strength.

It's someone who's willing to stand up and fight back.

Well, sure, but standing up to Trump, whether in the courts or on the streets,

is a very complicated matter and varies from

place to place.

And a case in point is J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois.

He's one of the administration's most outspoken critics these days.

They are abusing people on the ground here.

They're overstepping the boundaries of what civilian law enforcement are supposed to be doing.

...