What Zohran Mamdani’s Rise Says About the Future of the Left

Engagement Party

CNN

News, Society & Culture, Entertainment News, Arts

4.6 • 986 Ratings

🗓️ 23 October 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

With New York City’s mayoral election fast approaching, one candidate in particular has managed to break through the noise — even outside the five boroughs. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist-backed progressive whose campaign videos have gone viral, has become the face of a growing leftist wave. But is it a one-city phenomenon, or the beginning of something bigger? Audie talks to CNN Contributor Astead Herndon. His story about Mamdani’s campaign was just published in the New York Times Magazine. He is now a host and Editorial Director at Vox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Adi Cornish, and this is the assignment.
0:03.0	In classic fashion, New York City residents are acting like their mayoral election deserves national attention.
0:09.7	And frankly, it does, mostly because of this guy.
0:13.2	The name is Mamdani. M-A-M-A-M-D-A-N-I.
0:17.7	You should learn how to say it.
0:19.3	Zoran Mamdani's major primary win this summer over incumbent Eric Adams and former governor
0:25.2	Andrew Cuomo turned many eyes to the concrete jungle where Mamdani's hoping dreams are made
0:31.2	of.
0:31.9	He's young.
0:33.0	He's charming.
0:34.0	I know some of you have expressed concerns about my age.
0:37.3	You're worried about a 33-year-old becoming mayor of New York City.
0:40.5	And I want you to know, I hear you.
0:42.6	That's why this weekend I'll be making a change.
0:46.0	I'm turning 34.
0:47.5	And very online.
0:49.5	What is your internet guilty pleasure?
0:51.6	Probably say TikTok.
0:52.9	Same.
0:53.7	You know, it's been quite concerning now.
0:56.3	A lot of my algorithm is AI videos of Jake Paul speaking Punjabi.
1:00.2	And a Democratic Socialist.
	...

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