Welcome to Current Affairs. My name is Nathan Robinson. I am the editor in chief of Current Affairs Magazine. I am here today with Zeran Mamdani. He is a representative for the 36th District in the New York State Assembly, and he is currently running for mayor of New York City.

Sir Adam Dhani, welcome to current affairs.

Thank you very much for having me.

Now listen, I'm not from New York.

I've spent about a week in New York in my entire life.

It's an overwhelming place. It's a very complex place. It's a fascinating place. You know it.

You're from there. You get it in a way that I don't. So I want you to explain to me.

Your current mayor. Now, you explain to me. Your current mayor.

Now, you're running to succeed your current mayor.

What's with that guy?

How did that happen?

He seems very strange.

I probably wouldn't put the word succeed with Mayor Adams in the same sentence,

what record has been over the last few years.

You know, he is someone who, when he ran, he probably, with Mayor Adams in the same sentence, what record has been over the last few years.

You know, he is someone who, when he ran,

he promised that he would be fighting for the working class of New York City,

but in office he has used almost every opportunity to exacerbate the cost of living crisis

that is pushing those very working New Yorkers out of the city that they call home.

And how is he doing that?

Well, I think, you know, it's as the mayor of New York City, there are a number of powers

that come with that office.

...