A political drama for the ages, opening soon in New York City: Zohran Mamdani v Donald Trump. What could go wrong? https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/10/28/a-political-drama-for-the-ages-opening-soon-in-new-york-city
“It’s not your job to change their mind,” “It’s your job to leave them thinking that Zohran’s people are classy.” Meeting sceptics with smiles... He has made his affordability platform—rent freezes, housing investment, free child care, free buses—the main story of the election, while avoiding culture-war traps and shouting matches with Donald Trump, who calls him a communist.
At a minimum, if Mr Mamdani is elected, the White House will probably make a midterms-focused spectacle of the mayor’s unabashed socialism, to undermine suburban New York Democrats running for closely contested seats in the House of Representatives next year, races that may help decide whether Democrats regain control of the lower house of Congress. Yet if Mr Trump freezes more federal funds .. or if he sends soldiers and border-control agents to his former hometown, he would be taking on his own political risks.