The Mamdani Moment: Why America Is Listening to Democratic Socialism Again

About this episode

The episode discusses the rise of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the implications of his democratic socialist platform in America.

As millions of Americans struggle with soaring rents, crushing childcare costs, stagnant wages and a political system increasingly captured by wealth, a new political force has emerged from New York City. In this episode of Scheer Intelligence , Robert Scheer speaks with journalist and author Ted Hamm about the remarkable rise of Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a self-described democratic socialist whose message of affordability, economic justice and political independence has transformed him from insurgent candidate to one of the most closely watched political figures in America. Drawing on his new book Meet Mayor Mamdani , Hamm traces how Mamdani built a coalition around issues that cut across traditional political divides: housing, transit, childcare, inequality and the growing sense that the American economic model no longer works for ordinary people. The conversation explores whether Mamdani represents a revival of New Deal-style politics, why his success has rattled Democratic Party leaders, and how his outspoken support for Palestinian rights has reshaped political debate far beyond New York. At a moment when both major parties face deep public distrust, Scheer and Hamm examine…

People in this episode

Host: Robert Scheer

Guest: Ted Hamm

Topics covered

• democratic socialism
• political realignment
• economic justice
• affordability
• housing
• childcare
• inequality

Keywords

• Zohran Mamdani
• democratic socialism
• economic democracy
• affordability
• political independence
• New Deal
• political debate
• childcare costs
• housing crisis
• inequality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Democratic Party

Books & works: Meet Mayor Mamdani

Places: New York City, America, Palestine

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