70 Comments
User's avatar
Diana E's avatar

Mamdani is, simply, a brilliant politician. You can also tell he was raised to treat others with generosity, not derision. Yes, we’ll have to see how he does as Mayor of NYC, but if he does what Obama did in his first term—surrounding himself with people who know what they are doing—I suspect he will do well. What a contrast of faux confidence and real confidence we witnessed at that Whitehouse meeting.

Expand full comment
mary thiel's avatar

Excellent points.

Expand full comment
R Cyclone's avatar

It was indeed the most fascinating press conference. Trump’s right wing reporters would try to ask a “got you” question and Trump quickly deflected for Mamdani. It was fun to watch. I’ve got to give Mamdani credit … he is very skilled at politics and communication. And he has an infectious smile. Trump kept looking up to him and smiling.

Expand full comment
RP2112's avatar

Well, Mike, I have say you pretty much changed my mind on this topic. I initially thought this was a win for Trump. It got so much coverage (ABC nightly news had a full segment on it) that it gave Trump the chance to appear normal, to say that he cares about affordability alongside someone whose chief message that is, and that for Mamdani supporters, they'd come away thinking Trump isn't so bad. After all, he likes our guy, when even some Dems don't. But, your take on how it torpedoed the R strategy was really good. I still think it gave Trump a generous platform, just like his dinner with Bill Maher, but I definitely have moved from my initial thoughts that it was a win for Trump and Mamdani got used. Thank you! Love when I see/read something that's good and well thought out enough to change my perspective.

Expand full comment
Mike Nellis's avatar

Appreciate you RP

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Quite a few of my social media buddies did too, in part because Trump didn't stand to greet Mamdani. Me, I'm not sure Trump can stand without pain and/or balance problems.

Expand full comment
Michelle Gudaitis's avatar

Trump is usually a TV-optics genius, e.g. the escalator descent; the bloody ear fist pump. That he allowed himself to be pictured sitting down, looking old and weak, while the younger, stronger Mamdani stood upright beside him was worth 1000 words. Evidence of both mental and physical decline.

Expand full comment
Ted Loewenberg's avatar

Trump is seen now mostly sitting in the oval. It’s an obvious medical issue, and of course the staff (sycophants and ass kissers) are mum about the decline in the Mango Mussolini’s health. Just Trump stealing a page from Joe Biden’s playbook. A scandal coming to a medium near you soon.

Expand full comment
Joan MacLeod's avatar

That one photo of Trump smiling up at Mamdani was hilarious because it was the same look and smile that Trump gave Vance before they had sex on the latest episode of South Park lol

Expand full comment
Mike Nellis's avatar

Hahahahaha

Expand full comment
Tom Andrus's avatar

They put a genius against an illiterate idiot.

Expand full comment
Steven Jonas's avatar

Guess what Trump's increasingly addled brain remembered: he and his family own lots of real estate in New York City. And with Trump, only one thing comes before his politics and that is his money. Plus, the New York real estate sector, at least the Jewish section, is fully on board with The Mayor. Trump got the message, likely directly.

Expand full comment
MDL's avatar

I actually thought too that this new mindset of Trump's has something to do with real estate. I didn't know about the real estate sector's support of Mamdani. I think we may be on to something here...

Expand full comment
Bensnewlogin's avatar

“This is what happens when you build your entire movement around one man and convince yourselves he’s infallible. Eventually, he turns on you. He drags you down.”

I don’t think this is really the problem. It’s a symptom of the problem, but it’s not the problem.

From my essay on the insurrection:

“My conclusion? Looking at what people do, rather than what they say they are doing, provides much better information about who they really are. His base just wants a con man, a sociopath, a criminal, a manipulator, and unfortunately, a strong man to guide them and embody their aspirations. That's all there is to it, and nothing more. But how anyone could look at a venal, corrupt, dishonest, bullying, weak, lying narcissist like Trump, a self-confessed sexual abuser, and see strength, is beyond me… But therein lies the answer as to how we got to this point. Not to put too fine a point on it, but nearly half the this nation is ethically crippled, reality challenged, intellectually deranged, educationally debased, empathetically destitute, morally lazy at best and morally bankrupt at worst. No nation has ever survived this, nor can it, unless the other half stays vigilant and active… In fact, they applaud his attacks, because it proves to them that their strong man will not be bullied by intellectuals or scientific types. They might come up with a mighty waddya-gonna-do shrug of the shoulders about it, but it will have no effect on their naked quest for power, money, and dominion— and in the age of Trump: REVENGE.”

Mamdani “succeeded” with President Piggy for the simple reason that Trump is a narcissist, he is susceptible to flattery, he listens to the last person who spoke to him, and anybody who tells him what he wants to hear will get his ear. Plus, just looking at his public utterances, his lack of filters and controls, his naked nastiness— and the thought of Trump naked makes my scrotum shrivel— also says that his always questionable mind is deteriorating. Whether it’s from the onset of dementia or simply the fact of piggy being piggy, that doesn’t make much difference.

Mamdani play Trump like a banjo in the swamps of his fervid imagination. Hopefully, this generates all kinds of outrage from MAGAtry, and maybe it will stick. But I have a suspicion that it will not stick for long, simply because of what I observed in my insurrection essay. There are of course MAGAtous individuals who are finally starting to see through the curtain of their own delusions.

Maybe EmptyGee is one of them. Maybe. But the rest of them seem to have the attention span of a gnat. This is just one more blip on a screen white with them.

Expand full comment
Laura Lowery's avatar

All I have to say is well played, Zohran!! That was a masterpiece to watch!

Expand full comment
Kathleen's avatar

Mike, This article is right on point. Very well done!

Mayor-Elect Mamdani is truly a brilliant politician and an excellent communicator. I think you’re right about D.T. not getting enough hugs when he was a little boy growing up. I also smiled throughout the entirety of this article.

I couldn’t believe the flip-flop, but we’ll take it.

Expand full comment
Alan Neff's avatar

Whenever I think of Trump's opportunistic/self-aggrandizing influencer-sycophants trying to divine his direction and desires, I think of "Death of Stalin." I hope you're right about the ensuing strategic and electoral consequences for that class of nihilistic hacks.

Expand full comment
Judy Graboyes's avatar

You are a fantastic writer! I shared this post on Facebook. Very funny! Thanks

Expand full comment
gerri caldarola's avatar

Trump more than anything wants yo be on the New York "inside" - not the wanna be from the Bronx

Expand full comment
mary thiel's avatar

Sounds plausible.

Expand full comment
Jennifer Catherine's avatar

I live in central Texas and Chip Roy is unfortunately my US rep. I'm on the nut job's email list because I have written to him about various issues. I delete them as fast as I receive them but wanted to share a link to something he wrote about Mamdani:

https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/roy-op-ed-federalist-mamdanis-rise-signals-islamic-revolution-remaking-united

This is the kind of whacked-out stuff these guys spend their time on. I hope he and his kind get their asses handed to them as soon as possible.

Expand full comment
Thornton Prayer's avatar

It's amazing to how their minds work. One guy's election equals immediate and complete overthrow of our entire political order. Everything they don't like is an existential threat. Their delusion is what makes them so dangerous.

Expand full comment
eleanor sanchez's avatar

I tell you I can’t with these maggots

Expand full comment
Dennis Dawson's avatar

Dems just need to make sure they don’t peak too early. Trump and the MAGAs will definitely do a course correction and lie all the way to the primaries, saying whatever they think people will want to hear.

Expand full comment
Joseph (Joe) Snyder's avatar

Mike, you are assuming that midterms will actually take place. Not a safe assumption given the tactics of our would be king and his minions (or is he the minion). In any case, they are already working on strategy to cancel the midterm election.

Yours worriedly,

Joe

Expand full comment
Calvin P's avatar

The midterms will actually take place

Expand full comment
MDL's avatar

I don't think so. Unless there's a compelling reason, it will be really hard to pull of a cancelation of elections. I mean, they're losing in court with deployment of NG...

Expand full comment
Joseph (Joe) Snyder's avatar

I certainly hope the midterms take place, but we have assumed too many times over the last few years that "they couldn't possibly do that" and been fooled. Unless we remain active NOW, not just counting on the midterms to save us, we may get fooled again.

Expand full comment
MDL's avatar

We're all simply guessing. We'll see. I agree that we cannot afford to take our eyes off these crooks.

Expand full comment
Ellen Edwards's avatar

I think Mamdani called his bluff. Trump backed cuomo and figured Mamdani would never face him. He did and Trump was so taken aback that he didn’t know how to act. Clearly lol

Expand full comment