Tim Graham: Zohran Mamdani has the left giddy
In a surprising turn of events, Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified “democratic socialist,” has clinched the mayoralty of New York City, capturing the attention of media outlets that have celebrated his victory with fervor reminiscent of the early Obama years. This media enthusiasm has not been without controversy, as critics point to the mainstream media’s apparent bias in promoting Mamdani, who represents a more radical leftist ideology. The New York Times’ Michael Grynbaum highlighted the backlash from right-wing media, notably the New York Post, which cheekily branded New York as “The Red Apple” following Mamdani’s win. This juxtaposition of media narratives underscores a broader cultural and political divide, with conservative outlets framing Mamdani’s policies as extreme, while liberal media outlets champion his progressive vision.
Grynbaum’s analysis also touched on the Islamophobic undertones present in some of the right-wing critiques of Mamdani, particularly from figures like Steve Bannon, who labeled him a “neo-Marxist jihadist.” This characterization raises questions about the rhetoric surrounding Mamdani’s political stance, especially given his past statements about seizing the means of production and his support for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Despite the left’s dismissal of such claims as hyperbole, instances from Mamdani’s public statements suggest a more radical agenda that some media outlets have yet to scrutinize thoroughly. For example, his remarks linking the actions of the NYPD to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reflect a contentious viewpoint that has not been subjected to the same level of fact-checking as criticisms from the right.
As Mamdani embarks on his mayoral term, the implications of his policies and rhetoric will likely continue to provoke debate. Critics, including those from the conservative media, are poised to challenge his agenda, while supporters will advocate for the transformative changes he promises. The media’s role in framing this narrative remains crucial, as it can significantly influence public perception and political discourse in New York City and beyond. As we move forward, it will be essential to critically evaluate both the leftist and rightist narratives surrounding Mamdani, ensuring a balanced understanding of his policies and their potential impact on the city. Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the Media Research Center, emphasizes the need for a more nuanced examination of Mamdani’s public record, suggesting that a failure to do so may overlook significant aspects of his political ideology.
Zohran Mamdani surged to an easy victory as the “democratic socialist” mayor of New York City, complete with media enthusiasm that carried echoes of silly Obama love songs. The badly named “mainstream media” earnestly promoted the most extreme candidate.
After Mamdani won, New York Times media reporter Michael Grynbaum warned about the opposition of reprehensible right-wing media outlets. The New York Post puckishly called New York “The Red Apple,” with the subhead “On your Marx, get set, Zo! Socialist Mamdani wins race for mayor.”
Grynbaum summarized: “As is often the case in these matters, the screaming front page of The New York Post, the city’s mischievous tabloid that like Fox News is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, summed up the conservative id.”
It’s the “conservative id,” is it? Would Grynbaum be able to locate a “leftist id” at his own newspaper? For example, on the front page of the Times on Jan. 10, 2021, they compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. These slanderous citations are repetitively spewed in the leftist press.
Grynbaum added this warning: “Some of the harsher right-wing attacks on Mr. Mamdani have been marked by Islamophobia. Steve Bannon, the right-wing podcaster and provocateur, has called Mr. Mamdani a ‘neo-Marxist jihadist.’”
At the end of his article, he noted Small Business Administration leader Kelly Loeffler referred to Mamdani “talking about seizing the means of production.” At a February 2021 meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani proclaimed: “But then there are also other issues that we firmly believe in, whether it’s BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel), right, or whether it’s the end goal of seizing the means of production.”
The Left energetically claims it means nothing. When Trump called Mamdani a commie in June, PolitiFact typically went expert-shopping to move the goalposts: “Multiple political scientists and communism experts told us Mamdani’s mayoral race positions did not amount to communism.” They doubled down on this in July. Their funniest expert was Geoffrey Kurtz: “I had the impression that Mamdani intended that phrase as lighthearted hyperbole.”
What about jihad? At a December 2023 DSA meeting, Mamdani talked up the loathing of Israel: “For anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyper-local,” he said. “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” PolitiFact won’t be evaluating that metaphor. They haven’t “fact-checked” a single Mamdani statement.
In October, he praised Imam Siraj Wahhaj — an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing — as a “pillar of the Bed-Stuy community.”
The leftist media that dismiss the “conservative id” aren’t coming to grips with Mamdani’s actual public record.
Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org.
