Tim Graham: Zohran Mamdani has the left giddy
In a stunning political shift, Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified “democratic socialist,” has emerged victorious in the race for mayor of New York City, a win that has been met with enthusiastic media coverage reminiscent of earlier political phenomena, such as the fervor surrounding Barack Obama. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, critics have raised concerns about the implications of Mamdani’s policies and the media’s role in promoting his candidacy. The New York Times media reporter Michael Grynbaum highlighted the backlash from conservative outlets, notably the New York Post, which cheekily dubbed the city “The Red Apple” in response to Mamdani’s socialist platform. The Post’s coverage, characterized as embodying the “conservative id,” has sparked a debate about the portrayal of leftist candidates in mainstream media.
Grynbaum’s analysis pointed out a troubling trend within right-wing media, particularly the Islamophobic rhetoric directed at Mamdani, with figures like Steve Bannon labeling him a “neo-Marxist jihadist.” This raises questions about the intersection of political discourse and identity, especially given Mamdani’s past statements regarding contentious issues such as Israel and police violence. His remarks at a Democratic Socialists of America meeting, where he discussed the need to make issues like the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement hyper-local, have not been scrutinized by fact-checkers, which has led to accusations of media bias. Political analysts have attempted to downplay Mamdani’s statements, suggesting they are hyperbolic rather than indicative of a serious socialist agenda, yet this dismissal does not address the broader implications of his rhetoric.
The media’s portrayal of Mamdani raises critical questions about accountability and representation in political reporting. Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the Media Research Center, argues that leftist media outlets are failing to confront Mamdani’s actual public record, which includes praising controversial figures such as Imam Siraj Wahhaj. As Mamdani settles into his role as mayor, the ongoing dialogue about the media’s influence on public perception and the potential ramifications of his policies will be vital for understanding the future of New York City’s political landscape. The juxtaposition of enthusiastic support from progressive circles and the fierce criticism from conservative factions highlights the deepening ideological divides within American politics today.
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.
