Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday contrasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s (D) policies with President Trump’s, responding to cries against socialism amid the recent wave of democratic socialist primary election victories.
“Trump cuts funding for childcare, Mamdani thinks that we should have free and universal childcare,” Sanders told online progressive commentator Jack Cocchiarella on MeidasTouch’s “On Sunday” show on YouTube. “Mamdani is trying to build low-income and affordable housing in New York City. Trump is cutting funding.”
Sanders added that Mamdani opposes, “as most of us do, the endless wars that are being fought right now through Trump, as well as the extremist Israeli government and their genocidal policies in Gaza,” whereas “Trump supports Netanyahu,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Who do you think is on the side of the American people on these issues?” Sanders said. “I think what we are talking about is where the American people want us to be.”
What a silly comparison the mayor of NYC has functionally no power to do a lot of the things Zohran wants to do because he is still beholden to the whims of their governor and Kathy Hochul does not really give a fuck on what Zohran wants.
I also think is continues to be rich how we describe Gaza as a Trump issue, obfuscating the long history of bipartisan support for genocide.
The point is: He’s actually doing something, proving that it ALWAYS could have been done, but the people we elected simply didn’t want us to have it.
My favorite Mamdani quote:
That goes for BOTH parties.
And as for your nonsense about Hochul, he was able to work with her to balance the NYC budget for the first time. That doesn’t sound like she isn’t cooperating with him, or “doesn’t care.” NYC controls the state, she cares plenty, and she finally has a mayor she can work with.
He’s not gonna give you a pony.
He’s running the largest militarized police force in the US right now and is actively using it to abuse the most vulnerable populations in the city even though he said he wouldn’t.
What is he doing that substantively changes the systems we live under? I’ll wait.
I don’t want a pony, it won’t fit in my Queens apartment.
What is he doing? He’s been there for less than a year, so life tends to take a little time for results to blossom, but he’s certainly planted some seeds already. These grocery stores are an example. MAGAs like you are already calling them a failure, when they haven’t even gotten going yet.
He balanced the budget, filled a zillion potholes, and is working on a whole lot more. In less than a year, he’s already accomplished more than the last couple of mayors combined.
Source on abusing vulnerable populations, or STFU & GTFO.
MAGAs like me? My favorite thing is liberals thinking anyone who criticizes them for being proponents of capitalism are to their right.
You are the right winger in this conversation my friend.
It seems he has the power to do quite a bit for the 8.5M residents of NYC in my opinion. I could write a list of positive things he has done to create meaningful and impactful change for individuals and small businesses alike. I’m sure with more power he would be championing and enacting similar policies, whereas there is no such argument that can be made for Trump who wields the entire government. Comparing them for what they are doing with what they have to get the job done is not so silly.
Which is perfect, right. He gets to say a lot of what he wants to do, but never has to do it. He gets credit for wanting to, without doing.
That’s just plain uninformed.
Just to list a few things…
This guy has done more for the working class in NY than the rest of the democratic party combined.
This is less praise for Zohran and more condemnation of the Dems.
The dems suck, aye. Afaik Mamdani is a socdem which isn’t radical or anything but I can see why people are excited for a reformist politician rather than a straight up sellout like they’re used to.
I’m kind of on the fence about whether a “good” government makes real revolutionary change more or less likely… It’s one of them things where you’d like to see ownership move to the workers and the role of the state sort of dissolve while protecting the power vacuum that non government corporations would step into.
Anyway I’m talking above my level of education. This is just vibes speaking now.
Except he IS following through on his promises, it’s not just performative. What promise did he make that was out of his power to deliver? I’ve never heard him make any promises that he couldn’t accomplish.
Arresting Bibi, taxing the super rich, just to name a couple
I never heard him make a campaign promise to arrest Netayahu, and he did investigate arresting him, and found that he didn’t have the jurisdiction as mayor. That’s not a lie, and that’s not a failure. It’s just not possible, and he never claimed it was. He just checked it out, and couldn’t do it. Would have been fun, but moving on…
And he is actively working on raising taxes on the wealthy in NYC with higher taxes on second homes, and is pushing a wealth tax that has to be passed by the state.
So he addressed, or is addressing the issues you mentioned. The Netanyahu thing doesn’t even count, that was just a dumb idea that went nowhere, but he’s definitely making significant progress on taxing the wealthy. He may not get the state wealth tax, but he will definitely get the second home tax, which will generate a half-billion in new taxes, without touching the working New Yorker.
These things don’t happen instantly with the snap of a finger like Trump always promises, and NEVER does, because it’s not possible. Even he can’t do that, and yet opponents feel that Mamdani should be able to, or he’s a failure. Progress takes time, and we are under no obligation to adhere to an unrealistic time frame dictated by Treasonous MAGA Pedophiles.
Finally, nobody should expect Mamdani to hit a grand slam home run with every swing. It’s not totally about success, it’s mostly just about trying. Previous mayors didn’t even bother to try. At least Mamdani is trying to make substantial changes in the lives of working Americans, and he’ll succeed in many, and fail in some. At least when he does succeed, real people feel the benefit, and not just a few rich fucks.
So far, his record of early success is better than almost any politician I’ve ever seen, with the possible exception of AOC. Together, they are a formidable team.
Right he is “working” on it. Not doing anything.
He is doing all kinds of shit. Shut the fuck up.
Another MAGA Democrat.
Umm he was pretty clear about arresting bibi. He said he wanted to but had to look into the legality, then came back and said they couldn’t find a legal route.
Yeah, that’s not Mamdani’s fault. We don’t expect him to be like Trump, and simply just break any law he finds inconvenient.