Zohran Mamdani | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #687

He's the 112th mayor of New York City. and one of the most talked about figures. in politics. Uh he's got a lot of big. ideas and uh and we're going to get into. it. I'm thankful for his time. Today's. guest is Mr. Zoron mom Donnie. find a song I've been singing.

>> and if you got a move on just do you. prefer Zeron? >> Yeah, I'm fine with that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, all right. >> Yeah. So far is good. Well, Theo, I. assume, is fine. >> Yeah, that's fine, man. Thank you so. much. >> No, please. >> Um, there's a lot of folklore out there. about who you are, right? Um, and a lot. of people have heard your name, but they. don't know you. Yeah. >> Um, you were born in Uganda. Yeah. >> You moved to New York at the age of. seven. >> Yeah. >> Uh, you were a rapper for a little.

while. Who wasn't? Um, >> a little while. >> Um, but give me uh the twominut. Give me. the twominut. Who is Zoran Mani? I would say it starts and ends with. being a New Yorker. As you said, I I. moved to our city when I was seven years. old. My dad got a job here in New York. City at Columbia. And so I grew up in. the Upper West Side and went to middle. school in the neighborhood, went to high. school in the Bronx at Bronx Science, and then I left for college and came.

back to this city. And the thing that. has always been a part of my life is. this city, no matter what stage of my. life I'm in. And to me right now, I have. the greatest job in the world because. every day I get to wake up, serve the. same city that I've loved since I was 7. years old. And and and I think. especially with a view of how do we make. this a city that not only everybody can. love, but everybody can live in. >> because a lot of people love this city, but not as many of them can live here. And that's because this is also most. expensive city in the United States of.

America. >> Is that true? >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> It's the third most expensive city in. the world. >> Wow. >> Uh what am I talking about? But I got to. pay whenever I leave here. Yeah. And I'm. not excited about it. Yeah. It's an. expensive place to be. Um what made you. want to be mayor? Like I'm a comedian, right? Um and you know, self-proclaimed, but there's some evidence of it, right? Because it's a weird thing to say. >> There's enough evidence. >> It's a weird thing to say though. sometimes. But I'm a comedian because I. need like there's something I need. people's approval, right? There's. something I need when I go on stage. The.

laughter, I don't know what it is. I. need to be seen. I don't know what it. is. But being a mayor just it seems like. you know sometimes the mayor is like you. know the the guy in town who like. finally wanted to be able to say well. everybody picked me or like you know it. becomes this sort of I'm the hero kind. of thing like why like why yeah why do. you want to be mayor? I think the thing. that pushed me the most to run for this. position was. both a love of the city but also a.

frustration with the fact that a lot of. the leaders of the city talked about the. problems like they there was nothing. they could do about it. It was like. somebody's got to figure this out. It's. like you're the mayor. >> Oh yeah, dude. That's where we are with. a lot of with a lot of. >> somebody is you. >> Yeah. >> And and I think it's not to say these. are easy things to resolve. It's not to. say you can snap your fingers and people. just were refusing to do it, but it's. that a lot of times it felt like people. weren't even trying. And if they were, they were just trying to make things. worse because there was money to be. made. When you make things worse, I this.

flip side of being the most expensive. city in the world is that a lot of. people make a lot of money in the city. and amidst all of that wealth, one in. four New Yorkers are living in poverty. So to me it was looking at the politics. of the city I love and seeing a complete. like abdication of duty just like a. sense of somebody else's problem not. mine to fix. And the thing about being. the mayor is yeah it's tough but also. you actually have tools that you can use. to help people to make people's lives.

better. >> Is that is that an honest fact Mr. Money? >> Yes sir. >> 26% of the So. >> your head be a tough start to the. interview. 26% of New York City residents totally a. record 2.2 2.2 million people live below. the poverty line. Um once you got in. office was there things like do you get. to see what's really going on? Like once. you're in there, can they keep like I. don't even know who they are anymore,

but it's like are there still secrets. kept? Are you a are you able to see that. like okay the way that this is. structured isn't for the everyday man. that this this system here has been. built um like for the elites or to favor. the elites like what did you see? >> I think one of the major things I saw. was how deeply mismanaged the city. budget was. It's not a sexy topic or one. that most people wake up thinking about, but. >> so often in politics, the incentive. >> is just to tell the best possible story.

of the day and not tell the whole truth. about what's actually happening. And so. the prior administration had said, you. know, we had a balanced budget. We had, I don't know, maybe a $6 billion deficit. or so in the year to come. And then we. came in, we looked through all the books. and we found that at a best case. scenario, we were at a $12 billion. deficit. >> in in the city. >> in this city. >> Wow. >> And the last time we had deficits like. that, there was a major global event. Something had happened to cause the.

deficit. It was, you know, it was tough. when it was the peak of the pandemic. It. was tough when it was the global. financial crisis. There was no event. around this that could explain this much. of a deficit. So, what do you think is. going on? Is it just greed? Like, is it. >> I think it's I mean, look, >> like what do you what did you notice? Like, what were some of the like. >> I think a lot of it is incompetence and. and a lack of interest in resolving it. A sense that you could just keep pushing. it until it was somebody else's problem. >> Wow. >> And that to me is like, yeah, look, I I.

I want to do a good job while I'm the. mayor. I also want to leave the city in. a good standing for whoever comes next. because it's still the same city. Whoever's the mayor, we still live in. the city. We still love the city. And so. when you come in and you're like, actually the deficit is twice as large. There's nothing you can pin it to. besides internal mismanagement. It also. just begs the question of what is going. on and what have been what have been the. the the decision-m like points over the.

course of the prior administration that. led to this point. So I think that was. one of the big things where you look. under the hood and it is way worse than. what you would have imagined. >> and you also realize how so much of the. government is built with a short term in. mind. I I'll give you an example. >> I come in, we start to see the most. serious snowfall we've seen in New York. City for a while. We haven't really had. winters with a lot of snow recently. >> Oh, that's nice. I like snow. >> Yeah. You know, I used to like snow. until I became the mayor and I thought. about snow as a structural problem.

Well, we're probably overpaying for it. from somebody. >> Well, I mean, the big thing is that we I. I I found out that the way we budget for. snow removal services is as an average. of the recent year's cost of snow. removal. So, if you haven't had snow for. the last few years, you're not going to. have any money really set aside for that. snow removal. >> Got it. >> And so, I think having to reallocate. that funding, deal with the first. blizzard in 10 years, these are the. kinds of things that are some of the. ones that they shock you when you get in. there. So it's fair to say then you just.

saw a lot of mismanagement. There's. >> mismanagement. There was waste. There's. also this addiction to consulting a. sense that you know for years we've been. told that if you contract something out. of government you will save money by. bringing in kind of specialized. consultants. When we looked at the city budget when. we looked at different departments. >> we realized we had to save a lot of. money through efficiency as well. We. couldn't just look for help from. elsewhere. So we set up something called. chief savings officers in every.

department and their remit was how can. you save this percentage in your. department without cutting services. We. do not want to cut services. So we saved. $94 million just by renegotiating. contracts to a better rate. Wow. >> We saved $24 million just by letting go. of unused office space. M. >> you know these are the kinds of things. where you can actually save you know. more than a billion dollars without. affecting the services you're delivering.

to people and that to me is look look. I'm I'm a socialist I believe in the. importance of government to deliver for. working people I also believe that that. government has to be the most excellent. efficient version of itself to be worthy. of people's trust and when I came in the. government that we saw was powered by. incredible city workers but mismanaged. at the up where waste was just an. accepted part of doing business. >> Yeah. >> And that can't be. Every time you waste, >> you tell somebody, "Don't believe in. government.

>> You You give them a reason.". >> Yeah, that's a good point, actually. Yeah, it's true. You're like, "Why would. I even Yeah. >> Why would I waste? >> I don't want to pay my taxes. Somebody's. just going to somebody's just going to. misappropriate it." But did you notice. Did you notice a lot of fraud? Like, was. it fraudulent, do you think it seemed, or was it just or is it is it even worth. figuring that out? I think it's it's if. you if you find an evidence of fraud, it's always worth figuring it out if if. that's actually the case. What I will. say is from what we've seen, it's more. to do with mismanagement. It's more to. do with just kind of fiscal impropriety,

I would say, like moving money around to. make it look like things are better than. they are. >> Um there there are some people in the. past administration who have been. investigated for fraud. That definitely. did happen. >> It's not I'm trying to think. I don't. even know. Maybe it's Eric Adams. I. don't know if it's him or not. Is it? >> He was He was the previous mayor. He He. had a number of. >> Yeah, he was bonkers, dude. Remember. when he was looking for those guns in. those Care Bears or whatever? >> I do remember. Yeah. Check your. backpacks off. >> Yeah, that's crazy. >> That's crazy. >> And he had.

>> And they had slugs or whatever in that. little um they had like one of those. little baby It was It was like a little. baby stroller. It was a fake one though. for kids when they have a baby. Like a. pretend baby or whatever to practice for. like mother for being a mother one day. or something. And then they found like a. little uh bag of dope on the side of it, you know. I was like, "What is this. about?" Yeah. >> But anyway, that's in fraudulent to me. >> I mean, he he had a number of top aids. who were investigated. >> Yeah. >> One of them memorably said when speaking. to a contractor, "Where are my crumbs?".

>> Oh, yeah. >> Like, "Where's my money as part of this. deal?". >> Oh, that sounds like a that's a bar, though, to be honest. >> Yeah. If you were going to be corrupt, those are the best words to use. >> Yeah. At least at least they were like. kind of poetic at being corrupt. You got. to say that. So that's kind of cool. >> But I but I think that to me is an. example of why people have lost faith. And people people look at it and they're. like, "I'm already giving you my money. Why should I give you my time? Why. should I give you my care?". >> Yeah. >> And and I don't ever want to lecture. somebody that they're wrong to feel that.

way. I want to prove to them that it can. be different and then from there hope. that they can they can believe. >> I know that um and thanks for talking. with me today, man. Um, I know one thing. that you champion is rent control, right? And that you worked in the. housing as a housing counselor. What's. the term? >> So, I worked as a foreclosure prevention. housing counselor. And I'll say that in. English. That is me working for. homeowners who are on the brink of. foreclosure. They would come in and I.

would negotiate with their bank on their. behalf. >> And was that private or was that was a. public service? >> That was working for a nonprofit. >> Okay, got Um, so I would work for a. nonprofit in Jackson Heights and. Richmond Hill and Queens. >> Mh. >> And these would be middle-ass. homeowners. They were, you know, what I. would find is these are people who we. would describe as having a successful. middle- class life. Yeah. >> They had a union job. They had a home. that they owned. >> and it was just one emergency often that. would throw them out of being on time. with their payments. >> Oh yeah. and it would be a medical visit.

they hadn't planned for an illness of a. family member, you know, they had a car, you know, some kind of a car accident. And. >> yeah, I've been there. I mean, I've been. on the edge of where it's like you have. to call and you're trying to figure out. refinancing and that takes so much of. your time and then you have to go to a. public service to get some help. It's a. nightmare. >> It it isn't. I I think what was it was. one of the more fulfilling things I've. ever done in my life. Uh because I could. help someone stay in their home. The. more depressing part of it is no matter.

how many clients I helped, there would. always be another client. >> And it doesn't take away from the people. that you helped, but it makes you. realize that this is a systemic issue. There is no amount of individual. assistance I can provide that will stop. this. And that's then what made me think. about running for office was. understanding that actually if you want. to resolve this, you have to get into. the systems and the structures that. create these kinds of conditions because.

there are so many people who you'd think. are living a successful middle class. life and they're like you said, they're. on the brink. >> Yeah. >> And they shouldn't need some. intervention from one person to be able. to survive. That shouldn't be based on. whether or not that person does their. job. And in that case, that person was. me. >> Where does like, you know, rent. increase, like the cost of living has. gone up. We live in a in a time it's. really, really tough, right? You talked. about a middle class worker who's just. trying to keep his home. Do you think. that the American dream is even is still.

alive even bring up what is the American. dream? People have damn forgot what. it is. That's. the American dream is the belief that. anyone in the United States, regardless. of where they started, should have a. fair chance to build a better, freer, and more fulfilling life through. ability, effort, and opportunity. It's. an ideal, not a guarantee. >> Look at that. Look at that second. sentence. I think in many ways that is. the issue. >> A fair chance. >> No, it is an ideal, not a guarantee.

>> Right? It's not Okay. So, I see what. you're saying. So, it's not something. that's guaranteed to you, but it should. be something that we can feel. And I. think it's something that it's like it's. kind of like this tone that resonates. inside of everybody here that I have a. chance if I show up for myself, if I do. my best. Um, you may need a little bit. of luck or a little bit of good fortune. along the way. I feel like that's always. felt like it's been the case, but I feel. like that that that that's starting to. dissolve. >> It's slipping away and and. >> it doesn't feel real anymore. >> It it feels like a thing you can believe.

in, not a thing you can live. M. >> and it needs to be it needs to be a. guarantee. >> Yeah. >> If something is just an ideal, it starts. to lose its worth. I mean, think about. democracy. A lot of people talk about. democracy now as an ideal or as a value. And to somebody who can't afford their. groceries, they're like, "What do I care. about a value? What do I care about an. ideal?" Like, I'll give you an example. To me, the greatest mayor in New York. City history, Mayor Furel LaGuardia. And.

when he was the mayor of this about a. hundred years ago, he was looking at the. fall of democracies in Europe and he was. saying people are not turning away from. democracy because they're tired of. liberty. They're turning away because. they're tired of being hungry. They're. they're tired of not being able to feed. their family. So if democracy doesn't. mean the better life that it has to, it'll lose its worth. And the same thing. with the American dream. If it's. something you can only see when you turn. on your TV or you hear about that one. guy you grew up with who made it, >> that doesn't mean enough. Yeah. >> And so to me it's like in this city.

the reason I'm focused on housing and. child care and groceries, it's like. these are the basic aspects of a good. dignified life and people can't afford. them. I mean. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. Well, I've seen some of. the stuff that you've done. You know, I. know that you were offering like um a. night out for parents, you know, the. opportunity to go have a night out for. themselves and to offer child care to. help with that. Uh tickets for the. opera, which is just a chance for. somebody to have a new experience, which. I saw. That's pretty cool, right? like a. lot of quality of life sort of things. I.

think there's Oh, I know you're working. with the stabilization of rent control, right? And a two-year moratorium on an. increase. >> Yeah, that's what the the independent. rent guidelines board, they came out, they said for the next year and the year. after that, no rent increase for more. than 2 million New Yorkers, >> right? And it sounds like to me it. sounds like you're just trying to give. people a chance to take a breath, right? That's what it sounds like. I mean, all. those things kind of like, >> you know, I can have a night out, right? I can listen to a music that gives me a. bit of peace, right? I can know for a.

couple years that the job that I have is. going to equate with the uh costs that. are going to be going out, right? >> That's that's it is that is such a. beautiful way of describing it is to. take a breath because when we talk to. parents and we ask them, you know, what. are the two most important things that. could make a difference in your life? It's time and money. >> Yeah. And you give them the time of a. night out, you take care of the cost of. child care. >> Oh, yeah. And it keeps the love going. If you got to take your lady out, >> you know, go out for a dinner.

>> Yeah. Go out for a fish dinner. >> But. >> if you got a little couple extra bucks, if it's Friday, >> that's fish dinner. >> Yeah, that's If somebody loves you, I. think they buy you fish. But. >> what kind of fish is your favorite? >> Huh? You know, there's one I don't like, but it smells really bad, but I can. never remember which one it is. >> Okay, I'm going to hit you with a. couple. >> All right. >> Is it Branzeno? >> I feel like it. Branzino is the one that. was in the mob or something? I don't eat. that one. >> Was it? >> Huh? Yeah. Branzino. >> Was that in the mob? >> He probably was. What are you even. talking about? You're going to tell me.

wasn't freaking involved in some fishy. business or whatever. >> All I'm saying is if you want some good. fish, 31st Street in Broadway, Atoria, Bahari Estorio, >> great great Greek seafood. >> Baharia. >> Bahari. >> Bahari. >> Yeah. >> Estorio. >> Estorio. >> Okay. >> Branzino. >> Okay. >> Don't ask. He's not a guy there. >> Okay. Okay. >> He's the fish. >> Okay. Got it. I got it. Okay. Yeah. I. think but there's they miss they they. there's a lot of misguidance with fish. because they'll come in with like every. year like a new fish comes out like. Baram Mundy. Where was that? My whole.

life didn't exist. Bam. Suddenly. Who is. that? >> That's what I'm saying. It's on the. menus. But yeah, he's not running. against you. You know what I'm saying? But Baramundi is Yeah. Baramundi sounds. like. >> I thought we dealt with him. >> But me, too. But still. Then they come. in with tilapia. Like they come in with. >> tap tilapia is a classic. >> But has it always been there? Like it. came out probably 16 years ago. People. started talking about tilapia. Then they. come in with white fish. And then a lot. of American catfish got replaced with. this thing. I think it was called we. fish. Can you look it up? This. Vietnamese fish. >> They snuck it in. They snuck it in. You.

know, >> Vietnamese fish dishes commonly feature. No, it's called wee fish. No. Quue E. Maybe. Quue E. >> Queish. >> Que. Well, that's not the clip we need. out there. >> Okay, that's not. >> okay. Look, I mean, I'm just saying I'll. say this. >> I was repeating what you said. >> Well, I look I do not never repeat after. me, sir. I'll tell you that straight up. >> But will you look it up? It was a fish. that replaced catfish in Louisiana in a.

lot of restaurants. I think, >> you know, it's funny cuz I was born in. Uganda. >> Mhm. >> And in in Kala, we're by Lake Victoria. Oh, this one. >> Oh, sw the fish you're thinking of is. usually S w ai, a Vietnamese farmra. pangas fish often used as a cheaper. substitute for Louisiana US catfish. Is. >> this the one you're thinking of? >> Yeah, they snuck it in a while back. I. don't know what happened. Swelettes are. mild white boneless and usually.

inexpensive properties that make them. suitable for fried fish plates. Anyway, there was a time when they were. gaslighting a lot of fish plates with. using this or whatever. I don't know if. gaslighting is a term, but they were. tricking people. They didn't tell you, but you just knew something was off, you. know? >> SW. >> Yeah. Why? It was just a fish a fish. that had happened. Um, anyway, >> do you like it? >> I didn't like it. And I knew something. was wrong. >> You knew it wasn't catfish. >> I just knew Yeah. I just knew something. was wrong and I'd ask and nobody would. You couldn't get any real information,

you know? It's kind of like government, you know. I think it's probably like. that. Like you think you have you think. you have this like democracy, but then. you start realizing like something's. wrong here, right? Something's a little. off. You know, there's some bad fish in. here, you know? Um and that's I don't. even know if that was a good comparison. But. >> I I actually think, >> have you heard of the term. inshitification? >> Inshittification? Yeah, I haven't. I. might I might screw this up a little. bit, but my sense of it is that it's a. description of how something that is.

initially successful. >> is then made worse oftenimes in a. pursuit of greater profit. The quality. gets worse. >> Oh yeah. >> And profit gets greater. >> Yeah. Stance socks. There was a company. called Stance Socks and they had, this. is just my judgment, they had the best. socks and then they started getting them. I think outsourced. Something happened. They started just wanting to make a high. higher level of money and it's fair. That's their business, you know. Um but. initification the process where online. platforms or digital services. progressively degrade in quality over.

time as they chase maximum profits. Um. well that was going to be one of my next. questions for you. Uh is yeah like do. you think that the American dream is. still alive? You know um I don't know it. used to feel like you did enough work. you did this and you did these things. and you could have this you could have a. life right you could have an existence. What's that graph we were looking at at. earlier Nick? if you have that it was. about yeah US rent prices versus income. since 1986. and you can see that rent prices are up.

150% uh whereas um income is up on. average 25%. >> It's unbelievable. >> It's unbelievable. >> I mean it's right you're putting people. This is just a slow boiling Yeah. of. people's ability to at some point even. have peace because if you don't have. peace if you can't like catch your. breath like you're saying it's like. >> you just can't operate you know like you. can't live the American dream if you. can't get a good night's sleep. >> Yeah. >> You know like if you're stressed out. it's like you know and I just think that.

that's a place where we're at. A lot of. people are um they in internally they. still have that thing that wants them to. be able to do it right. They're. striving, but the external isn't meeting. them halfway or even a third of the way. anymore like I feel like it used to. >> It feels like you have to luck out in. some big way. >> Yeah. >> I mean, in many ways, I feel like it's. why a lot of people play the lottery. That's for many, it feels like their. only chance.

Well, do you feel like there's like. >> like people. people think that they have better odds. playing the lottery than making it in. their own life? What does that say about. the country that we live in? >> Well, it just feels now it feels like if. you are born in a certain circles, you. know, if you have certain DNA, if you. have um. >> uh that there's kind of like a you do. the work and I'll earn the earn the earn. the wages, I'll earn the money. It feels. severely like there's like a trafficking. of opportunity. That's what I would say.

it feels like to me a lot of times. >> And and it and to me, one of the. greatest things about this country is. that the American dream wasn't just held. up as an ideal for someone else. It was. that you thought it was for you, too. >> Yeah. >> And the problem is that people, like. you're saying, people feel like no. matter how hard they work, it's just as. far away. They're not getting any closer. to it. And. >> well, they're the only ones holding up. their end of the bargain. That's what it. feels like. America isn't holding up its.

end of the bargain anymore. >> And I think the tough part of this, if. I'm thinking about it from a city level. as a mayor, >> Yeah. That's what I was going to say. It's not really your responsibility cuz. you're a city guy, but it is a bigger. picture. >> The city is a microcosm of the country. >> Yeah. And it's our biggest microcosm. >> Exactly. And and. if you look at it at the city, it's not. even like people are struggling and it's. everybody. It's that we're also the. wealthiest city in the world. There's. never been a wealthier city than this. So imagine you're living that graph and.

then you look outside in your city and. you see the kind of wealth that exists. here. You realize that it's not for a. lack of opportunity being created. It's. that that opportunity is being. consolidated. >> Yeah. And that's why for me, one of the. things that I speak about so often is we. have to make this a place where everyone. can afford it because right now it feels. like the city is becoming a museum, something a middle-ass family can afford. to visit once a month, maybe on the.

weekends. >> Yeah. >> We want people to live here and there's. more than enough money for everyone to. be able to. >> Well, where does where does greed come. into play then? Cuz that seems like a. word that's not maybe spoken about. sometimes. I don't know. It just seems. like then at that point it would seem. like some people are just being really. greedy. >> I think that greed is baked in to a lot. of this economy. I think that you know. just last week we we held Door Dash to. account. >> Yeah, congratulations dude. >> Thank you man. >> That was cool. I mean I know there were. other people that were involved. Who was.

who was involved? >> I would say the first person I want to. give credit to is the is the. commissioner of that agency. The agency. is DCWP. Commissioner's name is Sam. Lavine. >> Nice. does a great job. The people at. DCWP, they are doing great work. What. they did, >> they poured through terabytes of Door. Dash data and they found that Door Dash. was underpaying or not paying at all. more than $260,000 workers. >> Damn. >> For 131.5 million. This the largest.

labor settlement in New York. >> Wait, how much was it? >> 131 million half dollars. >> That's a lot. That's as much you can. have. >> That's a lot of money. >> Yeah. >> And and the thing that I so appreciate. about Sam and DCWP. is that they're not now going to make. those delivery workers jump through a. hoop. >> That money, >> they're going to hit them with it. >> They're going to the same email that. they were registered with with Door. Dash. They have a choice. Do you want it. as a check? Do you want it as direct. deposit? >> Dang. >> And if you don't respond, just send in.

the check. >> Wow. >> And that to me is you have to make it. easy. You have to make justice easy. >> Yeah. they made it hard as hard, >> then we're going to end up with cruelty. >> Everything's be Well, not everything. And I don't want this to be a dower. conversation. Sometimes I can get a. little bit dower. >> So, we're not getting der. >> Okay. So, but that's awesome, dude. Oh, god. I should have done freaking Door. Dash. >> I think I think you're doing all right, >> dude. You got to go after some other. companies. I have a list of companies. I've worked for that I want you guys to.

look into. >> The sock one, Tans. >> Oh, Stance. >> Stance. >> No, I never worked for them. I've worked. at Cold Stone Creamers though for almost. 11 months. >> Like it love it. Got out. >> I did lie. Seven months. >> Um, >> where did you work for them? >> I worked at location 1171. >> Where would I I know 1172, so I'm not as. familiar. >> Oh, yeah. It was I was outside of Baton. Rouge. So, yeah. And people like, you. know, they like ice cream, but. >> did you have to do the singing? >> Uh, I would do it sometimes, but also. sometimes I would send once I was had a. little bit of seniority, which only took. one month because we had a lot of.

turnover and we had and we had layoffs. But um once I had seniority, I'd make. the like uh like I don't want to say. lower level employees. It was just me. and one other guy, but I'd make I'd make. Danny go up there. >> What was he singing? Huh? He would have. sing the happy birthday song. But. anyway, we got more important. I'm. >> sorry. Shout outs to Danny though. >> Yeah, shout out to dude. I think he's. okay, dude. Actually, I will rat him out. a little bit because he had this like. >> he kind of this another problem is some.

people want to take it too easy. his. arms would get too cold from being in. this in the in where the ice cream was. like in the ice cream aquarium or. whatever and he'd have to go. >> ice cream aquarium. >> or like whatever you put the ice cream. in the. >> I've never heard it described. >> You know what I'm saying? Like the thing. where the ice cream's in. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> He'd start complaining his arms were too. cold and he have to go sit on the side. and wrap a towel around each arm. So, I'm going to rat him out. Danny, you. little freaking cold arm monkey. Um. anyway, moving on, sir. Um. sports betting has become impossible to. ignore this season. It's in every app,

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Like Yeah. Like how does greed like how. do you think how do you battle greed? Like how do you battle it? Like is that. a is that even a real thing that can. happen? >> Yes. Yes, it is. And I think the reason. I even was was bringing up Door Dash is. that the CEO of Door Dash spoke openly. about needing to use the greedy. algorithm, right? needing to pursue, like we were talking about in. shitification, needing to pursue. whatever the path was to highest maximum. profit. >> And why did he say he did? >> Because to shareholders, profit is all.

that matters. >> Dude, I'd rather lose money on the stock. that I'm invested in and everybody have. make a fair wage. >> That's what I'm saying. And and I think. the problem is we start to think about. everything from the perspective of a. shareholder that people have to make. more and more and more money. And these. companies look at the products they have. and they say, "How can I create more. money? I have to drive up the margin. And I can only do that by breaking the. law, driving down the quality, whatever. it may be." And I think to your.

question, can you hold greed to account? I believe you can. You just have to be. willing because it's not an easy thing. And the funny thing is when you do it, the people you're holding to account. will pretend like they were going to get. there anyway. Door Dash morning of the. announcement puts out like a notes. apology. It's like a hey guys, >> we just found out. >> Yeah, long night over here. >> You know, we just we mistreated some. dashers. >> It sounds like they're talking about. like the reindeers that you love. >> And it's like you don't care about these.

guys, >> but they're like, we just mistreated. some dashers to the tune of $131.5. million. >> just like a post like so sorry. Never. going to do it again. It's like, >> do you is the is your is your government. your state your is your city government. equipped well enough to battle some of. those algorithms? Like do you guys have. a technical group that's capable enough? Cuz that seems like a place where a lot. of these companies sort of are hiding in. sort of this um place that's not as.

brick and mortar where you can't send. like a you know an employee to go over. there and just be a surveyor or be a um. >> like a inspector. >> Inspector. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I think that's the only reason. we were able to hold them to this. account was because again Sam Lavine. DCWP, they have incredible city workers. at DCWP who literally pour through. terabytes of data. >> And one of the things that's so exciting. is this isn't just a settlement where. Door Dash delivery workers will get. money. 15 million of this roughly around 100 I.

think about 16 and a half million is. civil penalties and fines. From that. money, we're developing our own app that. the Door Dash delivery workers can use. to record their use of the Door Dash. app. So, when Door Dash gives us its. data, we will also have the same the. workers who worked giving us their. version of the data to cross reference. it. >> Man, that seems like so much extra work. just cuz somebody doesn't want to be. honest, though. >> You got to you got to plan for a lack of.

compliance as opposed to expect that. you'll get it. >> And who was the company? Who owned that. company that was doing that? Like, who. was allowing that to happen on their. watch? I. >> mean, that's Door Dash. >> But who's the owner of it? Who's the. owner of Door Dash? >> About to find out. >> Publicly traded company. >> But who's the CEO of it? Chief executive officer, sir, and. co-founder of Door Dash is. >> Tony Shu. >> Tony Shu. Hey, Tony. What's up with Shu, bro? Pay up, dog. Come on, bro. And.

Tony, he knew what's he knows what's. popping. Tony, what's going on? And. that's allegedly Tony Shu. We don't. know. We don't have an attorney. So. that's just allegedly him. And that's. allegedly how you even pronounce his. name. Um, but yeah, don't dash on your. workers like that, Tony. That didn't. seem cool. Um, Zeron, let's go into like. let's go into a common ground actually. that both of us had like we both went to. the nurses strike. >> Can I can I reach over and adapt you up? >> Yeah, I'll do it. >> All right. Tell We both.

>> type Type. >> We need a type at this point, dude. Just for even being alive, bro. We. should have a type day for the. entire country where everybody. >> That's actually what I'm here to. announce. >> Thank you so much. >> I didn't know that you were going to. join me in this. >> type man. Just cuz we're go people. are going through it, bro. And we're. able to feed and house ourselves, man. And people are really going through it. >> You know, when when the parents drop. their kids off for that night. >> for the night of what? for the for the.

for the parents night out when when. child care for the kids. >> Okay. >> Everybody just says it right after they. drop the kids off. >> That's it. Now, once the kids are out of. earshot, the kids do not need to be. hearing this. >> Do not need to hear this. >> No, but once they're out, I want to see. parents high-fiving with a TS between. them, brothers. One thing that we have in common is the. nurses strike. We both went out. My. sister's a nurse, right? Yeah, it's it's just got a soft spot in. my heart and um. >> and and it's probably the job that I. admire the most.

>> cuz it feels like it's one of the places. that it's very obvious that someone is. putting in their care, right? I mean, they're genuine care, their time, taking. time, and these are mothers, a lot of. them, and so they're taking time away. from their own children and their own. family members to be there for someone. else's, right? which is it's such a um. it's it's almost the biggest sacrifice. you could do would be to love someone, you know, to love someone else solely. for their own wellness, right? Um. >> it's it's. >> and but this but. >> that's a beautiful way of putting it. >> I I saw a fact that those nurses would.

have to work 200 years full-time. uh to make some of the same salaries. that some of these CEOs make in just one. year at those hospitals. I mean that. what are we doing? It gets back to the. lottery thing. It's like you don't even. have that shot. And it's not that people. need to make what that CEO is making, right? Like we're talking about. astronomical figures. But again, to what. you were saying earlier, labor is what is creating the value. >> Yeah. >> And you have nurses who are pouring.

everything into their job. >> Yeah. >> Like sometimes it's hyperbolic when. people describe things as life or death. or life-saving. This is literal. This is. literal when we describe this as life. saving. >> That's a great point. >> And. >> and we can't even pay them. >> We can't And and when you go to the. picket line and you hear from these. nurses, what are they asking for? They're asking for safe staffing. They're asking for better ratios between. nurses and patients so they can take. care of the patients. >> Yeah. Some of them had an insane like. people don't understand the nurse ratio.

Some of it it's like, yeah, how many. patients are they responsible for for. each nurse? >> They simply cannot take care of that. many patients. And yet that's what. they're asked, that's what they're being. asked to do. >> Yeah. and safe conditions. They wanted. security around some of their parking. lots and around some of the hospitals so. they could walk safely to their car. after work so they don't end up hurt and. in the hospital they work at. >> Does this sound like luxury? >> One nurse got hurt after work. They put. her in the hospital. Then they put her. on her own chart. So she had to be the. patient and then come and take care of.

herself. >> That's insane. >> What the heck, dude? That's impossible. And they won't give some of them. adequate healthare. And what are we that's it's like it's. almost at the point now where it's like. you have to laugh at sometimes because. like they say c that police officers. sometimes you'll see them laughing. outside of something that like a murder. scene or something very sad and it's. because it's a body's natural way of. handling it. >> and it's just like. >> it's either laugh or cry and and I think. >> what's you know I I remember meeting a.

nurse I asked her you know she let out a. big sigh. We were in the elevator. together she let out a big sigh. I was. like how's your day going? She's like, "Ah, it's going okay. Um, I got to go. home after this." I was like, "Oh, where's that?" She said, "I have to. drive for 2 hours.". >> Cuz she couldn't afford to live in this. city that she's working in. >> Yeah. >> And and I like beyond what that does for. her quality of life, beyond what that. means about this city, also in terms of. safety. You have nurses pouring. everything they have into their shift. and then you want that person to get on.

the road for 2 hours at night. >> It's unreal. And it's the same. city that like had would spend all the. money on the commercial. Let's applaud. our co nurse being in the front lines. And now they can't even like they can't. where where are those commercials now. when you want to take care of your. nurses. Where's that same energy? >> This goes back to what we were saying. earlier, which is the difference between. a value and something that's material. It's like we were there to clap. Now we. have to actually take care of these. people in a way that isn't just 7 p.m. clapping outside of our window.

>> Is there a go on? I'm sorry. Well, well, I think that was one of the reasons that. I went out on the picket line. >> And there were these articles written. about mayors don't stand on picket. lines. Mayors have to remain neutral in. a negotiation between workers and. management. And you know, Desmond Tutu. spoke about a long time ago that. neutrality in the face of oppression is. choosing injustice. >> Yeah. >> And. >> Amen. How am I going to be the mayor who. ran on a platform of making the city. affordable and then just sit in my. office and watch nurses rally for the.

basics and say not my fight. >> the basics. Agreed. Dude, if you're not. fighting for the underdog anymore, who. the are you even fighting for, bro? That's my question. And Desmond Tutu. came and spoke to us when I was a. student. I was a student on semester at. C. I worked in the bookstore there and. uh they gave us a chance to go like on. this cruise ship. It was like a cruise. ship around the world and I got a. scholarship or whatever and I got to go. But he came and spoke to us on our on. our boat one day. It was pretty cool. Anyway, that's bragging. But. >> that's awesome. It's not bragging. That's facts. >> It was pretty cool. You're right. >> But I mean to your question, if you're.

not rooting for the underdog, who you. rooting for? You're rooting for the. favorite and you're telling yourself. they're the underdog. >> That that that's the funny thing is when. you talk to people, nobody thinks that. >> they're rooting for the system. >> Yeah. >> They think that they're everyone thinks. they're agrieved by the system. >> Yeah. >> But we have to actually address the. problems of it. >> Do you think you can do that? >> I think so. >> You do? >> I don't think it's easy. Right. >> I don't think it can happen. I don't. think we've solved it in in nine months. >> But but I think in nine months we've. started to deliver universal child care. for families. There's 2,000 families in.

this city that are now saving 20K that. they would have otherwise spent. We've. shown that we can do the big things, the. little things. We've paved 200,000. potholes. We've won this $131.5 million. back for the working-class people who. deliver the food that people need to to. stay full. And this while also saying. that so many of the things that annoy so. many people, they're going to be our. problem, too. I mean, coming up in. October, we're launching the nation's. first municipal click to cancel rule.

So, what that means is we're going to. have a portal where you can submit any. of the subscriptions you have, like if. it's like a Planet Fitness or Peacock or. whatever it may be, and you don't. >> and you guys will cancel it for them. >> That's what we're going to do. >> Go, bro. You're going to do that. >> then. And that's the thing is that they. it has to be as easy to cancel as it is. to sign up. >> Yeah. Cuz it's not fair because they. trap you, bro, when you're calling. somebody and they're like, "Meet me. under a bridge if you want to cancel or. whatever." Like what? Our town doesn't. even have a river in it. Like what. bridge? Like it's all bro a lot. It's a.

lot of just a shell game to steal. people's money and then your time and. then your stress goes up and then you. get inflamed and then you have to go to. the hospital. You know, that's where. it's at. It's like it's just like Yeah. It feels like kind of a dark game. sometimes. It starts small though. But. all those little small things are really. starting to add up for people. >> They they build. >> um some people and yeah, shout out. nurses, man. That's nurses. Yeah, maybe. I'll marry a nurse one day. I don't. know. Got to meet one. >> Single. Uh but TBD, right? TBD, you.

know. Um. >> you on the apps? >> No, I'm not on the apps. I don't You. know what I don't like? >> What? >> I don't like Were you ever on the on the. apps? >> I was. You are. >> I met Not No, not now. I was back then. Um I I met my wife on Hinge. Nice, bro. >> But it's also it's not easy. >> Oh, dude. I don't Oh, no. I know it's. not. I know it takes a lot of work for. people on there. Um, just the And that's. a level of like, >> you know, you know. Well, congratulations. That's cool. Thank you. >> Yeah. And are you still married? >> Yes, we're still married.

>> Okay, great. Oh, yeah. I didn't see. that. I'm sorry. >> Um, well, let me ask you, >> but but I do want to answer the reason. why I didn't like it. I don't like. somebody being able to tell me no when. they're not in front of me. >> Like, you can look at me and tell me no, cuz I do that every day. kind of like. somewhere in the dark recesses in my. head, you know, but you're not going to. do it from the comfort of your own home, you know? You got to you got to show up. You got to see me. >> Yeah. You at least show up cuz if you. show up and tell me no, it's like I. that's fair, you know, like you come, you've looked in the window, you've been. like, "Dear God, >> you gave me a shot.".

>> Yeah. Yes. Yeah. You just said, even you. just came over. Yeah. Take a gander, you. know. Look, you know, filter filter. I. know it's a bit of a sale rack over. here, but filter through, you know. Um, so I think that's why I'm not on them. Um, I want to talk a little bit about. socialism, right? Because it's it's a. buzzword, right? Because socialism, will you define socialism for us? Because people say it a lot and don't. know what it is. And sometimes those. people are me. >> I'm so happy to be with those people. right now. Um, socialism to me it means.

that you will have whatever you need to. live a dignified life and that it is the. government's job to deliver on that. >> Okay? >> Right? It's it's a belief that you. shouldn't we shouldn't live in a place. where all you can do is pick your own. leaders. You should also be able to have. that power in the rest of your life. Right? People talk about it as the. extension of democracy from the ballot. box to the rest of your life. What do.

people mean by the rest of your life? They mean your workplace, your home, things like that. So when people say. dignity, I want to be very clear. We're. talking about the things that allow you. to take a breath, housing, child care, right? Public transit. No one should be. priced out of these things. These are. non-negotiables. You need these to live. And what I think is so confusing is. there's parts of life in our country. that line up with this belief, right?

Public education, right? We we believe. that everyone should be able to go K. through 12 for free. >> Mhm. >> And they do. Libraries, we believe that. everybody should be able to read a book. that they'd like to for free. And they. do. But when it comes to early childhood. education, right, before kindergarten, we're comfortable with people paying. $20,000 a year to afford it. >> because that's what the cost of the. average cost in. >> in New York City. >> In New York City, right now, >> that's a good deal. >> Yeah. >> They did a study that found that for a.

family of three to afford child care, they had to make $330,000. a year. >> to live in the city and afford childare. >> In the city and afford childare, >> a a family of three. >> So that means only one child. >> One child. >> Okay. And and to me, that's kind of even. what used to be enough money 10 years. ago is not enough money. That the. struggles of affordability, they apply. to a lot more people than people. typically think. And and to me, when as. a socialist, what I'm fighting for is.

that nobody is priced out of dignity. And there's there's just a comfort right. now with. living in a country where the market. gets to determine everything, not just. luxury, but dignity, too. We say, "Oh, I'm sorry. You don't have enough money. to afford a home.". >> It makes you feel like Yeah. There's. >> to afford food. >> Yeah. >> It's like it's it's. >> Oh, I can't imagine. Yeah. A dad that is. like having to maybe watch his kids eat. something that he wishes they could eat. something better because he can't afford.

it even though he worked all day. like. what do you want him to do? >> Yeah. Right. What do you want him to do? Where is he supposed to go? >> Right. At that point, it's a level of. you're just create you're creating a. level of suffering. Right. And people. like will say like, okay, some of this stuff I don't know. exactly about, but I'm just thinking it. the best that I can. And our listeners. know that I don't know about this. So, it's like I'm not going to pretend that. I know a lot about some things about. socialism, um, democracy, communism, etc. >> Be right at home in politics. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. Good. I mean, you you.

explained socialism like I kind of. thought it was, right? That's what I. what I what I thought it was. It feels. to me like we're in this kind of. privatized communism right now that. people don't want to admit to a little. bit. Like it feels definitely like the. government um like it's basically. businesses that are running how we. operate. It's businesses that are even. puppeteering our government. I mean, it. seems like that at at a very high level, especially like when you get into like. um you know, lobbies and some of these. tech industries and stuff like that. I.

mean, and I think that's obvious to me. by you have people that were like heads. of large companies, especially in the. tech sector, who were Democrats last. time, but now they're Republicans. suddenly. And people like, "Oh, that's. just odd." You know, it's not odd. It's. just because of the opportunity, I feel. like, to be some sort of a puppeteer, right? But outside of that like we've. people want to there's this desire. inside of us I feel like as a just a. American person that you want to believe. in capitalism right you want to fight.

for capitalism because that feels like. what's fair that feels like what's. always been there but now it feels like. like so much is owned by just a 1% right. that's like. >> like how can you believe in if there's. no capital to ism you know what what do. you still fighting for, right? And I do. understand though that people I. understand when people like socialism, you can't put the government in charge. of everything. >> But at a certain point, if capitalism is. not working for everybody, if it's only.

working in theory and and and 1% own. everything and have just monopolized. everything and squeezed it into, you. know, just into themselves and into. their own chest, if there's a level of. greed that's that big, >> then you have to do something to take. care of people. >> Yeah. At that point, it's not humane to. still believe in something that doesn't. seem like it's working. I'm not saying I. know everything about capitalism. I. don't I don't even know why I'm kind of. agitated. But. >> but you don't you don't need. >> but it's not but if it's not working. then something has to be done. And so.

that's like. >> but when people hear socialism they get. very scared, right? So are is it like. kind of a new idea of socialism that. you're pitching or is it just that that. there's no other way out? Because for. me, I don't know I I wouldn't describe. myself as a socialist. I believe in. democracy. That's sort of like I think. >> that's the that's the building block of. socialism. >> Okay. >> And and I would say is that you don't. need to have a PhD in this. >> You just need to walk outside. >> Look at the world that you live in.

>> and ask yourself, is this enough? >> Well, is this working? Also too, it's. like how long do we want to keep like, you know what I'm saying? Like it's like. putting your fantasy team out there. every week and you're like they. They've been bad for like one guy's 100, one guy's 77, one guy's Mitch McConnell. who doesn't even know he's a guy. anymore. It just like, you know, you. start to look at like if something isn't. working, then even if there's a guy who. will come in and has a sort of a. hailmary idea, even if it is a hailmary. idea to some people, right, I would ra.

there's something about at least that's. something different. Yeah. >> Right. Like that's the part of me that. like um I'm not saying that I'm a. socialist or that I'm you know I'm a. capitalist. I I practice. capitalism. I I work in it. You know. there's things I don't like about it but. I still take part in it. So it's tough. for me to be angry at a system that I. also cooperate with and work in. But um. >> but I think the the other thing. >> Am I making any sense? >> You're making a lot of sense. And I. would say what else can we we I feel. like we're at a point where there you. have to do something. And and I think.

that the contradictions that you're. talking about, those are the ones that. everyone is living through. We're all. living through capitalism. And you might. be doing well and at the same time you. can still feel anguish about the fact. that there are other people working just. as hard who aren't and they never will. because they don't have a shot. And the. only thing like if we keep go, you know, I keep going back to this this thing of. the lottery. It's like the chances of. hitting it are so low and yet people see. it as higher what the chances in their.

own life and it effectively ends up. becoming attacks on the poor. >> and and and what we're talking about is. how do you bring some humanity back into. what you guarantee to everyone. >> and often times people will say it's. idealistic and I just go back to. LaGuardia the the mayor of about a. hundred years ago and he said I'm going. to go right on with my idealism because. >> it is an ideal ism that delivers for. everyone who lives here. And that to me. is is if you're if you're not fighting.

for them, then what are you doing? >> If you're fighting to just keep this. system. >> Yeah. But that that's Yeah, that is. crazy. >> You know, and we don't we don't want the. same thing with a different face and a. different name and a different we want. something different. I think. >> it's like this been a long. Halloween, bro. This like. >> this like system that we've been living. in. It's been a It's been a long. Halloween for a lot of people. you were. saying earlier, you know, what do you. do, right? I think implicit in that is. like you feel this, then what do you do?

I mean, the the place that I found as my. political home was an organization. called the Democratic Socialists of. America. And this was a place where I. would just go for meetings and I would. meet people who felt the same way. And. first, you would realize that you're not. alone. You're not nuts. You are actually. part of something much bigger than. yourself. And you can be as well. And it. feels like when people go through life, the further they get away from school, the more isolated they start to become. from the world around them.

>> Yeah. >> And that is also a function of a society. where people are what they call. increasingly atomized, just separated. out. And so much of the fabric that we. used to have, it started to come apart. at the seams. And for me being a member. of this organization, it was something. that opened my eyes to how to make sense. of it and also what I could do to change. it. And that was something that it. didn't just help me with my anxiety. It. also just helped me with my sense of my. place in the world where it was like,

>> okay, I feel this way. Here's a. candidate that feels the same. I'm going. to go and knock on doors for them. >> And that's what I did for a lot of. years. I would just go out there. I. would knock on doors, door after door. after door. And one of the most. radicalizing things is when you knock on. somebody's door, they open their door, they invite you into their home, and you. see the life that they live, and you ask. yourself, "How can this be okay in a. city this wealthy?".

>> You knock on a door, you're there to ask. them, "Are they going to vote in an. election in 3 weeks?" And it's an older. man in Bay Ridge, and he says, "Come in, come into my apartment." And he's proud. and he's welcoming you. And you look at. this man, he's north of 80 years old. He's alone. And you're like, how is this life? >> Yeah. >> This man has worked his whole life. >> And how is this how we treat him? >> Yeah. >> Sorry. I know you said you didn't want. to be da. I don't think Der though, >> but yeah. So, doesn't does our. government already kind of practice.

socialism with some of their policies? A. lot of the things a lot of the programs. that they're supposed to have are. already a form of socialism, isn't it? >> Yes, there are there are socialistic. policies we have. >> Okay. The point is how do we actually. expand that so that everyone gets to. benefit from it. Okay? >> Right? Like and you think about whenever. people come forward with an idea of. taking care of working people, >> it is slammed with the most kind of. fear-mongering tactics you can think. When the idea of social security was. introduced, it was described as trying.

to sovietize the republic. That's how. people talked about it. And now social. security is the most normal thing you. could think of in this country. >> Yeah. And you know, right now we're. trying to build five cityrun grocery. stores. Why? Because the cost of. groceries has gone up 30% since the. pandemic. People can't afford their. groceries. And we're going to have one. city-run grocery store in each burrow. and there's going to be a 30% discount. on the essential items. The idea is so.

that people can afford to go to the. grocery store, they can afford to feed. their families. >> Got it? And you'll hear a lot of. fear-mongering around it, but the basic. question to me is what's the point of. government if not delivering for people. who are being priced out of the. essentials. Yeah, >> that's a key part of it. >> Well, government's been working for the. elite for a long time, it feels like, or. it feels like that certainly feels like. what's happening more than ever. Um, and. now it feels very exposed. It feels very. out in the open, especially when there's. like a trove of emails like connecting a. lot of them, you know, involving certain. crimes or alleged crimes. um whenever.

you ran for office, some of your. campaigning was calling out Trump for um. his broken promises, right, that that he. campaigned on, right? Uh cheaper. groceries from day one, no forever wars, and helping the working class, right? How do you work together with someone um. that you've had so many public. disagreements with, but then keep that. energy when you have to go into a. meeting in order to um like make deals.

so you can get done what you do need. done for yourself? >> I think. >> Sorry, God. You think it would be easier. for me? >> No, please. I understood what you were. saying. >> Okay. >> Um I think. >> if you knew earlier, you should have cut. me off, dude, because I'm freaking. >> What are you doing out there? You think. I'm going to be like, "I got you, MAN. I. GOT YOU." I'M GOING TO LET YOU FINISH. YOUR QUESTION. >> PLEASE. And also, another thing I'm. lobbying for, word lifeguards. I want. them in the streets when somebody can't. get through a sentence. A word life. guard. >> What do you want them to do? >> Come up and just help you get there. That's what I need. >> Do they stop you or do they give you the.

word? >> Whatever. Just put a little buoy on you. and help you get to the end of a. sentence sometimes. >> Don't worry, brother. This is how it. ends. >> Okay, there we go. Yeah, that's it. Um anyway, if you can answer that. question because because you've had to. make because you needed federal funding, right, for some you have to you have to. you have to maintain that you keep your. federal funding in the city. >> I got you. >> Okay, good. Thank you. >> All right. Um. a couple of things. First is you have to. be honest about the fact that you still.

have disagreements. If you campaign. saying you have disagreements, then you. get elected and then you're like, "Actually, we're all good." It's like. you're just a part of the problem. you're part of why people don't believe. in politics anymore. And so the. president and I still have. disagreements. We talk about them. whenever we meet. And also the point of. those meetings is not just to say I. believe this, you believe that. It's. also okay, where is there a place where. we could work together to deliver on. something. And so when we met recently. at Gracie Mansion, uh I brought up this.

idea we talked about in the White House. called Sunnyside Yard. It's a railard in. Queens in a neighborhood called. Sunnyside where you could build a. platform over the railard and then you. could build housing on the platform. And. in this city, the number one driver of. the cost of living crisis is a lack of. affordable housing. So this project. would create 12,000 homes, 30,000 jobs, be the most homes in a single project. since the early 1970s. You can only do. it with the federal government. >> So the president and I, we spoke about. this. I pitched it to the president.

>> Why you can only do a federal. government? Because they own the rail. yards. Mhm. Amrak federal authorization. and also the scale of funding required. >> Okay. Got it. >> Um and so when I went to the White House. the last time I pitched it to him. I. brought him uh. >> a mockup of a newspaper. There was a. famous Daily News newspaper headline. The President Ford said it said Ford to. New York drop dead. And I brought him. that and I brought him a mocked up. version where it says Trump to New York. Let's build. Like this is what the. future could look like. And then in this.

last meeting at Gracie Mansion, he. agreed, okay, let's set up high level. meetings between your housing and. operations team and our White House. about how we can move forward on this. And that doesn't mean we don't have. disagreements on other issues. You know, we talked about them in that meeting. We. talked about them before. But it also. means if there's an opportunity, take it. to deliver for people because that's. also my job. I don't just want to be a. person who tells you about what I think. I want to also be a person who proves to. you that you can trust and believe in. government. And and to the point of the way that you.

were describing some of the president's. early platform, you know, when we were. talking about cheaper groceries, we were. talking about the working class, we were. talking about making for a city you can. afford, about 60,000 New Yorkers who. voted for the president voted for us in. in the election. And that to me shows. that for all of this impetus in politics. where you want to judge someone and you. want to cast them off as if oh they. voted for them you can never talk to.

them or things like that. There are a. lot of people who are just looking for. someone to change their material reality. and your time is better spent listening. to them than lecturing them. >> I mean that's the point of political. office should be to listen to people and. then work on what they've told you. >> Yeah. >> I think we keep getting all these. questions of like, you know, what does. the Democratic Party? Where is it. headed? This, that, and the other. What. does this consultant think? What does. this exdemocrat think? To me, it's like, what does the Democratic party if not. its voters? And you're hearing from.

Democratic voters across the country. They want change. You even heard it from. Republican voters. >> Well, they're all the same voter these. days. People would try to pigeon hole. like Yeah. When pigeon holeing is kind. of bizarre, like people would pigeon. hole me as like this sort of MAGA guy. like um. >> do you know where the term pigeon hole. comes from? >> Nuhuh. Let's look it up. >> I don't. >> I hope it's not a sexual thing. >> I I pray to God. >> If it is, probably. >> if it is, you're reading it. >> Well, if it is, some it's someone in.

your line of work who's been involved in. it. I'll say that the phrase pigeon hole. originated in the 1500s as a lit literal. term for a small nest, recess, or. opening in a dove coat. >> Huh. where domesticated pigeons live or. a dovasote. What's a dovasote in a. dovasote? Or is it dovcoat? Can you look up dovasote for me? >> Colarium. >> Gosh, it's taking us. This is what it's. doing. See, this is how it happens. This.

is politics. >> Colarium. TSTs. >> Is it a colarium is a structure intended. to house pigeons or doves? Um, so just. >> Sorry. >> It's okay. No, it's good, >> dude. What are you talking about? Um, but yeah, but people try to p people try. to pigeon hole. They try to pigeon hole. voters. I don't think voters are think. that they're Democrat or Republican. anymore. Everybody I talked to is like. there's not a side anymore. All of this. is run it feels like by a higher cabal.

That's every because it doesn't feel. real anymore. It feels like Bernie got. railroaded by his party. They never even. had a primary. We tried to have Kamla on. our podcast. She didn't want to come on, right? So, Trump would come on. Um, but. everybody does want to pigeon. I guess. it makes it easier for us. I mean, I pro. I probably do it, too. I'm sure. You. know, I have to read up and look on it. >> Well, it's it's easier to categorize if. you put everybody in a box. >> It's easier to categorize. >> And it also absolves you of. responsibility. >> What responsibility does it absolve you. of?

>> If you're a politician and you look at a. voter and you say, "Well, they're in. that box.". >> It means that you don't have to try. anymore. Oh, I see. >> You don't have to reckon with why they. might have chosen that box. >> Got it. >> Right. So often people talk about this. like it's faded. Like people are forever. that thing. And to me it's like every day is an. opportunity to win someone over. And if. you're just caught up in the fact that. someone wasn't always with you, then.

you're never going to actually build. something bigger than yourself. >> If you just want day ones all the time, >> Yeah. Then it's like, well, how many. people were your day ones? Like, shout. outs to your day ones. But you also need. to build a coalition that goes beyond. that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's it's I mean, it's. interesting. And some of it is just for. safety. It's some of it's operating. systems that we just use for safety and. because it's been what's always been. done, >> you know. Um, and some of it is familial. as well. You your parents were this and.

so you're that. But I think people. believe that these walls have dissolved. that there isn't really that there's not. really two sides anymore. It's from what. I gather just as I'm a pretty I feel. like I'm a pretty regular guy. Um that. and that's a crazy thing to say. That. sounds crazy for even a guy to say that. So I'm probably not. But it seems like. um people don't believe that there's any. side anymore. >> Just so you know. And it doesn't matter. Not what I'm saying just so you know. I don't know. But what I'm saying. is it seems it seems like that like.

people don't believe either one of these. sides anymore is like a real side. >> Can I ask a question to the team? >> Yes. >> How many people voted in the last. presidential election? >> Yep. PS4. >> two of five. >> Oh no, no, sorry. Uh I didn't mean how. many people in here. I meant how many. people in the United States of America. >> Oh dang, dude. >> Both of these gooners didn't even vote. >> I was like PS41. What does that have to. do with this? >> What is happening here? In the 2024.

presidential election, 73.6. uh% of the city voting age population. was registered to vote and 65.3 voted. according to new voting and registration. tables. So, uh 65.3%. voted. >> Wow. >> in the 2024 presidential election. >> So, almost about a third. >> did not vote. >> Yeah. Hm. >> And I I mean I think the reason I asked. that was. >> could be disinterest. >> When you're talking about people don't.

see themselves as part of a side, people. are choosing a new side, which is to be. uninvolved. >> Yeah. >> You know, it goes back to that early. thing of like, you get my money, you. don't get my time. >> And and I think that there's a lot of. times when you get closer and closer to. election day where it feels like a. politician is lecturing you like why you. need to vote. And it's like actually I. need to convince you. >> that this is worth your time because. time is the most precious thing you. have. I need to show you that this is. relevant to your life. A lot of people.

look at the struggles in their life and. then they look at the politics they're. offered and they're like this has. nothing to do with me. >> Yeah. >> And to me it's how do we how do we. eliminate the distance between the two? So that's why we're just as focused on a. pothole as we are on universal childare. because you look outside your window, you see a pothole, you're like, how. could I believe that that same. government that can't fix this could do. that. >> It has to be one that does both. And and. then you will slowly start to get people.

to believe again. But they don't owe you. that belief. >> Yeah. I mean, look, I I love hearing it. and I'm hopeful that Yeah. that anybody. can do something different. I think. that's what people are like. people at. this point would be shocked if somebody. can do something different. You know, I. think that I feel like that that's how. kind of in a place that people are. >> And I don't think they're in a place of. disarray for like hopelessness for. themselves entirely, but I do feel like. there's a a hopeless malaise. There's. there's somewhat of a hopelessness. sometimes for a society and the. democracy that we have. That's what I. feel like. And also, who gives a.

what I think? But. >> I do people do, but but also what you're. describing is what a lot of people. share. >> Yeah. Um. >> like a lot of people have shared a sense. of hopelessness and. we have to remember there there's this a. writer and organizer her name is Mariam. Cabba she talks about hope is a. discipline you have to practice hope. >> and you can't you won't just wake up one. morning and naturally feel it comes from. what you do. >> hope is a discipline. >> and and to me it's also we have to make.

it easy for people to hope. >> and that comes from from our work that's. our job Yeah. Um, recently they had Netanyahu was in. town, right? The big dog or some people. call him or the genocider. That's kind. of that's one of the terms I'll loosely. use a lot of times when I'm referring to. him. Um, but he was in town and you had. you guys had talked about um you guys. had talked about having to arrest him. when he came into town originally, but. that wasn't something that you actually. had a jurisdiction that could do or or.

tried to keep him out of New York City. Was that the case that it wasn't like a. >> It was it when we. you assess all of the the legal. framework that you have, >> it is the federal government that if. they were to join the International. Criminal Court, they could enforce a. warrant. So, just to the point here, >> the ICC, right, that people talk about, but we're not a member of that. >> We're not. But I believe that we should. become a member, that we should enforce. its warrants because I think this gets. back to the question of, you know, when. you're asking, can you hold greed to.

account? Can you hold impunity to. account? >> And the more people see someone break a. rule or a law and it is there is no. accountability for that. >> or a moral or a thing of moral. conscience maybe I don't know. >> it calls into question whether that has. any worth anymore and we always speak. about the laws the international laws of. of the world the things that started to. be created after World War II. United. Nations, the idea of multilateralism and.

the lack of enforcement of it also calls. it into question. Um, so that's what I. believe that the US government should. join the ICC. It should enforce its. warrants for everyone that has that has. been issued. And when it comes to the. prime minister, it's been issued for. crimes, alleged crimes against humanity. and and war crimes. >> A lot of people are upset about what. goes what's going on in Gaza, right? And. I think specifically because it's been. one of the most it's been the first. genocide that's been heavily kind of. televised I'll say like on our phones. and in social media. >> How do you keep people from like.

misdirecting energy that's against. Israel towards like their Jewish. friends, right? Cuz I'll talk about it. with my Jewish friends. So we have like. a good relationship about it. Like they. know how I feel and I know how they feel. and so it's like a comfortable like. existence. But I think some people maybe. don't have some of those conversations. and they don't know if it's okay to. maybe bring them up or they don't know. um or sometimes it's their boss and they. don't know if they can talk about it. Um. what do you think like well how would. you manage some of that because you also.

have to manage it on an even larger kind. of scale because you know you're. the mayor in like a city that's like has. a large Jewish population. >> and and that's one of the things that. I'm proud of is that we live in the most. Jewish city in the United States of. America. And to me, it's it's being very. clear. One, that. no Jewish person in New York City is. responsible for the actions of the state. of Israel. And if you want to hold. anybody accountable, it's the people who. are making those decisions, the prime.

minister, the state of Israel, also our. complicity as American taxpayers, >> given that we know how many billions of. dollars we have sent in bombs and. continue to send. Um, and then I think. it's it's also being very clear about, you know, actually just today we. released the first plan at a municipal. level anywhere in the country to combat. anti-semitism and listing out the ways. that we would do so. And one of the. things is not only ensuring that you. know when anti-semitism takes place that. you condemn it, but also that you do the.

work to prevent it. and and and also. being very clear that critique of the. state of Israel, the you know the policy. actions, the genocide, that in and of. itself is not anti-Semitic. >> Yeah, I agree. Speak up about it. You. know, if you feel something, you should. be able to say something. We're alive. This is our only chance to be alive. >> And and we're talking about when you ask. me about the prime minister, we're. talking about the architect of a. horrific genocide. And I think what's so. there have been all these attempts to, you know, people talk about a ceasefire.

Just last week, the Israeli military. killed an 11-year-old boy, Palestinian. boy in Gaza in a section that's. considered to be a safe zone. >> This is continuing. And. >> oh, it's unbelievable, man. and and last. week I had a number of Palestinian. families from Gaza come to Gracie. Mansion where I live as as the mayor of. New York City and to hear from them. about. the way that their lives have been. shattered. You know, you you meet two.

sisters and their mother and they tell. you that the same air strike that. injured one of them ended up killing two. of their brothers. that that they lived. in a tent that their fa the the father. in that family is still there. You speak. to an older grandmother and at the end. of the meeting she just comes up and. says like can you bring my son here and. having to tell her like I I will try but. as the mayor I I can't promise you that.

>> And and all these people want is what. everybody wants. They just want their. family. They want safety. They want. dignity. And to know that not only. have we watched as that has been. stripped from them, but that we're. financing it. >> Yeah, I know. >> it is this conversation that you and I. are having about faith in government. One of the reasons people don't have. faith is they look at the kinds of. things that governments do. They say, "Why would I believe in that?". >> Yeah. Why would I even associate myself.

with it at times? >> And and so you have to stop those things. if you ever want anyone to believe. and. you stop them also for the morality of. it. Do you think what do you think is a. so like yeah how do we move forward from. that like just as a regular citizens. like um. >> well I I I think I've been asked about. where do we go from here and you know we. have 2028. coming up in a big question of of of.

what happens after this administration. and I think that there has to be a. commitment to a different kind of future. There has to be, you know, if we're. talking about reckoning with this, what. will you do that's different? How will. you deliver something else other. than,000 pound bombs? And I hear that from New Yorkers all the. time, and I hear it from a wide variety. of New Yorkers. And and I think it has.

to be a big part of of what comes next. is a politics of humanity, not just for. the people that we represent at home, but also the people that we're bombing. abroad. >> But if you had your say, we had ar we. would have arrested the guy. You think. >> if I had my say, the US government would. have joined the ICC, honored every. single warrant that they've issued. yeah. Sorry to say it like that, but. >> yeah. I don't know. It's just crazy to. see that guy speaking on our on our. country. It's almost unbelievable.

>> I was I was I mean he. >> And he called you out too. >> Yeah. >> Was that weird? Was that scary? >> It was It was strange. I mean I was I. was having a meeting with the prime. minister of the Netherlands at the LGBTQ. center in downtown Manhattan. Then I. >> And he's a gay guy. >> The prime minister. Yeah. Yeah. >> I never seen him before. >> Is he's very handsome. >> He is. Okay. I don't know. I don't Yeah. I'm trying to be Yeah. Hello, sir. >> Very nice guy. >> Yeah. Good guy. But and so you were you. were meeting with him and. >> I was meeting with him and and and the.

director of the LGBTQ center and a. number of of younger queer New Yorkers. They were talking about what that center. meant to them to have a place where they. could go and be themselves and learn. about, you know, the history of the. queer community in New York City. And. then I get back from from that meeting. and it's like, "Oh, by the way, here's. here's what he was saying at the UN.". All right. >> It's so bizarre. >> Yeah. >> Did it feel personal then? >> I mean, he he'll. All of this is an attempt to distract.

>> Yeah. >> from responsibility, >> name as many people as possible, try and. make it into a back and forth. It's not. about me and him. >> Yeah. >> It's about the fact that he's the. architect of a genocide. >> Yeah. >> And it's like, yeah, if I was the. architect of a genocide, I would. probably talk about anything but that. >> That's a good point. Yeah. It's just uh Yeah. I don't know. It's an interesting time to be alive. I. think it's probably an interesting time. to be uh deep going further into. politics, you know, a position that a. lot of people don't trust these days.

>> Understandable. >> Um and yeah, I don't know exactly where. all my laurels lie, but I do love. getting to learn about it, you know, and. um. >> yeah, and thanks for just thanks for. talking about the about a little bit. about the genocide. Yeah. And just. what's going on over there. I do feel. like it's okay to speak about it and um. and that it's gotten people have been. more comfortable with speaking about it. and um yeah and a lot of people are. afraid to speak about it in politics. >> and and I think one thing I would just. say is.

your curiosity is a beautiful thing. It. it is because that is also how you. understand the world and none of us are. experts on any of these things. >> Yeah. It's our first time being alive, >> you know. So, people try to shame others. for not knowing the answer when they're. asking the question, but there's a. beauty in asking the question. >> Yeah. >> The question is also such a critical. part of it and then listening to someone. else for the answer. And and I think to. to your point to.

the reaction that we're talking about is. also a human reaction to watching. something horrific, seeing it, knowing. that we're complicit in it and asking. ourselves what is there to do. And I. think raising your voice is one thing. And I think understanding that no matter. what box you put yourself in, that. there's a complicity across both parties. when it comes to this. And. to me, you know, I think about there's. there's a book that came out by a writer. named Omar Alkad. One day, everyone will.

always have been against this. And the. reason that stays in my head is it's. such a succinct way of describing the. fact that. the more years pass, the more people. will feel comfortable coming forward and. saying that was horrible. M. >> and we'll eventually get to a point. where some of the people responsible. will start to say that was horrible. >> And just know that you are not crazy and.

thinking these things and our job is not. to pat ourselves on the back for when we. got to it. It's about to do everything. that we can to bring an end to it. >> Yeah. >> And bring an end to this and and make it. easier for people to hope again. >> That's the work. >> Cool, man. Well, yeah. Thanks for. thinking about it. That is hope and you. have to you have to stay hopeful. That's. a thing that I just it won't disappear. from us for some reason. >> That's something pretty special, isn't. it? Got to believe. >> that. Yeah. That somehow we always are. able to keep some hope. That's exciting.

That makes me think Yeah, that Yeah, that's exciting. >> Um yeah, Mr. Mani, thanks for your time. Good luck in politics, Mr. Von. Yep. Wish you the best, brother. And uh yeah, >> TSTs. >> TSTs type. Now I'm just floating on the breeze and. I feel I'm falling like these leaves. I. must be corner stone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll. share this piece of mind I found. I can.

feel it in my bones. But it's going to take.