Zohran Mamdani [11]'s Oval Office lovefest [12] with Donald Trump was a dangerous legitimization of fascism [13], and has won New York no respite—as the city was targeted for ICE raids [14] mere days later. These were happily met with a strong street response [15] by progressive New Yorkers, and Zohran has reiterated his stance of non-cooperation [16] with the federal police state [17]. Meanwhile, the massacre of Jews [18] one week ago in Sydney increases the pressure [19] on Mamdani to walk the fine line [20] between remaining true [21] to his anti-Zionist principles [22] on one hand, and acquiescing in anti-Semitism [23] on the other. And his support for bulldozing [24] the Elizabeth Street Garden [11] (even after a deal to save it [25] has been accepted by the incumbent administration [26]), while failing [27] to protest displacement of tenants [28] from public housing projects slated for privatization [29], points to an accommodation with the pro-"development" consensus of the city's permanent government [30]. On the final countdown [31] to Mamdani's inauguration, the contradictions he faces are sharpening. In Episode 309 [32] of the CounterVortex podcast [33], Bill Weinberg breaks it down.
Listen on SoundCloud [32] or via Patreon [35].
Production by Chris Rywalt
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