TL/DR –
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani held a joint town hall at Brooklyn College as part of Sanders’ Fighting the Oligarchy Tour. Both politicians spoke about income inequality, with Sanders criticizing billionaires and major media companies while Mamdani focused on big businesses. The town hall highlighted the power of grassroots politics and the growing national attention on the New York mayoral race, amid criticisms from President Donald Trump and concerns about alleged interference in the election.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani rally progressive voters
Senator Bernie Sanders is touring the U.S. with his Fighting the Oligarchy Tour to engage progressive voters. He recently collaborated with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in a town hall at Brooklyn College, Sanders’ alma mater.
Mamdani, who attracted 1,700 attendees at the event, is a frontrunner in the city’s mayoral race. His progressive candidacy is exciting left-wing supporters and attracting attention from the right, including negative comments from President Donald Trump.
This town hall is part of Sanders’ tour that has already covered 21 states and connected with over 300,000 people. The event highlights the national focus on New York’s mayoral race and the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and progressives.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has faced criticism from moderate Democrats and Republicans, particularly for his economic policies, which have been deemed unrealistic. This contrasts with an Al Jazeera’s analysis.
Mamdani and Sanders focused on income inequality and criticized billionaire media owners, including Paramount’s David Ellison. The network recently merged with Skydance Media, which settled a $16m lawsuit over an edited Kamala Harris interview.
Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also criticized after shareholders greenlit his $1 trillion compensation package.
Progressive candidates gain ground in U.S. cities
Other cities are also witnessing a surge in progressive candidates centered around issues like income inequality, housing costs, and worker protections. These include Minneapolis, Albuquerque, and Seattle.
However, obstacles exist at the federal level. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has clashed with Trump over the President’s call for a federal intervention to battle violent crime.
Back in New York, Mamdani warned the city to prepare for similar federal intervention. “We have to prepare for the inevitability of that deployment”, he said, citing California’s successful legal challenge against a national guard deployment.
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