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The Predictable Rise of Zohran Mamdani — and His Congressional Appeasers

Zohran Mamdani Ron Adar / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect

Zohran Mamdani. Photo: Ron Adar / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect

Zohran Mamdani, the State Assemblyman and Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, was dealt another reason to celebrate this week, when it was revealed that the young socialist had won the most votes ever in a New York City primary. 

While many of Mamdani’s progressive comrades are reveling in their candidate’s electoral success, his commanding victory on June 24 is leaving establishment Democrats concerned, confused, and in shock. 

Yet for those who have kept a discerning eye on the left-wing trajectory of the Democratic Party, the ascendance of a politician such as Mamdani came as no surprise, and was in fact entirely predictable. 

What first began in 2019 as an unwillingness to disassociate from an energized leftist cohort of lawmakers entering Congress, has now evolved into a troubling pattern of Democrats failing to reject candidates espousing dangerous anti-American and antisemitic positions. 

Mamdani, the presumptive next mayor of New York City, is transparent about his hatred for Israel, and his tolerance of violent threats against Jews. His election poses a direct threat to the safety and security of Jewish residents in America’s largest city. 

Thirty-six hours following the October 7 massacre, the lawmaker, in a statement on X, blamed the “ongoing violence” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s government. 

He has made no attempts to scrub his social media of his depraved posts, which include flipping the middle finger at a Christopher Columbus statue, and calling Jew-hating Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) his hero.

Despite being given repeated opportunities to condemn the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” a term used as a rallying cry to murder Jews, Mamdani defends its use, and often reverts to speaking about his broader objective to root out “all bigotry.” 

For their part, New York’s Democratic Congressional delegation is buckling under the progressive weight of their party. 

With the exception of Long Island Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY), who said that Socialist Mamdani is “too extremeto lead New York City, the state’s liberal lawmakers are refusing to rule out endorsing the socialist in the general election, while delivering varying statements on Mamdani’s defense of the “Globalize the Intifada” phrase. 

When pressed to repudiate Mamdani’s defense of the violent expression, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated in an interview on MSNBC that Mamdani should “clarify his position” on the use of the term, which he admits is “unacceptable.”

The State’s senior Senator, Chuck Schumer, who will likely face a primary challenge from the left when he is up for reelection in 2028, carefully curated his words and condemned the phrase without mentioning Mamdani directly.

Schumer’s Democratic colleague, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s, efforts to denounce Mamdani for failing to discredit “Globalize the Intifada” was soon eclipsed by the Junior Senator walking back her harsh words and apologizing to the mayoral nominee for saying in that same interview that Mamdani had made references to “global jihad.”

Even Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres, who objects to the jihadi slogan, is tempering any distancing from Mamdani and saying that he is “committed to a working relationship with him.” 

Indeed, once radicals like Omar or Mamdani gain power, Democrats embark on a roadmap of expressing displeasure with some of their views, while simultaneously employing political jargon centering on “engagement,” “discussion,” and “conversation,” as if Mamdani’s fanatical positions emanate from a sincere misreading of the issues rather than being anchored to a deeply held anti-American worldview.

Americans were clued into this strategy years ago, when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) agreed to a 2019 Rolling Stone photo shoot alongside members of the new insurgent wing of the party, including Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Ilhan Omar (MN). 

Democrats weren’t about to reject this new faction of disruptors and leftist ideologues; they were going to lean in and learn from them. 

As such, in the coming weeks, New Yorkers can expect more Democratic officials to follow the lead of New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler, both of whom have endorsed Mamdani.

It’s worth noting that Jeffries has officially supported anti-Israel figures in the past, with the Minority Leader formally backing disgraced former Congressman Jamaal Bowman during last year’s Democratic primary in New York’s 16th Congressional District. 

Combined with the actions of major unions, such as the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), announcing their endorsement of Mamdani earlier this week, it’s hard to envision a scenario under which Democrats launch a serious counterweight to Mamdani’s threatening candidacy.

And while those who live outside the city’s liberal ecosystem are quick to indicate that a nominee as radical as Mamdani could never rise to power in their region, most Democrats dominating the national political landscape harbor little will to wrest control away from radicals in their party. 

Senior Editor of Commentary Magazine, Seth Mandel, recently wrote about Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Andy Kim’s (D-NJ) departure from the pro-Jewish sympathies of their predecessors.

As Mandel notes, over the last year, Sens. Murphy and Kim both voted to block arms sales to Israel, just as the Jewish State was battling Iran’s terrorist proxies. 

Murphy has also praised Mamdani, calling him a “dynamic” and “new voice.” 

Their hostility towards Israel may not present in the same dramatic fashion as Mamdani’s — but their objective conveys a similar desire to complete the progressive sea change in the Democratic Party, albeit through the more palatable and cultured Congressional process.  

After years of accommodating anti-Israel politicians, Mamdani’s candidacy is an unsettling testament to the consequences of indifference, and that hard-left antisemitic politicians may no longer be outliers, but reflect a frightening and new normal. 

Irit Tratt is a writer who resides in New York. Follow her on X @Irit_Tratt. 

 

The post The Predictable Rise of Zohran Mamdani — and His Congressional Appeasers first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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