1). “Three Million Doors w/ Tascha Van Auken”, Dec 05, 2025, Guest Host Micah Uetrecht interviews Zohran Mamdani's campaign manager, Tascha Van Auken, The Dig, duration of audio 1:45:19, at < https://content.blubrry.com/
2). “Zohran Mamdani: A new face of progressive politics with relevance for Indians”, Posted on MROnline, Nov 07, 2025, Mohd Ziyaullah Khan, MROnline, at < https://mronline.org/2025/11/
3). “Mamdani Beats Cuomo and the Press Hacks (Again)”, Nov 5, 2025, Ari Paul, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), at < https://fair.org/home/mamdani-
4). “Billionaires are spending big to stop Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral bid”, Oct 30, 2025, Robert Frank, Inside Wealth CNBC, at < https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/
~~ recommended by desmond morista ~~
Introduction by desmond morista: The recent win by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Zohran Mamdani, to the mayorality of the nation's largest city, New York City, provides a beacon of hope and a model for those of us living in other places. Zohran's campaign featured an effort in which volunteers working for his campaign knocked on 3 Million Doors in various parts of New York City (there were 3,705,000 dwelling units in New York City as of 2023). This was a massive effort and played a major role in Mamdani's win.
In Item 1)., “Three Million Doors ….”, Tascha Van Auken discusses her personal political history and her experiences in the successful electoral effort by Mamdani's campaign. This win did not come out of nowhere, in the 5 or so years beforehand the DSA campaigns managed to win several City Council races and some elections for New York City's state assembly seats.
There is some excellent analysis of the significance of Mamdani's victory in Item 2)., “Zohran Mamdani: A new face ….”. Khan notes in his article that Mamdani benefitted from being born into a family of high-achievers and that:
“Mamdani’s lineage is an array of cultures and continents. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he embodies Indian, African, and American influences. His family’s displacement during Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians in 1972 and their later migration to the U.S. shaped his understanding of colonialism, exile, and minority experience.
“These roots inform his politics—rooted in empathy, anti-imperialism, and inclusion. However, for the Indian audience, his cosmopolitan identity is a quiet rebuttal to ethnic nationalism. His father’s critiques of 'tribalised politics' find a new ray of life in the son’s rejection of divisive populism, whether in Uganda or India.”
In Item 3)., “Mamdani Beats Cuomo ….”, Ari Paul points out that the right-wing establishment pulled out all the stops, in the media that they control, to try and beat Mamdani. The article notes that, in the Murdoch controlled corporate media outlets that are 'legacy businesses' that primarily affect the opinions of over 35 voters, the newspapers were relentless and used all their machinations to try to smear Mamdani. Below a couple of graphics show the front pages of editions of The New York Post and one includes mention of The London Times, all Murdoch owned outlets. The attempts to defeat Mamdani began with the Democratic Primary and later shifted somewhat for the General Election.
Mamdani material
The New York Post (10/28/25) fell for a bogus story in the London Times—which had called a random person named Bill DeBlasio and printed his views as though they were the former mayor’s (Semafor, 10/30/25).
Ari Paul notes in Item 3). that:
“When Zohran Mamdani, a then-33-year-old democratic socialist state assembly member, beat disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in this year’s New York City Democratic mayoral primary, he also defeated establishment press attempts to scare the public away from a New Deal—like platform (FAIR.org, 6/27/25).
“Cuomo, his billionaire backers and corporate media took a beating. But they picked themselves up, got back in the ring, and reverted to anti-Muslim fearmongering and law-and-order hysteria. They lost again.
In Item 4)., “Billionaires are spending big ….”, there are specific reports of amounts of money donated by various oligarchs and plutocrats. The fund had over $40 million contributed by a wide variety of plutocrats, both those who lived in and around NYC, and other plutocrats. Item 4). includes a so-so video in which the bevy of Capitalist Cheerleaders discuss the funding operations and the sharp difference in amounts raised (over $40 million for Cuomo and $2 million for Mamdani, including some money from one rich person).
Particularly notable in these listings, is the mention of Ronald Lauder (an extreme Zionist) who, along with his family members, donated $2 million. In 2001, Ronald Lauder personally was in charge of the privatization scheme for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; an effort that aimed in general to transfer the desirable properties into private hands at extremely low prices. A bit farther along that process the two World Trade Towers were awarded to Larry Silverstein, despite his having submitted the high bid. Lauder also profited handsomely from some aspects of the rebuilding operations for the new World Tech Center after the events of September 11, 2001.
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https://content.blubrry.com/thedig/The_Dig-EP_508-VanAuken.mp3
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Zohran Mamdani: A new face of progressive politics with relevance for Indians
It is a historic victory for Zohran Mamdani as he won the New York City mayoral race, defeating the former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He is just 34 years old, who happens to be the democratic socialist and now the global city’s (New York) first Muslim and first South Asian-origin mayor, as well as the youngest elected in over a century.
Going back to his campaign, it centred on affordability and working-class issues, which drew nationwide attention and fierce opposition, yet succeeded in establishing a broad coalition that transcended demographic divides.
However, for Indian audiences, his victory resonates deeply, and it represents the convergence of identity, ideology, and generational change, challenging dominant political narratives both in the U.S. and India. Let us check some of the key dimensions of this man and how significant it is for the Indians.
A Man with Modern Muslim Identity
The Indian media reported the news of his victory as “Once a rapper and now New York’s first Mayor. It shows their narrow and hate oriented thoughts towards a Muslim achieving something big in the global city. Mamdani represents a progressive Muslim identity that dismantles stereotypes often perpetuated by right-wing narratives in India and in the U.S. as well. He is a practising Muslim who speaks openly about his faith while also advocating for secular democratic socialism, feminist causes and rights. This makes him a unique blend that contradicts the image of Muslims as regressive or extremist.
His emotional address outside a Bronx mosque, recalling the humiliations Muslims faced post 9/11, highlighted compassion and civic consciousness rather than fundamentalism.
Mamdani bridges cultures and communities, campaigning in multiple languages including Urdu and Spanish, while keeping his Muslim identity visible and confident. While doing so, he offers a counter-narrative to the portrayal of Muslim identity as incompatible with modernity and a particularly powerful contrast against political optics like India’s diplomatic engagement with Taliban leaders.
Heritage across Borders
Mamdani’s lineage is an array of cultures and continents. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he embodies Indian, African, and American influences. His family’s displacement during Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians in 1972 and their later migration to the U.S. shaped his understanding of colonialism, exile, and minority experience.
These roots inform his politics—rooted in empathy, anti-imperialism, and inclusion. However, for the Indian audience, his cosmopolitan identity is a quiet rebuttal to ethnic nationalism. His father’s critiques of “tribalised politics” find a new ray of life in the son’s rejection of divisive populism, whether in Uganda or India.
Criticism of Hindutva and Defence of Pluralism
Mamdani has remained critical of Narendra Modi and Hindutva politics has been direct and unsparing. He went on calling Modi a war criminal and accused the BJP of building an India “that only has room for certain kinds of Indians.” Even during Diwali outreach to Hindu voters, Mamdani invoked the pluralistic India of his childhood, one where religion was never a basis for belonging.
His comments reflect not only his personal conviction but also his father’s intellectual influence—an awareness of how political elites exploit identity to consolidate power. Thus back home in India, the Modi’s army left no stone unturned to ridicule him and the Indian media continued to ignore in the past. However, for Indian audiences, his fearless defence of secular pluralism while openly embracing his Muslim identity often offers a model of leadership that refuses both assimilation and separatism.
Youth and Generational Change
At an age of 34, Mamdani is the youngest mayor in New York’s history since 1913, younger even than John Purroy Mitchel, the “Boy Mayor.” He captured the imagination of young voters, winning the under-50 demographic by a 2:1 margin, a generation frustrated with debt, unaffordable housing, and stagnant politics.
However, his meteoric rise from a little-known state assemblyman polling at 1% to a decisive victor illustrates the power of grassroots mobilisation and generational renewal. For India, where we see the political dominance often seems immovable, Mamdani’s ascent signals that youth-led movements can indeed challenge entrenched systems.
Moral Clarity on Gaza
Mamdani’s stance on Gaza hare remained unflinching which has distinguished him from the current regime and the existing politicians. While he was seen condemning Hamas’s October 7 attack as a war crime, but at the same time never shy away to label Israel’s assault on Gaza as genocide, even declaring that he would arrest Netanyahu if given the authority.
And he remained consistent in his words and statements in public and personal spaces. Although it did cost him some support among older Jewish voters but at the same time helped him earned respect from younger progressives who saw it as a mark of authenticity and moral courage. His refusal to compromise principles for political gain stands in stark contrast to leaders like Modi back in India and others who master political doublespeak.
The final thought
Mamdani’s victory echoes far beyond New York. For Democrats, it’s a blueprint for grassroots, digital, and youth-driven campaigns. For Republicans, it’s a warning about the growing resonance of socialist economics among younger voters. However, if we look in a perspective of India, the lesson lies deeper. His success shows that authentic progressivism, moral clarity, and economic justice can win even in the heart of global capitalism. Mamdani’s story is proof that a Muslim, South Asian, and democratic socialist can rise to the highest civic office not by diluting identity, but by integrating it into an inclusive vision of progress. His tenure will be judged by governance, but his election alone redefines what’s possible in diverse democracies—from New York to New Delhi.
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Mamdani beats Cuomo and the Press hacks (again)
What makes Zohran Mamdani a Communist, according to the New York Post (7/16/25)? He told New York business leaders of “his plan to raise their taxes, if elected.”
New York City baseball legend Yogi Berra said it best: “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
When Zohran Mamdani, a then-33-year-old democratic socialist state assembly member, beat disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in this year’s New York City Democratic mayoral primary, he also defeated establishment press attempts to scare the public away from a New Deal—like platform (FAIR.org, 6/27/25).
Cuomo, his billionaire backers and corporate media took a beating. But they picked themselves up, got back in the ring, and reverted to anti-Muslim fearmongering and law-and-order hysteria. They lost again.
Clearing road for ‘biggest liar’
In the general election, the city’s two biggest tabloids, the New York Post and the Daily News, regularly attacked Mamdani, and called in both opinion pages and news sections for voters to coalesce around Cuomo, running as an independent.
The reliably right-wing New York Post editorial board clung to its preferred candidate, hopelessly corrupt incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, until he dropped out of the race at the end of September. Then the paper pivoted from ridiculing Cuomo’s return to politics—calling him the “biggest liar in New York” (3/1/25)—to becoming one of his biggest cheerleaders (e.g., 10/21/25, 10/22/25, 10/23/25, 10/23/25).
The Post‘s front page outdid itself with racebaiting (“The Price Is White” was the headline on a story about Mamdani’s proposal to shift property taxes away from poorer, majority people-of-color neighborhoods—6/28/25) and open redbaiting: “Sickle and Dimed,” complete with hammer and sickle, announced a story (7/16/25) about Mamdani wanting to raise taxes on the wealthy; “Trump to New York: Keep the Commie Out!” was the front-page headline on Election Day (11/4/25).
The New York Post (10/28/25) fell for a bogus story in the London Times—which had called a random person named Bill DeBlasio and printed his views as though they were the former mayor’s (Semafor, 10/30/25).
And in the eight days from October 16 to October 23, the paper featured Mamdani’s image or name on its front page six times (10/16/25, 10/17/25, 10/19/15, 10/20/25, 10/21/25, 10/23/25) in its effort to bring down his candidacy.
“Mam-Child: Beware, NYC Is No Toy to Hand to Nepo Baby like Zohran,” was the headline of the Post‘s October 27 front page—an odd criticism to advance when you’re trying to promote a rival who owes his career as a New York governor to the fact that he was the son of a three-term New York governor.
‘Entirely false and fabricated’
Despite the fact that the Post and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa symbiotically grew their gritty, street-level, law-and-order personalities together, the paper (10/21/25, 10/23/25) brought heat on the beret-wearing Republican in an effort to bolster the governor the paper once hated, demanding that Sliwa bow out and support the former Democratic governor (10/20/25). “Curtis Sliwa’s Checkered Past Catches Up to Him as Calls for Him to Ditch NYC Mayoral Campaign Hit Crescendo,” one headline (10/20/25) ran. “Just Walk Away, Beret!” screamed the paper’s front page the next day (10/21/25).
To show what depths of silliness the Post (10/27/25) sank to, it attacked Mamdani for his heartfelt speech about Islamophobia with this bombshell revelation: “The ‘aunt’ who Zohran Mamdani said was too afraid to wear her hijab on the subways after 9/11 is actually his dad’s cousin.” (It is very common in many cultures to refer to one’s parents’ cousins as “aunts” or “uncles,” including in South Asian communities.)
But wait, it gets funnier. The Post (10/28/25) quoted a London Times article (now deleted from its website, although some evidence of its existence still exists—X, 10/28/25; Semafor, 10/29/25) claiming, “Even Zohran Mamdani’s cheerleader Bill de Blasio now says the mayoral front-runner’s policy platform ‘doesn’t hold up,’” using most of the same words for a bold headline.
The main “solution” that the Daily News (10/26/25) credits Andrew Cuomo with offering? Hiring more cops.
But online, the Post story (10/28/25) has been completely changed, even when you click the original link. The new piece carries the headline “Bill de Blasio Imposter Dupes Paper to Pan Protégé Zohran Mamdani’s Policy Platform: ‘Story Is Entirely False and Fabricated.’” The new story makes the British paper look stupid, but hides the fact that the Post also fell for the prank. (Both papers are owned by the Murdoch family.)
‘Uniquely unsuited’
The Daily News, owned by hedge fund Alden Global Capital but somewhat more centrist than the Murdoch empire’s Post, also threw its weight behind Cuomo in the hopes of bringing down Mamdani. “Cuomo Offers NYC a Path Forward While Mamdani Peddles Hollow Promises” ran the headline over its endorsement (10/26/25), calling his campaign “a house of cards built on sound bites and laced with antisemitism” and Mamdani himself “callow” and “mealy-mouthed.”
Like the Post, the Daily News (10/20/25) begged Sliwa to drop out “If [He] Cares About NYC and Not Just Himself,” in the hopes of thwarting Mamdani. “Cuomo would come to City Hall with more top-level government experience than any of his 110 predecessors going back four centuries,” it wrote (10/26/25), downplaying any concerns about the corruption and sexual harassment that come with that experience.
The paper even gave op-ed space (3/12/25) to a Cuomo administration health policy official to run a public relations piece sanitizing one of the administration’s biggest blemishes, its mishandling of the Covid pandemic (NPR, 1/18/21; STAT, 2/26/21; New York Times, 6/4/25).
The Daily News’ editorial page editor, Michael Aronson, said on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show (10/31/25) that Cuomo has “achieved a lot more in Albany than probably anyone in the past 40 years.” Aronson’s recollection of Cuomo’s state-level record didn’t include his infamous scandals, such as charges that he impeded state anti-corruption efforts (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, 7/24/14) or the bribery conviction of his associate Joseph Percoco (New York Times, 6/15/21).
The New York Times (10/27/25) tries to help you pick a mayoral candidate.
Aronson, like Cuomo, also had difficulty saying Mamdani’s name correctly (New York Times, 10/22/25). “Help me make it easier to pronounce,” Aronson said, displaying the political and media classes’ out-of-touchness with the large role South Asians play in contemporary New York City. Some observers believe the mispronunciation of a fairly easy-to-say three-syllable name is intentional condescension.
The host helped Aronson: “Mamdani. Mom, like, everybody has a mom, right? We call her Mom…. Ronnie, Ronnie Reagan, Connie, Bonnie, those common girls’ names, that’s my little cheat sheet for anybody who’s still having trouble with it.” One wonders if the chattering classes have the same trouble with the names of someone like the Republican congressmember from Staten Island, Nicole Malliotakis.
The Daily News’ bias bled into its news section in a story (10/26/25) about Cuomo and Mamdani’s competing rallies the day after early voting began. Thirteen of the article’s first 14 paragraphs were devoted to the Cuomo rally, which attracted an audience of 300—before turning to the Mamdani event, which drew nearly 13,000 people to hear the candidate along with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
‘The stakes are high’
The New York Times editorial board, which announced (8/12/24) it would no longer be making endorsements in local races, remained silent on the race in October. Yet the board did run an editorial (6/16/25) before the primary, opining that Cuomo had “the strongest policy record of the candidates,” while Mamdani was “running on an agenda uniquely unsuited to the city’s challenges.”
Two days before the general election, the Times (11/2/25) ran a piece parroting one of Cuomo’s central attacks on Mamdani, under the headline “Even for Some Mamdani Supporters, His Thin Résumé Is Cause for Concern.” The subhead read:
Many voters struggle with a fundamental question about Zohran Mamdani’s candidacy: Is a 34-year-old state assemblyman ready to lead the nation’s largest city?
The New York Post (8/11/21) didn’t always see Andrew Cuomo as the savior of New York City.
“The stakes are high,” the Times warned, reluctantly admitting 17 paragraphs in:
To be fair, there may be no perfect preparation to lead New York City, and the office of mayor is frequently won not on the strength of a résumé but on ideas.
You certainly wouldn’t think the stakes were high from the approach the paper took to its mayoral election quiz (10/27/25), headlined “What Do You and the NYC Mayoral Candidates Agree On?” These types of quizzes can be a good way for readers to cut through horserace coverage and inflammatory rhetoric, and focus on important policy matters. But the Times chose to squander the opportunity by throwing in a bunch of entirely unserious questions about things like preferred bagel orders, movies, baseball caps and hobbies. “Pick one: Six cats; one dog; no pets,” read one question.
The paper of record did run a story (8/30/25) on the actual political preferences of a demographic it takes very seriously: “How Are the Very Rich Feeling About New York’s Next Mayor?” (It turns out they’re wondering “whether anyone…can beat the democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani.”)
‘Once again on the low road’
It wasn’t that long ago that these very same papers were rallying for Cuomo’s ouster from executive power. “It’s time for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to do one honorable thing: step down,” said the New York Post editorial board (8/3/21) in the midst of sexual harassment allegations.
If he refuses, lawmakers should remove him. Pronto.
The New York Times (6/29/25) shows Mamdani on TikTok (1/1/25) explaining his rent freeze proposal while taking the polar bear plunge at Coney Island.
A headline from a Daily News editorial (8/4/21) at the time: “Even if Cuomo Was Just Clueless and Not Predatory, He Has Created a Workplace Rife With Sexual Harassment.” The Times editorial board (8/3/21) called for Cuomo’s resignation in the wake of a damning state attorney general’s report. “Mr. Cuomo has always had a self-serving streak and been known for his political bullying,” it wrote.
What this report lays out, however, are credible accusations that can’t be looked past.
Cuomo has never admitted wrongdoing or apologized, yet New York media seem to have forgiven him simply because he was fighting an economic progressive. It took an upstate editorial board, Albany’s Times-Union (10/24/25), to deliver the clear message about Cuomo’s racist campaigning in the final weeks, and why he hasn’t been redeemed from his sordid past:
It is not surprising to once again find the ex-governor on the low road; the voters of New York City should ensure that he proceeds to the exit ramp.
Failure to land punches
It says a lot about the city’s media oligopoly that they crawled back to a rejected, corrupt sleazeball as the one thing that can save the city from the fresh-faced progressive who vows to make life more affordable. And it is a positive sign that Mamdani was able to withstand this monied and organized onslaught.
Mamdani’s campaign and his supporters’ talent for creating captivating content for TikTok, Instagram and X is often credited for his success among younger voters (NBC News, 6/26/25; New York Times, 6/29/25). But Mamdani supporters point out that praising Mamdani’s social media game downplays the pro-affordability policy proposals and massive, enthusiastic door-to-door organizing that won the city over.
Still, the failure of the papers to land their punches can’t be ignored.
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Billionaires are spending big to stop Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral bid
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A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.
Super PACs supporting Andrew Cuomo and opposing Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race have raised over $40 million, with millions coming from prominent billionaires and family dynasties, according to election filings.
New York billionaires Bill Ackman, Ronald Lauder, William Lauder, Barry Diller and Dan Loeb have all made large donations to a special committee called Fix the City that supports independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, according to election filings. Other non-New Yorkers giving to the group include casino mogul Steve Wynn and Alice Walton, the world’s richest woman.
The wave of big money highlights the growing fear of a Mamdani win by many of New York’s wealthy and national conservatives. A self-described Democratic socialist, Mamdani’s platform includes a rent freeze, free buses, free childcare for all and government-run grocery stores. To pay for the programs, he’s proposed an additional 2% tax on New Yorkers who make more than $1 million a year.
Even as Mamdani maintains a double-digit lead in most of the polls, a vast money machine built on several pro-Cuomo PACs has gained steam as Election Day nears. Fix the City is by far the largest of the so-called “independent expenditure committees,” political fundraising groups akin to super PACs that can accept unlimited funds and were created to get around the new York City’s campaign finance limits. They are not tax deductible to the donors and are not permitted to coordinate their efforts with a specific candidate’s campaign.
According to filings, Fix the City has raised over $32 million, with many large gifts coming after Mamdani’s primary win in June. Two other anti-Mamdani committees include Defend NYC, which has raised $2.5 million, and New Yorkers for a Better Future, which has raised $1.5 million.
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A PAC supporting Mamdani, called New Yorkers for Lower Costs, has raised just under $2 million. The only known wealth donor to contribute to that special committee is Elizabeth Simons, the daughter of the late billionaire hedge fund investor James Simons.
Many of the largest donations to Fix the City came before the primary, including two gifts in June from Michael Bloomberg totaling $8.3 million. Bloomberg, who met with Mamdani in September to offer advice, has not made any donations to the group since.
Many billionaires have ramped up their giving after the primary. Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, Tesla board member and White House chief design officer, gave two gifts of $1 million each to two pro-Cuomo PACs in October.
Gebbia declined to comment on the gifts, as did several other billionaires mentioned in this piece. Others could not be reached for comment.
Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for mayor speaks during a press conference celebrating his primary victory with leaders and members of the city’s labor unions on July 2, 2025 in New York.
Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images
The Lauder family, heirs to the Estee Lauder fortune, have given over $2 million to anti-Mamdani committees. Ronald Lauder gave $750,000 to Fix the City in September, while William Lauder, chair of The Estee Lauder Companies, gave $500,000 in late August. Other members of the Lauder family have given more than $750,000 combined since June.
More than a half dozen members of the Tisch family, whose fortune stretches from real estate and hospitality to energy, packaging and sports, have given to Fix the City. Abigail, Louise, Maude and Laurie Tisch each gave $100,000 in October, while Alice Tisch gave $500,000. Elizabeth, Jonathan and Merryl Tisch also donated to the PAC after the primary.
The Tisch family donations carry added symbolism since since Jessica Tisch, daughter of Loews Corp. CEO James Tisch, is the popular New York City police commissioner who has overseen a continued drop in crime in the city. Mamdani has said he plans to keep Tisch in her role as commissioner but has also called for an overhaul of policing and a new “department of public safety.”
Many of the large donors backing Cuomo are hedge funders. Bill Ackman, who supported President Donald Trump’s re-election last year, gave $250,000 to Fix the City in October, following two gifts of $250,000 each before the primary. Dan Loeb of Third Point gave $100,000 in October after a $100,000 donation in June.
Some of the larger donors appear to have only loose ties to New York City.
Steve Wynn, the longtime Republican donor who listed his address as Las Vegas, gave $500,000 to Fix the City in October. Alice Walton, the world’s richest woman, listed her address as a post office box in Bentonville, Arkansas — Walmart’s hometown — when she made a $100,000 donation in August, on top of a $100,000 donation in April. Walton has little history of political giving in New York, beyond donating to pro-charter school groups and candidates. Mamdani has said he opposes the expansion of charter schools.
While many of the anti-Mamdani billionaires are Republicans, a notable exception is Barry Diller, the chairman of IAC and longtime New York philanthropist who’s giving has typically leaned toward Democrats. Diller gave $500,000 to Fix the City across two donations, with the most recent in October.
The worry by some pro-Cuomo supporters is that the giving by billionaires and the family dynasties could backfire in an increasingly populist political climate. Mamdani has made the donations a point of pride on the campaign trail, saying the spending by the rich is proof that his policies would restore power to everyday New Yorkers.
“They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,” Mamdani said in an interview with MSNBC Tuesday.
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