John Oliver Defends Mamdani’s Grace, Excoriates Cuomo’s Islamophobic Campaign Rhetoric and AI-Generated Attack Ads – Late-night host celebrates mayor-elect’s historic victory and restraint while condemning opponent’s xenophobic tactics and synthetic political warfare
Mamdani’s Speech Reframes Identity in Final Campaign Stretch – After a bruising week of attack ads and controversy, Mamdani publicly embraces his Muslim identity and asks voters to judge him by policy, not religion.
Intelligence Community Verdict: Counterterrorism Expert Rebuts “Jihadist” Label as Dangerous Campaign Rhetoric – Former CIA counterterrorism director certifies Mamdani’s legitimacy while warning that Islamophobic smears fuel domestic extremism and undermine democratic discourse
GOP Midterm Strategy Centers on Mamdani Despite Trump’s Warm Welcome – Republican leadership plans to nationalize mayor-elect as 2026 boogeyman even as Trump extends olive branch in Oval Office meeting
Mamdani’s Mother and the Movie That Shaped a Moment: How “Monsoon Wedding” Connected to 9/11 and a New Mayor’s Journey – A film critic reflects on watching Mira Nair’s joyous wedding film on September 11, 2001, and its unexpected connection to her son’s mayoral victory
Trump Rejects Stefanik’s “Jihadist” Smear, Praises Mamdani as “Very Rational Person” in Historic Oval Office Meeting – Former adversaries set aside campaign vitriol to discuss shared priorities on affordability and public safety while Republican candidate doubles down on Islamophobic rhetoric
Mamdani’s Speech Reframes Identity in Final Campaign Stretch – After a bruising week of attack ads and controversy, Mamdani publicly embraces his Muslim identity and asks voters to judge him by policy, not religion.
Mamdani’s Speech Reframes Identity in Final Campaign Stretch – After a bruising week of attack ads and controversy, Mamdani publicly embraces his Muslim identity and asks voters to judge him by policy, not religion.
Cinema, Tragedy, and the Long Arc Toward Understanding: A 9/11 Memory and Muslim Political Emergence – How a wedding film screening on September 11, 2001 connects to the 2025 election of New York’s first Muslim mayor, revealing America’s complicated journey with representation and prejudice
