Mike Nellis joined Don Lemon this afternoon to unpack one of the most surprising political upsets in recent memory: Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory over Andrew Cuomo in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary.
In a candid and wide-ranging conversation, Nellis and Lemon dove into the campaign dynamics that led to Mamdani’s surge—and Cuomo’s collapse. Nellis described Mamdani’s campaign as one of the most focused and effective of the cycle, emphasizing affordability, local impact, and real coalition-building. They discussed how Mamdani met voters where they are, cut through the noise, and channeled the kind of authenticity and urgency that so many Democratic candidates struggle to find.
They also examined how Cuomo’s arrogance, lack of ground game, and failure to adapt to a new political landscape helped doom his chances—even with name recognition and a cash advantage. Ranked-choice voting and NYC’s public financing laws helped level the field, but it was Mamdani’s clarity of message and coalition savvy that sealed the deal.
But the conversation wasn’t just about this one race. Nellis and Lemon explored the broader implications for the Democratic Party: why candidates who actually seem like they give a damn are winning, and why voters across the spectrum are willing to take risks when traditional leaders stop delivering. They cautioned against overcorrecting or drawing the wrong lessons—this wasn’t a socialist wave, and it wasn’t the end of the establishment. But it was a sign that young, bold, disciplined leadership is breaking through.
They also covered:
– Whether Eric Adams can mount a general election comeback
– Why Mamdani is more Michelle Wu than Brandon Johnson
– The strategic use of social media and small-dollar energy
– The divide between performative politics and real impact
– What other rising candidates—like Mallory McMorrow and Jake Rakov—can learn from this moment
– And how voters are increasingly following people, not parties or institutions
The discussion closed with a bigger takeaway about media itself. As trust in traditional outlets collapses, voices like Lemon’s and Nellis’s—rooted in authenticity, independence, and real-world experience—are resonating with a public that’s tired of spin and hungry for truth.
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