A resurfaced 2020 interview with New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani reveals how his upbringing shaped his openness to being labeled ‘radical’. Mamdani attributes this to his identity as a Muslim immigrant and his advocacy for Palestinian rights, which he says positions him as ‘other’ in mainstream American politics. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, has also been associated with anti-Israel views and has endorsed groups linked to legitimizing anti-democratic violence. Critics argue that the Mamdani family’s ideology is anti-American and promotes Jew-hatred, undermining the core values of tolerance, equality, and liberty in the US. In the interview, Mamdani laments the criticism that Democratic Socialists of America have faced for supporting the BDS movement, which advocates for economic boycotts and sanctions against Israel. He also explains his evolution as a ‘socialist’, stating he hopes to rebrand the term to make it more appealing to the public, emphasizing the need for state support in areas like housing, healthcare, education, and public transit.