Comedian Bill Maher sparked a heated discussion on his late-night show ‘Real Time’ with guest Rep. Jason Crow on Friday regarding the political stances of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The conversation turned contentious when Maher defended his criticism of Mamdani’s ‘Marxist’ views, asserting that the city has ‘never had someone this radical.’ Maher drew attention to Mamdani’s ideological positions, including his advocacy for the ‘abolition of private property,’ emphasizing that these views are at odds with traditional American political norms.
Crow countered by suggesting that conservative groups routinely create a ‘boogeyman’ for political attacks, a claim Maher refuted by emphasizing that he was quoting Mamdani’s actual statements. The debate was further amplified by columnist James Kirchick’s comments on the controversy surrounding Mamdani. Kirchick suggested that Mamdani’s defense of the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ – which he described as implying the ‘kill Jews whenever and wherever you can find them’ – is the most troubling aspect of the candidate’s rhetoric.
Mamdani has faced significant criticism from Jewish leaders and other groups for his views. However, in July, New York Times reported that Mamdani had distanced himself from the ‘globalize the intifida’ phrase, stating he would not use it and would discourage others from using it. Despite this, a recent survey by the American Pulse polling firm found that 30% of New York City voters support Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase and his backing of the anti-Israel boycott movement. This highlights the polarizing nature of Mamdani’s political stance within the city’s electorate.