Comedian Bill Maher clashed on Friday with Rep. Jason Crowe over remarks regarding Zoran Mamdani, the democratic socialist candidate for mayor of New York City. Maher described Mamdani as a “born villain or boogeyman.”
“He’s not unnatural. He’s going to be mayor of New York,” Maher asserted, referencing Mamdani’s “Marxist” views, including points like the abolition of private property, while stating that New York has not seen a figure like him before.
“There’s a lot of opposition to Mamdani. We didn’t have this radical person before, so I understand some of what he says is connected to Marxist ideology. It’s straightforward communism,” Maher continued.
In response, Crowe suggested that figures like Mamdani are often portrayed as threats during elections, remarking, “They are always trying to create villains, a boogeyman or a bogeywoman.”
“No, these are quotes. I’ve done nothing but quote [Mamdani],” Maher replied.
The second guest, columnist James Kilchick, weighed in on the criticism Mamdani has received from conservatives, challenging the narrative surrounding him.
“Everything that the far-right claimed about Obama, like not being born in America or being a socialist, is similar to what they say about Mamdani,” Kilchick argued.
He expressed concern about Mamdani’s language, especially his defense of the phrase “globalization of intifadas,” calling it particularly alarming.
Kilchick criticized both political sides, suggesting Democrats, who haven’t opposed Mamdani, resemble Republicans from a decade ago who failed to confront Trump.
“We see something similar with this guy who lacks the spine shown in past political discourse,” Kilchick added.
A July report from the New York Times indicated that Mamdani had not used the phrase mentioned previously in a meeting with business leaders and that his views diverged from that usage.
Further, a survey by the American Pulse Voting Company revealed that 30% of New York City voters supported Mamdani’s stance on the idea of “globalization of intifadas” and his involvement in the anti-Israel boycott movement.
