Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s First Inner Circle Dinner

At his inaugural Inner Circle dinner on Saturday night, New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoran Mamdani didn’t hold back, taking jabs at the media and past city leaders.

As reported by the New York Post, Mamdani elicited laughter at the Ziegfeld Ballroom by comparing his dynamic with Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to historical squabbles between previous governors and mayors. “We’re like Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio, except we don’t want to kill each other, and there’s a lot less sexual tension,” he quipped, addressing the black-tie audience on the 87th day of his administration.

The city’s first Muslim mayor also directed some comments towards the New York Post. “Well, this is the 87th night of my administration, or as the New York Post puts it, ‘Arabian Nights,’” he remarked. He jokingly invited anyone heading to Uganda to consider renting his parents’ home, humorously noting it was “staffed by a New York Post reporter.” Furthermore, he highlighted his view of the Daily News, claiming that social media creators with 33,000 followers truly represent the city’s press corps. “Even if we lost a few hundred followers, we’d still have more readers than the Daily News,” he asserted.

According to the New York Post, Mamdani shared the stage with Curtis Sliwa, a Republican contender for mayor in 2025 and a known cat aficionado. During their skit, Mamdani pretended to get allergy shots in preparation for introducing a cat to Gracie Mansion.

Prior to the mayor’s turn, reporters entertained the crowd with their own musical performances. City & State Editor-in-Chief Jeff Coltin humorously dressed as Mamdani in an apron and no shirt, referencing one of the mayor’s past music video appearances. One of the highlights of the evening included a parody song titled “Mamdani Mas,” performed to the tune of “Pink Pony Club.”

The Inner Circle has a history of hosting annual roasts dating back to 1923, held at PIX11, a facility that’s been around for over a century.

Funds raised during the event directly support student journalism initiatives in New York City public schools and fellowships at the City University of New York.