Summary
Overview
In this episode, Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart discuss major political shifts including Zoran Mamdani's historic victory as New York City's mayor, the Czech Republic elections and the populist wave across Central Europe, and the remarkable transformation of Syria's al-Shara from terrorist to Trump ally. The discussion explores how politics is being reshaped by charisma, unconventional leadership, and the breakdown of traditional power structures.
Trump's Legal Action Against the BBC
The episode opens with discussion of Trump's decision to sue the BBC for one billion dollars, part of his pattern of intimidating media organizations. The hosts reflect on their recent BBC deep-dive episode and note that this is unprecedented for a US president to target the world's most trusted news organization (after the Weather Channel in the US). They emphasize the importance of the BBC defining what objectivity means in a post-truth social media age.
- Trump is suing the BBC for one billion dollars, an unprecedented move for a US president
- The BBC is the most trusted media organization in the US after the Weather Channel, and most trusted worldwide
- This is part of Trump's pattern of extorting money from media organizations and intimidating press worldwide
- Chris Patten's framing: Who do you believe more, the BBC or Donald Trump? What media do you want, BBC or Fox News?
- The BBC chairman Sunil Shah is seen as weak and should have responded more rapidly and clearly
- The Labour government needs to stand by BBC values and BBC's centrality to national life
" Who do you believe more, the BBC or Donald Trump? What sort of media do you want, the BBC or Fox News? "
Zoran Mamdani's Historic New York Victory
Zoran Mamdani achieved a stunning victory with 50.4% of the vote, becoming New York's first Muslim mayor, first person of South Asian descent to lead the city, and youngest mayor in over a century at age 34. The discussion explores what makes him so compelling to progressives while alarming to conservatives, with particular focus on his exceptional communication skills and ability to inspire over 100,000 volunteers. His campaign represents a new form of politics that treats people as co-authors of change rather than victims of crisis.
- Mamdani won with 50.4% of the vote, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo who only got 41.6%
- He's the first Muslim mayor of NYC, first person of South Asian descent, first mayor born in Africa (Uganda), and youngest in over a century
- Never underestimate charisma - Mamdani has exceptional communication skills and a compelling presence
- He had over 100,000 volunteers, showing extraordinary grassroots motivation
- In a Fox News interview, he turned directly to the camera to address Trump, demonstrating masterful media skills
- The NYC mayor's budget is $90 billion with responsibility for 40,000 police officers and hundreds of thousands of city employees
" Never underestimate charisma. "
" Politics built around fear or opposition cannot inspire. It can only react and manage. What's needed is a politics that treats people not as victims of crisis, but as co-authors of what can be repaired and rebuilt. "
" You know, we campaign in poetry and we govern in prose. Mamdani has campaigned in poetry. The prose is going to be tough because the promises he's made, they're going to be very difficult to bring about because of the power structures. "
" New Yorkers expect the mayor to be the CEO of the city delivering. "
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