When Zohran Mamdani visited The Daily Showwas he expecting to spend his time fielding Jon Stewart’s newest schemes? Stewart went big-brained while he had Mamdani on the October 27 episode of his talk show, suggesting new ways for Mamdani to fit all kinds of people into New York should he be elected mayor on November 4. “We talk about housing and all those different things. Do we just need more land?” Stewart asked Mamdani. Then, before the candidate could answer, Stewart leaned forward and suggested, “There’s this park that I’ve been to … in the middle of the city.” Mamdani, ever composed, impersonated Trump in response: “What an incredible opportunity.”
Even after Mamdani took a moment to explain his slightly more feasible ideas for more affordable housing, Stewart was kept pitching. “Are you sure you don’t wanna go with the more-land thing? I know they do this sometimes in the Middle East — they just build islands out of nothing.” He’s likely referring to the UAE’s Palm and World Islands, which are man-made archipelagos. “Can’t we connect lower Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty and then just throw up a couple of high-rises?” Stewart asked. This time, Mamdani was onboard. “I just wanna take this moment,” he riffed. “That is the policy idea I came here tonight to announce.” Stewart was thrilled: “Perfect!”
In fact, throughout the entirety of the interview, Stewart and Mamdani were chummy pals. (Or, to use Curtis Sliwa’s favorite terminologyStewart was “glazing” him.) By the end, Stewart took a moment to just acknowledge Mamdani’s historic run. “Honestly, I think any New Yorker who looks at someone getting an opportunity, who’s representing communities that have not been as represented: a Muslim, a young person, a progressive, a democratic socialist,” Stewart said. “There are so many different communities that are looking to you and, I hate to put it on you, as a bit of a Jackie Robinson moment. And I know that that probably wields some weight, but man oh man, what an exciting opportunity.”
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