When I was 20 I volunteered for JFK's primary campaign in Los Angeles. The campaign put everybody to work on something. I was a Kennedy Press girl passing out information to delegates to the convention. Everybody got a job. It was the best feeling for someone who wasn't even old enoughto vote. Needless to say the 60's devastated most of us. Until the Age of Monster tRump 1968 had been the worst year of my life. 2025 has overtaken that year as the worst of my long life. I am 84, weak and tired, but Mamdani's campaign gave me real hope. WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN: OURSELVES. I am smiling today for the first time in many many months.
I have had close ties to NYC since I was born, though I don't live there. My son has lived in Manhattan for more than a decade. My dad was born in NYC and went to school there. My mom also attended school in NYC. My dad's sister and family lived in Queens, so I kind of grew up there. I've watched the City change, in both positive an negative ways, but there has always been a huge wealth on privilege gap. May of the most egregious issues can be solved with buy-in from all sides. I'm hoping that people will realize that a more affordable, equitable city will benefit everyone.
This is such an important moment, for All of Us, (Note: Reagan did not unify the country and with Newt Gingrich and David Stockman began de-regulating everything leading to this moment we are all trying to survive. Scarborough needs to review the facts.) I have so much hope for the re-direction, intelligence, integrity and creativity Mamdani represents! We have a playbook, can we muster the political will, and humility, to use it? The moment and opportunity are here NOW. Hello 2026.
Yes, Anand people desperately want to feel a part of something and it can go either way. It can be based on grievance, anger and taking it out on the other as in MAGA or it can be the positive, hopeful, unifying message of Mamdani. People want to live in Real Life and if the progressive unifiers are to be successful nationally they need to have the power to bring people out from behind the screens with the AI slop and into the streets. As someone who lives in Chicago I have been a part of the communities unifying around our immigrant neighbors and against the terror brought by ICE/CBP. Most humans want to do the right thing when given the chance, I have seen it over and over in my lifetime. Unfortunately we have cruel criminal clowns in the White House who have created a daily shit show for us to consume and be consumed by but they won't be there forever. I'm looking forward to the day when these unelected international human rights abusers and undeclared war criminals go back to being private citizens. Noem, Hegseth, Rubio, Bovino et al, the ICC warrants on are the way. Happy New Year!
So much promise--even for those of us who are far from New York City, writing from Seattle! Lots rides on Mamdani's ability to deliver. I trust that he will and will set an example for those of us who believe he is onto something that the entire country desperately needs. Best to you, Zohran, and Happy New Year to us all!
Thank you Anand. We all can use sunny side up message at the dawn of a new year. As a first generation Indian Immigrant Civil Disobedience is not a new concept for me. As a relatively newly implanted New Yorker and restarting participating in various rallies before Mamdani's campaign started in earnest helps me to understand the hunger better.
When I was 20 I volunteered for JFK's primary campaign in Los Angeles. The campaign put everybody to work on something. I was a Kennedy Press girl passing out information to delegates to the convention. Everybody got a job. It was the best feeling for someone who wasn't even old enoughto vote. Needless to say the 60's devastated most of us. Until the Age of Monster tRump 1968 had been the worst year of my life. 2025 has overtaken that year as the worst of my long life. I am 84, weak and tired, but Mamdani's campaign gave me real hope. WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN: OURSELVES. I am smiling today for the first time in many many months.
I have had close ties to NYC since I was born, though I don't live there. My son has lived in Manhattan for more than a decade. My dad was born in NYC and went to school there. My mom also attended school in NYC. My dad's sister and family lived in Queens, so I kind of grew up there. I've watched the City change, in both positive an negative ways, but there has always been a huge wealth on privilege gap. May of the most egregious issues can be solved with buy-in from all sides. I'm hoping that people will realize that a more affordable, equitable city will benefit everyone.
We want change.
This is such an important moment, for All of Us, (Note: Reagan did not unify the country and with Newt Gingrich and David Stockman began de-regulating everything leading to this moment we are all trying to survive. Scarborough needs to review the facts.) I have so much hope for the re-direction, intelligence, integrity and creativity Mamdani represents! We have a playbook, can we muster the political will, and humility, to use it? The moment and opportunity are here NOW. Hello 2026.
Yes, Anand people desperately want to feel a part of something and it can go either way. It can be based on grievance, anger and taking it out on the other as in MAGA or it can be the positive, hopeful, unifying message of Mamdani. People want to live in Real Life and if the progressive unifiers are to be successful nationally they need to have the power to bring people out from behind the screens with the AI slop and into the streets. As someone who lives in Chicago I have been a part of the communities unifying around our immigrant neighbors and against the terror brought by ICE/CBP. Most humans want to do the right thing when given the chance, I have seen it over and over in my lifetime. Unfortunately we have cruel criminal clowns in the White House who have created a daily shit show for us to consume and be consumed by but they won't be there forever. I'm looking forward to the day when these unelected international human rights abusers and undeclared war criminals go back to being private citizens. Noem, Hegseth, Rubio, Bovino et al, the ICC warrants on are the way. Happy New Year!
Congratulations, Mayor Mamdani!
So much promise--even for those of us who are far from New York City, writing from Seattle! Lots rides on Mamdani's ability to deliver. I trust that he will and will set an example for those of us who believe he is onto something that the entire country desperately needs. Best to you, Zohran, and Happy New Year to us all!
Thank you Anand. We all can use sunny side up message at the dawn of a new year. As a first generation Indian Immigrant Civil Disobedience is not a new concept for me. As a relatively newly implanted New Yorker and restarting participating in various rallies before Mamdani's campaign started in earnest helps me to understand the hunger better.
Yeah, I just love me some of that Mamdani hope!
Community Matters
Thank you, Anand, and a bright and hopeful new year!
So appreciate your concise and powerful insights (and wry humor, of course) on Morning Joe.
Happy new year
The audio is not working correctly. Can you check w substack?