"It opens in the Bronx, five days after the 2024 election. Mamdani is holding a microphone in one hand and a handwritten sign in the other. It says Let's Talk Election. Most of the passersby don't bother to talk with him; the ones who do, at least the ones included in the video, speak about why they didn't vote ("I lost faith") or their decision to cast a ballot for Donald Trump. Mamdani listens with a furrowed brow."
"Mamdani didn't win solely because he was good at using the internet or courting fandoms. But his campaign did offer something unique and effective: Mamdani positioned himself as an inversion of our current political dysfunction. In an era of American politics that's becoming more and more defined by trolling, shamelessness, and cheap propaganda, Mamdani proved himself to be the anti-slop candidate."
Zohran Mamdani spent time in Bronx neighborhoods after the 2024 election, inviting conversation with a handwritten "Let's Talk Election" sign and a microphone. Many passersby ignored him, while those who spoke mentioned lost faith or voting for Donald Trump, and Mamdani listened intently. Weeks later he returned and received enthusiastic greetings, illustrating rapid national prominence. Viral videos showcased listening and grassroots outreach as movement-building tools rather than pure internet fandom. Mamdani cast himself as an antidote to trolling, shamelessness, and cheap propaganda. An opponent later posted a racist AI-generated attack ad.
Read at The Atlantic
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