The Mamdani Phenomenon: A Rorschach Test for American Politics

Zohran Mamdani provides an interesting Rorschach test for American politics, and the conclusion’s clear: we’re a country living in two different realities.

The first of the ten cards in the Rorschach test (Source: Wikipedia)

For those unfamiliar with Mamdani, he’s the Democratic nominee for NYC’s next mayoral election. I exaggerate only slightly when I say: the Right presents Mamdani as: a communist who will bring Sharia law, antisemitism and totalitarianism to New York City, while the Left proclaims him: a once-in-a-generation political talent, wildly popular with ordinary NYC voters, who will energize the progressive movement.

The Right’s Apocalyptic Vision

National Review labeled Mamdani a “Public Menace”. It is being widely claimed that a Mamdani win would lead businesses to flee NYC. He’s been accused of racism for wanting to shift the tax burden to richer neighborhoods (which also tend to be whiter). His opponents have painted him as a scoundrel whose victory would create a lawless city that no one would want to call home.

The attacks on mayoral candidate Mamdani have even extended to Congress. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) urged the Justice Department to denaturalize and deport Mamdani, posting on X: “Zohran ‘little muhammad’…