BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  How Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Took on New York’s Billionaires, and Won

How Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Took on New York’s Billionaires, and Won

Professor Peter Beattie, Political Economist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

11-Nov-25 15:00

How Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Took on New York’s Billionaires, and Won

Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral election, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Not only that, he also received more than 50% of the popular vote. He’s a proud Democratic Socialist, and notably, the first Muslim and South Asian to become mayor of New York City.

Billionaires reportedly spent over 22 million dollars trying to stop him, yet he won. Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly attacked him and endorsed Andrew Cuomo. Yet, Mamdani won.

Not only did he win, he won on an unabashedly, proudly, multicultural, people-centered platform focused on affordability, including pledges to freeze rents, provide fast and free public buses, and ensure universal childcare.

He plans to fund these initiatives by taxing New York’s wealthiest residents: multimillionaires and billionaires.

So, how did a Democratic Socialist become mayor in the heart of global capitalism? And what does it signal?

We speak to Professor Peter Beattie, who's a political economist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  politicsinternational

Tags:  universal childcarethe bigger picturebeyond the ballot boxZohran Mamdanidemocratic socialismcapitalismnew york cityaffordable housing





Play / Pause

Listen now : Morning Brief: We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Our expert tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Winson Phoon, Head of Fixed Income Research, Maybank Investment Bank gives us an outlook for fixed income.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor's University and former Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry unpacks DAP's wipeout at the Sabah state elections.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

H.E. Naiyl Latypov, Russia's Ambassador to Malaysia, discusses bilateral relations and the prospects for peace with Ukraine.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

John Zogby discusses US influence in Latin America, where President Trump has intervened in Honduras’ election and pressured Venezuela with airspace closures and naval strikes.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Carmelo Ferlito from Center for Market Education expounds on Malaysia's trade recovery in light of the CPTPP and improved PMI.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We bring you the latest on Bursa Malaysia and international capital markets.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

Datuk N.K. Tong, Nuclear Energy Advocate discusses how nuclear energy could support Malaysia’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Ts. Mohd Yusno Yunos, Founder & CEO, Y Us Sdn Bhd (Evenesis)

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

Andrew Khoo, Executive Chairman & CEO, MUI Group, and Director, A&W Malaysia

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Dr. Evelyn S. Devadason, Professor, Faculty of Business & Economics, University Malaya. Lead Project Advisor and Senior Fellow at IDEAS

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

We hear from an experienced social worker about her journey supporting survivors of gender-based violence, the challenges she’s faced, and the lessons learned in fostering hope and resilience.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Many healthcare workers today are overstretched and burnt out, so how can they practise compassion towards their patients? Can it be taught?

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday