Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast Previewing The Trump/Mamdani Meeting
Nov 21, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Lemire, a political journalist at The Atlantic and co-host of Morning Joe, provides insights into the pivotal meeting between President Trump and NYC's Mayor-elect Mamdani. He highlights Trump's provocative use of labels as political dog whistles and speculates on whether the meeting will be a staged performance for cameras. Lemire also examines Mamdani's potential strategies to navigate Trump's confrontational style and influence federal actions, while discussing critical topics like crime and tax reforms.
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Trump's Opening Is A Political Performance
- President Trump framed the meeting with Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani using his middle name and calling him a "communist," signaling a deliberate dog-whistle to excite his base.
- Jonathan Lemire says this rhetoric suggests Trump wants the audience and may broadcast the encounter to perform for supporters.
Two Likely Meeting Scripts
- The meeting could go two ways: cordial on camera or confrontational to create a political foil for Trump.
- Lemire notes Trump admires Mamdani's communication skills and may charm him publicly then attack later on social media.
Stick To Affordability As The Focus
- Mamdani should aim to find common ground on affordability while maintaining clear policy differences.
- Lemire suggests sticking to the affordability issue could produce practical cooperation without betraying Mamdani's base.