The Good Fight The Good Fight Club: Mamdani Mania, the Neverending Shutdown, and the Trump-Xi Summit
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Nov 1, 2025 
Damon Linker, a political science lecturer and newsletter author, Sabina Ćudić, an elected member of the Bosnian Parliament, and Richard Aldous, a history professor and podcast host, delve into pivotal political themes. They assess the Democratic Party's future amid midterms and the rise of Zohran Mamdani. The panel discusses authenticity in politics, the implications of government shutdowns, and the recent Trump-Xi summit. They also explore the conflict between populism and traditional strategies, questioning whether authenticity can truly be manufactured.
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Off-Year Elections Favor Educated Democrats
- Special off-year elections favor Democrats because highly educated, engaged voters turn out disproportionately.
- That turnout pattern makes such races a poor predictor of national prospects.
Local Economics Underpin Mamdani's Appeal
- Mamdani's message taps genuine local economic pain like rising rents and falling real wages in New York.
- But relocating finance jobs undermines the tax base that funds the city's generous services he promises.
Mamdani Is About Authenticity, Not Just Ideology
- Mamdani's rise should be read through identity, authenticity, and anti-xenophobia lenses, not only ideology.
- Early wins can mislead national strategy because New York dynamics don't generalize to other states.
