Uncanny Valley | WIRED BIG INTV: Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor
36 snips
Oct 20, 2025 
Zohran Mamdani, a progressive New York State Assembly member and mayoral candidate, dives into his social media-powered campaign strategies. He shares how early digital activism shaped his approach and discusses the authenticity of maintaining a digital footprint. Notably, he recounts high-impact campaign stunts and how he's adapted to newfound fame while prioritizing safety. Mamdani also critiques recent tech industry shifts and emphasizes the importance of using social media to engage youth in city governance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Facebook Debates To Transformative Media
- Mamdani describes early digital activism as perfunctory Facebook debates and underdeveloped online organizing.
- He says the campaign's social strategy transformed social media from reflection to a tool that can change reality.
Campaign Videos As Policy Tools
- Zohran Mamdani traced his digital strategy to campaign-style videos that distilled policy into shareable narratives.
- He applied that model to legislative advocacy (e.g., Fix the MTA) to broaden issue engagement beyond usual political bubbles.
Polar Bear Plunge Breakthrough
- Mamdani recounts doing a polar bear plunge video to call out rent guidelines board appointments while freezing and dripping cold.
- The low-cost, improvised shoot with a small team became one of the campaign's most-watched posts.