WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Zohran Mamdani's Police Chief and a Sitdown With Donald Trump
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Nov 20, 2025 Kim Strassel, a Wall Street Journal editorial columnist renowned for her insights on politics and governance, joins to dissect the implications of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's decision to retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The discussion highlights their contrasting approaches to policing despite shared safety goals. Strassel also evaluates Mamdani's upcoming meeting with Donald Trump and considers Elise Stefanik's gubernatorial ambitions, analyzing the obstacles she faces in a predominantly Democratic New York.
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Retention Masks Deep Policy Divides
- Zoran Mamdani pledged to retain Jessica Tisch to reassure voters about public safety.
- Kim Strassel warns their agreement on outcomes masks deep disagreements over policing methods.
Inputs Matter More Than Shared Outcomes
- Kim Strassel lists concrete policy conflicts between Mamdani and Tisch like budget cuts, oversight power and gang databases.
- Those input differences could undermine the crime reductions Tisch achieved even if they claim the same goals.
Philosophical Clash Over Policing Style
- Bill McGurn argues that Mamdani likely disagrees with Tisch's broken-windows and quality-of-life policing.
- He fears Mamdani views the police as a malign influence and may not respect NYPD's professional capabilities.