Trump Embraces Mamdani Socialism as 'Practical'

45 snips

Nov 25, 2025

Robby Soave, a senior editor at Reason, discusses the intriguing dynamics of President Trump's meeting with socialist New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, calling socialist agendas 'practical.' The conversation touches on Trump's evolving political strategies, including his influence on a Warner Bros. merger amid concerns of misinformation. The panel also debates the implications of Democrats encouraging service members to disregard illegal orders, while diving into the balance between market competition and long-term innovation in a changing economy.

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INSIGHT

Charisma Trumps Ideology In Trump's Alliances

Trump values TV charisma and performance over ideology when picking allies like Zohran Mamdani.
That personal rapport can translate into troubling policy sympathy toward state control of industry.

INSIGHT

Republican Moves Toward State Control

Republicans are increasingly endorsing national economic interventions once reserved for the left.
Katherine Mangu-Ward warns those 'baby steps' toward state control risk familiar socialist failures.

ADVICE

Limit Political Influence Over Media Mergers

Resist letting mergers live or die by political favor; insist on transparent, rule-based review.
Reduce government power over corporate ownership to limit partisan interference.

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This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Reason senior editor Robby Soave to discuss President Donald Trump's unexpectedly warm White House meeting with New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and why he now describes the socialist's agenda as "practical." They examine what this moment suggests about Trump's shifting political instincts, how it fits with his recent comments on tariffs and the state of the economy, and what the disbanding of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) signals about his governing approach.

The group then looks at Trump's attempt to influence the pending Warner Bros. merger and the broader media landscape, including worries about misinformation and new reporting that major MAGA influencer accounts on X are operating from overseas. The panel also considers the implications of six Democrats telling service members they do not have to obey illegal orders and the ensuing backlash. A listener asks how to reconcile consumer benefits from intense market competition with the need to preserve incentives for long-term innovation and investment.

0:00—DOGE disbands

4:02—Trump meets Mamdani in the oval office

14:50—White House seeks influence over Warner Bros. merger

27:58—Red Scare, Oliva Nuzzi, and cancel culture

38:46—Listener question on preserving incentives in a market economy

51:29—Democrats encourage military not to follow illegal orders

57:49—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in This Podcast

"Republican Socialism," by Eric Boehm

"To the Socialists of All Parties," by Katherine Mangu-Ward

"A Dirge for DOGE," by Christian Britschgi

"How I Found Out: Part 1," by Ryan Lizza

"FDR's War Against the Press," by David T. Beito

"Mamdani Understands Something About Trump That European Leaders Don't," by Matthew Petti

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The post Trump Embraces Mamdani Socialism as 'Practical' appeared first on Reason.com.