The Brian Lehrer Show Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa Mayoral Debate Recap
Oct 17, 2025
Jeff Coltin, a Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, provides a sharp recap of the NYC mayoral debate featuring Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa. They dive into how each candidate would confront Trump, with Sliwa’s pro-Trump outreach sparking debate. Coltin analyzes concerns over management experience, particularly Cuomo's attacks on Mamdani. Discussions also cover housing policies, Mamdani's Middle East stance, and the candidates' varying degrees of charisma on stage—crucial for reshaping voter perceptions.
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Dueling Strategies For Dealing With Trump
- Curtis Sliwa pitched cooperation with Trump to protect city projects while warning against political fights.
- Zohran Mamdani countered that Trump is already using funding threats as political retribution and requires resistance.
Court Trump-Friendly Voters Carefully
- Republican Curtis Sliwa avoids attacking Trump directly to retain pro-Trump Republican voters.
- Jeff Coltin suggests Sliwa must court those votes to have any chance in the general election.
Sliwa’s 'Architect And Apprentice' Attack
- Curtis Sliwa repeatedly framed Cuomo and Mamdani as creators of crime policy failures, calling them "architect" and "apprentice."
- Jeff Coltin noted this helps Sliwa appeal to voters who dislike professional politicians but it's a long shot.