How Is Mamdani Doing?
Former Nation editor Don Guttenplan on how Mamdani is balancing pragmatism and principles as he deals with policing,
Donald Trump and a tough budget.

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Former Nation editor Don Guttenplan is now bringing municipal politics to the magazine
with a weekly column tracking the progress of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. I spoke to Don
about how Mamdani is balancing pragmatism and principles as he deals with policing,
Donald Trump and a tough budget.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a “Rental Ripoff” hearing at Fordham University in the Bronx borough of New York on March 11, 2026.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)Former Nation editor Don Guttenplan is now bringing municipal politics to the magazine with a weekly column tracking the progress of mayor Zohran Mamdani. I spoke to Don about how Mamdani is balancing pragmatism and principles as he deals with policing, Donald Trump and a tough budget.
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Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
My Nation colleague Joan Walsh recently profiled Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff for the magazine. Georgia is very much a purple state. The fact that Ossoff won there and stands a good chance at re-election is evidence of his political talent, turning him into an increasingly prominent national figure. Joan and I talked about Ossoff’s background and the long struggle to transform Georgia, a formerly red state where Democrats are making headway.
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