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Honestly, Mamdani and his PR team are incredibly savvy. They're doing exactly what they promised: rebuilding the people’s trust in government, but through perception first.
Take the Israeli parade. First, he announces he'll be skipping it. That dominates headlines and reinforces the image of a mayor willing to take a bold stand, even at political risk. People who were skeptical start questioning their skepticism because the move feels authentic and principled.
Then, after that positive perception takes hold, you get something like the video below. He still announces that he won't attend the parade himself, so he keeps the positive publicity. But at the same time, he says he'll send a member of his administration instead: Jessica Tisch, whom he chose to retain despite her family's well-known ties to Netanyahu.
Most people won't notice the distinction. A small number like myself will criticize it, but by then the mass deception has already been established. The public focus shifts from scrutinizing the contradiction to defending the image of a "principled mayor." The net result is growing support, deeper belief in the system, and no political cost for it.
This is the same pattern I saw with his pro-Palestinian messaging. "Free Palestine" goes viral, his supporters rally behind him, and his popularity grows. Then later, he starts saying in interviews that “Israel has a right to exist.”
When I called it out and challenged him directly, the base had already been manipulated into a loyal following built around a radical image of him. Only months later did my criticism start to go mainstream, but by then the cycle had already reset and repeated itself.
That's what makes the strategy so effective. The headline-grabbing position comes first. The nuance comes later. By the time people notice the difference, the public perception has already been set and he’s onto the next thing.
Jacob N. Kornbluh@jacobkornbluh
WATCH: I asked Mamdani that while he won't be attending given his personal views, is the administration sending a representative on behalf of the administration to the parade? Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch steps in and points to herself. Mamdani nods in agreement.
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