Michael Rapaport’s fiery confrontation with New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani exposes a deeper hypocrisy at play — a man who claims to fight for the oppressed while enjoying every privilege of the elite class. From his upbringing in a wealthy academic household to his radical political alliances and anti-Israel rhetoric, Mamdani’s persona as a “people’s champion” unravels under scrutiny.

In 2020, amid the social unrest following George Floyd’s death, Mamdani declared the NYPD a “rogue agency” and demanded its defunding. Five years later, he apologized to police officers on live television. His earlier statements — from questioning the role of prisons to suggesting housing reforms that could “abolish private property” — resurfaced during the 2025 mayoral race, prompting both condemnation and defense. As critics call him inconsistent and supporters frame his evolution as growth, Mamdani’s record has become a flashpoint in New York’s political landscape.In 2020, amid the social unrest following George Floyd’s death, Mamdani declared the NYPD a “rogue agency” and demanded its defunding. Five years later, he apologized to police officers on live television. His earlier statements — from questioning the role of prisons to suggesting housing reforms that could “abolish private property” — resurfaced during the 2025 mayoral race, prompting both condemnation and defense. As critics call him inconsistent and supporters frame his evolution as growth, Mamdani’s record has become a flashpoint in New York’s political landscape.