On today’s episode of Brannon Howse Live, I had the privilege of sitting down with Trevor Loudon, a renowned expert on Marxism and global political movements, to discuss a troubling figure in the New York City mayoral race: Zohran Mamdani. As the Democratic primary unfolds, Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Marxist and Shia Muslim “Twelver,” is reportedly leading by 16 points in recent polls. This is not just another election; it’s a potential turning point for America’s financial capital, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Loudon didn’t mince words when describing Mamdani. “He’s a card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA),” Loudon explained, “a communist organization aligned with Cuba and Marxist groups across the Third World.” The DSA, with its 90,000-strong army, is pouring resources into Mamdani’s campaign, phone-banking and fundraising nationwide. This is the same playbook that propelled Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress, and now it’s targeting the heart of New York City.
But Mamdani’s affiliations go beyond Marxism. As a Shia Muslim “Twelver,” he adheres to the same sect of Islam that serves as the official state religion of Iran. Loudon emphasized the significance of this: “Twelvers believe the 12th Imam will return to usher in the Day of Judgment, but only after maximum chaos—wars, revolutions, terrorism—is created on Earth.” This religious motivation, Loudon argues, aligns with Iran’s relentless troublemaking and could spell disaster for a city like New York, which has relied on robust police intelligence to stay safe since 9/11.
Mamdani’s family ties only deepen the concern. His mother, a well-known film director, is a fierce anti-Israel activist, while his father, a Columbia University professor, has been involved in pro-Hamas rallies and works closely with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a pro-Chinese Maoist group tied to the origins of Black Lives Matter. Both Mamdani and his father are deeply embedded in the “defund the police” movement, raising serious questions about what a Mamdani mayoralty would mean for New York’s law enforcement and public safety.
Loudon drew a chilling historical parallel to David Dinkins, the last DSA-affiliated mayor of New York City. Under Dinkins in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, New York descended into a “cesspit” of crime, drugs, and prostitution. It took Rudy Giuliani’s reforms to pull the city back from the brink. Now, with Mamdani—a man Loudon describes as “even worse” than Dinkins—poised to take the helm, the city could face a return to those dark days. “How do you think police morale is going to go under him?” Loudon asked rhetorically. “This is a guy who hates the cops, hates Israel, and I believe hates America.”
Mamdani’s own words, as shown in clips during our discussion, reveal his radical agenda. He proudly recounted his role in founding a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College, where he pushed for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns against Israel. He framed his activism as a fight against “colonialism,” a term he and his father use to justify Palestinian terrorism and other violent acts as “freedom” rather than terrorism. This worldview, Loudon warned, sees both Israel and America as “colonial powers” deserving of resistance—hardly the mindset of a mayor tasked with governing a diverse, pro-Israel city like New York.
Perhaps most alarming is Mamdani’s proposal to create city-owned grocery stores that would operate without a profit motive, pay no property taxes or rent, and undercut private businesses. “This is socialism,” I remarked during the show, and Loudon agreed, noting that such policies could devastate New York’s retail industry, which supports tens of thousands of families. “This is what socialists do,” Loudon said. “They wreck a whole sector and put up some little substitute they champion.”
Mamdani’s campaign also leans heavily on identity politics. In a speech to Muslim voters, he highlighted the political potential of New York’s million-strong Muslim population, lamenting their low voter turnout and positioning himself as their champion. While he accused his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, of indifference to Muslim communities, Loudon pointed out the broader danger: “This is why mass Muslim migration is a problem—it brings political power that can shift the balance in places like New York.”
As Loudon put it, the fact that a “hardcore Shia Marxist” who “hates the police and loves communist Cuba” is even a contender is a testament to the organized left’s power and the mainstream media’s failure to expose him. Conservative outlets, with few exceptions like our friend Amy Mech, have largely stayed silent. If Mamdani wins the primary, he’s likely to win the general election, given New York’s Democratic dominance. The consequences for businesses, from Trump Tower to local bodegas, could be catastrophic as crime spikes, police are sidelined, and socialist policies tank the private sector.
Loudon’s parting words were a call to action: “I just hope enough sensible New Yorkers vote against this man to make sure he’s working at McDonald’s next week.” For those who want to dive deeper into this threat, visit TrevorLoudon.com and check out his books and X account for more on the Marxist and Islamist networks infiltrating our cities.
New York City stands at a crossroads. Will it remain a beacon of freedom and prosperity, or will it fall to the chaos of a Marxist Islamist like Zohran Mamdani? The choice is in the hands of its voters.
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