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Zohran Mamdani: A ‘nepo baby’ in the belly of the beast

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According to New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is under investigation for bribery allegations with ties to Türkiye, the next election to determine the city’s leader would be between a “blue-collar” candidate and another candidate “in a suit and with a silver spoon.”

Adams’s “blue-collar” candidate was, of course, himself. The candidate born with a silver spoon in his mouth was (surprise!) Zohran Mamdani.

Who would have thought… The frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York is Zohran Mamdani—a “democratic socialist” of Indian descent whose ancestors were followers of “Twelver Shia Islam.”

Mamdani, who has gained prominence with a platform including free public transport, a solution to the housing crisis, and the “denunciation of Israel,” became known in connection with the term “nepo baby,” which entered the American public discourse—thanks to Hollywood stars—with a December 2022 issue of New York Magazine.

What is a nepo baby? To say “he was born on a blessed night” [a Turkish idiom for being extremely lucky] wouldn’t be enough. It’s a term used for relatively wealthy/upper-crust celebrities who were born into privilege, with a silver spoon in their mouth, and have risen in the profession of their parents or ancestors.

City&State New York, likely envious of the nepo baby list made for the West Coast, prepared one for the East Coast (New York). The date was December 20, 2022. The list included former Governor Andrew Cuomo (whose father was also a former governor) and Andrew Giuliani, known as Trump’s lawyer (his father, too, was a former mayor).

Mamdani made it onto this list back at the end of 2022. He is introduced as follows:

“His mother is the Oscar-nominated director Mira Nair. She may not have directly helped Mamdani enter politics, but she might have had some influence on his short-lived rap career.”

Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, has directed films such as “Salaam Bombay!”, “Mississippi Masala,” and “Monsoon Wedding.” His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned professor in the fields of international relations and anthropology.

In 2013, Nair was invited to a film festival in Israel but announced on social media that she would not go to the country “until the apartheid ends.”

Mahmood Mamdani, for his part, held informational meetings at the encampments set up at Columbia last year to protest the occupation in Gaza and criticized the university’s response to the protests.

Mahmood Mamdani is a prominent figure in the field of postcolonialism at Columbia. His academic work addresses topics such as the legacy of colonialism in Africa. As Aijaz Ahmad, who penned an excellent critique on the subject, puts it, the widespread “postcolonial” studies in the West offer a golden opportunity for members or children of the ruling classes in the colonial world to establish themselves in the West, especially in Western academia.

Nair’s career is also peculiar. She met Mahmood in Uganda, where Zohran was also born. The director was doing research for her film “Mississippi Masala.” But, according to what she told The New York Times, producers who wanted a “white hero” in her film were unwilling to provide funding.

Somehow, though, Nair eventually found “a few million dollars” and began shooting the film in Uganda, with the famous actor Denzel Washington in the lead role.

Don’t underestimate Nair’s position: Warner Bros. offered our director the chance to direct Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but Nair turned it down because she was filming The Namesake, adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri’s bestselling novel of the same name.

***

Family isn’t everything, but it is important. “Colored” property owners from the former colonies of the British Empire have no trouble joining the Western ruling class aristocracy.

Prabhat Patnaik, India’s diligent Marxist, analyzes the phenomenon of these “Third World” leaders rising to prominence in imperialist countries as a “tendency toward the formation of an international middle class.” I quote at length:

“This phenomenon [the rise of politicians or businesspeople from the Third World – author’s note] not only creates an opportunity to emphasize how ‘fair’ the countries in question where they grew up are, but it also helps convince people from the middle classes in Third World countries that they will receive ‘equal treatment’ in these metropolises, and consequently, that the world has a ‘just’ order and that the country of one’s birth is irrelevant to success. One of the problems that people from the middle classes in the colonies used to face was that they were subjected to discrimination in their own countries under colonial administration and could never rise beyond a certain point in official positions. This experience made the middle class feel that they had to overthrow the colonial yoke. In contrast, the current experiences of the present-day Third World middle class convince them that such discrimination no longer exists and, therefore, that the phenomenon of imperialism itself is no longer valid.”

This brings us closer to a Nietzschean ideal of an “intermingled, (aristocratic) ruling class that disregards national borders.” There are also those, like Homi Kharas, who affirm this by calling it the “global middle class.” This “global middle class” has an ideological package that will save our planet: It will combat global warming; it will steer global capital markets and corporations toward “sustainability”…

Beyond that, confirming Patnaik’s thesis, they also “don’t believe” in imperialism. It is constantly underlined that Mamdani’s wife, the Damascus-born artist Rama Duwaji, is “Syrian.” In Duwaji’s biography, we see that she has worked with The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Apple, Spotify, VICE, the BBC, and Tate Modern. A US-based campaign account close to Iran and Hezbollah writes that Duwaji supported the foreign-backed rebellion against the Bashar al-Assad government and that Mamdani is “controlled opposition.” The picture is complete.

***

Just because a person is born with a silver spoon in their mouth doesn’t mean they have to embrace their “class.” History is full of examples.

But Mamdani is not among them.

It seems this is the case, as a New York Times investigation into who he gets his votes from in New York is the kind of news that would soothe the heart of a Wall Street said to be trembling in fear.

The NYT writes that Mamdani pulled ahead thanks to increased turnout in gentrifying neighborhoods and strong support from Asian and Hispanic communities.

“Democratic socialist” Mamdani secured high vote shares in Brooklyn’s affluent “brownstone” neighborhoods, in the diverse neighborhoods of Upper Manhattan, and in areas of Queens with large South Asian populations.

I would like to remind you that brownstone houses in New York are expensive: one of the main reasons these homes are so costly is simply their rarity. The number of these houses is limited, and it’s not possible to build more.

Quoting again from the NYT investigation: Mamdani, who promises to solve New York’s economic crisis, performed better than his rivals in predominantly college-educated districts and in middle- and high-income neighborhoods. Mamdani won in most of the majority-Asian districts and narrowly beat his main rival, Cuomo, in majority-Hispanic districts.

An interesting data point: Cuomo received more support in majority-Black districts and in low-income districts. Mamdani, however, struggled to win over older, wealthier voters, a significant portion of whom are Jewish, on Manhattan’s Upper West and East Sides.

I quote directly from the NYT investigation:

“Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, received his highest vote share in gentrifying neighborhoods with young, left-leaning voters, like Ridgewood in Queens and Greenpoint in Brooklyn. Voters in Jamaica Hills, a Queens neighborhood with a large South Asian population, also preferred Mr. Mamdani by a wide margin.”

The research shows that the majority of high- and middle-income New Yorkers voted for Mamdani. Nearly half of the low-income population, however, voted for Cuomo.

***

It is known that there is a search for restructuring within the Democratic Party following the disappearance of Joe Biden and the defeat of Kamala Harris.

Saikat Chakrabarti, a former adviser to New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Mamdani’s most important supporters, has rolled up his sleeves to unseat Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco.

The Texas-born Chakrabarti, a Silicon Valley veteran of Indian descent, is a perfect fit for the “nepo baby” class. This software engineer-turned-activist is known for his goals of a “Green New Deal” and a “New New Deal.” In his manifesto titled “A Mission for America,” he complains about the bureaucracy against nuclear energy and calls on the military to normalize nuclear power in the public eye, wears a t-shirt featuring a photo of Subhas Chandra Bose, a Hindu nationalist known for his sympathy for the Nazis, and was part of the “progressive” group “Justice Democrats.”

Chakrabarti was fired from the AOC campaign, but his platform is being adopted wholesale. According to a report on NPR in April, a young generation, including the Silicon Valley veteran, was poised to become the “new AOCs.” This younger generation, advocating for a more “aggressive” stance against Trump, was deeply dissatisfied with the old Democrats.

It’s not hard to see that Mamdani is also playing to this crowd. After his initial success, Mamdani’s campaign team is looking for ways to appeal to the “general public.” Mamdani, who once advocated for defunding the police, now appears to have backed away from that position.

It is claimed that corporations are prepared to spend $20 billion to defeat Mamdani. Mamdani’s campaign, however, believes they can quickly raise an initial $8 billion. Pro-Mamdani super PACs face no limits on how much money they can raise, and the group “New Yorkers for Lower Costs” raised $1.5 million in the primaries.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) writes even more. It suggests that the broad support for Mamdani reveals how Wall Street has changed in recent years, stating:

“Mr. Mamdani received more individual donations from the big banks than Mr. Cuomo did, according to city campaign-finance records that list donors’ employers. But they were mostly among the growing ranks of tech staff and other nonfinance workers. Three Goldman Sachs software engineers, for example, were listed as giving directly to Mr. Mamdani. Only one financier at Goldman gave directly to Mr. Cuomo, records show.”

Furthermore, the WSJ reports that other bankers who quietly support Mamdani did not want to speak “on the record,” and one even tried to use a “fake name.”

According to POLITICO, following his primary victory, Mamdani met privately with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Both are “establishment” New York Democrats.

The two leaders did not immediately give Mamdani their full endorsement, but they made positive comments about him on the social media site X and said they planned to meet with him in person soon.

A person close to Mamdani, speaking on condition of anonymity, described these statements as a “positive green light” and said the team was “very, very hopeful” about what they had accomplished in the short time since the primaries.

Also, Mamdani was called to the stage on Tuesday night by New York Attorney General Letitia James. James is one of the state’s most beloved and influential Democrats, known for her legal battles with President Donald Trump.

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Israel looks to Latin America as Isaac Accords seek to expand regional partnerships

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23/06/2026

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As ties between Israel and Latin American countries continue to deepen, the newly launched Isaac Accords are emerging as a framework for expanding cooperation across the region.

The initiative formed the backdrop to a panel discussion on opportunities for Israel in the Western Hemisphere at the 2026 JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Monday.

The panel, titled “The Coming Isaac Accords: Israel and Latin America,” brought together diplomats and regional experts to discuss developments that could encourage participation in the Isaac Accords, the strategic framework announced in April by Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Milei’s visit to Israel.

Moderated by JNS correspondent Etgar Lefkovits, the discussion featured Panama’s Ambassador to Israel Ezra Cohen, former US Ambassador to Costa Rica Fitzgerald Haney, and Leah Soibel, founder and CEO of Fuente Latina, which provides Middle East news coverage to Spanish-language media outlets.

Soibel said:

“What we need to understand is that the Isaac Accords have an impact that extends far beyond diplomacy. Twenty percent of the US population is Hispanic. By 2050, that figure is expected to reach 30% of the population. This is the demographic group with the lowest levels of antisemitic sentiment.”

The panel also celebrated the victory of pro-US and pro-Israel candidate Abelardo De La Espriella, who defeated his left-wing rival in Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday.

De La Espriella had made the restoration of relations with Israel and the relocation of his country’s embassy to Jerusalem central elements of his campaign platform.

Cohen said that when he looks at a map of Latin America, only four countries are currently governed by left-wing, anti-Israel administrations.

Referring to an earlier panel discussing what participants described as a bleak future for Jews in Europe, Cohen remarked: “When one window closes, another opens. Come to Latin America.”

Haney argued that “Israel’s friends keep winning” and predicted that “we are going to see a lot more positive developments coming out of Latin America.”

He said a colleague in Colombia had sent him a text message promising: “On August 7 at 5 p.m., we will restore relations with Israel.”

Haney noted that this was the date and time when Colombia’s new president is scheduled to take office and predicted that another announcement regarding the relocation of Colombia’s embassy to Jerusalem would follow.

He described Colombia as the latest in a series of Latin American countries turning toward Israel in pursuit of “shared values, shared prosperity and shared security.”

Haney also said that the Israel Allies Foundation, a pro-Israel advocacy group that works with lawmakers, would bring together representatives from 11 legislative bodies across Latin America in Buenos Aires over the weekend to sign a joint declaration of principles.

He noted that the organisation had successfully worked with Brazil’s legislature despite the position of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he described as anti-Israel.

According to Haney, Brazil’s legislature has developed a plan to deepen relations with Israel over the next nine months.

Soibel said that 12 Latin American countries had renewed or strengthened their friendships with Israel and that interest in Israel among Spanish-language content creators, influencers and journalists continues to grow. Her organisation has brought 300 non-Jewish Hispanic journalists to Israel.

The panel also highlighted the launch of a Panama-based Spanish-language edition of JNS. Soibel said the work of pro-Israel organisations remains vital because so few such groups operate in the region, while, in her words, “Iran, Qatar and Hezbollah are conducting propaganda campaigns in Spanish throughout Latin America.”

She continued:

“You could probably count on one hand, perhaps two, the number of organisations and leaders operating across the Spanish-speaking world. That makes this work extraordinarily strategic. Its impact is enormous. Israel and the Jewish people should invest more. There is a large Hispanic-Israeli population in Israel, and many of them were victims of the October 7 attacks. We have stories to tell. What we need now is investment and distribution channels to spread those messages and information.”

The panel concluded on an optimistic note, with participants expressing confidence that Latin America will become an increasingly important pillar of Israel’s global diplomatic strategy in the years ahead.

Milei and Netanyahu launch new accord

Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of the Isaac Accords last Saturday.

The initiative establishes a new strategic framework aimed at strengthening cooperation among Argentina, Israel and like-minded partners across the Western Hemisphere, described as “the descendants of Isaac and nations rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition,” in defence of freedom and democracy and in the fight against terrorism, antisemitism and drug trafficking.

Participating countries will seek to strengthen coordination against what the agreement describes as terrorist organisations, with particular emphasis on “Iran’s efforts to expand terrorist networks and operational presence throughout the Western Hemisphere.”

The initiative also seeks to promote coordination and alignment in international forums while creating a framework for expanded cooperation in innovation, technology, trade and economic openness.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu at a joint press conference, Milei said:

“We expressed our unwavering support for the United States and Israel in their struggle against terrorism and the Iranian regime, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because our countries are united through shared suffering.”

Milei referred to the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre.

Although Argentine courts have attributed both attacks to Iran, Tehran has consistently denied any involvement.

Netanyahu praised the Argentine leader for demonstrating what he called “moral clarity” by standing with Israel and said he hoped other Latin American governments would join the Isaac Accords, which both leaders described as being inspired by the Abraham Accords.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by Washington in 2020, triggered a wave of normalisation in Arab-Israeli diplomatic relations.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attended the signing ceremony and described Milei and Netanyahu as “President Trump’s two closest friends.”

Huckabee added: “I do not think there are two other world leaders whom our president respects as much and with whom he has such a personal relationship.”

During the visit, the two sides also announced the launch of the first direct commercial flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv, scheduled to begin in November.

Milei said the new route would create an “unbreakable bond” between the two countries and reiterated his intention to relocate Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“As soon as circumstances permit, we once again reaffirm our commitment to moving the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem,” he said.

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Iran team leaves thank-you message in Los Angeles locker room after World Cup draw

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22/06/2026

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Iran’s national football team left a message in its locker room at SoFi Stadium, thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality during the World Cup.

The players said they were leaving the city with honor after keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive with a 0-0 draw against Belgium.

In the handwritten note, published by the Iran Football Federation, the team wrote:

“From the ancient land of Persia thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and unshaken. Los Angeles, thank you for your hospitality. We arrived in Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor and leave with dignity.”

The note also thanked Iranian supporters who gave their “hearts, voices and souls” to the team throughout its two matches and concluded with a call for peace, respect and friendship among all nations.

Los Angeles hosted both of Iran’s Group G matches, while the team returned to its training base in Tijuana between games.

Iran has been based in Tijuana throughout the tournament and has had to travel back and forth to the United States for matches because of restrictions related to its stay in the country. Entry bans were also imposed on some members of the national team’s coaching staff and officials.

US authorities said the team’s travel arrangements remain under review, while discussions continue over the possible easing of some restrictions.

Iran head coach Emir Ghalenoei has repeatedly criticized the travel restrictions, saying his squad has faced challenges that no other team in the tournament has been required to endure.

After drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in its opening match at SoFi Stadium, Iran will play its final Group G match against Egypt in Seattle.

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Colombia’s de la Espriella claims narrow presidential victory in runoff election

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22/06/2026

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The first results from Colombia’s presidential runoff election showed that right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by Donald Trump, had narrowly won the vote.

The victory of de la Espriella, who has no prior political experience, signals a fundamental shift in the government’s approach to tackling the country’s long-running internal armed conflict and rising violence.

Throughout the campaign, de la Espriella pledged to intensify military pressure on illegal armed groups, drug trafficking networks and criminal organizations. He succeeded in defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, a close ally of incumbent President Gustavo Petro.

Speaking after the initial results were released, de la Espriella said: “Today marks the beginning of a new era for our country. This era is built on the free and democratic will of millions of citizens who chose to believe in a great, secure, prosperous Colombia full of opportunities.”

Cepeda says he will await official results

According to the preliminary count, with more than 99% of ballots tallied in the runoff election, de la Espriella secured approximately 49.7% of the vote, while Cepeda received 48.7%.

Cepeda, who has not yet conceded defeat, said the preliminary results were neither official nor binding.

“When the official count is completed, the final results are known and the necessary verification procedures are finished, we will recognize the official outcome produced by that process,” Cepeda said.

Reuters reported that the verification process showed very little variation from the preliminary counts recorded during the first round of voting on May 31.

De la Espriella, who grew up in Colombia’s Caribbean region, drew particularly strong support from that part of the country. Addressing a large crowd gathered in the coastal city of Barranquilla after the first results emerged, de la Espriella, who has adopted the nickname “El Tigre” (The Tiger), declared: “Tonight is the beginning of a new story for the nation. Tonight a new era begins, a change of order begins.”

He said he would govern for all Colombians, including those who voted for his opponent, and pledged loyalty to and protection of Colombia’s 1991 constitution.

At celebrations in Barranquilla, supporters wore Colombia’s yellow national football jersey and waved Colombian flags.

With images of de la Espriella projected behind the stage, supporters chanted “Stand firm for the homeland” and “Petro out!” as fireworks lit the sky. Some supporters wore hats bearing the slogan “Make Colombia Great Again,” echoing those worn by supporters of US President Donald Trump.

Trump reacted to the results in a Truth Social post, writing: “BIG won!”

One supporter, Patricia, told reporters: “We are tired of the murders in this country and of this government’s bureaucracy. Now we finally have a president from the coastal region.”

Another supporter said: “We are proud of the Tiger. We hope he transforms the country and, above all, creates a new nation where we will have jobs and greater security.”

Supporters of Cepeda, who narrowly lost the election, also voiced concerns on the streets of Barranquilla.

Catalina La Grande, a student and activist who supports Cepeda, told the BBC: “There is a visible sense of unease in the air. Such a narrow margin worries us because it reflects how divided the country is and the enormous challenges we face in defending democracy, peace and human rights.”

Another young voter backing Cepeda, Maria, said the results showed a divided country but noted that the public had remained peaceful.

“Given the level of polarization we are experiencing, the absence of violence in the streets is a positive development,” she said.

The sharp divisions between the candidates have fueled concerns that unrest could emerge if some opposition groups refuse to accept the outcome.

Late on Sunday night, clashes were reported between protesters and police in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. Demonstrators reportedly burned US flags, while police used tear gas to disperse large crowds angered by de la Espriella’s victory.

President Gustavo Petro is also reported to be considering challenging the result. In a post on X, Petro said that based on the preliminary count, “no one can be declared president” and alleged that the security of some polling stations had been compromised. He called for an audit of the voting software but provided no evidence to support the claims.

Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?

De la Espriella, who has no political background, is a lawyer and businessman. During his legal career, he represented clients including Alex Saab, an ally of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro who has faced money laundering charges in the US, and David Murcia Guzman, one of Colombia’s most notorious fraudsters.

De la Espriella says he handled those cases in his capacity as a defense attorney.

Often compared to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele because of his security policies and distinctive beard, de la Espriella and his supporters frequently wear Colombia’s national football jersey at rallies and on social media. Critics accuse him of politicizing the national team shirt.

He is also known for regularly addressing campaign crowds from behind bulletproof glass panels.

Colombia’s internal armed conflict has persisted for decades, but violence has intensified in recent years. Armed groups and criminal organizations, including dissident factions of the FARC, the ELN and the Clan del Golfo, have doubled their membership over the past five years.

Competition for control of lucrative cocaine trafficking routes and illegal mining operations has further escalated the violence. Fighting along the Colombia-Venezuela border last year displaced tens of thousands of people. Cocaine production in the world’s largest cocaine-producing country has reached record levels.

Critics of President Petro argue that his “total peace” strategy, which prioritizes negotiations with armed groups, has failed, claiming that such groups have used ceasefire arrangements to expand their territorial control and influence.

De la Espriella has pledged to cancel all negotiations with illegal armed groups and increase military pressure to restore order.

As part of that agenda, he has promised closer cooperation with the US, the construction of massive prisons in Colombia’s forests, a smaller state apparatus and reforms to the healthcare system.

Having lived and worked in Miami for many years, de la Espriella has held US citizenship since 2023. During the election campaign, he received support from Donald Trump, who said de la Espriella would “stop illegal migration, fight crime and drugs, and restore law and order.”

Before the election, Trump also said de la Espriella would feel “the full support and strength of the United States” behind him.

Although Colombia has historically been one of Washington’s closest allies in the region, relations have become strained in recent years due to sharp disagreements between President Trump and President Petro over migration policy, tariffs and military intervention in Latin America.

De la Espriella’s election also aligns with a broader trend across Latin America, where security concerns have pushed politics to the right. His victory was welcomed by other conservative leaders across the region.

Argentine President Javier Milei said Colombians had “chosen the path of economic freedom, prosperity and uncompromising security” and had declared that enough was enough to transnational organized crime and drug trafficking.

Chile’s José Antonio Kast said: “A new era of freedom is beginning for Colombia, one that will allow the country to regain security and prosperity.”

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