HBO host Bill Maher described Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a “communist” Monday, surprising his guest, left-wing comedian David Cross.
Mamdani has called for massive tax increases on top income earners, a rent freeze, free day care and city-run grocery stores as part of a far-left policy agenda during his successful mayoral campaign. Cross and Maher started to clash during Monday’s episode of Maher’s “Club Random” podcast when Cross described himself as a “Democrat Socialist.”
“You’re plainly to the left of me if you even say you’re a socialist,” Maher replied.
“Well, I said Democratic Socialist,” Cross, who is married to actress Amber Tamblyn, reiterated.
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“I know what ‘Democratic Socialist’ is, that’s Mamdani. Who’s a straight up communist,” Maher shot back.
“No, he’s not! No, he’s not! Bill!” Cross insisted while laughing.
The New York State Assembly in March released a budget proposal that included some tax increases on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations Mamdani has championed — even though the state already has one of the highest tax burdens in the country.
“He is, first of all. He has someone working for him named Cea Weaver. Have you read about her?” Maher asked.
“I have not,” Cross responded.
“See, that means you’re in a bubble. Because you should have,” the HBO host told him.
“Okay,” the left-wing comedian replied, telling Maher to “edify” him.
“She’s the head of like, ‘We’re going to fix housing.’ This is like what got him elected,” Maher told Cross. “He has not disavowed her and I could show you all her tweets that she’s put out over the last few years and quotes, and one of them is ‘elect more communists.’”
Weaver called for more communists to be elected to office in a December 2017 post to X (then known as Twitter). Just six months later she wrote “Seize private property!” on the platform.
“I don’t think you have to read between the lines if somebody he stands with and by is saying that. And also, her other quotes are like, ‘All home ownership is racist,’” Maher told Cross.
“Well, that’s ridiculous,” Cross admitted. “I have an issue with that thing that she said. I don’t know this woman. I will definitely look her up. I’m a fan of Mamdani’s.”
Mamdani appointed Weaver as director of the Office to Protect Tenants when he took office in January. Weaver called home ownership “a weapon of white supremacy” in an August 2019 post to X, despite the fact that her own mother, a professor, owns a house now worth well over a million dollars.
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