‘Morning Joe’ Co-Host Presses Zohran Mamdani On How He Will Pay For Socialist Programs

“Morning Joe” co-host Willie Geist pressed Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday about how he plans to fund his socialist proposals.

Mamdani has promised to enact a $30 minimum wage, open government-run grocery stores and buses and raise taxes if he is elected mayor. Geist asked Mamdani to explain who will be footing the bill for these types of government-run programs.

“So you’re proposing free grocery stores, free buses, $30 minimum wage, all of which soundsincredible … Excuse me, cheaper groceries. But what people want to know is great.I would love all those things.How do you pay for it?Who’s going to end up footing the bill for those programs?” Geist asked. 

Mamdani began by attacking his opponent, independent New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, for receiving endorsements from President Donald Trump and tech CEO Elon Musk. Geist brought the conversation back to affording Mamdani’s promises.

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“So what do you say though on the question of affordability?Let’s just take the $30 minimum wage to the guy who owns the dry cleaner, the woman whoowns the nail or hair salon, all these small businesses that you’ve grown up around andsee on your block all the time say, I can’t afford to pay people $30. I’m going to have to either lay people off or close my business. How do you explain that?” Geist asked. 

“Well, this would be phased in over a longer period of time for small businesses as it’stypically done when you’re increasing the minimum wage.