The meteoric rise of Democratic socialist and New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has strengthened the sense that US politics is becoming ever more ideologically polarized. Given the fecklessness of centrist Democrats, Mamdani looks set to become the standard bearer of national left opposition to Donald Trump—a role he seemed eager to play when he addressed Trump directly during a recent appearance on Fox News.
“Trump and Mamdani are just as notable for their convergences as their contrasts.”
In reality, however, Trump and Mamdani are just as notable for their convergences as their contrasts. Both are manifestations of the same development: the concentration of executive power. Despite running populist campaigns, their agendas are less about discovering and channeling the will of the people than about shaping desires that can be administered by the state.