Long before Zohran Mamdani became New York City’s 112th mayor, he understood that if you want to reach young voters, you have to meet them online.
Now, in classic Mamdani fashion, the mayor has taken that strategy even further. On Thursday, Polygon exclusively revealed that Mamdani is launching a recurring Twitch livestream series titled “Talk with the People,” premiering on Thursday, May 21, at 4:10 p.m. ET, where he will answer questions directly from viewers through Twitch chat. It will also simulcast across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and Bluesky.
Over 10,000 people tuned in for the initial stream as Mamdani answered questions live from viewers through Twitch chat, creating a rare direct line between a politician and an online audience. A surprise addition to the stream was influencer Moose, who joked with Mamdani and helped him navigate Twitch culture, including teaching him to address viewers as “chat.”
Image Credits:Screenshot of Twitch stream (@nyc_mayor)
Whether Twitch is the right platform for serious political conversations is still up for debate, but it did create a relaxed vibe where Mamdani connected with viewers over wanting a Knicks win and debating the best tacos in NYC, with shoutouts to Los Tacos No. 1 and Taqueria Ramirez. There were some serious discussions too, like raising taxes on the wealthy and his push for free and faster public buses, including plans focused on speeding up routes by six minutes.
