UMVA has learned that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is launching his own streaming series on Twitch, marking a bold move to leverage social media and propel his agenda.
The mayor's first show, dubbed "Talk With the People," is set to go live on Thursday at 4:10 p.m. and has already generated buzz on social media, with some comparing it to the 21st-century version of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famed "fireside chats" on the radio.
Mamdani's series will be native to Twitch but will also be available live on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, a strategic move to reach a broader audience. The show's premise is simple: to bring City Hall to the platforms where New Yorkers already are, and to speak directly with the people.
"With the launch of 'Talk with the People,' we're bringing City Hall to the platforms where New Yorkers already are — speaking directly with the people," Mamdani said. "By launching the country's first recurring cross-platform stream hosted by an elected official, where I'll answer New Yorkers' questions live on Twitch, we're opening up a direct line of conversation between our government and the people, especially younger generations who've been ignored for too long."
Twitch, a popular live-streaming platform initially known for gamers, has become a hub for content creators, including politicians. Mamdani's foray into Twitch is not surprising, given his success in harnessing social media to drive home a sweeping victory in last year's mayoral race.
Mamdani's campaign was notable for its creative use of social media, releasing a stream of videos focused on affordability, a top issue for young voters. He made dozens of appearances on podcasts, interviewed New Yorkers in front of Madison Square Garden, and racked up nearly a million views in just one video of him jumping into the frigid Atlantic Ocean to highlight his proposal about freezing rent for New Yorkers.
His approach seemed to pay off, with some of his rivals taking notice. "I thought I needed more experience," State Sen. Jessica Ramos said during a debate last fall. "But turns out you just need to make good videos."
