Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan is praising New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for how he’s hit the ground running.
In a recent conversation with Robert Reich, Khan called Mamdani’s approach a clear example of what it looks like when Democrats govern boldly, instead of cautiously.
“Mayor Mamdani has really hit the ground running,” Khan said.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but every day there has been some new announcements, some new action. I think he is honestly really demonstrating what it looks like for Democrats to govern assertively rather than meekly.”
Mamdani, who recently took office, is already cracking down on junk fees, subscription traps, and predatory landlords.
He’s also moved quickly on tenant protections and launched public hearings to expose rental rip-offs across the city.
A Different Model of Leadership
Khan said Mamdani is actively showing how progressive leaders can make change fast by using tools already available.
He has filed lawsuits against lawbreaking companies and created an “Office of Mass Engagement” to hear directly from everyday New Yorkers, not just lobbyists.
“He really wants to be hearing directly from the people of the city,” she said.
“He’s very aware of how oftentimes these positions of power are structured in a way so that the only people you’re usually hearing from are the CEOs, are the lobbyists, are the special interests. And he wants to be a mayor that breaks from that.”
She also noted that Mamdani was not the preferred candidate of special interest groups during the campaign, but still won with more votes than any mayoral candidate in decades.
Quick Wins That Matter
Khan pointed to several concrete actions Mamdani took in his first days, including addressing tenant complaints firsthand and investigating unsafe buildings.
In one small but telling example, Khan said Mamdani immediately fixed a dangerous bump on the Williamsburg Bridge.
“He said, ‘Can we fix it tomorrow? Let’s go do it.’ And did it.”
This kind of visible, hands-on leadership is part of a broader push to show people their government can act on real problems, quickly.
Populism vs. Performance
During the conversation, Reich and Khan contrasted Mamdani’s actions with what they described as the “fake populism” of President Donald Trump.
Reich criticized Trump for claiming to champion working-class Americans while defunding agencies that protect consumers and workers.
“The signature legislative accomplishment of this administration has been to throw tens of thousands of people off their healthcare to fund a tax break for the wealthiest of the wealthy in this country,” Khan said, referring to Trump.
She acknowledged that Trump has talked about issues like credit card fees and CEO pay, but said those statements haven’t resulted in real action.
“You just look at who he was surrounded by at his inauguration, billionaires and oligarchs who more or less have gotten everything they want out of this administration.”
A Path Forward for Democrats
Khan argued that Democrats across the country could learn from Mamdani’s willingness to listen and act.
She recalled how, during his campaign, Mamdani spoke directly to voters about their problems, even asking Trump supporters why they voted the way they did.
“He has this posture and position of wanting to learn from people about what are the day-to-day problems,” she said, adding that he follows up that curiosity with action.
“He’s interested in figuring out what can we actually do about it.”
The key, Khan said, is to use existing legal tools boldly and to maintain ongoing communication with voters, instead of going silent between elections.
She said Mamdani’s approach stands out at a time when many Americans feel increasingly disconnected from political leaders.
“All too often, people cast their vote, and then they never hear from their government again,” Khan said.
“That’s not a model of governing that he wants to follow.”
Taking on Powerful Interests
When asked about resistance from New York’s financial elite, Khan admitted that challenges lie ahead.
“Obviously, when he is dependent on other institutional actors, there’s going to be an opportunity for the people who got him elected to also make clear to them what they want,” she said.
Still, she believes Mamdani is willing to confront big money and entrenched power.
“He’s demonstrated courage and a desire to fix people’s problems even when it means standing up to very, very powerful interests.”
Khan closed the conversation on a sobering note, pointing to rising insurance costs, unaffordable medicine and grocery bills, and general despair among working Americans.
“People are having to take out loans just to buy groceries. This is a difficult time for people,” she said.
“People again are really looking for leaders who are going to lead us out of this mess.”
She believes Mamdani may be one of them.
“You are now working for a leader who will hopefully is already leading us out of this mess,” Reich said.
“Thank you so much for having me,” Khan replied, closing out the conversation.
Why Mamdani’s First Moves Matter
Mamdani is drawing national attention not for grand rhetoric, but for making things happen quickly and out in the open.
From fixing infrastructure to standing up to corporate interests, he’s demonstrating a style of leadership that values direct action, community input, and political courage.
If other Democrats are looking for a playbook on how to engage voters and take on entrenched power, Khan suggests they might want to start by watching what’s happening in New York City.
IMAGE CREDIT: ”Zohran Mamdani” by Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image adjusted for layout.