Imagine being asked to reduce a complex, deeply painful issue like the Gaza conflict into a simplistic game of 'thumbs up or thumbs down.' That's exactly what Zohran Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayoral candidate, claims happened during his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. According to a recent New Yorker profile, producers allegedly pitched a segment where Mamdani would give binary responses to questions like 'Hamas: thumbs up or thumbs down?' and 'A Palestinian state: thumbs up or thumbs down?' But here's where it gets controversial: Mamdani's team argues this approach trivializes a humanitarian crisis, while others might see it as an attempt to spark debate. And this is the part most people miss: the proposal came after Colbert received a letter from pro-Israel figures urging him to press Mamdani on his views.
Mamdani, who appeared on the show alongside city comptroller Brad Lander in late June, was initially briefed on standard political topics. However, the last-minute shift in questioning raised eyebrows. 'I just couldn’t believe what was happening,' Mamdani told The New Yorker. 'That a genocide could be distilled into a late-night game.' His senior adviser, Zara Rahim, added a poignant question to the producer: 'You have the first Muslim candidate for mayor in the history of New York. You don’t want to ask him a question about that?'
The game never aired, but the interview still dove into Mamdani’s views on Israel, criticism from pro-Israel New Yorkers, and tensions between Jewish and Muslim communities. Colbert opened by asking both Mamdani and Lander if they believe Israel has a right to exist. Mamdani’s response was measured: 'Yes, like all nations, I believe it has a right to exist and a responsibility to uphold international law.' This question, however, is a recurring thorn in Mamdani’s side. As one prominent Muslim leader noted, 'It’s Islamophobia, the way it’s posed and repeated.'
Later in the interview, Mamdani addressed antisemitism, emphasizing his commitment to combating hate crimes. 'We’re seeing a crisis of antisemitism,' he said, highlighting his proposal to increase funding for anti-hate crime programs by 800%. Colbert followed up with a pointed question: 'And no justification for violence of any kind?' Mamdani’s firm 'no' underscored his stance against all forms of violence.
But here’s the real question: Was the proposed 'thumbs up or thumbs down' game an attempt to oversimplify a nuanced issue, or a misguided effort to engage viewers in a difficult conversation? Some might argue that late-night shows aren’t the place for such weighty topics, while others believe every platform has a responsibility to address them thoughtfully. What do you think? Is it ever appropriate to turn geopolitical conflicts into game-like segments, or does this approach do more harm than good? Let’s discuss in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
