Mayor Path Be Clear

The election of 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor captured the nation’s attention. While this might represent a political turning point for the city and Democrats, the immediate question is how he will move from campaigning to governing – though his short political tenure gives us little insight.  

As he refines his priorities, Mamdani’s success will hinge not only on the coalition he builds within the city, but on how he navigates his relationships with President Trump and NY Governor Hochul. The White House’s positions on immigration and other issues could complicate Mamdani’s agenda, and Albany’s budget authority over many municipal matters could constrain his ambitious plans to make New York more affordable.  

Mamdani’s campaign received a generally chilly reception from the business community, given his promises to tax the rich and freeze the rent. Now corporate leaders must decide how to engage without unnecessarily getting drawn into political crosscurrents. Some might strike a collaborative posture, for example, through modest contributions to his transition and inaugural fund. Others might find more comfort in acting through established business and trade groups. 

In the near term, it will be important for organizations to allow time for the mayor-elect to put his people and plans in place before making any significant overtures. With Inauguration Day on January 1st, this is a critical time to learn more about how Mayor Mamdani will govern and how he will engage with corporations whose support he will need to convert campaign rhetoric into reality. 

In today’s media landscape, successful communications demand radically new engagement strategies – especially for those trying to get elected. Candidates must navigate a variety of platforms, from short-form social videos to cable news segments and long-form podcasts, to reach different audiences effectively.

Congressman Ritchie Torres has distilled this challenge into a simple formula for modern political engagement that reflects the realities of today’s digital-first audiences. According to Torres’ “Rule of Three Threes” framework, politicians must master three formats – each reaching a different audience and requiring its own distinct messaging approach:

1. the 30-second vertical video;

2. the three-minute cable news segment;

3. the three-hour filmed podcast. 

Of course, the new landscape brings both opportunity and risk. Torres himself experienced the pitfalls when his hour-long podcast appearance with Adam Friedland received mixed reviews, highlighting the need for careful preparation and strategic thinking when engaging in long-form media. 

Still, as Mamdani’s victory illustrates, those who can skillfully navigate the “Rule of Threes” are increasingly well-positioned for success. Even beyond politics, fluency across multiple platforms is now essential for any public figure seeking to engage audiences, shape narratives and maintain influence in a rapidly evolving media environment.

President Trump’s first visit to Southeast Asia in eight years ended with a flurry of handshakes and headlines – but delivered few lasting answers. At the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Trump brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia and announced four “reciprocal trade deals” with Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. 

Malaysia emerged as the summit’s standout beneficiary, securing zero tariffs on key exports such as palm oil, rubber and cocoa – along with new cooperation on rare earths and a temporary reprieve from U.S. semiconductor tariffs. In return, it pledged $70 billion in job-creating investment in the United States over the next 10 years.

The agreements reflect Trump’s continued preference for transactional diplomacy, prioritizing bilateral deals over regional frameworks. By engaging countries individually, Washington gained political optics and commercial wins without offering broader structural relief or advancing ASEAN’s collective agenda. 

For the Southeast Asian nations, the short-term gains of greater market access and economic stability may come with longer-term costs, including exposure to U.S. leverage and a potential weakening of regional trade cohesion. Still, Trump’s presence at the summit offered reassurance that the United States is not retreating from Asia altogether – just rewriting the rules of engagement, one bilateral deal at a time.

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