Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa once again traded barbs on the debate stage, meeting for the second time in less than a week.

Wednesday’s debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City came as billionaires called for Sliwa to drop out of the mayoral race this week to consolidate support for Cuomo against Mamdani and as more than 650 rabbis nationwide, including those from the largest New York City synagogues, signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they said was anti-Israel rhetoric.

‘TIME FOR A CHANGE’: OUTSIDE 30 ROCK, NEW YORKERS TRADE CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS DURING TENSE MAYORAL SHOWDOWN

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participate in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, Oct. 22, 2025.  (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Both issues were on full display Wednesday night as Mamdani fielded questions about his support for Israel. When asked if Mamdani has any regrets about his “longstanding” anti-Israel views, the democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’

“You won’t denounce ‘globalize the intifada,’ which means, ‘Kill Jews.’ There’s unprecedented fear in New York. It was not several rabbis. It was 650 rabbis who signed the letter, not several,” Cuomo said. While Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” during the primary, he has since said he would “discourage” others from using the slogan.

“I’ve heard from Jewish New Yorkers about their fears about antisemitism in this city, and what they deserve is a leader who takes it seriously, who roots it out of these five boroughs, not one who weaponizes it as a means by which to score political points on a debate stage,” Mamdani fired back in a fiery moment.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa participated in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025, in New York City. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/Getty Images)

Sliwa also chimed in, telling Mamdani that Jewish New Yorkers are “frightened” and “scared.”

“They view you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism,” Sliwa charged, accusing him of being in support of a “global jihad.” New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued an apology earlier this year for “mischaracterizing Mamdani’s record” when she made the same suggestion.

“I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad,” Mamdani said. “That is not something that I have said and that continues to be ascribed to me. And, frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”

Moderators for the final New York City mayoral debate were Spectrum News NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis, WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and The City’s Katie Honan.

The first question posed to candidates during Wednesday’s debate focused on the federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood on Tuesday that led to the arrest of nine migrants from West Africa who were in the United States illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s supporters gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City in New York City Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

All three candidates agreed that the Trump administration was beyond its jurisdiction on Tuesday. Cuomo called the raid “dangerous.”

“You don’t send ICE in without coordinating with our police,” Cuomo said, arguing he would have personally called President Donald Trump if he was mayor to tell him the administration was “way out of bounds.” Sliwa agreed that the matter should have been left up to the NYPD.

Mamdani took the criticism a step further, calling ICE a “reckless entity that cares little for the law and even less for the people that they’re supposed to serve,” urging an “end to the chapter of collaboration between City Hall and the federal government, which we’ve seen under” Mayor Eric Adams. Adams is no longer seeking re-election after he built a reputation for his willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration reform.

At one point, candidates were allowed to ask their opponents a question, sparking a tense moment between Cuomo and Mamdani. Cuomo asked how Mamdani could pose for a photo with an anti-LGBTQ advocate. Mamdani said had he known, he wouldn’t have agreed to take the picture.

Mamdani clapped back, asking Cuomo, “What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?” Cuomo has continued to deny the allegations and said the cases were dropped.

The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of the first general election debate last week, revealed that Mamdani has gained a substantial lead in the race because voters see him as the best candidate to tackle the city’s top problems.

According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa. Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.

Supporters for New York City Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City ahead of the final debate Wednesday, Oct. 22.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

But as Mamdani, ever the social media-savvy candidate, warned his followers on Wednesday, it was Cuomo who was the favorite to win the nomination just weeks before the Democratic primary. By consolidating support with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, cross-endorsing each other to topple Cuomo through ranked-choice voting, Mamdani pulled the political upset that has since landed him on the national stage.

Since winning the primary, Trump has labeled Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and “my little Communist.” Mamdani has rejected that moniker, affirming he is a democratic socialist.

Nevertheless, the odd-year election has captivated a national audience at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses last year. And with Trump back in the White House, Democrats nationwide are seeking to capitalize on growing discontent over his sweeping, second-term agenda.

Less than two hours before candidates took the stage Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Mamdani intends to keep New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his police commissioner if elected in November, citing two senior campaign aides and two more sources who were briefed on the plans.

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani answers reporter questions after the final debate on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, ahead of Election Day.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

“I can confirm that reporting,” Mamdani said on the debate stage. “My administration will be relentless in its pursuit of safety and affordability for every New Yorker, and the delivery of that will require us to put together a team of the best and the brightest.”

Mamdani applauded Tisch for taking on a “broken status quo charter to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs.” Cuomo and Sliwa also confirmed they would keep her on as commissioner if elected.

The Democratic nominee has faced a slew of criticism on the campaign trial for his past comments, including calling the NYPD “racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety” in 2020, among other insults. Mamdani made a public apology to the NYPD during a Fox News interview last week.

Ahead of those competitive midterm elections expected next year, Republicans have already seized on Mamdani’s progressive politics, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is considering a run for governor. Her campaign said in a recent statement, “Kathy Hochul literally has endorsed a full blown jihadist pro-terrorism Mayor of New York City.”

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Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani last month after previously withholding her support. Fellow New York Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have still yet to coalesce behind the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, although Jeffries indicated this week that a decision is imminent.

This week, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman urged Sliwa to drop out of the race, arguing that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani. The New York Post editorial board even joined the calls for Sliwa to drop out, but the Republican nominee has maintained he is staying in the race.

Fox News’ Kirill Clark contributed to this report.

Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. 

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Mamdani and Sliwa took the opportunity during Wednesday’s debate to drill down on past sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, the former governor of New York, ahead of an impeachment inquiry that preceded Cuomo’s 2021 resignation. Cuomo was also hit by Mamdani over accusations he has – while in public office – failed to meet with Muslim constituents and only began doing so amid pressure from his mayoral campaign, and over his alleged poor handling of the COVID-19 virus in New York after Cuomo was party to issuing guidance forcing nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit COVID-19 positive patients.

Meanwhile, Cuomo did not hold back on targeting Mamdani over alleged controversies that have embattled his campaign. Cuomo blasted the self-proclaimed socialist over his lack of experience, ties to radical politics, and past radical comments about law enforcement, Israel and the situation in Gaza.

FBI AGENTS FROM ’93 WTC ATTACK BLAST MAMDANI FOR EMBRACING RADICAL IMAM

All three candidates for New York City governor debated Wednesday night. From left to right: Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Zohran Mamdani. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty Images)

“My main opponent has no new ideas. He has no new plan. … He’s never run anything, managed anything. He’s never had a real job,” Cuomo said of Mamdani during the debate. Cuomo also branded Mamdani as someone who has proven to be “a divisive force in New York,” pointing to past incidents that have garnered Mamdani heat from critics.

One of those incidents included a picture he took with a hard-lined Ugandan lawmaker who has pushed policies of imprisoning people for being gay, which Mamdani took while taking a break from the campaign trail to visit his home country of Uganda for a wedding. Cuomo also hit the controversy over whether Mamdani supports Jewish New Yorkers, as his critics have claimed he is anti-Israel pointing to statements he has made, like “globalize the intifada.”

Cuomo also accused Mamdani of disrespecting Italian Americans after a video of him surfaced giving the middle finger to a statue of Christopher Columbus, while also pointing to criticism the self-proclaimed socialist candidate has garnered from 9/11 first-responders after posting a photo with a Muslim cleric who served as a character witness for the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) shakes hands on the debate stage with Democratic Party candidate for New York City mayor (right) Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo is running as an Independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary election. (Photographer: Angelina Katsanis/AP)

“You have been a divisive force in New York, and I believe that’s toxic energy for New York. It’s with the Jewish community. It’s with the Italian American community – when you give the Columbus statue the finger. It’s with the Sunni Muslims when you say decriminalize prostitution, which is Haram. It’s the Hindus,” Cuomo continued. “Then, you take a picture with Rebecca Kadaga, deputy prime minister of Uganda. … She’s known as Rebecca ‘Gay Killer.’ … You’re a citizen of Uganda. You took the picture. You said you didn’t know who she was. It turns out you did. How do you not renounce your citizenship or demand BDS against Uganda for imprisoning people who are gay just by their sexual orientation? Isn’t that a basic violation of human rights?”

Mamdani shot back that his politics have remained “consistent” and that they are built on a belief in human rights for all people, including LGBTQ+ folks. Had he known Kadga’s role in drafting legislation to imprison gay folks, Mamdani said, he never would have taken the picture.

“This constant attempt to smear and slander me is an attempt to also distract from the fact that, unlike myself, you do not actually have a platform or a set of policies,” Mamdani shot back at Cuomo before introducing his own claims about the former governor regarding past accusations of sexual harassment.

MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: ‘YOU WON’T SUPPORT ISRAEL’

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo slammed his democratic socialist opponent Zohran Mamdani during Wednesday’s debate for a variety of alleged scandals he has been involved in. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty; Angelina Katsanis/Getty)

“Mr. Cuomo. In 2021, 13 different women who worked in your administration credibly accused you of sexual harassment. Since then, you have spent more than $20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political,” Mamdani said while attacking Cuomo Wednesday night.

“You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women. One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening. You sought to access her private gynecological records. She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her. I, however, can speak. What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?”

Cuomo, in 2021, was accused of multiple incidents of sexual harassment that preceded his resignation as governor that year. A subsequent report from New York Attorney General Letitia James confirmed Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women from 2013 through 2020,” while in January 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had reached a nearly $500,000 settlement with Cuomo’s executive office over one of the claims. However, no criminal charges were ever filed against Cuomo, with some district attorneys citing insufficient evidence.

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Cuomo defended himself against Mamdani’s accusations, noting the cases were eventually dropped, before returning to questions about Mamdani’s alleged past.

Meanwhile, Sliwa didn’t skip an opportunity to slam Cuomo over the sexual assault allegations either, saying early in the debate during a discussion about homelessness that Cuomo “fled” the governor’s office amid an impeachment inquiry that was investigating him.

“Andrew, you didn’t ‘leave.’ You fled from being impeached by the Democrats in the state legislature,” Sliwa began before getting into the homelessness issue, earning him a round of applause from the audience.

“‘Leave?’ You fled!” Sliwa continued to applause. “But let’s get back on topic.”

The post Sparks fly as Cuomo, Mamdani tear into each other during fiery debate: 'Toxic energy' appeared first on My Blog.

With just weeks until the election, socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani is highly favored to win. Despite this, the debate on Wednesday was every man for himself, with each candidate lobbing attacks and insults at one another.

Here are the top five moments from Wednesday night’s debate.

1. ‘Knock him on his tuchas’

Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, who led the state as a Democratic governor from 2011 until he resigned amid controversy in 2021, took aim at Mamdani’s lack of leadership experience, predicting that President Donald Trump would make short work of him if he were elected mayor.

“[Trump] has said he’ll take over New York if he wins, and he will, because he has no respect for him. He thinks he’s a kid and he’s going to knock him on his tuchas,” said Cuomo.

‘TIME FOR A CHANGE’: OUTSIDE 30 ROCK, NEW YORKERS TRADE CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS DURING TENSE MAYORAL SHOWDOWN

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa participate in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Mamdani immediately shot back by calling Cuomo “Donald Trump’s puppet himself.”

“You could turn on the TV any day of the week, and you will hear Donald Trump share that his pick for mayor is Andrew Cuomo, and he wants Andrew Cuomo to be the mayor, not because it will be good for New Yorkers, but because it will be good for him,” said Mamdani.

2. ‘You fled!’

Though far and away the dark horse candidate in the race, Republican Curtis Sliwa landed some of the hardest punches of the night. Early on in the debate, he fired at Cuomo’s controversial exit from office, saying, “Andrew, you didn’t leave. You fled from being impeached by the Democrats in the state legislature. You fled!”

Cuomo, meanwhile, reserved most of his ire for Mamdani. At another point in the debate, he addressed the 34-year-old socialist New York assembly member, saying, “You don’t know how to run a government, you don’t know how to handle an emergency, and you’ve literally never proposed the bill on anything that you’re not talking about in your campaign.”

“You had the worst attendance record in the assembly, and you gave yourself the highest raise in the United States of America,” he said, exclaiming, “Shame on you! Shame on you!”

MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: ‘YOU WON’T SUPPORT ISRAEL’

Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo participates in the New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

In response, a grinning Mamdani said, “It is always a pleasure to hear Andrew Cuomo create his own facts at every debate stage.”

“We just had a former governor say in his own words that the city has been getting screwed by the state. Who was leading the state? It was you!” said Mamdani. “You were leading the state for 10 years, screwing the city!”

Cuomo immediately denied this accusation, blaming the current Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and saying, “That’s the past four years.”

3. The meme moment

Chaos erupted on the debate stage after Mamdani attempted to skirt around a question on whether he supports a set of housing ballot initiatives, with Cuomo, Sliwa and the moderators immediately pressing him to answer.

“What is your opinion, Zohran? Come on!” Sliwa shouted as Cuomo droned, “Yes or no?!”

Cuomo rocked back and forth with his hands, mocking Mamdani, saying, “It’s a TikTok dance,” producing the most meme-worthy moment of the night.

Andrew Cuomo taunts Zohran Mamdani with a dance during the last New York City mayoral debate on Oct. 22, 2025. (Spectrum News NY1)

“They’re pointing out what I was about to say. Would you please answer the question?” a moderator asked.

Mamdani continued to deflect, saying, “I think on this stage you can see two people appealing for the Republican Party votes and myself speaking directly to New York City.”

“Answer the question for once,” Cuomo continued prodding as Sliwa waved his arms and smacked his forehead with his palm.

“My question to you was, do you support the three ballot amendment questions?” the moderator pressed.

Mamdani finally answered, “I have not yet taken a position on those ballot initiatives,” as both Cuomo and Sliwa moaned in protest.

“What a shocker!” Cuomo teased. “Don’t worry, once he takes it, he’ll change it anyway.”

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’

Zohran Mamdani speaks during the debate at LaGuardia Community College in Queens on Oct. 22, 2025. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

4. Support for global jihad?

Moderators and candidates alike pressed Mamdani on his controversial positions on Israel and rising fears among New York’s Jewish community.

Citing two sons who he said were raised Jewish, Sliwa said, “This issue is personal for me.”

“Let me speak on behalf of my two sons when they’ve heard some of the statements you’ve made, like in support of global jihad, and I hear some people out there saying, ‘the Jews that time is due,’ which means the same thing. They’re frightened; they’re scared. They view you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism,” said Sliwa.

“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, a lot of apologizing to do,” Sliwa went on. “My sons are afraid. Their family, their friends, many in the Jewish community are concerned if you become mayor, because they don’t think when antisemitism rears its ugly head, which it’s now doing more than ever before, that you will have the ability to come in and put out those flames of hate.”

Mamdani shot back, “I think there is room for disagreement on many positions and many policies, but I also want to correct the record: I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad.”

“That is not something that I have said, and that continues to be ascribed to me. And frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election,” Mamdani went on, adding, “All the same, Curtis, I do still want to be the mayor that will keep your sons safe, that will keep every single New Yorker safe.”

TRADING BARBS FROM LIGHT-HEARTED TO VICIOUS, MAYORAL CANDIDATES MAKE FINAL APPEAL TO NEW YORKERS

Thousands of demonstrators hold a pro-Palestinian rally in protest of Israel on Oct. 13, 2023, in Times Square, New York City. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

5. A stage full of scandal

Sparks flew when Cuomo and Mamdani were given free rein to question each other and, unsurprisingly, chose to press each other on their most controversial scandals.

Cuomo knocked Mamdani, who is an immigrant to the U.S. from Uganda, for being a “toxic” force in New York City, and pressed him for not advocating for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Uganda for its laws against homosexuality.

“You take a picture with Rebecca Kadaga, deputy prime minister of Uganda… She’s known as Rebecca ‘gay-killer’ Kadaga,” said Cuomo, asking, “How do you not renounce your citizenship, or demand BDS against Uganda for imprisoning people who are gay just by their sexual orientation, is that not a basic violation against human rights?”

Mamdani answered that “had I known that the first deputy minister was the architect of that legislation, I would not have taken that photo.”

In turn, Mamdani grilled Cuomo on 13 sexual harassment allegations filed against him while he was governor. Cuomo brushed this aside, saying, “The cases were dropped” and pressing further, “You have no problem with BDS against Israel, but no BDS against Uganda.”

Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa debate on Oct. 22, 2025. Millions of dollars are pouring into the mayoral election with less than two weeks to go until New Yorkers go to the polls. (Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

At another point in the debate, Mamdani attempted to turn the question of experience on Cuomo, saying, “The issue is that we have all experienced your experience.”

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“The issue is that we experienced you taking a $5 million book deal while you sent seniors to their deaths in nursing homes. The issue is that we experienced you cutting funding for the MTA to send money to upstate ski resorts. The issue is that we saw you give $959 million in tax breaks to Elon Musk. The issue is your experience,” said Mamdani.

“The issue is you have no experience,” insisted Cuomo, adding, “You’ve accomplished nothing.”

Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.

The post Top 5 moments from final New York City mayoral debate: ‘Knock him on his tuchas’ appeared first on My Blog.

Sliwa was defiant during a morning press conference outside a Manhattan subway station, after many political observers called on him to withdraw from the race in order for Andrew Cuomo to defeat the Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani.

“So let’s be very clear. I am not dropping out. Under no circumstance. I’ve already been offered money to drop out, I said no. Distant from that, with threats against Nancy and myself, I now have to have armed security with me, former NYPD officers. Never had that in my life,” Sliwa said Tuesday.

One commuter walking by the press conference yelled, “Drop out already!”

BILL ACKMAN JUMPS INTO NYC MAYORAL FIGHT, SAYS SLIWA MUST DROP OR ‘WE ARE TOAST’

WATCH: SLIWA SPEAKS WITH FOX NEWS’ ALEXIS MCADAMS:

Video

Sliwa lashed out at Cuomo, arguing the independent candidate was not putting real effort into his campaign. Instead, he said, Cuomo was simply relying on Sliwa to drop out of the race.

Asked whether he would prefer Cuomo or Mamdani to win the race, Sliwa told Fox News that they are “two peas in a pod.”

“These Democrats, both of them are Democrats that led us down to this path of destruction,” he said.

DAVID MARCUS: IT’S NOT CURTIS SLIWA’S JOB TO SAVE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY FROM ITSELF

Several prominent figures have called on Sliwa to withdraw, including billionaire John Castimatidis, who is CEO of WABC Radio and Red Apple Media.

Catsimatidis, a Republican who launched his own mayoral campaign in 2013, cited concerns “that Sliwa’s continued candidacy could split the vote and inadvertently help another candidate.”

Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani compete for NYC mayor. (Getty Images)

“Catsimatidis said the move is essential to consolidating support behind a ‘viable alternative’ and avoiding what he described as a potentially damaging outcome for the city if the vote remains divided,” a press release from his office said.

Sliwa rejected the push at the time, telling Fox News Digital, “The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate… I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out.”

Sliwa is currently on a leave of absence from WABC Radio, where he has worked for decades, while running for NYC mayor.

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa found unlikely common ground on the campaign trail on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Getty)

Mamdani has appeared amused by the situation, however.

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“I never thought I would say this, but here we are, where the only candidates who agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city are the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee,” the democratic socialist said.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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The 24-year-old has interviewed President Donald Trump and Jalen Brunson, and she is putting her expertise into her own podcast, “The Emily Austin Show.”

The podcast dropped on Tuesday, and her first guest was former New York governor-turned-city mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo. Other episodes will feature Mitchell Robinson, Ryan Garcia and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Emily Austin attends Lionsgate’s “Good Fortune” New York Screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Oct. 13, 2025 in New York City. (Arturo Holmes/WireImage)

“It was never my intention to get political, but sometimes duty calls, that’s what I tell people,” Austin said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

That duty was, while attending Hofstra University, she realized she “can’t live under another Biden presidency” while she was not allowed on campus due to her vaccination status. At the time, though, Austin already had a successful NBA podcast, “The Hoop Chat,” which she used to her advantage.

“I was just really fed up. At this point, I had to do something about it, because I recognized that I had a platform, and what’s the point of having a platform if you don’t advocate for something you believe in?” Austin said.

So, she decided to backpocket her love and expertise for sports and turn into a political commentator, while mixing in sports whenever necessary.

Emily Austin’s first guest on her new podcast was Andrew Cuomo. (Emily Austin)

FORMER ESPN EMPLOYEE SAYS MIDDLE SCHOOL DAUGHTER FACED ‘AN OBVIOUSLY NATURALLY BORN BOY’ IN BASKETBALL GAME

“What I’m happy that came out of the podcast is everyone asks me ‘How do you stay political and stay in sports?’ What I’ve come to realize is every person on my podcast that is an athlete has their own political opinion, too,” Austin said. “And a lot of them agree with me, and a lot of them don’t. But at least we have that relationship to have dialogue about it.

“You don’t know how many NBA players I’ve interviewed who are MAGA, and they’ll never feel comfortable coming out. I’m trying to encourage them, the way your teammates are OK with being a Democrat, you need to be okay with disagreeing with them and being a Republican. There just needs to be a safe space for people to have their political opinions.”

Bringing out athletes’ political views is not even Austin’s end goal, she said. All she wants is comfortability to be able to discuss issues, no matter what side of the coin an athlete, or any politician, is on.

Austin will have sports and political figures on her podcast. (Fox News)

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“If the conversation stays strictly on sports, so be it. But if, let’s just say I have a guest coming up that is going to announce that he voted for Trump, and it will break the Internet, that’s coming too,” Austin said. “So it’s really just like a safe space of dialogue that covers everything with no limitations. I don’t want anyone to feel that there’s any boundaries or any lines that can’t be crossed. Whatever needs to be said is going to be said on ‘The Emily Austin Show.’”

Follow Fox News Digital’ssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Outside the Islamic Cultural Center in the Bronx on Friday afternoon, Mamdani seized on the latest campaign trail controversy as an opportunity to condemn what his campaign described as the “renewed wave of Islamophobic rhetoric and fear-mongering.”

“While my opponents in this race have brought hatred to the forefront, this is just a glimpse of what so many have to endure every day across the city,” Mamdani said. “And while it would be easy for us to say that this is not who we are as a city, we know the truth. This is who we have allowed ourselves to become.”

During an appearance on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning” on Thursday, Cuomo questioned Mamdani’s ability to lead the city through a crisis situation, if elected. When host Sid Rosenberg implied that Mamdani would be “cheering.”

SPARKS FLY AS CUOMO, MAMDANI TEAR INTO EACH OTHER DURING FIERY DEBATE: ‘TOXIC ENERGY’

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani (left) criticized independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (right) for his “Islamophobic rhetoric” on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.  (Richard Drew/AP Photo; Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

“Any given moment, there’s a crisis, and people’s lives are at stake. God forbid, there’s another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo asked the host.

NEW POLL REVEALS MAMDANI’S LEAD IS SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC SHOWDOWN

“He’d be cheering,” Rosenberg retorted.

“That’s another problem,” said Cuomo, before returning to his hypothetical question: “But could you imagine that?”

During a Mamdani campaign event in Manhattan later on Thursday, a reporter asked the leading mayoral candidate if Cuomo’s comments were Islamophobic.

“Yes, I believe that they were,” Mamdani said, before adding, “We’re speaking about a former governor who, in his final moments in public life, is engaging in rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic, not only racist, it’s also disgusting.”

Video

That afternoon, Cuomo was endorsed by Mayor Eric Adams, who told reporters that his reason for doing so, in part, was to fight “Islamic extremism” in New York City.

“I don’t know what is wrong with people. You see what’s playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism. Not Muslims, let’s not mix this up. But those Islamic extremisms that are burning churches in Nigeria, that are destroying communities in Germany, that have taken over the logical thinking, and that’s what I’m fighting for,” Adams said Thursday.

The Mamdani campaign called Adams’ remarks “Islamophobic reasoning.”

In response to both comments, the leading mayoral candidate wiped tears on Friday, while flanked by members of the Islamic Cultural Center, as he told the story of Muslims, like his aunt, whom Mamdani said stopped riding the subway after Sept. 11, 2001, because she “did not feel safe in her hijab.”

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“We know that in less than two weeks we will say goodbye to a disgraced former governor and our current indicted mayor,” Mamdani said. “The bigger question is whether we are willing to say goodbye to something much larger than either of these two men,” Mamdani said.

“It is whether we are willing to say goodbye to anti-Muslim sentiment that has grown so endemic in our city that when we hear it, we know not whether the words were spoken by a Republican or a Democrat,” Mamdani continued. “We know only that it was spoken in the language of the politics of the city. In an era of ever diminishing bipartisanship, it seems that Islamophobia has emerged as one of the few areas of agreement.”

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Mamdani on Thursday criticized Cuomo for his “closing argument.”

“Andrew Cuomo’s message is to smear and slander the first Muslim candidate on the verge of leading this city, to look at a city where 1 in 8 New Yorkers are Muslim and say that, by virtue of your faith, you are worthy of suspicion,” Mamdani added.

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks in the Bronx, New York City, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

When pressed by reporters during the endorsement event Thursday, Cuomo clarified that he was not the one who made the comment that Mamdani would be “cheering” if there was another terrorist attack like Sept. 11, 2001.

Cuomo hosted a press conference days before the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, where speakers criticized Mamdani for associating with a Twitch streamer, Hasan Piker, who once declared, “America deserved 9/11.”

“I have a problem with the fact that Zohran pals around with Hasan Piker,” Cuomo clarified Thursday.

The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, revealed that Mamdani has a substantial lead in the race. According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa.

Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a mayoral debate, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York City.  (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.

If Mamdani wins the mayoral election on Nov. 4, he will become the first Muslim mayor of New York City.

Religion has become a defining issue in the mayoral race, as Jewish New Yorkers have rejected Mamdani’s positions on Israel, including calling the war in Gaza a “genocide” and his refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

This week, prominent New York City rabbisjoined more than 650 rabbis to sign “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,” declaring their position that Jewish Americans “cannot remain silent” on discrimination against Jewish people.

Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, Temple Emanu-El’s senior rabbi, told Fox News Digital that his concern about Mamdani’s candidacy “is absolutely not about Islamophobia.”

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“It is about legitimate alarm over Assemblymember Mamdani’s positions, and I think it’s important to draw that distinction,” Davidson said. “New York is the most culturally diverse city in the world, and we pride ourselves on that diversity. And as I wrote, I think it would be an extraordinary achievement for New York to elect a Muslim mayor. But Mr. Mamdani causes me great concern, and he has caused many in the Jewish community great fear.”

Rosenberg and Cuomo did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s comment request.

Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. 

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It’s a bit strange for the Republican voters too, but having lost the Democratic primary to far-left Zohran Mamdani, Cuomo’s only chance to win is to convince those voters, who polls show are backing Curtis Sliwa, that he deserves to be mayor.

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo slammed his democratic socialist opponent Zohran Mamdani during a Fox News interview on Monday. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty; Angelina Katsanis/Getty)

So far, for Cuomo, this has mainly consisted of him saying that, unlike Mamdani, he is not a communist. Yes, that’s good, but like putting “not in prison” on your dating profile, it’s kind of the bare minimum.

Whether Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who currently polls under 20%, drops out or not, and it’s not looking likely, Cuomo is going to have to convince Gotham’s conservatives to choose him. Here are a few ways he might do it.

NEW POLL EXPOSES TROUBLE FOR RIVALS IN HEATED NYC MAYORAL RACE AS ONE CANDIDATE TAKES COMMANDING LEAD

A Seat At The Table

Cuomo should pledge that, if he is elected, Republicans will play a major role in his administration. This could look a lot of ways, including promising to make a strong GOP voice like former City Councilman Joe Borelli or current City Council member Vickie Paladino a deputy mayor. Cuomo’s original pitch in this campaign was to unite the city, but so far there is no indication that his would be anything other than a boilerplate Democrat administration. That has to change.

Support ICE

On Tuesday, Cuomo sent out an ill-advised X post criticizing Immigration Customs and Enforcement for raids in New York’s Chinatown that targeted illegal street vendors. There is no doubt the liberals in Cuomo’s war room noted the chaos on the streets and saw an opportunity to put up points against President Donald Trump. But actually, they missed an opportunity.

The reason we see this aggressive approach from ICE in Gotham is that, as a sanctuary city, the legal system will not cooperate with ICE. So, instead of a simple and safe handover of an illegal migrant with a detainer, the feds are forced to conduct raids. Cuomo, in one sentence, could pledge to end this.

Promise To Work With Trump

One of the most perplexing positions that Cuomo has staked out since he launched his independent bid is that Democrat Mamdani is too weak to effectively fight Trump, but that he’ll walk forward if the president puts his finger in his chest. Cuomo plays the tough guy role pretty well, but the problem is that the voters he needs really like Trump. A lot.

Independent candidate, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a mayoral debate, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool) (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

NEW POLL REVEALS MAMDANI’S LEAD IS SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC SHOWDOWN

Cuomo can help his cause with GOP voters enormously if he would just say that Trump’s results in Washington, D.C., have been tremendous, and he is committed to working with the president to clean up New York’s parks and streets and deal with vagrancy and addiction.

Call Out His Own Party’s Cowards

Even on the Indie line, Andrew Cuomo is still a Democrat of long standing, and in an Interview with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel Tuesday night, he finally began to call out the threat that the far left poses to his party. He also said that the reason top party leaders in New York like Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries won’t endorse him over Zany Zohran is that, “If a politician doesn’t have to make a decision, they’re not going to make a decision.”

DAVID MARCUS: HOW A TRUMP-CUOMO ALLIANCE CAN SAVE NEW YORK CITY

It’s not good enough. If Mamdani really is the existential threat to New York that Cuomo and Sliwa both claim, then any Democrat who refuses to call out communism in their own party must be put on blast. Cuomo needs to call out the cowardice.

Pledge To Primary Socialists In New York

ERIC ADAMS’ ABRUPT EXIT FROM NYC MAYORAL RACE ESCALATES CLASH BETWEEN RIVALS: ‘RECORD OF DISGRACE’

One of the reasons that GOP voters are skeptical of Cuomo is that even if he won, and even if he had the best intentions in the world, the rest of the city government is overrun with Democrat Socialists who will thwart his efforts.

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Cuomo should promise that if elected, he will work to fill all of those positions with traditional, normal Democrats, to the extent he can still find any, and will oppose the vigorous Marxism overtaking the party.

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Even if Cuomo does all of these things, it’s still a long shot, but it would be a new race, a different race. Republican voters need a real choice. They don’t expect Sliwa to triumph, but right now, Cuomo looks too much like Mamdani to win them over.

Like it or not, Cuomo’s chances now rest in the hands of GOP voters. Is he capable of telling them what they want and need to hear?

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS

David Marcus is a columnist living in West Virginia and the author of “Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation.”

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“As spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams, I can confirm that the Mayor will endorse former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for mayor and intends to campaign alongside him,” Adams’ spokesman, Todd Shapiro, said in a statement to Fox News. “The time and locations for their joint appearances are currently being finalized.”

Adams declined to answer questions about Cuomo at an unrelated press conference Thursday morning.

“On topic,” Adams told reporters at an event centered on the affordability of child care.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FINAL NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘KNOCK HIM ON HIS TUCHAS’

New York Mayor Eric Adams poses with independent candidate, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, after Cuomo participated in the second debate for the upcoming mayoral election during the game between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 22, 2025. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

“I’ll be with Andrew later today, but right now we’re talking about this,” the mayor added. “And if we mix the two, you won’t cover this because it’s good. So if you don’t have an on topic, I’m going to bounce.”

The upcoming endorsement was first reported by The New York Times.

In response to Adams’ expected endorsement, Mamdani accused Cuomo of running for the current mayor’s “second term.”

“It’s no surprise to see two men who share an affinity for corruption and Trump capitulation align themselves at the behest of the billionaire class and the president himself. We are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas that these two disgraced executives embody and build a city every New Yorker can afford,” Mamdani said in a statement.

Adams ended his re-election campaign last month. Despite past spats on the campaign trail, Adams and Cuomo seem to have put aside their differences as they push to stop Mamdani’s rise.

“I think that it is imperative to really wake up the Black and brown communities that have suffered from gentrification on how important this race is,” Adams said in an interview with the Times.

“They have watched their rents increase in terms of gentrification, and they have been disregarded in those neighborhoods, and I’m going to go to those neighborhoods and speak one on one with organizers and groups, and I’m going to walk with the governor in those neighborhoods and get them engaged,” he added.

Former Governor of New York and New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo participates in the 2025 NYC West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn on Sept. 1, 2025, in New York City.  (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

SPARKS FLY AS CUOMO, MAMDANI TEAR INTO EACH OTHER DURING FIERY DEBATE: ‘TOXIC ENERGY’

The two former rivals even sat together courtside at the New York Knicks’ season opener on Wednesday. Cuomo, fresh from the debate, said on social media that he made it in time for the second half and posted a photo of himself with Adams.

Cuomo, Mamdani and Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa had their last chance to make their pitches to voters on Wednesday night as they sparred on the debate stage.

The debate came as Sliwa and Mamdani faced outside pressure. Billionaires have recently called on Sliwa to drop out over concerns that he would split the anti-Mamdani vote with Cuomo, leading the Democratic socialist to victory. Meanwhile, Mamdani faced condemnations from more than 650 rabbis nationwide, including those from the largest New York City synagogues, signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they said was anti-Israel rhetoric.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participate in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, on Oct. 22, 2025.  (Hiroko Masuike/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

During the debate, Cuomo and Sliwa pressed Mamdani on Jewish New Yorkers’ fears that antisemitism would rise under his watch. Mamdani countered, saying that he heard the concerns of Jewish New Yorkers and that they deserved “a leader who takes it seriously” rather than “one who weaponizes it as a means by which to score political points on a debate stage.”

The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of the first general election debate last week, revealed that Mamdani has gained a substantial lead in the race because voters see him as the best candidate to tackle the city’s top problems.

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According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa. Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Cuomo’s team for comment.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

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The ad depicts supporters of rival candidate Zohran Mamdani committing crimes like burglary, looting, drunk driving and human trafficking. The campaign posted the ad Wednesday night before quickly taking it down.

Mamdani called the ad “just disgusting” in a response on social media.

Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the New York Times that the video was “posted in error” and “wasn’t done yet.”

MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: ‘YOU WON’T SUPPORT ISRAEL’

Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani are competing for New York City mayor. (Getty Images)

The Cuomo and Mamdani campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

The ad’s release came around the same time that Cuomo, Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participated in a mayoral debate Wednesday night.

FBI AGENTS FROM ’93 WTC ATTACK BLAST MAMDANI FOR EMBRACING RADICAL IMAM

New York City mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani did not hold back in criticizing each other during Wednesday night’s debate. (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

Mamdani and Sliwa took the opportunity during Wednesday’s debate to drill down on past sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, the former governor of New York, ahead of an impeachment inquiry that preceded Cuomo’s 2021 resignation.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’

Cuomo was also hit by Mamdani over accusations he has – while in public office – failed to meet with Muslim constituents and only began doing so amid pressure from his mayoral campaign, and over his alleged poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York after Cuomo was party to issuing guidance forcing nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit COVID-19-positive patients.

All three candidates for New York City mayor,  Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Zohran Mamdani, debated Wednesday night. (Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty Images)

Cuomo, in turn, targeted Mamdani over controversies that have embattled his campaign. Cuomo blasted the self-proclaimed socialist over his lack of experience, ties to radical politics, and past radical comments about law enforcement, Israel and the situation in Gaza.

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“My main opponent has no new ideas. He has no new plan.… He’s never run anything, managed anything. He’s never had a real job,” Cuomo said of Mamdani during the debate. Cuomo also branded Mamdani as someone who has proven to be “a divisive force in New York,” pointing to past incidents that have garnered Mamdani heat from critics.

Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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