Random Musing: Why Zohran Mamdani will find it hard to be another Barack Obama

Since Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States — and the patron saint of slightly deracinated global liberals who feel increasingly alienated as global politics lurches right — liberals have been waiting for the next Obama: the Aragorn who will again lead the righteous army and rid America of the evil forces of Sauron. The latest to have that mantle thrust on him is Zohran Mamdani — a reel champion who has borrowed from the Trump playbook, turning authenticity into theatre and populism into performance. As political analyst Ross Barkan noted in a recent profile: “He is, like a young Obama, very compelling, has a great back story. He has a real charm, a way with people. He has great social media, but you need the charm to make the social media work.” Ironic