Dave Rubin lit up the right-wing feeds this week by posting a direct-message clip that captured Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa’s blunt, no-nonsense reaction to Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani during the final New York City mayoral debate. The short exchange — shared on Rubin’s show and reposted across conservative channels — showed a punchy rebuttal that sent the audience into audible laughter, the kind of moment mainstream media often downplays.
The fireworks came on the debate stage where Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa squared off in the race for mayor, a contest that has taken on national importance as the left tests how far it can push radical ideas in our biggest city. Voters watching the Oct. 22 showdown saw a clear contrast: Mamdani’s populist rhetoric versus Sliwa’s streetwise, law-and-order pitch and Cuomo’s establishment swagger.
Conservative critics have every right to point out that Mamdani’s record is thin and his rhetoric has been provocative, from missed votes to controversial positions on foreign policy and law enforcement, issues New Yorkers care about every day. Reporters on the ground marked how rivals hammered his legislative record and questioned whether his promises match a track record of results rather than slogans.
Curtis Sliwa didn’t waste time turning those weaknesses into political capital on stage, goading Mamdani in ways that exposed the empty center of much of his stump talk and prompting laughter from an audience tired of abstractions. That kind of public reckoning matters — voters deserve candidates who can explain how lofty promises won’t wreck police morale or bankrupt city services.
What made the Rubin clip so potent for conservatives wasn’t just the zinger, it was the reminder that grassroots media and citizen journalists can force accountability when legacy outlets prefer narrative over scrutiny. Dave Rubin sharing the private exchange amplified a moment the broadcast networks underplayed, and conservatives should welcome any tool that shines light on a candidacy built more on feel-good soundbites than governing substance.
This is not a small-stakes skirmish. Polls show Mamdani holding a sizable lead in the general election, meaning these debate moments and voter awakenings could be decisive as the city heads into early voting and the November election. If New Yorkers don’t wake up to what democratic socialism would mean for public safety and taxes, the consequences will be felt by hardworking families across the five boroughs.
Patriots who love this city should watch these clips and the debate highlights with clear eyes: ideology without experience is a gamble with our children’s futures. Curtis Sliwa’s straight talk — and Rubin’s willingness to amplify it — are the kind of pushback this moment demands, and conservatives should keep mobilizing, voting, and making sure New York chooses security, prosperity, and common-sense leadership this November.
