Overview
- In a Feb. 22 monologue, Zakaria said Democratic-run cities are promising more, spending more, and delivering less.
- He singled out New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s preliminary FY2027 $127 billion budget and a proposed property-tax hike of up to 9.5%.
- He noted NYC rental assistance rose from $263 million in 2020 to $1.34 billion in 2025, arguing subsidies have pushed rents higher.
- Pointing to Los Angeles, he cited AP data showing homelessness up about 70% countywide since 2015 and referenced an audit that could not reliably track $2.4 billion, while also warning that Chicago’s pension obligations threaten the city’s finances.
- The segment was widely amplified by partisan outlets, with President Trump’s social media team sharing the clip on X.