NYC’s Zohran Gets Called Out to His Face by Liberal Host Live on CNN [WATCH]

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani faced questions this week over his proposal to establish city-run grocery stores during an interview with CNN host Abby Phillip.

The plan, which Mamdani has made a central part of his campaign, would involve the city operating five government-owned stores—one in each borough—offering groceries at lower prices.

Phillip asked Mamdani why he believed government should take on the responsibility of running grocery stores, rather than working with the private sector.

“Why is the government a better solution for a lack of grocery stores, food deserts, than just working with the private sector to have them do what they know how to do, which is run grocery stores? What’s your answer to that?” she asked.

Mamdani responded that the proposal was meant to provide an affordable “public option” for food.

“There are more than 1,000 grocery stores in New York City. I’m proposing creating five additional ones, one in each borough of New York City, that the city would run that would guarantee cheaper groceries. Not free food, but cheaper groceries, and part of that is because food is a necessity for New Yorkers. It’s a necessity for everyone, and yet it’s something that people are being priced out of, and we can see the promise and the possibility of a public option, and we’ve seen in studies that have been done about the applicability of this in an urban setting like Chicago, that this is something that we can actually deliver here right in New York City,” Mamdani said.

Phillip pressed back, citing challenges faced by similar experiments in other cities.

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“But there’s another example in Kansas City, where they had a government-run grocery store, and it’s been there for years, but it’s on the verge of closing because it doesn’t work. They’ve been riddled with crime. They’ve dealt with just a lack of inventory. There are other examples where it just hasn’t worked because, frankly, the government is not that good at being in the business of being in grocery stores,” she said.

Abby Phillip actually did her job while interviewing socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani.

“Why is the government a better solution for a lack of grocery stores, food deserts, than just working with the private sector?”

“Kansas City, where they had a government run… pic.twitter.com/x0rVcz5uXo

— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) September 6, 2025

Mamdani has pointed to research suggesting a government role could stabilize food access in areas where private retailers are scarce.

However, critics note that Kansas City’s experiment with a city-run grocery store has faced financial problems and difficulties keeping shelves stocked.

The New York City proposal would require significant funding, though questions remain about how the city would finance and sustain the stores.

Reports have suggested that some of the funding sources Mamdani has referenced do not exist in the amounts he has claimed.

Mamdani, a state assemblyman representing Queens, has built his campaign around progressive economic policies, including rent reform and expanded public services.

His grocery store proposal has drawn comparisons to similar initiatives in other cities that struggled to remain financially viable.

New York City has more than 8.5 million residents and over 1,000 existing grocery stores, most of which are privately owned and operated.

Mamdani has argued that adding city-run stores would not replace private businesses but would offer residents an alternative with lower costs.

The Kansas City experience has been cited by opponents as an example of the challenges government agencies face in competing with the private sector on logistics, pricing, and management.

Local officials there have acknowledged that the city-owned store struggled to maintain operations and faced ongoing financial strain.

Mamdani remains one of the frontrunners in the Democratic primary, with his campaign highlighting food affordability and access as a top issue.

The debate over his proposal reflects broader national discussions about the role of government in providing essential goods and services, as cities explore responses to concerns over cost of living and food insecurity.

Reporter: Do you have a responsibility to prioritize putting cops on the street?

Zohran Mamdani: Let me tell you about Trump… pic.twitter.com/PgPHy9VVYp

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 6, 2025