Stephen Colbert, the sharp-tongued host of CBS’s “The Late Show,” wasted no time diving into the seismic results of New York City’s 2025 mayoral election during his Wednesday night broadcast. With Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory still fresh in the air, Colbert turned his monologue into a masterclass in political satire, celebrating the democratic socialist’s triumph while taking pointed jabs at the city’s billionaire class and the establishment figures who backed his rivals. The segment, which drew roars of laughter from the studio audience, culminated in a final zinger that shifted the mood from hilarity to a moment of reflective silence, underscoring the deeper implications of Mamdani’s historic win.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman from Queens and the first Muslim and South Asian mayor in New York City’s history, clinched the race on Tuesday night with over 50% of the vote, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo—who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary—and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The election saw record turnout, the highest for a mayoral contest since 1969, as more than 2 million voters turned out amid a national wave of Democratic successes in key races across Virginia, New Jersey, and California. Mamdani’s campaign, built on promises of aggressive economic reforms like taxing the wealthy to fund affordable housing and universal childcare, resonated with a diverse coalition that included working-class families, young progressives, and immigrant communities. His victory speech at the Brooklyn Paramount, where he quoted socialist icon Eugene Debs and vowed the “most ambitious agenda” since Fiorello LaGuardia’s era, set the tone for what many see as a progressive pivot for the nation’s largest city.

Colbert, no stranger to weaving current events into his comedy, opened his monologue by framing Mamdani’s win as a “bad day for billionaires.” Drawing from the flood of super PAC money that poured into anti-Mamdani efforts—led by donors like hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who funneled millions to Cuomo’s camp—the host quipped that the election night felt like “a collective therapy session for Wall Street egos.” He replayed clips of Mamdani’s rivals conceding, mocking Cuomo’s post-loss remarks about the Democratic Socialists of America as a “dangerous road” and Sliwa’s distant third-place finish as a reminder that “even Guardian Angels can’t save a sinking campaign.” The audience erupted as Colbert impersonated Cuomo’s gravelly voice, warning of “socialism’s siren song” while gesturing wildly at an imaginary red flag.

But Colbert reserved his most affectionate barbs for Mamdani himself. Highlighting the mayor-elect’s inclusive victory address, where he thanked an eclectic mix of supporters—from “Latvian truck drivers” to “Nepalese librarians” and “pizza chefs from Eswatini”—Colbert donned a mock accent and rattled off an even more absurd list: “Polish fishermen, Bulgarian baristas, and that one guy who fixes escalators in the subway.” The bit landed with perfect timing, prompting a wave of applause that had even the host pausing to wipe away a tear of laughter. “Zohran Mamdani didn’t just win an election,” Colbert said, straightening up. “He assembled the Avengers of the outer boroughs.” It was classic Colbert: blending absurdity with insight to humanize a candidate often caricatured by critics as too radical for the Big Apple.

The monologue’s energy peaked as Colbert shifted to the broader stakes. He noted how Mamdani’s rise—from a little-known assemblyman elected in 2020 to mayor-elect in under five years—defied the odds stacked against him. Early in the primary, Mamdani faced a barrage of attacks over his foreign policy stances, particularly his vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which drew accusations of antisemitism from Jewish advocacy groups and prompted a tense June appearance on “The Late Show” itself. There, Colbert had grilled the then-candidate on whether Israel had a “right to exist,” a moment that went viral and highlighted the fault lines in New York’s diverse electorate. Mamdani’s measured response—”Yes, like all nations, with a responsibility to uphold international law”—helped him navigate the controversy, earning endorsements from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and even some moderate Democrats like City Comptroller Brad Lander, who allied with him under ranked-choice voting.

Colbert revisited that interview lightly, joking that Mamdani’s win proved “even late-night tough questions can’t stop a guy with a plan for $20 halal carts.” The line nodded to a campaign anecdote where Mamdani, braving a frigid night near Zuccotti Park, polled street vendors and commuters on food prices, exposing bureaucratic hurdles that inflate costs for everyday New Yorkers. It was these grassroots touches—door-knocking in immigrant enclaves, rallying at Forest Hills Stadium with AOC and Sanders—that propelled Mamdani past Cuomo’s name recognition and deep pockets. Exit polls showed him dominating in progressive strongholds like Brooklyn’s Park Slope and Fort Greene, where his margins topped 60%, while holding his own in moderate areas by framing his agenda as “fighter vs. faker” politics.

As the laughs subsided, Colbert delivered his closer with that signature smirk: “Folks, in a city built by dreamers and doers, Zohran Mamdani just reminded us that the real power isn’t in boardrooms—it’s in ballot boxes. And tonight, the people spoke louder than the checks cleared.” The studio fell into a stunned hush, the weight of the words sinking in amid the post-election buzz. It wasn’t just a punchline; it was a nod to the tension bubbling in New York’s power corridors. Business leaders like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reportedly reached out to Mamdani the morning after, signaling a pragmatic outreach amid fears of tax hikes on high earners. Ackman, the billionaire who once called Mamdani’s platform a “threat to capitalism,” posted a conciliatory tweet Wednesday, vowing to “help NYC regardless.” Even outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his third-party bid and endorsed Cuomo, issued a brief statement wishing the victor well—though insiders whisper of lingering bitterness from Adams’ own scandals that cleared the field for Mamdani.

The reaction online was swift and polarized. Progressive corners of X lit up with clips of the monologue, hailing Colbert as a “truth-teller” and Mamdani as “America’s mayor.” Conservative outlets like Breitbart decried the hosts’ glee, with Jimmy Kimmel’s similar celebrations on ABC framed as a “Hollywood slap at Trump.” Kimmel, in his own segment, quipped that Mamdani’s win made the president “the real loser,” tying it to national GOP setbacks. Yet amid the cheers, critics raised flags: some Jewish leaders expressed unease over Mamdani’s Israel record, while fiscal watchdogs warned that his plans—free public transit, rent freezes, and a “Green New Deal” for the five boroughs—could balloon the city’s $100 billion budget. Mamdani’s transition team, announced Thursday and stacked with veterans from de Blasio’s and Cuomo’s administrations, aims to bridge those divides, but skeptics see it as window dressing for a leftward lurch.

Mamdani’s personal story adds layers to the narrative. Born in Uganda to Indian parents who fled Idi Amin’s regime, he immigrated to New York as a child and grew up in a working-class household in Astoria, Queens. A rapper under the moniker Mr. Cardamom before entering politics, Mamdani’s authenticity shone through in viral moments like his street-food chats and rally speeches blending hip-hop flair with policy wonkery. His wife, Rama Duwaji, a community organizer, joined him on stage Tuesday, symbolizing the couple’s shared immigrant roots. “This city belongs to you,” Mamdani told supporters, echoing the inclusivity that Colbert lampooned so effectively.

As Mamdani prepares to take office in January, his win reverberates beyond Gotham. It’s a test case for democratic socialism in urban America, especially with Trump eyeing federal cuts to “sanctuary cities” like New York. Early benchmarks include appointing a diverse police commissioner amid NYPD reform calls and launching pilot programs for his economic pledges. Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, installed by Adams, resigned Wednesday, hinting at the administrative shake-up ahead.

Colbert’s monologue, clocking in at eight minutes, encapsulated the night’s highs and hazards. By turns celebratory and cautionary, it reminded viewers that comedy can illuminate power’s absurdities—especially when a 34-year-old upstart topples titans. In a divided nation, Mamdani’s mandate feels like a spark: bold, unapologetic, and ripe for both applause and scrutiny. As the host signed off, the silence lingered, a quiet cue that New York’s next act is just beginning.