Mamdani says US should join ICC and 'enforce its warrants,' claims socialism provides 'a dignified life' for all

In a podcast appearance with Theo Von, socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for the US to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested, claiming that Israel is committing a "genocide." During the podcast, he also said that a socialist government should "deliver" all the goods and services for a person to live a "dignified life," including housing, childcare, and public transportation. 

Mamdani let the podcaster know that if he were in charge of the country—instead of just being a mayor in NYC—that he would arrest Netanyahu and carry out any ICC warrants. While speaking about the war in Gaza, which was started when Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis and took over 200 people hostage, Mamdani said that Netanyahu was "the architect of a horrific genocide." He then cited the death of an 11-year-old in Gaza as evidence that Israel was committing a genocide.

Theo Von agreed and said that it is "unbelievable."

Mamdani was then asked about what he believes the US should do moving forward. He pointed to the hopes of winning in the 2028 election for Democrats. "I think I’ve been asked about where do we go from here. And we have 2028 coming up and a big question of what happens after this administration. And I think that there has to be a commitment to a different kind of future. There has to be— if we’re talking about reckoning with this, what will you do that’s different? How will you deliver something else other than 1,000-pound bombs?"

Theo Von then asked the mayor if he had his way, would he have arrested Netanyahu when the Israeli Prime Minister came to the US to address the UN General Assembly.

"If I had my say, the US government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they’ve issued," Mamdani said. The ICC put out a warrant on Netanyahu, claiming that he and Israel have committed crimes against humanity in the war against Hamas.

Theo Von responded, "F*ck yeah. Sorry to say it like that, but yeah, I don’t know. It’s just crazy to see that guy speaking on our country. It’s almost unbelievable."

Mamdani also explained his view of socialism during the interview, saying that the government should "deliver" housing, childcare, public transit, and other necessities for everyone.

When asked to define socialism, Mamdani said that it is the belief that "you will have whatever you need to live a dignified life, and that it is the government’s job to deliver on that." He then clarified that the goods and services needed to live a "dignified life" include "the things that allow you to take a breath. Housing, childcare, right? Public transit. No one should be priced out of these things. These are non-negotiables. You need these to live."

Mamdani has identified himself as a "democratic socialist," and has advocated policies including free childcare for all, free public transit, and wants to have city-owned grocery stores.

They also addressed the idea of the American Dream. Mamdani claimed that you "have to luck out in some big way" to achieve the American Dream.

"It feels like you have to luck out in some big way. In many ways I feel like it’s why a lot of people play the lottery. For many it feels like their only chance. People think they have better odds playing the lottery than making it in their own life. What does that say about the country we live in?”