Mamdani's taxpayer-funded influencer army accused of plotting pressure campaign against NYC CEOs

Senior aides to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have reportedly discussed using City Hall's network of more than 200 social media influencers to apply public pressure on prominent business leaders, according to the New York Post. Two sources with knowledge of the talks said the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit that speaks for the city's biggest employers, was among the intended targets. Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla and Jeff Blau, who runs Related Companies, were also named as possible objects of the effort, according to Fox News.

The influencer operation became controversial earlier this month when the Columbia Journalism Review disclosed that City Hall was in contact with the creators through an encrypted Signal group called "NYC Creators Announcements." Fox News Digital later found that participants get daily talking points and videos from the administration, along with invitations to events and opportunities to meet city officials.

According to the Post's sources, the plan would catch Steven Fulop off guard. Fulop became president and CEO of the Partnership earlier this year, and aides saw his arrival as a chance to "go at CEOs." Fulop told Fox News he spoke with Mamdani directly afterward. The mayor, along with his communications and political directors, denied any intention of going after executives. Fulop said the Partnership will accept Mamdani "at his word" but stay watchful, warning that continuing down this path could bring "huge repercussions in a bad way."

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →