Kimmel Returns to Brooklyn
For a week of broadcasts, Jimmy Kimmel Live has moved back to Brooklyn, staging its shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Kimmel, who was born in the borough and lived there as a young child, is filming there for the eighth time. His guest list includes Howard Stern, Billy Crystal, Paul McCartney and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Kimmel said ticket requests topped 150,000. The opening night featured Pete Davidson and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with TV on the Radio performing in honor of the 20th anniversary of Return to Cookie Mountain.[S1]
Mamdani on Trump and City Priorities
Following his conversation with Pete Davidson, Kimmel brought out Mayor Mamdani. Ahead of the interview, viewers saw a montage of Fox News pundits warning that Mamdani would make New York City frightening and send crime soaring. Kimmel pointed out that those forecasts missed the mark, since the city recorded its lowest levels of murders and shootings across Mamdani's first seven months. Kimmel went on to ask about Mamdani's surprisingly cordial ties with President Trump, asking how the mayor won him over and whether Kimmel might get the same treatment.[S1]
Mamdani responded with a laugh and would not give advice, noting that he and the president disagree on plenty. Still, he said, they share a love for the city, and from their first meeting last November he tried to keep the focus on New Yorkers instead of on the two of them. Kimmel then rolled a clip of Mamdani beside Trump at Gracie Mansion during a meandering presidential speech, with the camera closing in on Mamdani's expressionless face. Kimmel joked that Mamdani hardly seemed like a good poker partner. Mamdani said that as Trump talked, his mind was on winning federal approval for his planned Sunnyside Yard project in Queens, which would add roughly 12,000 homes and about 30,000 jobs.[S1]
Kimmel kept pushing, bringing up that Mamdani exchanges texts with the president. Mamdani said they do occasionally message each other about Sunnyside Yard and about serving the city. He added that Trump raised the subject of Haitian New Yorkers, a community close to Mamdani's heart. Their protected status has been terminated, and Mamdani said he thinks no effort should be spared to give them security, describing them as part of the city's fabric. Kimmel then proposed texting Trump a selfie of the two of them on the spot. Mamdani turned it down, saying he loves Kimmel but loves housing more.[S1]
