New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has just begun his tenure, but the real test of his mettle lies ahead. A newcomer to high politics, like Lina Khan, who only a few years ago parachuted onto the national stage as the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at just 32, can serve as a benchmark for what it takes to navigate the complex web of power in New York.
Khan's ascension to the FTC was marked by her ambitious push to transform the agency and take on corporate giants. In her four-year tenure, she achieved notable successes, including taming the prices of inhalers by targeting pharmaceutical price gouging, blocking a massive supermarket merger, and returning millions of dollars in unpaid tips to Amazon drivers.
What sets Khan apart is not only her impressive track record but also her battle-tested approach to dealing with powerful opponents. When confirmed as FTC chair, Meta and Amazon tried to get her to recuse herself from investigating them, an attempt that ultimately failed. In the 2024 presidential race, even Kamala Harris faced public calls to fire Khan if she became president.
The latest move by Mamdani in appointing Lina Khan to his transition team only adds fuel to this narrative. Big tech and Wall Street executives are already grumbling about Khan's appointment, viewing it as a challenge to their dominance. However, some see it as a warning shot from the mayor-elect that he is serious about taking on entrenched interests.
In essence, Mamdani's move towards appointing Lina Khan to his team can be seen as a bold statement of intent β to challenge the status quo and bring in fresh voices that are not beholden to special interests. As Khan herself has shown time and again, this approach carries real consequences for those who would seek to silence her or undermine her efforts. With Mamdani's leadership, New Yorkers may be witnessing the beginnings of a new era in city politics β one where those with the courage to take on the powerful are rewarded.
Khan's ascension to the FTC was marked by her ambitious push to transform the agency and take on corporate giants. In her four-year tenure, she achieved notable successes, including taming the prices of inhalers by targeting pharmaceutical price gouging, blocking a massive supermarket merger, and returning millions of dollars in unpaid tips to Amazon drivers.
What sets Khan apart is not only her impressive track record but also her battle-tested approach to dealing with powerful opponents. When confirmed as FTC chair, Meta and Amazon tried to get her to recuse herself from investigating them, an attempt that ultimately failed. In the 2024 presidential race, even Kamala Harris faced public calls to fire Khan if she became president.
The latest move by Mamdani in appointing Lina Khan to his transition team only adds fuel to this narrative. Big tech and Wall Street executives are already grumbling about Khan's appointment, viewing it as a challenge to their dominance. However, some see it as a warning shot from the mayor-elect that he is serious about taking on entrenched interests.
In essence, Mamdani's move towards appointing Lina Khan to his team can be seen as a bold statement of intent β to challenge the status quo and bring in fresh voices that are not beholden to special interests. As Khan herself has shown time and again, this approach carries real consequences for those who would seek to silence her or undermine her efforts. With Mamdani's leadership, New Yorkers may be witnessing the beginnings of a new era in city politics β one where those with the courage to take on the powerful are rewarded.