Ryan Grim

You know, there was the legendary 20th century congressman, Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

You had Charlie Rangel, who, you know, I had the privilege to cover when he was in Congress.

And I say privilege because he was

larger-than-life kind of character.

Adrian Espiat, he seems more in line with life, not exactly a larger-than-life figure.

But I'm curious how the Harlem establishment has evolved over the years and whether you think that it has weakened to a position where a challenge like this, which in the past would have kind of been unthinkable, is actually possible.

And so you've been endorsed by Justice Democrats, which is fresh off their victory in Philadelphia with the election of Democratic Socialist Chris Rabb.

Have you sensed that producing any momentum since then?

Are you hearing from more groups who are like, you know what, maybe this is a ripe moment here?

And Democratic Socialists of America, of course, has also endorsed your campaign and was behind the campaign of Mayor Mamdani.

He famously dissuaded a primary challenge against Hakeem Jeffries.

Has he dissuaded you at all from running?

And do you think that it's possible

that he may actually kind of intervene and endorse here against an incumbent because, you know, they're very difficult kind of coalitional and delegation politics at play here.

On the other hand, you know, he's trying to build power for, you know, a DSA-based kind of working class movement.

What are you hearing from the kind of Mamdani orbit?

And for a lot of people watching, they'd be like, well, maybe not this program, but most programs, they'd say, you know, what's the difference?

It's a Democratic district.

You know, you're going to vote on most bills similarly to how Adriano Espaillat might vote.

There'd be some differences on the edges.