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Obama, Colbert gush over Zohran Mamdani as they discuss Democratic Party's future
By Joseph Wulfsohn
Published May 06, 2026
Former President Barack Obama and outgoing "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert took turns singing the praises of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during their interview Tuesday night.
During a prerecorded interview that aired Tuesday from the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Colbert spoke with Obama about the direction of the Democratic Party, specifically regarding the ongoing rift between the liberal and the progressive wings of the party.
"So you have great leaders. You have people like (Virginia Governor) Abigail Spanberger and (New Jersey Governor) Mikie Sherrill, very centrist. But then you have further left, like AOC and Zohran Mamdani," Colbert said, sparking cheers from his audience after name-dropping the self-described democratic socialists.
"What direction do you think would be best for this party, to actually achieve change?" Colbert asked.
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Former President Barack Obama was asked about the direction of the Democratic Party during an interview with "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert. (Scott Kowalchyk ©2026 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved)
Obama shrugged off concerns that there was a true divide between both wings of the Democratic Party.
"I'm not so worried about this so-called rift between the left and liberals, as you described it," Obama told Colbert. "Because I think that within the Democratic Party and I would argue a bunch of independents and even some Republicans as well, there's an overarching belief in equality, fairness, if you work then you should be able to make a living wage and support a family and retire with dignity... There are a bunch of things that we agree on. And it's really more of a question of, what are the specific things that we have to do."
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Former President Barack Obama and "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert tour the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. (Scott Kowalchyk ©2026 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved)
"You look at somebody like Mamdani, who I think is an extraordinary talent," he continued. "He wants people to be able to afford housing in New York. Well, you know, I would assume liberals in New York want the same thing. And so I don't worry as much about some of these issues within the Democratic Party. I'm more interested in for Democrats is — do you know to just talk to regular people like we're not in a college seminar, right? You know, can you talk plain English to folks about-"
"I think that's one of the powers that Mamdani has," Colbert interjected.
"That's correct," Obama said.
"Not only does he talk like a normal person, but he lives a normal life, but also, he names what is obviously wrong," Colbert continued.
"Yes!" Obama exclaimed. "And not have a bunch of gobbledygook around it... Just talk like normal people talk."
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Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing "Wheels on the Bus" to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in the Bronx in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Angelina Katsanis/AP Photo)
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