Mayor Zoran Mamdani speaks alongside New York City Police Chief Jessica Tisch (left) during a press conference at Gracie Mansion on March 9, 2026 in New York City.
Leonardo Muñoz | AFP | Getty Images
Hearth Chat will be relaunched as a live stream.
New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, whose meteoric ascension to City Hall was largely driven by his social media prowess, will launch a regular Twitch series on Thursday called “Talk with the People,” in which he will answer questions from New Yorkers in real time on a platform known more for gaming than government.
The show will also be simulcast on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and many other social media platforms, according to the mayor’s office.
“The launch of ‘Talk with the People’ brings City Hall directly to the platforms where New Yorkers already spend their time,” Mamdani said in a statement.
While running for mayor, Mamdani heavily focused on social media videos, online commentators and appearances outside of traditional political media to appeal to younger voters and discuss issues such as affordability, housing and transportation in a more conversational manner.
“By hosting the country’s first regular cross-platform stream led by an elected official, where New Yorkers can ask questions live on Twitch, we are opening up a new dialogue between our government and the people it serves, especially young people who have often been ignored,” Mamdani said in a statement.
Mamdani promoted the launch of “Talk with the People” on X, sharing an image of himself sitting in front of a microphone emblazoned with the popular social media logo next to a photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who gave his famous radio address during the heyday of social media.
“May 21, 2026, 4:10pm Live,” Mamdani wrote.
This format reflects an earlier era when politicians spoke directly to the people. President Roosevelt used fireside chats to address the American people on the radio, and former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia later hosted his own weekly radio show, Talk to the People, from 1942 to 1945, according to the Library of Congress.
Twitch initially gained popularity as a live streaming platform for video gamers, but has since become a key part of a broader shift in the way younger viewers consume political information. This is often done through streamers, podcasts, and social media personalities rather than traditional mediums.
In recent years, Twitch has become something of a Democratic counterweight to the right-wing podcast ecosystem.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York was one of the first major lawmakers to adopt the platform in 2020 when she appeared on the “Among Us” livestream aimed at encouraging young people to vote. Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign has also turned to Twitch as part of a broader effort to reach young, hard-to-reach online voters.
More recently, political creators like Hasan Piker have helped make Twitch a place for live political commentary, often drawing larger and more engaged viewers than those focused on the politicians themselves.
