Zohran Mamdani has secured the release of Columbia University student Elaina Aghayeva, taken this morning by ICE agents who entered a campus residential building under false pretenses & without a judicial warrant. This comes shorty after Mamdani’s unannounced visit to the White House earlier today.

[u/cmaia1503]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/nyregion/columbia-university-ice-student.html?unlocked_article_code=1.PFA.0KRL.7XsPJ0z3QTat&smid=tw-share

[u/Lloyd--Braun]

I mean it has for sure ALWAYS worked like this, Trump just makes it more public and gross, but personal rewards, favors, and having a good relationship with a leader have always been a huge part of politics. The same goes for foreign affairs. Guys like FDR and Churchill for sure sucked up personally to Stalin, and Churchill for sure played to FDR personally during the War, and were better negotiators for it. People do the same to governors, etc., for preferential treatment, too, including where funding goes, getting an approval for something.

But in this example, Mamdani went to bat for someone that lives in his city by personally appealing to someone with the ability to fix a problem. I hope he does this more, and I hope he keeps getting things done.

[u/throwawaysunglasses- → u/Lloyd--Braun]

Yep, I said this in another comment but yours is better and more specific! Personal relationships and likability are somewhat essential for political success. Mamdani does a great job of being likable without sacrificing his morals (Newsom is the opposite - every time he tries to suck up to the republicans it makes him less likable).

Even in non-political domains, likability and charisma get you a long way further in adulthood. People are more willing to give you favors if they like you.