Like many people, I have an uncle with wildly different political views than I do. Whenever we get together, we spar over the very issues that divide much of the United States—immigration, abortion, homelessness, public education, and more. We each live and work within bubbles of our own political alignment, so it’s no surprise that we clash. What is surprising, though, is that something rare happens when we do: Not only do we share our ideas (with great passion), but we also truly listen to one another. That’s what becomes possible when you’re face to face with someone you love and respect who sees the world differently—you listen, even as you disagree.

Recently, I was struck by the historic rise of Zohran Mamdani, who was just elected mayor of New York City. Of course, my uncle and I exchanged jabs at each other on election night about what this meant for the future. For me, the success of Mamdani’s campaign was a sign of the power of listening and finding common ground across enormous divides—a novel approach to politics as usual in this country. Having lived in NYC for nearly a decade, I know that New Yorkers have big opinions and share them easily. Mamdani attributed his success to the popularity of a platform built by listening to the perspectives of a broad cross-section of New Yorkers who crafted a shared vision for the city’s future.

Mamdani’s campaign serves as a model of politics grounded in genuine listening and connection—bringing together people from all corners of the city. As he noted in his victory speech, “Thank you to those so often forgotten by the politics of our city, who made this movement their own. I speak of Yemeni bodega owners and........

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