# The Times Came for Mamdani and Missed Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76GTxXs8rd4 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/76GTxXs8rd4 Generated: 2025-10-31T14:35:11.301+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The host concludes that The Times of London's story about former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio was entirely false and fabricated, as de Blasio publicly denied the quotes and the reporter was reportedly misled by an individual falsely claiming to be him, leading to the article's swift retraction by The Times. **Key Points:** - The Times of London published a story alleging former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio made comments that he immediately refuted on Twitter as 'entirely false and fabricated.' - De Blasio stated he never spoke to the reporter and that the quotes attributed to him did not reflect his views. - The reporter who wrote the story allegedly reached out to an email address believed to be de Blasio's, but Dalia Gebrial suggests it was an imposter who provided the quotes. - The individual who responded to the reporter, claiming to be de Blasio, turned out to be the content director for an anti-Mamdani publication, Marki Kolkin. - The Times subsequently apologized for the error and removed the article immediately. - Gebrial criticizes the right-wing press for allegedly pushing a narrative to delegitimize progressive candidates like Eric Adams by using fabricated quotes. ![Screenshot at 00:38: Bill de Blasio's tweet denying the quotes published by The Times of London, stating the story was 'entirely false and fabricated' and that the quotes were not his.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-00-38.png) **Context:** This video discusses a recent media controversy where The Times of London published a story featuring alleged quotes from former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio regarding his successor, Eric Adams. The segment focuses on the immediate aftermath, where de Blasio vehemently denied the quotes, and subsequent investigation revealed the source was likely an imposter, leading to the British newspaper retracting the piece. ## Detailed Analysis The video analyzes the swift retraction of a story published by The Times of London concerning former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. The initial story, which claimed de Blasio expressed doubts about Eric Adams's numbers and political viability, was immediately and strongly denied by de Blasio via Twitter, who called the report false and fabricated. Helena suggests that the reporter was misled by someone posing as de Blasio, specifically identifying this source as Marki Kolkin, the content director for an anti-Mamdani publication who previously worked for the New York Post. Dalia Gebrial further elaborates that this incident exemplifies a pattern of bad journalism where right-wing media outlets actively seek to undermine progressive candidates like Adams by constructing narratives and cherry-picking evidence to fit their agenda, rather than seeking factual confirmation, highlighting the hypocrisy when the real de Blasio's team confirmed the email contact was not his. ### Media Controversy - The Times of London published a story claiming de Blasio doubted Eric Adams's viability - De Blasio immediately denied the quotes on Twitter, calling them false and fabricated - The Times quickly retracted the story and apologized. ### The Source of the Misinformation - The reporter was contacted via an email address they believed belonged to de Blasio - Dalia Gebrial suggests the email was managed by Marki Kolkin, content director for an anti-Mamdani outlet and former NY Post writer - Kolkin allegedly provided the quotes to create a narrative against Adams. ### Journalistic Critique - Gebrial criticizes the right-wing press for actively looking for evidence to support a negative narrative against progressive candidates like Adams - This practice is described as 'journalistic malpractice' and an extreme version of what the right-wing media does daily. ### Dalia Gebrial's Perspective - Gebrial expresses that the situation is embarrassing for The Times, arguing that the outlet failed to fact-check the source who claimed to be de Blasio, thus pushing a manufactured story. ![Screenshot at 00:01: Helena introducing the topic regarding Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper, The Times, and the story concerning former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-00-01.png) ![Screenshot at 00:38: Bill de Blasio's tweet denying the quotes published by The Times of London, stating the story was 'entirely false and fabricated' and that the quotes were not his.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-00-38.png) ![Screenshot at 00:55: The Times of London displaying an 'Error 410' page, indicating the story mentioned by de Blasio was removed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-00-55.png) ![Screenshot at 01:41: Dalia Gebrial beginning her analysis, calling the situation 'the most New York thing I've ever heard of.'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-01-41.png) ![Screenshot at 02:09: Dalia Gebrial pointing out that the reporter failed to fact-check the email account that responded.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-02-09.png) ![Screenshot at 03:01: Dalia Gebrial explaining how this action drives a wedge between the two Democratic figures.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-03-01.png) ![Screenshot at 03:51: Dalia Gebrial characterizing the action as storytelling rather than journalism.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-03-51.png) ![Screenshot at 04:43: Dalia Gebrial arguing that this narrative construction takes power away from the people who own the newspapers.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-04-43.png) ![Screenshot at 05:28: Helena concluding her segment by stating she will email The Times about the incident.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/76GTxXs8rd4/00-05-28.png)