The People's Republic of Astoria

When Asad Dandia was just 19 years old, he was spied on by undercover agents of the NYPD. By 2025, he’s an advisor to Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. And in Astoria, Queens, a grassroots movement is having its coming out party. This is the serie

What does it take to win an election? And how much would you be willing to give? In June of 2025, Tim found out. This is the story of an election — told from the inside.

This is the story of Zohran Mamdani’s 2020 State Assembly run. But it’s really about the way that people come together — when everything around them is falling apart.

What does it mean to lose an election by 55 votes? Tiffany Caban lost a District Attorney race in 2019. But in that loss, she helped build a movement that would transform New York City.

In Bay Ridge, 26-year-old Zohran Mamdani is losing an election. In Astoria, they’re fighting off one of the most powerful companies on planet earth. Two campaigns — one victory, one defeat.