Dov Hikind is an American politician, activist, and radio talk show host in the state of New York. Hikind served as a Democratic New York State Assemblyman representing Brooklyn's Assembly district 48 for 35 years – from January 1983 until December 2018. Hikind endorsed Michael Bloomberg the first two times he ran for mayor of New York City, then switched his endorsement to the challenger Bill Thompson in the 2009 election. During his decades as a Democrat, Hikind had broken ranks with his party in endorsements, most notably in his endorsement of Republican gubernatorial candidates George Pataki in 1994 and Lee Zeldin in 2022; Republican presidential nominees George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, John McCain in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012, and Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020; and Republican Inna Vernikov for New York City Council.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a podcast from wor Now more of the
wr Saturday Morning Show and Larry Mante Welcome Back. Doe
Hiken is a former New York assemblyman and founder of
the organization Americans Against Anti Semitism, and he has a
dire warning about the future of New York if zorin
(00:21):
Mam Donni becomes mayor. I'm so glad, Dove that you
said yes when we asked you to come on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thank you, sir, It's my pleasure to be with you.
This is an important moment, not just for New York,
but as you pointed out, the country. The nation is
watching what happens in New York and one thing we
must defeat Momdannie. There is no question about it. We
need to take him very seriously. He's smart. In fact,
(00:48):
he's more than smart. You know. Just yesterday he talked
about additional funds to fight anti Semitism. Well, the best
way to fight anti Semitism is to have him disappear.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
That's true. I want to play something for you. Eric
Adams announced yesterday that he was officially running and then
he was everywhere, including the Don Lemon podcast. And here's
what I wanted to play for you. Do you think
he's an anti Semit?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, I do. I think some of the comments. You know,
you look at some of his rap lyrics where he's
talked about, you know, his embracing of Hamas. That says
a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So if his rap lyrics embrace Hamas and he's been
an anti Semite, they were talking about being an anti
Semite now for over a decade. That goes way back.
But can Eric Adams beat him? Who is who can
take him on? Right now?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, I, first of all, I would urge everyone to
take a step back. And I know this is very serious,
but we need to all watch carefully what happens. I
would say by September first, you know, just about Labor Day.
I'm you know, I am supporting Curtis Sliwa, but I
think all of us need to look and say, okay,
(02:02):
what on Labor Day? What's the story? Look, Clomo's running.
I wish there was only one single candidate of the
three that are running right now. I know there are
a bunch of others, but the three main candidates, we
need one. But that's not happening. Cloma is running, Adams
is running, and of course Curtis. So wait, let's wait
(02:23):
to Labor Day. Labor Day, we see what the situation is.
Everybody has a chance to work for two months. Let's
see what you can do. We'll look at the polls.
We'll watch the polls. At the end of the day.
Everyone has to get off their high horse and say
we need to do what's best for the people of
the City of New York, all people in the City
(02:46):
of New York and support one single person. So I'm
hoping that will happen. I'm not a great fan former governor.
I'm not crazy about Adams. Okay, you know the last
four years as mayor, I'm not quite sure what he did. Okay,
he established a task force to fight anti seminism. You
(03:08):
know when when was that? That's the last four years?
Two freaking weeks ago. Where have you been, Like, why
didn't you do it a year ago? Three years ago?
The numbers were sky rocketing, right, Okay, So I'm ready
to support him, Cuomo, you name it. I'll be on
the same page. Let's give everyone a chance. You are
absolutely correct, Larry, he Mamdani can be beaten.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, I think he can too. At the end, I
think he can too. I'm more worried about the vote
being split between everyone else. But I also think the
more that comes out about him, the more he's going
to start to slide a little bit in the polls.
I do think he's an absolute danger to the society.
But I'll tell you something, and I found this out
(03:52):
personally because you may have heard. I posted something on
social media and I was attacked by the Mom people.
I mean, they are legion on social media, and they
are energized and they're excited. We need that same energy,
even if it's anti Mom Donnie. We need that same
energy on the other side. And I'm not sure it's
(04:13):
there right now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You're absolutely correct, it's not there. So that's what I'm saying.
Let's give credit to the other side. We talking so
much and we need to support this one or that one.
First of all, let's make sure that your neighbor, your friends,
your family, that every single person is registered to vote
in November. If you own a home in New York,
(04:38):
if Mam Donnie gets elected the day after, your house
is going to be worth twenty percent less. You won't
even be able to sell your your house if you
want to get out of New York. He Mamdanni is
a catastrophe for New York, no question about it. Let's
talk about everyone out there.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Let's talk about something really important right here, because I
think we at this point can't be belabored and not.
He's promising all these things for free, and he says
he's going to raise the income tax on the ridge
and raise the corporate tax that has to come out
of the state, and then they have to agree to
send money to New York City. You've been in the Assembly.
(05:15):
You're the best person to ask on this. You've been
in the Assembly for thirty six years. Can that happen?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I would hope not. But the Assembly and State Senate
that exists in twenty twenty five is quite different from
the one I left a couple of years ago. It
is very much to the left, a lot of radicals there.
You know, nothing is impossible. It's a different world up
in Albany. When I left Albany, the Republicans controlled the
(05:42):
State Senate and they made sure that all the crazy
stuff that the Assembly was doing and passing never got
anywhere because they stopped it. So let's not the best
thing we can do is to make sure Mamdani is
not the mayor of New York. And we can do
it if we're smart, if every single person instead of
(06:05):
just talking and getting excited, do something concrete, like make
sure everybody's resister to vote, make sure let's work continuously.
We have to make sure people come out to vote
in November. I mean that the numbers will be dramatic.
We need seventy eighty percent of the people coming out
to vote. If the people come out to vote, the people,
(06:27):
well people in New York, Mamdani will lose and it
will not be close. So there's a lot of work
to be done. Yeah, that's really hoping.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
That's really well said. It is really well said because
because he has an energized base and the other people
have to be just as energized. And you're right, it
is not out there right now. I think it's really fascinating.
And you were great to talk to right now because
you switch parties, so you saw this coming a while ago.
Tell people why you switch parties.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, I switch parties because I saw the Democratic Party
not being the party of my parents, of every one
of my family in the past. It is a radicalized party.
I mean, look right now, you and people like Jerry Nagler,
a Jew, a guy who went to Yeshiva by the Way,
parochial school, who endorsed, Ma'm donnie, for God's sake us
(07:22):
people like Schumer the protector of the Jewish people. That's
what he says all of his life. He protects the
Jewish people, an absolute fraud. He sending beautiful messages Tom,
I'm Donnie, congratulating him. So the enemy is also within.
But you know what, Larry, It's okay, we're gonna do fine.
We're going to win if we're united on some level
(07:45):
and create that enthusiasm, you know what, you know what.
I think the best example I can give Dencin's Juliani
in the nineteen nineties when New York was in trouble,
people were afraid of you know, whether there's a few
you in New York, and people came out to vote.
I remember I was a Democrat. I supported Juliani. And
(08:07):
if people were coming out, the post closed at nine o'clock,
there were still lines around the lot in apart.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, that's what we need right now. Dove, You've been great,
uh And that's all great advice, and I hope we
can do that. Come back, let's talk about it again.
Former Assemblyman Dove Hiken, the founder of Americans Against Anti Semitism.
This has been a podcast from wor
This is a podcast from wor Now more of the
wr Saturday Morning Show and Larry Mante Welcome Back. Doe
Hiken is a former New York assemblyman and founder of
the organization Americans Against Anti Semitism, and he has a
dire warning about the future of New York if zorin
(00:21):
Mam Donni becomes mayor. I'm so glad, Dove that you
said yes when we asked you to come on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thank you, sir, It's my pleasure to be with you.
This is an important moment, not just for New York,
but as you pointed out, the country. The nation is
watching what happens in New York and one thing we
must defeat Momdannie. There is no question about it. We
need to take him very seriously. He's smart. In fact,
(00:48):
he's more than smart. You know. Just yesterday he talked
about additional funds to fight anti Semitism. Well, the best
way to fight anti Semitism is to have him disappear.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
That's true. I want to play something for you. Eric
Adams announced yesterday that he was officially running and then
he was everywhere, including the Don Lemon podcast. And here's
what I wanted to play for you. Do you think
he's an anti Semit?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yes, I do. I think some of the comments. You know,
you look at some of his rap lyrics where he's
talked about, you know, his embracing of Hamas. That says
a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So if his rap lyrics embrace Hamas and he's been
an anti Semite, they were talking about being an anti
Semite now for over a decade. That goes way back.
But can Eric Adams beat him? Who is who can
take him on? Right now?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, I, first of all, I would urge everyone to
take a step back. And I know this is very serious,
but we need to all watch carefully what happens. I
would say by September first, you know, just about Labor Day.
I'm you know, I am supporting Curtis Sliwa, but I
think all of us need to look and say, okay,
(02:02):
what on Labor Day? What's the story? Look, Clomo's running.
I wish there was only one single candidate of the
three that are running right now. I know there are
a bunch of others, but the three main candidates, we
need one. But that's not happening. Cloma is running, Adams
is running, and of course Curtis. So wait, let's wait
(02:23):
to Labor Day. Labor Day, we see what the situation is.
Everybody has a chance to work for two months. Let's
see what you can do. We'll look at the polls.
We'll watch the polls. At the end of the day.
Everyone has to get off their high horse and say
we need to do what's best for the people of
the City of New York, all people in the City
(02:46):
of New York and support one single person. So I'm
hoping that will happen. I'm not a great fan former governor.
I'm not crazy about Adams. Okay, you know the last
four years as mayor, I'm not quite sure what he did. Okay,
he established a task force to fight anti seminism. You
(03:08):
know when when was that? That's the last four years?
Two freaking weeks ago. Where have you been, Like, why
didn't you do it a year ago? Three years ago?
The numbers were sky rocketing, right, Okay, So I'm ready
to support him, Cuomo, you name it. I'll be on
the same page. Let's give everyone a chance. You are
absolutely correct, Larry, he Mamdani can be beaten.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, I think he can too. At the end, I
think he can too. I'm more worried about the vote
being split between everyone else. But I also think the
more that comes out about him, the more he's going
to start to slide a little bit in the polls.
I do think he's an absolute danger to the society.
But I'll tell you something, and I found this out
(03:52):
personally because you may have heard. I posted something on
social media and I was attacked by the Mom people.
I mean, they are legion on social media, and they
are energized and they're excited. We need that same energy,
even if it's anti Mom Donnie. We need that same
energy on the other side. And I'm not sure it's
(04:13):
there right now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You're absolutely correct, it's not there. So that's what I'm saying.
Let's give credit to the other side. We talking so
much and we need to support this one or that one.
First of all, let's make sure that your neighbor, your friends,
your family, that every single person is registered to vote
in November. If you own a home in New York,
(04:38):
if Mam Donnie gets elected the day after, your house
is going to be worth twenty percent less. You won't
even be able to sell your your house if you
want to get out of New York. He Mamdanni is
a catastrophe for New York, no question about it. Let's
talk about everyone out there.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Let's talk about something really important right here, because I
think we at this point can't be belabored and not.
He's promising all these things for free, and he says
he's going to raise the income tax on the ridge
and raise the corporate tax that has to come out
of the state, and then they have to agree to
send money to New York City. You've been in the Assembly.
(05:15):
You're the best person to ask on this. You've been
in the Assembly for thirty six years. Can that happen?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I would hope not. But the Assembly and State Senate
that exists in twenty twenty five is quite different from
the one I left a couple of years ago. It
is very much to the left, a lot of radicals there.
You know, nothing is impossible. It's a different world up
in Albany. When I left Albany, the Republicans controlled the
(05:42):
State Senate and they made sure that all the crazy
stuff that the Assembly was doing and passing never got
anywhere because they stopped it. So let's not the best
thing we can do is to make sure Mamdani is
not the mayor of New York. And we can do
it if we're smart, if every single person instead of
(06:05):
just talking and getting excited, do something concrete, like make
sure everybody's resister to vote, make sure let's work continuously.
We have to make sure people come out to vote
in November. I mean that the numbers will be dramatic.
We need seventy eighty percent of the people coming out
to vote. If the people come out to vote, the people,
(06:27):
well people in New York, Mamdani will lose and it
will not be close. So there's a lot of work
to be done. Yeah, that's really hoping.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
That's really well said. It is really well said because
because he has an energized base and the other people
have to be just as energized. And you're right, it
is not out there right now. I think it's really fascinating.
And you were great to talk to right now because
you switch parties, so you saw this coming a while ago.
Tell people why you switch parties.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, I switch parties because I saw the Democratic Party
not being the party of my parents, of every one
of my family in the past. It is a radicalized party.
I mean, look right now, you and people like Jerry Nagler,
a Jew, a guy who went to Yeshiva by the Way,
parochial school, who endorsed, Ma'm donnie, for God's sake us
(07:22):
people like Schumer the protector of the Jewish people. That's
what he says all of his life. He protects the
Jewish people, an absolute fraud. He sending beautiful messages Tom,
I'm Donnie, congratulating him. So the enemy is also within.
But you know what, Larry, It's okay, we're gonna do fine.
We're going to win if we're united on some level
(07:45):
and create that enthusiasm, you know what, you know what.
I think the best example I can give Dencin's Juliani
in the nineteen nineties when New York was in trouble,
people were afraid of you know, whether there's a few
you in New York, and people came out to vote.
I remember I was a Democrat. I supported Juliani. And
(08:07):
if people were coming out, the post closed at nine o'clock,
there were still lines around the lot in apart.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, that's what we need right now. Dove, You've been great,
uh And that's all great advice, and I hope we
can do that. Come back, let's talk about it again.
Former Assemblyman Dove Hiken, the founder of Americans Against Anti Semitism.
This has been a podcast from wor
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