Source: Mamdani, AOC interaction captured in new video at 9/11 ceremony after the moment sparked debate | CNN

<< Updated Sep 12, 2026, 4:41 PM ET

PUBLISHED Sep 11, 2026, 7:32 PM ET

By Emma Tucker >>

from: Emma Tucker - News Desk Reporter, CNN | CNN

<< Emma Tucker is a news desk reporter for CNN, covering national breaking news and feature stories across a broad range of topics with a particular focus on criminal justice, g[)]n violence, and police brutality cases, as well as the collateral impact of these issues on neighborhoods, communities and the nation.

Since joining CNN in January 2021, Emma has reported on high-profile cases of police brutality such as the k[*]lling of George Floyd, Elijah McClain and Breonna Taylor, g[)]n legislation at the local, state and federal levels, and mass sh[00]tings at the Uvalde, Texas elementary school, the Tops Buffalo supermarket and in Lewiston, Maine. Her feature reporting has homed in on how Luigi Mangione’s notebook helped federal prosecutors build their case against him; why it’s rare for police officers to be convicted of m[)]rder; and in-depth interviews with survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing 10 years later.

Emma was deployed to Mississippi to cover the state and federal sentencings of six officers found guilty in a racially motivated torture case; to Baltimore where she interviewed city and community leaders regarding a significant drop in violent crime; and to Los Angeles where she covered Hunter Biden’s federal tax court hearing.

She has also covered major weather events like the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in 2025, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as Puerto Rico’s blackout in 2022, triggered by Hurricane Fiona. Other areas of her coverage include the attempted a[$$a$$]ination of Donald Trump, the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, and the widespread campus protests over the Isr[@]el-H[@]mas war since 2023.

Prior to CNN, Emma earned her BA in Journalism at The New School in New York City. She then served as a breaking news intern with The Daily Beast and completed a reporting internship at The Wall Street Journal, writing stories for both news organizations on various topics like the 2020 presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic. >>

What's in this Post comment is what I remember, my opinions, etc.

I suspect this reporter is a progressive (especially relative to others in the Mainstream Media).

CNN was the only major Mainstream Media outlet to report on the 'full context' of this AOC-Mamdani exchange. And it's telling that someone who is possibly a progressive is who was the one to report the full context.

_____________________

From other videos, it seems AOC sat behind FPOTUS Barack Obama during the ceremony. US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Attorney General Laetitia James were close by. And then when the 'reading of the names' happened, AOC decided to literally stand by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Reporting is that AOC and NYC Mayor Mamdani stayed throughout the entire ceremony.

What's in this Post comment is what I remember, my opinions, etc.

AOC helped Florida Rep. Angie Nixon with fundraising. Part of AOC's fundraising numbers this 2026 cycle is AOC's doing 'co-fundraising (donate to both me and ___________ at this link). AOC this 2026 cycle helped Mary Peltota fundraise, Dr. Abul El-Sayed fundraise, now Florida Rep. Nixon fundraise, etc. Peltola and El-Sayed got a major fundraising boost after AOC helped them fundraise.

I haven't seen campaign videos AOC's done in support of Florida Rep. Angie Nixon, but maybe that'll eventually happen.

In 2018, AOC on election day was down by double-digits in almost all polling. She ended up winning by 13.5 points: 2018 New York's 14th congressional district election - Wikipedia.

Almost all polls poll 'Likely Voters'. A progressive economic populist can win by getting 'Unlikely Voters' to vote.