As your proud neighborhood clearinghouse for leftie literary sentiment, most of us here at the Hub were elated by Zohran Mamdani’s big win. But we all drew different inspiration from the new Mayor. Mamdani’s triumph represents, at once, an energy shift, a note of political hope, and an occasion for good pizza with good friends.

Here’s what made us specifically happy about Mayor Z’s big win.

Calvin Kasulke is here for the moral fiber. He particularly appreciates how Mamdani “has been great and unapologetic and unwavering on trans stuff, specifically since day one.”

For Jonny Diamond, Mayor Z has inspired some much-needed inter-generational connection. “Finding out that my 14 year old follows Zohran Mamdani on IG and the subsequent conversation—to which he did not roll his eyes—about his family’s long history of socialist/union politics” made for a beautiful moment at Casa Diamond this week.

James Folta loves a lot of things about the mayor’s win—the collective spirit, this goofy New York Post cover, the hope in the air. But he has special praise for the local news sources that reported on this race. The City and Hell Gate have been excellent, entertaining chroniclers of a heated election. And the latter’s election night livestream made return-watching extra fun.

Especially, James adds, when combined with some homemade pizzas. (“Shout out to my best chef friend Matt and the $10K dough.”)

Dan Sheehan loves the timing of this win. Something cosmically suitable about Mayor Z’s ascendance occurring on the same day some mourned the Chief Architect of the War on Terror.

And Drew Broussard just loves the vibes. “How lovely to wake up and feel happy again, to feel excited about the possibilities of the future, and to see people finally(?!) waking up to the idea that we can vote for things instead of just picking a lesser-of-two-evils situation.”

I, Brittany Allen, am a long list of echoes over here. But in the interest of diversity, here’s an off-topic endorsement. A new season of one of my favorite literary podcasts is on the horizon, thanks to the find minds at The Nation and Bookforum.

Reading Writers, hosted by the chic-est public intellectuals, Charlotte Shane and Jo Livingstone, is “laser-focused on reading rather than press cycles.” It’s a great show for the close reading nerd in your life who loves the classics as much as the contemporary landscape.

The latest episode features novelist Rumaan Alam weighing in on the glory days of Vanity Fair.

Wishing you a weekend of big dreams, embarrassing hope, and local victories.