Reporters Roast Mayor Mamdani in Musical Parody at Inner Circle Dinner

Journalists skewer City Hall with song, dance, and one-liners at annual political gala event.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:49am

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Journalists covering New York City politics took the stage at the annual Inner Circle dinner and turned the event into a musical-style roast of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his administration. The show featured parody songs, exaggerated portrayals of political figures, and one-liners targeting the mayor and City Hall, drawing laughs from the audience of politicians, media figures, and other insiders.

Why it matters

The Inner Circle dinner is a long-running tradition that allows journalists who cover city politics to poke fun at the political elite in a comedic, musical format. The event is seen as a way for the media to hold leaders accountable through humor and satire, similar to the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The details

Reporters dressed up as Mayor Mamdani, his staff, and other city officials, delivering exaggerated performances and pointed jabs. One number called 'Mamdani Math' set to the tune of 'Pink Pony Club' drew big laughs. Other skits targeted issues like transit and housing, referencing the mayor's policy proposals. The show featured portrayals of former Mayor Eric Adams, ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, and other political figures.

  • The Inner Circle dinner took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The event has been an annual tradition for decades.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who was the primary target of the journalists' musical roast.

Jeff Coltin

Editor-in-chief of City & State, who portrayed Mayor Mamdani in the show by wearing an apron with no shirt underneath, a nod to a past Mamdani music video appearance.

Dean Fuleihan

A real-life member of Mayor Mamdani's administration, who was portrayed by a reporter in the show as the 'first deputy major mayor'.

Dora Pekec

A fictional character portrayed by a reporter as a senior spokesperson for the mayor, even though she is only 26 years old.

Eric Adams

The former mayor of New York City, who was also parodied in the show.

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What they’re saying

“Good evening comrade, I'm Dean Fuleihan”

— Reporter, Introducing Jeff Coltin as Mayor Mamdani

“I'm first deputy major mayor — it's almost the same job I had, you know, with Bill de Blasio. But why did I come back? Did you ever hear of Hot girls for Zara? Besides, I'm the experienced hand behind all of these wacky doodle socialists in City Hall.”

— Reporter, Portraying Dean Fuleihan

“I'm Dora Pekec, a senior spokeswoman for the mayor... even though I'm only 26.”

— Reporter, Portraying a member of Mayor Mamdani's communications team

What’s next

The Inner Circle dinner is an annual event, so the journalists and political figures involved will likely continue their musical roast tradition next year.

The takeaway

The Inner Circle dinner allows the media to hold political leaders accountable through satirical, comedic performances that poke fun at the city's political elite. This long-standing tradition reflects the important role journalists play in providing oversight and commentary on those in power.