Minneapolis Mayor Talks Bagels With NYC Counterpart, Sparking Jokes From 'The Daily Show'

Jordan Klepper poked fun at Jacob Frey for discussing bagels with Zohran Mamdani, saying "There might be more important things going on."

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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During an appearance on "The Daily Show," Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey revealed that he and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani discussed bagels and the borough of Queens during their recent meeting. This prompted host Jordan Klepper to jokingly chide Frey, saying "There might be more important things going on right now, Mayor!"

Why it matters

The lighthearted exchange highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges facing city leaders, who must balance addressing serious issues like immigration enforcement while also maintaining positive relationships and finding common ground with their counterparts across the country.

The details

Frey recounted the story of his meeting with Mamdani, where the two discussed Mamdani's family roots in Fresh Meadows, Queens, as well as the quality of bagels in their respective cities. Klepper poked fun at Frey, questioning whether discussing bagels was the best use of the mayors' time given the more pressing issues they face.

  • Frey and Mamdani met earlier this week.
  • Frey appeared on "The Daily Show" on Thursday night.

The players

Jacob Frey

The mayor of Minneapolis who met with his New York City counterpart this week.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who met with Frey and discussed topics including bagels and the borough of Queens.

Jordan Klepper

The host of "The Daily Show" who joked with Frey about the mayors' discussion of bagels.

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What they’re saying

“Well first, we talked about Queens. It's where most of my family is from, from Fresh Meadows! We talked about bagels.”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis (The Daily Show)

“You talked about that, and bagels? There might be more important things going on right now, Mayor! I mean, that's great, but...”

— Jordan Klepper, Host, *The Daily Show* (The Daily Show)

What’s next

Frey and Mamdani are expected to continue their discussions on issues facing their cities, including the impact of ICE enforcement, in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

While the mayors' discussion of bagels may have seemed lighthearted, it underscores the need for city leaders to balance addressing serious challenges with finding common ground and maintaining positive relationships, even across partisan lines.