Ms Rachel Joins Mamdani's Inauguration Team, Launches Book Drive for Newborns
Children's content creator Ms Rachel is set to play a prominent role in New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration, pushing an ambitious new initiative to provide every newborn in the city with a free book.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, announced her support for Mamdani’s proposed "Baby Baskets" plan, a policy he promoted during his mayoral campaign that aims to give new parents essential postnatal supplies. The baskets are expected to include diapers, baby wipes, nipple cream, and, with Ms Rachel’s involvement, a donated children’s book for every newborn in New York City.
Accurso compared her envisioned book donations to the work of country singer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has donated over 270 million books to children around the world. “I hope the books would be part of the mayor-elect's proposed 'Baby Baskets',” she said.
Mamdani, a Queens-based politician, is due to be sworn in shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026. In keeping with tradition, the inauguration ceremony will occur in New York’s Times Square moments after the iconic ball drop atop One Times Square. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Attorney General Letitia James are slated to administer his oath of office.
On Friday, Mamdani revealed that Ms Rachel would also serve on his inaugural committee, placing her in a high-profile role as the city transitions to his administration. Other members of the committee include Aziz Isham, the executive director of the Museum of the Moving Image; political director of Jewish Voice for Peace; and Sami Zaman, owner of Sami's Kebab House in Astoria, where Mamdani resided before his election.
A longtime New York City resident, Ms Rachel has amassed a wide following through her educational YouTube content for children, totaling more than 18 million subscribers. Known for her engaging songs and developmentally focused videos, she has increasingly used her platform to advocate for children’s rights and social causes.
She has spoken out about issues affecting children in Gaza and Sudan and has worked with organizations including the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund and the World Food Programme. Her activism has drawn both praise and criticism.
This year, she was named to Glamour’s Women of the Year list. She was also controversially included in Stop Antisemitism’s “Antisemite of the Year” competition, despite having no documented history of antisemitic remarks. Responding to the listing, she stated, “People hate me because I see every child as I see my own children.”
Ms Rachel also made headlines earlier this year for defending Mamdani from racist and Islamophobic attacks online. In an Instagram post from October, she wrote, “Your Anti-Muslim hate and racism are the problem, not our Muslim friends and neighbours.”
Mamdani’s Baby Baskets initiative aims to ease the financial burden on new parents while connecting families to vital early-childhood resources. Ms Rachel’s addition of a book donation aligns with her longstanding commitment to early literacy and childhood development.
With the inauguration just days away, Mamdani’s collaboration with Ms Rachel signals a potentially transformative start to his administration, focused on inclusivity, family support, and community-driven policy.