Indy Audio

With negotiations on New York State's annual $250 billion budget in the final home stretch, we spoke with Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a socialist from Brooklyn. Topics discussed included the fight to get Gov. Kathy Hochul to agree to tax hikes for the rich, how the state will make up for federal cuts to Medicaid funding and the governor's push to roll back historic climate mandates that were passed in 2019. Former Andrew Cuomo staffer and urban planner Lindsey Boylan set in motion the events that led to her boss's resignation as governor in 2021 when she became the first of 13 women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment. In last year's mayoral race, Boylan continued to speak out against Cuomo while many Democrats rallied to his side thinking he was certain to be the next mayor. Now, she is running for an open City Council seat on Manhattan's West Side in a special election that will be held on April 28. As the weather gets nicer, New Yorkers are looking for things to do outside of their apartments that have doubled as caves these past couple of months. For our final segment, Ernasto Gomez and Eli Smith of Jalopy Theater joined us live in the studio to talk about the The 9th Annual Brooklyn Jug & String Band Rendezvous that is being held this Friday and Saturday at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn. They also played a couple of their favorite jug and string songs. The two-day festival will include eight jug and string bands taking a deep dive into 20th-century North American jug and string band music.

With negotiations on New York State's annual $250 billion budget in the final home stretch, we spoke with Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a socialist from Brooklyn. Topics discussed included the fight to get Gov. Kathy Hochul to agree to tax hikes for the rich, how the state will make up for federal cuts to Medicaid funding and the governor's push to roll back historic climate mandates that were passed in 2019.

Former Andrew Cuomo staffer and urban planner Lindsey Boylan set in motion the events that led to her boss's resignation as governor in 2021 when she became the first of 13 women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment. In last year's mayoral race, Boylan continued to speak out against Cuomo while many Democrats rallied to his side thinking he was certain to be the next mayor. Now, she is running for an open City Council seat on Manhattan's West Side in a special election that will be held on April 28.

As the weather gets nicer, New Yorkers are looking for things to do outside of their apartments that have doubled as caves these past couple of months. For our final segment, Ernasto Gomez and Eli Smith of Jalopy Theater joined us live in the studio to talk about the The 9th Annual Brooklyn Jug & String Band Rendezvous that is being held this Friday and Saturday at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn. They also played a couple of their favorite jug and string songs. The two-day festival will include eight jug and string bands taking a deep dive into 20th-century North American jug and string band music.

On this episode of the Indypendent News Hour, we spoke with three women who are fighting abusers and for their own empowerment. In our first segment, we spoke to Addison Turek, a freshman at Barnard College, and one of the organizers protesting the college's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In our second segment we spoke to Ximena Bustamente, founder of the Undocumented Women's Fund which held the 10th annual NYC Women's Strike Fest on Sunday in Bushwick's Maria Hernandez Park. In our final segment, we spoke to author, activist, playwright and radical feminist Karen Malpede on her upcoming Indypendent article, “Reclaiming Mothers as an Antidote to the Epstein Class".

In our first segment, we speak to Addison Turek, a freshman at Barnard College, and one of the organizers protesting the college's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

In our second segment we speak to Ximena Bustamente, founder of the Undocumented Women's Fund which held the 10th annual NYC Women's Strike Fest on Sunday in Bushwick's Maria Hernandez Park. We listen to some snippets of the music played at the event and learn about why this programming is a powerful place for women and the communities held together by women to celebrate each other in this way.

In our final segment, we speak to author, activist, playwright and radical feminist Karen Malpede on her upcoming Indypendent article, “Reclaiming Mothers as an Antidote to the Epstein Class". We discuss the desire of the elite to use women's wombs as the vessels to birth a ‘superior' race, on mothers who were denied their motherhood and what it means to reclaim mothers in our societies and within our own hearts and communities.

In our first segment, Nancy Hoch joins us in studio to inspire listeners on how we can protect our neighbours and prepare for ICE.  Hoch talks about the power of finding community in a time of rising authoritarianism, some of the tactics activists have innovated to thwart ICE and keep immigrants safe and how she took the lead in organizing an ICE resistance mutual aid group in her own "Little Caribbean" neighborhood in Brooklyn. To see her full article, go to indypendent.org/issue/301. In our second segment, we are joined by Danny Pearlstein of the Rider's Alliance, a member-led organization of New York City bus and subway riders that has been organizing for over a decade for a better and more just mass transit system. Topics discussed include expanding eligibility for the city's Fair Fares program that provides free and discounted bus fares for lower-income New Yorkers and the future of the Fordham Road Bus Corridor and concerns that the mayor was backing off his campaign trail commitment to speed up bus traffic in that area. In our final segment, WBAI listeners share their thoughts on the war on Iran. 

Nancy Hoch wrote the cover article — NYC Prepares for ICE: Neighborhood-Based Mutual Aid Groups Are Mobilizing Against Trump's Immigration Goons — for this month's print edition of The Indypendent. In this interview, Hoch talks about the power of finding community in a time of rising authoritarianism, some of the tactics activists have innovated to thwart ICE and keep immigrants safe and how she took the lead in organizing an ICE resistance mutual aid group in her own "Little Caribbean" neighborhood in Brooklyn. To see her full article, go to indypendent.org/issue/301

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made fast and free buses one of the core promises of his campaign platform. For this week's Indypendent News Hour, we spoke with Danny Pearlstein of the Rider's Alliance, a member-led organization of New York City bus and subway riders that has been organizing for over a decade for a better and more just mass transit system. Topics discussed include expanding eligibility for the city's Fair Fares program that provides free and discounted bus fares for lower-income New Yorkers and the future of the Fordham Road Bus Corridor and concerns that the mayor was backing off his campaign trail commitment to speed up bus traffic in that area.

We asked WBAI listeners for their thoughts on the War on Iran as it enters its fourth day. They didn't disappoint.

In this episode, we see why it will be benefit the collective to tax the rich. In the first segment, we zoom into Albany where thousands of New Yorkers will lobby their representatives to tax the rich. We speak to Divya Sundaram of Our Time for an Affordable New York on what they hope to achieve. In our second segment, we speak to Indy contributors, Lyna Bentahar and John Morris about their recent articles on the pathologies shared by many members of the super-rich and why they are so prone to freaking out about small increases in their taxes that would do a vast amount of good for the rest of society. In our third segment, we speak to Andy Tobias, an investor, best-selling author and member of Patriotic Millionaires, a network of high-wealth individuals that advocates for higher taxes on people like themselves. Tobias told The Indypendent News Hour that multi-millionaires and billionaires can easily afford to pay higher taxes nationally and in the State of New York to help fund high quality essential public services and reduce the runaway economic inequality that is destabilizing the U.S. political system. Tune into an insightful episode and pick up the latest Indy issue for more on what we discussed here.

Thousands of New Yorkers will converge on the State Capitol in Albany on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to support increasing taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and the state's largest corporations. We kicked of the Tax the Rich edition of The Indypendent News Hour by speaking with Divya Sundaram of Our Time for an Affordable New York, one of the groups playing a key role in organizing Wednesday's lobbying day in Albany.

For Part 2 of our Tax the Rich edition of The Indypendent News Hour, we spoke with Indy contributing writers Lyna Bentahar and John Morris about their recent articles on the pathologies shared by many members of the super-rich and why they are so prone to freaking out about small increases in their taxes that would do a vast amount of good for the rest of society.

Andy Tobias is an investor, best-selling author and member of Patriotic Millionaires, a network of high-wealth individuals that advocates for higher taxes on people like themselves. Tobias told The Indypendent News Hour that multi-millionaires and billionaires can easily afford to pay higher taxes nationally and in the State of New York to help fund high quality essential public services and reduce the runaway economic inequality that is destabilizing the U.S. political system.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani released his first executive budget. The release of the mayor's executive budget kicks off months of City Council hearings, protests and rallies by a wide array of community stakeholders and negotiations between the mayor and city council that will culminate in June with a final budget agreement. We spoke with Peter Sterne, an editor at City & State about what's in the mayor's proposed budget and the political battles that lie ahead. The beloved Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away. He was a democratic socialist who ran for president in 1988, who worked closely with Martin Luther King in his early 20's. We sit with African American Literature Professor and longtime Indy columnist, Dr. Nicholas Powers to reflect on the legacy of Jesse Jackson, and how we can turn to his wisdom to keep hope alive, as we continue to fight the same battles today.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani released his first executive budget. The release of the mayor's executive budget kicks off months of City Council hearings, protests and rallies by a wide array of community stakeholders and negotiations between the mayor and city council that will culminate in June with a final budget agreement. We spoke with Peter Sterne, an editor at City & State about what's in the mayor's proposed budget and the political battles that lie ahead.

The beloved Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away. He was a democratic socialist who ran for president in 1988, who worked closely with Martin Luther King in his early 20's. We sit with African American Literature Professor and longtime Indy columnist, Dr. Nicholas Powers to reflect on the legacy of Jesse Jackson, and how we can turn to his wisdom to keep hope alive, as we continue to fight the same battles today.

On this week's Indypendent News Hour, we've got some updates on big breakthroughs taking place at the Nurse's Strike. On this episode we journey uptown for some updates on art and politics. We've curated some exciting cultural programming for you in the February events calendar of the Indy and if you're interested in immersing yourself in the rich cultural programming the city has to offer, head over to the Maysles Documentary Centre in Harlem. For Black History Month, they have a series of curated documentaries on Black Self-Fashioning which the highlight the power of fashion to serve as a movement to celebrate Black culture, beauty and joy. We'll take you through some of them during the show. We sit down with Darializa Alvira Chevalier a longtime community organizer and democratic socialist who is mounting an energetic challenge against the incumbent uptown congressman Adriano Espaillat. Tune in for an illuminating discussion that sheds light on how this is more than just a local election, and a much larger movement she believes she's fighting for.

The Nurse's Strike is still going strong and we've got some updates on big breakthroughs taking place. In other news, if you're interested in immersing yourself in the rich cultural programming the city has to offer, head over to the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem. For Black History Month, they have a series of curated documentaries on Black Self-Fashioning which the highlight the power of fashion to serve as a movement to celebrate Black culture, beauty and joy.

We sit down with Darializa Avila Chevalier, a longtime community organizer and democratic socialist who is mounting an energetic challenge against the incumbent uptown congressman Adriano Espaillat. She talks about the power of organizing in building the future we want: fighting for affordability and humanity and why she believes this is the moment to ride the waves of hope we have fought long and hard for. Tune in for an illuminating discussion that sheds light on how this is more than just a local election, and a much larger movement.

In our first segment, we returned with updates on the Nurse's Strike. The Nurses marched to Hochul's office this week. Why are the nurses disappointed in Hochul's stance and why is Hochul not supporting the nurse's cause, you may ask? Indy contributor Ted Hamm unpacks the answers to these questions in his latest Indy article breaking the news on Hochul's connection to the New York City Hospitals, and came on to the show to give us a deeper understanding of how these threads connect. In our second segment, Peter Sterne from City & State Magazine gave us his assessment on Zohran Mamdani's first month in office. We talked about the many democratic socialist candidates running against established incumbents in 2026.

In our first segment, we returned with updates on the Nurse's Strike. The Nurses marched to Hochul's office this week. Why are the nurses disappointed in Hochul's stance and why is Hochul not supporting the nurse's cause, you may ask? Indy contributor Ted Hamm unpacks the answers to these questions in his latest Indy article breaking the news on Hochul's connection to the New York City Hospitals, and came on to the show to give us a deeper understanding of how these threads connect.

In our second segment, Peter Sterne from City & State Magazine gave us his assessment on Zohran Mamdani's first month in office. We talked about the many democratic socialist candidates running against established incumbents in 2026. Jan 27, 2026

On today's Indypendent News Hour, we spoke with Ximena Bustamante, founder of the Undocumented Women's Fund and an organizer with NYC-DSA's Latinas Socialistas, about organizing efforts that are underway across New York City to thwart ICE and to build the kind of massive civilian resistance movement seen in Minneapolis. We also spoke with Ligia Guallpa of The Worker's Justice Fund about recent workplace victories for NYC's 80,000 deliveristas and took listener phone calls.

We spoke with Ximena Bustamante, founder of the Undocumented Women's Fund and an organizer with NYC-DSA's Latinas Socialistas, about organizing efforts that are underway across New York City to thwart ICE and to build the kind of massive civilian resistance movement seen in Minneapolis.

We also spoke with Ligia Guallpa of The Worker's Justice Fund about recent workplace victories for NYC's 80,000 deliveristas. With Mayor Zohran Mamdani on their side, companies are being held accountable for the poor policies they uphold for delivery workers.

We took listener call-ins, talking about everything from ICE to Mayor Mamdani's progress so far.

On this week's Indypendent News Hour, we got a live update on resistance to the ICE surge in Minneapolis from freelance Minnesota journalist Clint Combs. In our second segment we spoke with Hudson Valley activists who are opposing a proposed new ICE detention facility in Chester, New York. In our final segment, we spoke with Conrad Blackburn, a public defender, union organizer and Black socialist who is running for a Harlem State Assembly seat. Throughout the show, we'll have live updates from a mass anti-ICE protest being held at Bryant Park while we are on the air.

On this week's Indypendent News Hour, we got a live update on resistance to the ICE surge in Minneapolis from freelance Minnesota journalist Clint Combs. We spoke about how the community has been responding and resisting, in the face of unprecedented challenges.

In our second segment we spoke with Hudson Valley activists who are opposing a proposed new ICE detention facility in Chester, New York.

In our final segment, we spoke with Conrad Blackburn, a public defender, union organizer and Black socialist who is running for a Harlem State Assembly seat. We talk about socialism, revival and bringing the power back to the people.

In our first segment we spoke with Maggie Latona of the New York State Nurses Association about the nurse's strike and the union's latest struggle: protecting key parts of their jobs from being taken over by artificial intelligence. Lots to unpack here. In our second segment we spoke with State Senator Jabari Brisport on his reaction to Governor Hochul's state address today. We also discussed the governor's recent support for universal childcare which Brisport has long championed and his support for lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado who is running against Hochul in the democratic primary.

In our first segment we spoke with Maggie Latona of the New York State Nurses Association about the nurse's strike and the union's latest struggle: protecting key parts of their jobs from being taken over by artificial intelligence. Lots to unpack here.

In our second segment we spoke with State Senator Jabari Brisport on his reaction to Governor Hochul's state address today. We also discussed the governor's recent support for universal childcare which Brisport has long championed and his support for lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado who is running against Hochul in the democratic primary.

In our first segment, we spoke with two two tenant-organizers from the Union of Pinnacle Tenants about the Day 1 executive order Mamdani signed that commits the city to intervening on behalf of thousands of rent-stabilized tenants who live in 93 buildings controlled by bankrupt slumlord Pinnacle that are at risk of being auctioned off to another predatory landlord.

In Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first week in office, he has made several bold moves to throw the full power of city government behind tenants while stimulating the production of more new housing. In our first segment, we spoke with two two tenant-organizers from the Union of Pinnacle Tenants about the Day 1 executive order Mamdani signed that commits the city to intervening on behalf of thousands of rent-stabilized tenants who live in 93 buildings controlled by bankrupt slumlord Pinnacle that are at risk of being auctioned off to another predatory landlord. In our second segment, we spoke with veteran NYC journalist Steven Wishnia about some of Mamdani's other moves: appointing socialist tenant organizer Cea Weaver to head the Mayor's Office of Tenant Protection and plans for "rental rip-off" public hearings across the five boroughs. In the final part of the show, we took listener call-ins.

We speak to Union of Pinnacle Tenants members, Josie and Zara on organizing and Mayor Mamdani's Day 1 pledge to intervene on behalf of thousands of rent-stabilized tenants who live in 93 buildings controlled by bankrupt slumlord Pinnacle that are at risk of being auctioned off to another predatory landlord.

Veteran housing journalist Steven Wishnia, educates us on what he believes it will take to build truly affordable housing, why he believes social housing is the way to go; his take on Mamdani's executive orders and rental rip-off hearing.

We take listener call ins and hear about their experiences as tenants and their opinions on Mamdani's moves and what they hope for more support with.

In our first segment we talk to author Ted Hamm on his new Indypendent article titled,‘Five Things Zohran Mamdani Can Do at Very Little Cost To Help Deliver a Successful Administration'. We discuss the recommendations Ted makes on how they could make Mamdani even more successful as mayor. We talk about how Zohran Mamdani's inauguration and what we can hope for in this new era. In our second segment, we dig into the Indypendent News Hour archives to show you clips from 2022 and 2020 interviews the Indypendent did with Zohran Mamdani when he was still an eager assembly member. We discuss the free bus pilot program Zohran spearheaded and what this shows us about the campaign promise of fast and free buses. We also listen to Mamdani's experience of working in Albany as a democratic socialist. An end of year reflection on the journey Mamdani has taken from assembly member to mayor and the consistent commitment to stay true to his principles and community along the way.

Indypendent Author Ted Hamm, has a new article out titled,‘Five Things Zohran Mamdani Can Do at Very Little Cost To Help Deliver a Successful Administration'. We discuss the recommendations Ted makes on how they could make Mamdani even more successful as mayor. We talk about how Zohran Mamdani's inauguration and what we can hope for in this new era.

We dig into the Indypendent News Hour archives to show you clips from 2022 and 2020 interviews the Indypendent did with Zohran Mamdani when he was still an eager assembly member. We discuss the free bus pilot program Zohran spearheaded and what this shows us about the campaign promise of fast and free buses. We also listen to Mamdani's experience of working in Albany as a democratic socialist. Before the Inauguration feels like a good place to reflect on the journey Mamdani has taken from assembly member to mayor and the consistent commitment to stay true to his principles and community along the way.

We spent the hour talking with radical playwright, author and activist Karen Malpede whose new memoir provides a fearless, unsparing account of her life: her many erotic adventures, her long running political activism from the 1960s to the present, the historic figures she befriended (and sometimes slept with), the agony of watching many of those closest to her wither away from cancer and the hard-earned wisdom she has gained across her life's journey. The title of her memoir is Last Radiance: Radical Lives, Bright Deaths available everywhere books are sold. You can check out a review on indypendent.org.

In the first segment of the interview, Karen Malpede chronicles her early life for us, tells us what compelled her to write the memoir and why she chose theatre as as a medium for her life's work, and activism. You can purchase her memoir Last Radiance, everywhere books are sold and check out the review on indypendent.org.

In the second segment of the interview, Karen Malpede talks about her radical plays, the underground fringes of the theatre world, and why the truths she told led to her productions being shut down. She talks about the wonderful people she worked with and the influence of her late-husband George on her life and work. You can purchase her memoir Last Radiance, everywhere books are sold and check out the review on indypendent.org.

In the final segment of the interview, Karen Malpede gives us little anecdotes from her erotic life and the joy that has permeated through her life. We talk about how deep grief is a reflection of how deep the love is and end on a high note! You can purchase her memoir Last Radiance, everywhere books are sold and check out the review on indypendent.org.

In our first segment, we speak with socialist assembly member Emily Gallagher about fighting white collar crime, along with her input on the SOLAR UP NOW NEW YORK ACT to give New Yorkers access to renewable power and thereby, lower utility costs. In our second segment we reflect on Rob Rheiner's death, the legacy of the radical television show, It's All in The Family and the importance of independent media as we continue to raise funds for WBAI. In our third segment we speak to political writer and activist Cole Sandick about why he believes a growing number of Social Media policies, seem to positively protect the youth on the surface, lead to more surveillance in practice.

Emily Gallaghar, Assembly member representative for Greenpoint was elected in 2020. She educates us about the SOLAR UP NOW NEW YORK ACT, legislation if passed will help New Yorkers lower utility costs by having access to plug-in solar designed for apartments. We also chat about new legislation that protects New Yorkers from bad corporate actors and landlords, ensuring more transparency. When we call our representatives in favor of bills that protect our rights, they have a higher chance of getting passed, so tune in, learn with us and make those calls!

We reflect on the popular 80's show, It's All in The Family in the wake of Rob Rheiner, beloved lead actor's tragic murder, how the show was radical for its time and still remains relevant today and why its controversial themes wouldn't necessarily make it on programming today. Just another reason to support independent radio.