Max & Murphy

The hosts of the FAQ NYC podcast - Christina Greer, Harry Siegel, and Katie Honan - joined host Ben Max for a big 2025 New York City mayoral primary election preview at New York Law School on May 29 in front of a live audience. They were joined by 2021 Democratic primary runner-up Kathryn Garcia for the first 30 minutes of the program, then the four hosts talked about the 2025 mayoral race and took a bunch of great questions and comments from some of the 150 New Yorkers in attendance. They talked state of the race, candidate strengths and weaknesses, ranked-choice voting, and much more. (Ep 502)

Susan Kang — a political science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, member of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, and longtime New York political activist — joined the show to discuss the DSA, the Zohran Mamdani mayoral campaign, and the broader political landscape. (Ep 513)

Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker running for mayor in the June 2025 Democratic primary, joined the show to discuss her campaign, cross-endorsements, ranked-choice voting, and more. (Ep 512)

Pollster Evan Roth Smith and analyst Michael Lange joined the show to discuss what the Democratic primary electorate in the race for Mayor will look like, including key variables at play along age, gender, racial, ethnic, borough, and other lines, what initial early voting data tells us, and other key factors at play in the race as it approaches primary day. Smith is a founding partner at the political consultancy Slingshot Strategies, where he leads its polling, and Lange is a writer, researcher, strategist, and political organizer, and writes at his substack, The Narrative Wars, where he goes in-depth on New York politics. They joined host Ben Max just a few days before primary day, June 24. (Ep 511)

Howard Wolfson and Amit Singh Bagga — two political strategists, former city government officials, and members of The New York Times' 'The Choice' opinion panel — joined the show to discuss their experience as part of the Times' mayoral race assessment, the state of the race with a week until primary day, their thoughts on individual candidates, and more. (Ep 510)

Brad Lander, the city comptroller running for mayor in the June 2025 Democratic primary, joined the show to discuss his mayoral campaign, cross-endorsement with Zohran Mamdani, and more. (Ep 509)

Harry Siegel — co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, an editor at The City, and a columnist at The Daily News and Vital City — joined the show to analyze the second televised Democratic mayoral primary debate. Just after the debate among 7 "leading candidates" that aired on NY1 TV and WNYC radio, Siegel joined host Ben Max to discuss how the candidates performed, the most interesting moments, and how the debate fits into the state of the primary with under two weeks until primary day, June 24. (Ep 508)

L Joy Williams — president of the NAACP New York State Conference, a political strategist, and host of Sunday Civics — joined the show to discuss the future of the NAACP in New York, the priorities of Black New Yorkers, the role of Black voters in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, and more. (Ep 507)

Ana Maria Archila, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, joined the show to discuss the WFP's mayoral candidate rankings, the push to elect Zohran Mamdani as mayor, ranked-choice voting strategies, and more. (Ep 506)

Scott Stringer, a former New York City Comptroller and Democratic candidate for Mayor in the June 2025 primary, joined the show to discuss his campaign for Mayor and the state of the race with just over two weeks until primary day, June 24. (Ep 505)

Bob Hardt of Spectrum News NY1 joined the show to analyze the first of two official televised debates in the Democratic primary for mayor. Hardt, the New York political director for Spectrum News, and host Ben Max talked right after the 9 qualifying Democratic candidates left the stage in the Wednesday June 4 2025 debate that was hosted by NBC, Telemundo, Politico, and other partners. (Ep 504)

A debate among the three Democratic candidates for Manhattan Borough President: Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Keith Powers, and Calvin Sun. The debate was hosted on June 3 — exactly three weeks to primary day — at New York Law School by its Center for New York City and State Law, and moderated by Max Politics host Ben Max, who is also the Center's program director. (Ep 503)

Kathy Wylde, the longtime President and CEO of business group The Partnership for New York City, joined the show to discuss how New York City is doing, challenges around city and federal governance, the 2025 race to be the next Mayor, her recent retirement announcement (effective June 2026), and more. (Ep 501)

Political strategists Tyrone Stevens and Jon Paul Lupo joined the show to discuss the state of the race for Mayor of New York City with one month until primary day, which is June 24. With host Ben Max, they assess the Democratic primary for mayor, variables that could shift the race down the home stretch, potential strategies to help candidates break out, and more. Both guests have extensive experience in New York City government, politics, and campaigns, including on major mayoral campaigns in the 2021 Democratic primary. (Ep 500)

In part two of our miniseries on Andrew Cuomo's record as Governor of New York, we examine his policy record over his ten-and-a-half-year tenure (January 2011-August 2021). Jon Campbell, a longtime state politics reporter now with WNYC/Gothamist, joined the show to recount and examine Cuomo's policy record over the course of his nearly three terms as the state's chief executive and put it into the context of Cuomo's 2025 bid to become Mayor of New York City. This is the second in a series of Max Politics episodes that will examine Cuomo's record as Governor and bid to become Mayor — the first episode focused on Cuomo's leadership and governance style. Cuomo has been invited to appear on the show himself but has yet to accept the invitation. Stay tuned for other episodes in this series and additional conversations on the 2025 NYC elections. (Ep 499)

Longtime journalists Bill Hammond and Nick Reisman joined the show to discuss Andrew Cuomo's record as Governor of New York, with a focus on Cuomo's leadership style. Cuomo, leading the polls in the 2025 Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City, was Governor from January 2011 to August 2021. Hammond - formerly of the New York Daily News and now at the Empire Center - and Reisman, formerly of Capitol Tonight/State of Politics and now at Politico New York - have both covered Cuomo for many years and, in this discussion, help host Ben Max recap Cuomo's decade in power. This is the first in a series of Max Politics episodes that will examine Cuomo's record as Governor and bid to become Mayor. Cuomo has been invited to appear on the show himself but has yet to accept the invitation. Stay tuned for other episodes in this series. (Ep 498)

Join Max Politics and FAQ NYC for a live double-podcast, primary election preview event on Thursday May 29, 5:30-7:30pm, at New York Law School! Hosts Ben Max, Christina Greer, Katie Honan, and Harry Siegel will provide the latest analysis of the race to be the next Mayor of New York City and highlight other key races to watch ahead of June's primaries. There will be special guests and plenty of audience participation, refreshments and more. Join us! RSVP at this link: https://nyls.wufoo.com/forms/qxmjtbs0nexll7/

New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber spoke with host Ben Max at a live event at New York Law School for Law Day, May 1, hosted by NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law. Strauber spoke about the important role DOI plays in ensuring ethical and effective government, DOI's role in the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams and her take on the dismissal of those charges, and much more. (Ep 497) url: nyc-doi-jocelyn-strauber-corruption

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined the show to discuss his 2025 State of the Borough address and agenda, major issues and opportunities facing Queens and the city, and the unfolding mayoral race. (Ep 496)

Political strategists Rebecca Katz and Jason Ortiz joined the show to discuss the state of the mayoral race and much more with two months to go until primary day, which is June 24, 2025. Katz, a co-founder of Fight agency, and Ortiz, a co-founder of Moonshot Strategies, are both veteran political strategists in New York and beyond. They joined the show to analyze the Democratic primary field for mayor, the city's political mood, lessons from past mayoral races that apply in 2025, and much more. (Ep 495)

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a Democrat, joined the show to discuss his 2025 State of the Borough address and agenda, major issues facing Brooklyn and the city, and the 2025 city elections. (Ep 494)

Six of the Democratic candidates for Mayor of New York City participated in a candidate forum on the evening of April 8, 2025 at New York Law School. The event featured candidates Adrienne Adams, Michael Blake, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, and Scott Stringer, all vying for the Democratic nomination in June's primary election. The forum was moderated by Max Politics host Ben Max, who runs NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law, which co-hosted the forum with New Yorkers for Parks and its large Fair Play for Parks coalition. (Ep 493)

The once-a-decade Census population count is immensely important to determine federal funding to states and cities, representation in the federal government, electoral college votes, and more. We just passed the halfway mark between the 2020 and 2030 Census counts, and New York leaders are starting to sound the alarm about the need for good planning to execute a complete count of all New York residents. Assemblymember Landon Dais, a Bronx Democrat, and Census expert Jeff Wice, a professor at New York Law School where he runs the NY Elections, Census, and Redistricting Institute, joined the show to discuss why the Census is important and steps New York can take at the state and city levels to get moving on 2030 Census planning. (Ep 492)

Ryder Kessler and Catherine Vaughan, co-founders of Abundance New York, joined the show to discuss the "abundance" wave washing over the national political discourse (in part inspired by the new book Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson), what their vision for abundance in New York is, how to achieve it, NIMBYism vs YIMBYism, and much more. Their group is a relatively new nonprofit group (501c4) creating a new political community and working to influence politics and policy to increase the supply of housing, transit, public space, and clean energy. (Ep 491)

With just 3 months to primary day in New York City's 2025 elections, Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. joined the show to discuss the state of the mayoral race, the candidate field, the mood of the city electorate, and more. Smikle is a longtime political strategist, former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, and currently a professor at Columbia University, where he runs the nonprofit management master's program. (Ep 490)

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, a Democrat, joined the show to discuss the state of the Bronx, her policy agenda, key issues facing the borough and the city, her reelection bid, and more. (Ep 489)

Two of the leading Democratic candidates for New York City Comptroller - City Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine - in this year's election joined New York Law School (NYLS) and Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) for a debate in front of a live audience at NYLS. The debate was moderated by Max Politics host Ben Max, who is also the program director at NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law, and CBC President Andrew Rein. The candidates are competing, along with others, in the Democratic primary set for June in the race to become the city's next chief fiscal and accountability officer. (In order to qualify for the March 18 debate, candidates had to raise $125,000 by February 15.) - Ep 488

Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), joined the show to discuss current concerns and priorities for the city's teachers, major education issues being debated at the city and state levels, the UFT's endorsement process for the 2025 mayoral race, and more. (Ep 487)

NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined the show to discuss the state of city government leadership, the unfolding race for mayor, his reelection bid, and more. (Ep 486)

Sally Goldenberg, a veteran New York journalist and senior New York editor at Politico, joined the show to discuss the state of the race for Mayor of New York City with four months until primary day. With just four months until primary day — June 24, 2025 — both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams are considering soon entering the already-crowded Democratic primary field, which includes Mayor Eric Adams, eyeing a second term, and a number of other candidates.(Ep 485)

Teresa Gonzalez and Yvette Buckner, co-chairs of New Majority NYC, joined the show to discuss the group's efforts to elect and reelect women to the New York City Council. Through the 2021 elections, the Council saw its first-ever women majority, in part thanks to New Majority NYC's efforts. The organization is now starting to roll out endorsements in the 2025 elections, with primaries set for June. (Ep 484)

Mark Treyger — CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and a former New York City Council member — joined the show to discuss combating increased anti-Semitism, Jewish community relations, Jewish voters in the 2025 NYC elections, and more. (Ep 483)

New York Working Families Party Co-Chairs Jasmine Gripper and Ana Maria Archila returned to the show to discuss how the progressive group is approaching the 2025 New York City mayoral race, lessons learned from 2021, ranked-choice voting, and more. (Ep 482)

With just 5 months until primary day 2025 in New York City, political strategist Neal Kwatra - founder and CEO of Metropolitan Strategies - joined the show to discuss the city's political mood, important dynamics at play in the developing race for mayor, the field of candidates, and more. (Ep 481)

City Council Member Alexa Avilés, a Brooklyn Democrat and chair of the Council's immigration committee, joined the show to discuss how New York City is preparing for Donald Trump's second presidential term with regard to immigrant communities, sanctuary city policies, and more. Avilés discusses the oversight hearing she chaired on January 16, 2025 examining the Adams administration's efforts to protect immigrant communities and relevant city and state policies. (Ep 480)

Political strategists Shontell Smith and Chris Coffey joined the show to preview 2025 in New York politics, including analysis of Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 State of the City agenda, the mayor's overall standing and the 2025 mayoral race about to unfold, Governor Kathy Hochul's standing and agenda, dynamics at play in state government as the Albany session begins, and much more. Coffey, a longtime New York political veteran, is the CEO and a Partner of Tusk Strategies and Smith, former counsel and chief of staff to the State Senate majority leader, is also a Partner at Tusk Strategies and head of its New York practice. (Ep 479)

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber joined the show to discuss the launch of congestion pricing, the future of mass transit in New York City, subway safety, bus service, and more. (Ep 478)

Micah Lasher, a long-time New York politico, is heading to the State Legislature after winning election to the Assembly representing the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The former policy director for Governor Kathy Hochul, among many other roles in New York City and State politics, joined the show to discuss his priorities for Albany and many challenges facing New York, his experience in government, Hochul's political prospects, and more. (Ep 477)

On Thursday December 5, 2024 the New York City Council passed a modified version of the Adams Administration's 'City of Yes for Housing Opportunity' zoning reform proposal, which will be paired with other elements in the Council's 'City for All' housing plan that includes $5 billion in housing investments from the City and State. City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, chair of the Council housing committee, and Annemarie Gray, executive director of the pro-housing group Open New York, joined the show to discuss what it all means and how it will impact housing in New York in the years to come. (Ep 476)

Evan Roth Smith, a political consultant from Slingshot Strategies, joined the show to discuss his work as the lead pollster for Democrats' 'Blueprint 2024' project that sought to understand the 2024 electorate, the results of the elections, and what comes next for the Democratic Party. (Ep 475)

Jasmine Gripper and Ana Maria Archila, the co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, joined the show to discuss the 2024 elections in New York, the WFP's bid to get enough votes for Harris/Walz to keep its ballot line, and much more. (Ep 470)

State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat who also chairs the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, joined the show to discuss the 2024 election results in New York and what's next for New York Democrats, the party's strengths and weaknesses, and more. (Ep 474)

Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican representing New York's 17th Congressional District, joined the show to discuss his reelection to Congress and interest in running for Governor in 2026, as well as Donald Trump's win and performance in New York, key policy areas, and more. (Ep 473)

State Senator Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat, joined the show to discuss key dynamics and outcomes of the 2024 elections, including the significant increase in Latino support for Donald Trump and his better-than-expected performance in New York City, as well as the early phases of her 2025 campaign for New York City Mayor, and more. (Ep 472)

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition and its political arm, NYIC Action, joined the show to discuss immigration and the 2024 elections, from border policy to the 'migrant crisis' in New York City, Trump vs. Harris, and more. (Ep 471)

Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York State Democratic Party, joined the show to discuss how Democrats are working to win races across the state, especially in House battleground districts, how the presidential race will impact down-ballot races, and more. (Episode 469)

NYC Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi joined the show to discuss the efforts she's leading to win federal infrastructure grants through two major laws: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Joshi created the city's Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force with a novel approach and helped secure $2.3 billion and counting from the two programs, as detailed in a new report now out: Funding the Future: New York City's Collaborate Approach to Maximize Federal Infrastructure Funding. https://climate.cityofnewyork.us/reports/funding-the-future/ (Ep 468)

Joe Borelli - a Staten Island Republican, longtime Donald Trump supporter, and New York City Council Minority Leader - joined the show to discuss Trumpism, the 2024 presidential race, New York swing House races, his potential run for Mayor, and more. (Ep 467)

Gabby Seay, co-director for Battleground New York, joined the show to discuss how the coalition of labor and activist groups is working toward Democratic wins in New York's swing U.S. House of Representatives districts, key electoral dynamics in those districts, and more. Battleground New York launched in 2023 and includes coalition members such as 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the Communications Workers of America, Indivisible, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, the Working Families Party, AFSCME, 32BJ SEIU, the NYS Nurses Association, and the Democracy Alliance. (Ep 466) Release date: 17 October 2024

Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman, two authors of Politico's New York Playbook, joined the show to discuss the races to watch in New York in the 2024 elections for the U.S. House of Representatives. New York is home to 26 House seats, seven of which are considered swing congressional districts that will again help determine the balance of power in the House, either allowing Republicans to keep a narrow majority or helping Democrats take control of the chamber and potentially make Brooklyn's Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker. (Ep 465)

Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission, joined host Ben Max at New York Law School to discuss the Adams Administration's "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" zoning reform proposal to help build more housing across the city. The proposal has entered the final stage of public review with consideration by and negotiations with the Council Council, and a Council vote by the end of the year. (Ep 464)