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Episode 41: Scaer, et al. v. City of Nashua, et al.Scaer, et al. v. City of Nashua, et al. argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on December 2, 2025. Argued by Institute for Free Speech Attorney Nathan Ristuccia (on behalf of Stephen and Bethany Scaer) and Steven A. Bolton (on behalf of the City of Nashua, NH). Case Background, from the Institute for Free Speech case page: Should a city be able to pick and choose whose messages are “worthy” to appear on its public “Citizen Flag Pole?” The City of Nashua thinks so—but a federal lawsuit aims to change that. Attorneys from the Institute for Free Speech and local counsel Roy S. McCandless filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire on behalf of Bethany and Stephen Scaer (pronounced “scare”), two Nashua residents whose flag requests have been denied. The suit challenges the constitutionality of Nashua's policy governing the use of its Citizen Flag Pole. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin Nashua city officials from denying flag applications based on viewpoint and from enforcing parts of its flag policy that limit acceptable flags. Nashua residents have long used the Citizen Flag Pole to fly flags representing various causes and heritages. However, after a 2022 Supreme Court decision protecting speech in such forums, Nashua officials hastily implemented a new policy to take control over the messages expressed. Under the policy, residents can apply to fly flags on the Citizen Flag Pole in front of City Hall. However, the policy states that any message “will be allowed only if it is in harmony with city policies and messages that the city wishes to express and endorse.” The Scaers have had multiple flag requests denied, including most recently the Pine Tree Flag to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill. The city provided no explanation beyond stating their flags were “not in harmony” with the city's message. The lawsuit argues that Nashua's policy violates the First Amendment by imposing viewpoint-based restrictions on speech, creating an unconstitutional prior restraint, and being impermissibly vague and overbroad. Statement of the Issues, from the Plaintiffs-Appellants Opening Brief: Whether governments may avoid First Amendment limits in regulating speech by adopting it as government speech, without acquiring any property interest or permanent possessory interest over that private speech? Whether a government speaks or merely regulates private speech when it uses its final approval authority to permit or to prohibit the display of certain messages on government property, without shaping or altering the content of those messages? Whether Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claim that the City of Nashua's policies and practices regarding flags displayed on its Citizen Flag Pole and flag-raising ceremonies conducted on its City Hall Plaza constitute viewpoint discrimination, or are vague, overbroad, or effect a prior restraint on speech? Whether Plaintiffs are entitled to a preliminary injunction against those policies and practices? Resources: Institute for Free Speech case page (includes all filings) Plaintiffs-Appellants Stephen and Bethany Scaer's Opening Brief Brief For Defendants-Appellee, City Of Nashua, New Hampshire The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment. If you're enjoying the Free Speech Arguments podcast, please subscribe and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform. To support the Institute's mission or inquire about legal assistance, please visit our website: www.ifs.org
December kicks off with a recap of the visit of a far-left member of the Canadian Senate who tried to tour the in-progress 'sobering centre' that Wab Kinew's NDP is opening at 190 Disraeli. Kim Pate - who represents Ontario- dismissed the idea that Winnipeg residents need protection from out of control meth and alcohol addicts.Part 1- A hard drive failure interrupted podcast production in late November but Episode 57 is here to get our public affairs coverage back on track. We're looking to top up the Season 6 fundraising campaign with another $1000 this month to get a head start on paying for web hosting and the ActionLine Wordpress template in 2026, and to provide a Christmas bonus to our volunteer production staff. To contribute, contact martygoldlive@gmail.com. 15.30 Part 2- Legalist Kim Pate has a long history of standing up for prisoners -especially women- involved with Canada's justice system. But when it comes to the women and general public who have endured years of harassment, abuse and violence at the hands of Winnipeg's criminally-inclined homeless addicts, she says the rights of the abusers comes before the rights of the public to a safe community. A clue why she spouts such nonsense comes from a 2017 interview, after Justin Trudeau handed her a taxpayer-funded lifetime job in the Senate: I've gone back to the call from the prime minister several times in my mind. He said he was offering this appointment based on my career as an activist. That was the word that stuck in my head: “activism.” So I thought, “Okay, well, let's go.” https://broadview.org/senator-kim-pate-wants-canada-to-get-rid-of-jails/Marty Gold explains the chicken-and-egg argument Pate hides behind to bolster her argument that "to actually put people in what can only be described as cells… I think it's rifefor a Charter challenge."Warding off arsons, robberies, thefts, vandalism, matters not to Pate. She thinks the detention process might "traumatize" the addicts, and seemingly offered no comment to the Free Press about the years of trauma inflicted on women, children, families, property owners, employees, theatre patrons, transit riders and others by the anti-social and violent behavior of the homeless encampment crowd. 30.30 -The attempt to visit the site on Friday exposed a broken promise by Wab Kinew.Remember it was supposed to open within two weeks of the Legislation being passed? Listen to a media scrum on November 14th when Premier Kinew had to admit the sobering centre would not, in fact, open in November- and why. Only APTN reported on it, why is that?The split between the hard core “harm reduction” activists and the harm reduction-friendly Manitoba NDP shows how out of touch the radical defenders of lawless violent addicts are.39.15 Part 3- a brief discussion of why democracy at City Hall is being eroded by poor practices, including bogus public consultations, late publication of meeting agendas and the 5 minute time limit on speakers. Time and again, some councillors go the extra mile to hear from a wide range of constituents, while others treat hearing from the public as a nuisance. Here's hoping things improve in the new year, with an election on the horizon.******Have you read our recent columns in the Winnipeg Sun?Nov 23- Kinew, feds still shroud drug consumption site proposals in secrecyhttps://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-kinew-feds-still-shroud-drug-consumption-site-proposals-in-secrecy Nov 25- As the temperature drops, anger rises about transit revamp https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-as-the-temperature-drops-anger-rises-about-transit-revampNov 30- Too little, too late: Winnipeg Transit faces a record year of violencehttps://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-too-little-too-late-winnipeg-transit-faces-a-record-year-of-violence
Budget deliberations have wrapped up in Saskatoon and after four full days of reporting on all the latest developments out of City Hall, 650 CKOM senior reporter, Lara Fominoff, brings all the latest information to Evan and listeners from this latest budget.
I Am Right Episode: ICE Agent & The NYC Elections Tonight on I Am Right, we dive straight into the fire.New York City is heading into another explosive election cycle, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Policies, promises, and political theater are all on the table—but behind the headlines lies a deeper story about law enforcement, immigration, and the people on the ground enforcing America's toughest decisions.In this episode, we sit down with a former ICE agent who's lived the reality most politicians only talk about. From street-level operations to the shifting political winds in City Hall, we'll break down how immigration policy, public safety, and voter sentiment are colliding in NYC and what it all means for the future of the city.No spin. No filters. Just facts, experience, and unapologetic truth.You already know the deal… I'm right.Let's get into it.#IAmRight #NYCElections#ICEAgent #ImmigrationDebate#NYCPolitics #Election2025#PoliticalTalk #TruthPodcast#NYCNews #ElectionDiscussion
In this special episode, Premier Doug Ford joins John Oakley for an unfiltered, emotional conversation about the pivotal role the Oakley Show played in launching the Ford political movement. Ford reflects on the early days when his brother Rob Ford became a radio fixture, exposing waste at City Hall and connecting directly with listeners—moments that, Doug says, set the stage for everything that followed. The episode also features appearances from: Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun columnist Russell Barth, author of Outlaw Patients Stephen Holyday, Councillor for Ward 2 – Etobicoke Centre David Wills, Senior VP at Media Profile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 307 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck delivers a packed week of drama — a surprise pipeline agreement, a budget that's “zero” in name only, poll shocks in Vancouver, and another chaotic turn in US politics.Here's what's inside:
City Hall is probing the surge in so-called “skinny jabs”, as London Assembly members warn of unlicensed sellers, counterfeit pens and off-label prescriptions. The hearing digs into how Londoners are accessing GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro — and whether people are being properly protected and informed.The Environment Agency has released new bathing-water rankings, showing a slight improvement across England's coasts and lakes — but river sites are still performing badly, with only two out of fourteen meeting basic standards. Plus, a landmark study in Wales has mapped its most threatened species, revealing around 3,000 plants and animals surviving in just a handful of locations. Also in this episode:UK firm Lacuna Space prepares to launch four new “Wisdom of the Trail” satellites to connect remote sensors directly to orbit.Tokyo astronomers report a potentially promising dark-matter signal in 15 years of Fermi telescope data.Fujitsu unveils an “ocean digital twin” to speed up certification of blue-carbon projects.Saudi Arabia's PIF faces scrutiny over finances amid its $55bn deal to buy EA.Battlefield 6 launches its free trial via Redsec, unlocking three playlists and maps until 2 December. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greg Brady and the panel of: Rachel Chernos Lin, Councillor for Ward 15 Don Valley West and Chair of the City-School Boards Advisory Committee Parthi Kandavel, Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Discuss: 1 - Terrible incident w/ stabbing - how safe do your constituents feel? 2 - What are they saying about speed cameras in your Ward - hoping for the so-called traffic-calming measures anytime soon? 3 - Ontario legislators have passed Bill 60. What does it mean for tenants? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Suzi talks with historian Eric Blanc about a timely chapter in American socialist history: the rise — and limits — of Milwaukee's “sewer socialists.” His article, “Socialists in City Hall? A New Look at Sewer Socialism in Wisconsin,” reexamines this often-disparaged experiment in municipal socialism at a moment when New York prepares for Zohran Mamdani's administration. Mamdani's victory — built on years of organizing in immigrant and working-class neighborhoods — reopens the question of whether socialists can not only win, but govern in America's most unequal cities. A century ago, Milwaukee elected socialist mayors who delivered clean, efficient, working-class governance — public power, parks, housing, and real material improvements. They weren't making a revolution; they were governing within capitalism, and ran up against its limits: employer backlash, national political shifts, and the hard reality that municipal power can only go so far without broader working-class strength. Eric argues that this history offers essential lessons for the Left today: how to build durable political organization, use office to win tangible gains, and govern competently while expanding working-class power — without mistaking municipal office for municipal socialism, or making the sewers more important than the socialism. Support for Jacobin Radio comes from The Regrettable Century podcast: https://regrettablecentury.buzzsprout.com/220523 Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.
Behind every great community is a mentor who showed someone the way. David Schmit, founder of Schmit & Associates, joins Host Carol Morgan on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss why thoughtful design and collaboration matter in today's housing market. Designing Walkable Neighborhoods People Love If given the chance to design his dream community anywhere, Schmit says he'd choose “a hillside in Italy.” He values close, human-scaled communities that feel personal to residents. “We used to design everything around the car,” he says. “But magic happens when scale shifts from the car to the person.” Schmit sees density as a tool for creating vibrant communities that connect residents with their environment. Instead of “endless” subdivisions, he favors smaller villages, mixed-use developments and thoughtful, pedestrian-first layouts. Putting Thoughtful Design in Place One of Schmit & Associates' signature projects is Harmony in Auburn, Georgia, a collaboration with Mayor Linda Blechinger that began in 2017. What started as a need to relocate City Hall grew into a broader vision for revitalizing the town center. Working with designer Lew Oliver and landscape expert P. Allen Smith, Schmit helped shape a community of affordable homes, surrounded by lush landscaping and unique details, including pollinator gardens and intimate green spaces. Phase two is underway, and the completed project will include nearly 300 homes priced from the $300,000s to $400,000s. In Acworth, Schmit again partnered with the public sector — this time alongside the JW Collection. On a highly visible, three-acre site in downtown Acworth, the team crafted a walkable mix of residential and commercial space. “The idea was to create this really close-knit space integrated into the downtown area with walkability at its core,” said Schmit. “There are townhomes, mixed-use buildings with commercial spaces, and there’s a restaurant that I’ll be building to put my son into business. That will be a bar with craft cocktails and elevated pub food.” Schmit also teamed with Integral Group to revive Carver Village, a long-dormant Atlanta Housing Authority site along Pryor Road. The first phase includes 227 homes priced from the $300,000s to $500,000s, and future plans include retail and build-to-rent opportunities. What Makes a Schmit & Associates Community? Across every project, Schmit says four guiding principles shape the design: Natural Environment: He wants to understand the land, including its edges, textures and trees, to better determine what opportunities are available. Human Experience: How will residents live, work and gather? Every Schmit & Associates community is developed with a “lead with people” mentality. Built Environment: Schmit emphasizes the importance of designing structures that support resident lifestyles. Whether through walkability or flexible floor plans, he develops communities that allow residents to thrive. Economics of Community: Schmit considers both private returns and public benefits such as growth, community vibrancy and long-term value before beginning a new project. Inside Five Men: A Story of Mentorship and Meaning Schmit's new book, Five Men, explores how mentorship has shaped his personal and professional life. Told in a conversational style, the book weaves Schmit's experiences with five mentors who shaped his life: his father, a high school baseball coach, a priest, the late Dr. Brisbane Brown and two career guides. Schmit said, “The story is about the essence of these relationships and what mentoring can mean in your career path.” Today, Schmit meets regularly with young professionals and encourages them to seek meaningful connections. He challenges them to ask questions while building strong relationships with those around them. Schmit said, “Ask the question, be bold and keep the word ‘relentless' in your vocabulary, which means you just don’t stop.” Tune into the full episode to learn more about upcoming Schmit & Associates' communities and how mentorship drives industry success. To learn more about Schmit & Associates, visit www.SchmitAssociates.com. Schmit's book, Five Men, is available on Amazon. The post Schmit & Associates: How Collaboration Shapes Better Communities appeared first on Atlanta Real Estate Forum.
Nolan talks to editor of Slugger O'Toole, Mick Fealty
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people move to Toronto, looking for opportunity, while tens of thousands are leaving in a flight for affordability and safety. Addressing this tension and making Toronto a city where everyone can afford to raise a family and build a life is the most critical challenge facing our local government.According to a recent Toronto Star/Ipsos survey first unveiled at the Empire Club podium, six in 10 Torontonians now believe this city's best days are behind it. Our city's future prosperity depends on reversing this trend, but how do we tackle this challenge when urban cynicism and mistrust of government is at an all-time high?On Tuesday, November 25th, join The Empire Club of Canada for a keynote address entitled Getting the Basics Right from Brad Bradford, City Councillor for Beaches–East York and the first major declared candidate for the 2026 mayoral election. Bradford shared what he has heard from residents across the city about their priorities, and his vision to make sure City Hall is working for the Torontonians who make this city work. Bradford's remarks were followed by a fireside chat with John Moore, Host of Moore in the Morning.
Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by three Mississauga residents demanding real transparency in our city's budget: community advocate, George Tavares, local business owner, Kim Pines, and resident leader for financial accountability, Athina Tagidou.Together, they break down the big questions City Hall isn't answering. These include why taxes are rising faster than inflation every year, how “blended rates” hide the true tax increase, why Mississauga pays 62% of Peel Police costs but gets less than half the say, and why claims of “no room to cut” don't match the data. Other questions they discuss include why public engagement is collapsing, how quality of life is slipping while the budget keeps growing, and the looming MPAC reassessment that could mean thousands more in taxes. This episode emphasizes that residents deserve honest budgeting, clearer communication, real oversight, and leadership that treats public dollars with the same discipline families bring to their own budgets.
Send us a textExplore the chilling ghost stories of Kobe City Hall in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Discover how the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake shaped Kobe, Japan's tragic past, and learn why staff, security guards, and visitors continue to report eerie sightings, phantom footsteps, and unexplained shadows within the building. Blending local history with modern paranormal accounts, this episode uncovers one of Kobe's most enduring urban legends.Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapanBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madformaple.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/MadForMapleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/supernaturaljapanEmail: supernaturaljapan@gmail.comTales from Kevin Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-kevin/id1767355563Support the podcast (Help fund the creation of new episodes) MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE!: https://buymeacoffee.com/busankevinYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevinNEW podcast companion blogs! https://justjapanstuff.com/Website: https://supernaturaljapan.buzzsprout.comSupport the show
Nolan talks to DUP MLA Brian Kingston and BBC News NI political reporter Brendan Hughes
A rally will take place outside City Hall today to protest rent increases for council and HAP tenants.Under the plans by Dublin City Council, social housing tenants would see the first change to how their rent is calculated in 30 years…For many, this will have a huge impact on people's day-to-day lives amid the high cost of living.So, is this calculation fair? Or should it be left alone?Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Labour Cllr Dermot Lacey, as well as some of those impacted…
The city of Vancouver will host a Nov. 28 program to raise the new City flag at City Hall, followed by prize presentations during the Rotary tree lighting event. The celebration also marks the return of the Salmon Run Bell Tower glockenspiel, a 25-bell installation weighing up to 400 pounds each, with scheduled recognitions for flag designers Brooke Nugent and Nathan Hunter and an evening of community festivities. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/new-flag-to-be-raised-at-vancouver-city-hall-on-nov-28/ #Vancouver #CityHall #FlagRaising #SalmonRunBellTower #Glockenspiel #CommunityEvent #RotaryTreeLighting #EstherShortPark #VisitVancouver #CityCelebration
If you give us about fifteen minutes a day, we will provide you with all the local news, sports, weather, and events you can handle. SPONSORS: Many thanks to our sponsors… Annapolis Subaru, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, MacMedics, and Hospice of the Chesapeake. Today... Annapolis is juggling a key finance transition at City Hall, a major court ruling on who gets to vote in Maryland primaries, and a big public swearing-in at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium—all while a 25-year neighborhood bakery quietly powers your holiday table and Sandy Point lights up the bay for the SPCA. We'll break down what's changing, what's staying the same--all in one place on today's DNB! DAILY NEWSLETTER LINK: https://forms.aweber.com/form/87/493412887.htm And like we do every Friday, Annapolis Subaru and I met up with some animals from the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. Check out this week's Canines & Crosstreks! The Eye On Annapolis Daily News Brief is produced every Monday through Friday at 6:00 am and available wherever you get your podcasts and also on our social media platforms--All Annapolis and Eye On Annapolis (FB) and @eyeonannapolis (X) NOTE: For hearing-impaired subscribers, a full transcript is available on Eye On Annapolis.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give the go-ahead for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead in her Budget next week.London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has described the news as a “win-win” as it will improve transport links in a poorly connected part of south-east London and should “unlock” thousands of new homes and jobs.But what does it mean in practice? Where will the new stations be built, what difference will it make to commutes – and does it mean that other London transport schemes such as the Bakerloo line extension will be less likely to happen? The Standard's City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He has served the 9th City Council District in Los Angeles for years as a council deputy. He has managed political campaigns. And he racked up a ton of endorsements from elected officials. Today I talk with candidate Jose Ugarte.In this third installment of interviews with candidates to succeed retiring councilmember Curren Price, I speak with Jose Ugarte, A top aide to Price, Ugarte is a visible face at City Hall, in the district and in the media. He has served Price off and on since 2013, handling district projects and constituent services. Prior to that, he worked as a district deputy to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. He has taken several extended leaves of absence from government to work as a consultant for political campaigns, including those of Price, Rendon, Assemblymember Mike Fong and former Assembymember Miguel Santiago. An immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ugarte says he will focus on serving the immigrant and low-income communities of the 9th District, and wants to be the "transportation councilmember” with a vision for more Metro rail lines in the 9th District.Ugarte was recently the subject of an investigation form the city ethics commission, which found that he failed to disclose outside income from his consulting business. He and I discuss that, as well as his biography, and his vision for the city and distinct, in the interview.Campaign website: https://ugarteforla.com/What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.
The NDP gave the Free Press the scoop on a new plan to invoke an emergency authorization to open a drug user site. Dan Lett accordingly doubled down on the misinformation and myths used to attack the stakeholders who derailed the first safe consumption site plan. As Episode 56 explains, we saw how it really unfolded- and also noticed he got a key aspect of the new SCS plan wrong. Part 1-Our recent columns in the Winnipeg Sun peeled back the PR campaign pumping the tires of the Parking Authority's 5 year strategy- and it's apparent that trying to rig the upcoming public consultation will not be acceptable:"Would the City expand paid parking to Sargent Avenue in the West End, or to Marion Street in St. Boniface, or to Portage Avenue west of downtown or into St. James? That would cripple restaurants and stores in those neighbourhoods. Would the City charge disabled veterans to park outside the St. James or Norwood Legions? No one would put it past them."Nov. 12- New paid parking plan should require a Parking Authority Town Hall https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-new-paid-parking-plan-should-require-a-parking-authority-town-hall"Introducing a “solution” where no problem exists only creates barriers, not improvements. Corydon is not downtown—and should not be managed as though it is.”Nov. 16- Paid parking on Corydon? Fuhgeddaboutdit, says BIZ https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-paid-parking-on-corydon-fuhgeddaboutdit-says-bizFollowing up on our reports, Kelly Ryback surveyed the businesses in St. James and told City Hall about their rejection of starting paid parking into their area. We have a brief description of the panic it caused a certain councillor.15.40 Part 2- A news story in the Free Press indicated Premier Wab Kinew is trying a slightly more conciliatory approach togarnering buy-in for the idea of a safe injection site “west of Main Street” – part of the Centennial neighborhood. But Kinew would not reveal the actual address. The story confirmed that public consultation is mandatory under federal licencing laws. Mayor Scott Gillingham, for the first time, stood behind the importance of “hearing from residents and business owners as to their thoughts related to the potential impact on the area,” while Kinew “dodged the question” from PC leader Obby Khan about when consultations would take place. In a companion column, WFP pundit Dan Lett dodged the facts, claimed the site was again being aimed for Point Douglas and the East Exchange, and attacked the verybasis of requiring the consultations. Hear his distortions of the concerns and ideas that residents put on the table about 200 Disraeli to try to misinform his readers about how widespread - and well-informed the opposition was.32.50 - We juxtapose the comments of a Point Douglas resident in the news story - “We're beginning to feel like a drug rehab dumping ground around here," with the insistence of Lett that's "As it should be". Dismissing the working class residents and business owners as "champions of gentrification" and "squeaky wheels," Lett unloaded a big whopper- falsely claiming that "Supervised consumption and detox facilities do not make surrounding neighbourhoods unsafe; they make them safer and cleaner."Without ever attending one of the Town Halls about the 200 Disraeli proposal or speaking to the victims of the crime wave besieging residents and property owners, Ontario's Dan Lett set out a loathsome block of opinions about the people of Winnipeg in the pages of the Free Press. At least he's consistent: July 12 2025- Condescending Columnist Gets Educated On Neighbourhood's Fight For DignityLet us know what you think- martygoldlive@gmail.com
Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics
What do a Democratic Socialist in New York and a Green Party leader in Britain have in common? Charisma, clarity, and, apparently, a hatred of high bus fares. In this episode of Mid-Atlantic, host Roifield Brown and the transatlantic panel tackle the political rise of Manami in NYC and Zack Polanski in the UK—two left-wing politicians who've gone from fringe to front page without watering down their message.Manami's victory over Andrew Cuomo to become New York's mayor-elect wasn't just an electoral upset; it was a messaging masterclass. Free buses, city-run groceries, and rent freezes—policies that many establishment Democrats wouldn't touch with a barge pole—landed him in City Hall with a wave of grassroots energy and a TikTok-savvy machine behind him. Meanwhile, across the pond, Polanski's strategic reframing of the Green Party—away from "tree hugger" stereotypes and toward a hard-hitting, cost-of-living political vehicle—has seen the party overtake the Lib Dems and Tories in membership numbers.But is this revival of unapologetic leftism a fleeting blip, or a realignment? Can charisma and clear messaging finally outgun billionaire-backed centrism and weary technocracy? Roifield is joined by regulars Denise Hamilton (Houston), Steve O'Neill (London), Cory Bernard (Manchester), and Mike Donahue (Los Angeles) to unpack what the centre-left keeps missing—and why hope might just be the most radical policy of all.Five Standout Quotes:“If people feel seen, they feel heard, they feel valued, they will support you—and they will vote for you.” – Denise Hamilton“Corbyn always sounds like someone's just stolen his lunch.” – Corey Bernard“Even if you elect Bernie Sanders president, how effectual is he going to be? But the mayor of New York—he can change things.” – Mike Donahue“Polanski just sounds like he enjoys it. Same message as Corbyn, but without the gloom.” – Steve O'Neill“We've embraced a cynicism and a hopelessness that Manami rejected—and people gravitated to it.” – Denise HamiltonPanel Social Handles:Denise Hamilton: @officialdhamMike Donahue: [@MichaelDonahue on Bluesky]Steve O'Neill: [@SteveZeroONeill] – Mostly on LinkedInCory Bernard: @168PolymerNext Episode Tease:Will the UK general election be a bloodbath for Labour—or will Starmer's centrism survive the green wave? Stay tuned.Need tweaks to match a specific platform (Spotify, Apple, etc.) or want a shorter version for email/newsletter blasts? Let me know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson turned down numerous invitations for national television appearances over the past week, telling Seattle Nice, “That is not my job.” But she took time out of her busy transition planning to speak with us (and you!). With assistance from our amazing Patreon supporters, and other listeners, we took advantage of the opportunity to pose the incoming mayor of Seattle questions on a wide range of topics, including the following:WHat concrete actions is she going to take to tackle affordability? How does she plan to deal with the City Council's adoption of a budget proviso requiring her to fund the Unified Care Team, which sweeps encampments?How, specifically, does she intend (as she has promised) to get 4000 homeless people into shelter or housing in her first term?What's her response to Donald Trump calling her a "very, very liberal slash communist mayor" and does she consider herself a soccer fan like Zohran Mamdani?Given her opposition to the use of CCTV surveillance, what is her approach to ensuring fan safety and security during the World Cup?What's the role of market capitalism in solving Seattle's problems, given her commitment to socialism? Along with being Seattle's socialist mayor, does she accept the mantle of being Seattle's urbanist mayor, and what does that mean to her?As a City Hall outsider, how does her conception of politics differ from that of Bruce Harrell, the veteran incumbent she improbably vanquished?And much, much more! Our editor is Quinn Waller. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.comThanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.comSupport the showYour support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice.
In a special episode recorded from City Hall in Salt Lake City, Clarence speaks with Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall in the days leading up to City Summit 2025. Hear from Mayor Mendenhall on how the city first received a global view during the 2002 Olympics and has only continued to strengthen in the following years. From enhanced transit to a bustling sports scene to a diverse city council, Mayor Mendenhall shares many of her favorite things about SLC and even clears up many of the misconceptions people may have about the city.
Nevada County is one of twelve counties and six cities in California impacted by a recent CodeRED outage. McGees Annex in Nevada City went up for auction on the steps of the Nevada County courthouse yesterday.City Hall Art Meets the Public, or CHAMP, is an exhibition on the entryway walls of City Hall in Nevada City. Submissions are now open for the first exhibition of 2026 with the theme: Year of Advanced Music Appreciation.
Awesome yet Confusing Emails sent to City Hall
It's the Wednesday politics show. Last week the Parker administration announced that the city is scrapping a longstanding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative that mandates a certain percentage of government contracts go to minority, women, or disabled-owned businesses. That prompted criticism. But yesterday, Mayor Parker held a press conference detailing a new plan for contracting with businesses that she describes as a "DEI model of the future." Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Anna Orso, City Hall reporter for The Inquirer, to explain this developing story on the future of DEI in city government. Read Anna's reporting here. Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We're also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Art Star Simply Eloped Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertisew and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Art Star Simply Eloped Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise
San Francisco tried to atone for the war on drugs with a DEI program for recreational weed store owners. In the end, the real winners were rich white dudes like London Breed's old roommate, Conor Johnston. Chris Roberts—America's top cannabis journalist and historian reporting from America's number-one cannabis producing region—returns. We go deep on his recent Chronicle piece detailing how it all went wrong. - "San Francisco's first 'equity' weed store was an epic failure. City Hall insiders may still pocket millions" sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/marijuana-weed-legal-shop-haight-21063653.php "White Weed Entrepreneurs Are Gaming Programs Meant to Help People of Color" (Chris for Vice) vice.com/en/article/white-weed-entrepreneurs-are-gaming-programs-meant-to-help-people-of-color/ Previous episode with Chris, on the radiation disaster at Hunter's Point patreon.com/posts/radiation-at-132819458 - Sad Francisco is produced by Toshio Meronek and edited by Tyger Ligon. Support the show and get new episodes early on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sadfrancisco
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' new push for the city to take a tougher approach in talks with the Spurs for tax dollars to build a new arena. Suggested reading: Could Spurs arena infrastructure make next city bond a harder sell? San Antonio quietly slashes final boost for minority- and woman-owned businesses Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In New York, a new kind of leader is stepping in. Zohran Mamdani is younger, bolder, and has a vision that's shaking up the status quo. What his victory reveals goes far beyond this recent mayoral election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some moments stay with us long after they end. The choice we made. The thing we wish we had said. The image that still lingers when the room goes quiet. Cyra’s story begins with one of those moments, the kind that changes everything and asks who we will become after it. At sixteen, she lost her brother to suicide and carried the guilt of that day for years. Her healing came slowly, through forgiveness and the power of words. Poetry became a place to lay down her pain and listen to something deeper, something that kept whispering that love was still possible. What You’ll Hear How grief can hold both love and regret at once The quiet guidance of a voice that spoke when she needed it most Why poetry became her way to understand pain and healing What it means to forgive a younger version of yourself The long, patient work of turning loss into meaning How creativity can become medicine when nothing else fits Guest Bio Cyra Sweet Dumitru (www.cyrasweetdumitru.com) is an accomplished poet, instructor of poetry writing, and one of four certified practitioners of poetic medicine in Texas. Her poems have appeared on a wall in San Antonio's City Hall and on city buses, been spoken on national radio and in museums, published in newspapers, and featured in anthologies and literary journals. She has four collections of poetry and a memoir, Words Make a Way Through Fire: Healing After My Brother's Suicide, which is told through prose and poetry and was published by She Writes Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Cyra leads therapeutic writing circles for people from all walks of life. Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early releases: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Stay connected through the newsletter and social links at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com
Death Blow to LA Landlords: City Hall Just Assassinated Your Cash Flow ⚰️
New York City is one week into the transition from Mayor Eric Adams to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and the administration is starting to take shape. This week, Mamdani named Dean Fuleihan as first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as chief of staff. NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what we can expect from these changes at City Hall. After that, there's already another race to watch, the contest for City Council speaker. Five candidates are vying for the position held by Adrienne Adams. The "Off Topic" team will tell you where things stand.
This week, we're looking into how a Supreme Court decision regarding Mississippi's elections could impact Oregon and a potential ballot initiative hoping to reallocate 25% of city climate tax revenues to hiring more police officers. Plus, there's a City Hall proposal to ban rent-setting algorithms from being used in Portland. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are KBOO news director Althea Billings and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Supreme Court Decision on Accepting Mail-In Ballots Could Affect Oregon's Elections System [Oregonian] Ballot Initiative Will Seek To Reroute 25% of Climate Tax Revenues to Hiring Police [Willamette Week] Portland Council Resurrects Proposal To Ban Rent-Setting Algorithms [Oregonian] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 14th episode: Veganizer The Watermark Visit Walla Walla Portland G&E Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Today... Paonia artist Seth Weber’s new Montrose City Hall mural blends painted and sculptural elements to celebrate the region’s landscape while reflecting his broader commitment to community-focused public art. And later... A rare and vivid display of the northern lights lit up Colorado’s Western Slope Tuesday night due to a strong solar storm, with a chance for another sighting Wednesday if skies stay clear.Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In New York City, 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican activist Curtis Sliwa to win City Hall. Who is Zohran Mamdani, and what are his political stances? Here's KCSB Hunter Maher with the story.
Drawing on his deep city and state government experience, Dean Fuleihan, future first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration and former budget director in the de Blasio administration talks about how he intends to help Mayor-elect Mamdani achieve his policy goals. Then, Laura Nahmias, senior reporter covering New York City and state politics at Bloomberg News, offers political analysis of the role Dean Fuleihan will play in Mayor-elect Mamdani's City Hall.
On this episode, we break down Zohran Mamdani's victory to become the next Mayor of New York City, what it means for Democrats in New York and beyond, and what comes next for Mamdani as he enters City Hall. First, an interview with Maya Handa, who was Mamdani's general election campaign manager. Then, Rebecca Katz and Morris Katz (no relation) of Fight Agency discuss elements of Mamdani's success that Morris helped craft as his lead media strategist, lessons from Bill de Blasio's tenure he needs to take into City Hall, and much more. (Ep 546)
In this episode, Ed Mitchell shares his journey transitioning from city administrator to private sector executive, highlighting the professional challenges and transferable skills that shaped his path. Now Senior Vice President at U.S. Water, Ed discusses how he overcame early setbacks and built a career serving local governments from a different angle.Ed and Steve explore Florida's pressing water infrastructure issues, from saltwater intrusion to underfunded sewer systems. They highlight real-world examples like Fort Pierce and Longboat Key, emphasizing the need for proactive investment and long-term planning to avoid costly failures.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pointed to "sewer socialism"—the early Milwaukee model where socialist mayors treated basic public infrastructure as central to serving working people—as part of the vision that guides him. Listeners call in to tell us which small public-works improvement, in that spirit, would make life better on their block.
MATA is offering “free: transportation on all its bus routes. City Hall did not say who is paying for the “free service.” Mayor Young says removing fares is a way to open the doors for more Memphians to get jobs and access to healthcare and education. What say you, Memphis? Listen LIVE Weekdays 7AM Central on the KWAM app, or Mighty990.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s a big day at L.A. City Hall — Michael Monks joins Gary and Shannon to break down what’s next for rent control and that wild downtown gondola plan. Plus, Gov. Newsom makes headlines with a visit to Brazil, and an AI-generated country song just hit #1 in America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a 4-3 vote, the Troy City Council voted to move City Hall to the old Proctor's Theatre. Today, we air excerpts of the meeting where the public overwhelmingly showed up to oppose the decision. The full City Council meeting is posted on their YouTube account. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4m7J5vmdqU
Henderson's looking less “sleepy suburb” and more “Bravo reality show” these days. Just last week, Councilwoman Carrie Cox was indicted for allegedly hiding behind a curtain at City Hall to secretly record a colleague's conversation. To unpack how the city got here, we revisit our chat with co-host Dayvid Figler and Review-Journal reporter Casey Harrison about Henderson's growing list of political drama plotlines — from former police chief Hollie Chadwick's firing and surprise mayoral run against Michelle Romero to council infighting and eyebrow-raising consulting deals. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 11th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority Black Mountain Institute JK Studios! The Neon Museum - Nevada residents, light up your night with 50% off admission to The Neon Museum! Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
How is artificial intelligence used by the Philadelphia Police, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and City Hall? AI has been integrated into many aspects of city government, from issuing parking tickets to operating drones. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Meir Rinde, investigative reporter for Billy Penn, about how our local government is using AI to address problems and why there are concerns about our AI future. Read Meir's full story here. Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us: 215-259-8170 We're also on Instagram: @citycastphilly You can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: University of Pennsylvania Fitler Club Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise
Greetings from Mamdanistan! This week, Lovett or Leave It takes a bite out of the Red Apple from Brooklyn's beautiful Crown Hall Theater. Zohran Mamdani takes City Hall and Democrats across the country give us a reason to keep living. Ana Gasteyer flies off the handle, while David Krumholtz kvetches with the best of them. The Rant Wheel opens some eyes in the city that never sleeps, and musician Victor Jones brings us all the way home. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In our final episode, we talk about the future of New York City under Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani and who he will surround himself with to help him accomplish his vision. We're also joined by Patrick Gaspard, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, former key Obama aide and now key advisor to Mamdani, to talk about this historic moment. — FAQ NYC and Max Politics are teaming up for a limited series, coming to you every Tuesday through November, featuring special guests who will help us dig into the latest in the mayor's race – and what's at stake for New Yorkers. City Hall Free For All is brought to you with generous support from Jamie Rubin and Vital City. This week's episode was hosted by Christina Greer, Katie Honan, Ben Max and Harry Siegel. Our Senior Producer is Giulia Hjort, and Noah Smith is our engineer. Our series consultants are Jess Hackel and Courtney Harrell. Music from Epidemic Sound.
Pittsburgh has a new mayor, the PA Supreme Court is keeping its Democratic judges, and an unsuccessful city council candidate says she's picking up and moving out of town. City Cast's Megan Harris, Mallory Falk, and Sophia Lo are talking about the results of Tuesday's election and the new (but familiar) faces joining Mayor-elect Corey O'Connor's team. Plus, they discuss the malfunction that left 27 people stranded on the Monongahela Incline, a couple big (and questionable) donations from Pennsylvania's richest man, and some important local ice cream news. Notes and references from today's show: 'Democratic energy,' and anger at Trump, powered wins up and down the Pa. ballot, observers say [WESA] Allegheny County voters choose Democrats for eight contested County Council seats, sheriff [WESA] The Surprising History Behind Pittsburgh's Father-Son Mayors [Pittsburgh Magazine] Community Survey [Mayor Corey O'Connor] Pittsburgh Regional Transit says motor-controller failure caused Mon Incline breakdown [WESA] PODCAST: Could Our Inclines Crash? Plus, Vaccine Access and RAD Passes Expand [City Cast Pittsburgh] Early-morning flames destroy historic Bantam Jeep building in Butler [CBS Pittsburgh] Jeffrey Yass, Pa.'s richest man, donated at least $2.5 million to Trump's White House ballroom [Philadelphia Inquirer] Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuition [Texas Tribune] US Steel details plans to invest $11 billion by 2028 across all business segments [AP News] Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor building faces Sheriff's sale [Pittsburgh Business Times] Millie's Homemade Ice Cream partners with firm to franchise brand [Pittsburgh Business Times] Learn more about the sponsors of this November 7th episode: The Frick Family House Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
From New York to California, the 2025 elections carry important implications for the Jewish community. AJC New York Director Josh Kramer addresses concerns over New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has questioned Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and accused it of genocide. Kramer highlights fears over rising antisemitism in New York and outlines AJC's plan to engage the Mayor-elect on combating hate crimes while remaining vigilant against policies that could target Israel. Looking beyond New York, AJC's Director of National Political Outreach, Rebecca Klein, provides an overview of broader election results, including the victories of Democratic governors in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the political impact of California's Proposition 50 on redistricting. She explains what these outcomes could mean for Jewish communities and national advocacy efforts. Key Resources: A Letter to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani AJC's Efforts to Support the Hostages Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman: The first election season since last year's presidential elections is behind us, giving New York City a new mayor, New Jersey and Virginia new governors and California a green light to redraw its map of congressional districts. We asked Rebecca Klein, AJC's Director of National Political Outreach, to explain what the 2025 election results mean for the American Jewish community. But first we wanted to hear from Josh Kramer, regional director of AJC New York, about the election of Zohran Mamdani as the 111th mayor of New York City, the largest Jewish community outside the state of Israel. Josh, if you could please tell us why that matters, why it matters that the largest Jewish community outside Israel is in New York City, and why the prospect of Mr. Mamdani at the helm of City Hall is a concern. Josh Kramer: So as you noted, New York has the largest Jewish population in the country and outside of Israel as well. Jews in New York City are scratching their heads today. They're asking themselves, how could it have come to be that a candidate has been elected to the highest office in the land who espouses views that are contrary to so much of the bulk of the mainstream Jewish population in New York City. Views that isolate and demonize and hold Israel to a double standard. This is a challenging day for many in the Jewish community. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you could rewind, for listeners who have not been following the mayoral election in New York City, because it's sometimes hard for us here in the New York metropolitan area to remember we are not the center of the world. People are more concerned with issues in their own backyard. But if you could please just kind of fill those listeners in on why Mr. Mamdani was a concern and how he expressed those views that you just spoke of being contradictory to the mainstream Jewish community. Josh Kramer: Absolutely, but I will take issue with New York not being the center of the Jewish world, of course, as the director for the AJC New York Regional Office. So I'll say that we know a lot about mayor-elect Mamdani's views on Israel from his long track record, from his statements that he's made along the campaign trail, from bills that he had proposed as a member of the state legislature. And mayor-elect Mamdani has espoused strong views in support of the BDS movement to isolate and dismantle Israel. He's called into question the Jewish nature of the world's only Jewish state, and he has had a very difficult time consistently calling out and labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization, condemning their actions of holding hostages and otherwise. So it has been a concern that these issues have been at issue during this election. But of course, we know that this election wasn't about the issues that AJC cares most about. Most people who went to the polls were voting about affordability issues or about bread and butter issues or filling potholes. Some were voting in alignment with their views on Israel. Many in the Jewish community, many who supported the mayor elect were misaligned with the candidates views on Israel. But I think most people were going to the polls based on those affordability issues. Manya Brachear Pashman: You answered my next question, which was, why did he win? And it sounds like you do not believe that it was necessarily a referendum on Israel. Josh Kramer: I think that there's been a lot of writing and a lot of discussion along the campaign trail about these issues. He has been, and other candidates have been asked about their support for the Jewish community and about what they would do to combat the rising tide of antisemitism, which has been a part of the campaign the entire time. But his non-support of the State of Israel has been a major issue in the campaign. It's just not the issue that I think that people were going to the polls and making their decisions based on. I think that there certainly were people who are motivated either by or repulsed by the now mayor-elect's views on Israel, but I don't think that it was their top issue. Manya Brachear Pashman: So you actually penned a letter to the mayor elect after his victory was announced. What did you say in that letter? What did you tell him? Josh Kramer: So AJC will work with this new mayor where we can, and that's one of the two core messages, I think, of the letter. We will work with this mayor on his pledge to quadruple, or octuple, the funding to combat hate crimes in New York City. We want to make sure that that funding is spent wisely and appropriately in the city government. We will work with him on a number of issues where we can align. Modeling, Muslim-Jewish dialog, if that is an area where we can work with the mayor elect. But the second message, and perhaps the more important message, is we will be there to speak out where we need to and understanding that this mayor elect has espoused BDS views for years now, since his days in college, and perhaps before. That we will speak out where we need to, should BDS principles be attempted by the city government as a result of those views. Manya Brachear Pashman: You mentioned the funds that he has pledged for combating hate crimes, and I imagine that will require some input from community organizations, especially Jewish organizations, since the Jewish population is often targeted by hate crimes, do you worry that weighing in as much as you did during campaign season will harm your chances of being able to work with and and negotiate and yeah, work in harmony with this mayor. Josh Kramer: AJC did feel the need to be on record for this election. And in fact, even prior to the election, we felt we needed to be on record given some of the rhetoric we've seen from this candidate. At the same time, we have engaged with representatives of the mayor's team of the now mayor elects team, and we hope to continue that dialog, to hope to continue to work together where we can. I hope that we haven't harmed our chances to provide input to where hate crimes funding should be spent or could be spent. You're right. Hate Crimes against Jews in New York City, they differ from national statistics in that in New York City, we are the victims of the majority of hate crimes, not just the victims of the religiously motivated or just religious, religiously based hate crimes. And that means, on average, Jews in New York City are subject to hate crimes, on average, about once per day throughout the year, at least that was the case in 2024 and so we hope very much to be able to monitor and affect how this funding will be spent and make sure that it's spent appropriately in combating the majority of hate crimes, which comprise the Jewish hate crimes. In fact, there was a hate crime that took place earlier today, one of our on average, one hate crimes per day that we experience against the Jewish community in New York City, and it was a swastika spray painted on a yeshiva in Brooklyn. And just earlier today, mayor elect Mamdani tweeted out, this is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antiSemitism. It has no place in our beautiful city, and as mayor, he will stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root out the scourge of antiSemitism from our city. So it's an area of interest for us to continue to engage and to see that kind of rhetoric from our leaders is very helpful. So that's, that's what we will continue to look for and also be vigilant at the same time. Manya Brachear Pashman: In fact, do you see that as being an entree into conversations and dialog that perhaps just did not, did not happen during the campaign season, for whatever reason, sometimes campaigns can get a little heated and the rhetoric can get a little fiery to fire up the base. Do you have hope? Are you optimistic that perhaps a more rational dialog will emerge during his tenure, and that perhaps this hate crime conversation will be part of it? Josh Kramer: I do think that that can happen. It can be that strong relationships can be built out of open and very much public dialog, like the letter that was sent out, and it's happened before in New York, we've started very strong relationships with elected leaders in New York City by first starting with very public disagreements. Now that's not our typical way of advocating. Of course, our typical way is diplomatically and behind closed doors, holding very open and frank conversations, but in circumstances like these, perhaps this is the best way to start a conversation. Manya Brachear Pashman: Well, Josh, thank you so much for sharing your views on the mayoral election, and now we'll turn to Rebecca Klein to talk about some of the other election results from this week. Rebecca, welcome to People of the Pod. Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Thank you for having me. Manya Brachear Pashman: So now that was one major municipal election this week. We also had smaller municipal elections across the country. There was an election in a suburb of Boston where voters voted to divest from Israel. In this Boston suburb, were there other examples of that in elections across the country, and why did this happen? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: So, you know, Boston has been sort of a challenge for us for some time now, and we as an organization have been addressing this. And I think this is a movement, the BDS movement, is one that we've been sort of countering for years now, and really had made a lot of progress, and it's coming back up again now you see sort of in the wake of 10/7 and in some of the concerns about the Israeli government. But I see this too as sort of these more symbolic gestures, right? And I think there is a movement out there. The Jewish community is paying attention. We are doing everything we can to counter these measures. I do think they are few and far between, and I think largely again, really, to get their messaging out there. These are sort of messaging points, but please know that we are doing everything we can to sort of quiet that noise, that these are not city issues, and we need to be sort of supportive of the Jewish community, especially now in the wake of rising antisemitism everywhere. Manya Brachear Pashman: So we'll go up from municipal elections and look at some statewide elections, some gubernatorial votes. We had Mikie Sherril win in the state of New Jersey against Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, and then we also had Abigail Spanberger in Virginia become governor. So two women as the head of states. What does this mean for the Jewish communities in those states and also across the country? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: So it's some good news, because I think both these candidates, these governors-elect have been really pro-Israel, pro-support of the Jewish community. Have loudly spoken out and shared their support. Have condemned antisemitism, and have really made it a part of their campaign, a part of their statements. I'll also just note that I think the truth is, is that whoever had won both of these elections, we were going to have a friend in the Jewish community. And this is a really important thing to note, because it sometimes can feel like there's a partisan divide between support for the Jewish community right now on Israel and antisemitism. And I'll say, when I see these races, where I look at it and I say, You know what, whoever wins, regardless of what else is going on in the background, I know that we can have lines in, we can have communication, and I feel we can have trusted partners. I'll also say that the interesting thing about, you know, we go right from the New York mayor's race to these two gubernatorial races, and you see a real shift from, you know, a very far side of the party to really moderate, centrist Democrats, both winning their primaries and now winning these elections, which I think says a lot. It's something I'm going to be looking for absolutely going into these midterms. But I do think it's very loud, and I think it's a counterbalance. For people who are concerned about the extremes of the parties, and I am too as well. Of course, I'm concerned, especially as AJC, as a nonpartisan organization that strives to be bipartisan and bring people together, that we have these now very moderate, reasonable voices leading these two very important states. Manya Brachear Pashman: And in fact, in New Jersey, AJC hosted a candidates forum, and all of the candidates had an opportunity to share their views about combating antisemitism. Correct? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Absolutely, they did, and it really is a testament not to AJC and our influence, but also to the way that these candidates felt that they did need to address our issues, that they wanted to come to our forum in order to really go on the record. They felt that it was important to the population of the state of New Jersey that they had to be on the record for our issues. And absolutely, I think that's an important thing. And I'm glad to see that more and more candidates are taking these positions. They're not shying away from these positions, and they're creating important relationships within the Jewish community. Manya Brachear Pashman: And just speaking of these two candidates, Governor-elect Spanberger And Governor-elect Sherril, were they aware and alarmed by a rise of antisemitism in their states? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Absolutely, and particularly some of the rhetoric so in the primary some of this antisemitism or anti-Israel rhetoric came up. And Abigail Spanberger really spoke to it. I think she spoke to it really nicely. She talked about, you know, it's okay to have differences of opinions, but ultimately, we can never cross the line into antisemitism. Mikie Sherril too really has been supportive of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. Both really have addressed it. They understand that in a post 10/7 world, we really can't take these things for granted. And I know that both of these leaders, I think, will be good friends of the Jewish community and will absolutely be on the forefront of combating antisemitism in their states. Manya Brachear Pashman: So I'm going to move over to the west coast and talk about the election in California. I know we have some listeners in California who care about this, about Prop 50, but should people in other states across the nation be looking at California's Prop 50 and thinking about how it might affect them? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Look, I think it's an important conversation. I think it's a difficult conversation, especially for us as we think about what democratic values really mean, when we talk about that as an ideal. Are these major redistricting efforts really the way we want to be thinking about our elections from now on? There are cases to be made on both sides. I think to some degree, if this is going to be the state of the future, you have to level the playing field. I think that's what California's voters said. They said, We need a level playing field. We need those extra five seats. You know, again, my concern is, where are we going to see the ripple effects of this? Now some states are absolutely backing off these redistricting efforts immediately after this election, which I probably think is maybe the better or the safer way to go. Because, again, one of the things to keep in mind is, when you create these new seats, you have to think about who are going to be the people running in these seats, whether we're talking about California or Texas. Are we now inviting people from the more extreme parts of the party to be running for these offices, and are we going to like what we get when those people win? Manya Brachear Pashman: Could you go back and explain to listeners what prop 50 is? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Absolutely. So basically, prop 50 was on the ballot and California voters got to vote for it yesterday in the election. Basically it allows California to now create a new map, and it'll be with five seats that likely, I should say, will heavily favor Democrats. It will change the map of California pretty drastically in the upcoming midterm elections. Manya Brachear Pashman: And it's similar to the redistricting that happened in Texas, for example, although it wasn't as drastic a change, correct? I believe that's true, yes, but other states are redistricting as well, or at least discussing redrawing their maps. Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Yeah, other states are now talking about it. But like I said, I'm seeing some early sort of signs from some of these states that they may be backing off of that conversation. Again, you don't really know how it's going to play out when you do these efforts. I'll also say that it seems like the campaign to run this prop 50, it seemed a little disorganized all around and so again, if you're going to do this sort of thing, you really want to know that you're going to win it, because it can have really detrimental effects from cycle to cycle, election to election. So we'll sort of see, when we look at them, at these elections, these off-year elections, they're signals. They're signals to the major parties, they're signals to state parties, they're signals to voters. And so I think everyone's sort of now doing the analysis in just the hours after this election to see, okay, what does it mean? You know, should we be pivoting our messaging? Are we pivoting the way that we're doing things? And I think we're going to see some shuffling. And you can, again, you can already sort of see it. You'll hear it in some commentary. You'll see it on Twitter. People are a little bit, there are nerves out there. There's a lot of spin. Every party is going to sort of present their case here. But again, I think there's a lot to learn from what happened yesterday, and we're going to see these effects in the days ahead, in the weeks ahead, and absolutely in the months ahead. Manya Brachear Pashman: So where else should we be talking about? We mentioned Virginia, we mentioned New York and New Jersey and California. Were there any other elections of note? Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Yeah, there were some local Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania that went democratic, that could have gone either way. There was something in Maine, an absentee ballot measure that was a Republican-led measure that was voted down, and many viewed that as a way to sort of bring voter participation down. So that was considered, I'd say, a win from a democratic perspective. Manya Brachear Pashman: Wonderful, well Rebecca, thank you so much for joining us and putting this week's election in perspective. Rebecca Yoskowitz Klein: Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in for my conversation with former White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz about her new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.
Zohran Mamdani will become the 111th mayor of New York City after soundly defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. At 34, he's the youngest mayor in more than a century, the first Muslim ever to lead the city and the first candidate to earn more than 1 million votes since John Lindsay in 1969. Mamdani's meteoric rise marks a fascinating new chapter in New York's political history. Spectrum News NY1 political director Bob Hardt joined Errol to break down this historic race — from Mamdani's commanding victory speech to the challenges awaiting him at City Hall. They also discussed why his campaign succeeded where others fell short, and who the real winners and losers of this election were beyond the mayoral candidates.