Off Topic/On Politics

Off Topic/On Politics

What happens when three New York reporters sit in a (small) room and talk politics? Join the NY1 political team each week for a conversation where no topic is off-limits and everything is on the record.

Episodes

February 5, 2026 30 mins

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul selected former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her pick for lieutenant governor ahead of the Democratic State Convention. But the move sparked discontent from the leader of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli break down Hochul's choice.

After that, New York City Mayor...

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This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani told New Yorkers the city is facing a staggering $12 billion budget deficit, a shortfall he says he inherited from former Mayor Eric Adams. The news has sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum — including from some budget mavens who say the city's financial situation isn't a precarious as the mayor claims. NY1 investigative reporter ...

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This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her $260 billion state budget, which proposes a major expansion of free child care and does not raise taxes. But that tax decision may mark the first public disagreement between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the governor. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down t...

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Gov. Kathy Hochul this week delivered her State of the State address, offering a window into her vision and priorities for 2026 — a crucial election year. The speech focused on several major themes, including affordability initiatives, universal childcare and the future of nuclear power in New York. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, p...

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first week in office brought both major announcements and minor controversies. On Thursday, the mayor unveiled a joint plan with Gov. Kathy Hochul for a statewide push to expand universal pre-K and create new 2-K child care initiatives. On the other side of the ledger, questions arose over the appointment of Cea Weaver to lead the Mayor's Office to Protect...

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In a day of firsts at City Hall, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor in front of a large crowd of supporters. Now officially holding what's often called "the second toughest job in America," Mamdani faces a daunting set of challenges. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political anchor Errol Louis look back on a monumental New Year's Day and what this new era could me...

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December 19, 2025 32 mins

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is facing new scrutiny and criticism after his newly-appointed director of appointments resigned just hours into the job. Catherine Almonte Da Costa stepped down Thursday afternoon following the resurfacing of antisemitic statements she posted more than a decade ago on social media — raising questions about the M...

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Eric Adams leaves his mayoralty behind in just 20 days, prompting many to ask: What kind of mayor was he? What were his accomplishments and his failures, and what will his legacy be? NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena break down his four years in office.

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This week, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with outgoing Mayor Eric Adams at Gracie Mansion as part of efforts to ensure a smooth transition next month. Mamdani also joined Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and protesters outside a Park Slope Starbucks, where they alleged unfair labor practices. With inauguration day only weeks away, NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross, po...

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This week, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he will keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role when he takes office in January. Tisch, the department's 48th commissioner, has led the NYPD with what Mamdani's team calls a renewed focus on accountability and transparency, overseeing a historic drop in violent crime. The decision ...

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November 14, 2025 32 mins

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 wha...

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November 5, 2025 31 mins

Zohran Mamdani has been elected New York City's 111th mayor, making history as the city's first Muslim mayor and the youngest in more than a century. He defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in an election that drew the highest turnout for a New York City mayoral race in decades. Mamdani's meteoric rise was powered by a campaign focused on the city's affordability crisis, earning him more than one million vo...

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October 31, 2025 36 mins

With new polls showing Zohran Mamdani holding a sizeable lead in the mayor's race, he's poised to become the city's first Muslim mayor. But with most polls being wrong about the Democratic primary in June, can they be trusted this time?

NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and stat...

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Just days before New Yorkers head to the polls, the three major candidates in the race for mayor squared off in a 90-minute debate sponsored by Spectrum News NY1, WNYC/Gothamist and THE CITY.

Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, Democrat Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa took part in a spirited exchange at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Queens. So how did the candidates do? NY1's Courtney Gross, Bobby Cuza and Ayan...

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October 17, 2025 30 mins

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani apologized to the NYPD for making a social media post in 2020 in which he called the police force racist and homophobic. Meanwhile, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is changing his tune about Rikers Island and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa is promising to take off the beret if elected. As election day nears, can Cuomo close in...

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October 9, 2025 32 mins

Fresh off dropping his reelection campaign, Mayor Eric Adams went on an unexpected trip to Albania. Back home, the three remaining major mayoral candidates marked the anniversary of Oct. 7, while former Gov. Andrew Cuomo surprised many by reversing course on his earlier support for closing Rikers Island. NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli break down another eventful week in...

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This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced in a nearly nine-minute video that he was dropping his struggling reelection bid. While some were surprised, others saw it as inevitable. What does his exit mean for the rest of the field and how are the remaining candidates pivoting? The team also looks at how this move shapes Adams' legacy. NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross and p...

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This week, NY1 presented a special podcast event — "New York Decides: Live from Chelsea", featuring a crossover episode of its political podcasts "Off Topic/On Politics" and "You Decide." Hosted by Errol Louis, Courtney Gross and Bobby Cuza, the discussion centered on the latest developments in the New York City mayoral campaign, including the...

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This week, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa leveled bribery accusations against rival Andrew Cuomo, while Mayor Eric Adams surprised many by repeatedly weighing in on the city's transgender bathroom policy. NY1's investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what it all means for the closing stretch of the campaign.

Meanwhile, anothe...

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This week, Zohran Mamdani scored a key endorsement from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had spent months on the fence about whether to fully embrace the Democratic candidate for mayor. State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie also lined up behind Mamdani, who is leading in the polls over his rivals. NY1 political reporters Bobby Cuza, Ayana Harry and Kelly Mena break down the latest developme...

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