Max Politics

Max Politics

Max Politics is a New York politics podcast hosted by journalist Ben Max featuring in-depth interviews with elected and appointed officials, candidates, advocates, and others about New York City and State politics and policy. Produced at New York Law School and its Center for New York Law. Get in touch: benmax25@gmail.com -------- Intro/outro music is Live-It by Ketsa. source (Free Music Archive) and license type (CC BY-NC-ND)

Episodes

Assemblymember Robert Carroll on Education Issues & the Mayoral Race

October 9, 2025 • 57 mins
New York State Assemblymember Robert Carroll, a Brooklyn Democrat, joined the show to discuss his push to ensure that education issues are discussed in the home stretch of the race to be the next Mayor of New York City, the importance of prioritizing literacy instruction, his short list of potential next city school chancellors, mayoral control of city schools, and more. (Ep 533)
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City Hall Free For All: An $18B Transit Cut & Sam Schwartz on Breaking Through Gridlock

October 7, 2025 • 44 mins
In episode three, we talk about the massive infrastructure cuts trickling down from the federal government – one of the many developments that have us holding our breath for what’s to come in our city. We’re also joined by ‘Gridlock’ Sam Schwartz, who gives us the lowdown on the past, present and future of transit in New York. — FAQ NYC and Max Politics are teaming up for a limited series, coming to you every Tuesday through Novem...
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First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro on Adams Administration Accomplishments & Priorities

October 2, 2025 • 76 mins
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro spoke with host Ben Max at a live event at New York Law School on the morning of September 30 to discuss Mayor Eric Adams' decision to drop his reelection bid, Adams' legacy, priorities Mastro has spearheaded, and much more. The event was hosted by NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law. (Ep 531)
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City Hall Free For All: Eric Adams Drops Out & Tish James on Her Legal Battles with Donald Trump

September 30, 2025 • 46 mins
In our second episode, the hosts debrief about Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to drop his re-election bid. New York Attorney General Tish James also joins us to talk about the cases she and Donald Trump have brought against one another, and her support of Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. --- FAQ NYC and Max Politics are teaming up for a limited series, coming to you every Tuesday through November, featuring special guests who will...
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City Hall Free For All: A Crowded Mayoral Race & Jumaane Williams on Democratic Defiance

September 20, 2025 • 45 mins
In our debut episode, Public Advocate Jumanne Williams joins us to talk about his arrest outside of 26 Federal Plaza, what the mayor and other elected officials can and should be doing in response to President Trump's threats, and why Williams thinks it's time for New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs to step down. --- FAQ NYC and Max Politics are teaming up for a limited series, coming at you every Tuesday through November...
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NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos on the Start of the School Year & Key Education Issues

September 19, 2025 • 49 mins
New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos joined the show to discuss the start of the new school year, key education policy initiatives underway like an overhaul of reading instruction, the new statewide student cellphone ban, mayoral control of city schools, and more. (Ep 538)
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State of the Mayoral Race with Under 2 Months To Go, with Adam Carlson & JC Polanco

September 11, 2025 • 68 mins
Post-Labor Day and with under 2 months until Election Day (Nov. 4) the general election for Mayor of New York City is now in full swing, and four new polls out this week (Sept. 8-12) help shed light on the state of the race among Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams. Joining the show to discuss the polling, the state of the race, candidates' paths to victory, and what comes next are pollster Adam Carlson of Ze...
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Jessica Ramos on Her Mayoral Run, Senate Reelection Campaign, & More

September 3, 2025 • 71 mins
State Senator Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat, returned to the show to discuss her performance and endorsement of Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral primary, her 2026 bid for Senate reelection against a tough primary challenge, key issues facing her constituents, and more. (Ep 526)
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Joe Borelli on How Trump is Doing & the New York City Mayoral Race

August 28, 2025 • 50 mins
Joe Borelli, Managing Director at Chartwell Strategy Group and former New York City Council Minority Leader, joined the show to discuss how President Trump is doing so far in his second term and the unfolding election for New York City Mayor. The Staten Island Republican spent over a dozen years in elected office, in the State Assembly then City Council, until earlier this year when he left government for the private sector. (Ep 52...
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Antonio Delgado on His Run for Governor

August 21, 2025 • 69 mins
New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, a Democrat and former member of Congress, joined the show to discuss his decision to challenge Governor Kathy Hochul in the June 2026 primary, how their relationship fell apart, key issues facing New York and his platform to address them, and more. (Ep 524)
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Senator John Liu on Supporting Mamdani, Asian Voters, & More

August 13, 2025 • 57 mins
New York State Senator John Liu, a Queens Democrat, joined the show to discuss key challenges facing his constituents and New York, his support for Zohran Mamdani for mayor, Asian voters, and much more. (Ep 523)
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Jonathan Rosen on Brad Lander, Bill de Blasio, & New York Politics

July 31, 2025 • 78 mins
Jonathan Rosen — CEO of Orchestra, co-founder of BerlinRosen, and a top political advisor to Brad Lander and Bill de Blasio — joined the show to discuss the changing communications and media landscape, Lander's unsuccessful bid for mayor, lessons from de Blasio's 2013 win and tenure, Zohran Mamdani's ascension, and more. (Ep 521)
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Kevin Elkins on the Cuomo Campaign, Labor Politics, Endorsements, & More

July 24, 2025 • 71 mins
Kevin Elkins, a senior advisor on former Governor Andrew Cuomo's Democratic primary campaign for mayor and the political director for the New York City carpenters union, joined the show to discuss the Cuomo campaign, the value of endorsements, labor politics, and much more. (Ep 520)
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Major Housing & Election Reform Proposals Head to the 2025 General Election Ballot

July 23, 2025 • 71 mins
The 2025 New York City Charter Revision Commission just advanced five proposals to the general election ballot dealing with housing, land use, and elections. The chair of the commission, Richard Buery, and its executive director, Alec Shierenbeck, joined the show to discuss the proposals that aim to increase housing growth and voter participation, among other goals, as well as one major reform that the commission did not advance fo...
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Key Takeaways from the 2025 Democratic Primary for Mayor, with Trip Yang & Sam Raskin

July 15, 2025 • 80 mins
Trip Yang, founder and CEO of Trip Yang Strategies, and Sam Raskin, Senior Vice President at Slingshot Strategies, joined the show to discuss key takeaways from the 2025 Democratic primary for New York City mayor, won by Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, and what those takeaways may mean for the future of New York politics, including the general election for mayor. (Ep 518)
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Latino Voters and the Mayor's Race, with Jessica González-Rojas & Eli Valentín

July 8, 2025 • 75 mins
Description Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, a Queens Democrat who represents the 34th Assembly District (Astoria, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside), and Eli Valentín, a political analyst and columnist, joined the show to discuss Latino voters and the New York City mayoral race. With host Ben Max, they discussed Zohran Mamdani's surprisingly strong performance among Latino voters, key issues of impor...
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Mike Gianaris on the Mayoral Primary, Mamdani's Record, & What Comes Next for New York Democrats

June 26, 2025 • 50 mins
Michael Gianaris, the State Senate Deputy Leader and head of Senate Democrats' campaign efforts, joined the show to discuss his fellow Queens legislator — Zohran Mamdani — winning the Democratic primary for Mayor, Mamdani's record in the Legislature (including on issues where they partnered like public transit), and how Democrats should respond to Mamdani's success. (Ep 515)
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Mara Gay on the Mayoral Primary, the Democratic Establishment, & What Comes Next

June 25, 2025 • 51 mins
Mara Gay — an opinion writer at The New York Times, a former member of The Times' Editorial Board, and a longtime New York journalist who has covered New York and national politics — joined the show to discuss Zohran Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary for Mayor, the flaws in the Democratic establishment, the role of the Times, and what comes next. (Ep 314)
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Susan Kang on the DSA, the Mamdani Campaign, & the Mayoral Race

June 23, 2025 • 70 mins
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)
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Adrienne Adams on Her Campaign for Mayor

June 22, 2025 • 41 mins
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)
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