Best FAQ NYC Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 423: ‘A Little Bit of Amnesia’ in Ramos Endorsing Cuomo 36:27

7d ago36:27

36:27

Mayoral candidate and State Senator Jessica Ramos joined FAQ NYC in March to lament that ”there is, I think, a little bit of amnesia happening. I do think the press could do a better job of highlighting the myriad of ways in which Andrew Cuomo has created the mess that he now claims he is somehow going to fix. But I can't forget, right?" Now, Ramos…

1
Mayoral Primary Preview with FAQ NYC & Kathryn Garcia 1:52:19

16d ago1:52:19

1:52:19

The hosts of the FAQ NYC podcast - Christina Greer, Harry Siegel, and Katie Honan - joined host Ben Max for a big 2025 New York City mayoral primary election preview at New York Law School on May 29 in front of a live audience. They were joined by 2021 Democratic primary runner-up Kathryn Garcia for the first 30 minutes of the program, then the fou…

1
Analyzing the Second Democratic Mayoral Debate, with Harry Siegel 53:27

3d ago53:27

53:27

Harry Siegel — co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, an editor at The City, and a columnist at The Daily News and Vital City — joined the show to analyze the second televised Democratic mayoral primary debate. Just after the debate among 7 "leading candidates" that aired on NY1 TV and WNYC radio, Siegel joined host Ben Max to discuss how the candidates p…

1
Black Voters and the 2025 Mayoral Race, with L Joy Williams 1:05:38

4d ago1:05:38

1:05:38

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

1
Ana Maria Archila on the Working Families Party's Mayoral Race Push 1:06:34

5d ago1:06:34

1:06:34

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

1
Scott Stringer on His Campaign for Mayor 52:35

10d ago52:35

52:35

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

1
Analyzing the First Democratic Mayoral Debate, with Bob Hardt 41:26

11d ago41:26

41:26

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

1
Manhattan Borough President Debate: Democratic Primary 1:25:55

12d ago1:25:55

1:25:55

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

1
Episode 422: Is Cuomo Choking?` 31:58

14d ago31:58

31:58

Polling shows that the mayor’s race is still the governor's to lose — but his lead keeps shrinking and he might well lose it in the home stretch. Cuomo’s limited public appearances haven't exactly inspired confidence, let alone the sort of energy that's evident in Zohran Mamdani's ubiquitous volunteers. Hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry …

1
Episode 421: Kathryn Garcia Says 2025 ‘Is Much More Topsy-Turvy” 1:52:19

16d ago1:52:19

1:52:19

FAQ NYC teamed up with Max Politics for a live podcast event on Thursday, with special guest Kathryn Garcia reflecting on her 2021 mayoral race where she came just 7,000 votes short of upsetting Eric Adams , what's different this time around and the difference between politics and policy: "I hope that despite what's happening at the Federal level, …

1
Kathy Wylde on How New York City's Doing, the 2025 Mayor's Race, & Morewav 1:03:00

19d ago1:03:00

1:03:00

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

1
Episode 420: ‘How Do I Get a Squirrel?’ 39:29

20d ago39:29

39:29

“It's hard to be a human in New York but it's downright dangerous to be a baby squirrel,” says Kyra Tippens-Richan, who spends her work days performing autopsies on animals and her off-hours caring for squirrels. She shares her story, and then Ben Max stops by to run down the competitive races down-ballot ahead of the FAQ NYC-Max Politics live podc…

1
1 Month to Primary Day, with Tyrone Stevens & Jon Paul Lupo 1:16:58

24d ago1:16:58

1:16:58

Political strategists Tyrone Stevens and Jon Paul Lupo joined the show to discuss the state of the race for Mayor of New York City with one month until primary day, which is June 24. With host Ben Max, they assess the Democratic primary for mayor, variables that could shift the race down the home stretch, potential strategies to help candidates bre…

1
Episode 419: Cuomo's Still Coasting 32:03

28d ago32:03

32:03

Time's running awfully short for Zohran Mamdani to turn momentum into position, Adrienne Adams to ignite or anyone else to catch up with Andrew Cuomo, who's happy to stay out of the fray, keep unscripted interactions with voters let along other candidates to a minimum and other otherwise trust, like Eric Adams did four years ago, that even Democrat…

1
Andrew Cuomo's Record as Governor - Part 2, Policy - with Jon Campbell 1:18:13

1M ago1:18:13

1:18:13

In part two of our miniseries on Andrew Cuomo's record as Governor of New York, we examine his policy record over his ten-and-a-half-year tenure (January 2011-August 2021). Jon Campbell, a longtime state politics reporter now with WNYC/Gothamist, joined the show to recount and examine Cuomo's policy record over the course of his nearly three terms …

1
Episode 418: Are the Moderates Riding 'The Silent Wave’? 30:48

1M ago30:48

30:48

While New York City mayor went to DC to kiss the ring, Newark’s mayor got himself arrested trying to visit a newly opened ICE lock-up in his city. Meantime, Andrew Cuomo was docked $600,000 by the Campaign Finance Board on Monday for illegally coordinating with his own super PAC — but still seems to be on track for a victory in the Democratic prima…

1
Andrew Cuomo's Record as Governor - Part 1, Leadership Style — with Bill Hammond & Nick Reisman 1:21:23

1M ago1:21:23

1:21:23

Longtime journalists Bill Hammond and Nick Reisman joined the show to discuss Andrew Cuomo's record as Governor of New York, with a focus on Cuomo's leadership style. Cuomo, leading the polls in the 2025 Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City, was Governor from January 2011 to August 2021. Hammond - formerly of the New York Daily News and no…

1
Special Live Event Announcement - Join Us May 29 2:33

1M ago2:33

2:33

Join Max Politics and FAQ NYC for a live double-podcast, primary election preview event on Thursday May 29, 5:30-7:30pm, at New York Law School! Hosts Ben Max, Christina Greer, Katie Honan, and Harry Siegel will provide the latest analysis of the race to be the next Mayor of New York City and highlight other key races to watch ahead of June's prima…

1
Episode 417: Mamdani Momentum Hits Cuomo Cliff 49:24

1M ago49:24

49:24

Mamdani momentum is monumental, but Cuomo remains a steep cliff to climb with time running short. Co-hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss that and much more, including Kathy Hochul’s premature “budget deal” proclamation, Eric Adams’ “best budget ever” proposal, and Donald Trump’s brutal federal spending plan that neither New …

1
Investigations Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber on Fighting Corruption in City Government 1:02:59

2M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber spoke with host Ben Max at a live event at New York Law School for Law Day, May 1, hosted by NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law. Strauber spoke about the important role DOI plays in ensuring ethical and effective government, DOI's role in the indictment of Mayor Eric …

1
Borough President Donovan Richards on the State of Queens & the 2025 Elections 1:09:17

2M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

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

1
Episode 416: A Different Path to Public Safety 46:49

2M ago46:49

46:49

With not even 60 days to the Democratic primary, the field is running out of time to catch up with Andrew Cuomo while the governor — as the mayoral candidate’s team still refers to him —tries to run out the clock while keeping the public and the press at arm’s length. Co-hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel discuss all that and much more, plus Ha…

1
2 Months to Primary Day, with Rebecca Katz & Jason Ortiz 1:09:27

2M ago1:09:27

1:09:27

Political strategists Rebecca Katz and Jason Ortiz joined the show to discuss the state of the mayoral race and much more with two months to go until primary day, which is June 24, 2025. Katz, a co-founder of Fight agency, and Ortiz, a co-founder of Moonshot Strategies, are both veteran political strategists in New York and beyond. They joined the …

1
Episode 415: Is Randy Running the Show While Eric Runs for Reelection? 26:32

2M ago26:32

26:32

While Eric Adams, no longer facing the prospect of a prison sentence, is rocking too-tight tees and trying to find the right tone to convince New Yorkers to give him a second term, new First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro is taking a very public, aggressive approach. FAQ NYC co-hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss that and much mo…

1
Borough President Antonio Reynoso on the State of Brooklyn & the 2025 Elections 1:07:23

2M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

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

1
Episode 414: Does Cuomo Want a Wedding or a Marriage? 29:42

2M ago29:42

29:42

As the former governor racks up more big endorsements for his mayoral run while putting out reportedly AI-assisted policy plans and mostly avoiding the press, co-host Christina Greer asks if the frontrunner in the polls wants a marriage with New York City or just a wedding. It remains to be seen, though, how his lead holds up as the election heats …

1
Episode 413: Brad Lander Says NYC Can Do Better Than ‘A Bully Who’s Also a Chicken’ 58:54

2M ago58:54

58:54

“I'm running to bring a safer, more affordable and better run city,” says city Comptroller Brad Lander, offering himself as the candidate with both a vision and “a track record of making government work for people.” In the latest installment of the pod’s series of sitdown interviews with the Democratic mayoral contenders, Lander talked about how he…

1
Mayoral Candidate Forum on Parks, Recreation, & Open Space 1:33:20

2M ago1:33:20

1:33:20

Six of the Democratic candidates for Mayor of New York City participated in a candidate forum on the evening of April 8, 2025 at New York Law School. The event featured candidates Adrienne Adams, Michael Blake, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, and Scott Stringer, all vying for the Democratic nomination in June's primary election. The for…

1
Episode 412: Adrienne Adams Says ‘I’m the Change the City Needs’ 48:10

2M ago48:10

48:10

“We are so tired of the trauma, we are so tired of the drama, we are tired of the scandal,” said City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams. “When I saw four deputy mayors resign at the same time and it appeared to be because our mayor decided to cozy up to the chaotic Donald Trump — I saw the brains walk out of the computer and I sa…

1
Eyeing the 2030 Census, with Assemblymember Landon Dais & Professor Jeff Wice 48:26

2M ago48:26

48:26

The once-a-decade Census population count is immensely important to determine federal funding to states and cities, representation in the federal government, electoral college votes, and more. We just passed the halfway mark between the 2020 and 2030 Census counts, and New York leaders are starting to sound the alarm about the need for good plannin…

1
Abundance in New York, with Ryder Kessler & Catherine Vaughan 1:13:06

2M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Ryder Kessler and Catherine Vaughan, co-founders of Abundance New York, joined the show to discuss the "abundance" wave washing over the national political discourse (in part inspired by the new book Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson), what their vision for abundance in New York is, how to achieve it, NIMBYism vs YIMBYism, and much more. T…

1
Episode 411: A High-Stakes Casino Contest 37:11

3M ago37:11

37:11

What's the difference between a parking lot, a park and a casino? Just a few words scribbled on some paper if Mets owner Steve Cohen gets his way, and it looks like he might now with a well compensated assist from State Senator John Liu that's also a kick in the shins of his legislative colleague and mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos. Co-host Katie H…

1
3 Months to Primary Day, with Basil Smikle 1:08:51

3M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

With just 3 months to primary day in New York City's 2025 elections, Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. joined the show to discuss the state of the mayoral race, the candidate field, the mood of the city electorate, and more. Smikle is a longtime political strategist, former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, and currently a professor at …

1
Episode 410: Andrew Cuomo Muscles Into Adrienne Adams’ Turf 34:10

3M ago34:10

34:10

After eight Black elected officials from Southeast Queens put out a joint statement saying they were endorsing Andrew Cuomo for mayor, three of them said that, actually, they’re not doing that (and, in one case, won’t be ranking Cuomo at all). Guest Jeff Coltin of Politico New York, who broke that story over the weekend, talks with hosts Christina …

1
Borough President Vanessa Gibson on the State of the Bronx 1:05:40

3M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

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

1
NYC Comptroller Debate Between Justin Brannan & Mark Levine 1:25:28

3M ago1:25:28

1:25:28

Two of the leading Democratic candidates for New York City Comptroller - City Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine - in this year's election joined New York Law School (NYLS) and Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) for a debate in front of a live audience at NYLS. The debate was moderated by Max Politics hos…

1
Episode 409: A Plan to Make Subways Feel Safe Again 46:40

3M ago46:40

46:40

Vital City founder Liz Glazer talks about her group's ambitious new memo on What To Do (and Not To Do) About Subway Safety — and why the answer isn't gun detection technology, surging officers into the system or more fare-evasion enforcement. Plus, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel gab about the mayoral fund-raising numbers and the state of the race — i…

1
Episode 408: Jessica Ramos Says NYC Can Do Better Than Another ‘Megalomaniac Mayor’ 1:02:48

3M ago1:02:48

1:02:48

Ramos also delved into her position as “a labor Democrat… in a lane of my own,” her “plan to call for a mental health emergency on day one of my mayoralty,” the city’s “new Gilded Age” and the battle for a casino license here (“Andrew Carnegie, who wasn’t as rich as Steve Cohen is today, by the way he built 2,500 public libraries”), and much more I…

1
UFT President Michael Mulgrew on Education Issues, the 2025 Mayoral Race, & More 1:08:53

3M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

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

1
Episode 407: ‘The Great Wound’ of a Self-Exiled Brooklyn Basketball Legend 50:29

3M ago50:29

50:29

In 1951, Frankie King of James Madison High was a Brooklyn legend, the youngest basketball player ever to make first-team all city before he withdrew from public life while remaining in and of the city — writing pornography for the mob to pay the rent, ambitious novels in his own voice and then a million-book-selling “cozy cat” series under the pen…

1
Episode 406: Running Hard or Hardly Running? 31:28

3M ago31:28

31:28

While Andrew Cuomo tops the early polls, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is officially running for mayor and Mayor Eric Adams seems to be going through the motions. As New Yorkers try to make sense of the dizzying election shaping up here amid an unprecedented second Trump presidency that seems to be taking direct aim at the city and in its institut…

1
Episode 405: 'Inshallah Mayor’ Zohran Mamdani Says It's All About Making NYC More Affordable 35:21

3M ago35:21

35:21

"Democrats in general tend to show up to gun fights with bar graphs," Queens Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said as he sat down with the FAQ NYC crewto make his case. That boils down, he explained, to driving down the cost of living for New Yorkers and "less lecturing, more listening." In a wide-ranging interview — the latest i…

1
Episode 404: ‘Sometimes People Just Get Beaten to Death’ 46:28

3M ago46:28

46:28

There’s a direct line from the Transit Police beating Michael Stewart to death in front of horrified art students to Eric Adams being elected mayor — one that intersects with Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Spike Lee and Tucker Carlson. Journalist Elon Green, the author of The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart's New York, th…

1
Jumaane Williams on City Leadership, the Mayoral Race, & His Reelection Bid 58:52

3M ago58:52

58:52

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

1
Episode 403: Cometh the Hour, Cuomo the Man? 54:41

3M ago54:41

54:41

Sally Goldernberg, senior New York editor for Politico, talks with hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel about Andrew Cuomo (finally) entering the mayor's race this weekend with a sometimes grim, nearly 18-minute video announcement about how only he can save a city in crisis, followed by a closed-off and carefully choreographed campaign event. The…

1
Episode 402: Whitney Tilson Says NYC ‘Needs To Make Crime Illegal Again’ 49:28

4M ago49:28

49:28

Looking at the "different flavors of career politicians" running in the Democratic mayoral primary, "I didn't see anyone who could be independent of the machine that runs this city," said former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson. So he entered the race himself "to try and bring my party back to the center." In a wide-ranging sit-down interview with…

1
4 Months to Primary Day, with Sally Goldenberg 1:09:18

4M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Sally Goldenberg, a veteran New York journalist and senior New York editor at Politico, joined the show to discuss the state of the race for Mayor of New York City with four months until primary day. With just four months until primary day — June 24, 2025 — both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams are consid…

1
Episode 401: Two Adamses, Two Tis(c)hes and Much Too Much Tumult 31:19

4M ago31:19

31:19

It felt like a year's worth of news happened in the week two weeks since the FAQ NYC hosts last convened, with another few years worth about to drop. They dig into the confusion and concern at City Hall and through the government, the increasingly angry mayor, the still far-from-settled field in the mayoral race, and much more…

1
Electing Women to the New York City Council, with Teresa Gonzalez & Yvette Buckner 1:06:17

4M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

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

1
Episode 400: Michael Blake Has ‘A Very Different Vision of What Can Be for NYC’ 54:54

4M ago54:54

54:54

"You simply can't trust Eric Adams nor those that are closest to him," former assemblymember and Mayoral candidate Michael Blake said as he sat down with FAQ NYC hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel on Tuesday. "And when you have four deputy mayors who have quit on him after Eric Adams quit on New Yorkers on MLK Day, it's a clear indication that …

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