Max Politics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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