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 break out, and more. Both guests have extensive experience in New York City government, politics, and campaigns, including on major mayoral campaigns in the 2021 Democratic primary. (Ep 500)

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

Carlow Mayor, Cllr Fintan Phelan, has been outlining what's ahead for this evening's Carlow Mayoral Awards ... 

KCLR News: Cllr Fintan Phelan on Carlow Mayoral Awards (29th May 2025)

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, Telemundo, Politico, and other partners. (Ep 504)

Analyzing the First Democratic Mayoral Debate, with Bob Hardt

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)

Scott Stringer on His Campaign for Mayor

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 performed, the most interesting moments, and how the debate fits into the state of the primary with under two weeks until primary day, June 24. (Ep 508)


Analyzing the Second Democratic Mayoral Debate, with Harry Siegel

Brad Lander, the city comptroller running for mayor in the June 2025 Democratic primary, joined the show to discuss his mayoral campaign, cross-endorsement with Zohran Mamdani, and more. (Ep 509)

Brad Lander on His Campaign for Mayor

Howard Wolfson and Amit Singh Bagga — two political strategists, former city government officials, and members of The New York Times' 'The Choice' opinion panel — joined the show to discuss their experience as part of the Times' mayoral race assessment, the state of the race with a week until primary day, their thoughts on individual candidates, and more. (Ep 510)

Howard Wolfson & Amit Singh Bagga on The New York Times and the 2025 Race for Mayor

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)

Adrienne Adams on Her Campaign for Mayor

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)

Susan Kang on the DSA, the Mamdani Campaign, & the Mayoral Race

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 importance in the race, Mamdani's record in the Assembly, the challenges he could face in implementing his agenda, and more. (Related reading: Valentín's post-primary column on the Latino vote: https://citylimits.org/latino-voters-and-the-political-earthquake-in-new-york/) Ep 516

Latino Voters and the Mayor's Race, with Jessica González-Rojas & Eli Valentín

A mayor campaign jingle made by Benjinatics head 'Rico Salazar'.

Benji Ramos - Mayoral Campaign Jingle

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)

Key Takeaways from the 2025 Democratic Primary for Mayor, with Trip Yang & Sam Raskin

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)

Senator John Liu on Supporting Mamdani, Asian Voters, & More

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)

Jessica Ramos on Her Mayoral Run, Senate Reelection Campaign, & More

Longtime New York journalists and policy analysts Nicole Gelinas and Josh Greenman joined the show to discuss some of the big questions about mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani's big promises, namely his top policy pledges of freezing the rent on rent-stabilized apartments, free buses, and universal child care, as well as increased taxes to pay for his agenda, and more, like a $30 minimum wage and a Department of Community Safety. Gelinas is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow and contributing opinion writer at the New York Times and Greenman is managing editor at Vital City. (EP 542)

Big Questions About Zohran Mamdani's Big Promises, with Nicole Gelinas & Josh Greenman

For a final pre-election preview of the 2025 race to be the next Mayor of New York City, a three-part episode: 1) Political analyst Michael Lange and pollster Adam Carlson on the final polls of the mayoral race, the early voting turnout, & expectations for the outcome; 2) Nada Al-Hanooti of Defend and Advance, a Super PAC working to turn out Muslim voters to support Zohran Mamdani; and 3) Republican strategist Chapin Fay with his thoughts on GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, calls for Sliwa to drop out and endorse Andrew Cuomo, and various related political dynamics.  (Ep 543)

Final Pre-Election Preview, with Michael Lange, Adam Carlson, Nada Al-Hanooti, & Chapin Fay

State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat and close ally of Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, joined the show to discuss Mamdani's victory and the path ahead for his agenda, especially in Albany, where much power lies. (Ep 545)

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris on Mayor-Elect Mamdani & What Comes Next

Rich Azzopardi, a longtime spokesperson for Andrew Cuomo in government and politics, joined the show to discuss Cuomo's 2025 mayoral campaign, how things shifted from the primary to the general election, and more. Azzopardi was a senior advisor and director of communications in the governor's office under Cuomo and then, after Cuomo resigned in 2021, founded his own public affairs firm, Bulldog Strategies. He led communications on Cuomo's 2025 mayoral campaign. (Ep 548)

Rich Azzopardi on Andrew Cuomo's Mayoral Campaign & More

New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, a Queens Democrat, joined the show to discuss the growth of the NYC-DSA, her exploration of a run for Congress in NY-7, the Council speaker race won by Julie Menin, prospects for Zohran Mamdani's mayoralty, and more. (Ep 552)

Tiffany Cabán on Policy Priorities, Progressive Politics, & More

We're Carlow & Kilkenny's number one radio station with over 81,000 adult listeners every week. Catch up in full online at kclr96fm.com.

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
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Intro/outro music is Live-It by <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/as-above-so-below/live-it-instrumental/">Ketsa</a>. source (Free Music Archive) and license type (CC BY-NC-ND)

New tracks tagged #Mayoral