The Brian Lehrer Show City Politics: Last Debate Preview
Oct 22, 2025
Elizabeth Kim, a politics reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, provides a fascinating preview of the final mayoral debate featuring candidates Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa. She discusses Cuomo's outreach to conservative voters and analyzes Sliwa's unexpected debate moments. The conversation also touches on Mamdani's strategies to address concerns about his age and experience. Additionally, Ben Feuerherd reports on a chaotic federal raid in Chinatown, hinting at how this may shape candidates' debate responses.
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Chaotic ICE Raids On Canal Street
- Ben Feuerherd witnessed two waves of federal immigration raids on Canal Street that involved masked agents and chaotic street confrontations.
- He described agents shoving and chasing people, drawing tasers, and arresting several bystanders.
Raid Could Signal A New Normal
- Reporters flagged the raids as potentially signaling a new, larger federal enforcement presence in New York City.
- Coverage will track whether such operations become the "new normal" and how leaders and residents respond.
Raid Shapes Tonight's Debate Questions
- The Canal Street raid gives moderators a concrete immigration question to ask candidates about federal enforcement in the city.
- Candidates have already framed the event politically, revealing how immigration will shape mayoral debate narratives.