Max Politics

Andrew Rein, president of nonprofit Citizens Budget Commission, joined the show to discuss the budget challenges Mayor Mamdani faces and how to address them, where Mamdani is right and wrong in his explanation of the city budget (which included a 1/28/26 press conference to blame former Mayor Adams), the new mayor's push for increased taxes on high earners and corporations, and more. (Ep 564)

Dan Garodnick — outgoing Director of the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission — joined the show to reflect on four years of significant progress addressing New York City's housing crisis, key zoning and planning accomplishments of his tenure, what should come next on these fronts, and more. Garodnick, a member of the MTA Board and a former City Council member from Manhattan, was appointed planning chief by Mayor Eric Adams and worked closely with former Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and other top housing, planning, and economic development officials. (Ep 563)

Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat representing New York's 10th Congressional District, joined the show to discuss his bid for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in the district that spans Lower Manhattan and a swathe of Brooklyn. He's facing a challenge in the June 2026 Democratic primary election from former city comptroller Brad Lander. (Ep 562)

Brad Lander, former New York City Comptroller and 2025 mayoral candidate, joined the show to discuss his campaign for Congress in New York's 10th Congressional District, which includes Lower Manhattan and a swathe of Brooklyn. Lander is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman in the June 2026 Democratic primary for one of New York's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Ep 561)

Ben Furnas and Sara Lind — leaders of Transportation Alternatives and Open Plans, respectively, and members of Mayor Mamdani's transition committee — joined the show to discuss ideas for creating a more livable city with improvements for how people get around, use outdoor space, and enjoy the city. They discussed ideas and expectations for Mamdani on street safety, open space, traffic, bike lanes, outdoor dining, use of the curb, and much more, and touched on how Mayor Adams did on those issues. (Ep 560)

Diane Savino — recently a senior advisor to Mayor Eric Adams (2023-25) and previously longtime state senator (2005-22) — joined the show to discuss her work in the Adams administration and the former mayor's legacy, the start of Zohran Mamdani's mayoralty, how government works and doesn't, the state-level passage of Medical Aid in Dying legislation that she worked on as a senator, and more. (Ep 559)

Urban historian Thomas Dyja and political strategist Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. joined the show to put Eric Adams' mayoralty and Zohran Mamdani's inauguration into modern historical context. They joined host Ben Max to discuss the meaning of the Eric Adams era and its impact on the city, how Adams fits in the modern pantheon of mayors, and the meaning of Mamdani's election to succeed Adams, including the hopes and questions about his budding mayoralty. Dyja is the author of several books, including New York New York New York: Four Decades of Success, Excess, and Transformation. Smikle Jr. has been involved in many political campaigns in New York, is a former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, and is currently a professor in and director of the master's program in nonprofit management at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies, among other roles in politics and academia. (Ep 558)

Tom Allon — longtime journalist, publisher of City & State magazine, and former informal advisor to Eric Adams who helped him with "mayor school" – joined the show to consider Adams' tenure and legacy as Mayor of New York City. (Ep 557)

Vijah Ramjattan, Executive Director of the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes in the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, joined the show to discuss the office's efforts to prevent bias-based crimes, what makes the difference in increases and decreases in hate crimes, the importance of education and community-building, and more. (Ep 556)

Betsy Plum, Executive Director of Riders Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group, and a member of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition committee, joined the show to discuss Mamdani's campaign promise of "fast and free buses" in New York City, how to really speed up the city's notoriously slow buses, whether free buses is the right goal and how to get there if so, and more. (Ep 555)