Max Politics

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 Columbia University, where he runs the nonprofit management master's program. (Ep 490)

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)

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 host Ben Max, who is also the program director at NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law, and CBC President Andrew Rein. The candidates are competing, along with others, in the Democratic primary set for June in the race to become the city's next chief fiscal and accountability officer. (In order to qualify for the March 18 debate, candidates had to raise $125,000 by February 15.) - Ep 488

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)

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)