Podcast
Max Politics
Hosted by Max Politics · EN
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 Ketsa. source (Free Music Archive) and license type (CC BY-NC-ND)
74episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg on the Mamdani Administration's Housing Plan
2d ago01:04:48Summary readyLeila Bozorg, New York City Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, joined the show to discuss the Mamdani Administration's "Block By Block" housing plan, the city's multi-faceted housing crisis and various strategies to address it, key policies and programs underway and others in development, and more. (Ep 608)
SummaryThe New York Editorial Board on Mayor Mamdani's First 200 Days & More
3d ago01:27:38Summary readyIn this special episode, hear members of The New York Editorial Board - a group of veteran journalists that includes Max Politics host Ben Max - discussing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's tenure thus far and broader political and policy trends. Nine of the Board's 11 members participated in a live event hosted by ABNY - the Association for a Better New York - on July 23, 2026 at The Greene Space. The conversation includes several audience questions. (Ep 607)
SummaryCity Council Speaker Julie Menin on Economic Development, Public Health, & More
1w ago00:47:05Summary readyNew York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a Manhattan Democrat, joined the show to discuss economic development, the city's handling of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak, a pay boost for school aides, a potential ban on horse carriages in the city, and more. (Ep 606)
SummaryMicah Lasher on Winning the NY-12 Primary, Democratic Unity, & What Comes Next
3w ago01:06:24Summary readyAssemblymember Micah Lasher joined the show to discuss his win in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District (much of the East and West Sides of Manhattan), where he beat a crowded field of competitors to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, as well as Democratic Party unity, political trends in New York, and some of the policy issues he wants to focus on in Congress. (Ep 605)
SummaryTaking Stock of Mayor Mamdani's First 6 Months, with Matt Wing
3w ago01:02:22Summary readyStrategist Matt Wing joined host Ben Max to analyze Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first six months in office, which included staffing up his administration, his first state and city budget cycles, attempting to follow through on major campaign promises, dealing with unexpected challenges and key relationships, celebrating a Knicks championship, and getting involved in a series of Democratic primary races. (Ep 602)
SummaryJordan Wright on Winning His Assembly Primary, Uptown Politics, & More
4w ago00:51:26Summary readyNew York State Assembly Member Jordan Wright, a Democrat representing Manhattan's 70th Assembly District, based in Harlem, joined the show to discuss his win over a DSA-backed challenger, shifting Uptown and Democratic politics, the results in the overlapping 13th Congressional District (where Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat), and more. (Ep 601)
SummaryArpit Gupta on Opposing Mamdani's Rent Freeze & Securing the Future of Rent-Stabilized Housing
Jul 101:05:04Summary readyArpit Gupta, a member of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) and an associate professor of finance at NYU's Stern School of Business, joined the show to discuss his lone dissenting vote as the RGB approved a rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants, fulfilling a key campaign promise made in 2025 by Mayor Mamdani. Gupta also discussed a variety of aspects of the city's rent-stabilized housing stock and system, and what comes next for the roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. (Ep 600)
SummaryJulia Salazar on the Growth of DSA, the Future of Democratic Politics, & More
Jun 2900:58:46Summary readyState Senator Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat and democratic socialist, joined the show to discuss the growth of NYC DSA, how democratic socialists work outside and within the Democratic Party, the NY-7 congressional race where she had allies on both sides of the primary, and more. (Ep 599)
SummaryBrad Lander on Winning the NY-10 Primary, Democratic Unity, & What Comes Next
Jun 2600:46:44Summary readyBrad Lander joined the show to discuss his win in the Democratic primary for New York's 10th Congressional District (Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn), where he defeated Rep. Dan Goldman, Democratic Party unity, political trends in New York and nationally, and some of the substantive issues he wants to focus on in Congress. (Ep 598)
SummaryState Party Chair Jay Jacobs on New York’s 2026 Democratic Primaries & What Comes Next
Jun 2500:58:47Summary readyJay Jacobs, chair of the New York State Democratic Party, joined the show to discuss the results of the 2026 state and congressional primaries, preview the general election, assess Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, and examine Democratic Party division, unity, and policy. (Ep 597)
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