Max Politics Podcast: Candidate Forum in New York’s 12th Congressional District (April 26, 2026)
Episode Overview
This special episode of Max Politics features a live, in-depth candidate forum for New York’s 12th Congressional District Democratic primary—a high-stakes, crowded race to succeed retiring Congressman Jerry Nadler. Hosted and moderated by journalist Ben Max, the forum brings together seven leading candidates to discuss their public service backgrounds, major policy priorities (including transit, housing, healthcare, democracy reform, and foreign policy), and the country’s most urgent challenges. The discussion, marked by clear differences as well as consensus moments, offers listeners insight into the candidates’ ideologies, life experiences, and policy agendas.
Participants:
- Micah Bergdale (Entrepreneur, transit advocate)
- George Conway (Attorney, anti-Trump activist)
- Chris Diep (Software engineer)
- Laura Dunn (Civil rights attorney)
- Jack Schlossberg (Writer, advocate, Kennedy scion)
- Nina Schwelbe (Public health expert)
- Patrick Timmons (Attorney, former DA candidate)
Assembly Members Alex Boris and Micah Lasher, also candidates, were absent due to scheduling and family reasons.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening Statements: Candidacies in Focus
[09:07 - 17:50]
- Micah Bergdale emphasizes the need for a transit expert in Congress, pointing to two decades advancing public and electric transit in NYC.
- George Conway frames his candidacy as a mission to defend the rule of law and combat Donald Trump and “government of the boss, by the boss, for the boss.” (“We have never faced a greater threat to the rule of law than Donald Trump.” [10:05])
- Chris Diep shares his immigrant family’s story, calling for a revived “American Dream” accessible to all.
- Laura Dunn highlights her civil rights work, including litigation against Donald Trump’s Title IX rollbacks, her role drafting the Violence Against Women Act, and brings intersectional lived experience as a queer survivor.
- Jack Schlossberg touts campaign finance and government reform, refuses super PAC/corporate/AI money, and invokes a “believe in something again” message. Points to lack of political trust as corrosive to democracy.
- Nina Schwelbe positions herself as a public health crisis fixer, advocating “smart, steady, strategic” wins over performative politics.
- Patrick Timmons brands himself a “radical pragmatist,” underscores experience as a litigator, Bronx Assistant DA, and educator, and distances himself from symbolic/performative stances.
Top Accomplishments in Public Service
[19:25 - 21:15]
- Bergdale: Launching NYC’s East River/NYC Ferry, electrifying South Bronx vehicles.
- Conway: Bringing E. Jean Carroll’s sexual assault lawsuit forward.
- Schwelbe: Delivering 500 million COVID-19 vaccines globally.
- Dunn: Federal law creation for campus legal rights, leading national nonprofit.
- Schlossberg: Mobilized disillusioned New Yorkers as candidate/organizer.
- Diep: Volunteer kids’ soccer coach.
- Timmons: Securing trial verdicts against gangs and teaching at John Jay College.
District Priorities: Housing, Healthcare, and Transit
[24:54 - 32:29] All candidates agree that housing affordability and healthcare are top crises, but diverge on approaches:
- Healthcare: Dunn, Schwelbe, and Bergdale prioritize universal, expanded, or single-payer models, with pragmatic steps such as catastrophic care (Dunn) and drug cost controls (Schwelbe).
- Housing: Schlossberg proposes a renters’ deduction; Dunn and others call for federal matches for NYC/NY State housing investments; expanded public housing support (Section 9) is widely endorsed.
- Transit: Bergdale repeatedly points to federal obstacles and local “scaffold law” raising costs; all candidates agree subway investment, Second Avenue Subway, and Gateway Tunnel are vital, with Diep advocating high-speed rail and Dunn for innovative crosstown solutions.
Notable Quote:
“Something we can do immediately is...a standard renters deduction. I think renters should be treated the same as homeowners...That would save people thousands of dollars a year.” — Jack Schlossberg [25:56]
One-Word Self-Descriptions (Lightning Round)
[32:53]
- Bergdale: “Empathetic”
- Conway: “Fighting the corruption of this criminal administration”
- Diep: “Dare to dream”
- Dunn: “Accountability not just for Trump, but for the establishment”
- Schlossberg: “Fighting and dancing”
- Schwelbe: “Nina gets stuff done”
- Timmons: “Radical pragmatist”
Infrastructure Priorities
[33:55 - 35:12]
- Overwhelming consensus: Subways (Second Avenue Subway named most often), and regional projects (Gateway Tunnel, Cross Harbor Tunnel).
- Diep suggests high-speed rail to D.C.; Dunn proposes creative crosstown trolley options.
First Legislative Priorities (Assuming Dem. House)
[35:57 - 43:18]
- Timmons: “Blue card” for long-term, law-abiding undocumented immigrants; Section 9 housing focus; condo co-op affordability.
- Bergdale: Proposes tripling House size for better representation; immigration reform.
- Conway: Abolish ICE, DOJ independence reforms (codifying post-Watergate norms); “These are things that won’t pass until we get rid of Donald Trump.” [38:40]
- Diep: Tech/AI jobs, fast free buses, extending layoff protections (Warren Act); linking economic vibrancy to progressive immigration policy.
- Dunn: Congressional/Supreme Court term limits, progressive tax reforms to curtail oligarchy; support for “Patriotic Millionaires” proposals.
- Schlossberg: Get money out of politics, overturn Citizens United, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
“We will not be able to fix any of the problems we care about if we do not get money out of politics.” [41:42] - Schwelbe: Stop “senseless war in Iran,” reassert Congressional war powers alongside housing and health reforms.
Transit Equity/ Congestion Pricing / Bus Policy (Quickfire)
[44:41 - 46:59]
- Congestion Pricing North of 60th: All but Timmons (and Bergdale, with caveats for EVs) say yes.
- Free Buses vs. Targeted Subsidies: Most prefer targeted discounts for the poor; Diep and Schwelbe endorse universal free transit.
Democracy Reforms
[46:59 - 55:48]
- Conway: Congressional abdication of checking the executive is the crisis. Supports Trump’s impeachment for a catalog of constitutional and statutory violations.
- Dunn: Proposes barring Congressional stock trading, calls out party corruption, and supports middle-class candidacies.
- Schlossberg: Proudly endorsed by Pelosi, sees money in politics as root problem alongside voter suppression and rollbacks.
- Schwelbe: SAVE Act and Voter Suppression Act directly target trans, women, and Black and Brown voters—must be opposed.
- Timmons: Term limits, ending “pay-to-play” exclusion in politics, and protecting voting rights.
- Bergdale: Expand House size, break the cost barrier for campaigns, Appointments Clause reforms to restore trust.
- Diep: Endorses ranked-choice voting, public matching funds.
Notable Exchange:
“How have we not eliminated [congressional stock trading] yet? It should not be allowed.” — Jack Schlossberg [51:05]
Free Speech, Tech & Media Oversight
[55:48 - 64:47]
- Schwelbe & Dunn: Emphasize academic freedom, oppose tech immunity (Section 230), call for social media/platform accountability and oversight of algorithmic radicalization.
- Conway: Prioritizes oversight of mergers and government-business collusion, e.g. Paramount-Warner merger, as a free-speech threat.
- Bergdale: Focus on freedom of the press and public funding/defense of independent journalism.
- Schlossberg: Wishes to reform defamation laws so frivolous suits don’t chill speech; expand “slap” provisions for defendant protection.
- Timmons: Focused on curbing hate speech, especially anti-Semitism locally.
Congressional Term Limits (Quickfire)
[65:09]
- All favor some form of term limits—most favor 4-5 (House) and 2-3 (Senate) terms; Schlossberg advocates cognitive and age screening as an alternative.
Foreign Policy: Israel, Iran, Ukraine, and US World Role
[68:19 - 78:48]
- Bergdale: Calls Netanyahu a war criminal; supports end to unconditional aid to Israel due to settlement violence; stresses human rights centrality in foreign policy.
- Conway: Supports Israel as an ally but wants accountability, upholding international law. Backs Ukraine and US alliances.
- Dunn: Firmly against unconditional Israel aid; calls for US pressure to end war crimes, recognize Palestine, and regain UN credibility.
- Schlossberg: Opposes “war in Iran”; emphasizes realignment with democracies, ending offensive military assistance to Israel, and seeing global standing restored.
“Our country’s at war right now. We have no idea really what’s going on...It’s hard to stomach what’s going on.” [73:48] - Schwelbe: Urges discussion beyond Israel/Iran, including Sudan, Uganda, Rohingya, and PEPFAR policy.
- Timmons: “No ground troops anywhere”; calls Ukraine “heroic”; wants bipartisan end to Middle East deployments and strong Taiwan support.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “We can't believe anything that anybody says in our government, at least in the White House right now. ...My campaign does not accept money from super PACs, corporate PACs, APAC, or big AI technology companies.” — Jack Schlossberg [14:13]
- “I have operated a business here in New York City for the past 20 years focused on transit in particular...It's why I'm running for Congress.” — Micah Bergdale [09:07]
- “I've delivered 500 million COVID 19 vaccines around the world.” — Nina Schwelbe [20:05]
- “We are one accident away or one illness away from bankruptcy ... Republicans do care about catastrophic coverage and will agree with me that every single person...should be protected against bankruptcy.” — Laura Dunn [24:54]
- “I want to introduce the blue card for immigrants. If you've been here 10 years, working, contributing to society, and stayed out of trouble...you get a blue card [legal status].” — Patrick Timmons [35:57]
- “We absolutely need to condemn Netanyahu and the war crimes he has committed.” — Micah Bergdale [68:33]
- “We need Congress to investigate...the discussions between the FCC and these merger parties...We need aggressive investigators in Congress—lawyers to do that—and I want to be one of them.” — George Conway [60:29]
Notable Timestamps
| Time | Segment | |--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 09:07 | Candidate Opening Statements | | 19:25 | Top Accomplishment—Lightning Round | | 24:54 | District Needs & Priorities (Housing/Health/Transit) | | 33:55 | Infrastructure Priorities | | 35:57 | Legislative Priorities—If Dems Win House | | 44:41 | Quickfire: Congestion Pricing & Free Buses | | 46:59 | Democracy Reform: Term Limits, Voting Rights | | 55:48 | Free Speech, Section 230, Media Oversight | | 65:09 | Quickfire: Congressional Term Limits | | 68:19 | Foreign Policy: Israel, Iran, Ukraine, US Alliances | | 79:23 | Quickfire: Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker | | 80:19 | Quickfire: Political Role Models | | 81:01 | If You Couldn't Vote For Yourself: Whom Would You Choose? |
Memorable Lightning Rounds
-
Political Role Models ([80:19]):
- Dunn: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Schlossberg: Abraham Lincoln
- Schwelbe: Sarah McBride
- Timmons: Mario Cuomo
- Bergdale: Ro Khanna
- Conway: Daniel Patrick Moynihan
- Diep: Alexander Hamilton
-
Who Would You Vote For (Besides Yourself)? ([81:01])
- Conway: Jack Schlossberg
- Diep: Laura Dunn
- Dunn: A qualified woman
- Timmons: Alex Boris or Jack
- Bergdale: Nina Schwelbe
Takeaways
This forum displays a vibrant and substantive contest in NY-12, centering on the restoration of democracy, government reform, transit and housing solutions, and fundamental shifts in US foreign policy. Candidates distinguish themselves through life story, focus (anti-Trump, policy expertise, ground-level organizing), and the mix of idealism and pragmatism. The presence of both consensus and pointed debate marks NY-12 as a microcosm of American liberal politics—contested, engaged, and committed to both resistance and renewal.
To follow up: Research each candidate’s platform, examine their specific policy proposals, and consider their backgrounds and approach to public service as revealed in this in-depth discussion.