Podcast Summary

Podcast: Pod Force One
Host: Miranda Devine (New York Post)
Guest: Rudy Giuliani (Former New York City Mayor)
Episode Title: Rudy Giuliani: Mamdani is killing New York
Date: April 8, 2026

Overview

In this candid, extended interview, Miranda Devine sits down with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to discuss the state of New York under its current leadership, the descent into lawlessness and disorder, the consequences of liberal immigration policies, and Giuliani's role in exposing alleged Biden family corruption. Giuliani reflects on his mayoral years, his philosophy of governance, the rise in crime and terrorism concerns, and his views on the Democratic Party and mainstream media. The conversation is wide-ranging, critical, and deeply personal, providing both political analysis and behind-the-scenes stories from pivotal moments in U.S. history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of New York City Post-Giuliani

Timestamps: 00:29–05:12

• Miranda Devine opens by lamenting the current state of New York, comparing current leadership unfavorably to Giuliani’s era.
• Giuliani describes his inability to express the decline of the city, sharing an emotional anecdote about meeting a longtime New Yorker grieving for the lost golden age.
• Economic Achievements: Giuliani discusses his historic tax cuts, working with Peter Vallone (City Council Speaker) to reduce the hotel occupancy tax and overall taxation—citing the Laffer Curve and practical impacts on city revenue.

  “Within two years, we were making more money from the much lower tax than from the higher tax…” (03:15, Giuliani)

Notable Quote

“My whole life as a lawyer is about words... but I don't know how to describe it. Maybe I can do it this way...” (00:53, Giuliani about New York’s decline)

2. Crime and Policing in New York

Timestamps: 05:12–08:50

• Giuliani discusses how he tackled crime through "broken windows" policing and innovative technology like Compstat.
• Emphasizes the reduction in police officers (from 41,000 in his era to 34,000 currently) and increased complexity of policing today.
• Details close cooperation with federal agencies and local knowledge about criminal elements.

Notable Quote

“It’s really the combination of the two things that brought crime down: Broken windows theory and the Compstat program.” (05:45, Giuliani)

3. Terrorism, Policing, and Understaffing

Timestamps: 08:50–13:06

• Discussion turns to terrorism risk in New York, citing recent attacks and how the city is understaffed and under-resourced.
• Giuliani and Devine praise the post-9/11 collaboration between NYPD and the FBI, and contrast it with recent defunding and legislative changes.
• Current mayor (Mamdani) criticized for not hiring promised police, instead relying on “violence interrupters.”

Notable Quote

“One way to visualize it is there is somewhere between seven and eight, 9,000 people walking the streets... that would be sitting in jail if I were the mayor or Bloomberg were the mayor.” (12:23, Giuliani)

4. Immigration, Crime, and National Security

Timestamps: 13:06–23:00

• Giuliani argues the current immigration wave dramatically differs from previous periods, with a disproportionately high number of criminals.
• Draws historical parallels to Castro's Mariel boatlift, alleging similar tactics by Maduro of Venezuela.
• Discusses the logistical and policy failures, e.g., unvetted migrants being flown into New York at night, giving them better accommodations than veterans or the homeless.
• Devine and Giuliani criticize sanctuary city policies and federal relocation efforts.

Notable Quote

“These are disproportionately large number of criminals and I’m afraid to say a disproportionately large number of perverts, pedophiles, women abusers, the cultures they come out of.” (13:23, Giuliani)

• On voluntary departures:

  “That process only happens if they’re frightened… all this false, exaggerated publicity about ICE… it really scares ‘em.” (19:44, Giuliani)

5. Biden Administration and Open Borders

Timestamps: 27:10–31:36

• Giuliani suggests Biden’s mental decline enabled far-left open border policies, implemented systematically by his advisers and party.
• Accuses Democrats of being competent only at “criminal enterprises,” referencing historic corruption (“Boss Tweed”) and recent methods for distributing migrants nationwide.

Notable Quote

“There’s something fundamentally different about the Democrat party now… there’s evil at the core of the party.” (29:30, Giuliani)

6. Allegations of Biden Family Corruption: Burisma, Ukraine, and the “Laptop from Hell”

Timestamps: 33:11–47:18

• Giuliani recounts how he helped expose the Hunter Biden laptop, facing immense resistance from the mainstream media (including the WSJ) and details collaborating with Steve Bannon and Bob Costello.
• Explains the structure of alleged Biden family bribery, using “point man” assignments in Iraq and Ukraine to enrich family members.
• Details the alleged “quid pro quo” involving withholding US aid to force the firing of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin (who was investigating Burisma).
• Discusses attempts to bring evidence to media and politicians, and the lack of interest or willingness to pursue the matter pre-election.

Notable Quotes

“The laptop made it about as easy to prosecute a conspiracy, Rico, whatever you want. Case.” (37:25, Giuliani)
“He took massive bribes... I put together a case before the laptop called the point man case...” (37:36, Giuliani)
“It was a self-contained bribery confession.” (43:59, on Biden’s public statement)

7. Media, Law Enforcement, and Political Double Standards

Timestamps: 47:18–59:23

• Giuliani laments the decline of the Southern District of NY and alleges its passivity in not investigating or flipping key Biden associates.
• Criticizes FBI operations, including the raid on his home, refusal to take the Biden laptop, and classifies Trump Derangement Syndrome as a “major mental illness” among officials.
• Discusses being targeted both legally and in the media, and recounts interference from within the Trump administration (e.g., General Kelly cutting off Trump’s advisors).

Notable Quotes

“Trump derangement syndrome has now gone from a minor mental illness to a major one. It’s a really major mental illness and it warps all your rationality.” (51:38, Giuliani) “They pre-bunked our story and… they were spying on you.” (56:14, Devine)

8. Personal Reflections, Legacy, and Future

Timestamps: 63:17–78:53

• Giuliani discusses his history as a prosecutor, his mixed feelings about not being Attorney General or Secretary of State, and his rationale for becoming mayor.
• Explains the shift in his own political philosophy, embracing a more Republican identity after observing Democratic urban corruption.
• Speaks emotionally about his love for New York and his heartbreak at its current state.
• Details ongoing legal struggles and personal resilience, emphasizing his continuing media and advocacy work.

Notable Quotes

“My whole reaction to my heart is broken. Yes. The situation with New York in a pure way, was a love affair.” (75:42, Giuliani) “I always worried about making this move… but part-time now I love it full time. And people say to me, well... aren’t you lonely? I said, there are more New Yorkers in Palm Beach than…” (75:07, Giuliani)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On NYC’s decline:

  “Everything you did has been ruined now.” (Anecdote, 00:53, recounted by Giuliani)

• On Democrats:

  “There’s evil at the core of the party. And then so you have the evil that emanates. Then you have the thing that we always remember about the Holocaust… good people not paying attention and just going along.” (29:30, Giuliani)

• On Biden and Hunter:

  “He took massive bribes… Four times he was made the point man for Obama… United States gets screwed, Biden’s family gets rich.” (37:36/39:53, Giuliani)

• On being targeted and media censorship:

  “The FBI told Twitter now X and Facebook to censor our story before we even started writing it.” (56:14, Devine)

• On his mayoral legacy:

  “Nobody loves it more than I do… a love affair.” (75:42, Giuliani)

Important Timestamps / Segments

• 00:29–05:12: Reflections on NYC’s transformation, tax policy successes
• 05:12–08:50: Crime-fighting philosophy — “broken windows”, Compstat
• 08:50–13:06: Terrorism, policing, violent crime, defunding debate
• 13:06–23:00: Immigration, historical parallels, sanctuary cities
• 27:10–31:36: Biden, open borders, and party direction
• 33:11–47:18: Burisma, Biden “laptop from hell” exposé
• 47:18–59:23: Media/FBI dynamics, legal targeting, “Trump Derangement Syndrome”
• 63:17–78:53: Political philosophy, heartbreak over NYC, personal resilience

Tone & Style

The conversation is direct, emotional, and combative, featuring Giuliani’s unfiltered takes and vivid personal recollections. Miranda Devine’s tone is supportive, at times incredulous, and fully engaged in the details of both local and national crisis points.

Conclusion

This wide-ranging episode provides a deeply personal and politically charged account of New York’s transformation, the evolution of American urban governance, and the machinations behind national corruption scandals. Giuliani’s stories of reform, regret, confrontation, and personal vindication offer a unique, if highly partisan, window into the intersection of law, politics, and media in 21st-century America.

For listeners seeking to understand the worldview and ongoing influence of Rudy Giuliani, as well as the ideological battle over crime, immigration, and corruption in America’s largest city, this episode is both a historical document and a provocative polemic.