The Breakfast Club — Interview with Curtis Sliwa: "On NYC Loyalty & Not Backing Down In The Mayoral Race"

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, Lauren LaRosa
Guest: Curtis Sliwa
Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This spirited and unapologetic interview features Curtis Sliwa, legendary founder of the Guardian Angels and perennial New York City mayoral candidate. Sliwa discusses his vision for NYC, reflecting on his activist past, the current state of city government, his critiques of political opponents, and why he refuses to back down or cut deals. The conversation traverses Sliwa’s community work, law & order, education reform, political identity, and New York’s challenges—as well as his insistence on staying true to himself.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Guardian Angels: The Origin Story & Community Impact

• Formation and Mission (03:06 – 05:13)

  • Sliwa details the founding of the Guardian Angels in the late 1970s amidst rampant crime and decaying public infrastructure.
    • “I convinced and brainwashed my closing crew…we're going to patrol the train at night, the number four train, which was nicknamed the Muggers Express.” (04:05 – Sliwa)
  • Emphasizes the group’s multiracial background and self-help ethos:
    • “We train you to patrol your own neighborhood. It’s not like we come in like mercenaries… We believe in self-help.” (05:18 – Sliwa)

• Nonprofit Structure and Sacrifice (05:13 – 05:53)

  • Operates as a nonprofit, relying on donations: “Never asked for a nickel, dime, or penny from government or even from the public.”
  • The iconic red beret is now an homage to the six Guardian Angels killed in the line of duty.

2. Political Consistency & Critique of NYC Leadership

• Contrast with Eric Adams (06:03 – 08:38)

  • Sliwa touts his consistency and predicts Adams’ failings:
    • “I'm the Swaggerman. I called him with no plan. He was out at Nightclubs till the break of dawn.” (07:10 – Sliwa)
  • Highlights Adams’ perceived lack of backbone and policy direction, referencing Adams’ interactions with federal immigration authorities and Trump.
    • Memorable moment: Community outrage over Adams “freezing” during a confrontation:
      “He just froze. He didn’t say a damn thing…That was it for me. The moment he froze…it was over for Eric Adams.” (07:48 – Sliwa)

• On Political Entrenchment and Corruption

  • “The billionaires are not going to determine who the next mayor of New York City is. Let the people decide. I trust people. I don’t trust billionaires.” (16:34 – Sliwa)
  • Refuses multimillion dollar offers to drop out:
    “$10 million with Jeeves, stretch limo, chauffeur, no show job. Eric got the same offer…There ain’t no price.” (17:40, 17:54 – Sliwa)

3. Approach to Homelessness, Mental Health & Public Safety

• Homelessness and City Services (11:16 – 15:51)

  • Criticizes city spending on migrants over the homeless and veterans:
    • “What are we doing for homeless people and emotionally disturbed, many of them veterans, most of them African Americans. Nobody wants to talk about that, but I'm down in the streets.” (11:56 – Sliwa)
  • Advocates for restoring homeless outreach and mental health beds cut under Cuomo and de Blasio.

• Animal Welfare as Policy

  • Unique promise: strong advocacy for no-kill animal shelters and linking animal protection to broader public safety.

4. Political Identity & Voting Base

• Relationship with Trump and Political Parties (15:52 – 17:27, 41:06 – 43:37)
  • Describes a “love-hate” dynamic with Trump, noting Trump’s tendency to play all sides.
  • Pitches himself as a “different kind of Republican”:
    • “I'm a Republican, I'm a populist. I am the candidate of working class people. There is no other candidate representing working class people.” (39:56 – Sliwa)
  • Addresses skepticism about his party in deep-blue NYC:
    • “Are all the Republicans good? Of course not. Are all the Democrats good? Of course not. But if you notice, I'm a different kind of Republican…they don't have nice things to say about me because I call myself the mayor of the people.” (44:29 – Sliwa)

5. Policy on Education and Vocational Training

• Cutting Bureaucracy, Not Classrooms (21:01, 35:45 – 44:29)
  • Proposes slashing Department of Education bureaucracy to direct funds to actual classroom needs.
  • Highlights the need for vocational training:
    “There’s such a demand for carpenters, electricians, plumbers, home health care aides…we do not focus on vocational training.” (22:50 – Sliwa)
  • Insists on education reform, and candidly addresses discipline and restorative justice policies.

6. Policing, Crime, and Qualms about Polls

• Public Perception and Polling (30:36 – 31:59)
  • Argues polls are unreliable and predicts path to victory via independents, moderate Democrats, and animal lovers.
• Reputation as Entertainer or Leader (31:50 – 34:55)
  • Pushes back on skepticism about his seriousness:
    • “I've been in the communities, I've been helping communities. It's not like I was just in Talk radio for 35 years…I believe in trying to provide home ownership for the people who live in the projects.” (31:59, 33:21 – Sliwa)

7. On Congestion Pricing & Working-Class Struggles

• Against Congestion Pricing and City Taxes (45:11 – 48:19)
  • Calls congestion pricing another tax on working people:
    • “Working class people are crippled by congestion pricing. It's nothing more than another tax...they have no say in that. No zoning, no community board...the mayors will then be wine dined and pocket lined by the billionaires.” (45:28 – 48:19, Sliwa)

8. Addressing Controversies and Past Mistakes

• Guardian Angels Faked Incidents (49:18 – 49:46)
  • Admits to youthful indiscretions and faking events for PR, owning up:
    • “You fess up when you mess up. I’m more than happy to apologize for my faults.” (49:27 – Sliwa)
• Recent Accusations and Comments (50:59 – 52:28)
  • Addresses a wrongful shoplifting accusation (2024): “There was no arrest. That was dealt with…You learn from it.”
  • On “innate antisemitism” comment: “Yeah…I didn’t say it the way I should have said it…I didn’t handle it well, and I then apologized.” (51:40 – Sliwa)

Noteworthy Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On loyalty to NYC:
  “I stay, I improve, I don’t move. I was born in New York. They tried to kill me in New York. … I wouldn’t take the payout from the billionaires to drop out.” (16:34 – 17:24, Sliwa)

• On his candidacy:
  “$10 million? … If they anted it up. Right. Is that like…Anyone Want to Be a Millionaire? No. I was never motivated by money. People who know me know that's not my motivation.” (53:26 – 53:47, Sliwa)

• On NYC priorities:
  “We talk about these programs, but if you don’t have boots on the ground, if you don’t really know these people who are affected, you’re never going to be able to come up with the plans to try to stop that.” (43:16 – Sliwa)

• Memorable Closer:
  “Because I trust the people. I trust that you let the people vote, they will make the determination of who the next mayor is. I'm not dropping out. They tried to bribe me to drop out. Now they threaten to kill me and my wife. I have armed security for the first time in my life. Guess what? We got 21 days to go. Boy, this is a novel idea. Let's trust the people to make the proper decision.” (49:46 – 50:59, Sliwa)

Key Timestamps

• [02:26] – Introduction and early banter
• [03:06 – 05:13] – Guardian Angels backstory
• [06:03 – 08:38] – Critique of Eric Adams and political predictions
• [11:16 – 15:51] – Homelessness, mental health, and animal rescue platforms
• [16:32 – 18:22] – Refusing billionaire bribes, inside political deals
• [21:01 – 24:23] – Education, vocational training, and public sector jobs
• [31:50 – 34:55] – Entertainer vs. leader perceptions and public housing proposals
• [35:45 – 44:29] – Department of Education reform, charter schools, discipline
• [45:11 – 48:19] – Congestion pricing and economic hurdles for working class
• [49:18 – 49:46] – Admissions and apologies for staged rescues, past missteps
• [50:59 – 53:58] – Final thoughts on personal integrity, refusing to drop out

Summary Verdict

Curtis Sliwa’s interview is a rousing, deeply New York blend of bravado, streetwise experience, and sharp criticism—delivered with candid self-awareness and populist zeal. He stands firm about his past, his mission, and his refusal to sell out, making his pitch to New Yorkers as the “tough, compassionate” candidate for the working class. The episode offers an honest portrait of a political maverick with nothing to lose, determined to win the city his way or not at all.