Andrew Cuomo's NYC Comeback Bid

Summary

Summary of "Andrew Cuomo's NYC Comeback Bid" Episode on The Daily Beast Podcast

Release Date: April 17, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, co-hosts Joanna Coles and Isaac Mizrahi engage in an in-depth conversation with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The discussion centers around Cuomo's unexpected decision to run for Mayor of New York City, exploring his motivations, addressing pressing urban issues, and reflecting on his tumultuous political past.

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Introduction to Andrew Cuomo

The episode kicks off with a detailed introduction of Andrew Cuomo, highlighting his extensive political career. Cuomo, born and raised in Queens, served as the Governor of New York for over a decade before resigning in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations—allegations he has consistently denied, labeling them as politically motivated. His tenure was marked by significant infrastructure projects, including the overhaul of LaGuardia Airport and the construction of the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge.

Notable Quote:

"[...] he's now running for New York mayor, or is he actually running to lead the Democratic Party in 2028?"
— Joanna Coles (07:22)

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Cuomo's Motivation for Running for Mayor

Joanna Coles probes into Cuomo's unexpected bid for mayor, questioning whether his move signals a broader ambition for a presidential run. Cuomo clarifies that his primary intention is to stabilize and revitalize New York City, which he perceives as being on a precarious path due to declining tax bases and increasing exodus of residents.

Notable Quote:

"I am frightened for New York City. I am frightened for New York City."
— Andrew Cuomo (16:12)

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Addressing Current Urban Challenges

A significant portion of the conversation delves into the challenges facing New York City, particularly the visible issues of homelessness and mental health. Joanna Coles raises concerns about the perceived rise in crime and public disorder, contrasting it with statistical data showing a decline in overall crime rates. Cuomo acknowledges the disparity between perception and reality, emphasizing the increase in specific crimes such as rapes and assaults, many perpetrated by individuals battling mental illnesses.

Notable Quotes:

"Crime is going down. First of all, they're not really talking about crime per se."
— Andrew Cuomo (13:32)

"So how do you actually clear up the problem of the mentally ill and the drug-addicted who are literally living on the streets and impacting the quality of life for everybody else?"
— Joanna Coles (13:27)

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Reflections on Resignation and Allegations

Joanna Coles addresses Cuomo's resignation, probing into his response to the sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo maintains that the accusations were unfounded and politically charged, leading to his decision to step down to focus on his family and professional life away from the intense scrutiny. He expresses regret over the personal sacrifices made during his high-paced political career, particularly the impact on his family life.

Notable Quotes:

"I believed I did nothing wrong. But to litigate that as governor would have been paralyzing for the state government."
— Andrew Cuomo (18:35)

"I want to have been a phenomenal father to my children. I want to be a great friend to my friends."
— Andrew Cuomo (25:00)

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Political Perspectives and the Democratic Party

The discussion shifts to Cuomo's views on the current state of the Democratic Party and its ability to counteract the influence of figures like Donald Trump. Cuomo criticizes the party for losing touch with foundational life issues, leading to voter disillusionment and decreased turnout. He argues that Trump's unconventional strategies have outpaced the Democratic response, creating a challenging environment for the party to regain its footing.

Notable Quotes:

"I think the Democrats have fallen down. Not just in New York."
— Andrew Cuomo (17:54)

"We hijacked ourselves. We lost our base and we lost our foundation."
— Andrew Cuomo (29:31)

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Vision for New York City

Cuomo outlines his comprehensive vision for New York City, focusing on enhancing public safety, providing mental health services, and fostering economic growth. He emphasizes the importance of balancing development with community needs, referencing successful projects like Little Island and the High Line while acknowledging the controversies they sparked. Cuomo advocates for a strategic approach to urban management, aiming to attract global talent and businesses to reinvigorate the city's economic engine.

Notable Quotes:

"The brand comes second to the substance. We do attract the best and the brightest."
— Andrew Cuomo (57:27)

"New York needs to make changes, needs more police, highly disruptive. Needs mentally ill people in facilities."
— Andrew Cuomo (48:43)

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Handling Criticisms and Future Challenges

The conversation also touches upon Cuomo's handling of past criticisms, including the management of nursing homes during COVID-19 and his book on leadership. Cuomo defends his actions by citing compliance with evolving federal guidelines and underscores the complexities of navigating a crisis situation. He acknowledges the challenges of implementing policies that, while necessary, may lead to political backlash and public disagreement.

Notable Quotes:

"Nobody knew what they were talking about. We had the best science advisors globally."
— Andrew Cuomo (36:51)

"To make a difference, especially in a place like New York, you're going to have to make some people unhappy."
— Andrew Cuomo (62:32)

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode concludes, Cuomo reiterates his commitment to New York City, emphasizing his experience and understanding of both state and municipal governance. He expresses confidence in his ability to navigate the political landscape and implement meaningful reforms aimed at restoring New York City's vibrancy and livability.

Notable Quote:

"The fundamental asset we have is the people. This is the place that attracts the greatest talent on the globe."
— Andrew Cuomo (57:27)

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Closing Remarks

Joanna Coles and Isaac Mizrahi wrap up the episode by reflecting on the insightful and candid conversation with Andrew Cuomo. They highlight the complexities of Cuomo's comeback bid and the broader implications for New York City's future.

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This episode provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of Andrew Cuomo's motivations, challenges, and strategic vision for New York City. It offers an insider's perspective on the interplay between personal ambition, political dynamics, and urban governance, making it a must-listen for those interested in the future of one of the world's most iconic cities.

Transcript

[Isaac Mizrahi]

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[Andrew Cuomo]

Foreign.

[Joanna Coles]

Welcome to the Daily Beast podcast. I'm Joanna Coles, chief content officer of the Daily Beast.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And surprise, I'm Isaac Mizrahi, chief content officer of filling in for Samantha Bee, who I might lock in a closet for a few weeks because I love you and I want to be on this show a lot.

[Joanna Coles]

So good. Well, you're very, you're very, very welcome because Sam is on the road this week for her live how to survive Menopause. And Isaac was kind enough and I.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Have a survived menopause, so I am here.

[Joanna Coles]

I am living proof.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Sam is in the throes of it and I have survived already.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, good. I'm very glad you survived it. And I have no idea if I went through menopause or not because I'm British and we just take no notice of anything like that.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right, right.

[Joanna Coles]

We simply increase the amount of alcohol we're drinking.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, I mean, that's a great. That's a cure all, darling.

[Joanna Coles]

I think so. I went from one tequila to two. Didn't notice the thing.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I don't know if you've upped your Xanax prescription recently, but I have. I take, well, like one and a half amount of as much Xanax as I used to take since November 5th.

[Joanna Coles]

Because of what's going on.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, because of what's going on in the world. Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, so let's just fill everybody in. The last time we did something like this together, Right. Other than when you were a guest on the podcast last fall, was we did Project Runway All Stars together.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, we did.

[Joanna Coles]

And then we did an after show of Project Runway All Stars do you remember where we just.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Of course I remember. I love that you think I don't. What am I like that grand that I don't remember? Actually, this morning I called Joanna as if she doesn't have 15 assistants. And I said, darling, I'm lost. Can you please tell me how to get here?

[Joanna Coles]

That was very sweet.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, because it was 1560 Broadway and I went to Broadway and there was no 1560 Broadway. It's actually between 7th and 6th, so don't worry.

[Joanna Coles]

Or is it between 7th and 6th? I might have told you the wrong street.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Except the address is 1560 Broadway, not 1560 7th Avenue. See what I'm saying?

[Joanna Coles]

Confused about Broadway and 7th Avenue. And may I add that you said to me, I don't have my driver this morning.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I don't. I don't have my driver this morning. And you know, I am. I'm a little grand.

[Joanna Coles]

You're very.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Think of me as the darling. Think of me as the Andre Leon Talley of the Jews. And then you have. You're starting to understand.

[Joanna Coles]

I want everybody to be able. In fact, we should raffle off for people a drive with you in your car because you have a custom interior. BMW, I believe. It is so spectacular. Mercedes. Sorry, I knew it was German. It's just the most magnificent. It's like being in a living room. Your car.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, really, I mean, I have to tell you, it was just like one of the main kind of. By the way, can I just say the other thing?

[Joanna Coles]

Cause you decorate it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Wait. Recently I had something on Instagram about toasters, and it got a lot of people watching these things about watching. And then I started getting a lot of toasters from different companies, right? And so now I'm like gonna. I think I'm gonna do a post about Maybach's and see if. Get some Mercedes Benzes, because maybe they'll. I'm not kidding. Maybe they'll send me some Mercedes.

[Joanna Coles]

Done with the toasters, though, because you can really only use one toaster at a time. Unless you've got a lot of people staying for the weekend, in which case you need a lot of toasters.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I do agree. I do agree. And by the way, some of the toasters are not great. Some of them are great. I probably will be doing like a. Like a revisiting of toasters.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, so I'm going to confess, I'm obsessed by toast. It's a British thing. I eat it all the time.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I love toast.

[Joanna Coles]

What. What kind of toaster do you have?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, I have I have several hundred. But I do have this wonderful thing. I think it's a. Oh, it's a smeg.

[Joanna Coles]

I have a smeg.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Except the thing I went on about was the fact that the slots are made for, like, square bread, which I don't know about you, but I don't use Wonder bread. Okay. Or Japanese Fabulous square bread. You know, that square bread that you can get in Japan and also you can get now in Japanese markets.

[Joanna Coles]

It's like square Japanese.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I love it. But I don't use it as regularly as I use, for instance, like, I don't know, a bull that's been cut up, of course. Or from citarella or from. What is it called? Bread Alone. Bread Alone. That's a very good bread.

[Joanna Coles]

Bread Alone is very good. Although I have a levain bakery around the family, so I get the ball there and then I cut it myself.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Do you?

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah. Because I don't like the thickness of the slice they cut.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I like to do my own labor intensive.

[Joanna Coles]

I have the Smeg Toaster, which is the Union Jack.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Okay.

[Joanna Coles]

In my kitchen.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, with the Union Jack on it. That's a lot of a lot going on in your kitchen. Cause I like white things or stainless things.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, I have white kettle. I have the whites Meg kettle. But I do have a Union Jack taste. It's just a little flash of color.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Little something just to remind of whence we come. Exactly.

[Joanna Coles]

Of the old country.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

From whence we come.

[Joanna Coles]

From whence we come. All right, so we have a special guest today.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, we do.

[Joanna Coles]

Before we tell people who it is, could we just. Why didn't you design the spacesuits for Lauren Sanchez and her gal pals?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, well, you know what, by the way, that is an hilarious thing that they just. Who was that? That was like. Who did that? Who sponsored it? Should we say who did sponsor it?

[Joanna Coles]

I think Blue Origin. Sponsorship.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Okay. I don't even know what that is.

[Joanna Coles]

Blue Origin is Jeff Bezos space company that is in competition with SpaceX. They're both trying to revolutionize space travel.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Okay. Well, I don't know. I found it a little bit, sort of. How did you, like. Did you find it a little bit tone deaf about women or something? Just a little bit.

[Joanna Coles]

I hated the way they presented it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I don't know, maybe.

[Joanna Coles]

I mean, it was his girlfriend's getaway for 11 minutes, wasn't it? And I.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

The first all girl blah, blah in space. Really?

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And it was 15 minutes and they all came down and literally kissed the ground, which I understand But I mean, come on, that's dramatic. That's a drama.

[Joanna Coles]

I kiss the ground after I'd taken a JetBlue flight.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Me too.

[Joanna Coles]

Like miracle, miracle that we've landed.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, anytime I land back in Kennedy Airport or LaGuardia Airport, I kiss the ground.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, you can kiss LaGuardia Airport more than you can kiss JFK now. It's so much better than Easter.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And yes, we have Andrew Cuomo to thank for that, don't we?

[Joanna Coles]

We do.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Was that a seg. Are you segueing? I love the segue. I love the segue.

[Joanna Coles]

We do. We have the former governor who's here because he's running for mayor of New York City.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Wow. Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

So now I have an intro to read.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Okay.

[Joanna Coles]

Which is that he's running for mayor, and given that he's already had the most senior job in New York politics, is he slumming it or is he looking for a platform for which to run for president in 2028?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Boom. Mic drop.

[Joanna Coles]

We have so much to discuss, Isaac. We have so much to discuss. Are you a recovering Cuomo? Sexual. Do you remember that whole moment?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes. I mean, listen, he could get it. He could still get it, actually, you know. Right.

[Joanna Coles]

What does that mean?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, that means he's. He's. He's. He's fetching looking. I think he's a good looking guy. I think Andrew Crumb is a good looking guy.

[Joanna Coles]

And that helps in politics.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, yes, I do. I think it helps in politics. I remember a long, long time ago, remember John F. Kennedy Jr. Had a magazine called George. Remember that? And he commissioned me and Cindy Crawford. And we went into his office and he showed us these slides. We kind of did this hilarious thing about how politicians are supposed to dress. You know, in those days, this was like the 80s or the early 90s. And it said, please, you know, if you're a Democrat, wear this if you're a Republican, or blah, blah, blah, don't cut your hair this way. Don't, buh, buh, buh, don't wear a tie. I mean, it was a whole list of things that would help you or hinder you as a politician, you know?

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, well, you can give him dress and style.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, no, I think that's all gone. I think it's a whole new thing.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, it was interesting to see the President of El Salvador meeting Donald Trump in a kind of T shirt. I mean, he looked like a tech entrepreneur. He did. I know he said he was the coolest dictator, but I actually think he looked like a tech entrepreneur, which is what everybody wants to look like now.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And by the way, somehow they didn't ask him if he owned a suit.

[Joanna Coles]

No. Why was that when they asked Zelensky?

[Andrew Cuomo]

No.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. They didn't ask him if he owned a suit or whatever. Right. I just thought that was appalling. Everything about that is appalling. Right.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, you can ask former Governor Cuomo what style tips he needs from you.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Either that or what he's gonna do to help the whole situation in the entire world. Forget about style. Yes, style. Style is a cornerstone, I think, of any good campaign, you know. So we'll check in on that.

[Joanna Coles]

You're absolutely right about it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

That's where it starts. If you get the style right, you can go on to solving the world's problems.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, let's hope he can solve New York City's problems.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

That's right. Let's start with that.

[Joanna Coles]

We're going to take a quick break before we talk to our beast of the week, former governor of New York and current mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full [e-mail] and now a next level moment from ATT Business. Say you've sent out a gigantic shipment of pillows and they need to be there in time for International Sleep day. You've got AT and T5G so you're fully confident, but the vendor isn't responding and International Sleep Day is tomorrow. Luckily, AT&T 5G lets you deal with so the pillows will get delivered and everyone can sleep soundly, especially you. ATT 5G requires a compatible plan and device coverage not available everywhere. Learn [e-mail] 5G Network. Do you remember the brand that popped up while you were scrolling your social feed? No, but I bet you remember who sponsors your favorite podcast. That's because 74% of listeners recall the brands they hear when listening to podcasts. If you want your business to be top of mind, pod advertising with Acast is The way to go. Book your campaign today by visiting go acast.com ads.

[Joanna Coles]

And we're now joined by a politician who hardly needs any introduction, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Born and raised in Queens, Cuomo served as a governor for a little over a decade until resigning in 2021 before near certain impeachment due to sexual harassment. Alleg it was a dramatic end to a career that produced the complete overhaul of LaGuardia Airport, the glorious Moynihan Station, an extension to the Second Avenue Subway, and the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge stretching over the mighty Hudson, named, of course, after the governor's father, who was himself a governor. Prior to that, Governor Cuomo served as Attorney General of the state of New York and as the Housing and Urban Development Secretary under President Bill Clinton. He's now running for New York mayor. Or is he actually running to lead the Democratic Party in 2028? Governor Cuomo, thank you for joining us.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Thank you for having me.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I have a question. I'm going to start off. Can I the campaign, is it going better or worse than you expected it to go?

[Andrew Cuomo]

It's actually going better than I expected it to go. There's more of a uniformity among the areas of concern with New Yorkers. They are just deeply concerned about the trajectory of the city, the condition of the city, public safety, quality of disorder. And that is a unifying theme, right?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Quality of life.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

The thing that is so interesting, I think, is that we know that the data shows that crime is going down. Right. But it feels. This was Sam's point, and she's very disappointed not to be here this week. But Sam's point is it feels really demoralizing to live in New York at the moment. It's dirty. There's. I come out on every day. There is a homeless person or a drug addict on my stoop. I run the gauntlet of people on fentanyl with their pants down, their legs getting into the Broadway and Lafayette subway. I've got so many questions for you, but how do you actually clear up the problem of the mentally ill and the drug addicted who literally living on the streets and impacting the quality of life for everybody else?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah. Let's just separate that a little bit if we can. Crime is going down. First of all, they're not really talking about crime per se. Right. The conditions you discussed are more quality of life, a sense of disorder.

[Joanna Coles]

It's like not feeling safe, actually.

[Andrew Cuomo]

So that's. I think they'll talk. Yes. Not feeling safe, which is actually different than the Crime statistics. Now, crime statistics, they don't believe anyway because the crime statistics are opposite what they see and feel, as you just expressed. Also, the crime statistics are mixed. Crime is down from when. Well, from its highest point. Okay, but my frame of reference is not from the highest point. Right. My frame of reference is before COVID so it's not necessarily from the highest point. And even within the statistics, rapes are way up. Right. Random assaults, which are mentally ill people attacking people.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And these horrific crimes that. I'm a lifelong New Yorker, Isaac. You've never seen someone burned on a subway car. Right.

[Joanna Coles]

There was an almost gothic crime last week with someone who died on the subway, riding around for three hours on the R train, dead, and then someone coming on, rifling through their pockets and raping them.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

But, you know, just to, like, throw this in there, as a lifelong New Yorker who has been riding the subway Since I'm 10 years old, it was squalid in, like, the 1970s. It was much worse than you can if ever imagine it to have, really now, it's not as. I don't think it's as dangerous as it was when I was a kid.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, I'm sure that's true, but it feels worse than it did 10 years ago.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That's not the frame of reference for most people. Right, right. They remember 10 years ago, 12 years ago, and this did not happen during that period of time. And by the way, even 50 years ago, you never saw a dead person on a subway getting robbed and raped. You never saw a person on a subway getting burned to death.

[Joanna Coles]

I can't believe you'd love to say it out loud. It's so strange.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I know.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah. So. And just these. Just the bizarreness of these situations.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

So how do you. How do you. How do you, darling? How do you, like, fight? How do you fight that? How do you. What are some of the things you might.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, and before you ask that, let's just go back to say you were governor for 10 years. You've had the best job in politics in New York. Why do you want to be mayor? This is a difficult thing to solve. And why would you want to do it? You've already had the big job.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah, well, it's funny. I wasn't planning on doing it. I had done my public service. I had done eight years in the Clinton administration. I had done attorney general. I had been governor. My father. I honored my father's legacy. My father did about 20 years. I did 23. Not that I'm competitive, but I did my public service, and I was not planning on running. I was doing other things, and I was enjoying life. There's a whole different life outside of work and public service that I was enjoying.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, and to be fair, you probably weren't planning to resign either, right?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I had a nice couple of years, but I was watching New York City. I watched what was happening with Mayor Adams. I looked at the alternatives. And I am frightened for New York City. I am frightened for New York city. I was HUD's Secretary, Housing and Urban Development. I worked with cities all across the country. And cities can wind up in what they call a death spiral. The equivalent of a death spiral. You start to lose tax base. We've lost 500,000 New Yorkers. What does a city do? You start to lose tax base. What do you do? Well, you increase taxes to make up for the loss. Well, then you lose more people. You accelerate the exodus. Well, you cut services. Well, then the quality of life gets worse. You lose more people. So it's a precarious position that we are in. And the only real answer is start to fix the problems. Show people progress, build optimism, and let them see that there is a future and problems are getting better. And rekindle the love of New York City. Yes, I love New York City, and I'm a lifelong New Yorker, and I would never leave.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And you live here now, by the way.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Okay.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Sometimes it's black and white. There's no solution but to make progress, just actually make progress. And I think that's where the Democrats, Democratic Party has fallen down. Not just in New York.

[Joanna Coles]

So many questions. Right. And the big cities led by Democrats have. There's been so much homeless, so much drug, so many drug problems. I guess the question is, can one come back from it? But can we go back to when you resigned? Because I was watching your resignation video the other day, all 21 minutes of it, and it. You alternately looked furious. And then the other part, you looked as if you were about to cry. And how can you persuade us that you've changed?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, what I was saying in the video was I believed the situation was political. I believed I did nothing wrong.

[Joanna Coles]

So the 11 accusations of sexual harassment were wrong?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I said from day one, I believed it was political. And by the way, since then, district attorneys have looked at it. Nothing has come of it. But to litigate that as governor would have been paralyzing for the state government. And we were coming out of COVID And to distract the entire state government, I didn't think was the Responsible action for me as governor, and I resigned and then actually had the ability to address the matters. And again, nothing came of it. What was I doing? I was practicing law. I was actually spending time with my children, which is something that I didn't get enough of a chance to do. I was a workaholic for many, many years, Followed my father's model, who was a workaholic for many, many years. And I turned around and my kids were 30, 30, 28 years old, you know, and I missed a lot of that, and I have great regrets about that. So I spent time with them, I traveled with them, and actually had a chance to see other parts of life. And then I looked at New York City and I just felt that. Precisely what you said, I've done this all my life. Right. I was at the Department of Housing and Urban Development when it was a disaster, and the Republicans wanted to end it and said, unless you turn it around and clean it up, they're going to end hud. I take over as governor. The state was in a terrible situation. Record deficit. The legislature wasn't functioning. The agencies were a mess. Same situation. Somebody has to come in. Somebody has to fix it. And that's what I did as governor. And the city is in an analogous position to me.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Wait, because, like, when you express this kind of idea about your fall and coming back from it and everything, and you don't express any regret at all, I mean, you know, does that. Because I want to talk about that, how you're positioning that in your campaign. I think that's a big thing in New Yorkers, to gain the confidence of New Yorkers, you know, do you plan on saying, you know, I feel really bad about something that you did, you know, or I regret that these women felt a certain way.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Oh, Isaac, I have said that. I said that from day one. I said that from day one.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Is that part of the strategy, though?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, strategy. I've been saying that from day one because, you know, it's the EMIs. Right. It's the truth. I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable. And to the extent I made someone feel uncomfortable, I said from day one, I apologize for that.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And did you learn anything from the tactics or the way you spoke or did.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Oh, yeah, for sure. You know, the. The level of sensitivity has. Has gone way up. I understand there are new interpretations, new cultural interpretations that I intellectually understood but maybe didn't actualize. And so I think, you know, that which doesn't kill you.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right. Makes you stronger.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Makes you stronger. So I did Learn from that. And I think I'm better for it. And it was also a life lesson. Right. You learn a lot about people, you learn a lot about yourself when you're knocked on your tuchus.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

What did you learn about yourself?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, in many ways, Joanna, I was too focused and too concerned. Just about my life was about work and what I was doing and the people I was involved with. Work and there were other parts of my life that I neglected. Friendships, having fun, you know, as I mentioned, spending more time with my children. So.

[Joanna Coles]

And what was that about? Was that about the allure of power? Was it about control? I mean. Cause essentially what you had was a moment of great hubris. Right. That brought you down.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah, I think what it was was I was emulating models that I had seen in my life. My father model was very simple. He worked seven days a week. Growing up, the arrangement with my mother was he would be home Sunday nights at 7:00 for dinner.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That would be the one day that.

[Joanna Coles]

Was the time you saw him.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah, that was the family dinner was Sunday, 7:00. And he didn't even make 7:00, a lot of Sundays, you know. So that was his model. I worked in the Clinton administration eight years full term of the Clinton administration. No one worked harder than Bill Clinton.

[Joanna Coles]

The story's no one played on paper.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, he did not need sleep. I mean, he was just a phenomenon. And I was in his cabinet and I worked seven days a week. So that was the model and attorney General. Governor, I didn't want to leave the state as governor, who knows what happens. I'd only leave for official business, but I wouldn't go on a vacation. I didn't take the kids to Europe, you know, I would go to Israel for a day and come back. Right. Just because I wanted to be here. And what if I went to Florida and there was a snowstorm and I couldn't get back so it became an all consuming lifestyle.

[Joanna Coles]

But isn't that what would happen if you ran for mayor too? That actually part of being mayor is that you have to be out and about cheerleading for businesses and things.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Oh, yes, that's true. But I think I would do it with more balance. You know, I've learned that lesson. There is balance at the end of the day, when they put you in that box. Right.

[Joanna Coles]

Do you mean a coffin?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay. I wasn't sure what box.

[Andrew Cuomo]

When they put you in the box, I say let's start with the eulogy and work backwards. Right. I want to have been a great public servant. That's important. I want to have been a phenomenal father to my children. I want to be a great friends, a great friend to my friends. You know, I want more than just a great public servant. That's nice, but it's not enough.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I have a question because you used a word a little bit earlier about sensitivity, you know, and I'm just wondering how you feel about the Democrats right now. You know, not just the. Not just the ones in New York City and New York State, but just on the whole, like, about our kind of. Our position on these issues, these kind of, you know, human rights issues and things like that. And how you at the moment, like, as a person who is someone, you know, running for an office to protect New Yorkers, might you be facing that? Like, when was the last time you spoke to Donald Trump? You know? Yeah, well, that's a big question.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah. When was the last time you spoke to Donald Trump?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I know him very well. I haven't spoken to him recently, but we've had intimate dealings for many, many years. But that, Isaac, I think, is the question. And that's what we have to focus on, because the Democratic Party is in trouble, let's be honest.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, it is.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And I believe in the old saying, you'll never solve a problem if you're unwilling to admit it. Right. The first step is admitting the problem.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I think everyone listening to this will agree. People who don't like you and people who adore you will agree that we are in trouble.

[Andrew Cuomo]

So the national election with Trump just to provoke people. Trump did not win. We lost the election. We lost. Well, how about in New York? He did better. First of all, in New York City, he got about 30% of the vote, which is nothing to write home about. Right. And it's because 500,000 fewer Democrats didn't come out to vote. It's not that he got a surge of voters. 500,000 Democrats, Democrats stayed home in the face of Donald Trump's election. Just think about that Joe Biden administration. Kamala Harris is running, and you stayed home.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That shows a disillusionment. And you have to hear that and you have to react to that. And I think what happened is the Democratic Party just became disassociated from Democrats. We lost sight of life issues.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right.

[Joanna Coles]

So how did the Democratic Party get hijacked by the cultural issues? And how do you outmaneuver Donald Trump? You're both Queens guys.

[Andrew Cuomo]

We didn't get hijacked. When you say we're Both Queens guys.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Excuse me? I say we're all Queens.

[Joanna Coles]

I meant you're both from Queen.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Hey, Queen.

[Joanna Coles]

You're both from.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

That's whenever I see him, I say, hey, Queen.

[Joanna Coles]

Different Queen.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Hey, Andy. Yeah, sorry.

[Andrew Cuomo]

But even that. See, what is the connotation? You are Queen's guy. See, they'll never let us figure. They will never let us.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, I'm a Brooklyn guy, so that's one step better than a Queen's guy. Oops, I said it. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.

[Andrew Cuomo]

We are out of borough, guys.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, we are.

[Andrew Cuomo]

We are out of borough guys.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Which as New Yorkers, Isaac and I can appreciate. There is no inner borough in New York.

[Joanna Coles]

There is so an inner borough. There is so an inner borough.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You are in it.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Just outer boroughs, which is growing up in New York, when you came from an outer borough, there was a little chip on your shoulder.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I went to high school on 46th Street. Okay. I'm just saying.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, so you went to high school in the inner borough. But how, how do you feel defensive about being.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I am, I am a little bit. I was born in Mount Sinai. That's what I tell everyone, you know.

[Andrew Cuomo]

So you're a Manhattanist.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes. I am sorry.

[Andrew Cuomo]

You're beaming up. I'll stay proud from the ida borough.

[Joanna Coles]

But my point about the Queen, the fact that you and Donald Trump have Queens in common is where are his vulnerabilities? Why have Democrats failed to puncture anything that he appears to be doing at the moment?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I don't think it's about him yet. Right. It's about us. Let's look in the mirror. And your question, I think was right. How did the Democratic Party get hijacked? It didn't get hijacked. We hijacked ourselves. We lost our base and we lost our foundation.

[Joanna Coles]

But you were governor for 10 years. I mean, you had a massive impact on the state. So how did the Democrats end up in the situation they have done.

[Andrew Cuomo]

But I did focus on them and their day to day lives. Right. You look at what we did. It was all about making a difference at the kitchen table. We raised the minimum wage to the highest in the United States. That put more money in your pocket, free college tuition for the middle class so you could sleep at night and not have to worry about how am I going to pay that college tuition. Gun safety, the best law in the United States. Because you were afraid of the number of guns that were out there. And then make a difference in my life. Okay. New LaGuardia Airport. So when you travel, you say, oh, this is a pleasant experience. New Second Avenue subway helps you on the commute. New Moynihan train station.

[Joanna Coles]

All of which is great, but nevertheless. And I use them all the time, and I'm very grateful for them, and it was great that you got them done. But the Democrats have lost the plot in terms of responding to Donald Trump. Is the reason that you're actually running for mayor because you want to run for president?

[Andrew Cuomo]

No, I'm running for mayor because I want to run for mayor and stabilize and turn around New York City. I do think the Democrats have not found an effective way to respond to Trump because he is playing a totally different game than we have seen before. Right. First of all, he's a different Trump than Trump won. He has a different strategy.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, he has more backing. Right? He has the entire.

[Andrew Cuomo]

He has more backing.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Every single SCOTUS and pot, all of it.

[Andrew Cuomo]

But he also has the Democratic Party on its back foot. We're always reacting, right? Today we're going to talk about tariffs, and tomorrow we're going to talk about Gaza, and then we're going to talk about Ukraine. And it's the Democratic Party sort of chasing where he was. And by the time they get to where he was, he's on something, he's already onto something else, you know, and that is a tactic that he has deployed very effectively. Now, if you step back, the Democrats can say, well, I understand you were enthralled by Trump's leadership and energy and enthusiasm, but look at what that volatility has done. Look at what that eccentricity has done. Electing, appointing people to a cabinet who have no qualifications whatsoever. Well, I want to change the world order and get more businesses back, and I'm going to put in tariffs and the stock market drops and your 401k becomes a 201k. Okay, I didn't mean that. I'm taking back the tariffs and I'm only doing the tariffs on this. And. Oh, no, I didn't mean that. And I'm taking back smartphones. Oh, no, I. I didn't mean that. And that's what the Democrats have to say. You know, you can have a good goal, a good end, but the means matter. And when you do it in a reckless way, you can cause more harm than good.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, what strength will you bring to this? I mean, I know you to be a very strong governor. I know you as a person. I know you're a strong person. Right. And as Joanna was saying, you know, this fall that you took or whatever. And now you're sort of. You're concerned about your image and you're concerned about sensitivity and everything like that. How do you balance this kind of, like, I guess, what, courting of Democratic vote whilst still being this kind of like, bulldog against the federal, you know, against Trump.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Like, how can you possibly create that? Like, what does that platform look like?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah. Well, first, I think my greatest asset is and always will be my sense of humor.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right, okay. Thank you, Queen. Go on.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Look, who I am is who I am, and there are times when you have to be willing to stand up and fight. Sometimes it is a fight first with Trump. Trump. You have to confront Trump. You know, Trump is old school, Queens, Brooklyn. He puts his finger in your chest and if you step back, you're going to be continuing to step back for the rest of the relationship. So you have to be willing to stand up to Donald Trump. And he is a formidable individual and he also represents the federal government and he will do whatever he needs to do to beat you. Now, I've gone through this with him a number of times through Covid. Right. Which was the most intense interaction. And just remember what that was. That was every day I'm doing a briefing. Millions of Americans are watching it. President was watching it. He would then do a briefing in the afternoon. And it was sort of a back and forth between his theory and my theory. And there was a tension to it. And the President was controlling whether or not we got vaccines and whether or not we got respirators and whether or not we got National Guard.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I remember. Yeah.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And he had a lot of leverage in that situation. So being able to deal with the President through that most intense. I mean, I pray to God I never have to go through anything like that again. But, but. Or any of us. But dealing with him through that is probably the most intense interaction you can ever have. But, yes, you have to stand up to President Trump. But more. And this gets back to the debate.

[Joanna Coles]

Do you think you can do that? So you think you can protect New York City from Donald Trump, saying he's going to withdraw federal funding from it? Are you a good foe for him?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I. I am a good. I understand the system better than I. Most people could. I was in Washington for eight years. I was in the state, so I understand all the levels of play, what he can do, what he can't do, what moves we would have against what he does. And on a personal level, yes, I am comfortable understanding that is what this is going to be.

[Joanna Coles]

So let me ask you something else, because I know you came in for a lot of criticism over the nursing homes during COVID I think a lot of voters, certainly in New York City, are sympathetic to what must have been a very complex moving situation. It's the beginning of COVID You've got conflicting science coming out. No one quite knows what's going on, especially, especially before the introduction of the vaccine. What I think people were shocked by was what they saw as your opportunism in taking a big advance, $5 million for a book. Would you still do that now on nursing homes?

[Andrew Cuomo]

First of all, you're right. Nobody knew what they were talking about. We had the best science advisors globally because New York was hit hardest and first. So we had the best people giving us advice, including the federal government, the cdc, the cms, as World Health Organization, all of them, and nobody knew. What we did was we followed the federal guidance that was set. The federal guidance wound up changing several times as they learned more and more. But New York State followed the federal guidance. And this has been investigated.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, I saw there were several investigations that all resolved in your favour because it was a night. The point remains, though, it felt very opportunistic for you to take a $5 million book advance for a book on leadership.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, what happened then was New York came through the first phase, first by definition, because we were the hardest hit. The curve turned and now it was spreading to the other states. And we had just gone through an horrific situation and I wanted the other states to know what to expect. And this is what we did. This worked. This didn't work. Don't do this. Do do this. Individuals, this is what you should know. This is the advice we got.

[Joanna Coles]

Because he's done that on a website, on a pamphlet or something.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I wanted the publisher who was going to promote it and was invested in it. The way they used it turned out to be a negative.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, it was a negative. It looked opportunistic.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That was not the way it was intended, but that's the way it looked. Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

We're going to take a quick break and then we'll be back with more of our conversation with former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

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[Andrew Cuomo]

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[Isaac Mizrahi]

Really sticks, put your brand in their hands.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Book a host Red sponsorship today by.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Visiting go.acast.com ads.

[Joanna Coles]

All right, I've got a question for you. Given that we're on Covid, your brother in law is now or your former brother in law is now head of Health and Human services Robert Kennedy Jr. Because you were married to his sister Kerry, is he going to make America healthy again?

[Andrew Cuomo]

You know, I try not to comment on him. He is, I obviously know him very well for 15 years. Even more. He is, he's the uncle to my daughters. And this has gotten very complicated within the family, as you know. So I try to stay out of it. In general, do I think his perspectives on health and human services are problematic? Certainly, yes. Certainly, yes.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I have a question. Can I just change the subject for a second?

[Joanna Coles]

Go ahead.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Because I always wonder about this, people running for mayor. Like I could run for mayor. Seriously, I could. By the way, I want a spot in your cabinet, some kind of something, some cultural spot. Hey, don't avert my glance.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, you're from Manhattan.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I borrows from Manhattan. But here's the thing. Like I always wonder about this. Like what's the difference? Do you know what the difference is between running a state and running the city of New York? Like what's the difference? And how will you be great at running the city?

[Andrew Cuomo]

The difference. It's an interesting question. It depends on how you did the job as governor. You can do the job as governor sort of focusing on legislation and being a little remote and a little removed from the day to day.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I was a very operational governor. Right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I was a very hands on granular building, the second Avenue subway. So I went there three times a week. Right, Right. I was a government in action person. Right. Very involved in the details of governance.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I see.

[Andrew Cuomo]

The mayor's job is a more hands on job. But. But that's the way I do the governor's job. New York City also Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Long island, city, et cetera. Right. State budget is basically twice what the city budget is. State legislature is a much more complicated body than the New York City Council. Both are formidable challenges. But New York city council is 51 people. You know, you're dealing with over 200 people in the. The state legislature. So I have done. I have done those tasks as governor. Big issue in New York City's affordable housing. I was the HUD Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Secretary. I built housing myself in a. Not for profit when I was in my 20s and 30s. So I have the experience. I don't know that you could have more experience, Isaac, to be prepared to do a job than I've had.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

It's a political job. And I wonder what your relationship with Kathy Hochul is like these days. Have you like Kathy Hochul I selected.

[Andrew Cuomo]

For the Lieutenant Governor position?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah.

[Andrew Cuomo]

We're both going to have the same agenda. The agenda is New York City has to work and New York City has to turn around. And you can't lose more people from New York City because New York City is the economic engine for the state of New York. And as goes New York City, goes New York State. So all hands on Deck 1. Focus Fix new York City. That is everybody's goal.

[Joanna Coles]

All right, so how do you persuade women. I've talked to lots of people that worked with you and worked for you. How do you persuade women to come and work in your administration, given how you ended up leaving?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Women. I had a majority of women in my administration. I've had women who worked for me 10, 15 years and who would come work again. I've had great, great staff, which is job one to doing any of these positions, I think is having the best staff. Many of my best staff, my top staff, were women. And we had an excellent working relationship. And literally, they will come back again to work with me.

[Joanna Coles]

The thing I find hard to understand is that 11 people, 11 women, accused you of sexual harassment. Admittedly, it was a kind of. In a time of. There was a great frenzy around this. But you're a consummate political animal. You say it was a political campaign against you. How did you not see it coming and how did you not have enough political allies to save you?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, two things. One, I'd been governor for 11 years, and I had pushed the legislature on many issues, which in some ways is almost unavoidable if you want to get big things done, which I did, because for me, it was all about making a difference in people's lives. And that means you have to battle the bureaucracy. You cannot have it both ways. You can't make everybody happy and still make major change. Everything you go to change, Joanna, is going to require disruption, and the system abhors disruption. So you want to make a change. You want to start to pick up homeless, mentally ill people on the street. You want to hire more police. There is going to be tremendous blowback. And if you're not prepared to do that, then don't do it.

[Joanna Coles]

So why is the blowback about hiring more police? Because you said you're going to hire people.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Because the whole. Whole political left movement is defund the police. They all supported defunding the police. That was the chant. That's why we have 3,000 police officers. A few were police officers. They didn't disappear. It's a political movement.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

But they also were chanting about MeToo, and somehow you missed that memo. You know, it's like you. There weren't people around you who said, hey, you know, maybe don't speak that way to women or don't touch her this way or whatever it is, you know?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, the MeToo, I actually changed the laws in New York to make them the most progressive and the most protective of women.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, and you also changed the legislation so people could go back and accuse, you know, retrospectively bring charges. Thank you very much for putting it more articulately. Right. Which makes it all the more ironic that somehow you were forced to resign over accusations from 11 women.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah. Because it didn't really have anything to do with that, I don't think. I think it was your first point when you said the political support. Number one, I did have to push the legislature very hard to get things done. I got 11 budgets done on time. That had not been done in modern political history, by the way. It hasn't been done since I left. Right. All the major projects that I did. First state to pass, first big state to pass marriage equality.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yay.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes. The Democrats were against it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I know.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I had to turn Democratic votes to do it. So the legislature, there was resentment also on this issue at that time, no Democrat was going to stand up and be supportive. None. It was a frenzy. And they are like dominoes. When one falls, they all fall. So no Democrat was going to stand up and defend it. I mean, I had great lifelong friends in the legislature who called up and said, I love you. I don't believe it. But politically, I can't stand up on this one. Politically, as a Democrat, that issue had such power at that time that it was virtually impossible to say, hold on, let's get the facts.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Let's get. Darling, isn't that politics?

[Joanna Coles]

So let's suppose you win. What are the first things you do to reassure New Yorkers that you can bring the city back?

[Andrew Cuomo]

You know, I think, again, things that bother them today. Right. What bothers you today? You said it already. There are mentally ill people who are on the streets who should not be on the streets. Right.

[Joanna Coles]

Who need care. Right. Who need care.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And if you are a compassionate, caring society, your answer isn't, I'm going to leave them on the doorway to be abused. Get them the mental health treatment they need. Now, that's going to be controversial.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, wait a minute. Can I just say this one thing? I have to say this one thing. You're going to love this. I live on 12th street, and there was this person, you know, who collects all those incredible. It's those beautiful kind of constructions on a tiny little cart of bags. We've seen them, you know, bottles. And he was just there day after day. And the police came, came day after day to try to get him to move, but his right was that he could stay there. You know, And I don't exactly know where you fall in there in the discussion between, like, you know, he does have rights. He should have the right to, you know, to kind of like stay put. And he felt very, very strongly about that piece of real estate.

[Andrew Cuomo]

You know, yes, I will go to do it, because I think it's the humane, compassionate thing. If it was my sister or my sibling who was in that condition, please get them the mental health treatment. That is disruption. And you will hear a tremendous, tremendous political blowback. And that gets back to Joanna's question of why was the legislature not more supportive? You're going to see a significant portion of Democrats who say, you are institutionalizing people, and this is very harsh, and you're going to get sued 10 times.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Thank you for walking me through that. I mean it.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That is what is going to happen. And then it's going to be controversial. And people, Politicians don't like controversy. And then I'll be here in a setting like this, and someone like Joanna will say, why have you created such controversy? And so many, many Democrats are so angry at you for taking people against their will, and they say you're violating their civil rights and civil liberties and that you're institutionalizing people and this is a police state, and you think you're a dictator. That is what is going to happen, and that's why no one does anything. Joanna.

[Joanna Coles]

But it's sort of distressing that the people who are suffering by living on the street and clearly having mental health issues, don't have anywhere to go.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Like, you talked earlier about fixing New York City. Right. I want to ask you about your vision for New York City because, like, I adored President. President Bloomberg. Wow, that was. That was a fraudian stuff. No, I loved Mayor Bloomberg. I really did. And now, like, in retrospect, I do notice things about the city that I really don't like that I, you know, like Hudson Yards, I want to. Every time I go through that place, I just want to kill someone. Seriously. There was a sort of over gentrification of New York City that I didn't like. I would love to hear your kind of vision. Like, what do you see in New York City besides no homeless and mentally ill people on the street? How do you see us in the year? Like what? Pick a year, Joanna.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, next year, the year after. I mean, I don't think some of this is that complicated. That complicated to clean up graffiti, I mean, which also adds to the demoralization of it. Yeah, but. Yeah. What is your vision? I mean, I remember the gates. The Gates was a one. You know, there's just been an exhibition for the gates of the shed. That was a wonderful moment in New York City. Brought millions of people to the city.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Hudson Yards.

[Joanna Coles]

I agree with you on Hudson Yards. But Little Island, Barry Diller, who's our business partner in the Daily Beast, said that actually they came to a standpoint or a standstill when they were developing Little Island. And you called him and said, listen, if I can unblock this and get it going again, will you commit to it? Because at that point he'd, I think, put 45 million into it and it was still going to take a lot more money to develop. And you got that moving again. So what are the other kinds of things like the High Line, like the Gates, that bring great quality of life and excitement to a city?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I got it. I got it. Just to go back, because there's one. One point we have to understand, because if I am successful, we're going to be having the same conversation. Take Mr. Diller on little island, which is just a phenomenal, beautiful thing that he did, and it's his that happens.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

To be a phenomenal, wonderful, beautiful thing. But then there are also, like, other developments that are abhorrent.

[Joanna Coles]

Yes, but the High Line is pretty fabulous.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

The High Line, you know. Yes, but I don't like it personally, but I do think it's fabulous.

[Joanna Coles]

Like the High Line.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Me, I hate to High Line.

[Joanna Coles]

Why don't you like the High line.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I don't like grasses and I don't like underlit grasses.

[Joanna Coles]

You don't like grasses?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, I do like. Who doesn't like underlit grass?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I'm sorry, are we talking marijuana or we.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, I love that kind of. I'm talking about, like, you know, far.

[Joanna Coles]

And hard grass, bamboo.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

That's under lit.

[Joanna Coles]

When I first moved here, I moved to the meatpacking district. It was so horrible. So much improved.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Largely fun and great and florent and.

[Joanna Coles]

Huge ribs sticking up out of old, you know, bins. It was very smelly.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I'm out of this conversation.

[Joanna Coles]

But how are you going to make the city. We've both loved the ups and downs of the city. What is the vision?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Got it. I just want to put a postscript in your first point about Mr. Diller's project. I did get involved. It was disruptive. People did not want it done. That's the story of New York. You go to change a light bulb in New York and the next day is a committee that's for the preservation of light bulbs.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

The island is now up. The island is beautiful and everybody loves it. What you leave out is the beating I took in getting engaged. Right. Same thing with the LaGuardia Airport, all of these projects. So the first point that you have to understand and New Yorkers have to understand and the media has to understand. Oh, you get criticized for. You get criticized when you take a position that some people disagree with. Yes. This is New York. Everybody disagrees with everything. Nobody agrees with any. The Bloomberg administration was a pro growth, pro development administration. They are right in that orientation. When I was HUD secretary, I'd be flying into a city, I'd count the number of cranes that you see in the sky. And I would say that's a litmus test. A city is either growing or it is dying. And Bloomberg was pro growth. He was creative Dan, Doctor off, God bless him, was a genius at it. And the city had an energy and was moving forward.

[Joanna Coles]

And especially pace. Nine, 11. Right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

It was also really safe and really clean, as I remember.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes, he managed. He was a manager. So you know what? Elect a manager. First of all, who knows how to manage a $300,112 billion enterprise rather than a person who never had any management experience and then being shocked when they didn't know how to do an executive capacity, even though they had never been an executive and never suggested that they had any experience that was relevant.

[Joanna Coles]

But are you talking about Mayor Adams?

[Andrew Cuomo]

I'm talking about we elect multiple People.

[Joanna Coles]

Oh, okay.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Or all the people who are running against him.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yeah, that was.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, including Mayor Adams. Including Mayor Adams.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Including.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, who's now our chance at all? Mayor Adams. Come on.

[Andrew Cuomo]

But many we elect. You can be a great state assemblyman or senator or a controller or an advocate, but you're not prepared to manage. Only in government would you hire a person who has no qualification or experience in the area.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Is there anybody running who you would. You know the Lincoln thing where you hire people to work. Is there anybody running for mayor that you would say, you know what? That person's cute. I'm going to hire that person to do this job.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Or besides me, they may be cute people. I haven't really looked at them that way. But no one who. I would.

[Joanna Coles]

But have we got to the end of your vision yet?

[Andrew Cuomo]

No. Isaac keeps asking.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I know. Sorry, I keep interrupting.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Who's cute?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I will stop.

[Andrew Cuomo]

The strength of New York is. And the fundamental asset we have is the. This is the place that attracts the greatest talent on the globe.

[Joanna Coles]

Right. So it's people and it's brand. Right. The brand of New York is very strong.

[Andrew Cuomo]

The brand, but the brand comes second to the substance. We do attract the best and the brightest. We're getting the young people with the talent. And when we. When you get the young people with the talent, the businesses follow. They feed on the electricity and the diversity and the international feeling of New York. The mayor is part chief marketing officer. The mayor is a developer. And if you are a serious business, you need our talent. We had won a competition with Amazon to come build a national headquarters here. It was a national competition. Every city, every state offered them more financial benefits. New York won. Why? Because they wanted the talent that we had. Even though our financial package was nowhere close, they were going to open a national headquarters in New York.

[Joanna Coles]

Remind us what happened to it.

[Andrew Cuomo]

What happened to it was the extremists in the Democratic Party, the anti development, anti corporate, anti capitalist. They'll call themselves socialists. Said, well, that's corporate welfare because you're providing a government incentive. I got it approved, but Amazon said, I don't want to be here if I'm dealing with this political environment.

[Joanna Coles]

It was 25,000 jobs, right?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes. Bezos. Point was there had been a delay in getting the legislation passed because of the opposition. I actually got it passed. By the time I got it passed, he said, said, I just.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I'm out of here.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Don't. I don't want to deal with this.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah.

[Joanna Coles]

It was obscene.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

To turn down 25,000 jobs. Just shocking. That's not what.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You know, I guess it's a really sticky thing because if you let someone dictate to you, you know, it's like, do you worry about, like, our sanctuary status? I'm not kidding. Do you worry about that?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Hold on a second. There was nothing sticky about. They were competing with every city, every state. Every city, State put a package. Package together. We put an incentive package together. The state, the mayor supported it. Then Amazon came. We won is the mistake. We won. And then the extreme left said, oh, this is corporate welfare, and created that whole political environment, slowed down the approval process. And then Bezos pulled the plug, saying, I don't want to operate in this environment, which goes back to the Democrats. Have to learn the lesson first. Yes. Focus on Trump, but learn your own lesson. You can't have this extreme wing of the Democratic Party running the Democratic Party because it doesn't work.

[Joanna Coles]

So AOC was opposed to it. Is AOC part of the extreme wing?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes. Yes.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Wow, that was a really good question and a very direct answer.

[Andrew Cuomo]

That was direct, right? Yes.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes. One word. Yes.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes. Yes. Sometimes the answer is yes.

[Joanna Coles]

So what do you think about her and Bernie going round now? They just did. Bern Scheller. They appeared at. They're sort of doing stadiums, whipping people up. Is that an effective way for the Democrats to be talking to people?

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, they have seized the anti Trump moment.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And that. They have seized effectively. And the Democratic Party is outraged at Trump. And there is a lot of anger. And frankly, there's more fear than anger. It's more fear. The fear comes first and then the anger. Major law firms buckle to his absurd demands. Right. So that's created a fear, and I think they capitalize on that fear. The fear is founded.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

It's founded. And Harvard is being just, what, $6 billion or something? And they're not backing down. Maybe that's. Maybe that's a good thing.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Well, Harvard, hopefully, is like the beginning of.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Hopefully that's the beginning.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, who's able to take Trump on?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right.

[Joanna Coles]

I think the issue is. I mean, what I've learned from this conversation is how much harder it is to get things done because there is so much resistance from all sorts of pockets of government, which you actually don't know if you're not in it. People want to protect their own territory. Political territory.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Yes. And here is the riddle, and I do this with when I speak to young graduate students who want to go into politics. The riddle is you're a politician. You want people to like You. You want to get reelected. Make no trouble. Legislators. There's an old expression, he who does nothing, does nothing wrong. The competing pressure in school of thought is if you get nothing done, you failed.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You failed.

[Andrew Cuomo]

When you get to the end of the day and they say, what did you do? President Joe Biden. And if you have to explain it to them and they don't know that you did something that touched their lives, you failed. So you have to make a difference. And then to make a difference, especially in a place like New York, you're going to have to make some people unhappy. There will be disruption. And you have to be willing to fight through the disruption, because when you get to the other side, you actually have the accomplishment. But it's hard to fight through the disruption, especially when the media only feeds on the disruption. And, oh, you're controversial and all the legislators didn't like you.

[Joanna Coles]

And blaming the media again.

[Andrew Cuomo]

No, first time I blamed the media today, which is actually a very low frequency. It took you a minute. But that is the ying and the yang, right? New York needs to make changes, Needs more police. Highly disruptive. Needs mentally ill people in facilities. Highly disruptive. Needs more affordable housing. Dealing with communities and who don't want any construction because nobody wants any construction anywhere. Highly disruptive. Regulate the E bikes so you can figure out how to cross the street without getting run down. Highly disruptive. All of these things are. So then when you say, well, I don't understand why the political process didn't take care of these things, because it is all very controversial and very difficult, and you could lose office going near any of these things. That's the conundrum that the Democratic Party is in.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And by the way, you should run for mayor. Has anyone said that to you? Like, seriously? I do. I'm thinking you should run for mayor or president. You should run for president, Justin.

[Andrew Cuomo]

We'll go right to president.

[Joanna Coles]

You run for mayor. You can run for president. Okay.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I love it.

[Joanna Coles]

All good. Thank you very much for your time. So interesting talking to you. Do you feel better or worse about things?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Isaac, I've always loved you. I mean that from afar.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Thank you.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You know, so I'm just gonna tell you that I've always loved you from afar and from anear. Not near enough.

[Joanna Coles]

Not just being a total sucker.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, I know. I'm just hoping you're gonna edit this part as you're.

[Joanna Coles]

No, he'd be a very good deputy mayor.

[Andrew Cuomo]

He is a.

[Joanna Coles]

Be a fantastic deputy. Cultural. You should be ahead of cultural institutions. No, you Bring your own driver, my friend. Bring your own driver.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Bring the driver.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Isaac is a New York icon.

[Joanna Coles]

He is. He really is.

[Andrew Cuomo]

And he represents the best of New.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

York and the outer damn burrows, darling. And the outer boroughs.

[Joanna Coles]

Really? You just said you're on with 12th Street.

[Andrew Cuomo]

You're on claimed Manhattan by birth. Be proud of Brooklyn.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

It's on my birth certificate. You're right.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Be proud.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Have you been to Brooklyn recently?

[Andrew Cuomo]

All the time.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, I'm just kidding.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Lean into Brooklyn.

[Joanna Coles]

Final thoughts on the Trump quid pro quo with Mayor Adams that they've dropped the charges against him.

[Andrew Cuomo]

I think Donald Trump wanted to retain control of the mayor because I think Donald Trump wants control of Mayor New York because he is a New Yorker. Yes. He's in Florida now. He is a New Yorker. He wants New York back. He wants acceptance in New York. He felt rejected by New York and he is not done vindicating himself in New York. And we have not seen the last of Donald Trump's intervention in New York York. That I promise you.

[Joanna Coles]

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please, like, subscribe, comment and share it with everyone you know and keep sending us those emails to beastpod, the dailybeast.com or drop us a comment on YouTube, which I do try to answer. And if you're not a subscriber to the Daily Beast, it's easy to sign up. Just go to thedailybeast.com as my muse.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Samantha B O S says, Be best, be beast.

[Joanna Coles]

Isaac, it's be beast.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Well, it says be best.

[Andrew Cuomo]

Be best.

[Joanna Coles]

You say be beast, I say beast.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, it's be beast all right, darling. We always get everything wrong.

[Joanna Coles]

We get everything wrong, and yet it's still so right. The Daily Beast podcast is produced by Sarah.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

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[Andrew Cuomo]

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[Isaac Mizrahi]

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[Andrew Cuomo]

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[Isaac Mizrahi]

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