TDS Time Machine | New York City Mayors

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | New York City Mayors
Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team

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Episode Overview

This special "Time Machine" installment of The Daily Show dives into the unique challenges, policy battlegrounds, and quirks of recent New York City mayors through a series of interviews. Jon Stewart and the team revisit conversations with Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, and feature a contemporary deep-dive interview with current mayor Eric Adams. With Stewart’s signature humor and probing questions, the episode explores themes of political leadership, public safety, social justice, and the ever-evolving character of New York City.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rudolph Giuliani: Campaigns and the Law (01:17–09:20)

• Presidential Politics & Party Rivalries
  • Giuliani discusses his support for the Bush administration and reflects on being mentioned as a potential VP pick:

    “I'm a big supporter of Vice President Cheney. He's a good friend of mine, and I'm a big supporter of his. Yes. I've known him for 25 years.” (03:23)

  • Stewart and Giuliani joke about the theatrical nature of political attack strategies and surrogacy on the campaign trail.
• Personal Reflections & Public Life
  • Giuliani talks candidly about the duality of public personas (via Cheney) and handling public criticism:

    “Some of the ways I was depicted when I was the mayor used to... I used to cry when I saw myself on television. I said, this can't be true.” (04:00)

• On Running Clean Campaigns
  • Both Giuliani and Stewart share hope for a policy-based, less personal campaign—a rare bipartisan note of respect:

    “Both men are good human beings... Who have totally different philosophies and that's the way the campaign should be run.” (05:16, Giuliani)

• Gay Marriage and the Rule of Law
  • Giuliani weighs in on the New Paltz mayor solemnizing gay marriages and emphasizes rule of law above personal beliefs:

    “The law in New York is clear. Marriage is a man and a woman. And you've got to follow that. Unless you can get the state legislature to change the law.” (07:17)

• White-Collar Crime & Legal Media Frenzy
  • The conversation touches on parallels between real-life trials and media dramatization, with Giuliani reflecting on his love for courtroom drama:

    “I love being a trial lawyer. There probably was no more pure drama than waiting for a jury.” (09:06)

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2. Michael Bloomberg: Bagel Taxes & Religious Freedom (10:03–17:38)

• The ‘Sliced Bagel Tax’ Controversy
  • Stewart lampoons the state’s tax on sliced bagels with Bloomberg joining in at the absurdity:

    “New York State has passed an 8 cent tax. If you get a bagel regular with a schmear. But if you get it sliced, they add nine cents.” (11:11, Stewart)

  • Bloomberg acknowledges legislative eccentricities, but jokes:

    “This is one of the causes I'm gonna work on for the next three and a half years.” (11:44)

• Defending Religious Freedom (Park51 Mosque Debate)
  • Bloomberg’s impassioned defense of the right to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero:

    “It says you have a right to say what you want to say, which means pray to whomever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. And it's just not the government's business to tell you what to say.” (12:10)

  • He frames the controversy as election-season hype, pointing to deeper principles of constitutional rights:

    “This whole issue, I think, will go away right after the next election. This is plain and simple, people trying to stir up things.” (13:54)

• The Politics of Principle vs. Emotion
  • Bloomberg stresses authenticity in leadership:

    “I think the public wants people that... say what they believe. They want people to be genuine even if they don't agree with them.” (15:50)

• Equity in Scrutiny
  • On investigations into the mosque’s funding:

    “We would not ask that if somebody was trying to build a temple or a church, plain and simple.” (16:24)

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3. Bill de Blasio: Progressive Reform & Pizza Etiquette (18:36–27:33)

• Pizza with a Fork: A NYC Taboo
  • Stewart teases de Blasio for being caught eating pizza with cutlery and insists on a “proper” New York-style slice—an extended bit emblematic of his playful, local tone (19:53–21:39).
• Ending Stop and Frisk
  • De Blasio lays out his rationale for ending the controversial police practice:

    “You can't break the law to enforce the law. It's as simple as that.” (22:18)

  • He gives a striking stat:

    “In its heyday, we had almost 700,000 stops in a single year. Almost 90% of them were innocent people in every way, shape, or form.” (22:30)

• Progressive Initiatives and Income Inequality
  • He champions new taxes on the wealthy to fund universal pre-K:

    “Would be transcendent in terms of our school system, would totally allow us to prepare our kids properly.” (24:01)

  • Stewart defends ‘paying it forward’ as a civic responsibility.
• Combating the Fear of Progressive Chaos
  • De Blasio refutes the claim that progressive governance leads to disorder:

    “Progressives can run governments effectively. Progressives can be fiscally responsible. Progressives can focus on public safety. But we're going to do it in a way that respects people's rights.” (26:36)

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4. Eric Adams: Policing, Education, and Affordability (28:42–44:25)

• Opening Tone & On Giuliani’s False Report
  • Adams humorously notes the dangers of being “assaulted” by a handshake, riffing on a recent Giuliani incident:

    “You don't realize it, but you just assaulted me with that handshake.” (29:12)

  • Critiques Giuliani for false crime reporting:

    “He falsely reported a crime, and the district attorney should take that seriously. That person that he falsely reported spent 24 hours in jail. That's not acceptable.” (29:50)

• Fighting Segregation in NYC Schools
  • Adams shares his personal struggles with dyslexia and his efforts to address systemic educational inequity:

    “Our school system is dysfunctional... 65% of black and brown children never reach proficiency in our New York City school system. And we've normalized that.” (31:07)

  • Implements universal dyslexia screening—including in Rikers Island.
• Policing and Crime: Seeking Balance
  • Adams balances lived experience—having been abused by police—with commitment to ending abusive policing:

    “We can't go back to the days when every black and brown child that walked the streets was treated unfairly. And so we have to have that balance... intervention and prevention.” (32:50)

  • Cites successes:

    “We took 3,000 guns off our street. Shootings dropped by 30%. Homicide dropped by 13%.” (32:50)

• Police Funding and Accountability
  • Tackles why police budgets always grow:

    “The prerequisite to prosperity is public safety and justice. They go together... But let's not kid ourselves. We have been producing an inferior product all across the city. We spend $38 billion a year on education. Yes, 65% of black and brown children never reach education. They've been playing us.” (34:59)

• Fare Jumping and Public Order
  • On cracking down—even on small crimes:

    “We cannot send a message that any and everything goes in our city... We're not going to criminalize poor, but we're not going to allow someone to say that their economic status is going to allow them to disrespect what it is to live in a city like New York.” (37:33)

• Affordable Housing and NIMBYism
  • Adams outlines the challenges in building affordable housing, including community resistance:

    “You have some people who are advocating for affordable housing, and I say, okay, great, we're going to build it on your block. Whoa, not on my block...” (40:08)

  • Explains the need to balance the interests of rich and poor for citywide sustainability:

    “52% of our taxes are paid by 2% of New Yorkers... I want them to pay their taxes, I want them to volunteer, I want them to contribute to my museums, to my nonprofits.” (41:32)

• Tangible Policy Initiatives
  • Adams highlights real programs making a difference:
    • Lowered childcare costs, expanded seats, streamlined earned income tax credits, college fund initiatives, and crisis management teams (41:32–43:05).
• A Humble Self-Assessment
  • When asked to grade his mayorship:

    “I'm incomplete. I'm incomplete as a mayor. I'm incomplete as a man. I'm incomplete as a father. I'm incomplete... I get up every morning, I meditate, I exercise, I pray, I say the pledge of allegiance, and I get myself ready every day.” (43:28)

  • Emphasizes the ongoing nature of public service.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Marriage is a man and a woman. And you've got to follow that. Unless you can get the state legislature to change the law.”
  — Rudolph Giuliani (07:17)

• “It says you have a right to say what you want to say, which means pray to whomever you want... And it's just not the government's business to tell you what to say.”
  — Michael Bloomberg (12:10)

• “You can't break the law to enforce the law. It's as simple as that.”
  — Bill de Blasio (22:18)

• “Our school system is dysfunctional... 65% of black and brown children never reach proficiency in our New York City school system. And we've normalized that.”
  — Eric Adams (31:07)

• “The prerequisite to prosperity is public safety and justice. They go together... We could be safe and we could have justice.”
  — Eric Adams (34:59)

• “I'm incomplete as a mayor. I'm incomplete as a man... I get up every morning, I meditate, I exercise, I pray, I say the pledge of allegiance, and I get myself ready every day.”
  — Eric Adams (43:28)

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Giuliani on Presidential Campaigns & Policy: 01:17–09:20
• Bloomberg on Bagel Tax, Religious Freedom: 10:03–17:38
• De Blasio on Stop and Frisk, Income Inequality: 18:36–27:33
• Eric Adams on Education, Police Reform, Affordability: 28:42–44:25

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Tone and Style

Stewart’s inquisitive, comedic approach sets a conversational, sometimes irreverent tone throughout. Each mayor’s segment combines personal anecdotes, evidence-based policy discussion, and New York–centric humor—balancing gravity on issues like racial equity and public safety with playful jabs (e.g., eating pizza with a fork, the “sliced bagel tax,” and pledge-of-allegiance routines). The interviews invite candidness and reveal both the humanity and political calculations behind some of New York’s most consequential leaders.

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This episode offers a rich oral history and a revealing snapshot of how four very different personalities have tried—and struggled—to lead the ever-complex city of New York.

Transcript

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[Co-host/Commentator]

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[Mayor Eric Adams]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Jon Stewart]

My guest tonight, a best selling author and the former mayor of our own New York City, please welcome Rudolph Giuliani. Sir, come on out. Good to see you.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'm very good, thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

You're looking.

[Host/Interviewer]

So this is it.

[Jon Stewart]

It's settled. It's Bush V. Carrier. Are the juices starting to flow now? Are you getting in campaign mode?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Absolutely.

[Jon Stewart]

What do you think your role will be? Do you think you'll be on the stump?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

What is the stump? I'm not even sure. I hope that. That sounds like it hurts or something. It is.

[Jon Stewart]

It's a small log that politicians are the last one to jump off wins immunity.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'll be campaigning. I think I'll be campaigning for the president. Sure. I've done it already. I've.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, you've been to the states?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Number of places. I was in Iowa, New Hampshire. I was in when I went to Iowa.

[Jon Stewart]

Well, you're doing great because he's sweeping the primaries.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

We did very well in Iowa. Very well. We did very well in Iowa. We did very well in New Hampshire. We haven't lost a primary yet.

[Jon Stewart]

Do you expect this to be, you know, people keep talking about this is going to be a rough one. This is going to be a. Both sides are going to start sniffing at each other. Is this one going to be a wild one?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'm sure they already started. I mean, it's been months and months of the whole Democratic primary was who can bash the president the most? I mean, it was sort of like the focus of it. So I think it's going to be. It's going to be pretty tough. Yeah, right.

[Jon Stewart]

You think when it. Because it's. When it down to one guy, it always seems like the candidate tries to avoid besmirching himself with any attacks, he has to send out the other folks. If they say to you, Mr. Giuliani, I'm afraid we're going to have to send you out to knock him down a peg.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

You're just one of those kind, nice, gentle people. I never, you know, get involved in stuff like that.

[Jon Stewart]

You're a sweetheart. It's lovely.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'm so eager.

[Jon Stewart]

I have to ask you this now. There are rumors that you would actually make for a powerful running mate with the President right now in place of the fellow who's there now who we all know is actually a cyborg who was built. That's terrible. No, this is. You didn't know that? No. He was built in a small lab. That's the bunker. No, but they talk about. They've talked about you. Even if it's not true, it must be very flattering to be considered for this.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

It actually, it isn't, because I.

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I meant.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'm a big supporter of Vice President Cheney. He's a good friend of mine, and I'm a big supporter of his. Yes. I've known him for 25 years.

[Jon Stewart]

Really?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

He gave me the best lecture I ever got on how to be a Chief of staff, so. And I think he's been a great vice president.

[Jon Stewart]

Then tell me. Help me, because I want to get to meet him.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

You want to see if we get him on the show that I don't.

[Jon Stewart]

Think will happen, but I want to feel his humanity, and yet I can't. You know, I hear so much about the, like, Cage, Duck Hunt, like, these crazy stories, and then he talks, and he's always got that, well, we got to go in there and we got to get these guys. You know, Is there another side to him behind the curtain?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

There's a side to all of us than the public side to us. I mean, it really. Some of the ways I was depicted when I was the mayor used to. I used to get Fri. I used to cry when I saw myself on television. I said, this can't be true. Is that true? No, it's not true.

[Jon Stewart]

No, I knew that wasn't true. I knew you were kidding.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Yeah, he's a very. He's a. He's very, very smart, very experienced. Helped the country get through the Persian Gulf War back in the early 90s. I mean, this is a man of tremendous experience and somebody that the.

[Jon Stewart]

You believe in this team. You truly do. This is not a chore for you. This is not a party affiliation thing. You do believe in these guys.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I believed in the team before September 11, 2001. And from that day on, my admiration for how they dealt with the worst attack in the history of this country has only grown.

[Jon Stewart]

Boy, that's a tough one to make a joke with. Son of a gun. Now, when you look at, you know. Do you know Senator Kerry at all?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Not well. I do know him somewhat.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Actually, we share something in common. We both had prostate cancer and had to deal with it. And I remember calling him when I found out about it and having a very, very good conversation with him. He. He's a nice man. He's a good man. And this campaign should not be based on personal attacks.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Both men are good human beings.

[Jon Stewart]

So we can't lose. You're saying we can't lose decent men.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Who have totally different philosophies and that's the way the campaign should be run.

[Jon Stewart]

That is an interesting point. I have always found that, you know, there's a lot of bashing on both sides, but I truly believe that the Bush administration, in their hearts, thinks they're doing the right thing, however obviously insane it is, and that. And that the Democrats. But I do believe that they care, that this is not, you know, people have a lot of conspiracy theories about, you know, the evil cabal that does that. I think all these guys really do believe in their hearts they're doing what's best for them.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

You've got two men who love the country, otherwise they wouldn't go through this.

[Jon Stewart]

It's a bit of a cheating. It's terrible.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

You don't go through running for president unless you have a real commitment to the country and the idea that, you know, you can do something, you can make a difference. The president has his view on how to deal with the war on terror. He's remained very committed to it. I think it's been very successful. Senator Kerry has a different view, right? What's his name? Kerry.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Kerry.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

He has a different view.

[Jon Stewart]

Senator Kerry.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

He has a different view of how to do that. You know, President Bush.

[Jon Stewart]

Hopefully they'll keep it to those sorts of policies.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

President Bush believes in lowering taxes as a way of. Don't stuff incentivizing.

[Jon Stewart]

Now, I see where you're going now.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Senator Kerry blues in easing taxes.

[Jon Stewart]

All right, we're going to come back. We got more to talk about with Rudolph Giuliani we'll be back in a minute. We're back with Rudolph Giuliani. We're talking. Let's talk some domestic stuff. Right now. The mayor of New Paltz is conducting gay marriages and has now been, I guess, charged with a misdemeanor. Based on that, I think. What is it called, Solemnizing a wedding? Some crazy.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I did 200. I did 220 weddings when I was the mayor. Okay, about 220. Because I really enjoyed doing them. It was a way of kind of getting out of there.

[Jon Stewart]

You gotta make some money too, you.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Know, I mean, well, it depended.

[Jon Stewart]

They gotta throw you 20.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

You want the short one, the long one, the illegitimate one. You know, we could do all kinds of.

[Jon Stewart]

We could do all kinds for an extra 50. I'll do it in Hebrew. I know what goes on. What do you think about that? Responsibility? Is that tough to do?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I think you've gotta follow the law, right? Whatever your views are on gay marriage, whether you think it's right or wrong or you think civil unions are right or wrong, the law in New York is clear. Marriage is a man and a woman. And you've got to follow that. Unless you can get the state legislature to change the law. And the mayor of New Pals. That's what he should be doing. He should be organizing efforts to try to convince the state legislature, try to convince the courts. But it's no different than the principle that was established with Richard Nixon. You know, the President's not a law.

[Jon Stewart]

He was gay, so he was. That's a terrible thing to say.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Different principle.

[Jon Stewart]

That's different.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

But the principle Richard Nixon was, the President's not above the law.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

The mayor's not above the law. You can't make the law yourself. A legislature does that. And if he feels strongly about this, and he obviously does, he should be trying to convince the New York State legislature to change the way some others have. Now, what about as they did in.

[Jon Stewart]

Massachusetts in terms of, let's say, all these white collar scandals and all those sorts of things? With you in charge, do you think you would have gone in there to the New York Stock Exchange, into the SEC and kicked a little behind?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I think the Justice Department has done what they're supposed to do. I mean, they've indicted the head of WorldCom today. That one is before a jury right now. I don't want to say anything about that. Right. One of the things that used to annoy me when I was at trial lawyer were all the comments about a case, you know, by people who knew nothing about it. But the WorldCom case is now an indictment.

[Jon Stewart]

So I'm shocked that you turn on these 24 news channels, and they're literally like Court TV now. You can't. You know, they're talking about Kobe and Martha and things.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

Trials are inherently dramatic. I mean, people think of all the great courtroom drama that's been on Broadway, in the movies for years. So now it's kind of translated itself into live television. But this is something people have been interested in, right?

[Jon Stewart]

I always thought art imitated life, not the other way around. But I guess. I guess the news organizations have put that on its head.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I love being a trial lawyer. There probably was no more pure drama than waiting for a jury.

[Jon Stewart]

You ever think you get back in? You ever think you come back to politics?

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I'd like to. Speaking about the first part, I would like to maybe try one more case or argue one more appeal or can.

[Jon Stewart]

I tell you something that I'm going to do for you because I like you. I am going to commit a crime, and I'm going to have you do it because you're my man. Rudolph Giuliani.

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[Jon Stewart]

Please welcome back to the program Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Nice to see you.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

And you. Thank you for having me.

[Jon Stewart]

We're honored, as a matter of fact. You know, I don't. I don't get a lot of sitting dignitaries. If you don't mind. I just wanted to get a. Just a quick autograph. If you could just. Right on the line there, it'd be great. I really appreciate that.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

That's terrific.

[Jon Stewart]

That's terrific. That'll be great. Don't worry about putting my name on it.

[Host/Interviewer]

Okay?

[Jon Stewart]

Just get that right there. Thank you. All right. You want to look at it?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Do you see what name I put on it?

[Jon Stewart]

What'd you put on there? Jon Stewart? Bloomberg. Thought I had you on that. Damn it.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

What else did you want?

[Jon Stewart]

Nothing. I want to wade in. Let's wade in immediately on what is obviously an emotional, supercharged issue that everyone in the city is talking about. This sliced bagel tax, Apparently New York State has passed an 8 cent tax. If you get a bagel regular with a schmear. With a schmear, but if you get it sliced, they add nine cents. Eight cents, nine cents.

[Co-host/Commentator]

That's good.

[Jon Stewart]

How can that be? How can you add to slice a bagel?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

It's our state legislature. They can do anything. This is not the craziest thing they've.

[Jon Stewart]

Done, but this is clearly A, anti Semitic.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

There's no argument about that.

[Jon Stewart]

Who loves bagels more than us? And B, penalizing in a terrible way downstate New York, upstate New York, the bagels.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

They think, what, Holly can't even get a bagel upstate?

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I'm talking about.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

That's why they didn't tax them upstate. They only taxed them down here.

[Jon Stewart]

Can you fight? Can you? Should we?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

This is one of the causes I'm gonna work on for the next three and a half years.

[Jon Stewart]

Is that true?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Yeah. This is one of the big things I'm taking on.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

It's tyranny.

[Jon Stewart]

I tell you, it is. How are you handling this? Obviously, the mosque, the Islamic community center in downtown Manhattan has caused an awful lot of. For fuffle, for lack of a better word, you have spoken out very eloquently in favor of people being able to do what they're able to do on private property. Is that your feeling?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

When I went to school, we studied the Constitution. It says you have a right to say what you want to say, which means pray to whomever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. And it's just not the government's business to tell you what to say. You went on and on about Glenn Beck. He has a right to say anything he wants. That's what's great about America. And people say, well, in Saudi Arabia, you can't build a church. Yes, that's the difference between Saudi Arabia and America. And it's plain and simple that whether you like a mosque or don't like a mosque, you don't have to go. There's already another mosque down there within four blocks of the World Trade Center. There's porno places, there's fast food places. I mean, it's a vibrant community. It's New York.

[Jon Stewart]

I understand. Why. Why did you have to look at me when you said porno places? Why did you, you know, you're going through. It was a very. I thought it was a very eloquent defense. And then suddenly you looked up like.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Well, I just wanted to make it relevant to you.

[Jon Stewart]

Because I was thinking, and again, I don't know if you're going to support this or not. I would like to build a synagogue reform in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

I think if you talk to the archbishop, he might be amenable to that. He said that he wants to bring people together. He wants to find another place for the mosque. All right, maybe he'd find another place for your temple.

[Jon Stewart]

Did this take you off guard? Now, the sensitivities about that site, everyone knows, you know, the emotions run so hot. The families of victims, the people that were traumatized throughout it, everyone in New York, people in the country. How do you bridge that emotional gap by how do you be sensitive to people who feel that site is protected and yet still abide by.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Well, number one, the New York Times wrote about this mosque a year ago. Laura Ingraham did a show about it or mentioned on one of her shows and said she was in favor of it. This mosque has been operating for over a year. There's nothing new here. The difference is we're in election season and this whole issue, I think, will go away right after the next election. This is plain and simple, people trying to stir up things to get publicity and trying to polarize people so that they can get some votes. And I don't think that most of these people who are yelling and screaming really care one way or another. The family members, they do care. And the family members that I've talked to, and I'm chairman of the board of the World Trade center memorial, 100% in favor of saying these people, if they want to build a mosque, can build a mosque. The lives of our loved ones were taken because the right to build a mosque or to say what you want to say was so threatening to people. My girlfriend and I were having dinner last week and this guy comes up to me, want to talk to you. Big hulking guy. I think, okay, I don't need this. Well, he's comparatively right, yeah.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

All right.

[Jon Stewart]

So you're saying like he's like five, nine. Yeah, yeah.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

And he said, you know, I want to talk to you about the mosque. And I'm thinking, you know, it's going to ruin my hamburger. I got hamburger and a pickle and a potato chip or something. And he said, let me just tell you, I just got back from two tours fighting overseas for America. This is what we were all fighting for. You go and keep, keep at it. And that's, I think everyone, that's impressive.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean, unfortunately, I think, I think the difficulty always is unfortunately, I'm sure there are veterans who fought over there who feel we shouldn't. I'm sure there are family members, maybe you haven't heard from them who feel we shouldn't.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Absolutely.

[Jon Stewart]

It's very. Unfortunately, you have to divorce emotion from principle to some extent. And that can't always be an easy job for an elected official. If you run for re election. Officials, if you were running for reelection, would you feel that you were in a different position or would have to.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Take a different position? I think I'd speak out even more if I were running for reelection because I think the public wants people that what they want people to say, candidates to do is say what they believe. They want people to be genuine even if they don't agree with them. And I think, you know, saying one thing today and a different thing tomorrow is not exactly a great way to build a career. And it's certainly not good government.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, it's. It's the way right now when they're fanning the flames of the fear right now. It was first about the sensitivity of the spot. Now it's moved to where's the financing coming from? Who are the people behind this operation? Has that been a concern?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

We would not ask that if somebody was trying to build a temple or a church, plain and simple. You don't want to.

[Jon Stewart]

Illegality is illegality. If it's people on a terrorist list.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

They'Re on a terrorist plane.

[Jon Stewart]

And whatever it is, whether they want to build a mosque or a video arcade.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Look, there are a lot of people who've said things that I don't agree with. But if I want to be able to say what I believe, I've got to let you say what you believe. Even if I violently disagree with and even if I find it despicable. I thought the New York again.

[Jon Stewart]

I thought you looked at me, which I thought was interesting.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Well, most of your stuff's fine, you know, I mean, your writers are good anyways. I've always questioned. I've questioned the delivery, but other than.

[Jon Stewart]

That, I understand it's a little shticky as it goes along. What are you going to do for that?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Look, I mean, you got this audience Buffalo. I mean.

[Jon Stewart]

Well, listen, I appreciate you doing it and I'm looking forward to, you know, we're having a dinner for your foundation coming up.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Good.

[Jon Stewart]

And you didn't know that.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

I did not know that. I did not.

[Jon Stewart]

You're the chairman of the dinner.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Well, yes. You're doing this for us.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I know.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

I want you to know something? You know how much I know about this.

[Jon Stewart]

Where's your scheduler?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Wait. Time out. You are so popular. It's been sold out.

[Jon Stewart]

Is that true?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Yeah, absolutely. We don't have any more tables, which means we underpriced them.

[Jon Stewart]

Underpriced them?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

No.

[Jon Stewart]

We're going to raise a lot of money that night. It's going to be great. Sir, thank you so much for coming by.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Really appreciate the partners for standing up for what's right.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you, sir.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Jon Stewart]

New York City's 109th mayor, please welcome to the program Mayor Bill de Blasio. Sir, nice to see you.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

How are you?

[Co-host/Commentator]

I'm feeling good. I just wish we had done a better job getting that snow up to the Upper east side.

[Jon Stewart]

I know you'll get it up there. You know, this is since you've been mayor, it has snowed what, three times?

[Co-host/Commentator]

Three times.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, I remember Bloomberg. 12 years, never snowed once. What? What?

[Co-host/Commentator]

I think he paid the right guy.

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I'm. This is what I'm talking about.

[Co-host/Commentator]

He had the money.

[Jon Stewart]

Has it been overwhelming?

[Co-host/Commentator]

It's non stop. It's 24 7. It's the ultimate 247 job.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Co-host/Commentator]

But I love this place. I really love this place and it's endlessly fascinating to me. But I'd like the snow to end. Yes, I've done the snow experience. I'd like to try something else. Now.

[Jon Stewart]

Here's the thing. So you've got. There's a lot of issues that I want to get to today. We've got stop and frisk. You're going to be stopping that. We've got pre K education, tax policy, we've got the stables situation. But there's one thing in particular that is I think many New Yorkers are talking about and it's in many ways egregious. Let's Take a look.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Bill de Blasio was caught on camera.

[Host/Interviewer]

This week eating pizza with a knife and fork.

[Jon Stewart]

Now, Bloomberg, as you know, used to have his food chewed and then put back into his mouth like a baby bird. But this is unacceptable, sir. So. May I.

[Host/Interviewer]

This is from.

[Jon Stewart]

It's called John's Pizzeria. This is.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

This is.

[Jon Stewart]

This is. It's called a. It's. It's a sausage and mushroom from John's.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Beautiful.

[Jon Stewart]

John's is one of the greatest pizza places in the history of pizza. I thought maybe you and I could break bread. We could share a slice. Would you like a slice?

[Co-host/Commentator]

I would love a slice.

[Jon Stewart]

Would you. With your hand? What are you doing?

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Okay.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Thank you.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

John.

[Co-host/Commentator]

John.

[Rudolph Giuliani]

I got it.

[Jon Stewart]

Teach you everything I want to say.

[Co-host/Commentator]

John, as mayor of Napoli. I mean, New York City.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes, we.

[Co-host/Commentator]

We are always ready for our pizza.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, my God. Don't even.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I.

[Jon Stewart]

Come on. Come on.

[Host/Interviewer]

Wait.

[Jon Stewart]

Talk to me.

[Co-host/Commentator]

There's another way.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, let me show you something.

[Host/Interviewer]

Let me.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Let me watch.

[Jon Stewart]

Let me just show you. Oh, that's a beautiful slice of pizza. Hey, Bloomberg's gone, right?

[Co-host/Commentator]

Wait, can you. That technique.

[Jon Stewart]

Hold on. You have a soda. Have a soda. Well, you should have a Big Gulp. I put a Big Gulp down there for you. Once you get it out, there's a.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Big Gulp down here.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, here we go. Here we go. Wow. Oh, you are gigantic. Wow, look at that in his hands. It looks like a regular soda. Cheers. We'll be back with more with Mayor de Blasio. Interval. Welcome back. We're here with Mayor Bill de Blasio. So now let's talk. So let's talk about the one stop and frisk. Yep, there was a challenge. It was ruled unconstitutional. New York City had proffered a challenge to that. You have ended that.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I have.

[Jon Stewart]

There will be no stop and frisk.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

We.

[Co-host/Commentator]

We've come to a settlement. What is.

[Jon Stewart]

What is the settlement?

[Host/Interviewer]

Look.

[Co-host/Commentator]

What I've said was, you cannot. It's a simple idea. And our new police commissioner, Bill Bratton, who's fantastic, says this. You can't break the law to enforce the law. It's as simple as that.

[Jon Stewart]

All right. Fair enough.

[Co-host/Commentator]

And what we had, what we had for years, was young men of color. Overwhelmingly, they were the ones singled out, treated as suspects, even if they hadn't done anything wrong. Stop and frisk. In its heyday, we had almost 700,000 stops in a single year. Almost 90% of them were innocent people in every way, shape, or form. No summons, no charge, nothing. That's not how you proceed in a democratic society. I argue that public safety and civil liberties have to march hand in hand.

[Jon Stewart]

How frightened are people when you walk in? Because they must think, now you're coming in there and turning everything upside down. The uncertainty must be palpable at City Hall.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I don't wear the Che Guevara T shirt when I work.

[Jon Stewart]

All right, I think that's wise.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I've thought about that. No, look, I'm blessed to have had a very strong mandate from the people to make some real progressive change. And throughout the last year, I talked about the tale of two cities we were living. This was all about acknowledging the inequalities that have become very fundamental and unfortunately growing in our city and going at them. Whether it's the inequality of how policing was done or inequality in terms of income or inequality in terms of education, the people in this city are ready to actually take that on head on. And so, yes, there are some bureaucrats and others who are hesitant, but I know the popular support is there.

[Jon Stewart]

How do you explain that to people who have enjoyed a more absolute position in the city, somewhat unassailable, that that is fairness and justice and not persecution? You know, how do you convince them that the loss of a more absolute power is not persecution?

[Co-host/Commentator]

This comes up, for example, with our plan to tax the wealthy for pre K and after school. I've said anyone who makes a half million or more pays a little bit more in their city taxes. What does it allow us to do? Full day pre K for every child in the city after school, for every middle school student for free, Guaranteed. Would be transcendent in terms of our school system, would totally allow us to prepare our kids properly. And, you know, our.

[Jon Stewart]

And you and Cuomo are finding a little about it. He says, I'll pay for it from the state. You say, I'll pay for it from the city. Why can't we go 50, 50 on this bad boy?

[Co-host/Commentator]

You know, I like the way you think, but you know, the. Because we need to know the money's going to be there year after year. And the only way we're going to get that is if we have a tax that we control here in the city. And if we tax those who make a half million or more, they can handle it. The equivalent for someone who makes between a half million and a million dollars is the price of a small soy latte at Starbucks once a day.

[Jon Stewart]

Let me ask you a question. Can I. If I. Because I. This is. I'm going to end up Paying a little bit more. Can I go to the pre K and be like, you're mine and so you better get those grades up because I'm on your ass.

[Co-host/Commentator]

We're gonna create a program for you.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

I appreciate that.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I'm glad you do that. I think you deserve that. Right.

[Jon Stewart]

So the 5050 thing, no fly, though.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I think we need more reliable money. But let me tell you what.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

And from the state.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Well, the state hasn't offered a specific dollar figure and they certainly haven't offered the five years we need. This is a five year, $2.6 billion plan to make sure that every child gets a strong start in school.

[Jon Stewart]

Couldn't Bloomberg have just chuck that in as on his way out, just threw it into a pot?

[Co-host/Commentator]

It could have been a gratuity.

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I'm talking about. Hey, thanks for having me as mayor. Nice job. Have some takeout.

[Co-host/Commentator]

There's something for you, Pat. Right, but here's the thing. When I go and talk to wealthier folks and say, we want you to pay a little more so we can do this, some people get upset. Some people say, are you trying to punish success? I say, we're not trying to punish success. We're trying to create more success stories. We're trying to get more kids a chance to get education.

[Jon Stewart]

The people that have done very well in this city have done well in this city because of the opportunity that this city and its infrastructure have offered us. And I think it is the least we can do to, as they say, pay it forward. And if that is a, you know, you're not a crazy, this is not. You have to give us 95% of your money. This is, I think, a reasonable way of looking at it. That being said, the fear is we return to a different time in New York when it was less orderly and things were more chaotic. And how do you tell people that that is not the case, that this is going to be changed, but done in a manner that is much more reasonably prescribed?

[Co-host/Commentator]

Whenever you see a progressive moment, whenever you see progressive leaders come into office, that charge is thrown in one way or another that we're going to have a more compassionate society. Somehow it's going to connect with this order. It's specious. It's not true. And the bottom we know the great threat to this country is inequality. The great threat to this city is inequality. We have rampant, growing inequality. It's going to be unsustainable for the long term. People need a core hope in our society, in democratic society. They can actually get somewhere. They need a core amount of visible opportunity, and that's been slipping away. So if you want to talk about destabilizing realities in our society, talk about inequality. But progressives can run governments effectively. Progressives can be fiscally responsible. Progressives can focus on public safety. But we're going to do it in a way that respects people's rights.

[Jon Stewart]

I'll have you back in three years. We'll talk about it. Mayor Bill de Blasio, thank you very much.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Host/Interviewer]

My guest tonight is the mayor of New York City. He's joining me to discuss his first six months in office and how he's tackling some of the city's most pressing issues. Please welcome Mayor Eric Adams.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

You don't realize it, but you just assaulted me with that handshake.

[Host/Interviewer]

I'll try and be a little more gentle next time.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Please, please.

[Host/Interviewer]

I'll try and be a little more gentle.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Welcome to the show. Thank you. Cause you know, you doing that, you could be inside for 24 hours.

[Host/Interviewer]

You know, let's talk about that before we move on. Like I heard what you said about Rudy G.I. you said that he should actually be investigated for reporting a false crime. Because if it wasn't for that video footage, that person who tapped him on the back, which again, I don't condone. But that wasn't assault.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

No, it was not. He falsely reported a crime, and the district attorney should take that seriously. That person that he falsely reported spent 24 hours in jail. That's not acceptable.

[Jon Stewart]

Hmm.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

It's not acceptable. And so I'm going to call the D.A. we must be consistent. All of that theatrics that he did, that's not acceptable. If that tape wasn't there, imagine what would have happened to that man.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Can't happen.

[Jon Stewart]

Can't happen.

[Host/Interviewer]

Many New Yorkers have really been impressed by your. The attitude you've taken to education. You know, you've come in, you've revamped the system. You're creating a world where, you know, your staff is really focusing on getting New York City's education up to where it needs to be. Two parts to the question. Number one, what do you still think needs to be achieved in terms of education in New York? And number two, how do you. How do you remove or fight against all of the segregation that happens in New York City schools? Because you have a city where everyone mixes. And yet in the schools, it seems like the city is still in Jim Crow, you know?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

You know, a couple of things. Number one, I learned a lot when I was in South Africa. I drove from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth to Joburg, and I spoke to a lot of people there. When people talk about segregation, they don't look at the hidden segregation we have in America.

[Jon Stewart]

Right?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Our school system is dysfunctional, and we have acknowledged that dysfunctionality because black and brown and poorer students are the impact of that. 65% of black and brown children never reach proficiency in our New York City school system. And we've normalized that. And so what I did, I looked at my journey. I was dyslexic. I'm dyslexic From K through 12. I used to walk in the school building. They used to put dumb suited on the chair. I was bullied. And not until I got into high school did I discover that I was dyslexic. There was nothing wrong with me.

[Host/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

30 to 40% of the prisoners that are in Rikers island, dyslexic. So what am I doing as mayor? I'm taking my journey and now helping other children. We have dyslexia screening for every child now, and I'm going to Rikes and screen the prisoners for dyslexia so they can get the services they need.

[Host/Interviewer]

I'm gonna chat to you a little bit more after the break. We're gonna be chatting about police, we're gonna be chatting about rents in the city, and we'll be chatting about why some people think you're the quirkiest Most interesting mayor in America.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Don't go away.

[Host/Interviewer]

We'll be right back with more from Mayor Allen. Welcome back to the Daily show, where we are, we are joined by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Um, Mayor Adams, let's jump into two of some of the most pressing issues in the city. Number one, police, which touches on crime. But, you know, it's almost two separate issues at the same time. One of the things you ran on coming into office was, I'm going to bring down crime in New York City. Uh, since you've come into office, crime has skyrocketed. You know, it's only been five, six months. But I'm sure many people would love to know from your perspective, how long do you think that promise will take to achieve and how do you actually bring crime down? Because every mayor has a different solution for actually achieving that.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Well, it's a unique moment. You know, people that know my history. I was arrested at 15. I was beat badly by police officers. They assaulted my brother and I in 103rd Precinct. I returned back to that precinct when I became the mayor. I fought against the abuse of stop and frisk. I've testified in federal court and the judge mentioned my testimony when she ruled against the police department. I can't go backwards. We can't go back to the days when every black and brown child that walked the streets was treated unfairly. And so we have to have that balance. I like to say intervention and prevention. Intervention is right now. We took 3,000 guns off our street. Shootings dropped by 30%. Homicide dropped by 13%. We're moving in the right way, but I'm not gonna allow us to be abusive in the process. Prevention, let's do the long term things. Let's lean into foster care children so they have the opportunities and not age out without the support.

[Host/Interviewer]

Let me ask you this then, about New York. This city has always, has always been an interesting place where the police unions and the mayors have often had a fraught relationship. You were a really unique mayor in that you were police, you come from police, and yet you've experienced police and you've tried to change police. And, and, and yet at the same time, you go, you, you have to encourage the police. So obviously you have critics and fans that, that inhabit both spaces. But I, I'd love to know this because I, I know a lot of New Yorkers have this as a question. When crime is down in the city, mayors will say, well, that means the police are doing their job. We need to give them more money, more Funding to the police force, which oftentimes means less funding for the schools, the other services, et cetera, et cetera. But then when crime is up in the city, mayors will say, oh, that means we need to give the police more money because they need more help bringing the crime down. So what I'd like to understand is why is it that in that job, whether things are going well or not going well, the money always increases. It doesn't seem like it matches what's happening in the city. And how do you address that as mayor, whilst also acknowledging these are people, these are people in the city trying to keep everybody safe, et cetera. From a mayor's perspective, I understand it. How do you find that balance?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Good question. Well, first of all, the prerequisite to prosperity is public safety and justice. They go together. Historically, people will say, you could only have justice, you could only have public safety. And I say no to that. It's not a trade off. We could have both. We could be safe and we could have justice. That accountability is going to be in place. But let's not kid ourselves. We have been producing an inferior product all across the city. We spend $38 billion a year on education. Yes, 65% of black and brown children never reach education. They've been playing us. We've been getting played for so long. So the problem is not that people dislike me. They say, you know who dislike me? People who have been eaten off of us. All of those people who make contracts from pulling people downstream. You know how much money is made when a child is dyslexic and is not educated and he's incarcerated. You have counselors, you have therapists, you know, you have people who feed them prescription and drugs. People have been playing us, brother, for a long time. And now I come along and say, listen, the game, the gig is up.

[Host/Interviewer]

So just in case I missed it, though, I don't think I did. But how do you then grade whether the police are doing well or not in your city?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Combination. Cause we'll never be able to deal with this crime problem with just police.

[Host/Interviewer]

Okay?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

We can't police our way out of this. When you have foster care children at age, out of 21 and you know, every year, 6700 of them are, only 5% graduate from high school. Only 22% graduate. I mean, 22% graduate from high school, 5% from college, they're more likely to be homeless. Mental health, unemployed. Victims of crime participate in crime. So what I'm saying, no, let's let them get Support until they're 26, 90% graduate from high school. Let's open up our trade schools like I did at the Brooklyn Steam center and give these children certifications, let them go into some of these jobs. Google is here, Facebook is here. Why not have these children fed right into employment, be part of the growth of this city. So if you employ, then you won't have to worry about the criminality that you're seeing by the time a child picks up a gun. We already failed. We failed already.

[Host/Interviewer]

So then. But then why do you care so much about some of the smaller things, you know, like, like for instance, why does the city need to spend so much money on police monitoring who jumps a fare and who doesn't? Like what. What is the percentage of money that a city's losing on fare jumping?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

I like that. I like that. Do people really need to go to.

[Host/Interviewer]

Jail for like, come on.

[Jon Stewart]

It's.

[Host/Interviewer]

People are gonna pay. And the people who don't pay, like, what is that percentage versus everyone else?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

That's. That's a great question. Here's what we can't do. We cannot send a message that any and everything goes in our city because it starts with, okay, so if someone jumps the fed, and when there are systems, we have a reduced fare MetroCard program where if you can't pay enough, we're going to give you the MetroCard. And there's ways to get on the system if you can't pay. So you can walk into Duane Reade and say, you know what? I'm going to take whatever I want off the shelf and I'm going to walk out because now Dwayne Reed is going to close down. And that low wage employee who's going to school at night to try to make a living is going to lose his job because you decided you don't want to pay. So we can't have a city where you can do whatever you want. No, we're going to be a city. We're not going to criminalize poor, but we're not going to allow someone to stay that their economic system status is going to allow them to disrespect what it is to live in a city like New York. I know what it is to be poor, brother. We used to go to school every day with a garbage bag full of clothing because mommy said we're going to be thrown out. And we want you to have clean clothing so you won't be embarrassed when you go to school. But mommy made sure we're going to always uplift ourselves Fight hard, and we're going to be respectful in the process. I'm not going to allow people to believe because of where they are is going, who they are. We're so much better.

[Host/Interviewer]

So let's talk about one of the parts of the city that everyone agrees needs to become better, and that is affordability.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer]

As you said, New York City's not made by the Empire State Building. It's not made by the Statue of Liberty. It's made by the people.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer]

The people feel like they can't remain in New York because they can't afford to live here. And you're seeing this spread, it's going out to Brooklyn, it's spreading into Harlem, many parts. I mean, the main part of the island is almost unaffordable for most people, for people who don't live in rent controlled apartments where. Where there's no recourse. I've heard people's rents jump by 20%, 30%, 40%. It can just do whatever and you're out. Your life has changed. It becomes unaffordable. Half the places in midtown are owned by people who don't even live in the city. Nevermind the country. What do you do as mayor to prevent that from happening? How do you make it so that the people actually. Cause I've seen you say, by the way, people need to come back to the office. I've seen you say, we need to get back in the office. People need to get, you know, the New York City back to life. And I understand why.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Mm.

[Host/Interviewer]

But I can also see why people say, well, Mayor Adams, why should I come back to the city when I can go and live, you know, 40 minutes away, 50 minutes away in Connecticut on a train and not have to pay these rents anymore? How do you prevent these people from turning this into a ghost town? What do you do?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

What I must do, as the mayor is now coming. Create affordable housing, which we're doing, which is very interesting. You have some of the people who are advocating for affordable housing, and I say, okay, great, we're going to build it on your block. Whoa, not on my block. Right, right. You know you want to upzone on my block. See, we have to stop the hypocrisy of people, those who are advocating for something, but when it's time to produce it in their space and convenience them, now they have a whole nother conversation. We want to build Safe Haven beds. Show me the community that's going to allow me to build the Safe Haven beds to give wraparound services. So we must get in the business of affordable housing. But once we build it, we have to put people in the units. We're going to change the game of nycha, which, you know, what NYCHA residents have been going through for years and now we're moving in another direction. So affordability is crucial, making it affordable.

[Host/Interviewer]

Do you think you can find the balance? Because as a mayor you're always responding to business, some of the richest people in the city, you know, you're responding to the people who are annoyed by poor people. As you said, the NIMBYs. Not in my backyard.

[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]

Right.

[Host/Interviewer]

They want change, but not in their backyard. And you're responding to the majority of the 8 million people.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer]

What do you think you're gonna be able to do in the, in the short term? I understand the ideas behind it, but what's a concrete thing you can say to New Yorkers where you go like, hey, this is what I'm actually going to do for you in the short term.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

And we're doing that right now. First of all, the affluent New Yorkers, do you know 52% of our taxes are paid by 2% of New Yorkers?

[Host/Interviewer]

I can believe that.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

If we lose those 2%, we lose our teachers, our firefighters, our cops. So for me not to engage those high income earners, that's foolish as a mayor and I'm not going to do that. I want them to pay their taxes, I want them to volunteer, I want them to contribute to my museums, to my nonprofits. They need to be a part of that. And so when you look at what we're doing right away, childcare vouchers for families in the city, you know, people are paying $50 a week. We were able to get them down to $10 a week. We open so many new seats in childcare. What we're doing with dyslexia screening, what we're doing with college fund for our children, when you start out a college fund for a child, they're four times more likely to go to college by having that child care. This college fund. When you look at what we're doing, what's called the crisis management team and how they deal on crisis on the ground for prevention. What we're doing with earned income tax credit, brother, we send back billions of dollars because people don't know how to fill out the folks forms to get the resources that they deserve. So we're making that easier and streamlining the earned income tax credit. So we're doing things that are going to put money back in the pockets of New Yorkers.

[Host/Interviewer]

So before I let you go, I'd love to know real quick, what would you grade yourself as as a mayor right now? What grade would you give yourself? And, and I know it's a tough one.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

You know, I told you when we spoke earlier, there's no tough questions for me because I'm authentic. I'm gonna be me.

[Host/Interviewer]

You are you, definitely. I'll say that about you. What would you grade yourself as as a man?

[Mayor Eric Adams]

I, I, I'm incomplete. I'm incomplete. I'm incomplete.

[Host/Interviewer]

Oh, interesting.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yes, that's an interesting one.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

I'm incomplete. All right. I'm incomplete as a mayor. I'm incomplete as a man. I'm incomplete as a father. I'm incomplete. Complete. In my personal life. I get up every morning, I meditate, I exercise, I pray, I say the pleasure of allegiance, and I get myself ready every day. Every day.

[Jon Stewart]

Every day.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, the last one's a bit.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Weird, you have to admit, but it's not. It's not when you think.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, surely the flag knows by now that you, I mean.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

Yeah, well, you know, we, you know, this country. This country has a lot of issues.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yes, it does.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

But I've been all over the globe, and this is the only country where dream is attached to our name. That's not a German dream, a French dream.

[Host/Interviewer]

Well, the French dream is. But it's a very different kind of dream.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer]

Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate the time. I know you're a busy man. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Mayor Eric Adams]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.

[Jon Stewart]

Limu Emu and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating.

[Host/Interviewer]

It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug Limu.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Jon Stewart]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Host/Interviewer]

Liberty Savings Fairy underwritten by Liberty Mutual.

[Jon Stewart]

Insurance Company affiliates, excludes Massachusetts.

[Host/Interviewer]

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