The surprising Democratic primary victory of 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has left many political insiders scratching their heads. What does this mean for the future of the Democratic Party and how did a young assemblyman who was polling at 1% in February defeat a well-known New York political giant? NY1 political reporter Ayana Harry joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis to discuss the stunning results of this week’s primary. They also talked about Cuomo’s strategy...
Jun 26, 2025•33 min
Political history was made in New York City on June 24, and once NY1’s live TV coverage wrapped early Wednesday morning, NY1’s Errol Louis, Courtney Gross and Bobby Cuza broke down the surprise results of the Democratic primary in this special crossover episode of Off Topic/On Politics and You Decide. Queens Assemblyman and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, 33, pulled off an upset over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an outcome few insiders predicted. The team unpacked how Mamdani’s grassroots move...
Jun 25, 2025•19 min
With the June 24 primary almost upon us, could Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani pull off an upset over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic race for mayor? Could City Comptroller Brad Lander capitalize on his arrest by federal immigration officials and make a last-minute push? Gerson Borrero is a journalist, radio host and political commentator who appears weekly on NY1’s “Inside City Hall.” He’s also the former editor-at-large of City & State and former editor-in-chief of El Diario/La Prensa, th...
Jun 20, 2025•36 min
When it comes to mayoral primaries, few people know the terrain better than Bill de Blasio. As the 109th mayor of New York City, he served two terms from 2014 to 2021, the last Democratic mayor since Ed Koch to serve two terms in office. De Blasio joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his thoughts on the 2025 Democratic primary. They also discussed the importance of a clear message and how he looks back on his relationship with the media. Join the conversation, weigh in on X using the hashtag #NY1...
Jun 19, 2025•29 min
With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her run for mayor. A late addition to the race, Adams emphasized her leadership style, which she says is based on appointing competent, community-based leaders. The episode marks the eighth and final installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. Adams discussed her views on budgeting, the legislative achievements of a majority-female City Coun...
Jun 11, 2025•40 min
Queens state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his high-energy grassroots campaign and his attempts to close the polling gap with frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. The episode marks the seventh installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. Their conversation touched on Mamdani’s journey from being a longshot candidate to a formidable contender. The youngest candidate in the race, Mamdani, reflected on his personal background, including his early ...
Jun 05, 2025•54 min
With the June 24th Democratic primary less than a month away, City Comptroller Brad Lander sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his campaign for mayor. The episode marks the sixth installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. The conversation touched on Lander’s background and his various roles in the city government. He outlined his proposals, including ending homelessness, improving the New York City Housing Authority, and guaranteeing childcare and after-school pro...
Jun 03, 2025•41 min
Back in March of 2019, Errol had the honor of speaking with Rep. Charles Rangel for just the eighth episode of this podcast. They talked about everything—from his roots in Harlem and his service in the Army, to his rise through New York politics and his experience on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate era. He also shared his thoughts on the first Trump presidency, with the insight and candor that defined his career. Today, we’re bringing that conversation back into the feed—to re...
May 30, 2025•47 min
With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his decision to run for mayor. The episode marks the fifth installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. Myrie discussed proposals including increasing affordable housing by building one million homes, boosting police headcounts and ensuring accountability, addressing affordability issues, and improving public healthcare. He criticized the recor...
May 29, 2025•37 min
Whitney Tilson, a newcomer to politics, is trying to make a splash in the crowded Democratic race for mayor. A successful investor, civic activist and lifelong Democrat, Tilson sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his decision to run for mayor and try to shake up the political establishment. The episode marks the fourth installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. Tilson highlighted his plans to improve city safety, affordability, education, housing and homelessness....
May 22, 2025•46 min
With the June primary approaching, plenty of attention has been focused on the race for mayor. But there’s an important and highly competitive contest on the undercard: the race for City Comptroller. What does the comptroller do and why should New Yorkers care? NY1’s Errol Louis decided to talk more about the job with two former comptrollers who were major players in New York’s political arena — Liz Holtzman and Bill Thompson. A former congresswoman and district attorney, Holtzman served as a ci...
May 20, 2025•30 min
With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, Scott Stringer — the former state assemblyman, comptroller and Manhattan borough president — sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his second bid for mayor. The episode marks the third installment of the “You Decide” mayoral candidate interview series. Stringer highlighted his extensive political experience and discussed his campaign platform, focusing on criminal justice, hunger, housing and homelessness. He also spoke about the importa...
May 15, 2025•44 min
With the June primary quickly approaching, Michael Blake, the former assemblyman and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis for the second installment of his mayoral candidate interview series. Blake highlighted his multifaceted governmental experience and emphasized the need for a mayor with managerial skills and empathy, particularly in the current political climate. He also shared personal insights on his family, background and faith, and explained ho...
May 08, 2025•40 min
With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos sat down with NY1’s Errol Louis for the first installment of a series of interviews with the mayoral candidates. Ramos, who hopes to become the city’s first woman and Latina mayor, focused on key issues such as affordability, housing and mental health. She reflected on her journey from growing up in a working-class Colombian family in Queens to her accomplishments in the state Senate, including helping raise th...
May 01, 2025•38 min
A combination of economic stagnation, disinvestment and mismanagement of the city’s budget brought New York into a fiscal crisis in 1975 — unlike any it had seen up to that point. The result was shuttered schools and firehouses, mountains of garbage on the streets, and cops being laid off by the thousands. But what happened next is perhaps even more important: the city somehow united to pull itself out of financial and cultural ruin. The story is told in a new documentary called “Drop Dead City....
Apr 24, 2025•27 min
The Trump administration is continuing its efforts to claw back $20 billion worth of Biden-era climate funding for low-income communities — part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. For now, the $20 billion remains frozen in a Citibank account, preventing eight organizations from distributing the money that would finance tens of thousands of projects across the country to fight climate change. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has accused the recipients of the program of misconduct and waste. Cathie...
Apr 17, 2025•29 min
There probably wouldn’t be enough room in a three-ring circus for all the candidates and all the drama in the race for mayor in New York City. In the wake of federal corruption charges that have been dropped against him, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is struggling in the polls. Rather than run in a crowded Democratic primary, Adams announced this month that he’s skipping that race in June and will run as an independent candidate in the general election in November. Meanwhile, despite major controve...
Apr 10, 2025•44 min
There’s an ongoing debate in Washington over whether the federal government should continue funding public news organizations like National Public Radio. President Donald Trump says he would like to strip federal funding from the outlets, calling it a waste of money. Joining NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss NPR and public broadcasting is journalist and author Steve Oney, the author of a new book: “On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR.” Together, they looked back on NPR’s history, including its orig...
Apr 03, 2025•34 min
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Columbia University has found itself at the center of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Columbia is no stranger to anti-war protests. In the spring of 1968, a student uprising against the Vietnam War saw students occupy five buildings on campus and hold the acting dean of Columbia College hostage. Most recently, the arrest of Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil and the university’s response to policy demands from the Trump administration ...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min
Building on the success of NY1’s documentary about the tumultuous two-term mayoralty of John V. Lindsay, NY1 and Hunter College’s Roosevelt House held an in-depth discussion about the former mayor that was moderated by NY1’s Errol Louis. Panelists included former Lindsay aides, Sid Davidoff, Ronnie Eldridge and Robert Laird, and Lindsay historian Joseph Viteritti. The special live taping of the panel on May 14 was held at Roosevelt House — Hunter College’s Public Policy Institute and the former ...
Mar 20, 2025•38 min
In office less than two months, President Donald Trump is sending economic shockwaves across the world — including New York City. From cutting the federal workforce to launching massive tariffs, Trump’s fiscal moves are already having an impact on Wall Street and the rest of the five boroughs. Greg David, an economics reporter from the news outlet The City, has been detailing how Trump’s measures could affect New York City residents. David joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the vulnerabilities ...
Mar 13, 2025•29 min
After much anticipation, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo officially entered the race for New York City mayor, joining a crowded Democratic primary field. Cuomo resigned in 2021 amid 11 allegations of sexual harassment, though Cuomo has denied wrongdoing. NY1’s Errol Louis spoke about Cuomo’s legacy and his future, with Christopher Robbins, an editor and co-founder of the news outlet Hell Gate. They also talked about recent polling that shows Mayor Eric Adams’ job approval rating dipping to an ...
Mar 06, 2025•36 min
The five months since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted have consisted of an extraordinary sequence of events that has found the mayor bruised but emboldened, still firmly in office, and about to launch a campaign for re-election. Katie Honan, a reporter for The CITY and co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, has been closely following the mayor through these many twists and turns. Honan joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss several issues surrounding Adams, including his legal troubles, loss of security cle...
Feb 27, 2025•40 min
Civics education in American public schools began to significantly decline in the 1960s, leaving many students without any knowledge of how our government works and about the historical significance of events. With misinformation polluting social media, some believe that civics education should begin at home, with parents teaching their kids how to understand and navigate the system. It’s all laid out in a new book, “How to Raise a Citizen and Why It’s Up to You to Do It,” written by Lindsey Cor...
Feb 20, 2025•34 min
With affirmative action and so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs under attack by President Donald Trump, J.C. Polanco is holding his ground. A former Republican candidate for public advocate in New York City, Polanco is the CEO of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 1968 to expand opportunities for underrepresented students to attend law school. Polanco, who is also a law professor at the University of Mount St. Vi...
Feb 13, 2025•41 min
Just weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump is sending shockwaves around the world. From proposing resettling the population of Gaza to saying he wants the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal, the president is making it clear that he’s not following the traditional set of rules that have guided American foreign policy for decades. Looking at Trump’s plans abroad, NY1’s Errol Louis recently held an in-depth discussion with veteran diplomat Richard Haass, the president ...
Feb 06, 2025•51 min
After 15 months, the Israel-Hamas war has reached a ceasefire deal. Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza and some hostages have been released by their Hamas captors. Many Palestinians are returning to what remains of their homes with humanitarian aid flowing into the region. As Palestinians begin rebuilding, Peter Beinart is exploring the defense of Israel by some of his fellow Jews in a new book, "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning." Beinart, a professor at ...
Jan 30, 2025•27 min
One day after unveiling her $252 billion state budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul joined NY1’s Errol Louis for an exclusive one-on-one interview. The conversation covered many aspects of her new budget proposal: congestion pricing, the proposed cellphone ban in schools, and the challenges she is facing already since President Donald Trump took office. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourS...
Jan 23, 2025•25 min
Several doctors who have been judged guilty of medical misconduct, negligence, incompetence and even felonies are still finding a place to practice — New York state prisons. The shocking practice was uncovered by Reuven Blau, a criminal justice reporter for The City, an online news outlet. Blau joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the shocking story of physicians who have found work in the prison system despite being sanctioned for horrific mistakes and other professional abuses. They also talked...
Jan 16, 2025•27 min
Almost 100 years after New York City officials first considered putting tolls on the East River bridges, drivers are finally being charged to enter Midtown and Lower Manhattan. With a new policy chapter being written, it will likely take time to determine how successful the program is and whether it will need modifications. This week, NY1’s Errol Louis was joined by two people who figured heavily in congestion pricing’s implementation: MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber and Sam Schwartz, popularl...
Jan 09, 2025•24 min
