Max Politics

City Council Member Justin Brannan, a Brooklyn Democrat and chair of the Council's Finance Committee, joined the show to discuss city budget negotiations with under a month until a new spending plan is due. (Episode 402)

Pete Sikora, climate campaigns director for New York Communities for Change, joined the show to discuss implementation of New York City's "Green New Deal" — particularly Local Law 97 that deals with building emissions — and more. (Episode 400)

At the annual NYSAFAH affordable housing conference in Manhattan, host Ben Max moderated a discussion with New York City Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz and New York State Housing Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas about the state budget failure on housing and what comes next at the state and city levels. (Episode 401)

Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, joined the show to discuss the group's vision for a more livable New York City, including specific programs, like Open Streets and Open Restaurants, state and city legislative and budget priorities, and more. (Episode 399)

Basha Gerhards, senior vice president of planning at REBNY, joined the show to discuss housing policy at the city and state levels, disappointment in the recent state budget agreement, and more. (Episode 398)

City Council Member Linda Lee, a Queens Democrat and chair of the Council's mental health committee, joined the show to discuss the CIty Council's mental health roadmap, specific legislation that's part of it, a recent Council hearing on the package, and more.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat and chair of the Senate health committee, joined the show to discuss the newly-passed $229 billion state budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which began April 1. (Episode 396)

Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator for Housing Justice for All, joined the show to discuss state budget negotiations, the apparent demise of negotiations over housing policy, and the left-wing perspective on the issue and key components of the debate, including Good Cause Eviction, the governor's Housing Compact, and more. (Episode 395)

State Senator Leroy Comrie, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Senate's committee with MTA oversight, joined the show to discuss how the MTA is factoring into state budget negotiations, his preferred plan for funding the transit authority, whether the state budget will advantage subway and bus riders, the future of Penn Station area redevelopment plans, and more. (Episode 394)

As New York state budget negotiations continue, there are major transit and climate issues being decided. Betsy Plum of Riders Alliance and Julie Tighe of League of Conservation Voters joined the show to break down the most pressing topics on transit and climate and what to watch for as a state budget deal is finalized by Albany leaders. (Episode 393)

Liz Benjamin & Ken Lovett, two veteran Albany journalists now in public affairs consulting, joined the show to discuss New York state budget negotiations, the power dynamics at play in the capital, key issues being negotiated among Governor Hochul and the Legislature, and more. (Episode 392)

New York State Housing Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas joined the show to discuss Governor Kathy Hochul's New York Housing Compact proposal, negotiations with the Legislature, meetings around the state to discuss the plan, and more. (Episode 391)

State Senator Liz Krueger, chair of the Senate finance committee, joined the show to discuss state budget negotiations with under two weeks before the April 1 deadline for a new spending plan. (Episode 390)

Newly-elected New York State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox, who previously held the role for 10 years, joined the show to discuss his plans for leading the state party, how to protect and build on Republican successes in 2022, and more. (Episode 389)

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson joined the show to discuss her first State of the Borough address and her agenda for the Bronx, including economic and housing development, major infrastructure projects, and more. (Episode 388)

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), joined the show to discuss his union's contract negotiations with the city, the governor's charter school expansion proposal, and other key issues facing teachers and schools. (Episode 387)

Manhattan Democratic Party Leader Keith Wright, a former Assemblymember and longtime New York political player, joined the show to discuss Black political power in New York — past, present, and future. (Episode 386)

On this episode, a deep dive into what is happening around the tens of thousands of mostly Latin American asylum-seekers who have arrived in New York City over the last year, the federal laws at play, New York City's response, and more. Joining the show to break it all down: Felipe De La Hoz, a journalist who co-writes the Border Lines newsletter and contributes to the Daily News editorial Board,...

Eric Goldwyn, a professor who has led a team at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, joined the show to discuss his team's research on building transit and why it costs so much more in New York than other places around the world. The Transit Costs Project just released its New York Case examining the exorbitant, late, and over-budget first phase of the Second Avenue Subway as well as its...

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine joined the show to discuss his new State of the Borough speech and agenda, and to discuss other topics important to Manhattan and the city. (Episode 383)

NY1 political anchor Errol Louis, host of Inside City Hall, joined the show to analyze Mayor Eric Adams' 2023 State of the City speech and discuss how the mayor is doing a little over one year into his tenure. (Episode 382)

Roberto Ramírez, a former Assemblymember and current political strategist, joined the show to discuss the campaign to confirm Hector LaSalle as the next Chief Judge of New York, Latino representation at the highest levels of government, and more. (Episode 381)

Peter F. Martin, a lead organizer with The Court New York Deserves coalition, joined the show to discuss the push for a progressive next Chief Judge of New York, the Hector LaSalle confirmation battle, and what comes next. (Episode 380)

State Senator Jessica Ramos - a Queens Democrat, labor committee chair, and member of the judiciary committee - joined the show to discuss her vote against confirming Hector LaSalle to be the next Chief Judge, her efforts to increase the minimum wage, and more. (Episode 379)

Annemarie Gray, a city planner and housing expert who is now Executive Director of pro-housing group Open New York, joined the show to discuss the group's 2023 housing agenda, the Governor's sweeping 'Housing Compact' proposals, what Mayor Adams should do next on housing, and more. (Episode 378)