Off Topic/On Politics

Mayor Eric Adams called out sick this week — spending much of his time holed up in Gracie Mansion. Aides said he was undergoing routine medical tests but details on his condition have been sparse. His absence sparked rumors of a possible resignation, which he vehemently denied when he emerged on Thursday for an event with the NYPD. The mayor's dramatic week comes as senior Justice Department offic...

Mayor Eric Adams raised plenty of eyebrows this week when he decided to skip Martin Luther King Jr. events in New York City so he could attend the inauguration of President Trump. Adams had nothing to say to reporters on the following day after the president pardoned more than 1,500 Jan. 6 insurrectioners and tried to end birthright citizenship.   That night, conservative media pundit Tucker Carls...

Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled an ambitious list of plans for 2025 in her fourth State of the State address. The list of promises included checks for New Yorkers, tax cuts, new money for transit projects, cops on the subway and programs supporting pregnant women. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what the govern...

Congestion pricing is finally here. As of Sunday, New Yorkers are being charged $9 during peak hours to enter the Central Business District in Manhattan below 60th Street. The initiative has sparked both outrage and celebration. It will take some time to determine whether the plan is a success or failure, and Gov. Kathy Hochul said we won't be able to tell until 2026 — the year she is up for reele...

It's a new year, but the same old problems are facing Mayor Adams. Jeffrey Maddrey resigned last month as the NYPD's chief of department after a lieutenant accused him of coercing her into having sex. On Thursday, federal agents raided Maddrey's home for undisclosed reasons. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss th...

This week, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams' former chief adviser, along with her son and two real estate investors, were charged in an alleged bribery conspiracy. The charges come as the mayor himself faces a separate corruption case. Lewis-Martin, who resigned Sunday from her role as one of the most powerful officials in City Hall, has said she's being "falsely accused." NY1 investigative r...

This week, a New York City jury found Marine veteran Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely. The jury's verdict came days after the judge dismissed the top count of manslaughter against Penny, after jurors said they were deadlocked on it. The trial captivated New Yorkers and the country — and was seen as an example of the mental health crisis facing t...

This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced he will work with the Trump administration on immigration policy. Trump has picked Tom Homan as his border czar, and the mayor seems willing to meet with him. Adams also suggested the Department of Justice is biased after fielding a question about Hunter Biden's pardon. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political dire...

After several months of searching, Mayor Adams has picked a new police commissioner, Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who will officially take over the NYPD next week. This is the fourth police commissioner for Mayor Eric Adams in less than three years. What does her appointment say about where the Adams administration wants to go with policing? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and...

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she was reviving New York City's congestion pricing plan with a reduced base fare. Under the new plan, the toll for private vehicles entering Manhattan south of   60th Street   will be set at $9 for E-ZPass users. If greenlit by the federal government, the toll would begin in January. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza an...

Many New Yorkers were perplexed by Donald Trump's decision to appear at Madison Square Garden a week before the election, but it appears the move may have paid some political dividends in New York. The president-elect made serious inroads in the city, improving on both his 2020 and 2016 numbers. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political director Bob Har...

Election Day is just around the corner and control of the U.S. House of Representatives may run right through New York. There are several competitive races across the state that deserve scrutiny. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and Washington correspondent Kevin Frey weigh in on some key congressional races, as well as the six ballot measures on the back of...

The City Council held a six-hour hearing this week, questioning city officials about Mayor Adams' "City of Yes" housing plan. The mayor wants to change zoning codes to allow for more housing, but critics say the plan would destroy the character of their neighborhoods and put pressure on infrastructure that is already crumbling. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobb...

Mayor Eric Adams continues to clean house. Last week, he announced a new first deputy mayor. This week, he appointed a new deputy mayor for public safety, Chauncey Parker. There is also a new schools chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos. Gov.  Kathy Hochul has praised the mayor for removing controversial staff members and seems to be working with him to ride out this storm. NY1 investigative reporter...

There have now been 11 departures from the Adams administration in the last month. Departures in the past week included First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks and Winnie Greco, the mayor's embattled head of Asian affairs. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss the mass exodus inside City Hall and...

This week, Mayor Eric Adams made it clear that he has no plans to step down — even with a federal indictment hanging over his head. The exodus of his top aides continued, as advisor Tim Pearson became the fifth high-ranking member of the administration to announce their departure in just three weeks. Are the recent changes a response to a warning from Gov. Kathy Hochul? NY1 political reporters Bob...

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals, including lavish overseas trips, in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials bypass a fire safety inspection for a new diplomatic tower in the city. And despite calls for his resignation from many high-ranking elected officials, A...

Another week, another resignation. This time, the mayor's chief counsel abruptly stepped aside. On Saturday night, Lisa Zornberg, the top lawyer at City Hall, called it quits. Is the administration in crisis? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena weigh in on the latest round of controversy surrounding the Adams administration and why Zornberg...

Under a cloud of questions and a federal probe, Edward Caban resigned as commissioner of the NYPD on Thursday. Caban was tapped by Mayor Eric Adams to be NYPD commissioner in July 2023, replacing Keechant Sewell and was the first Latino to hold the position. The news of Caban's resignation comes after sources told NY1 last Thursday that federal investigators visited his house and took his phones,...

Four top members of the Adams administration were the subject of search warrants this week, with some of their phones seized. That included First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Adams aide Tim Pearson. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporter Bobby Cuza discuss the latest. After that, Labor Day week...

This week, there was a marathon-long confirmation hearing over Mayor Adams' pick to become the new city's corporation counsel, Randy Mastro. City Councilmembers focused on Mastro's role as a top City Hall aide to Rudy Giuliani, questioning whether he is the right man to be the city's chief lawyer.   NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena discuss  ...

Much of the New York political action is happening some 800 miles away from City Hall in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. New Yorkers were making headlines there — from Gov. Kathy Hochul to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss the convention in the Second City a...

This week, there was a significant movement in the 2025 city elections, particularly the race for city comptroller. After current fiscal watchdog Brad Lander opened up the field by announcing his bid for mayor, two candidates emerged, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and City Councilmember Justin Brannan. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is also interested in the job. NY1 political reporters...

This week, Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate in the race for president. Walz has been touted by Democrats as an effective communicator for the party. This comes as a recent Siena College poll finds Harris leading Donald Trump by 14 points among likely New York voters. Earlier this summer, Joe Biden held an eight-point lead over Trump. NY1 political reporters...

Mayor Adams and the City Council clashed again this week. This time, the Adams administration stopped a partial ban on solitary confinement in city jails, in direct opposition to the City Council's new law. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena weigh in on the latest actions by the mayor and talk about the impact it could have. They also discuss Mayor Ad...