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Max Politics

Max Politics
New York City
Andrew Cuomo
Zohran Mamdani
Eric Adams
New York City Mayoral Race
Public Safety
Donald Trump
Congestion Pricing
Affordable Housing
New York City Council
Democratic Party
Housing Affordability
New York State Budget
New York Politics
Kathy Hochul
Brad Lander
Zoran Mamdani
Governor Kathy Hochul
Housing Policy
Democratic Primary

Max Politics is a New York politics podcast hosted by journalist Ben Max featuring in-depth interviews with elected and appointed officials, candidates, advocates, and others about New York City and State politics and policy. Produced at New York Law School and its Center for New York Law. Get in touch: benmax25@gmail.com -------- Intro/outro music is Live-It by Ketsa. source (Free Music Archive) ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes519Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Max Politics

Latest Episodes

David Freedlander, a features writer for New York magazine, joined the show to discuss the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District, which encompasses much of Manhattan's East and West Sides and is currently represented by retirin... more

State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, returned to the show to discuss the status of state budget negotiations and key issues on the table like aid to New York City, tax rates, and a variety of policy matters that Governor Ho... more

Jeff Coltin, Editor-in-Chief of City and State New York, joined the show to discuss Mayor Mamdani's endorsements in several 2026 races, key congressional and state races to watch in this year's elections, and more. (Ep 581)

This special edition of the show is a candidate forum in the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District, which includes much of Manhattan’s west and east sides. The forum, moderated by host Ben Max, included 7 candidates running in... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Gianaris
State Senate Deputy Leader, Queens Democrat
New York State Senate
Episode: Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris on State Budget Negotiations, Mamdani's Agenda, & More
Micah Bergdale
Entrepreneur focused on transit, activist for underserved communities
Independent candidate, NY-12 Forum participant
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
George Conway
Attorney, anti-Trump advocate
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Chris Diep
Software engineer
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Laura Dunn
Civil rights attorney
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Jack Schlossberg
Public figure with law background
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Nina Schwalbe
Public health expert
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Patrick Timmins
Criminal and civil litigator
Candidate in NY-12 forum
Episode: Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Sally Goldenberg
Metro reporter for The New York Times covering City Hall
The New York Times
Episode: Mayor Mamdani's First 100 Days, with Sally Goldenberg & Bob Hardt

Host

Ben Max
Host of Max Politics, focused on NYC and state policy; experienced interviewer of elected officials, advocates, and experts.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Max Politics is a good listen

    I’m aware this podcast may not be for everyone, but I appreciate the thorough analysis and inviting of different perspectives to listeners. I like being able to see what people who may be critical of a certain perspective think, and I think this can be conducive to sparking informed discussions and debates offline. I can tell Ben works very hard to produce a solid and respectable conversation, and I give my best rating because of that! I encourage people new to it to come with an open mind, I do... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JJS718
    United States4 months ago
  • (Formerly) Great NYC & NYS pod

    This is an updated review. The once great host has clearly lost his mind over the possible election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor.

    Too many of the recent pods feature right-leaning or equally freaked out “experts” that either purposely or in bad faith exaggerate what Mamdani has proposed — and Max urges them on, rather than stay neutral or offer any critique. This last one w Manhattan Institute & Vital City reps just a festival of fear-mongering.

    So disappointing — but on par with others — Siegel,... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CaityC
    United States6 months ago
  • Always Insightful

    Ben Max attracts great guests because he is an expert in NYC politics like almost none other. He always brings thoughtful questions and a calm and steady presence. Great podcast!! LOVING the collab with FAQ NYC. Can we keep it?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaa
    United States7 months ago
  • Great NYC & NYS pod

    Featuring electeds, candidates, party & non-profit people across the political spectrum. Host gives folks room to explain their points of view — sometimes to the detriment of the speakers, be they rich, center or left. And our politics!

    Listening to some of these pods post 2024 election, it becomes very clear to me why it’s been so difficult for progressive ideas — most of which I support — to connect with everyday people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CaityC
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative NYC Podcast

    Ben Max is a knowledgeable host who starts every episode with enough background info so that you have context of the discussion. Lots of interesting and important guests joining each week. Great way to stay informed of what’s going on in NYC.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vinman~87
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, balanced discussions with thoughtful questions.
Guests and host provide credible, well-researched analysis.
Audience appreciates deep dives into NYC budget and policy.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris on State Budget Negotiations, Mamdani's Agenda, & More
Q: What is Gianaris' outlook on the timeline for budget passage and key policy outcomes?
He notes a very tight time frame with post-budget action likely in the following weeks, expressing cautious optimism that essential issues like school funding, housing, and immigration protections will be settled in a limited window while avoiding dramatic, last-minute changes.
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris on State Budget Negotiations, Mamdani's Agenda, & More
Q: How does he view the city's relationship with the state and the governor during negotiations?
He describes a relationship shaped by inertia and incremental progress, with the mayor pushing hard to change the dynamic and the governor's positions shaping what is possible, yet noting improvement in cooperation compared with past tensions.
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris on State Budget Negotiations, Mamdani's Agenda, & More
Q: What are the top priorities Gianaris is pushing for in this budget cycle?
Gianaris emphasizes strengthening the city's budget through additional state aid, supporting the fare-free bus pilots, and advancing policy changes like housing reforms, environmental regulations, and measures to ease mayoral control extensions, while navigating political constraints and revenue limits.
Candidate Forum in New York's 12th Congressional District
Q: What are the top two district needs and how would you address them?
Candidates emphasized health care, housing affordability, and transit infrastructure, with concrete plans like universal or expanded health coverage, funding for Section 9 and new housing, and major transit projects including the Second Avenue Subway and Gateway Tunnel.
Mayor Mamdani's First 100 Days, with Sally Goldenberg & Bob Hardt
Q: Bob, if you had one or two things that stood out to you most about Mamdani's first hundred days, what would it be? Is it style aspects? Is it substance?
Bob highlights Mamdani's rapid grasp of granular mayoral tasks (pothole politics, daily governance) and his aggressive use of communications, both traditional and social media, to tell a constant story. He also notes tensions with the City Council and the strategic use of appointments to empower certain departments like Consumer and Worker Protection, framing governance as a combined exercise of policy and media strategy.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Max Politics

What is Max Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A NYC politics show that centers on in-depth conversations with elected officials, candidates, and policy advocates. Episodes frequently cover budgeting, housing, transportation, urban planning, and the mechanics of city governance, often with a focus on how policy ideas translate into tangible city outcomes. Notable for hosting a steady stream of prominent city and state figures across the political spectrum, with occasional when-it-misses-the-mark critiques balanced by detailed analysis and practical governance insight. This mix makes it helpful for listeners who want clear takes on how policy proposals would play out in New York City and beyond, and for guests who want to reach engaged, policy-minded audiences.

A standout feature is the... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Max Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Max Politics:

1. FAQ NYC
2. The Hell Gate Podcast
3. The Brian Lehrer Show
4. Off Topic/On Politics
5. NYC NOW

How many episodes of Max Politics are there?

Max Politics launched 10 years ago and published 519 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Max Politics?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Max Politics?

Recent guests on Max Politics include:

1. Michael Gianaris
2. Micah Bergdale
3. George Conway
4. Chris Diep
5. Laura Dunn
6. Jack Schlossberg
7. Nina Schwalbe
8. Patrick Timmins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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