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Max Politics

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

Journalist David Brand and housing advocate Annemarie Gray joined the show to discuss the saga over Lower Manhattan's Elizabeth Street Garden, which recently hit a major inflection point that may signal a final resolution leaving the garden a public ... more

The co-chairs of the New York City Council Progressive Caucus, Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse, joined the show to announce the release of the Caucus' legislative agenda for the current term (2026-2029). The 13-bill priority agenda incl... more

Three leaders of the reform movement in Brooklyn Democratic politics — Julio Peña III, Caitlin Kawaguchi, and Tony Melone — joined the show to discuss the future of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. In June, the “Brooklyn Can't Wait" coalition won enoug... more

Leila Bozorg, New York City Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, joined the show to discuss the Mamdani Administration's "Block By Block" housing plan, the city's multi-faceted housing crisis and various strategies to address it, key policies and p... more

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Recent Guests

Sandy Nurse
New York City Council member, Brooklyn
New York City Council
Episode: The City Council Progressive Caucus Agenda, with Co-Chairs Tiffany Cabán & Sandy Nurse
Tony Malone
President of New Kings Democrats (NKD)
New Kings Democrats (NKD)
Episode: Reformers Set for Takeover of Brooklyn Democratic Party
Caitlin Kawaguchi
Former president of NKD
New Kings Democrats (NKD)
Episode: Reformers Set for Takeover of Brooklyn Democratic Party
Julio Peña III
District leader and former Community Board 7 chair; expected to be next chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party
Brooklyn Democratic Party reform coalition
Episode: Reformers Set for Takeover of Brooklyn Democratic Party
Leila Bozorg
New York City Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning
City of New York – Office of Housing and Planning
Episode: Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg on the Mamdani Administration's Housing Plan
Matt Wing
Veteran strategist and communications professional, founder and CEO of Wingspan
Wingspan
Episode: Taking Stock of Mayor Mamdani's First 6 Months, with Matt Wing
Jordan Wright
New York State Assembly Member, Democrat representing the 70th Assembly District (Harlem)
New York State Assembly
Episode: Jordan Wright on Winning His Assembly Primary, Uptown Politics, & More
Arpit Gupta
Member of New York City's Rent Guidelines Board; Associate Professor of Finance at NYU Stern School of Business
New York City's Rent Guidelines Board; NYU Stern School of Business
Episode: Arpit Gupta on Opposing Mamdani's Rent Freeze & Securing the Future of Rent-Stabilized Housing
Julia Salazar
New York State Senator
New York State Senate
Episode: Julia Salazar on the Growth of DSA, the Future of Democratic Politics, & More

Host

Benjamin Max
Host of the program; executive editor and program director focused on NYC and NY policy, affiliated with a law school policy center.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 99 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 States7 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 States10 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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.

Feedback highlights the show as a reliable source for staying informed about city budget and housing debates.
Several reviews note strong episode quality and helpful context for understanding local governance.
Listeners praise thorough analysis and balanced dialogue across perspectives.
The host is seen as well-informed, calm, and well-prepared for deep policy discussions.
Guests are described as high-caliber and the conversations are informative for those tracking NYC politics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reformers Set for Takeover of Brooklyn Democratic Party
Q: How will leadership be distributed to avoid the concentration of power in one person?
The plan is to distribute leadership across a coalition, leverage district leaders, and rely on a broader team and committees so decisions aren't controlled by a single chair.
Reformers Set for Takeover of Brooklyn Democratic Party
Q: What is the broad vision for remaking the Brooklyn Democratic Party if you win the chair?
The vision is to elect Democrats across Brooklyn, be transparent and inclusive in governance, properly vet judges, and shift the narrative of the party to be more responsive to rank-and-file Democrats.
Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg on the Mamdani Administration's Housing Plan
Q: What role do zoning reforms and transit-oriented development play in enabling more housing, and what is the timeline for such measures?
TOD is central to enabling higher density around transit nodes, with a citywide framework anticipated. The timeline is tied to political and public engagement, with the first-term target to have major tools introduced and some fast-track processes in place, though certain components may take longer to finalize.
Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg on the Mamdani Administration's Housing Plan
Q: How do staffing and resource allocation affect the rollout and implementation of the plan?
Staffing is critical; the deputy mayor notes that adding resources through executive budgets and broader reforms helps accelerate production and turn over units, with a focus on filling vacancies and supporting task forces like LIFT and SPEED to improve efficiency and delivery.
Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg on the Mamdani Administration's Housing Plan
Q: What is the big picture goal of Block by Block over the next decade, and how does it balance production with preservation?
The plan aims to produce roughly 200,000 new affordable units and preserve another 200,000 over ten years, addressing supply while maintaining existing stock. It emphasizes a comprehensive approach across agencies, interagency coordination, and targeted tools like preservation programs and new financing to ensure both growth and preservation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Max Politics

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

This show centers on New York City and New York State politics, with in-depth conversations featuring electeds, candidates, journalists, and policy advocates. Episodes frequently dissect city and state budgets, housing policy, transit, climate and energy reforms, education funding, and governance strategies, often contrasting different perspectives and highlighting how local issues intersect with statewide reforms. Notable strengths include rigorous policy detail delivered through accessible interviews, timely analysis of budget negotiations, and a knack for connecting district-level concerns to broader state and national trends. The host fosters clear, substantive discussions that help listeners understand how political decisions translate... 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. The Ezra Klein Show

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?

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What guests have appeared on Max Politics?

Recent guests on Max Politics include:

1. Sandy Nurse
2. Tony Malone
3. Caitlin Kawaguchi
4. Julio Peña III
5. Leila Bozorg
6. Matt Wing
7. Jordan Wright
8. Arpit Gupta

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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