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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
Affordable Housing
Congestion Pricing
New York City Council
Democratic Party
Housing Affordability
New York State Budget
New York Politics
Kathy Hochul
Housing Policy
Brad Lander
Zoran Mamdani
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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Artwork for Max Politics

Latest Episodes

Raj Goyle, a candidate in the June 2026 Democratic primary for New York State Comptroller, joined the show to discuss his campaign platform, why he believes Comptroller Tom DiNapoli should be replaced as the state's chief fiscal officer, his views on... more

Michael Lange - a writer, strategist, and organizer - returned to the show to discuss the major New York City-based congressional primaries to watch in the June 2026 elections, just ahead of the start of early voting (June 13-21) and primary day (Jun... more

Host Ben Max is joined by FAQ NYC podcast co-hosts Harry Siegel and Christina Greer to break down the Knicks' historic comeback win in game 4 of the NBA Finals and 3-1 series lead, putting the team and city one win away from the Knicks' first champio... more

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli joined the show to discuss his case for reelection, first to be the Democratic nominee via the primary that is taking place in June 2026, where he is facing challenges from Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle. DiNapoli,... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Lange
Writer, strategist and organizer; writes The Narrative Wars on Substack
The Narrative Wars (Substack)
Episode: NYC Congressional Primaries & Major Themes To Watch, with Michael Lange
Tom DiNapoli
New York State Comptroller, Democrat seeking re-election
Office of the New York State Comptroller
Episode: Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on His Bid for Reelection
Drew Warshaw
Democratic candidate for New York State Comptroller
Campaign for NY State Comptroller (Democratic candidate)
Episode: Drew Warshaw on His Campaign for New York State Comptroller
Chris Herring
NBA reporter, author of Blood in the Garden
ESPN / Sports Illustrated / Wall Street Journal
Episode: The Knicks and The City, with Chris Herring & Jonathan Fishner
Jonathan Fishner
Lifelong New Yorker and Knicks fan; former Knicks blogger
Independent
Episode: The Knicks and The City, with Chris Herring & Jonathan Fishner
Brad Lander
Former Brooklyn Borough President (and former NYC Council member) running in the primary
Abundance New York (alignment with abundance agenda)
Episode: NY-10 Abundance Forum with Brad Lander & Dan Goldman
Dan Goldman
Current Congressman and candidate in the primary
Democratic Party
Episode: NY-10 Abundance Forum with Brad Lander & Dan Goldman
Erik Bottcher
State Senator, Manhattan District (West Side)
New York State Senate
Episode: Erik Bottcher & Keith Powers on Joining the State Legislature, Budget Negotiations, & More
Keith Powers
State Assembly Member, Manhattan District (East Side)
New York State Assembly
Episode: Erik Bottcher & Keith Powers on Joining the State Legislature, Budget Negotiations, & 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 97 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 States5 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 States8 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 States8 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 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.

Mayor Mamdani's Housing Plan, with Annemarie Gray & Alex Armlovich
Q: Alex, given your research and experience, which parts of the plan are most promising for increasing supply, and what are the biggest risks to delivering on those promises?
Alex points to TOD, code reforms, environmental-review speedups, and Nycha land use as key levers, while cautioning that execution details, financing, and political capital will determine whether targets are met; he emphasizes that speeding up processes is as critical as the plan's ambitions.
Mayor Mamdani's Housing Plan, with Annemarie Gray & Alex Armlovich
Q: Annemarie, what do you think of the big picture signals here, and how does Open New York see the all-of-the-above approach working in practice?
Annemarie describes how the plan ties together tenant protections with supply-side reforms, notes the emphasis on Nycha as a public builder, and highlights the importance of using ballot measures and zoning tools to accelerate housing growth while staying true to Open New York's coalition-building strategy.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on His Bid for Reelection
Q: What is your view on Tier 6 pension changes and the budget process—are adjustments warranted, and how do you balance that with maintaining a well-funded plan?
I acknowledge that Tier 6 changes were a compromise and emphasize that the plan must remain well-funded, that adjustments should reflect fund health and costs, and that the controller's role is to provide fiscal notes and analysis rather than drive policy, ensuring credibility and long-term sustainability.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on His Bid for Reelection
Q: How would you describe your influence on ensuring fiscal stability through crises like the Great Recession and the COVID period?
I point to managing the pension fund through crises, rebuilding after major losses, and maintaining a plan that doubled the fund size since 2007, with a disciplined approach to asset allocation and a focus on long-term stability rather than short-term political considerations.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on His Bid for Reelection
Q: So start us off with your sort of elevator pitch. You get two minutes with someone at a subway stop or a farmer's market. What's your big picture pitch to voters for another term as state comptroller?
I describe the office as fundamental to the functioning of state finances, underscoring a steady hand, independent oversight, and a track record of safeguarding pension funds and ensuring money is spent as intended while remaining credible and nonpartisan.

Audience Metrics

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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. On the Nose

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 Lange
2. Tom DiNapoli
3. Drew Warshaw
4. Chris Herring
5. Jonathan Fishner
6. Brad Lander
7. Dan Goldman
8. Erik Bottcher

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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