Max & Murphy

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan joined the show to discuss how the Adams Administration is taking on the threats of social media on youth, studying long covid, working to increase life expectancy, and more. (Ep 432)

Dr. Christina Greer and Harry Siegel, co-hosts of the FAQ NYC podcast, joined the show to discuss Mayor Adams' 2024 State of the City address, Adams' broader agenda, performance, and standing, the developing 2025 race for mayor, and other New York political dynamics. (Episode 431)

Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, joined the show to discuss his efforts legislating artificial intelligence opportunities and challenges, judicial reform to ensure better functioning courts, housing policy, and more. As a computer scientist and data engineer, he also discussed how government can better use data to inform decision-making. (Ep 430)

Political consultants and longtime Albany experts Shontell Smith and Liz Benjamin joined the show to analyze Governor Hochul's 2024 State of the State address, the governor's policy agenda, state government dynamics, and more. Smith, a former top official for the State Senate Democratic Conference, and Benjamin, a longtime journalist, dissect the governor-legislature relationship and much more. (Episode 429)

State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat and chair of the Senate elections committee, joined the show to preview the 2024 legislative session in Albany and discuss his top priorities, whether the Legislature will do anything significant on housing policy, and much more. He also touched on questions about whether he might run for Mayor in 2025.

New York State Assembly Housing Chair Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat, joined the show to preview the 2024 budget and legislative session in Albany, especially what may happen around housing policy negotiations. She also discussed her other top priorities and major areas of concern that the state will deal with. (Episode 427)

Professor Jeff Wice, director of the Census and Redistricting Institute at New York Law School, joined the show to discuss the latest in the ongoing saga of congressional redistricting in New York. In mid-December, New York's highest court ordered a new round of map-making from the Independent Redistricting Commission, likely to lead to another new set of congressional district lines for the consequential 2024 elections in New York, where party control of the U.S. House of Representatives will again hang in the balance. (Ep 426)

New York City Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan returned to the show to discuss how the Council is pushing back against Mayor Eric Adams' budget cuts and other fiscal choices. Brannan spoke with Max Politics the day after chairing an oversight hearing on the Mayor's November budget modification to the city budget, which included $1.7 billion in savings, including many program cuts. Topics include debate over revenue projections, city personnel policies and removal of budget vacancies, specific funding cuts to programs, fiscal management of the migrant crisis, and more. (Episode 425)

Citizens Budget Commission leaders Andrew Rein and Ana Champeny joined the show to help break down what New Yorkers need to know about the New York City budget, the city's fiscal health as of December 2023, and debates over saving, cutting, and spending. They help illuminate challenges facing Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council as they determine city spending priorities discuss spending on the migrant crisis, federal pandemic funding "cliffs," and much more. (Episode 424)

Matt Wing, former communications director under Governor Andrew Cuomo, joined the show to discuss crisis communications, governing while under investigation, and more. In light of the federal investigation involving Mayor Eric Adams' campaign and administration, Wing discussed his experience in the governor's office amid a federal investigation into the Cuomo administration's handling of the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, how he thinks Adams and his team are handling the current situation, and much more. In addition to the Cuomo administration and campaign, Wing has also advised or worked for Kathryn Garica, Uber, Bill de Blasio, and others. (Episode 423)

Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. — a political strategist, Director of the Public Policy Program at Hunter College, and former Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party – joined the show to discuss the upcoming 2024 elections, particularly how Democrats should approach key House races in New York and the presidential contest, as well as other political themes. (Ep #422)

Howard Slatkin, executive director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council and a longtime official at the NYC Department of City Planning, joined the show to explain zoning's role in how New York City got into its current housing crisis and how zoning reform is essential - but not enough - to get the city out, as well as other key pieces of housing policy to increase supply and affordability. (Episode #421)

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams joined the show to discuss several major challenges facing the city, her top legislative priorities, her relationship with Mayor Eric Adams, and more (Episode #420)

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander joined the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the work of his office, city contracting and oversight, the migrant crisis, budget challenges, the affordable housing crisis, and much more. (Ep #419)

The most-watched City Council race in the 2023 general election is between two sitting City Council Members, Democrat Justin Brannan and Republican Ari Kagan, who are facing each other in the new 47th Council District of Southern Brooklyn after fallout from the redistricting process. The district includes Coney Island, Bay Ridge, and Bath Beach. Council Members Kagan and Brannan joined the show for a lively debate with under a month to go until Election Day: November 7, 2023. (Ep 418)

There's a push for "rails and trails" in Queens via the QueensLink proposal to reactivate a portion of an old rail line to connect the M and A trains for additional mass transit while also adding new park space. Two leaders of the QueensLink, Andrew Lynch and Mike Scala, joined the show to discuss the proposal and its competitor, QueensWay, which would only create parkspace. (ep 417)

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a Democrat, joined the show to discuss the release of his Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn, which covers a lot of ground on health, housing, transit, climate, and more. Reynoso explained his enthusiasm for doing comprehensive planning and what he hopes will come from the release of this document. The conversation largely focused on housing growth and how the comprehensive plan will impact how Reynoso tries to influence adding new housing across the borough. (Ep 416)

Dan Garodnick, Director of the New York City Department of City Planning, joined the show to discuss the Adams Administration's plan to rezone the city and pursue more housing everywhere. It's the "City of Yes" zoning proposal for "housing opportunity" and will ultimately need City Council approval at the end of the lengthy public review process set to launch soon. (ep 415)

Checking in on the halting progress on NYC's ambitious Streets Plan law, which mandates a major buildout of bus lanes, bike lanes, and pedestrian space. Guests: New York City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the transportation and infrastructure committee, and leading advocates Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives and Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance. (Episode 414)

City Council Member Rita Joseph, a Brooklyn Democrat and chair of the Council's Education Committee, joined the show to discuss what she's most focused on ahead of the start of the 2023-2024 school year, a variety of pressing education-related issues, and more.