Episode 420: ‘How Do I Get a Squirrel?’

On an historic night for Zohran Mamdani, Katie Honan phoned in from Andrew Cuomo’s forlorn “celebration” moments after he conceded and as workers were already taking down the bunting. New York Law School Executive Editor  Ben Max joined her and co-hosts Crhistina Greer to take in the moment and consider what it all means for New York City and the Democratic Party.

Christina Greer gives her perspective on the New York Times mayoral' panel ("everyone's a trope, right"), and the mixed message the paper sent by in effect overruling that panel to publish its own editorial blasting Mamdani, quickly dismissing Lander, and suggesting, without directly saying so, that voters should back Andrew Cuomo given that the race in their telling is a choice between the two leading candidates. Hosts Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss all that and much more as early voting has started in the primary — and Mayor Eric Adams is looming in the general election.

Mayoral candidate and State Senator Jessica Ramos joined FAQ NYC in March to lament that ”there is, I think, a little bit of amnesia happening. I do think the press could do a better job of highlighting the myriad of ways in which Andrew Cuomo has created the mess that he now claims he is somehow going to fix. But I can't forget, right?" Now, Ramos is endorsing Cuomo, and hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss her surprise turn and much more ahead of Thursday's Democratic mayoral debate, where Katie will be one of the moderators.

Polling shows that the mayor’s race is still the governor's to lose — but his lead keeps shrinking and he might well lose it in the home stretch. Cuomo’s limited public appearances haven't exactly inspired confidence, let alone the sort of energy that's evident in Zohran Mamdani's ubiquitous volunteers. Hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss that and much more, including why Zellnor Myrie's appeal never took off and Machiavelli's advice concerning "cruelty and clemency": "It is impossible for the new prince to avoid the imputation of cruelty, owing to new states being full of dangers… Nevertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and too much distrust render him intolerable. "Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you."

FAQ NYC teamed up with Max Politics for a live podcast event on Thursday, with special guest Kathryn Garcia reflecting on her 2021 mayoral race where she came just 7,000 votes short of upsetting Eric Adams , what's different this time around and the difference between politics and policy: "I hope that despite what's happening at the Federal level, people still will choose public service because it actually does matter to people in their day to day lives. Being a politician is not the same as being a bureaucrat, and I am very proudly a bureaucrat, but folks should try both and. In New York City, where you have these opportunities, you shouldn't be afraid to give it a shot. I'm very happy that I did It. It was an incredible experience, somewhat like building a startup, and I would encourage people who might not think that they have it in them to join government as a bureaucrat or actually run for office to do it — and though I did not choose to do it a second time, I've heard that you get better." 
Then hosts Ben Max, Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel dig into the homestretch of this year's primary race, while hearing thoughts and answering questions from an audience of engaged and insightful New Yorkers.

“It's hard to be a human in New York but it's downright dangerous to be a baby squirrel,” says Kyra Tippens-Richan, who spends her work days performing autopsies on animals and her off-hours caring for squirrels. She shares her story, and then Ben Max stops by to run down the competitive races down-ballot ahead of the FAQ NYC-Max Politics live podcast coming Thursday that's all about the mayoral contest along with special guest Kathryn Garcia.

Time's running awfully short for Zohran Mamdani to turn momentum into position, Adrienne Adams to ignite or anyone else to catch up with Andrew Cuomo, who's happy to stay out of the fray, keep unscripted interactions with voters let along other candidates to a minimum and other otherwise trust, like Eric Adams did four years ago, that even Democratic primary voters are more conservative than most of the party's candidates. Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss all that and much more, including Albany's arrogance, The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz, and how the hipster burnt his tongue.

While New York City mayor went to DC to kiss the ring, Newark’s mayor got himself arrested trying to visit a newly opened ICE lock-up in his city. Meantime, Andrew Cuomo was docked $600,000 by the Campaign Finance Board on Monday for illegally coordinating with his own super PAC — but still seems to be on track for a victory in the Democratic primary that often decides the city's mayor unless something changes in the race's closing days. Hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss all that and much more, including Albany's latest quarter-trillion-dollar big ugly and another occupation attempt at Columbia the day before the NYPD came down hard on less radical protesters the next day on Brooklyn College students.

Mamdani momentum is monumental, but Cuomo remains a steep cliff to climb with time running short. Co-hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss that and much more, including Kathy Hochul’s premature “budget deal” proclamation, Eric Adams’ “best budget ever” proposal, and Donald Trump’s brutal federal spending plan that neither New York leader seems to be taking into account. Plus, Maya Kaufman of Politico New York breaks down the landslide loss for longtime 1199 boss George Gresham in that union’s election, and what that could mean for New York politics and the future of organized labor.