Patrick Gaspard: Mamdani and Obama adviser weighs in on the problem with Democrats

Patrick Gaspard has worn an array of political hats — from U.S. Ambassador to South Africa to President Barack Obama's political director to special assistant to New York City Mayor David Dinkins. An adviser to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gaspard was recently appointed the chairman of the Mamdani administration's Commission on Government Efficiency, also known as COGE, which began holding public hearings across the five boroughs last week. The newly formed Charter Revision Commission is made up of more than a dozen close allies of Mamdani. Gaspard joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the commission, but their conversation also covered national politics, including why Gaspard expects Democrats to have a strong showing in the midterm elections this fall. He also argued that Democrats must launch an affirmative economic agenda and address perceived weaknesses on inflation, immigration and foreign policy.

The five leading candidates in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District in Manhattan squared off this week in a spirited debate hosted by NY1, seeking to draw sharp contrasts ahead of Election Day. The debate was moderated by NY1's Errol Louis, WNYC host Brian Lehrer and WNYC senior political reporter Brigid Bergin. Bergin joined "You Decide" to discuss the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the debate, including the need to focus on a handful of key federal issues such as the state of the Democratic Party, affordability, Israel and healthcare. They also assessed the candidates' performances, examined who gained the most from the debate, and highlighted important questions that didn't make it to the stage.

The Democratic primary in New York's 13th Congressional District has become one of the more intriguing races of this election season, with longtime incumbent Adriano Espaillat facing a serious challenge from Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has secured endorsements from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The contest has emerged as a test of generational change, shifting demographics in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, the effects of gentrification, and the evolving political influence of the district's Dominican electorate. Debralee Santos, editor of the Manhattan Times and Bronx Free Press, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the surprisingly competitive challenge to Espaillat. Their conversation explored the rise of Dominican political power in New York, Chevalier's controversial past social media posts, Mamdani's coalition-building strategy, and the role Espaillat's leadership has played within the Dominican community.

A.M. Gittlitz is an organizer and writer whose work focuses on the counterculture and radical politics. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller "Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team," a love letter to the New York Mets and a sweeping study of New York City through the electric and often calamitous history of the franchise. Gittlitz joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis and political director Bob Hardt to discuss the book, which traces the Mets' origins back to the 1880 Metropolitans and the class-coded nature of early baseball leagues. The conversation also explored the franchise's modern founding through Robert Moses' vision for Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and the deliberate branding of the Mets that later became associated with the New Left.

Steve Fulop is the president and CEO of Partnership for New York City, an invitation-only organization of about 350 of the city's leading business executives and major employers. He recently succeeded longtime Partnership President and CEO Kathryn Wylde. Before joining the Partnership, Fulop served as mayor of Jersey City for 12 years and was a candidate for governor of New Jersey in 2025. Fulop joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss local CEOs' warnings of leaving New York despite major new corporate headquarters investments. Fulop argued no one is bluffing: firms must be in NYC for its unique assets and talent but can shift growth elsewhere post-COVID, amid high taxes, anti-business rhetoric, and competing incentives from other states and nearby New Jersey. The conversation also covered how losing even middle-office jobs worsens affordability and how structural reforms focusing on better schools and more housing are needed to keep young talent in the city.

Technology expert Kashmir Hill joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and how it's already affecting all our lives. They talked about the massive investment in AI, including the construction of data centers, which is quickly becoming a flashpoint. They also discussed the technology's limitations, including AI "hallucinations." The conversation also explored AI role-playing chatbots that mimic personalities and the concerns surrounding their ability to draw in vulnerable young people.

Technology expert Kashmir Hill joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and how it's already affecting all our lives. They talked about the massive investment in AI, including the construction of data centers, which is quickly becoming a flashpoint. They also discussed the technology's limitations, including AI "hallucinations." The conversation also explored AI role-playing chatbots that mimic personalities and the concerns surrounding their ability to draw in vulnerable young people.

In an exclusive, in-depth interview, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sat down with NY1's Errol Louis to give her assessment of Zohran Mamdani's mayoralty and where national politics stands going into this year's midterm elections. Ocasio-Cortez also gave a tough critique of a casino that's being built in her district while raising questions about the environmental impact of congestion pricing on the Bronx.

Fab 5 Freddy is a New York City legend who emerged in the early 1980s as a defining figure in the rise of hip-hop and graffiti culture. In his new memoir, "Everybody's Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing the Culture," he shares a firsthand account of helping shape a cultural movement that changed the world. Freddy joined NY1's Errol Louis to talk about growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant surrounded by jazz, and how early hip-hop, graffiti and the downtown punk/new wave scenes collided and cross-pollinated. He reflected on his roles in the film "Wild Style" and Blondie's "Rapture" video alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, and explored themes of creativity, competition and cultural evolution — from the early days of street art to its global influence today. He also weighed in on Burning Man and the impact of gentrification on New York's creative ecosystems.

Jennifer Welch is the co-host of the popular political commentary podcast "I've Had It." A former reality TV star and interior decorator, Welch recently left her longtime home in Oklahoma City for New York, seeking a more multicultural and progressive environment. Welch joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss her move, as well as what inspired her to launch "I've Had It" and the podcast's unexpected success. She also spoke about the differences in personal freedom between red and blue states, and how her atheist upbringing and career in interior design shaped her understanding of MAGA and religious culture.