Bradley shares his reaction to the bombshell breaking news that Trump’s Justice Department has ordered the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan to drop the criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams.  Bradley games out how this decision will or will not impact the 2025 mayoral race, discusses what could be next for Adams if he (likely) loses re-election, and why, paradoxically the Adams administration is actually the best it's ever been.

For Bradley's full analysis, be sure to subscribe to his Substack.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

What are we getting right and wrong about America's youngest voters? Bradley talks to Melissa Deckman, author of 'The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy', about the most diverse generation in American history coming of age in these turbulent, Trump-y times.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

Do the names Fannie Lou Hamer or Barbara Jordan mean anything to you? Well, they should, and so should their achievements as trailblazing black women in politics. Dr. Christina Greer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University and co-host of the podcasts FAQ NYC and In The Thick, joins Bradley to discuss her new book about Hamer and Jordan, How to Build a Democracy, plus a check-in on the NYC mayor's race, how to filter Trump news, and what Democrats should do to get back on their feet.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

Is there actually a mayor's race happening in New York City? Tusk Strategies CEO Chris Coffey joins Bradley to consider the shadow of Andrew Cuomo and how it hangs over the field. Plus, Governor Hochul's suddenly steep climb to reelection, deciding how to pick your battles with Trump, and DeepSeek's scrambling of the AI narrative.

00:05:15] - DeepSeek AI discussion: Concerns about privacy, security, and how DeepSeek may impact the AI landscape.

[00:07:26] - AI models: How DeepSeek challenges OpenAI and other major AI players, and its implications for the industry.

[00:13:07] - New York City mayoral race: Current landscape, leading candidates, and potential challengers.

[00:20:54] - Eric Adams' challenges: His legal issues, polling numbers, and the possibility of Andrew Cuomo entering the race.

[00:25:46] - Ranked-choice voting dynamics: How different voter blocs may rank candidates and the implications for the election.

[00:34:11] - Governor Hochul’s reelection challenges: Siena poll results and potential Democratic challengers.

[00:40:29] - National politics: Trump's tariffs, their economic impact, and how they could affect his reelection bid.

[00:45:24] - Democratic strategy: Should Democrats fight Trump or work with him? Debating the best approach.

[00:52:43] - Recommendations: Bradley, Chris, and Hugo discuss books, TV shows, and museum exhibits.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

How is pragmatic problem-solving possible in today's fiery political climate? Bradley sits down with Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss his new book, Son of Birmingham, which blends politics, leadership, and his deep love of music and culture. Woodfin shares his thoughts on Outkast, Lauryn Hill and the decline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as how his city can embrace both its civil rights past and a high-tech future.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

If you're prone to ruminating on negative thoughts, there is no single remedy. Bradley analyzes the practices that help him quiet his mind, the habits he avoids, and the aspects of his life that make the biggest difference. Plus, he updates his agnostic approach to Trump, explains why changing the laws on scaffolding is a big win for New Yorkers, and recommends a pair of novels and a pair of movies.

[00:01:40] How to Deal with Constant Ruminations

[00:13:00] Finding Purpose

[00:19:30] Reflections on Canadian Business Leaders

[00:22:50] Trump’s Greenland and Denmark Tensions

[00:25:00] Coffee Tariffs and Inflation Messaging

[00:30:00] GOP Retreat and Budget Cuts

[00:36:00] Cabinet Appointments

[00:40:00] New York City Quality of Life Issues, Scaffolding

[00:50:30] Practical Urban Reforms

[00:54:30] This Week's Books and Movie Recommendations

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

That's the simple Venn diagram Micah Lasher is embracing as he begins his freshman year in the New York State Assembly. In this first installment of a recurring series about Micah's new life as a legislator, he and Bradley discuss the tribal customs of Albany, the challenges of balancing public safety with civil liberties, and the structural issues contributing to New York's housing crisis. The most powerful force in Albany isn’t ideology, says Micah, it's "status quo bias." Breaking through that is the hardest part of governing.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: [email protected].

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

In this special episode, Bradley dissects Trump’s unprecedented barrage of executive orders, exploring their strategic and symbolic importance, as well as their impact on everyday Americans and the world as we knew it. “If you're looking for someone who reliably reinforces your views about Trump, good or bad," says Bradley, "this is not the right place for you. If you are looking for an objective, nonpartisan centrist take on things, I think we've got something to offer."

Read more on Bradley's substack

[00:01:20] – Start of the immigration discussion: Biden’s handling of immigration and the need for reform.

[00:03:18] – Reinstating Title 42 and thoughts on asylum policies.

[00:04:13] – Ending birthright citizenship and its constitutional implications.

[00:06:18] – Discussion on gerrymandering's impact on immigration policies.

[00:08:24] – Suspending refugee resettlement and related immigration actions.

[00:11:25] – Sanctuary cities and withholding federal funding; implications for cities like New York.

[00:14:57] – Climate policies: Electric vehicle mandates, fossil fuel production, and renewable energy setbacks.

[00:19:21] – Analysis of Trump’s energy policies and implications for renewables and the global South.

[00:20:29] – Trade policies: Tariffs on Mexican and Chinese imports and trade investigations.

[00:22:15] – Federal operations: Bureaucracy changes, civil service reforms, and collective bargaining rights.

[00:24:15] – Racial equity initiatives and their perceived backlash.

[00:28:45] – Repealing Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence.

[00:29:10] – Protections for transgender individuals and abortion access.

[00:30:48] – Returning federal workers to offices and broader implications for accountability.

[00:32:22] – Crime policies: Designating cartels as global terrorists and restoring the death penalty for certain crimes.

[00:37:29] – January 6th insurrection and punishment discussions.

[00:38:06] – Use of private prisons and concerns about profit-driven practices.

[00:39:02] – Title IX and transgender protections

[00:41:06] – Abortion restrictions and telemedicine access concerns.

[00:42:50] – TikTok ban reversal and its implications for U.S.-China relations.

[00:43:03] – Declassifying federal records on JFK and MLK assassinations.

[00:44:04] – Renaming landmarks and backlashes to symbolic changes.

[00:45:08] – Withdrawing from the World Health Organization and global cooperation concerns.

[00:47:24] – Executive order directing “America First” foreign policy and its symbolism.

[00:50:02] – Cost of living executive orders and broader economic implications.

[00:51:54] – Closing reflections on Trump’s branding and the impact of his executive orders.

To forgive the big lie he told the American people? Bradley weighs the evidence. Plus, he reality-checks Canada’s dilemma on how to deal with Trump: “I know Canadians are famous for being nice. Thoughtful. Decent. Those are great qualities in human beings. But in a knife fight with Donald Trump, none of them matter.”

[00:00:21] – Overview of podcast topics: Joe Biden's presidency, Trump's inauguration, Canada’s approach to Trump, and scaffolding projects in New York.

[00:00:40] – Discussion of Joe Biden's presidency: successes and failures.

[00:03:31] – Legislative achievements: Infrastructure bill, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and American Rescue Plan.

[00:06:00] – Foreign policy review: Ukraine, Israel, and Afghanistan withdrawal.

[00:07:26] – Climate actions: Inflation Reduction Act's impact and Trump's opposition.

[00:10:16] – Tech policy: Antitrust efforts, TikTok ban, and limitations in regulatory success.

[00:15:52] – Stability and governance under Biden: COVID management, appointments, and absence of chaos compared to Trump.

[00:18:48] – Biden's failings: Soft corruption, lying to the public, and mishandling immigration.

[00:20:46] – Inflation and public perception.

[00:24:45] – Immigration crisis and its mismanagement.

[00:28:30] – Failures in tech policy and regulatory progress.

[00:34:39] – Overall grading of Biden's presidency: A mix of B, B-minus, and C.

[00:37:19] – Canada and Trump: Challenges with tariffs and potential strategies.

[00:45:30] – Commentary on Canadian CEOs and political strategies.

Are we there yet? Lee Drutman thinks so. Bradley talks to the senior fellow at the New America Foundation and prominent thinker on political reform about how expanding the number of parties can restore healthy conflict in our politics. "If 30 percent of people in New York City support Trump," asks Drutman, "then how come 30 percent of the seats on the City Council are not Republican?"

Lee Drutman's latest in NYT: Opinion | How to Fix America’s Two-Party Problem