Urban historian Thomas Dyja and political strategist Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. joined the show to put Eric Adams' mayoralty and Zohran Mamdani's inauguration into modern historical context. They joined host Ben Max to discuss the meaning of the Eric Adams era and its impact on the city, how Adams fits in the modern pantheon of mayors, and the meaning of Mamdani's election to succeed Adams, including the hopes and questions about his budding mayoralty. Dyja is the author of several books, including New York New York New York: Four Decades of Success, Excess, and Transformation. Smikle Jr. has been involved in many political campaigns in New York, is a former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, and is currently a professor in and director of the master's program in nonprofit management at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies, among other roles in politics and academia. (Ep 558)

Tom Allon — longtime journalist, publisher of City & State magazine, and former informal advisor to Eric Adams who helped him with "mayor school" – joined the show to consider Adams' tenure and legacy as Mayor of New York City. (Ep 557)

Vijah Ramjattan, Executive Director of the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes in the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, joined the show to discuss the office's efforts to prevent bias-based crimes, what makes the difference in increases and decreases in hate crimes, the importance of education and community-building, and more. (Ep 556)

Betsy Plum, Executive Director of Riders Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group, and a member of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition committee, joined the show to discuss Mamdani's campaign promise of "fast and free buses" in New York City, how to really speed up the city's notoriously slow buses, whether free buses is the right goal and how to get there if so, and more. (Ep 555)

Christian Klossner, Executive Director of New York City's Office of Special Enforcement, joined the show to discuss the shifting legal and regulatory landscape around Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, and his office's education and enforcement work as New York City has sought to eradicate tens of thousands of illegal short-term rental listings while allowing a legal market to flourish. (Ep 554)

Julie Menin, the presumptive next Speaker of the New York City Council, joined host Ben Max and Andrew Rein, president of Citizens Budget Commission, for a conversation at New York Law School on her path to the speakership, her priorities when she takes the position in January, how she plans to work with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and more. The event took place on December 10, 2025 and was hosted by NYLS' Center for New York City and State Law and Citizens Budget Commission. Menin declared victory in the speaker race in late November, and will have to be officially voted into the position by her Council colleagues in early January. (Ep 553)

New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, a Queens Democrat, joined the show to discuss the growth of the NYC-DSA, her exploration of a run for Congress in NY-7, the Council speaker race won by Julie Menin, prospects for Zohran Mamdani's mayoralty, and more. (Ep 552)

From a live event held on November 20 at New York Law School, host Ben Max talks with four experts who have experience across the last several mayoral administrations and transitions: Anthony Crowell (NYLS Dean; former Counselor to the Mayor), Jennifer Jones Austin (FPWA CEO; co-chair of the 2013 mayoral transition), Meera Joshi (President of Green-Wood; former Deputy Mayor of Operations) , and Emma Wolfe (Chief of Staff to the NYU President; former Deputy Mayor for Administration). They spoke about the keys to a successful mayoral transition, how to best organize and run city government, lessons from Mayors Bloomberg, de Blasio, and Adams, advice for Mayor-elect Mamdani, and more. (Ep 551)

City Council Member Crystal Hudson, a Brooklyn Democrat, joined the show to discuss her bid to become the next Speaker of the City Council. She is among five candidates vying for the legislative leadership position, which will be decided upon by the 51 Council members of the new class seated in January. Hudson discussed her accomplishments in the Council thus far, her approach to leadership, her relationship with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and more. (Ep 550)

Harry Siegel — an editor at The City, co-host of FAQ NYC, and Moynihan Fellow at City College — joined the show to discuss the agreement between Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for her to remain in that position in the new administration. Siegel and host Ben Max discuss how this decision came to be, specific areas of policing that they must navigate, potential pitfalls, how it coincides with Mamdani's planned Department of Community Safety, and more. (Ep 549)