The Hell Gate Podcast

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The Hell Gate Podcast episodes

October 09 Governor Kathy Hochul on Taxing the Rich, Cornell, and Her Relationship to the Left
Governor Kathy Hochul joins the Hell Gate Podcast for a very special episode filmed at the legendary downtown Irish pub T.J. Byrne's. As the governor faces re-election next month, we get her on the record about her reluctance to tax the rich, what can be done to close loopholes related to the Cornell 7 case, and whether she's moved leftward in her general election race. ALSO: We talk about her axe-throwing skills, why she wants young people to have a future in NY, and her message to Palestinian New Yorkers on October 7.
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31 min
October 06 BONUS: Timelessly Torching James Dolan—Featuring Defector's Patrick Redford and Harry Krinsky
Join us for a special bonus episode of the Hell Gate Podcast, where we crossover (get it? basketball??) with our friends at Defector's Nothing But Respect to discuss the ongoing WNBA playoffs and the imminent NBA season. Topics discussed include: how Eric Adams needs to go on Curious Mike, James Dolan's loathing of the city of New York and its talismanic basketball team, Max's proposal to save the Nets, and so much more. Big thanks to Patrick Redford and Harry Krinsky from Defector for joining us in Studio H!
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57 min
October 02 Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier on Building Power, AOC, and 'Squad 2.0'
This fall, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier will (almost certainly) be new members of Congress from New York City. We got them in the studio to talk about being a transplant, Latinidad, how the left can build power, what they said to Hakeem Jeffries, and whether they believe in aliens. These two are not very keen on labels like "the Squad," but we are nevertheless soft-launching "Clairializa," this week on the Hell Gate Podcast.
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51 min
September 25 Zohran Mamdani Is Mr. Worldwide
It's a wild week in New York City as our mayor goes international, the president pays a visit and ogles Gracie Mansion, and Mamdani breaks bread with fellow socialist world leaders. Meanwhile, closer to home, the Brooklyn Democrats are up to their usual absolute nonsense, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is stealing people's faces.

Just audio this week—no video…for reasons! Be careful cutting avocados, folks!
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37 min
September 18 AI Threats, Real and Imagined. Plus, Extremely Real NYPD Misconduct
What begins as a quaint story about an upstate bookstore morphs into a depressing vision of the future. Is there anyone who can stop the AI apocalypse? Luckily, Hell Gate has consulted its own AI agent on the matter, and they've told us we're in the clear. Just to be safe, Jessy checks in with the mayor about this as well.

Then, Nick (who is not AI) discusses his new reporting on how NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch keeps transferring cops with misconduct on their records to the NYPD's most problematic and secretive unit. Finally, we give an update on the Brooklyn Dems, whose drama will almost certainly outlive the end of the Earth.

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38 min
September 11 The 9/11 Episode
As Hell Gate surveys the conversation surrounding the 25th anniversary of 9/11, certain (awful) people are spewing 2002 vintage bigotry. The latest scandal: Our mayor passed a pen to a guy. Meanwhile, New York City mayors not named Mamdani lied to New Yorkers about the toxic dust at Ground Zero.

In the back half of the episode, Max brings us up to speed on Mt. Sinai’s betrayal of trans kids in NYC. Finally, Julianne considers (a bit wistfully) the scrapped proposal for a building that has a lot more to say than what we got with 1 WTC.

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37 min
September 04 Come Get 7SoulsDeep With Us
This Labor Day weekend Hell Gate is celebrating with an episode on the very 2026 form of labor that is social media. Is Mamdani’s Signal group chat with 200 influencers as scandalous as it sounds? Why can’t a guy like Chris Robbins just enjoy @7SoulsDeep graffiti in peace? (Katie has an answer.)
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30 min
August 28 Holy Cannoli! Is Robert Moses In Heaven???
Is Robert Moses smiling down on Mamdani’s BQE? Why didn’t Frank Seddio bring cannolis to the Brooklyn Dems function? And what did we uncover when we requested the transcripts from a weird New York Times interview with Governor Kathy Hochul?

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36 min
August 21 President AOC, Senator Chi Ossé?
Editor Holly Pretsky dove into NYC-DSA’s caucuses and found rumblings of a 2028 where charismatic DSA members might try their hand at higher office. Editor Christopher Robbins updated us on the state of gambling in New York—from prediction markets to "dead facades." Start placing your Kalshi bets now. Then, Jessy Edwards on ICE getting sued by the septuagenarian they maced—And finally Alisha Allison, our intern, looks back on the summer she turned Hell Gate.
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38 min
August 14 We Won't Shut Up About Elizabeth Street Garden
Well-connected NIMBYs score another unexpected victory in New York City as the fight over Elizabeth Street Garden reaches its apparent final chapter. Low-level arrests are as high as ever and Mamdani seems happy to let NYPD boss Jessica Tisch run the show. Plus, Katie gives an (anti-)recommendation.
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38 min