# Ben Max

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New York State Legislative Primaries to Watch, with Jeff Coltin, Rebecca Lewis, & Holly Pretsky

Three journalists from City & State New York joined the show to discuss New York state legislative primaries to watch in the June 2026 elections. Jeff Coltin, Rebecca Lewis, and Holly Pretsky spoke with host Ben Max about a variety of interesting and competitive Democratic primaries for the State S…

Episode 502: Election Night Extra: Mamdanimentum Is Real

Mayor Zohran Mamdani put a lot of his newly won political capitol on the line to try and shift the shape of the Democratic Party in New York City and beyond, and won big — proving that his theory of the case didn't end with his election. An hour and a half after the polls closed, FAQ NYC taped a …

Taking Stock of Mayor Mamdani's First 6 Months, with Matt Wing

Strategist Matt Wing joined host Ben Max to analyze Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first six months in office, which included staffing up his administration, his first state and city budget cycles, attempting to follow through on major campaign promises, dealing with unexpected challenges and key relations…

The New York Editorial Board on Mayor Mamdani's First 200 Days & More

In this special episode, hear members of The New York Editorial Board - a group of veteran journalists that includes Max Politics host Ben Max - discussing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's tenure thus far and broader political and policy trends. Nine of the Board's 11 members participated in a live event hos…

The City Council Progressive Caucus Agenda, with Co-Chairs Tiffany Cabán & Sandy Nurse

The co-chairs of the New York City Council Progressive Caucus, Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse, joined the show to announce the release of the Caucus' legislative agenda for the current term (2026-2029). The 13-bill priority agenda includes bills dealing with public safety and policin…

The Elizabeth Street Garden Saga & Other Housing News, with David Brand & Annemarie Gray

Journalist David Brand and housing advocate Annemarie Gray joined the show to discuss the saga over Lower Manhattan's Elizabeth Street Garden, which recently hit a major inflection point that may signal a final resolution leaving the garden a public park and advancing housing development at alterna…

Experts Discuss Technology & Democracy, Civic Engagement, Artificial Intelligence, & More

This special edition of the show is audio of a live event: an expert panel on technology and democracy moderated by host Ben Max that was part of New York Law School's second annual civics summit. The panel includes John Avlon (journalist, author, and chair of good government group Citizens Union);…

New York Congressional Races to Watch, with Jeff Coltin & Sophie Krichevsky

Journalists Jeff Coltin and Sophie Krichevsky of City & State New York joined the show to discuss the U.S. House of Representatives races to watch in New York for the 2026 general election. They joined host Ben Max to break down races in several New York districts - including the 3rd, 4th, 17th, 19…

Analyzing the Hochul-Blakeman Debate & State of the Governor’s Race, with Bob Hardt

Bob Hardt, New York political director for Spectrum News, joined the show to analyze the lone debate between Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, which took place October 13 on Spectrum News. Hardt and host Ben Max discussed key mom…

The 5 Questions on Your New York City Ballot, with Patrick Gaspard & Ann Cheng

Mayor Mamdani's charter revision commission — the Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE — has put 5 yes-or-no questions on the 2026 ballot with various proposals for city voters to approve or disapprove. This episode features audio from a live event held at New York Law School where COGE Cha…