Max Politics

City Council Member Sandy Nurse, a Brooklyn Democrat, joined the show to discuss Council passage of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), which gives qualified nonprofits the first chance to buy certain housing properties when they are put up for sale. Mayor Mamdani has promised to sign the bill, which Nurse is the lead sponsor of, into law, with the promise that it will lead to more community-focused ownership of apartment buildings that have been in physical distress or part of city affordability programs.

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 Chair Patrick Gaspard and Executive Director Ann Cheng gave a presentation, then sat with host Ben Max for a conversation, followed by audience Q&A.

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 moments in the debate, areas of disagreement between Hochul and Blakeman, how each candidate performed, and the broader state of the gubernatorial race with under three weeks until Election Day (November 3, 2026).

Saritha Komatireddy, the Republican and Conservative parties' nominee for New York Attorney General in this year's election, joined the show to discuss her bid to unseat Letitia James and her vision for becoming the state's chief legal officer. The race is one of many state, federal, and local elections on the ballot this fall, with Election Day on November 3, 2026.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat who has been the state's chief fiscal officer since 2007, joined the show to discuss his case for reelection, respond to criticism by his Republican opponent, Joseph Hernandez, and assess key elements of how New York is doing.