Episode Details

Why is New York’s Second Avenue subway to East Harlem once again on the brink, and what does the MTA’s rare lawsuit against the Trump administration reveal about how power really works in New York? Host Jeff Mays sitting in for Sam Roberts, talks with Times transit reporter Stefanos Chen about the MTA’s decision to sue over nearly $60 million in frozen federal funding, the broader $18 billion infrastructure clash, and what it all means for riders, union jobs, and “transit deserts” in East Harlem. They also dig into Governor Kathy Hochul’s car insurance reform push, the politics of congestion pricing, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s stalled promise of fast, free buses. Then City Hall reporter Sally Goldenberg pulls back the curtain on Mamdani’s governing style, from his quiet deal-making with Hochul and Trump to the sharp-elbowed primary plays and 911 reforms testing his progressive brand inside City Hall. Watch the full conversation, subscribe for more in‑depth New York politics coverage, and explore our playlist on Mamdani’s City Hall and the future of NYC transit.

• Coming up on CUNY TV
• Recently aired on CUNY TV