Episode Details

Guest host Jeff Mays sits down with his New York Times colleagues Emma Fitzsimmons and Benjamin Oreskes to unpack Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s budget agenda, from his push to tax the wealthy to the political fight over property taxes and a looming $5.4 billion deficit. They dig into what Mamdani’s universal child care plan, 2K and 3K expansions, and the fight over a New York wealth tax could mean for working parents, black homeowners, and renters in a city facing an affordability crisis. The conversation also explores Governor Kathy Hochul’s resistance to higher income taxes on the rich, the risk of millionaire “flight,” and the fragile alliance between City Hall and Albany. Join Jeff, Emma, and Ben for a clear, in-depth look at how these decisions in New York City and New York State will shape public services, inequality, and the future of progressive politics. Watch now, subscribe for more conversations on New York’s politics and policy, and explore our full playlist of episodes on Mayor Mamdani and the affordability crisis.

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