# Off Topic/On Politics What happens when three New York reporters sit in a (small) room and talk politics? Join the NY1 political team each week for a conversation where no topic is off-limits and everything is on the record.​ Page: Feed: --- ## [Is Gov. Hochul's reelection bid in trouble?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-08-14_ This week, a new Siena poll of likely New York voters found Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a 10-point lead over her Republican challenger, Bruce Blakeman. In 2022, Hochul won her first full term as governor, defeating then-Republican candidate Lee Zeldin by just over six points. So, should the incumbent governor be worried? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_081326_VIDEO_AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Are car stickers the key to fixing street cleaning?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-08-07_ This week, city leaders are cracking down on illegal e-bikes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued cease-and-desist letters to online retailers accused of selling illegal models while New York City responds to a rise in fatalities involving e-bikes and e-scooters, including the death of a 17-year-old boy who crashed after leaving the Brooklyn Bridge last week. Investigative reporter Courtney Gross and… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_080626_audio.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [What went wrong with Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax rollout?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-07-31_ This week, New York City sent letters to 17,000 homeowners who may have to pay a non-primary residence tax, or pied-à-terre tax, starting next year. The tax played a role in closing the city's budget deficit earlier this year and helped Mayor Zohran Mamdani deliver on his campaign promise of taxing the rich. But some city homeowners are blasting this week's notification rollout, calling it… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_O73026_Audio.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Mamdani walks back on Netanyahu arrest pledge](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-07-24_ Last year on the campaign trail, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that as mayor, he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York City. This week, he told The New York Times he was in "active conversation" with the city's Law Department about whether he could direct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu. He later walked back those comments, saying the city does not have… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_072326_AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Do horse carriages still belong in Central Park?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-07-17_ This week, the City Council moved to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. The catalyst is the death of an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a driverless carriage, adding to a series of recent horse-related incidents. With City Council Speaker Julie Menin backing the effort, a majority of the City Council members support phasing out horse-drawn carriages by June 2028. NY1 investigative… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_071626_audio.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Will NYC's faster bus plan change your commute?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-07-10_ This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber unveiled a new plan aimed at speeding up bus commutes by an estimated six minutes. The "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service" initiative includes prioritized bus corridors, including major changes along Flatbush Avenue, such as center-running bus lanes and island boarding. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_070926_AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Inside Mamdani's massively successful primary election night](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-06-24_ Tuesday's Democratic primary election demonstrated the power of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's endorsement. Every candidate backed by the mayor emerged victorious, underscoring his growing influence within New York Democratic politics. As the results become clear, NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political anchor Errol Louis break down the key races, the biggest… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/Off_Topic_062326.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [What the NYC primaries will reveal about Mamdani's influence](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-06-19_ This week, Spectrum News NY1 hosted a congressional debate in New York's 13th District, which includes Harlem, Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. The candidates are incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat and his much younger opponent, Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has been endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross,… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_061826_AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Knicks watch parties at MSG were canceled. Who's at fault?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-06-12_ While New York is celebrating the Knicks' return to the finals for the first time in decades, controversy over canceled watch parties near Madison Square Garden has sparked a public feud. Knicks owner James Dolan criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on WFAN, saying they're party poopers and not real fans. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross joins political… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_FullEp_06112026_AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=741908) ## [Countdown to Getting Paid (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/tqFDApOzvMCs) _2026-06-12 · **Sponsored**_ Create a shareable wallet timer — deposits buy back time and pay debt down ## [Could New York draw Republicans out of Congress?](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/off-topic-on-politics) _2026-06-05_ New York passed a constitutional amendment in 2014 that expressly prohibits drawing congressional maps "for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties." More than a decade later, Democrats in Albany are switching course and throwing their hat in the nationwide redistricting battle. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political… [Listen](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offtopiconpolitics/OTOP_060426_AUDIO_version.mp3?dest-id=741908)