Episode description
It’s the book many of my podcast guests recommended –and that I’m also now reading: The Gods of New York. In it, New York Times journalist Jonathan Mahler argues the last years of the 1980’s shaped the city we know today. Previously, in Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, Mahler had gone back to 1977, when New York was literally and figuratively on fire. Now, he zooms in on just four years — 1986 to 1990 — and the larger-than-life characters that dominate them.
To close the first season of the Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know podcast, I speak with Mahler about the “gods” of that era — Ed Koch, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Al Sharpton, Spike Lee, Larry Kramer, Benjamin Ward, Linda Fairstein and others — and how tabloids, Wall Street, crack, AIDS, and a wave of racial flashpoints pushed the city from a working-class metropolis to a global capital of finance and inequality. We get into Joyce “Billie Boggs” Brown and homelessness, Bed-Stuy’s transformation and Black political power, and what Mahler thinks Zohran Mamdani and this new political moment need to learn from that history.
Mahler also talks about how he reported the book — more than 200 interviews and deep archival digging — why he still believes in “inefficient” research in the age of AI, and what he’d tell young journalists coming into the profession right now. And, because life is not all New York doom, he leaves us with a big, sprawling novel recommendation: Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.
In January, we’ll be back with season two of Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know, with more conversations about New York and the people shaping its future.
Books and essays we mention
Assemblymember Alex Bores is one of the only lawmakers in America who can read both a bill and a codebase — and he's now running for Congress in New York’s competitive 12th District. In this episode, we dig into his push for AI regulation, the super PAC trying to knock him off the ballot, why Big Tech is watching this race, and how a coder’s mindset changes politics. We also talk childcare, democracy, growing up in Manhattan, and the small privacy settings on your phone that matter more than you think.
Guest: Assemblymember Alex Bores, candidate for Congress in NY-12
Host: Juan Manuel Benítez
Location: Columbia Journalism School, NYC
Topics we cover:
📺 Alex Bores’ Campaign Launch Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWJAX0Q0wA
📚 Book Recommendation — Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka
(New York Public Library link)
https://www.nypl.org/research/collections/shared-collection-catalog/bib/b23691530
🌳Parks
🛠 Organizations & Bills Mentioned
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?Text=Y&bn=A06453&default_fld&leg_video&term&utm_s
Show Notes
Special Book Edition: 25,000 Streams Celebration
Recorded in New York City on Thanksgiving Day
A milestone episode. After just a dozen conversations, Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know has crossed 25,000 streams. Instead of another interview, we’re doing something revealing, personal, and surprisingly political: we’re revisiting book recommendations from our guests.
These are the titles that shape how leaders think about New York, democracy, wealth, poverty, power, inequality, science, climate, and their own decisions. From collapsing empires to the Koch era, from hedge funds to poverty in Brooklyn, from spiritual discipline to climate-fiction superheroes, this episode shows how reading choices become political choices.
🗽 New York City history and power
🌍 Climate imagination & speculative politics
💡 Ideas reshaping public policy
🧠 Psychology, mindset & self-determination
⚔️ Labor history, unions & fear of socialism
💸 Wealth, exploitation & the cost of growing up poor
⚾ Escapism with substance
🔎 Race, economics, and shared struggle
🏛️ A crumbling empire as metaphor
Brad Lander • Kathryn Wylde • Mark Levine • Eric Adams • Curtis Sliwa • Jessica Ramos • Brian Lehrer • Grace Rauh • Christina Greer • Josh Greenman • Nicole Gelinas • Antonio Delgado • Ben Smith
The most mentioned book: The Gods of New York, by Jonathan Mahler. Stay tuned — the author joins the podcast in a couple of weeks.
If you’ve been listening, reviewing, or sharing episodes, you helped grow a show focused on understanding power in New York City. Keep going:
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📚 Send Juan your current book recommendation
Because the ideas we read today shape the choices we make tomorrow.
🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know.
Ben Smith has been at the vanguard of digital journalism for two decades. In a candid conversation, Semafor's co-founder and editor-in-chief discusses his mission to fix the chaos of information overload, how Semafor's unique format tackles trust and transparency, and the surprisingly "boring" ways AI is already changing newsrooms. Plus, he weighs in on the political spectacle of Donald Trump, the rise of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and whether New York is on the path to becoming a "gilded museum" of the 20th century.
Member of The New York Editorial Board
Also mentioned:
Antonio Delgado isn’t just New York’s lieutenant governor — he’s now Kathy Hochul’s biggest political headache. In this episode, Delgado tells Juan Manuel Benítez why he’s taking on his own boss in next year’s Democratic primary, why he thinks New York’s leadership is “broken,” and how he plans to fix it. He talks power, loyalty, and political retribution — and then drops the politics to open up about hip-hop, fatherhood, and why Kendrick Lamar and D’Angelo fill his current music playlist.
Show Notes:
Delgado's picks:
Book
White Poverty, by William J. Barber
Music
Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar and Black Messiah
New York place to visit
Follow:
🎧 Subscribe to Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.
On the eve of Election Day in New York City, Juan Manuel Benítez convenes three sharp minds from the New York Editorial Board—Christina Greer (FAQ NYC), Josh Greenman (Vital City), and Nicole Gelinas (Manhattan Institute)—to dissect what’s driving this race: Zohran Mamdani’s momentum, Andrew Cuomo’s bet on negativity, Curtis Sliwa’s recalibration, and whether the city is voting for policy or for an idea. We get honest about polling blind spots, youth and Muslim/ South Asian mobilization, public safety as the make-or-break metric, and how a disciplined campaign meets the hard math of governing. Plus: fast takes on Ballot Proposal 6 and three book picks to keep your New York brain fed.
Guests
Book Recommendations
Links
Credits
Host: Juan Manuel Benítez • Recorded at Columbia University in New York City
Before you step into the booth, hear from someone who’s seen NYC power from both sides. Grace Rauh —former NY1 City Hall reporter and now executive director at Citizens Union and the 5BORO Institute— joins Juan Manuel Benítez to break down what’s actually on your ballot and why turnout keeps sinking. They get into the even-year election fight, the housing/zoning package, digital mapping, and the Adirondacks measure; Zohran Mamdani’s rise (and the de Blasio echoes), Andrew Cuomo’s comeback attempt, and how local journalism looks from the outside. Plus: a personal lightning round —books, landmarks, and what still gives her hope about New York. Then go vote.
Grace’s picks:
Book
Podcasts
New NYC Landmark
Resources
Citizens Union & 5BORO Institute (voter guides, reform agenda)
In late January, I participated in a breakfast interview with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, hosted by the New York Editorial Board, of which I'm a member.
Back then, Mamdani was a progressive underdog in the race - a state assemblymember with ambitious ideas but long odds. A lot has changed since that breakfast. Mamdani won the Democratic nomination and today, he's become something of a national political superstar. As we head toward the November general election, he's leading in the polls with a healthy margin.
For this episode, I've stripped away all the questions and edited Mamdani's responses to flow as a standalone narrative. What you're about to hear is "Zohran Mamdani's Vision in the Candidate's Own Words" - his policy proposals, his governing philosophy, and his vision for New York City, presented in the same order as our conversation but allowing his answers to speak for themselves.
You can listen to the unedited version in the New York Editorial Board substack page.
Follow me and the podcast on social media
Instagram: JMBenitezNYC
TikTok: JMBenitezNYC
Facebook: JMBenitezNYC
Twitter: JuanMaBenitez
Bluesky: JuanMaBenitez
and subscribe to my Substack.
Brian Lehrer has hosted WNYC's flagship morning show since 1989, and has interviewed every New York mayor since David Dinkins. In this rare in-depth conversation, the notoriously private broadcaster opens up about his life, his craft, and the state of journalism and democracy in 2025. Plus, will he vote in this mayoral election?
Brian's picks:
Book: "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray
Park: Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan
Podcasts:
Regular listening:
For professional monitoring:
In this episode:
Guest: Brian Lehrer, journalist and host, WNYC Radio
On the 2025 NYC Mayoral Race:
On Journalism in Crisis:
Personal Journey:
The Art of Live Radio:
Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos sits down for an candid conversation about one of the most controversial decisions of her political career: endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor after years of publicly criticizing him and calling for his resignation.
The Colombian-American legislator opens up about the political calculations behind that stunning move, her fractured relationships with fellow progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, and why she believes her campaign for mayor never gained traction. Ramos also reflects on growing up in Jackson Heights during the cartel wars of the 1980s, her father's influence on her public service career, and whether her independent streak will cost her politically as she faces a primary challenge from Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas next year. It's a raw, revealing portrait of an elected official who refuses to play it safe — even when it might be the smarter move.
Ramos' picks:
Mentioned:
Show notes
Guest: Jessica Ramos, New York State Senator (Queens), Chair of the Labor Committee
Topics Discussed:
Key Moments:
Recorded at: Pulitzer Hall, Columbia Journalism School, New York City
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, sits down to discuss his unconventional campaign in a race led by democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Despite being the GOP nominee, Sliwa has no support from President Trump, who backs Andrew Cuomo instead—and he says he doesn't care.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Sliwa reveals how billionaires tried to pressure him to drop out of the race, why he believes Eric Adams "had a price" when he withdrew, and his vision for tackling homelessness, mental health crises, and housing affordability in NYC. He also opens up about patrolling the subways with the Guardian Angels, his wife's cat rescue work, his love of electronic dance music, and why he's not afraid of socialists.
Sliwa’s picks:
Book: The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair
Parks: Central Park and Elizabeth Street Garden
Music: Electronic Dance Music, including Bunt
Mayor Eric Adams is still in the race to get reelected — and he wants you to know it. In this candid interview, Adams takes aim at his political rival Andrew Cuomo, pushes back on persistent media narratives, and blames campaign finance setbacks on what he calls “lawfare” and rumor-fueled media coverage. Adams insists he's not dropping out — and that the public hasn’t been told the full story.
We talk about the federal indictment that was later dropped by the Trump administration, the toll of constant speculation, and the uphill battle of running for reelection while navigating both policy crises and personal scrutiny. Plus: thoughts on Trump and Biden, Israel and Gaza, immigration, ChatGPT, and why he still loves Prospect Park. It’s Eric Adams — defensive, defiant, and determined to change the narrative. Will it work?
ERIC ADAMS' PICKS
In this conversation, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine discusses his journey in New York City politics, focusing on his recent campaign for comptroller, the challenges of housing affordability, and the importance of progressive policies. He reflects on his experiences running for office, the role of the comptroller, and his commitment to using technology to improve city governance. Levine also shares insights on investment strategies, the significance of endorsements, and his personal growth throughout his political career.
Levine's picks
Books
Podcast
Places & Transit
Preservation
Keywords
Mark Levine, New York City, Comptroller, housing affordability, politics, Juan Manuel Benítez, Democratic nominee, personal journey, political views, languages, Trump, Zohran Mamdani, Ezra Klein, Dwarkesh Patel
In this revealing conversation, host Juan Manuel Benítez sits down with Kathryn Wylde, the powerful voice of New York's business community who's stepping down after decades at the helm of the Partnership for NYC. As the business world grapples with Zohran Mamdani's surprising mayoral primary victory, Wylde offers unprecedented insight into how corporate leaders really feel about the self-proclaimed socialist who could become their next mayor.
Wylde reveals that business leaders were "shocked" by Mamdani's win after investing heavily in Andrew Cuomo's expected victory, but explains why the panic has subsided since election night. She details Mamdani's immediate outreach to reassure the business community and draws surprising parallels to Bill de Blasio - noting that while their policies may be similar, Mamdani lacks de Blasio's "vindictiveness" toward the wealthy.
The gods of New York : egotists, idealists, opportunists, and the birth of the modern city : 1986-1990, by Jonathan Mahler
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
In the debut episode of "Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know," host Juan Manuel Benítez explores this central question with NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, the progressive politician who lost his mayoral bid in June's Democratic primary but whose cross-endorsement helped propel rival Zohran Mamdani to victory.
Lander reveals why he made the strategic decision to endorse his former opponent, what role he might play in a Mamdani administration, and why he believes Andrew Cuomo shouldn't be mayor. The conversation digs into the realities of progressive coalition-building, the $2 billion the city wastes annually on preventable settlements, and Lander's bold proposal to convert golf courses into affordable housing.
But this isn't just political strategy. Benítez explores what shaped Lander as a person - his anthropology fieldwork in London's Bangladeshi community, his Jewish values rooted in "every human created in God's image," and why he cursed Andrew Cuomo in formal Yiddish during the campaign. Lander opens up about his love of sci-fi novels where NYC boroughs become superheroes, his obsession with Prospect Park's Celebrate Brooklyn concerts, and his quest to restore the old Kentile Floors sign that once made F train riders "feel like home."
It's political journalism that remembers people are people first - and asks the question everyone wants answered about New York's political future.
Lander’s picks
Books