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 “independent legal authority” to make such an arrest. Investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Kelly Mena, and political director Bob Hardt break down the complicated week for the mayor.
Then, a political battle has erupted at City Hall following the death of five New Yorkers from Legionnaires’ disease since early July. City Council Speaker Julie Menin accused the Mamdani administration of responding too slowly and failing to be transparent with New Yorkers about the outbreak. The “Off Topic” team discusses the public health response and the latest clash between the mayor and the speaker.
ABOUT THE SHOW
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.
HOW TO LISTEN