Faq Nyc

Greg Smith rejoins the pod to explain how he found out about the city tests showing arsenic in the water at NYCHA's Jacob Riis houses before anyone informed Mayor Adams or the tenants about them, and to break down everything we still don't know about what happened here—starting with why the city decided to look for heavy metals in the first place. It's a mess that says a lot about how the other half (still) lives.

Something in the buttermilk doesn't smell right, says Professor Christina Greer, and it doesn't help that he keeps dipping his toe into political races he keeps losing.

The great Ben Max of Gotham Gazette joins Chrissy, Katie and Harry for an early assessment of the winners and losers on a rough night for Mayor Eric Adams’ preferred candidates in a weird August election with nearly as many losing candidates as voters.

In our 213th episode, Christina and Katie talk to New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie about his recent Daily News op ed "How N.Y. Dems should think about crime," his ongoing efforts to uphold bail reform, and his latest legislative accomplishments.

Some “personal news” for the pod: After 211 episodes FAQ NYC is now officially part of The City, the nonprofit newsroom all about New York and for New Yorkers. And for our 212th episode, we talked with Alvin Bragg, the district attorney representing the 212, about becoming a national figure of suspicion just after taking office, his accomplishments so far including the exoneration of Steven Lopez—the nearly forgotten sixth teen, just 15 when he was arrested, who went to prison after being accused in the infamous Central Park jogger case and then pleading out to a lesser charge—and much more.

Professor Christina Greer has a lot to say about the Jerry Nadler-Carolyn Maloney face-off in the new NY 12 and how Suraj Patel could end up deciding that race, the thus far one-sided public fight Jessica Ramos is trying to start with fellow leftist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and much more.

De Blasio is out, sharks are in, and lieutenant paramedic Anthony Almjoera joins the pod to talk about Riding the Lightning, his new book about his wrenching pandemic year, how he thinks the FDNY let down and left behind medical first responders, and much more. WARNING: This episode includes conversation about suicide and suicidal thoughts.

From secret lairs to Covid lessons not learned in 20 minutes flat.

Reporter George Joseph joins Katie and Harry to discuss his reporting on the Brooklyn Democratic machine and a tough election for its boss, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

The great Ben Max breaks down what just happened with Chrissy and Harry.

Katie Honan explains what that is—and how union politics help explain why so many New Yorkers "inevitably" drown each summer. Plus, Professor David Bloomfield breaks down the public school budget cuts Eric Adams wants, the bill to reduce class size that the mayor wants the governor to veto, and much more.

A few thoughts on Eric Adams' relationship with the press, and then a bunch more on New York City's budget and political picture.

Breaking down another wild week in New York City, including that poll showing New Yorkers souring on Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul—and souring on the city even as they say things are actually going pretty well in their own neighborhoods.

When the New Yorker just isn't New York enough, you've come to the right pod…

Bradley Tusk looks at the Democrats playing musical chairs for their political lives, explains the cases for Andrew Yang and cryptocurrency, and shares the backstory behind P&T Knitware, his brand new bookstore, podcast studio, event space, and cafe on the Lower East Side.

A jam-packed episode for a jam-packed week of New York news, with Yoav Gonen of The City and Chris Sommerfeldt of the Daily News talking about all the candidates in Brooklyn who didn't even know they were on the ballot (including one candidate who isn't even alive), a dispatch from Alex Brook Lynn in Paris about sending formula across the Atlantic to frantic N.Y. moms, and Caroline Lewis of WNYC and Gothamist explaining what's happening with the state's rollout of legal weed and with the people who did (and still are) illegally selling it here.

For the 200th episode of FAQ NYC, a conversation about the Notorious B.I.G. and Brooklyn with Justin Tinsley, author of the new biography It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him.

Map master Steven Romalewski and penetrating politics reporter Brigid Bergin do their best to explain what the hell is happening with our upcoming election, where the maps are still being drawn and not even the dates, plural, for various contests aren't entirely certain. Plus, Nick Pinto of the brand-new NYC journalism venture Hell Gate breaks down his story there about the NYPD's Stonewalling Attorney Called Out for Lying and Forging Emails.

Michael Daly recalls his friend Jack Maple, the maker of the maps that changed everything.

An awful lot of New York politicians end up going to prison but Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs, who spent 17 months in Rikers as a teen followed by four and a half years in state prisons, is the first to do it the other way around. He joins the pod for a conversation about that, "the bad old days" and the state of the city now, and rapping and performing comedy with legends including the late Big L and Biggie Smalls.