Best Persistent Campaign Podcasts (2025)

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain in her position under incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani. She’s acknowledging that there are differences between her and the mayor-elect, but she chose to stay. Rodney Harrison, a former NYPD executive who served as chief of detectives and chief of department, talked with WNYC's Sean Carlson more about what th…

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New Poll Results Show Democrats With An Edge, Topping Off Tough Week For Trump 21:38

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18h ago21:38

21:38

From a rare political turn-about on the Epstein files, to a judicial slap-back on his redistricting plan in Texas, President Trump had a tough week. Is his grip on the Republican Party starting to break? Plus, a new poll shows Democrats with a big advantage going into the midterms. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national pol…

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Andy Byford is back in New York

1h ago

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Andy Byford previously ran New York City's troubled subway system. Now, he's working for Amtrak and is tasked with redeveloping Penn Station.

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U.S. Had Better-Than-Expected Job Growth In September 18:20

1h ago18:20

18:20

The September jobs report, released belatedly on Thursday, shows the United States added 119,000 jobs, beating expectations, but the unemployment rate went up. We discuss what the data tells us about the economy and how the Trump administration is responding to the news. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Dani…

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Zohran Mamdani sees 'healthy' disagreement with NYPD commissioner

3h ago

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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani explains his decision to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her job, New Yorkers' dim view of incumbents and more in this week's Politics Brief roundup.

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How New Voting Barriers Threaten Elections 42:43

2d ago42:43

42:43

New voting restrictions across the country are threatening to make it harder for millions of Americans to participate in elections. In some states, these barriers have thrown long-registered voters into limbo, as Arizona voter James Wilson learned when he nearly lost his ability to vote because of strict new proof-of-citizenship rules. In this seas…

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Hundreds Of Immigrants Arrested In Chicago Lack Criminal Records 16:44

1d ago16:44

16:44

A look at more than 600 immigrants arrested since the Trump administration began amped up immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago finds almost none have convictions. We discuss what enforcement tactics looked like on the ground and what to expect as enforcement ramps up in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks…

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Break into a Bronx bodega with the University Heights High School robotics club

3d ago

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A South Bronx high school is looking to unlock the potential of its robotics team -- by locking visitors in a bodega. Students at University Heights High School in the Bronx have partnered with Andrew Freedman Home, a historic building restored as a community space on the Grand Concourse. They've joined forces to create a bodega-themed escape room …

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Clarity, Culture, and Change: Leading with Data-Driven Strategy 26:10

35m ago26:10

26:10

In today's fast-paced world, organizations can't rely on static, long-term plans. Strategies must continuously evolve to stay relevant. In this episode, Resultant EVP of Professional Services Mike Hughes shares his insights on leading through rapid change. He discusses how to maintain organizational health, align culture with strategy, and foster c…

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Trump Says He Won’t 'Rule Out' Sending Troops To Venezuela 13:21

4d ago13:21

13:21

President Trump says he won’t “rule out” sending troops to Venezuela, and over the weekend, the world’s largest aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea. We discuss why the United States has amassed such a large military presence in the region, and what reasons the Trump administration might have for targeting Venezuela specifically. This epis…

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How Bollywood and taxis inspired Zohran Mamdani's campaign style

1h ago

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Zohran Mamdani's campaign is being praised for pushing the boundaries of political branding. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim reports on how the mayor-elect and his team of grassroots graphic designers about how Bollywood movies, taxi cabs and more inspired Mamdani's distinct imagery.

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22 Million Could Lose Healthcare Subsidies Next Month, Unless Congress Acts 16:37

5d ago16:37

16:37

The subsidies roughly 22 million Americans rely on to help pay for their health insurance are set to expire at the end of next month unless Congress votes to extend them. We discuss the debate on the Hill, and what would happen to the Affordable Care Act without the subsidies. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter S…

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As subway surfing deaths persist, MTA seeks new ways to stop thrill seekers

1h ago

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The father of a 12-year-old girl killed subway surfing speaks out about her tragic death.

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How young Zohran Mamdani voters persuaded their parents to get on board

5d ago

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A Gothamist analysis found voters under 40 increased their turnout rate more than any other age group compared to four years ago. Many of those voters, the analysis found, did not go to the polls alone. Turnout data shows there were more than 380,000 households that turned out to vote, 64% of which were in Assembly districts Mamdani won.…

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Downtown Manhattan's taco revolution

5h ago

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From taco wasteland to taco wonderland. That's how food critic Robert Sietsema characterizes what has gone on in downtown Manhattan over the last couple of years. A recent column makes the argument that great tacos are now very much on the menu in the neighborhood. Robert writes about food for Gothamist and for his Substack, Robert Sietsema's New Y…

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Studio Museum in Harlem Reopens Honoring Black Art

5d ago

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The Studio Museum in Harlem just underwent a major, seven year, $160-million dollar renovation. The museum is located right on 125th Street, just a block from the neighborhood institution Apollo Theatre. The Studio Museum will reopen its doors to the public on Saturday. Connie Choi is a curator for the museum, and she talks with WNYC's Stephen Ness…

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Gen Z researcher says Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani's win shows young voters care about affordability and authenticity

8d ago

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Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayor’s race was historic for several reasons. For one, he was able to get many young New Yorkers to cast votes. He also will be the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century and the first South Asian and Muslim mayor. Rachel Janfaza is a researcher and writer focused on youth culture and politics, a…

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House Releases 23,000 Pages Of Epstein Documents, Trump Calls It A ‘Hoax’ 28:07

8d ago28:07

28:07

The House Oversight Committee has released 23,000 pages of documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what new information is in the documents and whether the release puts new political pressure on President Trump. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter Stephen Fowler, …

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NYC fan man fights to get his high-flying gadget back from NYPD

8d ago

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Fan Man! An amazing stranger has become the talk of the neighborhood in Gravesend, Brooklyn, where locals have been buzzing for months at the sight of a mystery daredevil soaring through the air on a parachute, propelled by a motorized fan strapped to his back. Videos of the man in the sky have circulated on social m…

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Gov. Hochul angers environmentalists with walk-back of climate policies

5d ago

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is catching the ire of climate activists and lawmakers after a hat trick of fossil fuel-friendly moves, including reaching a deal to delay a law aimed at electrifying new building construction that was set to take effect in January.

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What a week without SNAP has meant to food security in the region

8d ago

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A week after federal food aid payments were first halted amid the shutdown, WNYC's Morning Edition checked back in on the state of food security in the region. Zac Hall is the Senior Vice President of Programs at Food Bank For New York City. Mark Dinglasan is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate. They both j…

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In Season: cranberries

2h ago

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This week a Thanksgiving staples is brightening up New York City greenmarkets: Cranberries. Amelia Tarpey is a program and publicity manger for GrowNYC Greenmarkets. She says Greenmarket farmers are largely not in the cranberry business. So they buy them from farmers across New Jersey and Connecticut, which are two of the countries biggest producer…

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Healthcare Subsidies Aren’t In The Deal To Reopen The Government. What Is? 18:02

9d ago18:02

18:02

The government shutdown is over, after Congress passed a deal Wednesday that funds the government through the end of January. The deal does not extend expiring health insurance subsidies, but it does include a provision allowing several Senate Republicans to sue the government for millions. We discuss what’s in the deal and what comes next. This ep…

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The Latest: How the Erosion of Federalism Endangers Elections 42:48

9d ago42:48

42:48

Under our Constitution, the federal government and the states have distinct powers — especially when it comes to elections. But the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to interfere with how states run elections, pushing unlawful policies that undermine faith in safe, secure and accurate elections. Host Simone Leeper sits down with Catie Kelle…

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Mayor Adams aims to preserve Elizabeth Street Garden by declaring it a park

2h ago

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A deal to end the 40-plus-day government shutdown is working its way through Congress. Closer to home, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is starting to fill out his administration. All that and more in this week's Politics Brief.

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Could Democrats Be Leveling The Redistricting Playing Field? 20:49

10d ago20:49

20:49

The redistricting arms race continues, with several developments that may blunt President Trump's effort to advantage the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections. We also discuss a case before the Supreme Court that could alter how mail-in ballots are counted and an effort to reduce elections occurring in odd-numbered years. This episode: na…