Five boroughs. One mayor. Mad drama.

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.4 • 9.5K Ratings

🗓️ 18 June 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

New York Public Radio icon Brian Lehrer breaks down the New York City mayor's race and New York magazine's David Freedlander explains what Democrats nationally can learn from the two leading candidates. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Denise Guerra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo shaking hands with Zohran Mamdani. Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There are nine people credibly running in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.
0:06.0	The city's deranged ranked choice voting ensures every New Yorker gets to vote for five of them.
0:11.0	Yesterday, candidate Brad Lander briefly made headlines when he got arrested by ICE.
0:15.0	You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens.
0:18.0	But the smart money says this race comes down to two.
0:21.6	Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.
0:23.8	Let's see what the tabs are saying.
0:25.6	The post?
0:26.5	Zeran Mamdani has barely ever had a job with just three years in the workforce,
0:30.9	including his rap career and a gig for his mom.
0:34.3	The Times.
0:35.4	Mamdani narrows Cuomo's lead in New York City mayor's race.
0:38.5	New Pole Fines.
0:40.0	The Daily News.
0:41.1	Accused New Jersey Killer used fake police lights to pull over wife's lover.
0:45.3	Cops say.
0:46.2	It's New York's most exciting vote since Jimmy Fallon asked Robert De Niro to pick a movie.
0:50.0	Coming up on today, explained the old guard versus young cardam.
0:59.6	Thank you. Coming up on today, explained the old guard versus young cardam. Do you feel like you have a clear sense of what that goal is?
1:02.4	Do you really think it's regime change?
1:04.5	Yeah, I think it's full consolidation of power in his own hands.
1:08.5	The ability to act unfettered, the ability to control and corral the opposition.
	...

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