Brian Mayer on WNYC.

Now we'll discuss the Mamdani interview we just did in the state of the race generally with our political reporter Elizabeth Kim, who hasn't been on the show since yesterday.

And we invite your questions or

reactions, 212-433, WNYC, 212-433-9-6-9-2, call or text. Liz, did Mom Dhani make any news there to

your ear? Well, three things come to mind.

First, the issue of public safety, and I like the way you phrased the question, Brian,

because you asked him directly, do you still feel that the NYPD is a racist and anti-queer department?

And he answered it declaratively. And to my ear, that was the first time

that I had at least heard him answer it that way in which he said, I do not. You know,

in previous occasions, he tried very much to put those remarks in the context of the time in which he said it, which

was during the height of the George Floyd protest, which is fair. And I think you also gave

him the acknowledgement that it's, it's okay to evolve your positions as an elected official.

And I think we also need to recognize that at the time,

you know, and he still is, he's an assembly member, and perhaps he was playing a different role as

being a, with his critique of the police department, with an eye toward reform. Now he is running to be mayor. He is running to be a

mayor who would eventually lead that department. Another point I think that is really interesting,

and I think this applies to all the candidates. The relationship with the rank and file,

the police union, the PBA, which is the largest, the Police Benevolence Association, which is the largest uniformed police union, of the police

unions, is now led by Patrick Hendry. He's a very different personality from Pat Lynch. And historically,

the police union has had outsized power in shaping the political narrative in this city around

crime. And I think you could see in certain ways how prior mayors have been

kind of cowed by that power. I believe there is an opportunity for these candidates and for

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