The transcript of the podcast episode "New York City Mayoral Race and the Future of the Democratic Party" from The Intercept Briefing.
The conversation starts with Akela Lacy introducing Jim Walden, a Republican candidate who is running for New York City mayor. Walden explains that he has decided to endorse Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York, over Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist candidate.
Walden discusses his decision, citing concerns about Mamdani's policies on policing and public safety. He argues that Mamdani's plan to "defund the police" would lead to a decrease in police presence and an increase in crime rates.
The conversation also touches on Walden's views on Cuomo's leadership style and his experience as governor. Walden praises Cuomo's ability to work with developers and build infrastructure, but criticizes him for being too close to the business community.
Throughout the episode, Akela Lacy presses Walden on his views about democracy and the role of politicians in addressing social issues. Walden acknowledges that he has been critical of some Democratic policies, but argues that he is trying to promote a more effective and efficient approach to governance.
The conversation concludes with Walden emphasizing his commitment to public service and his desire to work across party lines to address common goals. He also expresses gratitude for the opportunity to discuss these issues on The Intercept Briefing.
Some key quotes from the episode include:
* "We need more cops, and he's not being honest about the fact that he really is defunding the police by holding the current headcount." - Jim Walden
* "Andrew Cuomo is someone that has very close relationships with developers. He's taken a lot of flack for that." - Jim Walden
* "I believe that it'll be super interesting from the perspective of someone who's been a long time independent to see across the country and in particular in New York, where the party goes." - Jim Walden
Overall, the episode provides insight into the complexities of the New York City mayoral race and the challenges facing the Democratic Party. It also highlights the importance of press freedom and the need for critical coverage of politicians and their policies.
The conversation starts with Akela Lacy introducing Jim Walden, a Republican candidate who is running for New York City mayor. Walden explains that he has decided to endorse Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York, over Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist candidate.
Walden discusses his decision, citing concerns about Mamdani's policies on policing and public safety. He argues that Mamdani's plan to "defund the police" would lead to a decrease in police presence and an increase in crime rates.
The conversation also touches on Walden's views on Cuomo's leadership style and his experience as governor. Walden praises Cuomo's ability to work with developers and build infrastructure, but criticizes him for being too close to the business community.
Throughout the episode, Akela Lacy presses Walden on his views about democracy and the role of politicians in addressing social issues. Walden acknowledges that he has been critical of some Democratic policies, but argues that he is trying to promote a more effective and efficient approach to governance.
The conversation concludes with Walden emphasizing his commitment to public service and his desire to work across party lines to address common goals. He also expresses gratitude for the opportunity to discuss these issues on The Intercept Briefing.
Some key quotes from the episode include:
* "We need more cops, and he's not being honest about the fact that he really is defunding the police by holding the current headcount." - Jim Walden
* "Andrew Cuomo is someone that has very close relationships with developers. He's taken a lot of flack for that." - Jim Walden
* "I believe that it'll be super interesting from the perspective of someone who's been a long time independent to see across the country and in particular in New York, where the party goes." - Jim Walden
Overall, the episode provides insight into the complexities of the New York City mayoral race and the challenges facing the Democratic Party. It also highlights the importance of press freedom and the need for critical coverage of politicians and their policies.
. jim walden's argument that zohran mamdani's plan to "defund the police" would lead to increased crime rates just doesn't add up, right? i mean, most cities with defunding efforts have seen an actual decrease in violent crimes 
.
. meanwhile, Cuomo's own record on issues like gun control and climate change is pretty sketchy 
anyway, walden seems pretty chill about cuomos leadership style, but he's not a fan of him bein too close to the business community 
i guess that's kinda understandable tho. what really caught my attention was when they talked about democracy and politicians tryin to address social issues... walden says he's all about findin a more effective approach to governance 
but like, isn't that just code for "i want power" 
The way he's framing Cuomo's leadership as being too close to the business community is also pretty interesting. It's like, Cuomo's been governor for years and he's got a track record of working with developers – doesn't that count for something? 
On the other hand, I do love how Walden's being honest about his own views on democracy and governance. He seems like a genuine guy who's trying to have a nuanced conversation 
. But overall, I'm still not sure if I trust him as a candidate... what do you guys think? 
It doesn't take into account the root causes of social issues or the fact that defunding the police is actually about community-led policing and accountability. And what really gets me is that Walden's own party has been accused of being out of touch with the needs of everyday people... it's like they're just repeating the same old script without any real understanding of the problems they're trying to solve