You Decide with Errol Louis

According to the latest census figures, there are approximately 3.87 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin living in New York state. They constitute about 19 to 20% of the state's total population, and the majority of this population, which is about 2.5 million, live in New York City, making up 28 or 29% of the city's population. And yet, New York has never elected a Latino to a statewide office or a citywide office. Scholar, activist, political adviser and ordained minister Eliezer "Eli" Valentine has some theories as to why. Valentin joined Errol Louis to talk about this, as well as his book, "Politicking in the Barrio: Essays on Latino Politics in New York." The conversation also reviewed Latino political history and figures, including Fernando Ferrer's mayoral run, former Rep. Herman Badillo's shift from progressive reformer to later alliances with Republicans, former Rep. Nydia Velázquez's coalition-building support across Latino groups, and the careers of Nelson Denis and Adam Clayton Powell IV.

Editor's Note: This episode of "You Decide with Errol Louis" originally aired in 2019. We are re-releasing it after Jesse Jackson's death Tuesday at the age of 84. Jesse Jackson joins Errol to look back on how he got his start in the civil rights movement, his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and his time in the ministry. He also shares his experiences of running for the White House, counseling Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings, and weighs in on the current race for the White House. A former college football player, Jackson also shares his thoughts about the NFL. Join the conversation using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message.

On Dec. 22, 1984, a loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teenagers on a New York City subway, saying they were trying to mug him. The incident sparked an international debate about crime, fear, race and justice, which persists to this day. This year, two new books about the shootings and its impact on America are getting a lot of attention: "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Getz Shootings, and The Rebirth of White Rage" by Heather Ann Thompson, and "Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive Eighties, and The Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation" by Elliot Williams. Thompson and Williams joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis to discuss their books and why they felt compelled to write them more than 40 years after the shootings. Thompson examines the historical context of the Reagan era and the rise of white rage, while Williams offers a legal analysis and chronicles the case's broader implications, including codified racial biases and the evolution of self-defense laws.

Brooklyn Councilman Chi Ossé has introduced a new initiative aimed at ending deed theft, a growing problem in neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, where criminals have disproportionately targeted homeowners to steal property deeds. Ossé joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss his efforts to combat deed theft, including a proposed temporary eviction moratorium and increased legal transparency for homeowners. They also talked about his use of social media as a tool for political engagement and the broader need to address housing issues. The conversation also touched on why Ossé ultimately abandoned his bid to unseat House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and his current relationship with Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

In an exclusive, in-depth interview, Mayor Zohran Mamdani sat down with NY1's Errol Louis as his first month in office came to a close. The mayor addressed the city's $12 billion budget gap, his proposal to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations and his relationship with President Donald Trump.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is talking tough when it comes to President Donald Trump, but also pushing back against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who wants Hochul and the legislature to raise taxes on the wealthy. Joining NY1's Errol Louis to discuss where New York state is headed in 2026 is Susan Arbetter, the host of Spectrum News' nightly upstate political program "Capital Tonight." They talked about Hochul and Mamdani's push for universal child care, a possible nuclear power plant expansion, and the repurposing of closed prisons in the Adirondack Park.

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her fifth State of the State address, highlighting her accomplishments and laying out her plans for this election year. Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was on hand for her address as he begins working to fulfill his campaign promises, many of which will require support from Albany. Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at City Journal, joined NY1's Errol Louis to analyze Hochul's address and assess Mamdani's first few weeks in office. They also discussed what to expect from both elected officials in 2026, the political position Hochul occupies as she tries to get reelected and where Mamdani's focus should be in the year ahead.

One of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first appointments after being sworn in was Cea Weaver, the director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants. Weaver is a longtime tenant organizer and the executive director of Housing Justice for All, an organization that works to strengthen tenant organizing, advance pro-tenant legislation, and elect tenants and their allies to public office. She also served as a policy adviser to Mamdani's mayoral campaign and is a frequent spokesperson in local, state and national media. But the appointment has drawn criticism after past tweets by Weaver about homeownership and white supremacy resurfaced. Weaver joined Errol Louis to discuss her new role and her plans to advocate for renters amid what the administration has declared a housing emergency. She outlined two early priorities for the office: intervening in court proceedings to protect rent-stabilized tenants affected by the bankrupt landlord Pinnacle Realty Group, and addressing non-rent fees that she says place an additional financial burden on tenants. She also responded to the backlash over her past remarks describing homeownership as "a weapon of white supremacy."

In a day of firsts at City Hall, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor in front of a large crowd of supporters. Now officially holding what's often called "the second toughest job in America," Mamdani faces a daunting set of challenges. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political anchor Errol Louis look back on a monumental New Year's Day and what this new era could mean for New York City.

Almost 55 years ago, Bella Abzug entered Congress, quickly emerging as a fierce champion of women's and minority rights and forging powerful alliances with fellow New York trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm and Elizabeth Holtzman. In part two of this Spectrum News NY1 series, Errol Louis examines Abzug's relentless work ethic and major legislative achievements, including the Child Care Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as her early and outspoken support for gay rights. The episode also explores her toughest political battles—from her failed U.S. Senate run and mayoral campaign to her central role in the movement to impeach President Richard Nixon. Finally, the series traces Abzug's enduring influence on modern progressive politics and her global advocacy for women's rights.

From Mississippi to Beijing to the halls of Congress, Bella Abzug battled injustice her entire life. Known for her trademark hats and fearless style, Abzug helped reshape New York politics and the national women's movement. In part one of this two-part podcast series from Spectrum News NY1, Errol Louis traces Abzug's early life from her path to Columbia Law School to her work as a civil rights attorney and anti-war activist. The episode explores her role in defending African American civil rights, her leadership in a leading women's peace group and the frustrations that ultimately pushed her to run for Congress in 1970 — when she was 50 years old and ready to upend the political establishment.

The race for governor is already stealing the political spotlight in New York with competitive primaries looming for both the Democratic and Republican parties. Running for reelection, Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Republicans will also have a primary on their hands with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announcing this week that he's entering the governor's race, setting up a GOP primary challenge against Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents an upstate district in Congress. So, as we look ahead to 2026, what should we expect? NY1 statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan and Politico Albany Bureau Chief Nick Reisman joined NY1's Errol Louis to break down the current landscape of New York state politics, revisiting Hochul's 2022 victory, her standing heading into the next election and the potential challenges she faces. The conversation also explored the dynamics shaping Hochul's relationship with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, along with the legislative pressures and political crosscurrents that could complicate her path to reelection.

With antisemitism on the rise, NY1's Errol Louis sat down with Yair Rosenberg, a journalist at The Atlantic who is the author of its newsletter "Deep Shtetl," which explores the intersection of politics, culture and religion. Rosenberg has written extensively about antisemitism in America, the historical context behind it and its troubling resurgence today. In the conversation, Rosenberg also examined the role social media platforms play in spreading extremist views, as well as the generational divides in attitudes toward Jewish people. Finally, they discussed the challenges facing New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as he navigates issues related to Israel and Judaism.

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined NY1's Errol Louis for an exclusive one-on-one interview, discussing last week's surprisingly cordial meeting between President Donald Trump and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, as well as the recent news that a federal judge dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York state Attorney General Letitia James. Jeffries also talked about the future of the Democratic Party, the city's affordability crisis and how he's crafting a plan for Democrats to retake the House next year.

While Zohran Mamdani will be the youngest mayor in more than 125 years, his top strategist is even younger — 26-year-old Morris Katz. Katz joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss Mamdani's historic win, reflecting on the campaign's digital strategy to meet younger voters in one of their favorite hangouts: social media. He also spoke about the tactics used by Andrew Cuomo's campaign and their impact on the Jewish community. And finally, Katz offered a critique of the broader political consulting industry, saying it lacks authenticity and accountability.

New Yorker editor and the host of "The New Yorker Radio Hour" David Remnick joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the big mayoral win of Zohran Mamdani and look at why he strongly resonated with younger voters. Remnick also reflected on the challenges of covering President Donald Trump, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and his own remarkable tenure at The New Yorker and Netflix's upcoming documentary, "The New Yorker at 100."

Zohran Mamdani will become the 111th mayor of New York City after soundly defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. At 34, he's the youngest mayor in more than a century, the first Muslim ever to lead the city and the first candidate to earn more than 1 million votes since John Lindsay in 1969. Mamdani's meteoric rise marks a fascinating new chapter in New York's political history. Spectrum News NY1 political director Bob Hardt joined Errol to break down this historic race — from Mamdani's commanding victory speech to the challenges awaiting him at City Hall. They also discussed why his campaign succeeded where others fell short, and who the real winners and losers of this election were beyond the mayoral candidates.

This year's mayor's race has been full of surprises, but none more significant than the rise of Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo entered the race as the heavy favorite yet lost the Democratic primary badly and now trails in the polls as an independent candidate. Despite his high unfavorable ratings, Cuomo isn't out of the running just yet. How did a 34-year-old Queens assemblyman make such a huge splash in such a short time? And does Cuomo have the ability to close Mamdani's lead and cross the finish line first on Tuesday? Susan Kang, an associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) and a member, like Mamdani, of the Democratic Socialists of America, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the twists and turns of the mayor's race, early voting numbers, and how the DSA helped elevate Mamdani into a national figure. She also spoke about how she first got involved in politics and what she hopes the next administration will bring to New York City.

In October 1984, an NYPD officer fatally shot 66-year-old Eleanor Bumpurs during an eviction at her Bronx apartment. Bumpurs, a disabled mother and grandmother, became the face of a national outcry that helped spark one of the first anti–police brutality movements centered on a Black woman. Historian LaShawn Harris, who was 10 years old and living across the street at the time, revisits the tragedy in her new book, “Tell Her Story.” Harris joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her decade of research and dozens of interviews, the intersection of police violence and mental health crises, and her effort to humanize Bumpurs while illuminating the lasting toll such events take on families and communities.

Like many New York City mayors, it’s no secret that Eric Adams has had a challenging relationship with the press. And even though he’s no longer in the race for mayor, Adams continues to spar with the City Hall press corps. Two people who know a thing or two about covering Adams, New York Times Metro reporter Dana Rubinstein and NY1 political reporter Kelly Mena, joined NY1’s Errol Louis to talk about their years at City Hall, when and why Adams’ relationship with the press began to deteriorate, how they approached covering him, why a now-dismissed federal corruption indictment was too much for him to recover from, and what his legacy will be.