The Hell Gate Podcast

Join us for a special bonus episode of the Hell Gate Podcast, where we crossover (get it? basketball??) with our friends at Defector's Nothing But Respect to discuss the ongoing WNBA playoffs and the imminent NBA season. Topics discussed include: how Eric Adams needs to go on Curious Mike, James Dolan's loathing of the city of New York and its talismanic basketball team, Max's proposal to save the Nets, and so much more. Big thanks to Patrick Redford and Harry Krinsky from Defector for joining us in Studio H!

This fall, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier will (almost certainly) be new members of Congress from New York City. We got them in the studio to talk about being a transplant, Latinidad, how the left can build power, what they said to Hakeem Jeffries, and whether they believe in aliens. These two are not very keen on labels like "the Squad," but we are nevertheless soft-launching "Clairializa," this week on the Hell Gate Podcast.

It's a wild week in New York City as our mayor goes international, the president pays a visit and ogles Gracie Mansion, and Mamdani breaks bread with fellow socialist world leaders. Meanwhile, closer to home, the Brooklyn Democrats are up to their usual absolute nonsense, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is stealing people's faces. Just audio this week—no video…for reasons! Be careful cutting avocados, folks!

What begins as a quaint story about an upstate bookstore morphs into a depressing vision of the future. Is there anyone who can stop the AI apocalypse? Luckily, Hell Gate has consulted its own AI agent on the matter, and they've told us we're in the clear. Just to be safe, Jessy checks in with the mayor about this as well. Then, Nick (who is not AI) discusses his new reporting on how NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch keeps transferring cops with misconduct on their records to the NYPD's most problematic and secretive unit. Finally, we give an update on the Brooklyn Dems, whose drama will almost certainly outlive the end of the Earth.

As Hell Gate surveys the conversation surrounding the 25th anniversary of 9/11, certain (awful) people are spewing 2002 vintage bigotry. The latest scandal: Our mayor passed a pen to a guy. Meanwhile, New York City mayors not named Mamdani lied to New Yorkers about the toxic dust at Ground Zero.In the back half of the episode, Max brings us up to speed on Mt. Sinai’s betrayal of trans kids in NYC. Finally, Julianne considers (a bit wistfully) the scrapped proposal for a building that has a lot more to say than what we got with 1 WTC.

This Labor Day weekend Hell Gate is celebrating with an episode on the very 2026 form of labor that is social media. Is Mamdani’s Signal group chat with 200 influencers as scandalous as it sounds? Why can’t a guy like Chris Robbins just enjoy @7SoulsDeep graffiti in peace? (Katie has an answer.)