The Hell Gate Podcast

This week the team is joined by former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who is currently running for congress in New York’s 10th congressional district. We talk about what his bid could mean for federal lawmaking, and what he thinks of Mamdani’s first few weeks in the mayoralty. Then—a message for all of Hell Gate’s haters. (We’re not mad.)

Still buried in snow, New York’s politicians are making their moves. What will Hochul’s new running mate mean for the mayoral-gubernatorial good vibes? What are they yelling about up in Albany? Then, a breakdown of how the Mamdani administration is responding to the shooting of Jabez Chakraborty. 

While the ice floes keep drifting down the Hudson, nurses are still picketing outside hospitals, Luigi Mangione is still in jail, and Jessy’s heat isn’t really working. Meanwhile, the Mayor announced an alarming 12 billion dollar budget deficit, and Katie further cemented her reputation as a luddite.

This week Michael Lange (Narrative Wars) is back to look down the line at some big political happenings in 2026. Why is Zohran spending political capital on a congressional primary—which is months away—and not on keeping his campaign promises to the schoolchildren of New York City?

One week into the Mamdani administration and we're counting some significant wins—on child care and a treacherous bike lane bump at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge—as well as the first major political challenge to his administration. Plus: Why is our former mayor in Dubai with a cosmetic gynecologist? The answer will…probably not surprise you.

On a frigid New Year's Day, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn into office, and Hell Gate was there to witness the whole inspiring spectacle (and lose feeling in our extremities). The gang breaks down the ceremony, discusses Mayor Mamdani's first executive orders, and lays out some of the last-minute booby traps that outgoing mayor Eric Adams laid for his successor.

One thing we did a lot of in 2025 that we’ll probably keep up in 2026: eating. This week, social media sensation and generally great guy Scott Lynch—force behind our $20 dinner map—joins us to talk restaurants and food trends in NYC. Want to know what his favorite pick in the five boroughs is? What if you're looking to splurge, where's the best $40 dinner? What's with AI in restaurants? What in the world of food might 2026 bring?

A little hungover from the Hell Gate rager last night, the team assembles to discuss the last dregs of Adams’ efforts to govern, and the new mayor’s first big oopsie before starting in just a few days. Then, an update on casinos (not good) and the latest efforts to hold cops accountable (also not good).