You Decide with Errol Louis

Latest Episodes:

Trying to take the House: One-on-one with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

Morris Katz: Meet the strategist behind Mamdani's big win Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

David Remnick: What Mamdani can — and can't — do Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

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's secret sauce that won City Hall Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

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.

The substance behind the slogans: Susan Kang on New York's mayoral race Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

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.

Eleanor Bumpurs and the system that failed her Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

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.

The mayor and the media: A rocky relationship Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

Christine Quinn: Unlocking solutions for NYC's housing crisis Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Christine Quinn is a familiar name to anyone who follows New York City politics. A former Speaker of the City Council and 2013 mayoral candidate, she now serves as the president and CEO of WIN (Women In Need), the city's largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families.

Quinn joined Errol to discuss the impact of the federal government shutdown, Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" and what the city's next mayor must do to address the housing crisis. She highlighted WIN's work in providing both emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing, and underscored the challenges facing families, from eviction and low-wage jobs to domestic violence, that continue to drive homelessness in the city.

Live from Chelsea: New York Decides with Cynthia Nixon and J.C. Polanco Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

This week, NY1 presented a special podcast event "New York Decides: Live from Chelsea," featuring a crossover episode of its political podcasts "Off Topic/On Politics" and "You Decide." Hosted by NY1's Errol Louis, Courtney Gross and Bobby Cuza, the discussion centered on the latest developments in the New York City mayoral campaign, including the stunning announcement by Mayor Eric Adams that he's dropping out of the race.

The program also featured interviews with Emmy Award–winning actress and activist Cynthia Nixon and J.C. Polanco, professor of law and former president of the New York City Board of Elections — who had very different takes on Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. Rounding out the evening, Spectrum News political director Bob Hardt joined the panel to provide historical perspective on this year's race.

Tackling New York's affordability crisis with Zohran Mamdani Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

This week, NY1's Errol Louis joined Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for a walking tour of Astoria, Queens. Their conversation focused on the city's affordability crisis, while also touching on topics ranging from property tax reform and rent stabilization to the challenges facing small businesses. Mamdani outlined his multi-pronged strategy: freezing rents, reducing insurance costs, overhauling the property tax system and expanding city support for local businesses.

This marks the second in a series of neighborhood tours with leading mayoral candidates. Errol previously walked with Andrew Cuomo in his native Holliswood neighborhood in Queens, and NY1 is hoping to have similar conversations with Curtis Sliwa and Mayor Eric Adams.

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