Firewall

Is there actually a mayor's race happening in New York City? Tusk Strategies CEO Chris Coffey joins Bradley to consider the shadow of Andrew Cuomo and how it hangs over the field. Plus, Governor Hochul's suddenly steep climb to reelection, deciding how to pick your battles with Trump, and DeepSeek's scrambling of the AI narrative.00:05:15] - DeepSeek AI discussion: Concerns about privacy, security, and how DeepSeek may impact the AI landscape.[00:07:26] - AI models: How DeepSeek challenges OpenAI and other major AI players, and its implications for the industry.[00:13:07] - New York City mayoral race: Current landscape, leading candidates, and potential challengers.[00:20:54] - Eric Adams' challenges: His legal issues, polling numbers, and the possibility of Andrew Cuomo entering the race.[00:25:46] - Ranked-choice voting dynamics: How different voter blocs may rank candidates and the implications for the election.[00:34:11] - Governor Hochul’s reelection challenges: Si

How is pragmatic problem-solving possible in today's fiery political climate? Bradley sits down with Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss his new book, Son of Birmingham, which blends politics, leadership, and his deep love of music and culture. Woodfin shares his thoughts on Outkast, Lauryn Hill and the decline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as how his city can embrace both its civil rights past and a high-tech future.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

If you're prone to ruminating on negative thoughts, there is no single remedy. Bradley analyzes the practices that help him quiet his mind, the habits he avoids, and the aspects of his life that make the biggest difference. Plus, he updates his agnostic approach to Trump, explains why changing the laws on scaffolding is a big win for New Yorkers, and recommends a pair of novels and a pair of movies.[00:01:40] How to Deal with Constant Ruminations[00:13:00] Finding Purpose[00:19:30] Reflections on Canadian Business Leaders[00:22:50] Trump’s Greenland and Denmark Tensions[00:25:00] Coffee Tariffs and Inflation Messaging[00:30:00] GOP Retreat and Budget Cuts[00:36:00] Cabinet Appointments[00:40:00] New York City Quality of Life Issues, Scaffolding [00:50:30] Practical Urban Reforms[00:54:30] This Week's Books and Movie RecommendationsThis episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@fi

That's the simple Venn diagram Micah Lasher is embracing as he begins his freshman year in the New York State Assembly. In this first installment of a recurring series about Micah's new life as a legislator, he and Bradley discuss the tribal customs of Albany, the challenges of balancing public safety with civil liberties, and the structural issues contributing to New York's housing crisis. The most powerful force in Albany isn’t ideology, says Micah, it's "status quo bias." Breaking through that is the hardest part of governing.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

In this special episode, Bradley dissects Trump’s unprecedented barrage of executive orders, exploring their strategic and symbolic importance, as well as their impact on everyday Americans and the world as we knew it. “If you're looking for someone who reliably reinforces your views about Trump, good or bad," says Bradley, "this is not the right place for you. If you are looking for an objective, nonpartisan centrist take on things, I think we've got something to offer."Read more on Bradley's substack[00:01:20] – Start of the immigration discussion: Biden’s handling of immigration and the need for reform.[00:03:18] – Reinstating Title 42 and thoughts on asylum policies.[00:04:13] – Ending birthright citizenship and its constitutional implications.[00:06:18] – Discussion on gerrymandering's impact on immigration policies.[00:08:24] – Suspending refugee resettlement and related immigration actions.[00:11:25] – Sanctuary cities and withholding federal funding; implications for citi

To forgive the big lie he told the American people? Bradley weighs the evidence. Plus, he reality-checks Canada’s dilemma on how to deal with Trump: “I know Canadians are famous for being nice. Thoughtful. Decent. Those are great qualities in human beings. But in a knife fight with Donald Trump, none of them matter.”[00:00:21] – Overview of podcast topics: Joe Biden's presidency, Trump's inauguration, Canada’s approach to Trump, and scaffolding projects in New York.[00:00:40] – Discussion of Joe Biden's presidency: successes and failures.[00:03:31] – Legislative achievements: Infrastructure bill, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and American Rescue Plan.[00:06:00] – Foreign policy review: Ukraine, Israel, and Afghanistan withdrawal.[00:07:26] – Climate actions: Inflation Reduction Act's impact and Trump's opposition.[00:10:16] – Tech policy: Antitrust efforts, TikTok ban, and limitations in regulatory success.[00:15:52] – Stability and governance under Biden: COVID manage

Are we there yet? Lee Drutman thinks so. Bradley talks to the senior fellow at the New America Foundation and prominent thinker on political reform about how expanding the number of parties can restore healthy conflict in our politics. "If 30 percent of people in New York City support Trump," asks Drutman, "then how come 30 percent of the seats on the City Council are not Republican?"Lee Drutman's latest in NYT: Opinion | How to Fix America’s Two-Party Problem

Would a strong mayor and governor have saved LA from much of the horrific destruction? Probably not. But that doesn't mean there won't be massive political fallout — as well as an opportunity for new leaders and ideas to emerge. Bradley surveys the new landscape. Mayor Emanuel, anyone? Plus, he considers the end of TikTok as we know and love it, while he and Bob Greenlee debate the finer points about Meta's about-face on factchecking.00:03:39 – Wildfires in LA: Political fallout and Karen Bass’s potential recall.00:10:26 – Recall Candidates: Speculation on who might replace Mayor Bass.00:19:17 – 2028 Olympics: How the fires could affect LA’s readiness.00:30:15 – TikTok Ban: Congress's push to force ByteDance to sell TikTok.00:35:55 – Universal School Meals: Hochul’s budget and related state efforts.00:37:08 – Congestion Pricing: Will it improve NYC’s traffic and transit?00:39:17 – Meta Ends Fact-Checking: Debate on Meta’s new content moderation approach.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwea

As cities and states increasingly explore new approaches to public education, navigating the complex landscape of options can be overwhelming for parents. Bradley talks to Joe Connor, CEO and founder of Odyssey, a technology company part of the Tusk Venture Partners portfolio that helps families access high-quality education for their children.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

Does American life feel like it's spiraling out of control to you? Bradley identifies the four main agents of chaos and anxiety, as well as potential remedies for each one. Plus, he talks about why interaction with strangers is good for us, which activities deserve nonprofit status and which don't, and the new TV show he binged on the flight home from LA.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

Can social media be reformed in time to spare the next generation? Bradley sits down with Steven Rosenbaum of the Sustainable Media Center and Emma Lembke of LOG OFF to discuss intergenerational collaboration, grassroots advocacy, and the need for systemic change to create a healthier digital future.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Bradley raves about the city - from the cultural diversity and the food to the fabulous signage, the state-of-the-art sports facilities and the dorms at UCLA. He even digs the shopping there. Plus, he describes "a sorta near death experience" in a driverless Waymo, but says it doesn't dampen his enthusiasm for the technology in the least.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

At every step of her life, Leslie Feinzaig got ahead by never fitting in. The founder and managing director of Seattle-based Graham & Walker talks to Bradley about her unique family history and upbringing, her circuitous route to Harvard Business School and how working at a huge company inspired her to be an entrepreneur, launch the Female Founders Alliance and — ultimately — start her own venture fund. Then came VCs for Kamala, which taught her a new set of skills.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

What is it about American presidents that they almost always leave office looking diminished and beaten down? Bradley offers advice on avoiding a graceless exit. Plus, he admires happiness guru Daniel GIlbert's theory of "feeling full", explains the implications of Daniel Penny's not-guilty verdict for next year's mayoral contenders and makes a bold pronouncement on Bill Belichick's prospects for a comeback.

Lobbying, once the art of golf, good cigars and calling in favors, evolved over the years into an array of slippery moves, strategies and tactics. But is Trump turning back the clock? Bradley talks to Brody Mullins, co-author with his brother Luke of the book The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government. "In the 1980s," says Mullins, "Trump was soaking up the world of power brokers like Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, and it shaped his view that the only thing that matters is winning. Negative campaigning, manipulating the media—he learned that it didn’t matter what was true, only that it worked."This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

The best of what Bradley read, watched, listened to and visited over the last year — including his book of the year, The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore. Plus, after we get over our unfortunate titillation at the brazen murder of insurance-company CEO Brian Thompson, says Bradley, let's think about what it takes to tame the inequality and greed in this country that's breeding so much resentment.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

Yes, the regulatory approach to gun control has stalled. But Hudson Muñoz, of Guns Down America, offers a fresh approach: Mobilizing the vast power of consumers to disrupt the firearms industry. He explains to Bradley how that works and offers a simple way for supporters to start flexing their power right now — by making informed choices about where they shop for the holidays. "The gun industry's survival depends on us," says Munoz, "not the other way around."This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

A bill supported by a clear majority of the population ought to be easy to pass, and it was in Australia, says Bradley. But there's one big reason why Congress won't even touch the subject here in the US. Plus, he analyzes what's incentivizing the Republican senators who are most likely to stand in Trump's way, explains why polling has become like reality TV, and predicts the coming demise of big-time college sports.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone. 

Dan Burstein is not your typical venture capitalist. He started as a journalist and has written 14 books on everything from Japanese finance to what makes a great thriller. He talks to Bradley about the precarious state of venture investing, as well as his latest book, a children's story called 'The Ivy Hero: The Brave Life of Sergeant William Shemin', co-written with Sara Shemin Cass, about a relative of theirs who they refuse to let be forgotten.

Bradley considers the rise and fall and rise again of President Trump as a Biblical allegory. He -- meaning God, not Bradley — wants to show us where a Zero Sum view of life (and politics) leads. But will we heed His message this time? Plus, Bradley applauds New York's City of Yes housing plan and floats an idea for a national housing program modeled on Obama's Race to the Top education initiative. If it was sold the right way, Trump might just like it. Especially if God gives it a nudge.