Firewall with Bradley Tusk

Learning to Talk Again

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

American democracy is doomed if people can't tolerate disagreement. Bradley sits down with Ed Manzi, founder of Unmuted, who is building something genuinely countercultural: in-person forums for politically curious New Yorkers to listen to each other. They get into mobile voting, why Congress has become a tweet farm, and whether the lesson politicians should take from Trump is the terrifying one.

Learn more about UNMUTED: https://www.unmuted.fyi/

On May 14, UNMUTED will be hosting a debate between candidates for Congress in New York's 12th district, at Hungarian House in Upper East Side. More details: https://luma.com/syqniv23

Firewall nominated for a Webby! Vote today and support us for best individual episode - interview or talk show -for Bradley's interview with then-candidate Zohran Mamdani in April 2025. We’re up against Oprah, so we’ll need all the votes we can get! It only takes 10 seconds - thanks in advance: https://bit.ly/firewallwebby

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.

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Not a Bad 100 Days, But ...

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Is Mayor Mamdani's first hundred days as mayor a genuine reason for celebration, or just a decent start before the hard part kicks in? Bradley gives the mayor real credit for focusing on the operational stuff that actually matters to New Yorkers, but says that if he's serious about running this city, he should start making the case for bringing the subways and buses back under city control, the way Bloomberg brought the schools back under mayoral control in 2002. And he should stop banking on squeezing more out of the small group of high earners who already pay for almost everything, because when they leave, the people who suffer most are the ones he claims to be fighting for. Plus: Bradley opens up about joining Marijuana Anonymous, how the NBA can solve its tanking problem and why he has no regards for Broadway.

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.

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Crypto in a Collared Shirt

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Amid meme coins, scams, and scary price swings, something more consequential is quietly happening in the crypto world: stablecoins are offering a faster, cheaper way to transact — the original promise that Bitcoin made but never quite delivered on. Bradley talks to Tusk Strategies partner Eric Soufer about how the regulatory framework is being engineered to survive future administrations that might not be as friendly. Despite the banking industry's loud objections, Eric's verdict is blunt: "I don't see tons of small businesses in the Rust Belt suddenly pulling their deposits out of community banks."

FIREWALL NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! Vote today and support us for best individual episode - interview or talk show -for Bradley's interview with then-candidate Zohran Mamdani in April 2025. We’re up against Oprah, so we’ll need all the votes we can get! It only takes 10 seconds - thanks in advance: https://bit.ly/firewallwebby

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 and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Too Smart for Our Own Good

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What if we human beings are an evolutionary anomaly, a species that discovered how to destroy ourselves before we learned how not to? Bradley links that question to his thoughts on a decidedly different subject: Why everything we tell our kids about how to live is basically useless if they don't see us doing it. "Show, don't tell" is not only good advice for writing, it turns out. It works for raising kids, too

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.

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Can You Be Good and Great?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

[Vote for Firewall and help us win our first Webby Award! https://bit.ly/firewallwebby]

Is it possible to build the most powerful technology in human history while remaining a genuinely decent person, or does that kind of greatness require a willingness to burn everything down? Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Infinity Machine, joins Bradley to argue that Demis Hassabis may be the rarest breed: a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and world-changing CEO who cares deeply about safety. But as Mallaby and Bradley explore the coming political reckoning with AI, the big unknown is what sort of catastrophe it will take for our leaders to bring this technology under control.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

Firewall nominated for a Webby Award! Vote today and support us for best individual episode - interview or talk show - for Bradley's interview with then-candidate Zohran Mamdani in April 2025. We’re up against Oprah, so we’ll need all the votes we can get! It only takes 10 seconds - thanks in advance. Vote here before April 16: https://bit.ly/firewallwebby

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.

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It's Way Too Early for the Horse Race

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We all need to stop worrying about who the Democrats will nominate in 2028, argues Bradley. Unless it's someone from the far Left, the main candidates are essentially interchangeable — structural conditions, not the picayune distinctions between them, will determine the outcome. Plus, Bradley and Hugo discuss what makes life worthwhile, trade basketball stories, and discuss why starting a band might be the answer to everything that ails us.

Discussed on today's episode:

Start a Band, Even if You’re Terrible, by Hugo Lindgren, The New York Times (03/22/26)

Why Sweden punches above its weight in music, by Henrik Karlsson (03/21/23)

The Web of the Game, by Roger Angell, The New Yorker (07/13/81)

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.

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The Left Broke America. Can It Be Fixed?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

How did the Democratic party drift so far from the real interests of the poor and working class it historically championed? Legendary journalist Joe Klein joins Firewall to argue that the rot starts with his own generation — Baby Boomers — who indoctrinated two generations of Americans in ideals that have never worked in the real world. Bradley and Joe find surprising common ground on three big fixes.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

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How Many Liberal-Arts Majors Does It Take to Fix a Toilet?

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

On the eve of a college trip with his son, Bradley reflects on the murky future that kids are facing and how education will have to be massively rethought. Plus, he thoroughly debunks the concept of the all-powerful Israel lobby, chastises the Mamdani administration for policies that will adversely affect quality of life, and contemplates how to manage the level of difficult news we let into our lives.

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.

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Is Business Waking Up from Its 30-Year Nap?

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

One big reason that the Left has grown so powerful in the city, Bradley argues, is that the Partnership for New York — the group that should have been fighting for centrist, pro-business interests — never showed any inclination to play politics. That could be changing now that Steve Fulop, former three-term mayor of Jersey City, has taken over as the Partnership's CEO Fulop joins Firewall for a spirited debate on what it will take for business to punch its weight in political matters and reinvigorate the pro-growth agenda.

Discussed on today's episode:

What Steve Fulop Needs to do to Make the Partnership for New York City Relevant and Effective Again by Bradley Tusk, November 5, 2025

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

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Am I Too Hard On The Left?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Progressives make life hard on the rest of us, Bradley argues, by claiming to champion the poorest Americans while supporting policies that reflect their own biases and selfishness. But his ultimate conclusion is that far-left behavior, for all its flaws, is fundamentally and recognizably human — driven by a mix of self-interest, genuine idealism and the universal desire to belong to something meaningful.

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.

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The Art of the Sneak Attack

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Even when your issue won't win votes, there are ways to make your political opponents pay. Bradley sits down with his friend and partner, Tusk Strategies CEO Chris Coffey, to break down how the firm helped a climate group go after Rep. Chip Roy in a Texas Republican primary. Running ads on Truth Social and Rumble, they attacked him for not being MAGA enough — a strategy that produced a roughly 20-point swing and forced him into a runoff without mentioning climate change once. Bradley and Chris also dig into New York City's budget crisis, the upcoming 2026 congressional primaries in New York, and what it will take for Mayor Mamdani to succeed in a job that demands pragmatism over purity.

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.

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The Plague of Zero-Sum People

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Why do a small minority of selfish, fear-mongering people wield so much power over the rest of us? Bradley argues that most of us want essentially the same things: meaningful work, healthy families, a little fun, and some peace. The problem isn't human nature — it's broken systems that reward the loudest and most divisive voice. He also weighs in on whether Trump's instincts are well suited to the Middle East, why the AI companies fundamentally misread their political situation, and what makes Los Angeles his ideal "composite city."

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.

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Man with a Scan

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Does fixing America's $5 trillion healthcare crisis start with taking a single picture? Bradley sits down with Andrew Lacy, founder and CEO of Prenuvo, to explore how full-body MRI scans are shifting healthcare from reactive to proactive — and why that shift could be the most important change in medicine today. They discuss Lacy's 80/20 approach to personal longevity (sleep first, everything else follows), his vision of patient-driven healthcare spending and why AI promises to make world-class diagnostics accessible to everyone.

Firewall listeners can go to prenuvo.com/firewall to get $300 off a scan from Prenuvo.

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 and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Anthropic Loses the Battle

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

But in taking a principled stand against the Pentagon and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, it will gain valuable trust with customers, argues Bradley, and that means winning the war. Plus: Jack Dorsey's 4,000-person layoff at Block is a sign of things to come as AI efficiency tools displace white-collar workers — and nobody has a real plan for what comes next; why the addiction claims being made in the lawsuit against Meta are "1,000 percent accurate" but that doesn't mean it's illegal; is Mayor Mamdani governing as a pragmatic big-city leader or showing his progressive stripes; a Chuck Klosterman theory about political movements that Bradley mostly finds fault with; and the case for cautious optimism about the Mets pitching staff.

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.

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Where Education Matters Most

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Early childhood education has quietly become one of the most successful — and bipartisan — reform movements in the country. Elliot Regenstein, author of Readiness: Preparing State Early Childhood Systems for a Brighter Future, sits down with Bradley to explain how it's working. They dig into why the system is more adaptable than K-12 or higher ed, which states are leading the way, and what the Trump administration's push to dismantle the Department of Education could mean for the most vulnerable kids.

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.

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The Radical Rest

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

"We don't need purity," says Bradley. "We don't need saviors." The remaking of our institutions starts from the middle, he argues, which has a lot of untapped power against the extremes on both sides. Bradley contends that media, hollowed out by market forces, has ironically become the most adaptive of our broken institutions, while higher education has saddled a generation with $1.83 trillion in debt to prop up a system that puts the needs of administrators over students. And on religion, he sees the collapse in attendance not as a spiritual failing but as a rational response to institutions that serve the clergy over the congregation.

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.

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What is a Museum For?

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Calling in from Istanbul, Bradley opens with impressions of a historically rich but complicated city — ancient cisterns, street cats, a shady taxi driver, and bomb-proof doors on a synagogue. Earlier, when he was in Madrid, Bradley took Abby to visit the Prado and the Thyssen, which got him thinking about the uncomfortable economics of museums: tens of billions in art, much of it in storage, underwriting tax breaks for wealthy donors while hungry people go unfed. How should we address these issues? The conversation turns to Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference, which Bradley reads as an early audition for 2028, contrasting Rubio's smooth "I'm my own person" approach with Vance's unconvincing Trump imitation. On whether Americans are actually angry at Europe, he is skeptical — ordinary people on both sides seem to like each other fine, he says, and manufactured grievance is just what demagogues do.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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A Bold Prediction About Prediction Markets

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Why are the biggest names in venture betting big on prediction markets? Aaron Miller, principal at Will Ventures, joins Bradley to talk about the evolution of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket into a new kind of financial exchange and societal "source of truth." They dig into the states-versus-federal regulatory battle, the surge in American gambling behavior, and then turn to the messy restructuring of college sports. Do our old ideas about it make sense anymore?

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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I Want to Give Up All the Time

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Everybody fails, doubts themselves and encounters unexpected obstacles on the path to whatever they're trying to achieve. But the choice to keep going in the face of difficulty, says Bradley, is what maximizes our own satisfaction and well being. He explains all this in the context of why the business community failed as a political force in New York City since Mayor Bloomberg left office. Plus, he talks about why the merging of philanthropy and commerce is often so fraught, questions Mayor Mamdani's decision not to force homeless people into shelter in the extreme-cold weather, and writes an ad for Pete Buttigieg that he contends is superior to Hugo's from last week.

Discussed on today's episode:

New York’s CEOs Are Gearing Up for a Battle With Mamdani, David Freedlander, New York Magazine (02/05/26)

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Gen Z State of Mind: "We're Just Trying to Survive"

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when an entire generation grows up with nothing but chaos, only to encounter an AI revolution that makes practically every career look iffy? Bradley talks to Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up, about why COVID didn't just disrupt Gen Z—it split them in two: the older group that remembers life before the pandemic and the younger ones who don't and who never learned how to have an unplanned conversation. She explains how Gen Z voters feel betrayed by Trump just one year into his second term, why they're demanding AI regulation, and what effect data centers, crypto and phone bans are having on their politics.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Who Knew AI Was This Terrible at Math?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What do you get when you ask five AI platforms to crunch some numbers and help solve an investment decision for you? A shocking array of basic errors, faulty assumptions and bizarre omissions, Bradley discovered, enough to make him seriously wonder where this revolution might be heading. Plus, he reevaluates his loathing of social media in light of Minneapolis and Greenland, debates the merits of his own particular form of networking and proposes an ad that could propel Rahm Emanuel to the top of the 2028 leaderboard.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Live from P&T Knitwear: Of Platforms and Politics

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In the 1990s, we were promised that the internet was going to decentralize wealth and power. How did we end up with what feels like the exact opposite of that? Tim Wu, author of the new book, The Age of Extraction — an examination of how tech platforms extract value, shape attention, and concentrate power — joined Bradley earlier this month for a live discussion at P&T Knitwear, moderated by Nate Loewentheil, Managing Partner of Commonweal Ventures. "If you look through the history of democracy turning into dictatorship," says Wu, "a lot of it goes through the path of monopolization of key industries, the build-up of a huge amount of wealth and an anger among the people. When democracy cannot fix that or make the system seem fair, the strong man has a lot of appeal."

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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How to Stand Up to a Bully

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Canada can never fix the asymmetry of its relationship with the US, but as Prime Minister Mark Carney showed last week in Davos, there’s much to be gained from playing to your strengths. Bradley assesses the strange predicament of the middle power in a zero-sum world. Plus: the real reason Kristi Noem has a cabinet post, why law school applications are surging and — here’s something nice — the 12 finalists for the 2026 Gotham Book Prize.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Herding Bots

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Are AI workers easier to manage than humans? Bradley sits down with Evan Ratliff, creator of the award-winning podcast series, Shell Game, to talk about the real startup he launched with a staff of AI employees. They discuss the economic, psychological, and regulatory stakes of AI, plus the creepy comedy of working with bots. “Every time I went in to say, ‘Stop talking about this,’” Ratliff says, “it triggered them to talk about it more. They can create endless busy work—endless process—for no real value.”

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Manchurian Economy

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

If you were conspiring to weaken America over the long haul, wouldn’t you start by corroding the institutions that make the U.S. economy uniquely powerful? Bradley walks through his “Manchurian Economy” thesis—tariffs, intimidation of speech and IP, politicizing the Fed and federal data, choking immigration and R&D, and the broader slide toward rule-of-law instability. The damage may outlast Trump and even accelerate in an AI-disrupted, demagogue-friendly future. Then Bradley pivots to New York City affordability, with a buffet of cost-cutting proposals for Mayor Mamdani—from inspecting buildings by drone to lifting the zoning constraints that make development so expensive. Finally, Hugo puts Bradley in the coach’s chair to help him come up with a new strategy for consuming media — sparring over Substack, print-only minimalism, aggregators, audio-only news, and whether the real solution for Hugo isn't merely to give up his old habits of an editor always hunting for new voices.

Discussed on today's episode:

How Mamdani can make NYC more affordable, Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News (January 19, 2026)

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Live from P&T: A Boyhood Dream Comes True

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What do you learn from three decades of working the late shift on sports radio? Steve Somers, the beloved Shmoozer on WFAN and author of a new memoir Me Here, You There, joined Bradley and his longtime producer Paul Rosenberg for a live conversation late last year at P&T Knitwear. "All through high school, all I tried to do was call in to The Fan and I could never get on," says Bradley (a fellow die-hard Mets fan like Steve), "so this is my first real chance."

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Power Grab

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What will trigger the fiercest backlash to the AI boom? Rather than job losses or generative-AI weirdness, says Bradley, it'll be data centers and their insatiable appetite for electricity. When utility bills start climbing, voters everywhere will make their wrath felt. Which means new power sources are in hot demand. Can we develop them fast enough to head off a crisis? Plus: Bradley reflects on how “having nice things” (like the little gem of a bar he discovered in Miami) rests on thousands of trust-based transactions and presents a working theory on why Mayor Mamdani’s early flashes of progressive posturing could be more strategic than they look.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

How to Not Waste the Healthcare Crisis

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Did you know that life expectancy in Brownsville is 11 years shorter than on the Upper East Side? Dr. Ashwin Vasan, former city health commissioner, joins Bradley to discuss the funding crisis, mounting inequities and stratospheric administrative costs of public healthcare. Vasan explains why real reform starts with rebuilding trust—through ethics rules, revamped incentives, transparency, and a less officious posture. "People don't like being made to feel dumb," he says. The coming era will be defined by a messy transition: fewer paper-pushers, more direct contracting and a political fight over who loses first.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

A Weird Thing About Happiness

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The more we chase it, the more it slips away. For the first episode of 2026, Bradley explores the hard choices that lead to contentment over the long run, resisting the dopamine loop of money and status in favor of purpose, perspective and love.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Bradley Goes Rogan...

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

...Well, not quite. But for this year-capping episode, Bradley came armed with a list of 50 big questions to discuss with his friend Alexander Kouts, the founder and CEO of Indigov, and because they had so much to talk about, the episode approaches Rogan-scale duration. Buckle up for this super-sized episode as Bradley and Alex take on abundance v. zero-sum thinking, the limits of capitalism, the purpose of religion, where higher education is heading (off a cliff, of course, but how high?), what roles AI can never take away from us and why humans are powerless in the presence of babies and dogs. Consider it the debut of a new annual tradition. Next year, we might invite Joe himself (or not).

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Prosperity Riddle

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Daniel Wortel-London, author of The Menace of Prosperity: New York City and the Struggle for Economic Development, 1865–1981, joins Bradley to unpack a century of economic policy, arguing that elites have often undermined cities even as they claimed to save them—and that smarter, more inclusive development is still possible. The conversation ranges from subways and public housing to Zohran Mamdani’s prospects as mayor, asking whether technocratic competence, not ideology, is the real test for New York’s next era.

Note that this episode was recorded shortly before Mamdani's election, and it was discussed as the likely outcome.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

What Was the Weirdest Book You Thoroughly Loved?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

For Bradley, it was Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su. In this episode, he reviews his favorites among the 96 books that he read this year, including the funniest one, the memoir that evokes real nostalgia, the one he most wants his son to read and the one that made him feel like less of a misfit. Plus, Bradley talks about how to make New York City a global model of Jewish-Muslim cooperation and why Trump's executive order on AI is little more than ill-informed bluster.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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The New Rules of Power in New York

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What does Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory look like now that the memes have faded? Drawing on the months of reporting he did for The New Yorker, Staff Writer Eric Lach walks through how Mamdani’s campaign rewrote the playbook on field organizing, social media, and “politics you can see” in the streets — rather than the "politics you can't see" in back rooms. He and Bradley pull apart why the city’s political and business class so badly misread the race and what that portends for upcoming fights involving Kathy Hochul, congressional primaries, and Chuck Schumer’s future. They also game out the big unknown: how Mamdani can govern through steep budget cuts, policing dilemmas and an impatient electorate without losing the authenticity that got him elected.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Forecast: Tech and Politics in 2026

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley makes 12 bold predictions about next year, focusing on the tidal wave of AI regulation hitting state legislatures, why electricity prices will soar and put incumbents in a major bind, the inevitable mishandling of mental-health chatbots, how all the politicians rushing to copy Mamdani's short-form videos are going to create one hell of a blooper reel, and much more. Plus, a strong recommendation for Season 2 of Landman and guest Cory Epstein reveals the one movie he auditioned for during his very short-lived stint as a child actor.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

What the Hell is a Skillbatical?

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when you walk away from a hyper-optimized New York life to immerse yourself in learning one thing? Ravi Gupta explains why he moved to Italy to study cooking, rebuild his attention span, and escape phone-and-dating-app brain rot, drawing on previous "skillbaticals" devoted to powerlifting, screenwriting and surfing. Then Gupta digs into his five-part series Where the Schools Went, tracing how post-Katrina New Orleans rebuilt its schools as an almost all-charter system, what worked, what broke, and what the rest of the country should—and shouldn’t—try to copy.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

How the Middle Fell Out of Venture Capital

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In venture these days, it pays to be small and scrappy or huge and swimming in fees. Anywhere in between is a hard slog. Bradley walks through the changing VC landscape, using his own fund history as Exhibit A, and going into detail on his return to an “equity for services” model. Plus, why AOC should run for President rather than the US Senate, how AI could be utilized to revolutionize classrooms, and a fresh theory on why we can't resist TV villains.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Taking on the Entrenched

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What does it take to unseat a 20-year incumbent? Raj Goyle — fresh off his successful campaign to ban smartphones in New York schools — returns to Firewall to discuss why and how he’s running for state comptroller. First step: Convincing voters that the often overlooked position has untapped power to make real progress on affordability.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Superpower of Being Regular

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Governor Kathy Hochul’s real edge isn’t charisma or disruption, says Bradley, but a deeply “regular” superpower - backing things like universal school meals, subway security, phone bans in schools, childcare tax credits, and a crackdown on shoplifting simply because normal people want them. Plus, Bradley sees Trump and Mondami’s buddy act as a masterclass in pure political athleticism, admits he’s utterly perplexed by what Marjorie Taylor Greene is doing, and dissects the now-withdrawn White House AI executive order as proof that the administration still doesn’t understand how regulation actually works.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Dare to Be Reasonable

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley talks to Oliver Libby — venture investor, civic reform advocate, and co-founder of The Resolution Project — about his new book Strong Floor, No Ceiling: Building a New Foundation for the American Dream. They dig into Libby’s “radical moderation” framework: the idea that America can rebuild its civic culture by pairing a rock-solid baseline of opportunity and support with an unapologetic embrace of ambition, innovation, and upward mobility. If we get to write our own future, says the self-described sci-fi nerd, it ought be pretty easy to choose between a dystopia where giant companies quietly set the rules and a society like Star Trek, where "people don't really talk about money and everyone has enough and people get to do really cool stuff."

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

A Massive Week for Mobile Voting

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:45:00 -0400

While the Mobile Voting Project posted its open-source code to GitHub, where it is available for any jurisdiction to use, the New York Times ran a front-page, above-the-fold story on Anchorage utilizing it for elections next spring. Bradley reflects on what it took to reach this point and where it goes from here. Plus, he offers two strategies for Mamdani — deploying AI to free up billions for the new programs he wants and playing hardball on Staten Island secession —and discusses how a minor confrontation at the gym got him thinking about how our daily lives are shaped by the clash between zero-sum and abundance mindsets.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Betting on New Yorkers: The David Prize

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley sits down with two Erikas — Erika Augustine, who runs The David Prize, and Erika Sasson, a winner of said prize — about why $200K, no-strings grants can unlock long-horizon, relationship-driven change in NYC. They get into Sasson’s restorative-justice work on serious harm and why apologies, agency, and community can lower future violence better than ever-longer sentences. Bradley also floats an AI-sentencing thought-experiment, sparking a sharp debate about bias, deterrence, and what justice is actually for. New Yorkers can throw their hats in the ring at thedavidprize.org, initial deadline is Nov 17 for their 2025 open call for visionary ideas.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Chuck Schumer Gets It Right

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We've grown numb to politicians gaming out everything. But when Senate Democrats chose to end the shutdown, says Bradley, they chose the concerns of real people over political opportunism, and Chuck Schumer deserves credit. Plus, Bradley rhapsodizes about what the declining impact of TV ads will do for politics and credits Peter Thiel for properly diagnosing the disconnect between young people and capitalism.

Bradley's Substack:

I Have Never Liked Chuck Schumer More Than I Do Right Now

Can Technology Reduce the Influence of Money in Politics?

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Mamdani Mayoralty: A Six Part Mini-Magazine On What Comes Next

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this special non-guest Thursday episode, Bradley walks us through his first-ever magazine for Substack: six articles where he analyzes the future Mamdani administration and what comes next for New York City. From how to staff City Hall to how the future mayor should interact with the press (and vice versa), these articles are Bradley's top tips for smart leadership — despite the gulf that remains between his politics and those of the next mayor.

I. A Letter, and Some Recommendations, to Zohran Mamdani

II. My Advice To The 20-Somethings Joining Mamdani’s City Hall

III. Zohran and the Jews

IV. What Reporters Covering Zohran Should Keep in Mind

V. Zohran's Difficult Choice: The Poor or His Voters

VI. What Steve Fulop Needs to do to Make the Partnership for New York City Relevant and Effective Again

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Mamdani Breakdown

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:31:00 -0400

So what happened last night? In this co-production with Firewall friend Jamie Rubin and his After Hours podcast, Bradley, Jamie, and Chris Coffey (Tusk Strategies CEO) analyze the historic win of NYC's next mayor, Zohran Mamdani. What does it mean for Gov. Hochul's re-election next year? Will NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch stay at the helm — despite major policy differences with Mamdani? And could the secret to affordability be the victorious ballot proposals to build more housing across the five boroughs?

Discussed on today's episode:

The Mamdani Mayoralty: A Six Part Mini-Magazine On What Comes Next by Bradley Tusk (11/05/25)

Be sure to subscribe to After Hours, a Vital City podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

LIVE FROM P&T: A Visit from an Actual God of New York

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this bonus episode of Firewall, Rev. Al Sharpton, a major figure in Jonathan Mahler's book The Gods of New York: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986-1990, joined the author and Tusk Strategies CEO Chris Coffey earlier in October for a spirited conversation about New York in the 1980s and how it set the stage for the politics of today.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

A Brand New Day for Jews

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:31:00 -0400

Archie Gottesman traces her path from the comic genius behind Manhattan Mini Storage to JewBelong, where she’s trying to make Judaism feel human, welcoming, and actually usable (no Talmudic degree required). She and Bradley get blunt about fear-based conformity on the left, rising antisemitism since 2021, and how many Jews contort themselves to stay “in the club,” even when it means pretending to believe things they don’t. They spar, politely, over whether mainstream American Jews have drifted from Israel, then pivot to tactics: message-tested billboards, mobilizing pride and pulling support from institutions that don’t defend Jews.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Show Must NOT Go On

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Not until Democrats finally stop performing politics, says Bradley, will they be able to beat Trump. In a blistering set of takes, he adds: “No Kings”–style protests are worthy but don't challenge Trump; the government shutdown only breaks when Republican voters feel real pain; the NBA must apply zero tolerance and radical transparency to the gambling scandal (“kill it or lose the league”); underage online betting could be fixed overnight with biometric checks; confronting ICE on the street is a high-risk, high-reward gambit for Trump opponents; blowing up alleged drug boats is either war or murder — pick one or stop; museum security may be more implied than real; and why there's nothing Kamala Harris can do to be a serious contender for 2028.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Best Reason for New Yorkers to Vote This Year

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:56:00 -0400

Five charter revisions on this year’s ballot could make the city more affordable and make affordable housing more plentiful. Bradley sits down with Alec Schierenbeck, executive director of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, to explain how these proposals could finally unclog New York’s housing pipeline. They dig into why city bureaucracy resists change, how AI could streamline zoning and public services, and why the next mayor’s success may hinge on these reforms. The episode ends with a call to young public servants: outwork everyone, question everything, and take pride in making the city even a little bit better.

RSVP to join Bradley TONIGHT at P&T Knitwear for a live event with Rev. Al Sharpton in conversation with NYT Magazine Staff Writer Jonathan Mahler, author of the new book, THE GODS OF NEW YORK: bit.ly/GodsOfNewYork

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

How Much Would You Bet on This TV Show?

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It was right in the middle of a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation session that Bradley had a brainstorm — an idea for a TV drama built around a conniving New York politico who hatches a plan to manipulate prediction markets. He titled it THE PREDICTORS, and in this Firewall episode, the audience (you) gets to play the part of a streaming executive as Bradley pitches us the show.

RSVP to join Bradley this Thursday evening 10/23 at P&T Knitwear for a live event with Rev. Al Sharpton in conversation with NYT Magazine Staff Writer Jonathan Mahler, author of the new book, THE GODS OF NEW YORK: https://bit.ly/GodsOfNewYork

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

LIVE FROM P&T: Growing Up Russ & Daughters

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What goes together better than smoked fish and good books? Russ & Daughters, beloved for its lox, herring, bagels and babka, is not only one of the truly great and iconic New York food institutions, it's also a neighbor of P&T Knitwear, Bradley's bookstore on the Lower East Side. To mark the publication of their fabulous new cookbook, Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing, owners (and cousins) Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper sat down with Bradley in September for a live event at P&T to discuss how their family business has survived and thrived in an ever-changing city.

Discussed on today's episode:

Russ & Daughters 100 Years of Appetizing, by Niki Russ Federman, Josh Russ Tupper, Joshua David Stein, Flatiron Books, (09/09/25)

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Is Chicago About to Catch Fire?

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley gets a Windy City on-the-ground report from friend and colleague Bob Greenlee, which leads to a bleak read on national politics: even if Democrats gain in 2026, the realities of executive power and a thin bench mean that little changes. Bradley then unveils a major milestone for mobile voting—Free & Fair’s open-source, rigorously engineered cryptographic protocol, arguing that transparency invites tougher verification and faster improvement. They then pivot to city governance trade-offs in New York and Chicago (flight of the affluent, public safety, unions, deficits), stressing that execution and pragmatism — not ideology — will make or break new mayors. Finally, they debate leveraging Trump’s Israel deal and his Nobel ambitions toward Ukraine, then land on Bradley’s “grand synthesis”: amid real doomsday risks, personal happiness is still within reach...if we build our lives around love and purpose.

Discussed on today's episode:

Rigorous Digital Engineering: The Bedrock For Secure Mobile Voting by Bradley Tusk (10/09/25)

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

We've Seen This Terrible Movie Before

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Matt Stoller, author of the Substack newsletter BIG, joins Bradley to dig into how the rise of AI mirrors the early internet—when regulators failed to check the dominance of Google, Facebook, and others. Stoller argues that America’s political elites, especially under Obama, confused “freedom from restriction” with “freedom from mastery,” enabling corporate monopolies to become de facto rulers of public life. Without decisive policy intervention, he warns, AI will consolidate under the same few tech giants—most likely Google—and deepen the country’s oligarchic tendencies.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Should You Do Your Own Thing?

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The upside of being your own boss is pretty clear, says Bradley, it's your tolerance for the downside that really is the deciding factor. He offers an 8-point checklist that starts with the warning, "You own all the risk — always." Plus, he discusses how much the AI investment boom is driven by narratives rather than economics and what to do about the broken state of polling.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Has New York Lost Its Gods?

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Jonathan Mahler’s The Gods of New York is a brilliant chronicle of the late 1980s, when a rotating cast of outrageous characters — Trump, Koch, Sharpton, among others — hogged the headlines. Bradley talks to Mahler about the clash of epic egos, as well as shifting social conditions. How exactly did homelessness and untreated mental illness go from an emergency that pricked the conscience of New Yorkers to a normalized, if regrettable, fact of urban life? Fast-forwarding to the present, they parse Brooklyn’s transformation, how the business elite grew complacent, where Mamdani will lead us, and who will write the next chapter about a wealthier but increasingly rudderless city.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Mayor's Endgame

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Not much will change with Eric Adams' withdrawal from the New York City mayor's race, but it is a good moment to reflect on how we reached this point. Zohran Mamdani is going to be the next mayor because progressives spent years laying the groundwork for a candidate like him. If the city's business and real-estate interests wish to have real political influence, they need to put in the same kind of sweat equity. Plus, Bradley ponders the "art" of Trump's TikTok deal, assesses the Democrats' prospects for capitalizing on a government shutdown, and gets Meaghan and Hugo to play a game about, yes, state recognition.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The Second Tour of Duty

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Randy Mastro, who served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Operations under Mayor Giuliani, talks to Bradley about his return to City Hall this year as the First Deputy Mayor to bolster an Adams administration shaken by key departures but also looking to run through the tape. He explains how social media and hyper-partisanship have made the task of governing harder, goes into detail on how he is helping to address thorny stalemates like horse carriages in Central Park, and argues that the success of any mayoral administration — centrist or socialist — is based on getting the basics right, like safety, services, and jobs.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

To Blow Up the World ...

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

...or not to blow up the world, that is the question. Taking off from Kathryn Bigelow new movie A House of Dynamite, Bradley goes down the list of the last 10 American presidents and decides how each one would respond to an incoming nuclear attack from an unknown source. Plus, he writes a speech that Bibi Netanyahu could give but never will, and explores the outpouring this year of great books about New York City. The 2026 Gotham Book Prize is going to be a very tough call.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

A Whole New Way to Get Around

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

When Danny Kim was nearly crushed by the 4,000-pound chassis of a truck he was working on, he had an epiphany. What if he could make an entirely new kind of car that combined the efficiency of a motorcycle with the safety of a regular car? Lit Motors was born. Bradley talks to Danny about his vision for a two-wheel vehicle with the soul of a spaceship.

Join Bradley this Saturday, Sept. 20 at P&T Knitwear as we celebrate Russ & Daughters Day to mark the legendary shop's first-ever cookbook in their 111 years on the Lower East Side. We’ll be hosting a live Firewall recording at 3PM where Bradley will interview Russ & Daughters’ fourth generation co-owners, Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper. For more details and to RSVP, visit https://www.russanddaughtersday.com/

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

See Where We Are

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The killing of Charlie Kirk has kicked the forces of political polarization into high gear. But it’s worth taking a step back, says Bradley, to consider the degradation of everyday life that gives rise to such tragedies and think about what each one of us can do to ease the chaos. More locally, Bradley also discusses the data that proves that the ban on forced brokers fees is working, the race to replace Congressman Jerry Nadler, and the very un-Christian move by a local church to kick out a longtime soup kitchen.

Discussed on today's episode:

Indoor Ban Shuts Down Soup Kitchen at Downtown Manhattan Church, by Jonathan Custodio, The City, (09/15/25)

Join Bradley on Sept. 20 at P&T Knitwear as we celebrate Russ & Daughters Day to mark the legendary shop's first-ever cookbook in their 111 years on the Lower East Side. We’ll be hosting a live Firewall recording at 3PM where Bradley will interview Russ & Daughters’ fourth generation co-owners, Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper. For more details and to RSVP, visit https://www.russanddaughtersday.com/

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

How to Invest in Your Own Taste

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Jenny Montgomery is a New Yorker on a mission — scouring galleries for art she loves and can afford to buy. Bradley talks to her about the city's art scene, where to see great work right now, and how to think about starting your own collection. Get rich quick? Forget about it. But live a richer cultural life? That's well within your reach.

Discussed on today's episode:

Printed Matter's NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1: https://printedmatterartbookfairs.org/

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

The De-Euphemizing of DC

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Now that Trump has decided to restore the throwback name of the Department of Defense (now the Department of War), maybe it's time we started calling all federal agencies according to what they really do — so Bradley plays an epic name game. Plus, he assesses the looming real-world conditions that will test Zohran Mamdani's commitment to his progressive agenda, throws a flag on football's talking heads, and divulges his personal Emmy picks.

Discussed on today's episode:

Zohran Mamdani’s Year One: A Time for Testing, by Bradley Tusk, Vital City, (09/04/25)

Join Bradley on September 20 at P&T Knitwear as we celebrate Russ & Daughters Day to mark the legendary shop's first-ever cookbook in their 111 years on the Lower East Side. We’ll be hosting a live Firewall recording at 3PM where Bradley will interview Russ & Daughters’ fourth generation co-owners, Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper. For more details and to RSVP, visit https://www.russanddaughtersday.com/

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

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Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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How to Find a Rock Star

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Here's one thing we know about the Democratic Party right now — they are practically in a death spiral and must do something heroic to have any shot at the White House in 2028. If they think they can go about picking a candidate the regular, super-boring way, they're toast. So Bradley has a plan to bring fun and genuine excitement into the process, based on, yes, Battle of the Network Stars. Plus, he delivers a sharp verdict on the question of whether business school is worth it, and analyzes what the slowing growth of millionaires in New York City means for the next mayor.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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A Restaurant That Does Everything Right

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What if you could eat at a place where the food was fresh and healthy, prices were geared to what customers could afford and the staff was treated equitably? Legendary food writer Mark Bittman joins Firewall to discuss the imminent launch of Community Kitchen, his nonprofit corrective to a food world gone awry.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Join Bradley at P&T Knitwear as we celebrate Russ & Daughters Day on September 20, to mark the legendary shop's first-ever cookbook in their 111 years on the Lower East Side. For more details and to RSVP, visit https://www.russanddaughtersday.com/.

Shocking News

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

While all of you were enjoying a Firewall-free week, Bradley was undergoing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a therapy designed to mitigate obsessive-compulsive disorder. "They put this thing over your head, and effectively, every two seconds, you get 30 pulses or shocks," he says. "They call them pulses because shock sounds bad. If you are a listener and you really do suffer from OCD or depression, this is a tool that I had not been aware of before that I'm very glad I tried." Plus, Bradley dissects the incentives for peace in Ukraine, explains why Democrats still haven't found a message to counter Trump, and floats a plan to make life better for baseball fans.

Discussed on today's episode:

How to Be a Good Intelligence Analyst

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Let's Just Talk About Tennis

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Two friends decided to turn their shared passion for tennis and food into — well, they don’t know what it could become, but for now it’s a Substack called The Play Boys. Bradley talks to Dave Allee and Paul Tedesco about the best and worst public courts in New York City, why breakfast is more central to their project than lunch or dinner, the surprisingly diverse tennis culture in different boroughs, and their favorite part of watching the US Open.

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Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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A Tech Vision for Mamdani

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If Zohran Mamdani stands any chance of succeeding on his social agenda, he'll need a strong economy. Bradley hand-picks the policies and ideas that the likely next mayor of New York City should embrace to drive innovation, attract investment, and create jobs. Growth, he argues, will do the most good for the most New Yorkers. Plus, Bradley reflects on turning 52 — sharing lessons about reshuffling priorities, creating new habits and reining in his workaholic tendencies.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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The Freaky 90s

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when a drugged-out visionary, a few brilliant businessmen and a generation of alt-rock misfits hit the road together? Tom Beaujour — co-author of Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival — joins Bradley to tell the inside story of America’s most chaotic traveling circus. From onstage shotgun blasts to backstage basketball beefs, it's a love letter to a weirder, sweatier, more combustible time in pop culture.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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A Contrarian Brief for Law School

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Though he went to law school himself, Bradley used to tell people it was a waste of time and money for anyone who wasn't dead set on practicing law. Now, with the age of AI upon us, he thinks it could be the best way for young people to develop their critical thinking skills. Plus, he torches Trump’s latest moves as a coordinated assault on America’s economic foundations, quizzes Cory on the campaign to institute age verification for Citi Bike e-bikes, and concedes that the second part of the Billy Joel documentary didn't live up to the first part.

Discussed on today's episode:

Bad For The Jews, by Bradley Tusk (07/29/25)

NYC pol wants to force Citi Bike to install system to ban kids from riding e-bikes, by Carl Campanile, The New York Post, (07/28/25)

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Crypto Has Come in From the Cold

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley talks with Eric Soufer, partner at Tusk Strategies and head of their advanced technology & crypto practice, about the dramatic shift in the regulatory and political climate surrounding digital assets. They unpack the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts, explain why stablecoins are going mainstream, and assess how the crypto lobby pulled off one of the most effective policy campaigns in recent memory. Plus, the future of prediction markets, the limits of Israeli politics, and why the Yankees' problems can be chalked up to its own version of the Deep State.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Are We Self-Destructing?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

As an American Jew raised in a household of Holocaust survivors, Bradley has always been unwavering in his support for Israel. But what once felt morally clear — Israel's strength as a shield against persecution — has given way to uncertainty, as the war in Gaza grinds on without a discernible ethical purpose. To preserve Judaism's core values, Bradley argues, Jews must reassert the moral standards that have sustained them for millennia.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Well-Meaning Warriors for the Status Quo

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Why and how did progressives give up on actually building a better society? Marc Dunkelman, author of Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back, joins Bradley to discuss the central problem in American governance — not bad intentions, but a broken architecture of decision making. Power is now so diffused that virtually anyone can block progress, even on widely supported initiatives. “We’ve put the establishment in a cage," says Dunkelman. "And now we’ve put the bureaucrats in a cage. And there’s no one left with the power to say, 'This is the thing we’re going to do.'"

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk

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The Provocateur

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Why did a Sequoia partner in faraway Silicon Valley feel the need to troll the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor? Bradley breaks down the power dynamics at play in Sean Maguire's inflammatory remarks about Zohran Mamdani: a high-performing VC chasing attention, a prestigious firm caught in the crossfire, and the challenge of balancing individual expression with institutional risk. Maguire’s move wasn’t a misstep, says Bradley, it was a calculated play for relevance in a niche echo chamber. Also in this episode: The UK’s plan to lower the voting age to 16 offers a blueprint for U.S. reform, a rumination on the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the human species, and why Bradley lost his lifelong aversion to Billy Joel.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Live from P&T: The Art of Tactical Empathy

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Recorded in front of a live audience on July 7, Frank Carone, the renowned lawyer, business negotiator, political fixer and former chief of staff for Mayor Eric Adams, speaks with Bradley about his new book Everyone Wins! The Ultimate Guide to Optimize Your Business Relationships and Achieve Financial Freedom. From the streets of Canarsie to the corridors of City Hall, Carone shares the life principles, strategic mindset, and relationship playbook that helped him master the art of influence — and how you can use “tactical empathy” to win in business and life.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Mobilize the Vote

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:45:00 -0400

Today marks the release of Bradley’s TED Talk on Mobile Voting, so you should really head over there and spend 11 minutes getting inspired about the future of democracy (and share the link with your friends if you're on board). This is a short-and-sweet episode with what Bradley learned from doing TED, how to think about your kids entering a job market distorted by AI and why Superman ranks so low on Bradley’s list of favorite superheroes.

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.

Be sure to watch Bradley’s new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.

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Where Few Start-Ups Dare to Go

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It’s hard to imagine anything less glamorous than government procurement, but that’s exactly why August Chen was drawn to it. The CEO and co-founder of Hazel talks to Bradley about the power of AI to modernize the purchase of billions upon billions of goods and services every year. Chen, who cut his teeth at Palantir, explains why legacy systems are so resistant to change, how Hazel earns trust, and what most people get wrong about working with government.

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.

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Let’s Agree to Agree

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Returning from his recent trip to Estonia, Bradley pushes back on the idea that Americans are hopelessly divided. On core issues like immigration, taxes, housing, and foreign policy, he argues, there’s actually surprising consensus. In this episode, he breaks down where that agreement lies. Plus: big wins for Solving Hunger at the state level, why Elon Musk’s $300 million won’t go nearly far enough in starting in a serious political party, and a fresh look at Cicero — does his philosophy of the good life still hold up?

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.

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A Conversation About Almost Everything

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, matches wits with Bradley on a wide range topics: the best sporting events to see in person, the most admirable world leaders of the 21st century, what its like not to feel stress, why America is fine with the Ivy League being destroyed, are sociopaths happier than the rest of us, who still believes that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the pros and (mostly) cons of mushy food, plus much more.

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.

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The View from Estonia

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

While on a fact-finding trip to the so-called 'Digital Republic' — where e-voting has been on the books since 2003 — Bradley reflects on the ugliness of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the difficulty of Mamdani detractors to accept reality, why billionaires aren't the problem we should be worried about, whether Canada could be learning from Trump, and why he supports age-verification for everything from e-bikes to pornography.

Discussed on today's episode:

Next steps for Zohran Mamdani: Why he will win the general election by Bradley Tusk, NY Daily News (June 29, 2025).

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.

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Bonus Re-Release: The (Free) Bus Stops Here [ft. Zohran Mamdani]

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:25:00 -0400

Ever since Tuesday's shock results, Bradley's been sharing a steady stream of thoughts on Zohran Mamdani's win here on Firewall and his Substack — and now you can hear from Mamdani directly. We're re-releasing our interview from April with the (now) Democratic nominee for mayor, when he joined Bradley and Tom Allon from City & State to discuss his vision for a fairer, faster, and more functional New York. Real leadership, Mamdani argued, means empowering experts, not micromanaging. He believes that a reimagined, newly empowered public sector is key to the city's future if elected mayor in November.

Check out Bradley's latest in Vital City: How Zohran Mamdani Could Succeed as Mayor

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.

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Bonus Episode: Mamdani Won, Now What?

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:35:00 -0400

On this post-primary bonus episode, Bradley joins Ravi Gupta's Lost Debate to break down Zohran Mamdani's historic victory and how his administration might handle key policy issues like housing, education, and transportation. Also, what about those grocery stores? Of course, before any of that can happen, Mamdani needs to win in November. Bradley and Ravi preview the wild race that starts today, as a potentially crowded field mobilizes to derail the Mamdani express.

Be sure to subscribe to The Lost Debate on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.

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The Mamdani Shock

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:54:00 -0400

Breaking news. Bradley records a special Wednesday edition of the pod to analyze Zohran Mamandi's decisive victory over Andrew Cuomo in last night's Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. We'll be talking a lot more about this over the coming days and weeks, but for now, here are Bradley's immediate thoughts on what this means for the city and for Democratic politics. Though he has plenty of concerns, "I can't help but just find what happened to be sort of exciting," says Bradley.

Is This War?

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities are a proper response to an untenable threat, says Bradley on this special Monday episode, and Democratic opposition to them are weak and nonsensical. Plus, he gives his final rundown of factors at play in the New York City's mayoral race, does a comprehensive analysis of how Waymo's automated taxis will fare in the city and makes a wild prediction of who the next owner of the Yankees could be. (Hint: Get ready for hot dogs delivered to your seat via drone and Katy Perry's rendition of the National Anthem.)

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.

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A Pile-Up at the Finish Line

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

With mere days to go before the Democratic primary, the campaign to be New York City's next mayor has at last become a riveting horse race. Did Brad Lander's arrest boost him into contention, or merely blunt Zohran Mamdani's momentum? Could the Times' unendorsement of Mamdani give Cuomo skeptics permission to vote for him? How much might all the uncertainty help Eric Adams in the general election? Katie Honan of THE CITY and Sahalie Donaldson of City & State join Bradley and Tom Allon for this highly spirited final installment (for now) of The Race to Gracie Mansion.

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.

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The Kill Switch

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Though The New York Times is refraining from making an endorsement in the New York City mayoral race, it did tell its readers which candidate NOT to vote for. Bradley breaks down the implications of this unusual editorial choice. Plus, he explains his personal criteria for responding to requests for his time and advice.

Discussed on today's episode:

Our Advice To Voters In A Vexing Race For New York Mayor, The New York Times, June 16, 2025.

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.

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LIVE from P&T: What Do We Agree On?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:15:00 -0400

While the news dwells on everything that divides us, Spencer Greenberg went the other way — he did a study of 195 issues to discover what unites us — and came to a conclusion that, in his words, "just blew my mind." Americans actually agree on a ton of things. The social entrepreneur, mathematician and host of the podcast Clearer Thinking joined Bradley at P&T Knitwear in front of a live audience for a free-wheeling conversation that might just make you a little hopeful.

Be sure to follow and subscribe to Clearer Thinking on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

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Musk and Trump in the Thunderdome

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 04:45:00 -0400

What would it look like if the richest man in the world and the most powerful man in the world really took the gloves off? Bradley details the specific attacks each could deploy — inflicting so much damage on each other that it makes sense for cooler heads to prevail. But who wants to bet on that happening? Plus, Bradley got around to reading Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams' memoir about working at Meta, and thinks you should too

This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.

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Tame the Beast Now

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Can New York be the state that shows how to rein in AI before it’s too late? State Assemblymember Alex Bores joins Bradley to talk about the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, a bill he's co-sponsoring to establish safety, audit, and whistleblower guardrails for companies training advanced AI models. Without smart, tough regulation, Bores argues, even well-intentioned tech can be weaponized. From job loss to bioweapons and deepfakes, Bores warns that these problems are not theoretical, they are on our doorstep.

New Yorkers: Tell your state legislators to Support the RAISE Act at bit.ly/responsibleAIemail

Learn about critical AI safety legislation at the state level endorsed by Encode and Secure AI Project in CA, NY, and IL: bit.ly/supportraiseny

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.

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That Overhyped Tech Bros Movie

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Yes, it's a satire and yes, movies always screw things up, but Jesse Armstrong's idea of tech founders in the new HBO movie Mountainhead is just plain wrong and counterproductive, says Bradley. Plus, he considers five future scenarios for AI and reconsiders his view on how Netanyahu is prosecuting the war in Gaza.

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.

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iWar

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

How could Apple mount a counterattack against Trump and his tariffs? Bradley lays out a battle plan for the tech giant that revives the uncompromising tenacity of founder Steve Jobs — though it will almost certainly never happen. Plus, he updates his Non-Religious Ten Commandments for Kids, explains why attending the Indianapolis 500 restored his faith in America, and plugs Eric Topol's new book, Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.

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.

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Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty...

Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 -0400

The conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts in a New York courtroom last year already feels like ancient history. But in his new book "Dragon on Centre Street", New York Times reporter Jonah Bromwich explains why his trial remains acutely relevant. The personal humiliation of the proceedings, Bromwich argues, helped unleash Trump’s full cynicism about the justice system: “One of the things he learned from this trial is just how much he can do, and just how little the rule of law has to offer to challenge it.”

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 Homeless Fix

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the latest installment of The Race to Gracie Mansion, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander lays out his "number one commitment" — moving the roughly 2,000 homeless people with serious mental illness off the streets and into housing with services. It sounds good, but how will that work in reality? Lander makes the case, as well as outlining major initiatives on affordable housing, childcare, transit reform and tech-enabled governance.

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.

Bradley Asks: Why Do Jews Insist on Getting the Religious Part Wrong?

Tue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

As a culture, Judaism is so rewarding and life-affirming, says Bradley, but he believes that the religious services rarely are so. Instead, he finds them tedious, antiquated, and decidedly unhelpful. While Reform Judaism, in his opinion, made some improvements, he still thinks it doesn't go far enough, so he lays out a vision for what would get him to synagogue. Plus, what New York loves about Jalen Brunson beyond his incredible clutch play, how Democrats can escape the quagmire of the Biden cover-up, and why so many Americans still believe Europe offers a superior way of life.

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.

"You Want to be Popular? Go Sell Ice Cream."

Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the latest installment of The Race to Gracie Mansion, Zellnor Myrie, New York State Senator from Brooklyn, explains how he'll handle the hard stuff as mayor, like build one million new housing units over the next decade. "We have to think big, we have to," says Myrie. "I'm just so frustrated we've shrunk as a city in imagination. You want to be a naysayer, you sit in the corner and be a naysayer."

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.

Sam the Dog

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A heartfelt tribute to the first pet Bradley ever had, a rescue dog named Sam who was his inseparable companion for a decade. Plus, what the Happy City Index gets right and wrong, how he rates his own level of happiness about New York, and why the selection of the new pope is good for the world.

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. q

The Once and Future Greatness of New York City

Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Elizabeth Glazer, the founder of Vital City, joins Bradley to discuss the condition of our civic culture, what she is doing to inject big ideas into policymaking debates, and how Vital City's work can inspire New Yorkers to make the city a better place to live.

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.

China Doesn't Have to Do Anything

Tue, 06 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The Chinese government could hardly do a better job of attacking our key assets than what Trump is doing himself, argues Bradley. Will this really turn out well for his base? Plus, he reflects on what was better about New York City in the 1990s, why Tesla's board cannot afford to replace Elon Musk as CEO, and how strip malls are the key to LA's excellent food scene.

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.

Pump Up the Police

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the latest installment of the Race to Gracie Mansion, Curtis Sliwa makes a full-throated case for rebuilding the NYPD and improving public safety by restoring qualified immunity and aggressively recruiting new officers. He blasts Cuomo for being "a faux tough guy," talks about how — even as a Republican — to stand up to Trump, and champions a new coalition of moderates and animal lovers.

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.

Would You Eat At An Empty Restaurant?

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The concept of “norm cascades” influences everything from why we wouldn’t eat at an empty restaurant to why Bradley’s son was unimpressed with the recent NFL draft. On this episode of Firewall, Bradley is joined by guest co-host Cory Epstein where they dive deeper into norm cascades, Trump’s plunging approval rating, and an intriguing new AI regulation bill in California that could pick up from where SB 1047 left off after Governor Newsom’s veto last year. Plus, Bradley and Cory share their tips for staying in touch and nurturing friendships as they get older.

Discussed on today's episode:

How To Have Friends Past Age 30, Noah Smith, Noahpinion (April 25, 2025)

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 (Free) Bus Stops Here

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Next up on The Race to Gracie Mansion is Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who shares his socialist vision for a fairer, faster, and more functional New York—starting with rent freezes, universal childcare, and fast, free buses. Real leadership, he argues, means empowering experts, not micromanaging. A reimagined, newly empowered public sector is key to the city's future if he becomes mayor.

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 World Needs Another Outlier Pope

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The selection of the next pope, argues Bradley, isn't merely a religious decision but a face-off between competing global visions: one of fear-driven, zero-sum authoritarianism versus one rooted in love, abundance, and compassion. Church leaders have a chance to do more than celebrate Pope Francis’s legacy of moral courage — they can, and should, perpetuate it. Plus, how Chuck Schumer's own moment of moral courage could come back to bite him and why we need a new kind of punditry.

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.

Who Carries the Bloomberg Torch?

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this new installment of The Race to Gracie Mansion, Bradley and Tom quiz investor and education reformer Whitney Tilson on his effort to position himself as the pro-growth, pro-business candidate. The best way to fix New York’s affordability crisis, Tilson argues, is by making the city a place where private investment thrives. He promises to tackle housing, schools, and crime with pragmatic reforms—streamlining regulations, welcoming charter schools, and restoring public order—while standing up to entrenched political interests like unions and career politicians.

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.

Most Popular I've Ever Been

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 03:04:00 -0400

For 48 hours in Vancouver, Bradley felt like he had the world eating out of his hands. What was going on? Let's just say it was a very good night for mobile voting. Plus, Bradley handicaps the Meta-FTC face-off, offers advice for staying grounded in these chaotic times, agrees with Hugo that paying federal taxes feels worse than ever this year and admits to getting into watching golf on TV for the first time.

Manage The Whole City

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

"You're spending all this money," says mayoral candidate Michael Blake, "but you're not getting enough back." In the latest installment of The Race to Gracie Mansion, Firewall's co-production with City & State, the former NYS Assemblyman and DNC Vice Chair talks about helping New Yorkers make and keep more money, stopping Trump from meddling in city affairs, modernizing municipal services with AI, expanding humane mental health interventions, and fixing transit by recovering lost revenue and investing in automation.

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.

Bonus Episode: A Little Law That Will Go a Long Way

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

As New Yorkers know, scaffolding has become a serious scourge on our streets. What began as a safety measure has now done the opposite and helped to breed crime. But thanks to a recent legislative effort by New York City Council Member Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, scaffolding regulations have been reformed for the better, and New Yorkers can expect a lot less in their neighborhoods in the coming years. Powers and Bragg join Bradley to discuss why they focused on this issue and their model of political pragmatism that makes New York City a better place to live. Plus, Bradley hashes out the complexities of rezonings with Powers and discusses the threat of 3D printed guns and more with Bragg.

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. .

Who Doesn’t Like Abundance?

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The hot new book in policy circles, Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, defines a new liberal agenda for promoting growth of housing, green energy and transit. Bob Greenlee joins Bradley to debate how these nice-sounding, well-intentioned ideas might actually get off the ground. Plus, Bradley has a memo for Democrats — lock in on what tariffs are doing to the economy and voters will punish Trump.

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.

Seizing the Middle Ground

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Jim Walden is next up on The Race to Gracie Mansion, Firewall and City & State's series on the 2025 New York City mayor's race. Walden, a litigator and ex-prosecutor, presents himself as an untainted centrist with an emphasis on competence, recruiting top talent and learning from data. He talks to Bradley and Tom about a revival of Broken Windows, getting serious about involuntary commitment, rehabbing NYCHA from the ground up, suing China over fentanyl smuggling, and setting up a truly independent corruption-busting agency.

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.

How to Make Americans Happier

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The just-released World Happiness Report places the United States 24th globally. That's the bad news. The good news is that a big part of our problem is based on a fixable misperception that we have about each other. Bradley outlines a new regimen of building better vibes. Plus, he explains why Trump is shredding our system of checks and balances so easily (because it's actually reliant on norms, which Trump does not observe), how Trump's rejection of good politics should eventually sap his momentum, and what Bradley learned from reading Graydon Carter's memoir, When the Going Was Good.

LIVE EVENT: Join Bradley for a live Firewall recording at P&T Knitwear on Wednesday, April 2 and 6:30PM. After his discussion with Spencer Greenberg, host of the Clearer Thinking podcast, Bradley will answer audience questions on-air. Space is limited. RSVP today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clearer-thinking-x-firewall-a-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1261541337099?aff=oddtdtcreator

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 Vindicator of Queens

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this first installment of The Race to Gracie Mansion — a series of interviews with New York City mayoral hopefuls, co-produced by Firewall and City & State — Jessica Ramos, State Senator from Queens, lays out her vision for a more equitable, better-run city. She takes on police deployment, fair fares, Cuomo’s comeback, and why she'll never promise childhood friends a job in her administration.

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 latest book Vote With Your Phone.

LIVE SHOW: Join Bradley for a live Firewall recording at P&T Knitwear on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30PM. After his discussion with Spencer Greenberg, host of the Clearer Thinking podcast, Bradley will answer audience questions on-air. Space is limited. RSVP today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clearer-thinking-x-firewall-a-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1261541337099

How to Clean Up the Mess We Call Government

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Bradley offers a framework for thinking about how government at all levels should approach AI in terms of regulating it, deploying it and dealing with its ramifications. It doesn't have to be like DOGE, he argues, but there are definitely things we can learn from Elon. "The point of government," he says, "is to serve the collective needs of the people, not to employ a workforce of people."

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.

Mean Streets

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:30:00 -0400

What makes the politics surrounding transportation so murky and insidious? Nicole Gelinas, author of Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car, a Gotham Book Prize nominee, talks to Bradley about the hidden forces keeping mass transit in check, how environmental regulations are used as a scapegoat and why Amazon deliveries are killing the streets. Plus, she weighs in on Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral run and whether New Yorkers will trade scandal for competence.

Does Elon Musk Know What He Doesn't Know?

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In word, no — not when it comes to the government, anyway. Bradley reviews the careful balance you need to strike when working in areas outside your expertise. Plus, he mulls over whether getting Western Europe to bulk up its armed forces will make the world safer, how Chuck Schumer's self interest and the national interest coincided on his vote for the continuing resolution on the budget and (because we needed to lift the mood) what makes a great cover version of a pop song.

LIVE SHOW: Join Bradley for a live Firewall recording at P&T Knitwear on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30PM. After his discussion with Spencer Greenberg, host of the Clearer Thinking podcast, Bradley will answer audience questions on-air. Space is limited. RSVP today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clearer-thinking-x-firewall-a-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1261541337099

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.

Who’s for Involuntary Confinement?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A new poll reveals what New Yorkers really think about the state of the city—and the results might surprise you.

Kicking off the Race to Gracie Mansion series, Bradley and guest co-host Tom Allon (City & State Publisher) break down the largest study of NYC voters in years with the people behind it: John Della Volpe (Founder & CEO, SocialSphere) and Jamie Rubin (Board Chair, NYCHA). As the 2025 mayoral race heats up, they take a closer look into what New Yorkers are actually saying about crime, affordability, quality of life, and more—and what it all means for the city's future.

Subscribe to Firewall to catch every episode of The Road to Gracie Mansion, where we sit down with the leading mayoral candidates and cut through the noise. First episode drops March 27.

Chapters:

00:01:41 - Why Commission This Poll?

00:03:08 - Key Findings: What New Yorkers Are Saying

00:04:34 - What Makes This Poll Different?

00:06:04 - Pessimism in NYC: A Return to the '80s?

00:07:36 - Is NYC Part of a National Trend?

00:09:14 - The Mayoral Race: Breaking Down Voter Segments

00:12:27 - The Progressive Divide

00:15:24 - Eric Adams: Does He Have a Path to Re-Election?

00:17:27 - Cuomo’s Lead in the Polls

00:22:22 - Who Can Win? Evaluating Other Candidates

00:28:20 - Crime, Public Safety, and Perceptions vs. Reality

00:37:43 - NYC's Public Transit & Congestion Pricing

00:41:20 - Involuntary Confinement for Mentally Ill: Strong Support

00:44:33 - Migrant Crisis: Public Attitudes

00:48:07 - Housing Crisis & NYCHA Redevelopment

00:52:53 - Closing Thoughts & Where to Find More on the Poll

The Landmark Study Reveals NYC Voters' Deep Concerns About City's Direction Ahead of 2025 Mayoral Election: https://www.jamesrubin.com/nyc-opinion-survey

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.

Decide Who You Are

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The advice for how Columbia University should respond to Trump's slashing of funds is the same for anybody facing adversity — start by knowing your own values. Without that, argues Bradley, no strategy or tactics, however brilliant, are going to work. Plus he explains why "Trump is like the Terminator, he comes back stronger," weighs his own skills as a probabilistic thinker, and reveals why he never ever carries anything with him. That's just who he is.

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's Your Tribe?

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Columbia Business School professor Michael Morris, author of Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together, joins Bradley to break down the psychology behind how humans organize into groups, why we’re wired to trust and follow, and how these instincts shape everything we do, especially politics. "People aren’t just voting for policies," Morris says, "they’re choosing a tribe, a social identity. That’s why facts alone don’t change minds."

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.

Why Do We Stroke God's Ego?

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:01:00 -0400

Sitting in a long Bar Mitzvah service, Bradley started wondering about the performative side of religion. If we believe in a God who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, what does God need with all this endless praise? Kinda reminds you of someone else, doesn't it? Plus, Bradley unloads on the cruelty of Trump and Musk's proposed budget cuts and analyzes whether a big drop in popularity can stop Trump this time. Finally, now that the Andrew Cuomo redemption tour is officially on, why is his frontrunner status different than Andrew Yang's four year ago?

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.

Fix the Broken Stuff

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Raj Goyle argues that Democrats don’t need a radical agenda to beat Trump—they just need to prove they can solve everyday problems. The founder of Phone Free New York joins Bradley to talk about the fight to ban phones in schools, how the legal system quietly robs every American, and why campaigns should be run like startups—fast, lean, and ruthless.

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.

No, Our Phones Aren't Killing Us

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A lot of what we do on our phones — maybe even most of it — is positive and productive, argues Bradley, but we need to clearly differentiate between good habits and mindless scrolling. He lays out the concept of "a screen time diet" that evaluates our digital consumption just like we do our nutritional intake. Plus, what brings Trump crashing back to earth, how a broken City Hall affects life in New York and why short players are great for basketball.

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.

Wildfires, Psychedelics and the Future of Wellness

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

How does a venture capitalist find start-ups that are worth believing in? Bradley sits down with Pip Lawrence, co-founder of Delphi VC, for a wide-ranging discussion on his approach to investing, what attracts him to psychedelic therapy, how LA feels in the aftermath of the fires and why he's committed to the cause of Holocaust education.

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 Imperialism Sell?

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Get ready for big ideas flying all over the place in this episode. First, Bob Greenlee argues that Trump's pitch to expand the American empire — into Greenland, Gaza, Panama and Canada — goes hand in hand with his campaign to eradicate DEI. Taken together, they tell a heroic narrative meant to inspire and channel ambitions toward new visions of greatness. But is it a hustle or a real thing that Americans genuinely want? Plus, Bradley and Bob debate the idea that any particular religion could be "right", why immersion in our phones doesn't produce the atomizing hellscape that critics claim, and whether the popular view of altruism is just plain wrong

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.

Back to the Future

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:46:00 -0400

Bradley’s tech investing journey began with a services-for-equity model that evolved into a full-fledged venture firm. Nine years and three successful funds later, he explains why he's pivoting back to his original approach. Plus, he lays out a bold plan for Governor Hochul to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime subway overhaul by leveraging the special election for Elise Stefanik’s upstate congressional seat. It all comes down to how much Trump wants to feel like a hero again in his hometown.

Read more about Bradley's next steps in his Substack, and please share in your networks the open Associate job posting for Tusk Ventures.

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.

Bonus Episode: What Does Trump's DOJ Dropping Charges Against Eric Adams Mean for the NYC Mayoral Race?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:21:00 -0400

Bradley shares his reaction to the bombshell breaking news that Trump’s Justice Department has ordered the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan to drop the criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams. Bradley games out how this decision will or will not impact the 2025 mayoral race, discusses what could be next for Adams if he (likely) loses re-election, and why, paradoxically the Adams administration is actually the best it's ever been.

For Bradley's full analysis, be sure to subscribe to his Substack.

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 Tao of Gen Z

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What are we getting right and wrong about America's youngest voters? Bradley talks to Melissa Deckman, author of 'The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy', about the most diverse generation in American history coming of age in these turbulent, Trump-y times.

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 We Owe Black Women

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Do the names Fannie Lou Hamer or Barbara Jordan mean anything to you? Well, they should, and so should their achievements as trailblazing black women in politics. Dr. Christina Greer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University and co-host of the podcasts FAQ NYC and In The Thick, joins Bradley to discuss her new book about Hamer and Jordan, How to Build a Democracy, plus a check-in on the NYC mayor's race, how to filter Trump news, and what Democrats should do to get back on their feet.

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.

Waiting for the Heavyweight

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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: Siena poll results and potential Democratic challengers.

[00:40:29] - National politics: Trump's tariffs, their economic impact, and how they could affect his reelection bid.

[00:45:24] - Democratic strategy: Should Democrats fight Trump or work with him? Debating the best approach.

[00:52:43] - Recommendations: Bradley, Chris, and Hugo discuss books, TV shows, and museum exhibits.

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 Bright Light in Birmingham

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:28:00 -0400

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.

How to Quiet Your Mind

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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 Recommendations

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.

"Not Quixotic, Not Meaningless"

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 03:45:00 -0400

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.

Trump Comes Out Swinging

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:36:00 -0400

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 cities like New York.

[00:14:57] – Climate policies: Electric vehicle mandates, fossil fuel production, and renewable energy setbacks.

[00:19:21] – Analysis of Trump’s energy policies and implications for renewables and the global South.

[00:20:29] – Trade policies: Tariffs on Mexican and Chinese imports and trade investigations.

[00:22:15] – Federal operations: Bureaucracy changes, civil service reforms, and collective bargaining rights.

[00:24:15] – Racial equity initiatives and their perceived backlash.

[00:28:45] – Repealing Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence.

[00:29:10] – Protections for transgender individuals and abortion access.

[00:30:48] – Returning federal workers to offices and broader implications for accountability.

[00:32:22] – Crime policies: Designating cartels as global terrorists and restoring the death penalty for certain crimes.

[00:37:29] – January 6th insurrection and punishment discussions.

[00:38:06] – Use of private prisons and concerns about profit-driven practices.

[00:39:02] – Title IX and transgender protections

[00:41:06] – Abortion restrictions and telemedicine access concerns.

[00:42:50] – TikTok ban reversal and its implications for U.S.-China relations.

[00:43:03] – Declassifying federal records on JFK and MLK assassinations.

[00:44:04] – Renaming landmarks and backlashes to symbolic changes.

[00:45:08] – Withdrawing from the World Health Organization and global cooperation concerns.

[00:47:24] – Executive order directing “America First” foreign policy and its symbolism.

[00:50:02] – Cost of living executive orders and broader economic implications.

[00:51:54] – Closing reflections on Trump’s branding and the impact of his executive orders.

Did Joe Biden Accomplish Enough…

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0400

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 management, appointments, and absence of chaos compared to Trump.

[00:18:48] – Biden's failings: Soft corruption, lying to the public, and mishandling immigration.

[00:20:46] – Inflation and public perception.

[00:24:45] – Immigration crisis and its mismanagement.

[00:28:30] – Failures in tech policy and regulatory progress.

[00:34:39] – Overall grading of Biden's presidency: A mix of B, B-minus, and C.

[00:37:19] – Canada and Trump: Challenges with tariffs and potential strategies.

[00:45:30] – Commentary on Canadian CEOs and political strategies.

The Apotheosis of Winner-Take-All Politics

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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

Wildfire is Politically Dangerous, Too

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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 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.

Navigating the Future of School Choice

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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.

The Big Crack Up

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Gen Z versus Big Tech

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0400

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.

Mr. Sunshine

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:16:00 -0400

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.

The Misfit VC

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Leaving the White House with a Whimper

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0400

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.

Doing the DC Hustle

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Things I Liked in 2024

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Have We Given Up on Guns?

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Why Australia Can Ban Social Media for Kids and We Can't

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

A War Hero Rescued from Obscurity

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0400

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.

Why God Sent Us Trump

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -0400

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.

The Swampiest of Swamps

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to government corruption, nobody touches Illinois. Bradley talks to Ray Long and Rick Pearson, investigative and political reporters for the Chicago Tribune, about their excellent series on the state's legacy of crooked politics and why people say the Governor's Mansion in Springfield is a better stepping stone to the Big House than to the White House.

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.

Superiority is Kryptonite

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

If you make voters feel stupid or small or bad about themselves, says Bradley, they hate you for it. And that's exactly what too many Democrats have been doing since 2016, if not before. Plus. he expresses guarded optimism about the Elon-Vivek commission, admires the abject political malpractice that is congestion pricing in New York and celebrates the end of broker fees for city renters.

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 Bezos Doctrine

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Why does business success often go hand in hand with cluelessness at politics? Bradley talks to Dana Mattioli, reporter for The Wall Street Journal and author of "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power" and gets her perspective on Bezos in a two-part conversation recorded both before and after the recent election.

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.

Bonus Rerelease: Save The Kids, Ban Brokers Fees

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:53:00 -0400

Anyone who has paid 15% of their annual rent in brokers fees for someone to let you into an apartment for only 10 minutes knows the practice is nothing more than legalized theft — and the City Council is voting today, November 13, on the FARE Act to finally end it. So we're rereleasing a October 2023 episode with Council Member Chi Ossé, the main sponsor of the FARE Act, about his fight against the real estate lobby and how making the city more attractive and accessible to young people can make it better for everyone.

For more, read Bradley's NY Daily News op-ed in support of banning brokers fees.

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.

Are Incumbents Doomed?

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

No, says Bradley, but in this environment of social-media-fueled anger and discontent, they have to be open to difficult feedback, be honest with themselves and voters about where they've fallen short and show people just how hard they're willing to work. Plus, Bradley floats an idea for protecting Jews around the world from attacks like the ones we saw last week in Amsterdam. It's time to meet anti-Semitism head-on.

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.

Pick Up the Pieces

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:44:00 -0400

The Democrats' hard, sobering defeat last night revealed uncomfortable truths about what a majority of Americans want from their leaders. Bradley and Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies, zero in on their areas of expertise — New York politics, tech regulation, cryptocurrency, anti-hunger campaigns and mobile voting — and talk about where we go from here.

"There is no real silver lining here -- it is a bad outcome for America and the world," says Bradley. "With that said, once we get through processing this, the only thing you can do is fight -- and when I say fight, I don't mean the MSNBC / DSA just resist and scream about everything that Trump says and does all day, I mean pick the issues you care about -- for us, it's voting, it's hunger, it's abortion -- and work on those. And if it can't be done at a federal level, work on them at the state level, work on them at a local level, work on them at a community level, work on them at a philanthropic level. Ultimately, the way to feel better about ourselves and about the world we live in is to take the things we believe in and dedicate ourselves to them and try to make them happen."

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 Podcast Not About the Election

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0400

On this Election Day 2024, Bradley takes a temporary pass on politics. Instead, he offers this exercise in wellness: Which personal qualities are most likely to make you feel fulfilled and happy? He, Meaghan and Hugo conduct a draft from a list he drew up of 40 traits. Feel free to keep the news on hold for an hour and play along at home.

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.

Why This Is The Most Incredible Moment...

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

...since the creation of the Internet. Bradley talks to Adam Zeplain of Austin-based mark vc, about the reasons to be fired up about business ("A lot of this stuff that was a pipe dream now seems like it's pretty real'), even-keeled about politics ("I'm going to focus on what I can do personally to live a good life, support people, think independently, and try to do what's right, regardless who's in office") and fiercely loyal to Austin and its people.

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.

Where is the Courage?

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Not a single vote was won or lost when the Washington Post declined to endorse a Presidential candidate, but it is a frightening portend, says Bradley, of how small-d democratic institutions could lose their nerve in a second Trump administration. Plus: Mayor Adams' handling of Trump has been smart and effective, why Cuomo would be wise to stay out of the race for City Hall, why there's nothing wrong with how Elon Musk is playing politics and Bradley's masterplan for giving baseball a bright new 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.

The Billionaire’s Dilemma

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

How much does a great reputation cost? Bradley talks to Anupreeta Das, New York Times correspondent and author of Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World, about the precarious blend of personal ambition and high-stakes philanthropy.

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.

How Well Do We Know Our Own Politics?

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

To get a true reading of where he sits on the political spectrum, Bradley takes a 20-question quiz, covering everything from wealth disparity to whether we have enough cops. Will he like the answer he gets? Plus, he breaks down Uber’s potential takeover of Expedia, explains why the Mets’ downfall didn’t ruin his weekend much less his life, and issues a retraction (!!!) for a recommendation made on a previous episode.

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.

Down with the Duopoly!

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:32:00 -0400

Wouldn't we be better off if the Democrat and Republican parties each split in half and we had four candidates vying for the presidency instead of two? How is that even imaginable? Bradley talks to Rob Richie, co-founder of FairVote, a group that champions Ranked Choice Voting, about electoral reforms that promise to restore genuine democracy, as opposed to whatever it is we have now.

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 Next Regulatory Regime

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

How Harris and Trump administrations will differ on managing the economy, business and tech. Plus, Bradley talks about mysterious drones, going to movies in person, mini-golf vs. real golf, the pluses and minuses of living in Soho, the New Yorker's big piece on Chris Lehane, alternatives to "taking a knee" in football and why men not going to college is a serious warning signal.

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.

How Low Does Mediocre Go?

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Serious question: Do mediocre and average mean the same thing? Everybody Bradley asked told him no, that mediocre is worse, but he remains convinced they are the same. Plus, he cheers the federal court's ruling in favor of Epic Games in its lawsuit against Google over monopolistic behavior, outlines the philosophical dilemmas he has been wrestling with at synagogue and explains why Kamala Harris's position on guns is the blueprint for the pragmatic policies that a clear majority of Americans supports.

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, and RSVP to an upcoming event on his cross country book tour.

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

Behind The Scenes at City Hall

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

While New York City Mayor Eric Adams is under indictment and more of his top aides have departed, the work of running New York City doesn't stop. On this special edition of Firewall, Bradley and Jamie Rubin, board chairman of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), sit down with three close-knit colleagues who are leading New York during this unprecedented time: Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, Workforce Maria Torres-Springer, and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Service Anne Williams-Isom.

In this candid conversation, the three Deputy Mayors discuss how they are leading their teams through this moment, what priority projects they are continuing to push forward, and how their collaborative approach helps them get the job done for New Yorkers.

"This is historic. To have three deputy mayors that get along, like each other. We don't have fiefdoms. We're sharing jurisdiction. It is a better use of taxpayer dollars to have this level of cooperation,“ says Deputy Mayor Joshi. “I wake up every morning not like, ‘Woe is me’ and ‘Lord, what's happening?’...I wake up every morning asking, ‘What more can I be doing?’ And when I go to bed at night, I hope that I am exhausted from making sure that I'm doing good on behalf of New Yorkers,” adds Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom.

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.

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

Who's Watching Our Money?

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As superintendent of the NY Department of Financial Services, Adrienne Harris may be the most important person you've never heard of. She talks to Bradley about the unique challenges of regulating the all-powerful financial industry — banks, trading firms, hedge funds, private equity, pension managers, insurance companies, crypto, you name it,

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.

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

The Serious, the Profane and, Uh, Hoops

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley reviews the issues that are demanding his attention this week: Mobile voting, the potential for an invasion of Lebanon, Walz v. Vance, the spectacular Knicks trade, and Malcolm Gladwell.

Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, with Teddy Schleifer, NYT (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

Emergency Pod: The Power Vacuum at City Hall

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley assesses the immediate aftermath of the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams — who’s running from the crisis, who’s hurt (in addition to Adams) and who stands to gain.

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.

Oct. 1: Books & Books, with Phil Levine, former Mayor of Miami Beach (Coral Gables, FL)

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, with Teddy Schleifer, NYT (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

Rage Against Incivility

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

After Bradley and Chris Coffey analyze how Mayor Adams can pull himself out of the vortex of scandal, Bradley goes on a rant about the declining decorum of New Yorkers, including phone-absorbed subway passengers blocking exits and bicyclists going the wrong way or riding on the sidewalk. Chris argues that life is gentler and more humane in Brooklyn; Bradley scoffs at his invitation to move there.

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, and RSVP to an upcoming event on his cross country book tour.

"Our State is Not as Safe as We Thought"

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 07:18:00 -0400

Could abortion rights ever be rolled back in a blue state like New York? After Democrats lost a bunch of House seats in the last cycle, says Sasha Ahuja, the campaign director for New Yorkers for Equal Rights, that no longer seems so far-fetched. She talks to Bradley about Prop 1, a ballot initiative to enshrine reproductive freedom in the New York State Constitution.

Vote With Your Phone Book Tour: RSVP and info for all events at votewithyourphone.org.

Sept. 24: Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, with Council Member Chi Ossé and Kelly Mena, NY1 (NYC)

Sept. 26: Carter Presidential Library, with Martin Luther King III (Atlanta)

Oct. 1: Books & Books, with Phil Levine, former Mayor of Miami Beach (Coral Gables, FL)

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, with Teddy Schleifer, NYT (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

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, and be sure to order his new book Vote With Your Phone.

How to Blow Up Politics as Usual

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:30:00 -0400

Today is the hotly awaited publication date for Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot at Saving Democracy, written (of course) by your Firewall host Bradley Tusk. Which is more than merely a book; it's a movement. To mark the occasion, Bradley undergoes the third degree from Meaghan and Hugo, answering the personal questions others might be afraid to ask and making the case for how common sense has become radical.

Vote With Your Phone Book Tour: RSVP and info for all events at votewithyourphone.org.

Sept. 19: New York Law School, with Ben Max (NYC)

Sept. 24: Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, with Council Member Chi Ossé and Kelly Mena, NY1 (NYC)

Sept. 26: Carter Presidential Library, with Martin Luther King III (Atlanta)

Oct. 1: Books & Books, with Phil Levine, former Mayor of Miami Beach (Coral Gables, FL)

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, with Teddy Schleifer, NYT (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Do Undecided Voters Really Exist?

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Or are they all just Trump voters who don't want to admit it? Chris Coffey of Tusk Strategies joins Bradley to check on the vital signs of the American political class, including the aftermath of the presidential debate, a big victory in Delaware, the storm clouds descending on Mayor Eric Adams, why there's a big opening for a woman to run for City Hall (but who?), and what's the beef between Nancy Pelosi and Governor Hochul.

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 pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone, and RSVP to an upcoming event on his cross country book tour.

A Mayor on Razor-Thin Ice

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Next week, Bradley begins his book tour across America to promote "Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot at Saving Democracy" (dates and RSVP link below). But for now, he dives into the cold reality of investigations, subpoenas and potential indictments that threaten to sink Mayor Eric Adams. What will it take for Adams to survive? Plus, Bradley assesses China's spy in Albany, the cost of Kamala Harris' risk aversion, Elon Musk's potential role in Trump II, and much more.

Vote With Your Phone Book Tour: RSVP and info for all events at votewithyourphone.org.

Sept. 19: New York Law School, with Ben Max (NYC)

Sept. 24: Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, with Council Member Chi Ossé and Kelly Mena, NY1 (NYC)

Sept. 26: Carter Presidential Library, with Martin Luther King III (Atlanta)

Oct. 1: Books & Books, with Phil Levine, former Mayor of Miami Beach (Coral Gables, FL)

Oct. 5: Politics & Prose, with Teddy Schleifer, NYT (Washington DC)

Oct. 9: Zibby's Bookshop, with Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO (Santa Monica, CA)

Oct. 10: Manny's, with Manny Yekutiel (San Francisco)

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

The Man Who Allegedly Wrecked New York

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Does Robert Moses deserve eternal condemnation? On the 50th anniversary of the publication of ‘The Power Broker’, Robert Caro’s iconic biography of Moses, Dan Wang and Ross Barkan add nuance and balance to what has been a powerfully one-sided conversation. Plus, in a postscript, Bradley and Howard Wolfson trade ideas on what we’d ask Moses to build today if he could be raised from the dead.

This episode was recorded 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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Big Tech's Bad Citizenship

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As Silicon Valley goes to war against the AI safety bill just passed by the California legislature, Governor Gavin Newsom should have no reservations about signing it, says Bradley. And what's good for California is good for America. Plus, why France's crackdown on Telegram is justified; how Lina Khan and the FTC have sucked the air out of venture capital; and what you should know about the living legend of competitive eating.

Discussed on today's episode:

The Arguments Against California AI’s Bill Are Classic Diversionary Tactics — and Nothing More, by Bradley Tusk, Substack (09/03/24)

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

One Way of Fixing Immigration

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

New arrivals to the United States often find themselves trapped in a Catch 22 — they can’t obtain a tax ID without first getting paid and they can’t get paid without first obtaining a tax ID. Bradley talks to Luciano Arango, CEO and co-founder of Maza, who came up with an easy solution that points toward a promising new approach to the toxic stalemate over immigration.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Why Do We Like Gambling So Much?

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Americans bet as much as a trillion dollars a year, fueling an industry that knows just how to press our buttons, like the social media platforms do. But is gambling itself really the problem, asks Bradley, or is there a deeper malaise we're failing to confront? Plus, Bradley analyzes whether Kamala Harris is really going to end Biden's "feudal" style of governing, what he got out of Nate Silver's new book on risk, and how the MTA can finally be tamed.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

The Rookie

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The last thing your average political consultant will ever do is run for office. Micah Lasher, however, is anything but average . He talks to Bradley about why he decided to run for State Assembly from the Upper West Side, how he won and what he brings to Albany. Plus, he reflects on the Olympics and how New York can learn from Paris.

Discussed on today's episode:

New York needs an Olympic goal: Paris shows how a city can improve its permanent infrastructure, by Micah Lasher, New York Daily News (08/18/24)

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

This Is Your Government on AI

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Could Artificial Intelligence have prevented New York’s cannabis debacle? Bradley lays out his vision; Bob Greenlee begs to differ. Plus, Bob offers on-the-ground reporting from Chicago on the build-up to the Democratic Convention while Bradley shares five discoveries from a week in California, including an exotic new hobby.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

What Will Crypto Be When It Grows Up?

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The alternative currency has settled into an awkward adolescence — full of potential but still quite unsure of itself. Bradley talks to Andrew R. Chow, TIME correspondent and author of Cryptomania: Hype, Hope, and the Fall of FTX’s Billion-Dollar Fintech Empire about whether crypto will ever find a purpose in life.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Harris Picks the Good Person Over the Good Politicians

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:52:00 -0400

Quick hit from Bradley on how Minnesota Governor Tim Walz earned his spot on the Democratic ticket.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

How Kamala Harris Can Leverage Her Edge

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Bradley has an idea for turning the Democrats' most potent issue — reproductive rights — into a catalyst for winning swing states. Plus, he reviews where Harris stands on tech policy, analyzes the entry of Brad Lander into the New York City mayor's race and compares notes with Cory Epstein on what they loved about being in Paris for the Olympics.

Discussed on today's episode:

How Kamala Harris Can Use Tele-Abortion to Change the Electoral Map, by Bradley Tusk, 07/29/24, Substack

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Firewall Goes to the Olympics

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Bradley checks in from his vacation in Paris, where swimming events gave him PTSD from summer camp but the boxing, BMX racing and beach volleyball more than made up for it. Plus, he rejects Hugo's brilliant idea that the Bronx should make its own independent bid for the summer games.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Are Americans Taking the Summer Off from Politics?

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

With Bradley away in Paris for the Olympics, Bob Greenlee steps up to the mic to discuss a potential problem for the surging Kamala Harris campaign — that actual swing voters are too busy barbecuing to follow what’s going on. Plus, when the race heats up in the fall, will Harris’ close association with big-city liberalism spell trouble for her with undecideds?

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

My One Year Anniversary of Quitting Marijuana

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Last summer, Bradley stopped using cannabis. In this special mini episode — which was previously released as part of the 'Democrats Get Their Wish, Now What?' episode from July 23 — he reflects on how he reached the decision to quit and what it has taken to stick with it.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

How to Moonlight as a Detective

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What does the mysterious death of a judge reveal about the future of the world’s largest democracy? The multi-talented Ravi Gupta of The Branch media returns to Firewall to talk about his podcast “Killing Justice” and how his investigation of a crime turned into a deeply personal journey.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Democrats Get Their Wish, Now What?

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

After Biden's withdrawal and his endorsement of Harris, Trump is beatable but remains the prohibitive favorite. Bradley assesses what the Democrats can do to make a serious race out of it. Plus, he reflects on his one-year anniversary of quitting marijuana and why "life is a little less fun" but ultimately more rewarding.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

An Eternal Optimist's View on Joe Biden

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Is it crazy to believe Biden won't step down and/or that he's not certain to lose to Donald Trump? Or that if he does step down, Kamala Harris is the best (and only plausible) replacement? Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies, joins Bradley to offer reasons why the Democrats aren't necessarily facing an historic trainwreck in the fall. Plus, Chris and Bradley preview what promises to be a riveting, unpredictable race for New York City mayor in 2025.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

What Still Stands Between Trump and Victory?

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

More than nothing, but not a whole lot more. Bradley analyzes the aftermath of the shooting in Butler, Pa. Plus, riffing from the Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, he compiles his own top ten.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

The Politics of Innovation for Founders & Media [Bonus Live Ep. from #NYTechWeek]

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Live from P&T Knitwear, Bradley sits down with a tech founder and tech reporter to discuss the complex web of political challenges facing the industry today. How do founders navigate these turbulent waters to foster innovation? And how do reporters cover the ever-complex interplay between technology and politics without getting lost in the noise? This episode, recorded as part of #NYTechWeek on June 4, offers an inside look into strategies and realities of operating within and reporting on the politics of innovation.

Panelists:

-Joe Connor, Founder of Tusk Venture Partners portfolio company, Odyssey

-Alexandra Sternlicht, Tech Reporter at Fortune.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Why a Green Beret Turned to Tech

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When Matt Bowman left the military after 10 years of service, he found a new calling in Silicon Valley. He talks to Bradley about his start-up Autobiographer, an AI enhanced tool that helps people write their life stories. “I'm here today, in this role at Autobiographer,” he says, “because I want to memorialize the stories of my friends who didn't survive those experiences.”

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

The Story That Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On the Biden age question, voters were far ahead of the White House, the Democratic establishment and the media well before the debate. Regardless of how Democrats resolve this particular problem (Bradley puts the chance of Biden soldiering on at 30 percent), both parties should face blowback over the election for years to come. Plus, Bradley reflects his own flurry of activity during the pandemic in an essay called 'When To Go Big.'

How to Stop Digital Pollution

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The best way to clean up social media, says Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at the University of Massachusetts, is not necessarily a big government clampdown. What if instead the platforms allowed for new tools and filters that clean up and give us discretion over the torrent of content into our lives? That's exactly what Zuckerman wants to see — but first he has to sue Meta to make it happen.

Discussed on today's episode:

I Love Facebook. That’s Why I’m Suing Meta. by Ethan Zuckerman, The New York Times, May 5, 2024.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Breaking Biden’s Death Grip

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0400

While the Democratic establishment circles the wagons and the media howls impotently for the President to step down, there is a way out. All we need, says Bradley, is one big-name Democrat brave enough to stick their head above the foxhole. Plus, the first review of Vote on Your Phone is in — and it’s a rave.

Who You Gonna Call? Moms.

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When the pandemic brought the nation’s childcare crisis out into the open, Reshma Saujani realized that mothers needed to push their concerns to the front. Bradley talks to the founder of Moms First about affordable childcare, paid leave and equal pay. These are “not just the right things to do,” says Saujani, “they’re the smart things to do. You’re just losing out on talent.”

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

How to Rewrite the Ten Commandments

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In Louisiana, schools are now required by law to post the Ten Commandments. An obvious church-state problem, but maybe there's a better way to provide guidance for kids? Bradley proposes his version. Plus, he handicaps the Supreme Court's slew of major rulings, gives an update on New York's war against illegal weed shops and makes the pitch for why LeBron James could and should wind up in a Knicks uniform.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Throwing Down the Gauntlet on Social Media

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

"Your obscene profits are not a good enough reason to let one more child die," says Marci Hamilton, the CEO and founder of Child USA. If there's one person harder on social-media moguls than Bradley, it's Hamilton. She and Bradley talk about when and how lawmakers will finally clamp down on this "toxic universe."

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Beware the Shiny Policy

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What do the Surgeon General's proposed warning on social media, the Pope's guidance on artificial intelligence and North Dakota's congressional age limit all have in common? To Bradley, they are policy ideas that look great on first glance but become a lot less appealing as you carefully think them through. Plus, Bradley throws down a challenge to Major League Eating and Quinn Sean of Tusk Ventures joins to discuss the implications of a new criminal case on the world of digital health.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Prime of Life: A Discussion with Bradley's Dad

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Completing the troika of family-themed episodes, Gabe Tusk (Bradley's dad) joins Firewall to mark Father's Day. 'What gets better as you get older?' asks Bradley. Reflecting on his 79 years on this earth, Gabe remarks that right now happens to be the most content he's ever been, with just the right balance of family, work and leisure in his life.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

How to Parent

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The caveat here is that, just as William Goldman famously said about Hollywood, nobody knows anything. But Bradley reflects on 18 years of giving it his best shot. Plus, a lightning round on Albany’s clampdown on social media, the City Council’s bid to end brokers’ fees on rentals, and congestion pricing’s crash and burn (featuring our resident transportation expert Cory Epstein).

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

New York City Mayor Eric Adams drops by the studio at P&T Knitwear to talk to Bradley about the crackdown on illegal weed shops, ways to rid the streets of scaffolding, how to get work permits for migrants and what he would say to people who may have fallen out of love with the Big Apple.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Graduation Day

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

On the week of her graduation from high school, Bradley's daughter Abby Tusk returns to the podcast to be interviewed on what she's learned about herself, her generation, and the world. "The Internet is not terrible," Abby says, "but it is kind of rotting our brains." Are you optimistic or pessimistic about your future, he asks her. "Optimistic, for sure."

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

One Hundred and One Brooklyns

Thu, 30 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What unites a borough that has such sharp juxtapositions of abundance and deprivation? Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso joins Bradley to talk about a better way to crack down on illegal weed shops, why the migrant crisis didn’t need to be a crisis, how to break the affordable housing logjam and what he’s doing to lift maternal health from a state of emergency.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

The New Battles over AI, Crypto and Guns

Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Bob Greenlee, Bradley's longtime friend and COO at Tusk Holdings, joins the podcast to discuss the latest convergences of tech, politics and the law. Plus, Bradley realizes he no longer hates the Yankees and tries to sort out why.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

What Every American Deserves

Thu, 23 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

If the United States had a true safety net — a basic standard of living below which nobody would be allowed to fall —people would be more creative and take greater risks, argues Natalie Foster, author of "The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America's Next Economy." She joins Bradley to explain how we get from here to there.

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Who Owns the Next Decade?

Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In response to Noah Smith's 'Seven Reasons America is Headed for a More Conservative Decade', Bradley offers five countervailing reasons of his own. Plus, is the anti-China narrative good for America; why the success of the Neurolink brain implant suggests a future union of man and machine; and what new books Bradley recommends for the beach (not that he personally ever reads on the beach, but you get the point).

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

Are Venture Capitalists Blowing It?

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Jordan Nof, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Tusk Venture Partners, returns to Firewall to discuss the challenging climate for VCs. Given that the economy is strong, inflation is down, the stock market is booming and crypto has rebounded, what's holding venture back and how does politics factor into its recovery?

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, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.