NYC Reads! (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

I spent most of my kindergarten year envious of Gina and Adam. These classmates had found the holy grail of learning: they could read.

Our teacher continually praised them for their intelligence — and dismissed mine. I remember thinking, “If someone would just show me how, I could read, too.”

Thankfully, my first-grade teacher helped me unlock the magic code by explaining that letters stood for sounds that then blended

UFT President Michael Mulgrew (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

February 28, 2023 - Max Politics Podcast: UFT President Mike Mulgrew on Contract Negotiations, Charter Schools, & More

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), joined the show to discuss his union's contract negotiations with the city, the governor's charter school expansion proposal, and more.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the

Mayor Adams says hello to students (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

September 9, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: The Start of a New School Year in New York City

Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, joined the show to discuss the start of the new school year, the controversy around school budget cuts, and more education news.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the embedded audio below or download the episode

Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks at a school (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)

In an interview late last year, New York City’s new schools chancellor, David Banks, vowed to “transform the lives of…[New York City] children, but particularly Black and brown children who have struggled the most in this system.” While all students have struggled during the pandemic,...