NY1’s Errol Louis has been interviewing powerful politicians and cultural icons for years, but it’s when the TV cameras are turned off that things really get interesting. From career highlights, to personal moments, to stories that have never been told, join Errol each week for intimate conversations with the people who are shaping the future of New York and beyond. Listen to "You Decide with Errol Louis" every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Columbia University has found itself at the center of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Columbia is no stranger to anti-war protests. In the spring of 1968, a student uprising against the Vietnam War saw students occupy five buildings on campus and hold the acting dean of Columbia College hostage. Most recently, the arrest of Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil and the university’s response to policy demands from the Trump administration have found the college making national headlines again.
Shea Vance is the editor-in-chief of the university’s student newspaper, the “Columbia Spectator.” Vance joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the most recent events on campus. The conversation covered the disciplinary actions against students protesting the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the ongoing atmosphere of fear among some Jewish students due to antisemitic incidents, and the impact of federal threats on withholding university funding. The discussion also included reflections on the past and future of Columbia’s student activism and Vance’s personal aspirations.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
Building on the success of NY1’s documentary about the tumultuous two-term mayoralty of John V. Lindsay, NY1 and Hunter College’s Roosevelt House held an in-depth discussion about the former mayor that was moderated by NY1’s Errol Louis. Panelists included former Lindsay aides, Sid Davidoff, Ronnie Eldridge and Robert Laird, and Lindsay historian Joseph Viteritti.
The special live taping of the panel on May 14 was held at Roosevelt House — Hunter College’s Public Policy Institute and the former Manhattan home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
In office less than two months, President Donald Trump is sending economic shockwaves across the world — including New York City. From cutting the federal workforce to launching massive tariffs, Trump’s fiscal moves are already having an impact on Wall Street and the rest of the five boroughs. Greg David, an economics reporter from the news outlet The City, has been detailing how Trump’s measures could affect New York City residents.
David joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the vulnerabilities of various federal aid programs like Medicaid and food stamps, the potential effects of the stock market’s decline, what tariffs could mean for local businesses and the broader economic impact for the city’s post-pandemic recovery. They also examined the lack of clarity on economic policies among New York mayoral candidates.
***Spectrum News NY1 and Roosevelt House will be co-hosting a special panel discussion on the political career and legacy of New York City Mayor John Lindsay.
Inspired by the NY1 three-part limited audio series covering Lindsay’s political career, the conversation will be held at Roosevelt House on March 13 at 6 p.m. It will be moderated Errol Louis and feature a panel of Lindsay administration alumni and journalists who will discuss Lindsay’s eight years in office from 1966 to 1973 — one of the most chaotic and transformative times in New York’s recent history. It will explore his accomplishments as mayor, as well as the staggering number of challenges he faced during his two terms.
Attendees will need to RSVP to the event, which is free, through Roosevelt House, here: https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/you-decide-with-errol-louis/2025/02/06/john-lindsay-new-york-city-mayor-panel-you-decide-crisis-and-accomplishment
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
After much anticipation, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo officially entered the race for New York City mayor, joining a crowded Democratic primary field. Cuomo resigned in 2021 amid 11 allegations of sexual harassment, though Cuomo has denied wrongdoing. NY1’s Errol Louis spoke about Cuomo’s legacy and his future, with Christopher Robbins, an editor and co-founder of the news outlet Hell Gate. They also talked about recent polling that shows Mayor Eric Adams’ job approval rating dipping to an all-time low. And they discussed the reasons why Robbins started Hell Gate and what he sees in the future for the news outlet.
***Spectrum News NY1 and Roosevelt House will be co-hosting a special panel discussion on the political career and legacy of New York City Mayor John Lindsay.
Inspired by the NY1 three-part limited audio series covering Lindsay’s political career, the conversation will be held at Roosevelt House on March 13 at 6 p.m. It will be moderated Errol Louis and feature a panel of Lindsay administration alumni and journalists who will discuss Lindsay’s eight years in office from 1966 to 1973 — one of the most chaotic and transformative times in New York’s recent history. It will explore his accomplishments as mayor, as well as the staggering number of challenges he faced during his two terms.
Anyone who wishes to attend the event will need to RSVP. To learn more visit: ny1.com.
The five months since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted have consisted of an extraordinary sequence of events that has found the mayor bruised but emboldened, still firmly in office, and about to launch a campaign for re-election. Katie Honan, a reporter for The CITY and co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, has been closely following the mayor through these many twists and turns.
Honan joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss several issues surrounding Adams, including his legal troubles, loss of security clearance, and the recent resignations of four deputy mayors on the same day. They also touched on the strategies of other mayoral candidates as they prepare for the June primary, including the “will he or won’t he” role of Andrew Cuomo in the race.
***Spectrum News NY1 and Roosevelt House will be co-hosting a special panel discussion on the political career and legacy of New York City Mayor John Lindsay.
Inspired by the NY1 three-part limited audio series covering Lindsay’s political career, the conversation will be held at Roosevelt House on March 13 at 6 p.m. It will be moderated Errol Louis and feature a panel of Lindsay administration alumni and journalists who will discuss Lindsay’s eight years in office from 1966 to 1973 — one of the most chaotic and transformative times in New York’s recent history. It will explore his accomplishments as mayor, as well as the staggering number of challenges he faced during his two terms.
Attendees will need to RSVP to the event, which is free, through Roosevelt House, here: https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/you-decide-with-errol-louis/2025/02/06/john-lindsay-new-york-city-mayor-panel-you-decide-crisis-and-accomplishment
Civics education in American public schools began to significantly decline in the 1960s, leaving many students without any knowledge of how our government works and about the historical significance of events. With misinformation polluting social media, some believe that civics education should begin at home, with parents teaching their kids how to understand and navigate the system. It’s all laid out in a new book, “How to Raise a Citizen and Why It’s Up to You to Do It,” written by Lindsey Cormack and published by John Wiley and Sons.
Cormack joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her book and the crucial role parents play in teaching their children about civics. They discussed the importance of understanding and navigating the political system, not only to facilitate voting but also to strengthen or save democracy. They also talked about how some families still feel it is taboo to talk about politics, and how efforts today can sow the seeds for a robust, vibrant democracy of tomorrow.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide, give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message, or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
With affirmative action and so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs under attack by President Donald Trump, J.C. Polanco is holding his ground. A former Republican candidate for public advocate in New York City, Polanco is the CEO of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 1968 to expand opportunities for underrepresented students to attend law school.
Polanco, who is also a law professor at the University of Mount St. Vincent, joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his push to make the legal field more diverse and the obstacles his organization faces due to reduced funding and political attacks. They also discussed the history of DEI initiatives and their own respective paths to finishing law school.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
Just weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump is sending shockwaves around the world. From proposing resettling the population of Gaza to saying he wants the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal, the president is making it clear that he’s not following the traditional set of rules that have guided American foreign policy for decades.
Looking at Trump’s plans abroad, NY1’s Errol Louis recently held an in-depth discussion with veteran diplomat Richard Haass, the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relation. The conversation at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, Long Island, tackled a wide range of international topics from Greenland to Ukraine to the Middle East.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
After 15 months, the Israel-Hamas war has reached a ceasefire deal. Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza and some hostages have been released by their Hamas captors. Many Palestinians are returning to what remains of their homes with humanitarian aid flowing into the region. As Palestinians begin rebuilding, Peter Beinart is exploring the defense of Israel by some of his fellow Jews in a new book, "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning." Beinart, a professor at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the war, as well as his childhood in South Africa and anti-Semitism on college campuses. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
One day after unveiling her $252 billion state budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul joined NY1’s Errol Louis for an exclusive one-on-one interview. The conversation covered many aspects of her new budget proposal: congestion pricing, the proposed cellphone ban in schools, and the challenges she is facing already since President Donald Trump took office.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.
Several doctors who have been judged guilty of medical misconduct, negligence, incompetence and even felonies are still finding a place to practice — New York state prisons. The shocking practice was uncovered by Reuven Blau, a criminal justice reporter for The City, an online news outlet.
Blau joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the shocking story of physicians who have found work in the prison system despite being sanctioned for horrific mistakes and other professional abuses. They also talked about the need for a major overhaul in the state’s prisons and the brutal death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.
Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.