Democratic Primary Debate for the 12th Congressional District — Full Debate

[0:00] right for you and elevate your journey. It's seven o'clock. 1-800-GOT-JUNK for Homer Office. [0:57] We make junk disappear. Good evening. Welcome to New York One's Democratic primary debate for New [1:24] York's 12th congressional district in Manhattan. I'm Errol Lewis, political anchor at New York One, [1:29] and we're coming to you live from the Nagelberg Theater at Baruch College in Manhattan. [1:33] Over the next 90 minutes, you'll hear from the leading Democratic candidates vying to succeed [1:38] retiring Representative Jerry Nadler, who has held the job since 1992. I'm joined tonight by [1:44] Bridget Bergen and Brian Lehrer of WNYC Gothamist. Early voting starts this Saturday, June 13th, [1:52] in both the congressional and state legislative primaries across New York, including tonight's [1:56] race. And the June 23rd primary is exactly two weeks from today. Now, New York's 12th congressional [2:04] district spans Manhattan's Upper East and West sides, plus Hell's Kitchen, Union Square, [2:10] Times Square, and stretches down through Chelsea. You can watch tonight's debate without a paywall [2:16] on ny1.com and the Spectrum News app, as well as New York One's YouTube page. It's also being broadcast [2:23] on WNYC radio. Tonight, we are joined by the five leading Democratic candidates, all of whom met [2:30] our fundraising criteria. In alphabetical order, they are Alex Boras, who has served in the State [2:36] Assembly since 2023. George Conway is an attorney and a former political commentator. Michael Lasher [2:46] has served in the State Assembly since 2025 and previously worked as an advisor to Governor Kathy [2:52] Hochul. Jack Schlossberg is the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and has made a name [2:59] for himself through political commentary, including on social media. And Nina Schwalbe is a global [3:05] public health expert and has worked in senior roles at the United Nations and USAID. Now for [3:12] the rules. The rules you see on your screen have been agreed to by all five candidates. They [3:18] will each have 60 seconds for an opening statement. Answers to our questions will generally be limited [3:23] to 60 seconds, with 30 seconds allocated to answer rebuttals or follow-ups at our discretion. And there [3:30] will be both a cross-examination round where the candidates get to ask one question to another [3:36] candidate and a lightning round where answers should be yes or no or something very short. [3:41] Okay. We begin now with one-minute opening statements. The order was determined by a random drawing [3:47] this morning on live television. Alex Boras will go first. Good evening. [3:51] Thanks for having us. I'm Alex Boras, a fifth-generation New Yorker born and raised here. I'm a computer [3:58] scientist, a state assembly member, a new dad. And I'm running for Congress because our community [4:04] deserves not establishment, not entitlement, but effectiveness. You should judge us by our words [4:10] tonight, but also by those who are afraid of us and those who are depending on us. Everyone's going to [4:16] promise to fight Donald Trump, but I'm the only one that terrifies his mega donors. They're spending [4:21] $10 million to beat me because I'm the only one that's defeated the Trump slush fund was copied by [4:33] five states and Trump backed down. Who's depending on me? The teachers, the nurses, the firefighters, [4:40] every LGBTQ group that's endorsed in this race because they know I'll fight for them. So judge us [4:45] by who's afraid of us and who's depending upon us. And together we can beat the machines, both political [4:51] and literal. Mr. Conway. As Errol said, I'm a lawyer. I spent 30 years practicing law in this district. [5:01] I was never intending to be a politician. I never was a politician. I've never run for public office [5:06] before and I don't intend to do so. And again, I intend to serve just one term if elected because [5:13] and that one term because we are facing an existential crisis in the form of Donald Trump. He's a criminal [5:21] president who cares only about himself and his ego and and what he can make for himself. He's a sick [5:29] man. He's a narcissistic sociopath who's deteriorating each day. We can see it. He says 37 times he said [5:37] he's had a deal to settle the Iran war that foolishly started. Last night he said he had a standing [5:42] ovation at Madison Square Garden. Now he's he's dangerous. He's just tanking the economy. He's ruining [5:49] our lives. And we can't survive 32 more months of what we will be seeing during the past 16. And as [5:56] you listen tonight, you'll hear a lot of legislative proposals. But ask yourself, how many of those are [6:03] going to pass Donald Trump's desk? How many of those will there be an overridden veto for? Mr. Lasher. [6:13] I'm a born and raised New Yorker and together with my wife Elizabeth, the proud father of three [6:18] amazing kids, Nate, Ben and Phoebe, who I'm so glad are all here tonight. I love you guys. [6:25] As an aide to Congressman Nadler, as director of legislative affairs for the city of New York, [6:30] as policy director for the state, I've taken on powerful interests to get big things done, [6:35] protecting abortion rights after the disastrous Dobbs decision, making our gun safety laws the strongest [6:41] in the nation, doubling access to childcare in New York. And in the state assembly, I've led the fight [6:47] against the fascists in the White House, taking on ICE and RFK Jr., fighting fire with fire on [6:52] redistricting. I'm running for Congress to push the Democratic Party to be a more effective fighting [6:58] force against Donald Trump and to fight for a city that all of our children can afford to build a [7:03] future in. That's why I'm endorsed by Congressman Nadler, by Governor Hochul, by Mike Bloomberg, [7:08] because they know I'm the best candidate not just to represent the needs of this district, [7:12] but our progressive values. Mr. Schlossberg. I'm a young man who is inspired by politics [7:20] and history, who loves my country and my city. And I'm scared about what's going on in our country [7:25] right now. I think we're in an emergency situation. We have two options in front of us right here in [7:31] this moment, our last to stop Trump. Door number one is the door Trump will open, where nobody believes [7:38] in anything. He tells us there's nothing we can do about corruption. The Constitution is his to right. [7:45] The cost of living crisis, there's nothing we can do about it. That's not the lesson that I took [7:51] from the people who built New York, from my community here, and from the generations of Americans [7:56] who sacrificed to make sure that we have the privilege, all of us, to stand here on this stage. [8:01] I want Americans to believe in something again, to believe in public service. I believe in public [8:06] service, and I will never stop. The only answer to the dark moments in our political history in the past [8:13] has been to galvanize the energy, the faith, optimism of a new generation of Americans with [8:19] new ideas and new freshness. And I don't believe that the answers to what to do about the crisis we're [8:26] in are going to come from the very people who oversaw it in the first place. Thank you. [8:33] Ms. Schwalbe. [8:33] Thank you. Good evening. My name is Nina Schwalbe, and I'm running for Congress because we are in deep [8:39] trouble from vaccines to abortion, science to snap. We're losing our democracy and the systems [8:46] that keep us safe. We have children with measles in New York. When we have measles in public health, [8:54] it's a flashing red warning sign that our systems are failing. And it's not just health. It's education, [9:01] it's housing, it's immigration. I have spent my career fixing exactly those types of systems failures. [9:09] I've worked in 100 countries, delivered billions of vaccines, negotiated with Russia, North Korea, [9:15] India. I stood up to Big Pharma, and I lowered the cost of cervical cancer vaccines by 65 percent. [9:22] I faced death threats for this work, and I did it anyway. I'm not a celebrity, I'm not a billionaire, [9:29] and I'm not backed by the party. I'm a fighter, I'm a scientist, and I'm a mom. And I know how to [9:35] rebuild systems that are broken because I built them. I'm very pleased to be here tonight with you [9:41] all, with the boys, with the guys. And I guess somebody decided there should be a mom in the room. [9:46] So thank you. [9:47] Okay. Thank you, candidates. Let's get started. With this district electing a new representative [9:53] for the first time in a generation, we're going to start with a discussion about the state of the [9:57] political party and where you plan to fit in. The Democratic National Committee recently issued an [10:03] incomplete autopsy of the 2024 elections. It never reached a conclusion, but it was clear that [10:08] Democrats lost the support of much of the public in 2024, and with it, the White House and both [10:13] houses of Congress. I'm going to start with you, Mr. Schlossberg. What is your take on what Democrats [10:18] need to do to win back the support of more voters? I don't need to read an autopsy to know what happened [10:24] in 2024. I was asked by the top levels of the Biden and Harris campaign to campaign in every single [10:31] swing state across the country in 2024. I went to Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania a dozen times. [10:37] I rode on the reproductive rights tour bus to advocate for reproductive freedoms so that women [10:42] could make their own health care decisions. And what I saw disappointed me and inspired me. [10:49] What I was disappointed by was how little the Democratic Party was actually doing to reach out [10:54] to people. What inspired me was just how many young people were out there ready to lend their hand, [11:00] to get involved. And all they needed was somebody speaking their own language on their terms, [11:06] on the platforms where they get their information from. The only thing that we need to be worried [11:11] about and the central question in this election is who is going to be able to galvanize the support [11:17] of young people, the people our party has lost over the last two decades, and build a more effective [11:23] fighting force to take on Donald Trump and MAGA. We need our own political movement. [11:29] Okay. Mr. Lesher, how do you see this? [11:31] What drew me to public service nearly 20 years ago was a deep belief that government is the best tool [11:39] we have to improve the material conditions of people's lives. I think that's the proposition of [11:45] the Democratic Party that so many generations were vehemently supportive of. That was the Democratic Party [11:52] of FDR, a great New Yorker. And I think we've lost the plot. Housing costs across the country are [11:58] skyrocketing. The median rent of an apartment in New York City just cost $5,000 a month. The average [12:04] cost of childcare is $23,000 a year in New York City. And in this district, that's incredibly hard [12:10] to find. I think the Democratic Party has to get back to responding to the core economic concerns [12:16] facing Americans, improve the material conditions of people's lives, and build a durable electoral [12:21] coalition for the long term as we rebuild people's faith in government. [12:25] Mr. Schwalbe. [12:27] I've spoken to thousands of people on the street. And when I sought them and asked them what's [12:33] bothering them, they say health care, housing, and the war. And when I push them on the war, [12:39] they say, the war in Iran, they say, Congress is doing nothing. Congress is doing nothing. [12:44] We don't understand it. And neither do I. This war in Iran and the fighting of the Democratic Party [12:51] came literally months too late. And what does that show? That shows a lack of leadership. [12:57] And that's why I call on Chuck Schumer to resign as the head of the Democratic Party. Chuck has [13:05] not served us well. And when the team is losing, the coach has to change. I call on my fellow colleagues [13:12] on this stage to raise their hand, if they're with me, on asking Mr. Schumer to resign as the head of the [13:18] Democratic Party. I'll ask them again. That's a no for those of you at home. That's what real [13:27] leadership looks like. Mr. Conway. Well, for 2024, I think we didn't fight hard enough. I mean, [13:35] I gave a lot of money to the Biden and Harris campaigns, and I raised a lot of money for the [13:40] Biden and Harris campaigns. We didn't go hard enough on Trump. We didn't point out how unfit he was. [13:46] We spent a lot of time talking about issues that are important, to be sure, [13:50] but not enough time talking about how they related to the corruption that Donald Trump embodies. [13:56] The example we need to follow is the example of Hungary, which we've seen just a few weeks ago, [14:02] where the Hungarians threw out Orban because the opposition candidate was able to explain to people [14:10] how the corruption, how the criminality affects their lives and how it hinders their lives. [14:16] An example is the Iran war, as Nina points out. An example are the tariffs. He has to – we cannot fix [14:24] these problems until he's gone. The cart is before the horse if we do anything other than focus on [14:30] impeaching Donald Trump and removing him and his cabinet from office first and foremost. [14:35] Mr. Horace. There's two things we have to do. The first is not shy away from our progressive values. [14:41] We should defend public education. We should advocate for Medicare for all. We should stand [14:46] with our labor unions. We should stand for abolishing ICE. And the second thing is to actually deliver [14:52] results. People don't believe in government because they hear a lot of promises and resumes, [14:56] but they don't see that actually change their lives. I'm proud to have been ranked by the Center for [15:00] Effective Lawmaking as the most effective new legislator from New York City. And even while [15:05] running for Congress, I passed 10 new bills this year to help people in their daily lives. The other [15:11] legislator on this stage didn't pass a single new bill this year. And it's not about keeping score, [15:16] but you have to put some points on the board if you're actually going to change people's lives, [15:20] which is ultimately what government is supposed to do. You wanted to respond, Mr. Lasher? [15:23] I'm exceedingly proud of legislation that I introduced and passed into law to prohibit ICE from [15:30] making warrantless arrests at schools and houses of worship, to give New Yorkers the legal right [15:34] to hold ICE agents accountable in a court of law for the deprivation of civil rights and civil [15:39] liberties, for legislation to improve to allow the state health department to issue vaccine guidance [15:44] when RFK Jr. was shutting down the CDC's ability to do that very thing. There's been no one in the [15:50] legislature more effective in passing legislation that fights back against Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, [15:55] and the rest of those fascist sycophants in Washington. I will happily stack my record [16:00] against anyone on this stage. I think we've heard the claim before that he's the one who introduced [16:04] the bill to allow suits on federal officers, but that's not true. It was our colleague, [16:08] Assemblymember Gabby Romero, who introduced it, negotiated with the governor, and the final [16:12] version matched her bill, not Micah's. Let me – I want to follow up on something that both [16:17] George Conway and Michael Lasher brought up. Democrats are talking about the possibility of another [16:23] impeachment of President Trump in the event that your party wins a majority of House seats in [16:28] November. Polls, though, consistently show that the top concern among voters is affordability – the [16:33] high cost of rent and food and health insurance and other necessities. So this is only slightly [16:38] hypothetical. If you're elected and you are forced to choose, would you say that you and your fellow [16:43] Democrats should focus on those everyday matters or on the time-consuming process of trying to impeach a [16:50] term-limited president? And just – let's give it about 30 seconds each. We'll go right across. [16:55] Yes, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Impeaching Donald Trump gives [16:59] additional investigative subpoena power that we can use to hold the entire regime accountable, [17:04] but we need to deliver for New Yorkers at the same time. Mr. Donald. [17:07] To deliver for New Yorkers through statutory means by passing laws in Congress requires [17:13] a veto-proof majority. It's actually easier to impeach and to remove a president than it is to get two [17:20] thirds of both houses of Congress. You only have to get two thirds of the Senate and only one half of [17:24] the House. And the point that I've been trying to make in this campaign is it's all one ball of wax. [17:31] We can't get to these issues about affordability, reducing – eliminating the tariffs, stopping the [17:37] war, getting – prosecuting and investigating the corruption. All of that can't happen unless we [17:45] focus on that first. Donald Trump has committed more impeachable offenses than every president [17:52] before him combined. And were we to fail to impeach him, we would be normalizing that conduct. [17:58] We'd be saying that the constitutional mechanism for impeaching a president or an executive [18:02] official is a dead letter. And we cannot do that for the long-term future of this country. [18:07] We have to do that at the same time as we focus relentlessly on the cost of housing, [18:11] the cost of childcare, responding to the needs of Americans that have been left behind, [18:16] which is why they've lost faith in government and lost faith in the Democratic Party. [18:20] I'm very – I'm very, very glad to have one over three candidates here on this stage [18:26] over to the position that I've been advocating for for months. Mr. Lasher only recently said that [18:31] impeachment and removal was an impossibility and not worth the Democratic Party's time. [18:35] I completely disagree. I think that we have to have the confidence to impeach and remove [18:40] President Trump and RFK Jr., who I would love to take on one-on-one and impeach him and remove him. [18:47] But also, there is something called a must-pass bill. [18:50] My standard renter's deduction can fit into a must-pass bill. [18:54] My plan to make child tax credit paid monthly, not annually, can fit into a must-pass bill. [19:01] That means the president is going to have to choose between vetoing and shutting down [19:06] the government and shutting down the budget, or passing Schlossberg's renter's deduction. [19:10] And I think he will. [19:11] Okay. Ms. Welby. [19:12] Yeah, I mean, we've already done it twice, so I don't know why we can't do it a third time. [19:16] And, George, I'm also curious to know what you're going to do on day two, [19:19] after we do impeach the president. I think the point here is about following the dollars. [19:25] Congress appropriates money, and then it doesn't spend it. In New York City, [19:29] we have bills to pay for housing, transit, hospitals, you name it. When USAID got cut, [19:36] I got together with 1,600 of my colleagues. We collected the bills of all of the unpaid [19:40] contractors, and we put them to a judge and got them paid. That's the kind of oomph we need for [19:46] New York City to get our bills paid. Impeach him, follow the dollars, and get New York City back on [19:51] track. Thank you. Now we want to shift gears and spend a little bit more time focused on the issues [19:58] of affordability and housing in your district. The 12th Congressional District is the wealthiest [20:04] Congressional District in New York City, with a median income of more than $153,000 a year. [20:10] Still, the affordability crisis has become the central issue across the city. We certainly saw [20:16] it in last year's municipal elections. For each candidate, please tell us your number one priority [20:22] to address your constituents' affordability needs. And Mr. Conway, we'll start with you. [20:28] I think we have to do things to, first of all, get rid of those tariffs once and for all to make [20:32] sure that the price of groceries isn't going up and price of other goods isn't going up because of [20:39] Donald Trump's insane tariffs. We have to stop this war, which is increasing the cost of just about [20:45] everything. People paying, not necessarily in Manhattan because we don't drive as much here, [20:50] but throughout the country paying more for gasoline, diesel fuel that brings us our goods. [20:55] We have to spring an end to that war. And the other thing is we have to take care of, [21:01] we have to deal with the cost of health care. Donald Trump, while he's given tax breaks for [21:08] his friends, has cut short ACA subsidies and cut back Medicare. And we need to replace, [21:20] we need to restore those cuts and get back to an America where the government is focused on helping [21:28] people afford their daily lives. But we can't do that until Trump is gone. Mr. Lasher. You know, [21:34] when I rented my first apartment in New York City, I unwittingly rented it from one of the worst [21:39] landlords in the city, a guy named Steve Croman. And I had to sue him to get our security deposit [21:43] back. Fast forward 20 odd years. And just this year, I worked with District Attorney Bragg [21:48] to pass legislation to make it easier to prosecute landlords for tenant harassment. And voters should [21:53] know that on the issue of housing, there is a difference between Mr. Boris and myself on the most [21:58] significant piece of pro tenant legislation to come before the legislature since he's been in the [22:03] Assembly to prevent landlords from taking rent stabilized units off the market and combining them [22:09] into mega luxury units. He voted with the real estate lobby and the Republicans against that bill. [22:15] I'm running on a new deal for a new generation to offer every young person a guaranteed first job, [22:21] help getting their first apartment, whether they're trying to buy it or rent it, [22:24] and assistance getting through the first year of parenting without getting crushed by the costs. [22:28] First job, first home, first year. Those are the kinds of ideas I think the Democratic [22:33] Party needs to get back to. Mr. Boris, we'll go next to you. [22:36] We'll give you an extra 15 seconds to respond to Mr. Lasher. These are the games that New Yorkers [22:41] are tired of. There was a technical problem with that bill that made owners responsible for their [22:46] entire history that Micah himself spotted and the governor spotted and they revised the bill. And when the [22:51] revised one came back, I voted for it. But the governor also vetoed the other tenant protection [22:56] bill that was there that day. So we should just be straight with voters about what's happening. [23:01] But I will agree that the biggest cause of affordability challenges is housing. We need [23:06] to build more housing and we need to preserve the affordable housing that we have. This is personal for [23:11] me. My wife and I are raising our first child, a nine-month-old, and we're so lucky to be able to do that [23:17] in the neighborhood where I grew up, where my parents were able to raise us on two union salaries, [23:23] an impossibility for many New Yorkers today. So the federal government should be expanding the help [23:29] that it is giving to cities and states, the bonds that it already gives to New York where we use our [23:33] cap. We should be able to use unused bonds from other states. We should also get rid of the Faircloth [23:38] Amendment to fund public housing. We need to have a champion of cities in the seat who will fight for [23:44] every dollar for housing so that every New Yorker can continue to live in peace and economic security. [23:51] Mr. Schlossberg. There's so much that the federal government can do about this problem. [23:56] I'm the only one up here standing with real plans to help New Yorkers immediately. [24:01] My standard renter's deduction could save New Yorkers one month of rent per year. [24:06] Deduct your rent from your taxes. Simple idea. I've also got a plan to make Donald Trump pay [24:11] the cost that New York City taxpayers are currently paying for the perimeter around Trump Tower, [24:16] which costs New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I want to invest that money. [24:20] I want to make him pay, invest that money in cops, teachers, and transit. I want to make HIV [24:26] medication free at the point of care. I want to increase the child tax credit. I want to make it [24:30] easier for nurses to become nurses and send them to elder care facilities, assisted rehab centers, [24:36] and those centers that take care of the elderly, because we have to take care of our elderly [24:40] population here in New York. We have to save Social Security, save Medicare, save SNAP benefits. [24:45] And I just want to say, it is hard for me to believe that the people who are willing to take [24:49] credit for all their legislative experience have overseen a time when New Yorkers tell me every [24:55] single day things have never been worse. I don't trust them to get the job done. They've had their [25:00] time. It's time for something new. Ms. Schwalbe. Thank you. This weekend, I was at Strauss [25:06] houses on the east side and I was on the 17th floor knocking on a man's door who had kidney dialysis. [25:13] And he told me that frequently his elevator is broken and he has to walk up 17 flights of stairs. [25:19] The conditions of our NYCHA housing is a human rights abuse. Housing is a human right. It is not [25:26] a commodity. Instead of funding illegal wars, we need to fully fund NYCHA repairs. We need to stop this [25:34] warehousing of apartments. We need to get the vouchers flowing and make sure landlords don't reject [25:40] them. And we need a federal housing authority which reinvests in the type of Mitchell-Lama housing [25:45] that made New York affordable for so many working people. When I was talking to residents, there was [25:53] a question that I'm going to ask to Micah. And that question is, Micah, you want to tear down Chelsea [26:00] Elliott-Fulton housing? This is a question that comes from an 85-year-old resident who's lived there [26:06] for 40 years. Where is she supposed to live? Mr. Lasher? I absolutely do not want to tear down [26:16] Elliott-Chelsea or Fulton houses. I want to get the federal government back reinvesting in our public [26:21] housing. And it's been the federal government's neglect for decades that has given us a $78 billion [26:27] capital hole in NYCHA, a $300 million annual operating deficit. Every day in my office, [26:33] I work with tenant leaders like Yvette Powell at Amsterdam Houses, Carmen Quinones, Douglas Houses. [26:38] I know the conditions they are living in. No one will fight harder than I will to get the federal [26:43] government back in the business of investing in public housing. That's why I'm proud to be endorsed [26:48] by Congressmember Nidia Velasquez, one of our true champions for public housing in Congress. [26:52] As a follow, for all of you, since housing is something that so many of you mentioned, [26:59] by a show of hands, do you support building new housing in your district? Thank you. [27:06] Our next topic, candidates, is U.S. foreign policy. And we have breaking news in the last two hours. [27:15] I don't even know if you've heard it. The U.S. launched airstrikes on multiple sites in Iran, [27:22] saying it was proportional retaliation for Iran shooting down a U.S. military helicopter yesterday. [27:30] Mr. Boris, first for this round, do you support this latest U.S. action? And more broadly, [27:36] by what standard should the U.S. agree to permanently end this war? [27:40] I'm not going to comment on a specific action we don't have full reporting of yet, [27:43] but I will say that we need to end this war now. I'm glad that the House of Representatives has [27:49] passed a war powers resolution to bring our troops home immediately. And the longer we are out there, [27:54] the more they are at risk. I mean, let's be clear. Donald Trump forged his way into this war, [27:59] and it has made us weaker and poorer as a country. It has led to dead U.S. service members, [28:06] dead Iranian civilians. It has strengthened the Iranian regime, and it's even raised our gas prices and [28:13] our prices of all our goods here at home. We need to end this war immediately. We need to pull back our [28:18] troops immediately and work with international- Unconditionally, no matter if Iran meets any [28:22] criteria? We need to end the U.S. service members being deployed in that region and work with our [28:28] international partners towards a diplomatic solution, but we should not be keeping troops nearby. [28:32] Ms. Schwalbe, same question. This was an illegal war to start, and I see it as an abject failure of [28:39] Congress that they didn't stop it, didn't speak up earlier, 70 days before they set a peep. [28:45] The intergenerational trauma that this war has caused among Iranians, the simultaneous displacement [28:52] of millions of Lebanese, and now the horrific stopping by Israel of any sort of humanitarian [28:59] action through to Gaza. We've been out on the streets marching against this war, and we haven't [29:05] seen any of our Congress people. They've been crickets quiet. This is an abject failure of Congress, [29:12] funding war, funding bombs, not funding diplomacy. One of the things that the Trump administration [29:18] has done that's gone a little bit under the radar is decimate our diplomatic corps. We have a hundred [29:24] embassies, a hundred embassies, with no ambassadors in them. I am for diplomacy. Bombs are out. Let's go [29:33] ask you each to respond to the question, as I asked Mr. Boris to. We are in this war, though probably [29:41] everybody on that stage, on your stage, thinks we should never have gotten into it. But here we are. [29:48] Is there any standard of behavior or action by Iran that you think the United States should hold it to [29:56] before we end our military operation? I think we're in a lot more trouble than we think we are with Iran. [30:02] Last year I was lecturing in China at Fudan University, and I asked our counterparts, it was [30:08] a foreign policy lecture, and I asked our counterparts, do you think, you know, do you think Trump got [30:14] the nuclear weapons? And they said, no, absolutely not. I think we need to do everything in our power [30:18] to stop this war. We are making them mad. We are making a region mad, and it is not in the U.S. [30:23] interest to screw around and screw up the whole Middle East. So, stop. [30:29] Questions of war and peace are the most important that any member of Congress is going to have to [30:34] speak to and vote on. I am proud, along with Nina, to be the first person to oppose this war on day [30:40] one. Others joined in later. At first, they oppose on procedural grounds. I opposed this war on moral [30:47] grounds since the beginning, and I think it is clear as day that this war is a mistake. Do I believe that there [30:53] are any actions that Iran could take that would justify military involvement by the United States? [30:59] Perhaps if there was a coalition of governments around the world working together, sold to the U.N., [31:05] delivered to Congress, and voted on, that is the standard, and absolutely no less. And we cannot [31:12] forget that this war is part of a wider conflict in the Middle East, and that the U.S.' role with Israel [31:18] and our military relationship is a question that each of these candidates on this stage must answer. [31:24] I oppose sending offensive weapons to Israel. I oppose sending bulldozers to continue perpetuating [31:31] the illegal settlements in the West Bank, and I have not heard a clear answer from the other three [31:35] candidates on this stage on that question. We're at time, and we're actually going to get to U.S. [31:39] military aid to Israel in just a minute, but no particular comment on this particular action [31:45] from this afternoon, correct? I do believe that my comment applies, that with a coordinated [31:50] international response to actions by Iran that the U.S. submits to the U.N., the U.S. submits [31:58] to both houses of Congress and is voted on, that that is the only procedure that would justify that [32:02] in my mind. Mr. Lasher, same questions. This war has been wrong and reckless since day one. [32:07] It needs to end now, and I think that the tit-for-tat over the last 24 hours shows that we are not doing [32:13] anything to strengthen our negotiating hand with Iran, and the best course forward is to restore [32:18] as much diplomatic power as we can from the shambles that Donald Trump has left us in on the [32:23] international stage and get back to the negotiating table. I think it's also important to say that [32:28] there's an underlying problem here, which is the weakness of the War Powers Resolution, which has [32:33] been ignored, unfortunately, not just by Donald Trump, but by every president since it was put on the [32:38] books, presidents of both parties, often with the complicity of Congress, who are sometimes happy [32:43] to not actually have to take responsibility for matters of war and peace. So we need to end this [32:48] war in Iran, and we also need to strengthen the War Powers Resolution so that future presidents can no [32:54] longer flout the intent of the Constitution to vest the decision to go to war with Congress. [33:00] Mr. Conley. [33:01] I can't speak to the retaliation that occurred today without more information, [33:07] but I will say this. Contrary to what Jack said, I also opposed this war from the very beginning as [33:14] stupid and unlawful. Stupid because there was no strategy to it, because Donald Trump has no strategy. [33:21] He's purely impulsive. He's completely unfit to be president of the United States. He is a sociopath [33:29] who has control of 1500 nuclear weapons and threatens to wipe Iran at one point off the face of the [33:38] earth. We're not going to get a good deal with Iran because Trump has played. He's basically, [33:45] he's knocked the chessboard pieces off the chessboard, and now he's trying to put them back [33:49] where they were, and you can never quite put them back where they were. But he's going to cause more [33:54] trouble again because he's a sick man and he has no idea what he's doing. And that is another reason why [34:00] we have to proceed as quickly as possible to impeach and to remove him and his cabinet from office. [34:06] Thank you very much. Now on military aid to Israel, and Ms. Schwab, you'll go first here, [34:12] and for 30-second responses, please, on this specific question. There's a bill in the House [34:18] called the Block the Bombs Act. Politico describes it as requiring Israel's government to establish in [34:24] writing the use of offensive weapons in accordance with U.S. and international law, and it must be [34:30] approved by Congress, unquote. Now Congressman Nadler has declined to support this measure, [34:36] but the House Progressive Caucus as a group does support it. Nadler is in the House Progressive Caucus, [34:42] but does not support the bill. If you're elected and the Block the Bombs Act comes to the floor, [34:47] would you vote for it or against it? Ms. Schwab, I'll be first. [34:51] I absolutely support the Block the Bombs Act. I support a free Palestine and a democratic Jewish [34:57] state of Israel, but U.S. tax dollars should not be paying for genocide. I do not support the Iron [35:04] Dome being paid for it. This is maybe where I differ from Jack. I think Israel can pay for its own [35:09] defense systems. Thank you. Mr. Sosma. [35:11] The U.S.-Israel military relationship is of the utmost importance. Israel is our historic ally. [35:20] I do hope for a better future between our two countries. As of today, I would vote to stop [35:26] sending offensive weapons to Israel and vote for the Block the Bombs Act, and I think that this is a [35:30] moral question that is being put to our country right now. At the same time, because and for the same [35:37] reasons that I want to protect civilian lives, I do support continued funding for the Iron Dome. It [35:41] protects civilians, including 600,000 Americans who live in Israel, and I think the United States' [35:47] goal should be peace in the region and to protect civilian lives as best we can. Since it expanded to [35:53] those two things, let's stay on those as we go down the row. Mr. Lasher, either of those? I believe deeply [36:02] in the future of the Israelis and the Palestinians to be one of peace and ultimately a place where [36:09] there can be self-determination for both peoples. Like Congressman Adler, I don't think that those [36:13] measures would meaningfully improve the conditions of people's lives there. I would reintroduce his [36:20] legislation to enact sanctions on West Bank settlement expansion and violence and push for robust [36:27] enforcement of the Leahy laws, which subject all of our foreign assistance to examination that is used [36:33] consistent with our values and human rights. So that's no on Block the Bombs, as well as you would [36:39] continue to support Iron Dome flooding? Yes. Okay, Mr. Conway. I oppose Block the Bombs. I strongly support [36:45] Israel, although I don't support some of the conduct of the Gaza war, and I'm certainly not a particular fan [36:52] of Bibi Netanyahu. That being said, we have to look at our relationship with Israel on a long-term basis, [36:59] that we have to work with Israel as, frankly, still the only democracy in the Middle East, [37:04] imperfect as it may be, imperfect as our democracy may be. And we cannot, we cannot abandon Israel [37:10] and deprive it of its ability to defend itself. And I don't think the distinction between offensive [37:17] and defensive weapons is really a meaningful and enforceable one. Thank you. Mr. Boris. [37:22] I agree with Congressman Adler on Block the Bombs on the Iron Dome and on sanctioning [37:27] the West Bank settlers who are committing violence. All of those are positions that I hold. I've also [37:33] spoken about how we need to not just enforce our Leahy laws, but strengthen them. We should be [37:38] applying universal standards to all of our aid and our military sales. We should have much more [37:43] transparency as to the reports that happen, insulated from the political process, so civil [37:47] servants make that determination. And I've put forward many specific proposals to do just that. [37:51] Just to be clear, when you say you agree with Congressman Adler, that means you would oppose? [37:55] I would do not support Block the Bombs. I would support Iron Dome funding. I would support [38:00] sanctioning West Bank settler violence. And additionally, I would like to strengthen our [38:04] Leahy laws. Thank you all very much for your responses in this round. Daryl. [38:07] Okay. Candidates, public concern over the economic and cultural impact of the spread of artificial [38:13] intelligence has led to calls for government regulation, something that Congress has yet to do. [38:19] This contest has also seen major spending on ads by tech companies and accusations that different [38:24] candidates' positions have been shaped or guided by this spending. According to the New York Times, [38:30] approximately $12 million is being spent by AI firms, about half in support of Alex Boris and half [38:37] against. There's another super PAC, Stanford New York, funded mostly by former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, [38:43] to the tune of over $7 million, mostly spending in support of candidate Micah Lasher. I have individual [38:49] questions for each of you. Mr. Boris, as a former employee of the tech company Palantir, [38:54] you've been accused of being overly friendly to big tech firms, while you say that the state [38:58] regulations you got passed sparked the wave of negative attacks by other AI companies. Why do you [39:04] think voters should see your background in this field as a plus rather than a cause of concern? [39:09] Because I know what actually happens inside these companies, and that's what terrifies them. I mean, [39:15] if people think I've been too friendly to tech, someone should tell the executives at Palantir [39:19] that are funding the super PAC against me. These Palantir, OpenAI, Andreessen Horowitz have pledged to [39:27] spend $10 million against me because I passed the strongest AI safety bill in the country over their [39:35] opposition, the near unified opposition of the tech sector. And I didn't just stop there. On Friday, [39:40] I passed another bill protecting kids from chatbots that was opposed by every AI company. And so I've [39:47] been leading the fight in regulating this technology because Congress is just missing the boat right [39:53] now. It is moving faster than any technology ever has. And there's a few Silicon Valley billionaires [39:59] that want unbridled control over our kids, over our jobs, over the environment. And this is a moment [40:05] when New York 12 voters can look all of them in the eye and say no, say they don't determine the [40:11] future of this technology. We, the American people do. Mr. Lasher, you've been harshly critical of [40:17] Mr. Boris for his work and connections to the tech industry. But your campaign is being supported with [40:24] millions of donations by former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who, after all, is himself the billionaire [40:28] owner of a tech and communications firm. Why are your super PAC backers better than Mr. Boris? [40:35] I think we would all agree we would be far better off if there were no super PAC spending in this [40:42] race. And I've actually introduced legislation to prohibit super PAC spending in New York elections [40:47] and overturn Citizens United. But we should be clear. There is a big difference by support, [40:52] between support for my campaign, between Mike Bloomberg and whose administration I serve, [40:56] who lives in this district, who has no agenda he's looking for me to carry out [41:00] in Congress, who's supporting me because he thinks I'd be a good congressman, and the AI companies [41:05] that have spent millions supporting Mr. Boris. And also, I should mention, the crypto industry has [41:10] entered the chat. Chris Larson spent three and a half million dollars and counting to support Mr. [41:15] Boris, who went out of his way to seek the support of the crypto industry. He filled out a crypto [41:20] questionnaire and got an A-plus rating from the crypto industry. I wouldn't fill out a questionnaire [41:24] from Big Tobacco or the NRA or the crypto industry, let alone tell them everything they wanted to hear [41:30] so that they'd give me an A-plus rating and pour millions of dollars into my campaign. [41:34] Um, say a little bit more. What is wrong with the crypto industry from your point of view? [41:38] I think the crypto industry has been the tool that fraudsters in our country, right up to Donald Trump, [41:44] have used to perpetrate their fraud. And I think when you look at what happened with Sam [41:48] Bankman Freed, who was left holding the bag? Consumers, New Yorkers lost a ton of money. [41:53] And it's worth noting that Sam Bankman Freed was a funder of an independent expenditure effort [41:57] in support of Mr. Boris's first campaign for the assembly. So his history with the crypto industry [42:02] goes back a ways. This is a deliberate strategy that Micah's consultants have come up with to try to [42:09] distract from what my campaign really represents, which is fighting this industry. When Tish James, [42:15] our attorney general put forward her bill to much more strongly regulate crypto in New York, [42:20] she asked me to stand with her, and I worked with her to try to get that passed. I've called for much [42:25] more stringent regulation on this industry, and the crypto industry trade group has opposed every AI [42:30] bill and tech bill that I have proposed. They are not wishing for my success. They're some of the same [42:35] people who are funding the AI group, and they are wishing that anyone else on the stage wins. [42:39] Okay. Mr. Schlossberg, let me bring you into this. You've criticized Mr. Lasher and Mr. Boris, [42:45] this is allowing money to interest to distort the messaging in this race. You, of course, [42:50] come from a famously wealthy family from which you inherited wealth, according to your disclosures, [42:56] between 10 million and 32 million. Doesn't that make you an example of entrenched capital, [43:02] perhaps using the political system to advance its needs? [43:06] Mr. Well, I had a number of relatives who tragically died too young. They left me an inheritance, [43:12] and it is in a trust. This is not the same. Those are apples and oranges. The risk of corruption [43:20] between giving myself money as a candidate, between or having a Republican give me 10 million dollars, [43:29] or someone who gave Donald Trump five million dollars for his inauguration, who is currently, [43:36] Chris Larson, the guy funding Alex Boris' campaign, is currently funding MAGA Republican candidates [43:42] across the country who are determined to beat the Democratic Party. They only want one person on this [43:47] stage elected, Alex Boris. I don't think it's fair. The last time that a New York billionaire tried [43:53] to steal a third term, Michael Lasher was right there to help him do it. I don't think our politics [43:59] should be governed in this district. One of the most blue districts in the entire country [44:04] should have a congressperson who answers to a Republican. And if you don't think that donating [44:09] millions and millions of dollars is going to come with a favor attached to it, you're out of your mind. [44:15] That's not how the world works. I think it is not about what I own. It is about who owns me. [44:21] Our average contribution is 30 bucks from 45,000 people. We have a grassroots movement. [44:27] These two can't even get elected. They wouldn't be on this stage tonight if it weren't for the [44:32] Republican billionaires backing their campaign. And that is why I'm running in this race, [44:36] because New York 12 deserves to have somebody whose voice is not diluted by billionaire Republicans [44:41] who are rigging the system and corrupting our politics that is resulting in the affordability [44:46] crisis that we have here today. They'll both get a chance to respond briefly. Mr. Boris. [44:50] It's clear Jack's been reading the mailers that have been sent to all of us. [44:53] I did my research. I looked all this up. [44:55] Yeah, I'm with him. I'm with Jack. Come on. Come on. [44:58] It's three out of three. [45:00] Let him answer. Let him answer. [45:02] All right. No problem. [45:03] It sounds like I'm debating the super PAC tonight. They came out three weeks after I launched [45:09] and named me oligarchy enemy number one. Two weeks after that, they pledged to spend at least [45:14] 10 million dollars against me. And in response, I've built a broad ideological coalition. Everyone from [45:21] Pat Ryan to Bernie Sanders, our revolution to the state AFL-CIO, who realizes this is our last chance [45:27] to push back against an industry that has been able to stop all regulation in every state except my bill. [45:34] And it's really disappointing to see others on the stage try to mislead voters, try to lead into that [45:38] Trump disinformation instead of looking them in the eyes and talking about the state. [45:42] Just if I could just ask you, what is your belief or do you have a concern about those who are [45:49] supporting you but who all are also supporting, say, Republicans or conservatives or whoever it is [45:54] your opponents don't like? [45:55] I have a concern about all big money in politics. As the person getting attacked with 10 million [46:01] dollars, I think I'm more motivated than anyone in the country to get rid of this outside spending. [46:06] And I'm not just saying I would wave a wand. I will make that a priority when I get into Congress. [46:11] Well, do it right now. Disavow the super PAC money. You've taken 7 million dollars. [46:15] I am the only one who offered to take the people's wage. [46:17] Look, can I? [46:17] Real quick, guys. [46:18] Okay. I will just say, and as someone who grew up enormously admiring the legacy of service in your [46:26] family, Jack, I say this somewhat sheepishly and mournfully, but when we talk about the reasons [46:32] that each of us are on this stage, I'm on this stage because of nearly two decades in public service, [46:38] working at all three levels of government. That's why the voters of my assembly district [46:42] sent me to represent them in Albany, and that's why I'm campaigning to represent the voters of the [46:46] 12th congressional district in Congress. That's why I'm on this stage. [46:49] I'm sorry, but I don't need a lecture on the contributions of the Kennedy family to American [46:54] politics, especially from you, Mr. Lasher. I'm on this stage in my own right, as my own man. [46:59] I am Jack Schlossberg. I run a campaign all across this city with more plans than anybody else on this [47:05] stage. I have made my way here myself, and your public record is great. Run on it. But do not [47:12] ever invoke my family name to try to denigrate who I am and the person that I am. [47:16] MR. Ms. Schwalbe, the argument against regulating AI at the state level [47:21] is that Congress could inadvertently give a commercial and national security advantage to China. [47:28] If elected, how would you proceed on that question? [47:31] MS. Yeah, thank you for that question. So AI is a concern of really most of the [47:36] people in this district, and I've spent a lot of time working on AI, particularly in the medical field, [47:41] where we saw a lack of regulation really lead to bad outcomes and cancer diagnostics that were [47:46] misdiagnosed black and brown people and women. AI is like a truck rolling down a hill without a break [47:53] right now, and we need to regulate it ASAP at the federal level. What does that mean? It means testing [47:59] models before they're released to the public, not afterwards. It means a congressional committee [48:03] that looks across all areas of AI, and it means, when it comes to China, a UN treaty. [48:09] Mr. Boras has really taken a pass on this issue. He's got a lot of airtime, [48:14] and yet Governor Hochul watered down his bill. Now, when Alex gets to Congress, how is he going to stand [48:22] up to the same forces that watered down his bill in New York when he's in Washington? I mean, [48:29] regulating AI after it's released is like regulating a drug after it's released to the public. It has to [48:36] happen before. So, Alex, I just want to check on what you said. It's not just Micah or Jack. It's me, [48:42] too. I want to know, how are you going to stand up to those same interests that seem to have bought [48:47] you once you get to Congress? Adam Rain was a 16-year-old who, like so many, turned to ChatGPT [48:53] for homework help. And when he started feeling depressed, he also turned to it for advice there. [48:59] And six months later, it coached him into suicide. On Friday, I stood with his mom, Maria Rain, [49:07] and dad, Matt Rain, and passed a bill through the state legislature restricting those unsafe [49:13] features towards kids. And you know who opposed that bill? Anthropic and every member of the AI [49:18] industry. I have always stood with families, always stood with kids, and that's exactly what I will [49:24] do in Congress. But that's not quite... We're going to get to the cross-examination in just a minute. [49:30] Mr. Conway, Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed allowing the public to share in the profits of AI [49:35] firms by having government-owned sovereign wealth funds purchase a stake in some of the most promising [49:41] of the AI funds. Do you think that's a good idea? I think it's an interesting idea, and I think it's [49:45] one that needs to be explored, because there is a national security element to AI, in addition to [49:52] all of the other problems that we've seen, the possibility that we read about a few weeks ago, [49:57] where malicious people could use AI to create pathogens, and the suicides, the horrible suicide [50:06] that Alex just talked about. We need to regulate AI, and I support that. But that's not going to happen, [50:11] as long as the people who are, that Alex points out, are spending money against him, [50:16] are supporting Donald Trump. Donald Trump's not going to support any of this, or pass any of this, [50:21] sign any of this into law until he's gone. And in terms of the money in politics thing, [50:27] I don't want to top Jack here, but we've raised almost $4.6, $4.7 million from 200,000 people [50:37] throughout the country. We are not supported by a super PAC. I'm not taking super PAC money. The [50:42] super PACs haven't supported me, or are coming against me, unfortunately, I guess. And I just [50:49] wanted to get that in there. Okay. Not to top you, Jack. Candidates, it is time for the cross-examination. [50:54] Each candidate can ask one of your adversaries a question, and then you'll have to just listen to [51:00] the answer. We're not going to have a back and forth, but you do get to ask a question. We'll start with [51:04] you, Mr. Boris. My question is for Michael Asher. During the Bloomberg administration, [51:09] Stop and Frisk tore apart black and brown families and communities. Everyone calls it racist. You [51:18] lobbied for it hard in Albany. You wrote the now infamous, infamous memo that called it a quote, [51:24] proven strategy. You're running on your resume and your judgment. Do you regret your role in Stop [51:31] and Frisk? This is another meritless attack from Alex Boris. I joined the Bloomberg administration [51:37] in 2009 at the Department of Education, then went to City Hall in 2010, years after Mike Bloomberg [51:44] took office and these issues surfaced. And I was director of state legislative affairs, where I issued [51:49] something like a thousand memos representing the positions of all city agencies. The idea that any one [51:55] of those memos, any line in those memos necessarily represents my personal beliefs is absurd. I thought [52:01] then and think now that Stop and Frisk was a horrific policy that imposed enormous harm on black and [52:07] brown communities in the city. That's why as chief of staff in the state attorney general's office, [52:11] I helped drive a landmark report that exposed the harm that Stop and Frisk was doing and helped [52:16] bring it down. That's why I'm endorsed by the first two black statewide leaders in New York, [52:22] former governor David Patterson, former controller Carl McCaul. And I should add, [52:26] you and I made a different set of choices. Alex, I chose 20 years in public service, [52:30] didn't get it right every day, didn't agree with everything, every administration I worked for [52:35] stood on. You chose a different course. You chose to work in the private sector at a company called [52:40] Palantir that was powering ISIS deportations. I chose public service, you chose Palantir. I will stack [52:47] our records against each other any day of the week. All right, it is your turn to ask a question, [52:51] Mr. Lashier. I will ask of Nina, if I may. Absolutely. I have enormous admiration for your [53:00] record in public health. And I know how much the Trump administration, RFK Jr. have eviscerated [53:06] our public health capacity. It's why in my small way, I tried to help by passing legislation to [53:11] empower the state health department to issue vaccine guidance. And I'd love to know as you look at the [53:17] global landscape, what is an emerging public health crisis that you think is not getting sufficient [53:22] attention right now? Thank you for that question, Micah. The thing that worries me the most right [53:28] now is the Ebola outbreak in DRC, because it's a sign that we lost the plot. It's an outbreak that's [53:36] growing with incredible rapidity in an area of the world that is really hard to treat and get to. And [53:42] why did we get into this situation? It's because the Trump administration stopped counting diseases. [53:49] They withdrew from the WHO on day one, and they just stopped funding the public health system. [53:54] In a couple of weeks, or maybe even next week, we're going to have a million visitors come to our [53:58] city, to this city. And we've basically stopped any kind of disease counting or looking at diseases as [54:04] we move forward. That is a subject of tremendous concern. The people that he's been put in charge [54:11] have no expertise whatsoever. We had Hantavirus. And the guy who we put in charge of that was actually [54:17] a penile dysfunction expert. So I think we need to pay a lot more attention right now. We need to [54:23] get rid of RFK Jr. And I am extremely worried about infectious diseases. We're a big city with a lot of [54:29] people. And we can't lose the plot on this one. Okay, thank you. Next question is asked by George [54:35] Conway. I guess my question is a follow-up to, and this isn't meant to attack in any way Alex, [54:41] because I actually admire Alex and his leadership on AI. But I guess the question is, what I alluded to [54:48] earlier, is how are we going to do, how are we going to get the right kind of legislation on AI, [54:54] whatever the components of it may be, and there are a lot of moving parts there, while Donald Trump [54:59] is still president? Well, I appreciate that question, George. Donald Trump issued an executive [55:06] order targeting my bill, the RACE Act, and similar frontier bills throughout the country. And mine [55:13] was the only bill targeted by that executive order that's been enacted into law since that executive [55:19] order came into effect. So I've already shown an ability to beat him legislatively. [55:24] Congress, Congress is the issue. I'm about to get there, George. Thanks for the guidance. I [55:30] appreciate the segue. I mean well. You do. No, George, it's been lovely having these engagements. [55:38] I mean it. I mean it. I think we're going to get a beer after this. [55:41] Awesome. Bro moment, bro call out. You're invited to the beer, Nina. Don't, [55:48] don't. Beer is not gendered, please. Donald Trump is coin operated. He also responds to public pressure. [55:57] This is a growing issue that 80% of Americans across party agree there need to be regulations. [56:04] The thing stopping it is the fantastic amount of money that threatens any congress member that [56:09] actually takes action. When we win this race, we will show every other member of congress that they [56:15] can actually legislate on AI, and that will have a huge momentum in being able to pass these laws at [56:20] the federal level. Okay. Mr. Schlossberg, your turn to ask a question. [56:24] My question is directed to Mr. Lasher. You have repeatedly called me a TikTok star as if that is [56:31] a bad thing. I spent my life working on campaigns. I worked in government. I worked on the Biden and [56:36] Harris campaign. I built my own media company to speak out against Trump and RFK Jr. at a time when [56:43] media was being consolidated by Trump's oligarchs. I think that work has a lot of value. I think that [56:49] work shows people that I'm willing to show up and that I know how to fight and dance in the way [56:54] that politics in 2026 is presented. So I'm wondering, because you are running on your experience [57:00] and you have missed half the votes this year in your first term as a state assemblyman, [57:07] how do you square the fact that Alex Boris has missed even more around 70%? [57:12] Jack, first of all, let me say, I'm really glad you're in this race. I said that from the start. [57:19] I really admire you. And as we've gotten to know each other, I'm really glad to have gotten to know [57:25] you. And I think it's a good thing that this district has a lot of choices. It's an extraordinary [57:30] district. It deserves a robust primary. And I think that's a great thing. So that's how I feel about [57:35] you. And I am just offering to the public a record in public service. I call me old-fashioned. I [57:43] believe in the power of government to improve people's lives. That's why I got involved as a [57:47] teenager, signing up a table, someone canvassing outside of the Barnes & Noble on 82nd Street and [57:52] Broadway. I wanted to help elect people who are going to change the world. And I still believe in [57:59] that in spite of all the evidence, in spite of a decades-long effort by the Republican Party to [58:04] diminish people's faith in government. You have a slogan, believe in something again. I like that [58:10] slogan, Jack. I believe, I still believe in the power of government to improve people's lives. That's [58:15] why I'm running for Congress. That's why it would be such an extraordinary privilege to represent the [58:19] people of this district. Okay. Ms. Schwalbe, your turn. Alex, sorry, I'm going to pick on you again. [58:26] It's been a pleasure to meet your parents out there on the trail, so I feel a little bad if [58:29] your parents are in the audience. But this idea is really about the PAC. And what you've said over [58:35] and over again is that you won't be bought. And yet when I look at your legislation in Albany, [58:39] it was significantly weakened from what you originally proposed. I don't understand how you're going to [58:44] stand up to big tech in Congress if you can't do it here. Hochul is nothing compared to Trump. [58:55] Maybe she thinks she is. Hochul is nothing compared to Trump. So my question is really, [58:59] you say you can't be bought, but I don't see it. I mean, Jack says his name, No-Pac Jack, [59:04] that's your thing, right? Well, PAC doesn't rhyme with Nina, but I am also No-Pac Nina. [59:08] Very good. Okay, candidates, thank you. Wait, wait, wait. He gets their response. [59:14] Oh, I'm sorry. I asked him the same question. [59:16] Oh, okay. Sorry. We'll work on the rhyming [59:19] scheme later, Nina. All right. No-Pac George? Yes. [59:24] Nina's right. The governor pushed back hard against my bill. And yet, [59:30] State Senator Andrew Ganardis, my partner in the Senate, who endorsed me today, [59:34] said that Alex was the person at every turn, that I was the person at every turn who was fighting to [59:39] make it stronger. And because of my efforts, it still became the strongest AI safety bill in the [59:45] country. I'm really proud of that record. I'm proud of the multiple AI bills I have passed since [59:50] this year that went against what the tech industry wanted. And I'm proud of the 10 bills that I passed [59:57] in the legislature this year, building on my record as the most effective new legislator from New York [1:00:02] City. Okay. Thank you very much, candidates. It is time for the lightning round. We're going to ask a [1:00:08] series of questions. They mostly can be answered with a very brief response or a yes or a no. Ms. Schwalbe, [1:00:14] what's one of your favorite restaurants in the district? Homemade Taqueria on 40th and 9th. [1:00:19] Okay. Mr. Schlossberg. Astro Diner, 55th and 6th. Okay. [1:00:24] Gennaro's on Amsterdam Avenue. I love going with the whole family. Okay. [1:00:28] Bar Mossa in Columbus, Columbus Circle. Spicy Moon in Chelsea. For all of you, [1:00:40] how long do you have to live in New York City to be considered a New Yorker? Mr. Boris, [1:00:45] it's all about your attitude. The second you have a consistent breakfast cart order and that you [1:00:50] would never stand four across on the sidewalk, you're a New Yorker. I think the first time you [1:00:57] get stuck in an elevator in your office building in New York during a power failure. The day you move [1:01:06] here, we're a city of newcomers. We always have been and we should always stay that way. New York's [1:01:13] state of mind all over the world. When you realize when somebody's yelling at you on the street, [1:01:19] they're not actually yelling at you. Starting with Mr. Conway for this one. Would you vote to [1:01:26] authorize U.S. military action against China if Taiwan was attacked? I would authorize us to act in [1:01:37] defense of Taiwan as we have promised for so many years. Unfortunately, I think what Trump has done [1:01:46] has made it a bit more difficult for us to do that by drawing down our ability to defend ourselves. [1:01:50] Thank you, Mr. Laschet. I have to say the gravity of that question as a hypothetical is [1:01:55] much more than can be handled in a lightning round. Mr. Shasta. Yes, the U.S. has the responsibility [1:02:02] to stand with the democracies fighting against authoritarians over the world. That is the central [1:02:06] question of the next century is the rise of authoritarians taking power, taking land, just as [1:02:12] Trump has in Venezuela and elsewhere around the globe. We need to stand by Taiwan, not only as a [1:02:18] moral issue about democracy, but also as an economic security, because we will be held hostage to the [1:02:25] chip shortage. And it sounds like I got to cut it off. Ms. Paul. I would stand with Taiwan as I stand [1:02:31] with Ukraine in Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Absolutely. And Mr. Boris. The U.S.'s official position is [1:02:37] strategic ambiguity, which is why once people are elected to Congress, they struggle to answer this question. [1:02:42] None of us have been elected yet. Yes, we should defend Taiwan. Thank you all. [1:02:47] Richard. So we're moving on to our next topic, which is health care, which I think has been [1:02:51] mentioned more tonight than probably in many of your other conversations. For millions of Americans, [1:02:57] the expiration of COVID era health care subsidies has driven up the costs of health care to unsustainable [1:03:03] levels. And at the same time, as some of you have mentioned, we're seeing deadly outbreaks of [1:03:08] infectious diseases here and around the world. If elected, what would be your number one health care [1:03:16] priority and how would you work on it? And I'd ask, you know, try to limit it. I know there are many [1:03:22] issues that you could tackle, but would you focus domestically? Would you focus internationally? [1:03:26] And we'll start with you, Ms. Schwalbe. Thank you so much. It's a both and. I got into this race because [1:03:32] Trump cut USAID, which is where I worked and most of the CDC and the systems that keep us safe. [1:03:39] We have a crisis now in New York City. We have 40,000 people who are losing their SNAP benefits. [1:03:44] We have that's actually in this district alone. Across the city, we have 700,000 people who are about [1:03:50] to lose Medicaid because of work requirements. We need an immediate stop to this. Health is a human [1:03:57] right. Again, like housing, it is not a commodity. On day one, I would propose the Healthy People, [1:04:03] Healthy Democracy Act. We invest more in drugs for this country than any other country in the world, [1:04:11] and yet we pay the highest prices. The Healthy People, Healthy Democracy Act has three things to it. [1:04:17] Reduce the cost of drugs, make sure everybody has a family provider, and protect and expand Medicaid, [1:04:23] Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act towards a single-payer system. We can also do more abroad. [1:04:32] I wish that we didn't have the situation where people pitted one investment against the other. [1:04:37] We need to restore PEPFAR, restore CDC, and re-engage with the World Health Organization. [1:04:43] Thank you, Ms. Schwalbe. Mr. Schlossberg. [1:04:45] RFK Jr. has decimated our public health infrastructure. He has cut life-saving research into [1:04:51] promising cancer drugs. Meanwhile, President Trump has gutted Medicaid and SNAP. The big, [1:04:59] beautiful bill, something I want to take and flip inside out so we can get to Medicare for all. [1:05:04] And ultimately, if you want somebody to go toe-to-toe with RFK Jr., bring him up to Capitol Hill, [1:05:12] investigate him, subpoena him, hold him accountable for the lies and the deaths that he has caused, [1:05:17] I am your candidate. Mr. Lasher. You know, five years ago, my father passed away. He, [1:05:26] it was a long decline. There were many challenges along the way, but we never had to worry whether [1:05:32] he'd be able to access the treatment or the medications or the care he needed, and that was [1:05:37] because of Medicare. And meanwhile, in this country, 45,000 Americans die every year for lack of access [1:05:46] to health insurance. I would fight with everything I've got for Medicare for all to ensure that every [1:05:52] American has the same access to care that my father had. No one should go bankrupt because of a health [1:06:01] problem. Everyone should get the care that they need. And the points I would make as a member of [1:06:09] Congress would be, first of all, we need to impeach and remove RFK Jr. for the harm that he's done to [1:06:14] our public health system and to restore the cuts to the public health agencies that have been so [1:06:21] decimated by the Trump administration. I support a public option to enhance the ACA and make it more [1:06:28] available and make it more accessible and restore the subsidies for the ACA to make make make it more [1:06:34] people have the benefit of of health insurance and also to restore Medicaid and Medicare cuts that have [1:06:44] also damage so many people. My mom has multiple sclerosis. She was diagnosed over 25 years ago. [1:06:51] Thank God she's doing well. But the only reason she was able to get access to the care that she needed [1:06:57] and frankly that we were able to stay in New York City is because of the incredible health insurance [1:07:03] that her union had fought for. And so health care is a human right and I would fight for Medicare for [1:07:09] all so that every American has access to it. It's also would make the system cheaper and more efficient [1:07:16] and allow for more wider care. And so we could talk about the practical benefits as well, but it's [1:07:21] also just a moral argument. Now, if that's not ready on day one and I'm ready to vote for it and co-sponsored [1:07:27] on day one, but if it doesn't pass, there is a lot we can do. And in the legislature, I have led the fight [1:07:32] to expand health care access, making New York the first state to cover universal fertility preservation. [1:07:37] I've lowered costs in health care by taking out insurance fees. But ultimately, having health care [1:07:42] tied to the precariousness of your jobs in the wealthiest country on earth is unconscionable. [1:07:46] We have to pass Medicare for all. Alex, the New York Health Act has been blocked. It hasn't passed. [1:07:52] It is. And I have co-sponsored it and been at all the rallies and been fighting for it. [1:07:56] It's blocked. Yes. And I haven't... [1:07:58] It hasn't been signed. How are you going to do that in Congress? [1:08:01] Nina, I am a co-sponsor of that bill. From when I came into the assembly, I've been at the rallies. [1:08:06] I've advocated for it. I've been helping to negotiate with labor to push it forward. [1:08:11] I am in strong agreement with you that we should pass the New York Health Act. [1:08:15] Thank you all. Thank you. Brian? [1:08:18] Next question is about climate policy. An increasing source of fossil fuel consumption, [1:08:24] as you all know, is the massive growth of data centers to support artificial intelligence systems. [1:08:30] I'll note that the two state lawmakers who are with us tonight did not vote this month on a proposed one-year [1:08:37] state moratorium on data centers. You had a good excuse. You were all at the first debate, [1:08:42] or you were both at the first debate. But do you support it? Governor Hochul has to decide whether to [1:08:50] sign that bill. And would you support that at the federal level as well, a one-year moratorium on large [1:08:57] data centers? Mr. Lashley. I absolutely would support a federal moratorium on data centers. [1:09:04] And there is a subtle but important difference when it comes to the state moratorium that was just [1:09:08] passed. I was the very first co-sponsor of state legislation to impose a moratorium on data center [1:09:14] construction in New York. And Alex, voters should know, signed on to that bill the day it was slated [1:09:20] to pass. Mr. Boris? I don't know if that timeline is true, but the bill was also introduced, like, [1:09:27] the day it passed. No, that was the final version of the bill. The original version of the bill had [1:09:31] been pending for months, Alex. Yes. And you never co-sponsored it, and you only came out for a [1:09:36] moratorium on data centers at the last possible minute when it was a fait accompli, because Anthropic [1:09:41] certainly does not want a moratorium on data centers in this country. That's the first true thing you've [1:09:46] said on this. Anthropic doesn't want that bill, and I co-sponsored it and argued for it. You're [1:09:51] absolutely right. I do support at the federal level a bill that would flip the incentives here, [1:09:57] because right now the incentives we put out for data centers are to do the absolute dirtiest version. [1:10:02] What Elon Musk is doing in Tennessee, spinning up gas turbines. But if we actually set the rules of the [1:10:07] road that you have to bring your own energy, that it has to be renewable, that you have to connect to [1:10:12] the grid and pay for those upgrades and pay a fee on top of that, we could actually end up with a grid [1:10:17] that is more reliable and more green. But it requires actual regulations that will get us there, [1:10:22] and I'll fight for those in Congress. [1:10:23] All right. Let's get the rest of you on whether you would support a one-year federal moratorium on big [1:10:30] data centers. You're not in the New York State Legislature, so you can't have an official position [1:10:36] about Governor Hochul. But Mr. Conway? [1:10:37] I think as a short-term measure, yes. But I think at the end of the day, I don't believe in moratoriums, [1:10:43] because I don't believe in shutting down business or progress. I think what we have to do is figure [1:10:49] out a way to make more energy, maybe regulations like what Alex has just talked about, about making [1:10:58] sure that data centers bring their own energy and use renewable energy. We have to increase the supply. [1:11:04] As with so many other things, we have to increase the supply to bring the cost down, and we have to [1:11:09] increase the supply to match the demand. And, you know, data centers do serve a useful purpose. We [1:11:15] all store information in the cloud, but we have to pay. We have to figure out how to pay for it. We [1:11:21] have to make sure that energy prices don't go up for regular people, and we have to figure out more [1:11:25] ways to make renewable energy, none of which I would say is going to happen as long as we have a [1:11:29] president who thinks that windmills cause cancer. Thank you, Mr. Schlossberg. I'm only for a moratorium if [1:11:37] there are regulations attached at the end of solving the problem. A moratorium for a moratorium's sake [1:11:41] doesn't make any sense to me. I want guarantees. I want guarantees that new data centers are going [1:11:46] to have to bring their own energy, and it's going to have to be green energy, that they're not going [1:11:49] to be able to draw off the grid and drive up utility prices for everyday Americans. And I just want to [1:11:55] note that, you know, Alex – or talking about the – about Anthropics policies and their preference, [1:12:01] I hope the FEC is watching because there is not supposed to be coordination between super PACs and their candidates. [1:12:06] And Ms. Schwalbe. Yes, I would support the moratorium, and I think the deeper issue here [1:12:16] at the federal level is that we need more clean energy. Mr. Trump has decimated the environmental agency, [1:12:23] basically got rid of it, close to like USAID. We need to reinvest in renewables, stop investing in [1:12:30] fossil fuels, rejoin the Paris Agreement for climate. It's not only big picture climate that is a problem for our city, [1:12:39] it's also little picture. And what I mean by that is air quality, asthma. We have some of the highest [1:12:44] rates of asthma in our NYCHA housing of any – really any place in the world. So we have a lot to do. [1:12:52] I think the congestion pricing was a brilliant idea to bring down the traffic. So again, we've got [1:12:57] proposals for bus lanes that can also be subsidized by the federal government, bicycle lanes – a lot of [1:13:03] things to turn us into a greener city and enact the Green New Deal. Thank you. [1:13:07] So as a quick follow-up for everybody else, I originally had this as a lightning round question, [1:13:12] but do you support congestion pricing as Ms. Schwalbe does, Mr. Schlossberg? [1:13:17] Absolutely, 100%. I do, and I'm very proud to be endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters in [1:13:23] this race because of my strong and consistent record on environmental issues. [1:13:27] Mr. Conway? [1:13:28] I support congestion pricing. I think it's a great – it was a great idea, and it's working. [1:13:32] Mr. Sparks? [1:13:33] Absolutely. Congestion pricing has led to more pedestrian traffic, less vehicle traffic, [1:13:39] less emissions and funding for our subway, which is the lifeblood of New York City. [1:13:43] We have attained unanimity on something. [1:13:47] Okay, candidates, earlier this week, Tom Homan, who's the Trump administration's border czar, [1:13:53] said on national television, quote, [1:13:55] you're going to see more ICE agents than you've ever seen in New York City. He also said, quote, [1:14:00] I just reviewed an operational plan. By a show of hands, which candidates are among you are calling [1:14:07] for abolishing ICE? Okay, that's all five. [1:14:11] Unanimity on a lot. [1:14:13] Unanimity. I'll ask each of you, though, to answer this question, a two-part question. If elected, [1:14:20] how would you push back against ICE deployments in New York of the kind I just described? [1:14:25] And what do you think should replace the functions assigned to ICE? If you're in favor of abolition, [1:14:30] how should our country handle people who have overstayed their visas or crossed the border illegally, [1:14:36] especially if they have committed violent crimes? We'll start with you, Mr. Boris. [1:14:40] ICE as an agency is only 23 years old. We've had an immigration system before it. We can have one [1:14:47] after it. But right now it is funded at the level of the 17th largest military in the world. It's [1:14:52] Donald Trump's personal paramilitary force. And sending armed, masked thugs into our streets to [1:15:00] grab up our peaceful neighbors has no role in a civilized society. So I would abolish, [1:15:06] dismantle, and prosecute ICE. I would restrict Custom and Border Patrol from their 100-mile district [1:15:12] from the borders to just 10 miles. I would surge asylum judges so that we can actually adjudicate [1:15:18] people's cases. It's supposed to take two to three months, and it takes eight years because Donald [1:15:22] Trump defunded that process. And I would have enforcement go back to what it looked like in [1:15:28] the start of the Obama administration, which is a focus on people that just recently crossed, [1:15:33] or those that commit violent crimes. Those that are here peacefully, raising their family, [1:15:37] paying taxes, should be put on a pathway to citizenship. Immigration makes our city and [1:15:42] our country stronger. We should be welcoming immigrants. [1:15:45] Okay. Mr. Conway. [1:15:47] We have to absolutely stop funding ICE, full stop. And it's not an immigration enforcement agency [1:15:53] anymore. It is something else. It is a private police force. We saw what it did in Minneapolis. [1:15:58] And we're going to have tragedy again if we keep funding ICE. So we need to stop ICE. We need to do [1:16:04] everything we can in Congress not to vote, not to pass any funding for ICE. We need to replace ICE. [1:16:10] And we also need full scale, full stop immigration reform of the sort that got, that Donald Trump [1:16:17] actually killed in 2024 when he wasn't even president. We need to have more immigration judges [1:16:23] to judge the asylum cases and to judge the other issues. And we need to be able to, [1:16:28] we need a new form. We need new humane immigration enforcement, I mean, a new humane immigration [1:16:35] enforcement agency that will focus on the actual criminals and not on innocent people. [1:16:41] Mr. Latch. After ICE agents murdered Renee Good and Alex Preddy, and they were murders, [1:16:49] I went to Minneapolis to stand in solidarity with the people there. And what I saw would shock [1:16:55] the conscience of any American. I saw a city under occupation by its own government, [1:17:01] people afraid to leave their homes. What I also saw was something very inspiring, [1:17:07] which was the people of Minneapolis coming together to look out for their neighbors with mutual aid [1:17:12] networks, bringing people food and the basic necessities that they couldn't access because they [1:17:16] were afraid to leave their home. And I saw an active protest movement and ICE observation patrols in every [1:17:22] neighborhood. I drove around with a local legislator just in her capacity as a resident participating [1:17:28] in an ICE observation patrol. And through those efforts, they pushed ICE out of that city. If, [1:17:34] God forbid, ICE were to come to New York City at the scale that we saw in Minneapolis, where they had [1:17:39] three times as many ICE agents as they had uniformed police officers. So to put that in New York terms, [1:17:45] imagine 120,000 ICE officers, Donald Trump's thugs running around this city. I would use the perch of [1:17:51] Congress to build and organize a citizens coalition to push ICE out of our city while fighting to abolish [1:17:59] ICE in Washington. Okay. Mr. Slauson. I've heard Tom Homan's comments on this, sending ICE agents [1:18:06] into the city. He says it's not going to be a Minneapolis situation. I don't trust him. I don't take him at his [1:18:11] word. I think they're going to try to intimidate and scare New Yorkers. Last week, I celebrated four [1:18:18] citizens who activated in Minneapolis to resist ICE in the dead of winter. A school superintendent, [1:18:25] an imam, a mother, who all took upon themselves to help the immigrant communities who were being [1:18:32] rounded up, put into cells, and then kicked out on the street with nowhere to go. And no less is going to be [1:18:38] required from the people of New York. We are all going to have to chip in. When, it's not if this [1:18:43] happens, it's when. We need to be prepared. That is something I will do myself on the front lines, [1:18:49] but we can't get distracted. It would, we have to dismantle ICE. It would be a lot easier to [1:18:54] dismantle ICE if Mr. Boras had not spent his early career mantling ICE. I think we need to do everything [1:19:00] we can right now to get rid of this program and create a federal, a federal institution and agency [1:19:06] that is bound by the rule of law, that respects our constitutional rights, and that recognizes that [1:19:11] immigrants are our true strength. Jack knows that's not true because he keeps saying it and [1:19:16] keeps hearing the response, which is that I actually left Palantir over its work with ICE, [1:19:23] and I put my morals before my career. And this has been looked at by every media outlet who's all found [1:19:29] the same thing. But if you really need proof, it's Palantir executives who are funding the super PAC [1:19:35] against me. And it's my opponents who are repeating their lies again and again in partnership with [1:19:40] Palantir. [1:19:41] Can I respond quickly? Mr. Boras, convenient story happens not to be true. The people funding [1:19:48] against your campaign, OpenAI. Their biggest competitors, Anthropic. Those people are funding [1:19:54] super PAC ads for you. OpenAI is funding super PAC ads against you. You were the lead government [1:20:00] person at Palantir for the first two years of the first Trump administration until 2019, [1:20:07] when it was well documented that ICE was using Palantir technology to separate families here in New [1:20:13] York. Joe Lonsdale, the co-founder of Palantir, is also funding Leading the Future. He is the one who's [1:20:20] involved in pushing back on me, and you should probably stop repeating their lies. Let's get Ms. [1:20:25] Schwalbe on the main question. Yeah. Abolish ICE. I would like to comment on that, which is that I [1:20:34] just wish you guys would stop spending money on those mailers. For every mailer you send, $1.25 to [1:20:38] $2.50, we could vaccinate a child. And for every $5 million that you spend on TV ads or taxi ads, [1:20:45] we could have 2,000 people in New York City on SNAP for a year. In terms of ICE, I wish they would send [1:20:52] CDC, infectious disease people instead. It would be so much better for our city. [1:20:58] We can't have ICE on our street, and I'm proud of New York. I'm proud of New York that we're a [1:21:02] sanctuary city and that we've always held these values. And I'm proud of my neighbors, churches, [1:21:07] synagogues, mosques, hospitals that have fought back, that have put up those sides. Thousands and [1:21:13] thousands of people have taken the training. I was on Canal Street in the beginning of this [1:21:17] administration, and ICE came, and the people stood up. And that's what we're going to have to do. [1:21:22] We do have some good legislation in this New York for all, and I thank the legislatures here [1:21:27] on this stage. We need to make this and strengthen sanctuary city, sanctuary state, [1:21:32] sanctuary country. The pathway is simple. We invest in judges, we invest in translators, [1:21:39] we invest in family services, and we streamline the system so that there's a humane path to immigration, [1:21:45] starting with refunding and restaffing our embassies abroad, because that is and should be the first [1:21:51] point of contact. Okay, candidates. We're coming down the home stretch. We've only got a few minutes [1:21:54] left, so I'll ask you to keep your answers very, very brief on this one. Not long ago, [1:21:58] New York City was receiving thousands of migrants a week, many of them at the Port Authority bus terminal [1:22:03] in this district, after which they were housed at the Roosevelt Hotel, also in this district. [1:22:09] In your opinion, was this a proud moment demonstrating New York's openness to immigrants, [1:22:13] or was it a disaster that deprived native New Yorkers of resources? Ms. Schwab. [1:22:18] It was a proud moment that we accepted immigrants, and if you were on 42nd Street or around the [1:22:24] Roosevelt Hotel at that time, we didn't do a good enough job of welcoming them. I remember that [1:22:32] time extremely clearly and thinking we need to provide women, children, small families with better [1:22:37] services. It was a good start, and we need to do better. Okay. Mr. Schlossberg. We need to take care of the [1:22:43] people who live in this district who are working so, so hard and getting less and less for it, and I think [1:22:48] that also means New York embraces its history as a generous city that welcomes immigrants. And if we [1:22:54] can do both at the same time, I am all for it. But I think sometimes, in some cases, the outlays to try [1:23:01] to solve an overflux in immigration to our state is more of a federal problem. We could have used more [1:23:07] federal help. I want to make sure that we're taking care of our promise to New Yorkers and to live up to [1:23:12] our creed as a nation and city built by immigrants. Mr. Lesh? Like so many, my own family came to New [1:23:20] York City fleeing, in our case, religious persecution in Eastern Europe, and I think it's important to [1:23:27] think of every single family that comes here and the story that they have and the story that they will [1:23:32] write in the future. That was a very difficult moment. I was proud of New Yorkers for coming [1:23:37] together with compassion. They were things I think the city government at the time could have done [1:23:42] more effectively to make the residents of New York feel like the situation was better under control. [1:23:47] But we got through it, and I think we're stronger for it. I'm the son of a Filipino immigrant, [1:23:54] and I'm proud of our nation. I'm proud of the city for its welcoming of immigrants. And we have, [1:24:01] that's one reason. Another reason why we have to end Trumpism once and for all. We have to end this [1:24:07] racist, this xenophobic fear of immigration, and we have to do it in a humane fashion. We have to allow [1:24:15] a path to citizenship for people who are here for no fault of their own, and we have to, [1:24:21] we have to do everything we can to help this country absorb the immigrants that it has. [1:24:28] And that's, that's really what I'm proud of New York for standing up for immigrants. [1:24:34] It was a proud moment. I was proud of the city. I was proud to [1:24:38] fight for funding from the state to help the city. I wasn't proud of the federal government [1:24:44] not coming through in the way that it needed, and we could have used more help in doing that. [1:24:49] And that makes me even more proud of New York City in doing it. But it's true, [1:24:53] the establishment has known the answers for immigration for decades, but they haven't gotten [1:24:59] it done. Like this, unlike so many issues, the old ways are not working, and we need some new [1:25:04] thinking going to Congress to fight for every single dollar and everything that we need here [1:25:08] in New York 12. Okay, thank you. So we are really in the home stretch, [1:25:13] so this is going to be a show of hands question. The national mid-decade redistricting wars have [1:25:19] landed in New York. The state legislature passed a constitutional amendment last week that would allow [1:25:24] the state to redraw congressional lines before the next census. The amendment would need to pass the [1:25:29] legislature again next year and then go before voters in November of 2027. But several voting [1:25:35] rights groups have come out against the current amendment. Latino Justice Pearl Def, the Asian [1:25:41] American Legal Defense Fund, and the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College. [1:25:47] They say the amendment strips critical civil rights protections from voters of color and makes other [1:25:52] unnecessary and sweeping changes to New York's redistricting framework. So buy a show of hands. [1:25:58] Who supports the current redistricting amendment? That would be Mr. Boras, Mr. Conway, Mr. Lasher. [1:26:06] That's all. Okay, let's have a final lightning round. Why don't you start us off, Brian? [1:26:15] Who, Mr. Conway, is your favorite New York City mayor, living or dead? [1:26:22] Um, John Lindsay. Mr. Lasher. Fiorello LaGuardia. [1:26:27] Mr. Strasburg. Fiorello LaGuardia. Ms. Schwalby. [1:26:32] Oh, it's such a low bar. Uh, I can't answer that. I mean, I think about the mayors in my lifetime, [1:26:40] and it's been such a low bar. Mr. Boras. Fiorello LaGuardia. Okay. Um, Ms. Schwalby, [1:26:49] what team are you supporting in the World Cup? Team CDC. [1:26:56] Good answer. Mr. Schlossberg. USA. Okay. Mr. Lasher. USA. USA. USA. USA and small businesses in New York City. [1:27:08] Uh, would you support Representative Jeffries as Speaker if Democrats take back the House? [1:27:15] Mr. Boras. Yes. I'm excited to vote for the first black speaker and to have a speaker from New York City [1:27:21] to fight for resources for this district. Yes. Yes, while pushing the Democratic Caucus [1:27:26] to be a more aggressive fighting force against the administration. I'm not here to play pundit. [1:27:34] No. I think we need new leadership in the Democratic Party. We're a losing team, [1:27:38] and to be a winning team, we need new leadership. Starting with Mr. Schlossberg for this one, [1:27:43] what was the last movie you've seen in a movie theater? I saw Top Gun Maverick three times by myself. [1:27:49] Mr. Schwalby. I don't go see movies. I've got like two kids and a full-time job, [1:27:56] and I'm running a campaign. Oh, I did see The Devil Wears Prada 2. Sorry, [1:28:01] I saw The Devil Wears Prada 2. Mr. Boras. It's maybe a little too on the nose, [1:28:05] but I saw the AI documentary. Mr. Godwin. It's been a long time. Um, I saw The Martian. [1:28:15] That was a long time ago. Mr. Lasher. It was, uh, the second wicked movie with my full family, [1:28:23] my kids, my wife, my mom, my sisters, nieces. But we took a whole row in the, uh, AMC Movie Theater [1:28:30] on, uh, 84th Street. And finally, we only got a minute left. Who's your favorite Nick of all time? [1:28:37] Patrick Ewing, although that finger roll, uh, if only he had hit that, but Patrick Ewing. [1:28:42] Got it. Clyde Frazier. Okay. On a personal note, [1:28:47] Larry Johnson, because I was in The Garden in 1999 when he hit the four-point play, [1:28:51] and I've never had a sporting moment like it since. Who's there too? Alan Houston. [1:28:56] That's amazing. Oh, Alan Houston. Patrick Ewing. Even though I'm a lesbian, [1:29:00] when I was a kid, I had his poster on my wall. One more. Is it me or is it you? Go ahead. [1:29:11] So, we spent a lot of time on AI. I, I, when was the last time you used an AI chatbot? [1:29:16] Which one did you use and what did you ask? Uh, about an hour ago, I used Claude, uh, or yes, [1:29:23] we've been on this debate stage for an hour and a half. So two, three hours ago, uh, and I was [1:29:28] researching for this debate. I used Claude sometime today, and I just don't remember what I used it [1:29:35] for. This morning, I used Claude. I was looking up some statistics about the housing shortage. [1:29:41] Uh, I ran Mr. Boris's transcript from the last debate through AI just to see which, uh, policies [1:29:46] would be favored by Anthropic. I, I used Claude, uh, to prepare for the debate. Okay. Thank you very much, [1:29:55] candidates. That's going to do it for tonight's debate. I'd like to thank the candidates for [1:30:00] our participating as well as our partners here at Peru College and WNYC Gothamist. We also thank all of [1:30:05] you for joining us at home. If you missed any part of this debate, you can watch it in its entirety at [1:30:11] ny1.com or on the Spectrum News YouTube page. Early voting is set to begin, uh, across the five boroughs [1:30:18] on Saturday with several other races, of course, on the ballot as well. And primary day is on June 23rd, [1:30:24] two weeks from tonight. As you prepare to head to the polls, be sure to check out New York One's [1:30:28] Voter Guide. It's on the Spectrum News app and on the website. Thank you all for joining us. Have a [1:30:34] great evening. Thank you.