Mayor Eric Adams called out sick this week — spending much of his time holed up in Gracie Mansion. Aides said he was undergoing routine medical tests but details on his condition have been sparse. His absence sparked rumors of a possible resignation, which he vehemently denied when he emerged on Thursday for an event with the NYPD. The mayor's dramatic week comes as senior Justice Department officials have been discussing with federal prosecutors the possibility of dropping the corruption case against Adams. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss this unusual week for the mayor.

After that, New Yorkers are already starting to feel the effects of the new administration in Washington. This week, the new secretary for homeland security, Kristi Noem, was in the Bronx, watching as federal agents arrested who they said was the leader of a vicious Venezuelan gang. Meanwhile, there may be other Trump effects — like potentially withdrawing federal approval of congestion pricing. The ‘Off Topic’ team looks at the immediate impact of Trump’s second term on New York.

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Mayor Eric Adams raised plenty of eyebrows this week when he decided to skip Martin Luther King Jr. events in New York City so he could attend the inauguration of President Trump. Adams had nothing to say to reporters on the following day after the president pardoned more than 1,500 Jan. 6 insurrectioners and tried to end birthright citizenship. That night, conservative media pundit Tucker Carlson released an interview he taped with the mayor in which Adams said the Democratic party has abandoned him. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss the firestorm of criticism Adams has received from New York Democrats and then examined what the mayor’s already-bleak political future might entail.

After that, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released her $252 billion budget this week, which included tax breaks for middle-class families, inflation rebate checks, and a new mandate for millions of school kids — no phones in the classroom. The "Off Topic" team breaks down the hefty new budget.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled an ambitious list of plans for 2025 in her fourth State of the State address. The list of promises included checks for New Yorkers, tax cuts, new money for transit projects, cops on the subway and programs supporting pregnant women. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what the governor is proposing and the likelihood that it will happen.

After that, 2025 is an election year - and the mayor’s race is already heating up. The field is starting to take shape for the mayoral primary in June, and new fundraising figures were out this week. The “Off Topic’ team looks at Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection chances and discuss how Andrew Cuomo’s rumored comeback could have an impact on the race.

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Congestion pricing is finally here. As of Sunday, New Yorkers are being charged $9 during peak hours to enter the Central Business District in Manhattan below 60th Street. The initiative has sparked both outrage and celebration. It will take some time to determine whether the plan is a success or failure, and Gov. Kathy Hochul said we won't be able to tell until 2026 — the year she is up for reelection. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli, weigh in on this historic occasion in New York’s transit history.

After that, Mayor Eric Adams delivered his fourth state of the city address this week from the stage at the Apollo Theater, outlining the rationale for his reelection to a second term. The mayor unveiled several plans, including one to build tens of thousands of housing units in Manhattan. The “Off Topic’ team looks at the mayor’s final address of his first term and what New Yorkers can expect in 2025.

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It’s a new year, but the same old problems are facing Mayor Adams.

Jeffrey Maddrey resigned last month as the NYPD’s chief of department after a lieutenant accused him of coercing her into having sex. On Thursday, federal agents raided Maddrey’s home for undisclosed reasons. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss the latest scandal in Adams’ mayoralty.

After that, last week the state attorney general released hours of video footage showing an inmate at an upstate prison, Robert Brooks, being beaten by state correction officers with his hands handcuffed behind his back. He died on Dec. 10 — sparking outrage and drastic calls for reform of the notoriously opaque prison system. The “Off Topic” team looks at what his death means for prison reform and what Gov. Kathy Hochul is doing about it.

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This week, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams' former chief adviser, along with her son and two real estate investors, were charged in an alleged bribery conspiracy. The charges come as the mayor himself faces a separate corruption case. Lewis-Martin, who resigned Sunday from her role as one of the most powerful officials in City Hall, has said she's being "falsely accused." NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan look into the charges against Lewis-Martin and at how they will impact the mayor.

After that, the mayor was denied public matching funds for his reelection campaign this week, while President-elect Donald Trump also expressed some openness to a pardon for the mayor. What does this mean for his trial and his potential reelection? The “Off Topic” team gives the latest on where things stand with Eric Adams.

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This week, a New York City jury found Marine veteran Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely. The jury’s verdict came days after the judge dismissed the top count of manslaughter against Penny, after jurors said they were deadlocked on it. The trial captivated New Yorkers and the country — and was seen as an example of the mental health crisis facing the city. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli weighed in on the verdict and what it may say about race and subway safety.

After that, with the presidential election behind us, New Yorkers have turned their attention to the mayor’s race. New candidates are jumping in, hoping to unseat the incumbent. The “Off Topic” team shared the latest on where things stand in the 2025 race, as well as whether Mayor Adams will be eligible to receive public matching funds due to his legal issues.

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This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced he will work with the Trump administration on immigration policy. Trump has picked Tom Homan as his border czar, and the mayor seems willing to meet with him. Adams also suggested the Department of Justice is biased after fielding a question about Hunter Biden's pardon. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political director Bob Hardt weigh in on the mayor’s recent support of the president-elect, as well as how far he will go before losing New York City Democrats, if he hasn't already.

After that, jurors have been sitting in a courtroom in Lower Manhattan for weeks hearing hours of testimony regarding the death of Jordan Neely — a homeless man with mental illness who was killed on the subway last year. Daniel Penny is accused of criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter in the case. NY1 political reporter Dan Rivoli has been in the courtroom every day, and he joins the “Off Topic’ team for an inside look at the trial ahead of a verdict.

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