Continuing their surprising political bromance, President Donald Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani met at Gracie Mansion this week ahead of the president's speech at the United Nations. It was the first visit to the mayoral residence by a sitting president since Ronald Reagan met with then-Mayor Ed Koch in 1981. The U.N. gathering also brought renewed tension between Mamdani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who harshly criticized the mayor during his address.

NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena discuss an eventful week in city politics, with the U.N. General Assembly as the backdrop. After that, the "Off Topic" team looks at a City Council hearing on the Mamdani administration's use of an encrypted app to communicate with social media influencers. They discuss questions about preserving public records and the line between government messaging and political promotion.

This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber unveiled a new plan aimed at speeding up bus commutes by an estimated six minutes.

The "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service" initiative includes prioritized bus corridors, including major changes along Flatbush Avenue, such as center-running bus lanes and island boarding. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena examine the proposal and the absence of free buses, one of Mamdani's campaign promises.

Then, elected officials in the city are in line for an 18.2% pay raise under proposed legislation in the City Council. The increase follows a recommendation from the Quadrennial Advisory Commission, an independent panel that reviews compensation for local lawmakers every four years. Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin say they will decline any approved pay increase. The "Off Topic" team discusses the potential salary bumps and what it could mean politically.

This week, the City Council moved to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. The catalyst is the death of an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a driverless carriage, adding to a series of recent horse-related incidents. With City Council Speaker Julie Menin backing the effort, a majority of the City Council members support phasing out horse-drawn carriages by June 2028. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli examine the latest chapter in a debate that has divided New Yorkers for decades.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also signed an executive order imposing the nation's first moratorium on large-scale data centers, which help fuel artificial intelligence companies. The order applies to facilities requiring 50 megawatts of electricity or more. The Off Topic team discusses what prompted the move and how it contrasts with Hochul's earlier approach to artificial intelligence and its role in New York.