David Freedlander

New York

Features Writer and Political Columnist at New York Magazine

Political Columnist & Features Writer, @NYMag

Articles

What Was Really Behind Trump's Endorsement of Mike Lawler

1 week ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

President Donald Trump waded into the murky waters of New York Republican politics on Wednesday, when, seemingly out of the blue, he posted two "Truths" to the social-media site he owns. In the first, he gave his "Complete and Total Endorsement" to the re-election of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a MAGA die-hard who has thrilled the Republican faithful with his culture war battles on immigration and transgender athlete bans.
The 'Liberal Tea Party' Moment Is Here for Democrats

1 week ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

One-hundred days into the Trump administration and the left flank of the Democratic Party delivered a message to its politicians: Do something or risk a tea-party-like revolt from within your own ranks.
Who Can Trump-proof New York?

3 weeks ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

Last Friday, Zellnor Myrie, a state senator from Brooklyn and candidate for mayor, held a press conference announcing how he would take the fight to Donald Trump if he wins in November. Four days later, Comptroller Brad Lander hosted a 300-person town hall in Brooklyn on the same topic, and the day after that Scott Stringer announced his own plan.
Wealthy Trump Donors Try to Make Sense of the Tariff Circus

1 month ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

They were, in many cases, Donald Trump 's most fervent backers: rich Wall Street types, lawyers at corporate firms, business tycoons, and tech engineers who fervently backed the president by raising and donating many millions of dollars for his election, risking the opprobrium of their fellow moneyed elites.
Republicans Say They Want More Elon Musk, Not Less

1 month ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

Republicans have a message for all the Elon Musk-haters out there: He isn't going away. That's even after Musk put himself center-stage in Wisconsin and poured $25 million into the race for a Supreme Court seat only to see his preferred candidate lose by nine points to Democratic-backed candidate, and after a pair of special congressional elections in Florida revealed a worsening national political environment for the GOP.
The (Partial) Reinvention of Andrew Cuomo

1 month ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

Do you see that?" said Andrew Cuomo, who was making the rounds over brunch at Melba's in Harlem one Sunday in March.
What Eric Adams Says About Trump Behind Closed Doors

2 months ago | nymag.com | David Freedlander

On February 10, Eric Adams was on his way to meet John Catsimatidis, the billionaire supermarket magnate and friend of Donald Trump's, at century-old midtown steakhouse Gallagher's when word came that the Department of Justice was looking to end its corruption case against him. "It looked like a thousand pounds of bricks were off his shoulder," Catsimatidis said. In the ensuing days, chaos was ignited in City Hall.
What Eric Adams Says About Trump Behind Closed Doors

2 months ago | flipboard.com | David Freedlander

17 hours agoUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be willing to step down if Ukraine were granted membership in NATO. "If (it means) peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready," Zelenskyy said at a news conference on Sunday, hours before the third anniversary of the …
After a Little Help From Trump, Eric Adams Thinks He Can Win

Feb 12, 2025 | nymag.com | David Freedlander

Eric Adams isn't going away. That was the message the mayor delivered in a sober but defiant five-minute midday address from City Hall on Tuesday, all but comparing Donald Trump's Justice Department to the Almighty after Washington directed the Southern District of New York to dismiss the corruption charges against him. "Psalms 34:1 says, 'I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.' So I thank the Justice Department for its honesty," the mayor said.
All That Glitters

Jan 25, 2025 | nymag.com | David Freedlander

Donald Trump has the potential to be the grand unifying figure the GOP has not had since Ronald Reagan. His voters see themselves in him and imagine his physical and political threats to be like their own.