Editor's Note
Editor’s note: Just call the president, since he might pick up
Reporters always have to try their sources.
President Donald Trump recently answered a call from one intrepid New York reporter. Clive Mason/Getty Images
Many New Yorkers were curious about President Donald Trump’s social media post on April 16 saying: “Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York!” It may be signaling an end to their remarkably friendly relationship.
But only one New Yorker – as far as I know – actually called the president to ask him about it. That was independent journalist Timmy Facciola, whom Trump told no, he didn’t have a falling out with Mamdani. “Not at all. He’s going to ruin the city, however,” the president added. “His policies are no good.”
Facciola is a determined reporter and a former colleague at Politico New York, but you wouldn’t necessarily think the 28-year-old Substacker would have a direct line to the most powerful person on Earth. However, we’re in an interesting time where reporters have realized that if you call the president directly, sometimes he’ll talk.
It reminds me of something Zohran Mamdani said in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. Mamdani recounted that, as he was on his way to the most momentous event of his life, about to be sworn in as mayor of New York City, WNYC reporter Ramsey Khalifeh called him trying to confirm who the transportation commissioner would be.
Mamdani didn’t pick up the phone. But he did check his voicemail to see what Khalifeh was asking about.
That’s the thing about being a journalist. You’ve got to try your sources.
Nobody knows that better than City & State’s Rebecca C. Lewis, who has been reporting on New York’s climate laws for years, and cooked up an Earth Day special explaining where we’re at on the state’s emissions goals and how we got here. Don’t hang up just yet.