Ben Tumin, whose celebrated comedic breakdowns of history books on Skipped History were profiled in The New York Times, takes on maybe the best history book ever: The Power Broker.
This show is the first in a three-part series Ben has made exploring Robert Moses and his continued impact on New York today—just in time for a mayoral election where candidates are battling over issues Moses helped define: housing, transit, policing, and who actually holds power in our city.
Across the series, premiering in the lead-up to the June primary and November general election, Ben investigates how the legacy of one unelected official still shapes the decisions facing New York’s next mayor. The show is a safe space for New Yorkers who love The Power Broker—and for the people who have to live with them.
This first installment chronicles Moses’s upbringing and rise to power. Picture it like a John Oliver bit on NYC history, featuring more appearances from a chain-smoking catfish than you probably expect. Whether you’ve read The Power Broker, skimmed the Wikipedia summary, or just nodded politely while someone mansplained it to you at a party, this show is for you.
