TALKERS EXCLUSIVE: Talk-Show-Host-Turned-City-Councilor Frank Morano Shares Insider’s View of WABC and the Intense NYC Mayoral Race
As November 4 approaches, the 2025 New York City mayoral race and talk radio powerhouse WABC are entangled in a political drama worthy of several books and a movie, not to mention big time radio ratings! Key players include Curtis Sliwa, John Catsimatidis, Andrew Cuomo, Sid Rosenberg, and of course, Zohran Mamdani.
Bringing it all to life is former WABC rising talk show star Frank Morano, who is this week’s guest on “Up Close Far Out” hosted by Michael Harrison on the TALKERS MEDIA YouTube Channel.
Morano recently walked away from his “The Other Side of Midnight” show to compete in and win a special election for the seat vacated by a retiring city councilor from his home district #51 on the South Shore of Staten Island. Morano is now running for reelection to his own full term in the NYC election. Harrison predicts that his political future is bright.
In this candid conversation, Morano focuses on the mayoral election, personalities, and struggles in what Harrison describes as “improvisational theater set at the intersection of politics and talk radio.” Morano also discusses how talk radio prepared him for his new political mission.
To connect to the conversation between Frank Morano and Michael Harrison, please click here.
Catsimatidis and others urged him to exit the mayoral race to give former Governor Andrew Cuomo a better chance of beating Democrat Zohran Mamdani. During his on-air conversation with Rosenberg, Sliwa “accused colleagues of betraying him” and he told Rosenberg WABC is “giving preferable treatment” to Cuomo. Catsimatidis later told the Post, “Regardless of all the news going around, I’ve always said great things about Curtis Sliwa, about how well he knows the city. But in a places like New York City where 70% of New York City are Democrats, the real Democrat is Andrew Cuomo, not Zohran Mamdani and Democrats should vote for Cuomo. Catsimatidis added, “I’ve never asked that he leave the race but recommended that a lot of other people have said he should.” Sliwa said on the air that he’s had to hire private security due to threats against him and his wife. “If anything happens to me or anything happens to my wife, because of this frenzy that I hear constantly coming from some of your colleagues there at WABC, it’s on you guys and you gals. My life is on the line here.” Sliwa’s radio show is currently off the air due to his active political campaign. 
contributor to the Red Apple Media station, will host a Sunday talk show, although a firm start date has not been announced. Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis tells the Post, “She is one smart lady and she is one tough lady and you know how much I appreciate smart tough ladies.” DeRosa says her show will tackle “the major headlines driving national news and New York news. It will be a mix of insiders conversation but also I want it to have broader appeal to everyday New Yorkers.” 
last Friday (3/24) at 8:00 pm. Titled, “State of the City, State and Nation,” the show allowed Cuomo to offer his takes on the job his former Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is doing, as well as his thoughts on other political issues. WABC says Cuomo, who has been hosting a podcast of his own, requested the time on WABC and owner John Catsimatidis replied via a press release, “Let him speak! I have said many times that 77 WABC is about truth and hearing from all sides. Let the listeners decide.”