Eye on NY: Recent Episodes
Auburn Citizen
Eye on NY is back! To mark Labor Day, Mark Spadafore, president of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, joined me to discuss the state of the labor movement and various workforce-related issues.
Also in this episode: I discuss my Twitter break.
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Today's guest: Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro discusses the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state budget and his political future.
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Today's guest is Bill Hammond, senior fellow of health policy at the Empire Center. Bill discussed his efforts to obtain the true number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes and why that data is critical to understanding the problem skilled nursing facilities faced and for learning from the pandemic.
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Today's guest on the Eye on NY podcast is state Sen. John Mannion, who represents the 50th Senate District. The district includes parts of Cayuga and Onondaga counties.
Mannion answered questions about his first month-and-a-half in office, what more the state needs to do to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursing home report released by state Attorney General Letitia James (our main story for today) and more.
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As the Eye on NY podcast resumes and opens 2021, I'm joined by two guests: Dustin Czarny, one of Onondaga County's elections commissioners, reflects on the 2020 elections from the perspective of an elections administrator. He also talks about what reforms could be coming in 2021 to improve elections in New York. Roger Misso, executive director of Taking the Hill PAC and a former congressional candidate, discusses the 2020 elections and what the future holds.
New episodes of the podcast will be released every Thursday. You can find the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and auburnpub.com.
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On this episode of the Eye on NY podcast: The fight over the Supreme Court: The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg creates another vacancy that President Donald Trump can fill and move the Court in an even more conservative direction. Voting in New York: There are a few ways you can vote in New York. In this episode, we break them down.
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The Eye on NY podcast is back! The return guest is Mark Spadafore, president of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council. Mark discusses Labor Day, the labor movement in central New York and issues affecting unions and their members.
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Francis Conole, a Democrat running for Congress in New York's 24th district, joins the podcast to discuss his campaign and how it's changed since the COVID-19 pandemic spread to New York.
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Roger Misso, who was a candidate in New York's 24th Congressional District from April 2019 until mid-March, reflects on his campaign and shares memories of the experience.
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U.S. Rep. John Katko joined me to discuss the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, early lessons from the public health crisis and how it's adjusted his work schedule as a member of Congress. (Interview begins at the 30:30 mark.)
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Today on the podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlines his plan for regional reopenings in New York as the state aims to rebound from the coronavirus-induced economic shutdown. Remembering Richard Hanna, the former central New York congressman who passed away in March.
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It's good to be back! On this episode, I provided an update on what I've been doing since the COVID-19 outbreak began in New York and discuss how the campaigns are adjusting to this "new normal."
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Democratic congressional candidate Francis Conole, who is running for the party's nomination in the 24th district race. An update on endorsements in the NY-24 race. Two Democratic committees in the district made endorsements Monday.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: My guest: Khalil Cumberbatch, chief strategist for New Yorkers United for Justice. Cumberbatch joined me to discuss New York's bail reform law that took effect Jan. 1 and to address the misinformation that's out there about the law. Assemblyman Gary Finch announces his retirement. I'll have an update on who's running for his seat. Some thoughts on the Iowa Caucus. Is it time to ditch the caucuses?
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: My guest is Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter, who answered questions about her bid for the 24th district seat.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with John Mannion, Democratic candidate in New York's 50th state Senate District. Mannion, who narrowly lost in 2018, is running again. He shares why he decided to run for a second time, what he learned from his first campaign and answer questions about education and other state issues. A summary of the preliminary campaign finance numbers in the 24th Congressional District race. Remembering Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest players in NBA history. Kobe and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash Sunday.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast:
• A preview of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2020-21 executive budget address. What will the governor propose to address the state's $6.1 billion deficit?
• State Sen. Jim Seward, who was first elected in 1986, announced Monday he will not seek re-election this year.
• Editorial board endorsements: Keep them or dump them?
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: No guests today. The podcast will focus on the 50th Senate District and Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey's comments about his party's approach. He said earlier this week that the GOP is focused on winning in November, not a special election.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Two guests! Unshackle Upstate executive director Michael Kracker joined me to discuss the State of the State and his organization's 2020 agenda. After Kracker, Fiscal Policy Institute executive director Ron Deutsch answered questions about his group's Vision 2020, which focuses on the state's fiscal and tax policies. PLUS: A discussion about two New York congressional races and the fundraising numbers reported so far.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his 2020 State of the State address Wednesday. I'll give a recap of the address and highlight some of the proposals he outlined in his speech. Our guest: Roger Misso, a Democratic candidate in New York's 24th Congressional District. Misso answered questions about some issues, including the Iran situation, and shared his perspective on where his campaign stands at the moment.
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Happy New Year! Welcome back to the Eye on NY podcast.
On today's show: A preview of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 10th State of the State address, with a brief overview of some of the proposals he's already announced and predictions for other issues he will address during his presentation Wednesday. A recap of Assemblyman Brian Kolb's DWI arrest and the impact on the Assembly Republican Conference. Kolb stepped down as minority leader after more than 10 years in the post.
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast:
• Mark Spadafore, president of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, joins the podcast to discuss Labor Day, the central New York labor movement and challenges facing workers.
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: State Sen. Bob Antonacci is the Republican, Conservative and Independence for a state Supreme Court judgeship in central New York. If Antonacci wins, he would vacate the state Senate. What would that mean for the 50th Senate District seat?
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: Dustin Czarny, the Democratic elections commissioner in Onondaga County, is this week's guest. Czarny recaps the election reform legislation passed by state lawmakers this year. He also explains what election officials are doing to implement early voting and other reforms.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Dana Balter, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in New York's 24th Congressional District. She discusses why she's running for Congress and answers questions about climate change, taxes and more. PLUS: What's happening in Onondaga County with early voting poll sites?
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Francis Conole, an Iraq War veteran, who is running for Congress in the 24th district. Conole discussed why he's running, his central New York roots and his positions on a few key issues. PLUS: An update on the race for New York Republican chair. Ed Cox, the incumbent chair, and Nick Langworthy are in a competitive contest to decide who will lead the state GOP.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Roger Misso, one of three Democrats running in the 24th Congressional District race. Misso discussed his central New York roots and answered questions about a few major issues, including climate change and health care. Before the interview with Misso, an update on what issues could be addressed during the final weeks of the state legislative session. Rent regulations and a farm labor bill are among the big topics.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey about the 2019 local elections, the state of the state GOP and a look ahead to the 2020 elections.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The state Department of Transportation released its draft environmental impact statement for the Interstate 81 project this week. Listen to the podcast for a quick summary of the statement and whether the DOT endorsed the community grid or a tunnel option. The 2020 election is more than 18 months away, but there has been a lot happening in the 24th Congressional District recently.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast:
• An interview with Erin Merryn and Gary Greenberg about their advocacy for Erin's Law. The legislation named in honor of Merryn would require New York schools to provide age-appropriate sex abuse education. The lessons would teach children about appropriate versus inappropriate touching. Greenberg, who recently advocated for passage of the Child Victims Act, is joining Merryn to push for passage of Erin's Law.
• A state budget update! There has been some progress on the 2019-20 state budget. I'll review some of the key agreements so far, including a plastic bag ban, additional voting reforms, school aid and prison closures.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: John Balduzzi, a political consultant and president of The Balduzzi Group, joins the podcast to discuss TV ads, mailers, radio ads, digital advertising and more. The Syracuse-area native has consulted several campaigns throughout the country.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon joins the podcast to discuss his first several months in office. McMahon, a Republican, began serving as county executive in November. Before that, he was chair of the Onondaga County Legislature. McMahon explains what he's doing to address three main issues: economic development, infrastructure and poverty. He also details his stance on the Interstate 81 project.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. Molinaro, a Republican, discussed the state of his county, reflected on his run for governor in 2018 and briefly discussed his love of "The West Wing."
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi. Brindisi, D-Utica, explains his support for H.R. 1 (For the People Act), offers his stance on President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration and shares what it was like to be sworn into office as the government shutdown was in effect. The state Assembly passed a bill to raise the legal age for tobacco purchases from 18 to 21. This is a priority for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who included the proposal in his State of the State agenda. An explanation to help better understand the story about U.S. Rep. John Katko's "legislative effectiveness" score. There has been some criticism of Katko from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Prior to the Brindisi interview, a breakdown of what's in the For the People Act the House plans to consider this week.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Dana Balter, a former congressional candidate and founder of Enter the Public Square, a new nonprofit organization that aims to boost civic engagement. Balter discusses the role she hopes Enter the Public Square will play in encouraging central New Yorkers to participate in their communities. She also reflects on her campaign for Congress. There is talk of eliminating fusion voting in New York. What is fusion voting, why does it matter and what are the differing viewpoints? I'll break it down. Will it be difficult for Democrats to agree to a state budget this year? The latest on state budget talks in Albany.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a "red flag" law that will provide a mechanism for removing guns from individuals deemed to be a risk to themselves or others. He was joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The House passed a pair of gun safety measures this week. State Sen. Joe Griffo is pushing a bill that would change the construct of the state Senate. Instead of districts that contain multiple counties, each of New York's 62 counties would have one state senator. State Sen. Cathy Young announced this week that she is resigning to take a job with Cornell. Some pundits think it's because Young, as a Republican, is now in the minority. But there's another (possible) explanation. Finally, an interview with Seth Wallace, the editor at the Palladium-Times in Oswego. Seth joined me to discuss what's happening in Oswego County, the county's congressional representatives and the state of journalism.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of a few stories this week, including the proposal unveiled by one state lawmaker to examine whether upstate and downstate should become two separate states.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: In separate interviews, two local government leaders in central New York discuss their positions on the Interstate 81 project. DeWitt Councilor Kerin Rigney explains why she supports a community grid to replace the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse. If a grid is installed, Interstate 481 — which passes through DeWitt — would become the new I-81 for through traffic. Rigney shares why that could be good for her town. Owasco Supervisor Ed Wagner details his support of a hybrid tunnel-community grid option. There is a tunnel under consideration with some street-level improvements required, but there are several leaders — many of whom reside outside the city — who believe that a hybrid would be the best option. Wagner also relays his concerns about increased truck traffic if a grid is installed.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik to discuss her efforts to elect more Republican woman to Congress. Her leadership PAC, Elevate PAC, aims to support women candidates in House districts across the country. A (brief) recap of Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing the Child Victims Act into law. For many sex abuse survivors, it was years in the making. Analysis of Amazon's decision to cancel plans to place a headquarters in New York. What's the political fallout? Will Amazon come to upstate?
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with state Sen. Fred Akshar, a Republican who represents the 52nd Senate District in New York. Akshar is considered a rising star in the GOP and may run for higher office. We discussed current events in the state Senate, his background in law enforcement and his political future. Breaking down the latest Siena College poll, which included questions about sports betting, physician-assisted suicide and the Amazon project in Queens.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The latest Siena College poll is out. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's favorability and job performance numbers fell. Will Amazon ditch New York for another state? Cuomo is battling Senate Democrats over Amazon's proposed headquarters in Queens.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of President Donald Trump's second State of the Union address During his remarks, Trump criticized the Reproductive Health Act, an abortion rights law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A preview of President Donald Trump's second State of the Union address.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced its initial list of 33 targeted seats for the 2020 election cycle. The list includes four New York Republicans: U.S. Reps. Chris Collins, John Katko, Peter King and Lee Zeldin. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is heading to New Hampshire this weekend as she continues her presidential campaign. She launched her presidential campaign last month and has already traveled to Iowa. This will be her second campaign trip since becoming a presidential candidate.
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Today (for the second time!) on the Eye on NY podcast: A summary of Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into Apple's response to the FaceTime bug discovered last week. The glitch enabled users to hear and see recipients of a FaceTime invite, even though the recipient didn't accept or reject the call. Interstate 81 has been in the news over the past two days. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand mentioned the highway at a Senate hearing, while U.S. Rep. John Katko is planning to hold town hall meetings on the future of I-81.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of a busy two days for the state Legislature. On Monday, lawmakers passed the Child Victims Act. The following day, a package of gun control measures received consideration. The state Legislature passed six bills to strengthen New York's gun laws. A congressional update: U.S. Rep. John Katko retained his House committee seats and added a new subcommittee post.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: It was a busy week for the state Legislature. Democrats in the state Assembly and Senate passed a handful of bills that have long been priorities for lawmakers. On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed voting reforms into law. I'll break down the new laws, including early voting and closing the LLC loophole.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Recapping a busy day in Albany. The state Legislature passed the DREAM Act, which extends state tuition aid programs to undocumented immigrant students, and eliminated the requirement that links student performance on state tests to teacher evaluations. Other topics include the state Senate's passage of a bill to make the property tax cap permanent and the latest government shutdown update.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of a big day for Democrats in Albany. The state Legislature passed the Reproductive Health Act, a bill to update New York's abortion laws. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill during a ceremony at the Capitol. During the latter half of the podcast, I'll give a brief update on the government shutdown and U.S. Rep. John Katko's push to pay TSA officers during the stalemate. Katko will join me for a Facebook Live interview in early February.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Gary Greenberg, a New York businessman who has advocated for passage of the Child Victims Act. Greenberg was sexually abused as a child and founded a group, Protect NY Kids, to push for passage of the Child Victims Act. The Child Victims Act would extend the statute of limitations for child sex abuse civil and criminal cases. It also includes a one-year "look-back" provision that would allow past victims of child sex abuse to pursue civil cases.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his annual State of the State and executive budget address last week. He outlined several proposals, including a permanent property tax cap, health care protections, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, among others.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: I'm back after a brief illness (laryngitis). There will be a review of the State of the State address. That will drop on Monday. On today's show, Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Michael Kracker joins me to discuss his organization's 2019 legislative agenda.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A preview of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State and budget address. What we already know, what are the big ticket items and how he'll pay for it.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Breaking down the bills Democrats are expected to pass Monday to bolster the state's voting systems. The proposals include early voting, same-day voter registration, consolidating the primary elections and no-excuse absentee voting. A brief look at a few of the proposals Gov. Andrew Cuomo released ahead of his joint State of the State-Executive Budget Address Tuesday.
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On this week's episode of the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with state Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, who represents the 53rd Senate District. May sat down with me in December to discuss the legislative session, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 100 days agenda and other topics. Before the interview with Senator May, I recap the past few weeks and the passing of my father-in-law. Programming note: The podcast will resume a daily schedule beginning Monday, Jan. 14.
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered a speech this week detailing his agenda for the 2019 legislative session. He outlined several proposals, many of which have been discussed before. But with a Democratic state Legislature, there is a higher likelihood that the bills will be adopted. Central New York lawmakers received committee assignments. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli will chair an important committee for the future of I-81, and state Sen.-elect Rachel May will head the Senate Aging Committee.
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who at the time of her election in 2014 was the youngest woman elected to Congress, plans to use her leadership PAC to support Republican women candidates — including women running in GOP primaries. Why is that significant? Breaking down Democratic challenger Anthony Brindisi's win over U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney in the 22nd Congressional District race. How did he do it?
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny. Czarny discussed the possibility of New York adopting several electoral reforms next year, including early voting, automatic voter registration and same-day registration. He also shared his pre- and post-election experience as a commissioner. PLUS: A brief recap of some news stories this week, including the historic election of Andrea Stewart-Cousins as state Senate majority leader. In January, she will become the first woman to serve as Senate majority leader.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A special Thanksgiving episode of the podcast. On this day 10 years ago, our family lost its patriarch. My father, Robert W. Harding Sr., passed away. It was a dark day for our family, but we have bounced back. For this episode, I talked to five special guests: My sisters Sandy, Nikki, Missy, Stefanie and Debbie. We shared memories of our dad, how he shaped our lives and what we're most thankful for this Thanksgiving.
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This week on the Eye on NY podcast: An update on the absentee ballot count in the 22nd Congressional District race. State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, the Democratic challenger, leads Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney by more than 3,000 votes. There are still a few counties that need to finish counting before a winner can be declared, but it appears Brindisi will win the congressional race. On Friday, state Senate Republicans gathered in Albany to elect a leader for the upcoming session. Current Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, who has led the GOP conference since 2015, will continue to lead the party's membership. He beat out state Sen. Cathy Young for the minority leader's post.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An election night recap. U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, won a third term by defeating Democratic challenger Dana Balter. I'll discuss the keys for Katko, what wrong for Balter and some of the history that was made last night. Republicans lost a lot of state Senate seats Tuesday night, but they retained control of the 50th district. Bob Antonacci defeated John Mannion, which will allow him to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Republican who supported Antonacci in the 50th district race. PLUS: What's the future of the podcast? Where do we go from here? Spoiler: You will be hearing from me less frequently, at least for now.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of get-out-the-vote weekend and what the two candidates in the 24th Congressional District race were up to on Saturday. Democratic challenger Dana Balter appeared with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand at a rally, while U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, attended a couple of events in the Syracuse area. There has been quite a reaction to The Citizen's editorial board endorsements. My goal on today's podcast is to educate you about the process and address questions about whether an endorsement makes us a "Democratic newspaper" or a "Republican newspaper." Spoiler: It's neither, but listen for the explanation.
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Special episode of the Eye on NY podcast: A closer look at two of the biggest issues in the 24th Congressional District race: Medicare and taxes. Both candidates, U.S. Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, and Democratic challenger Dana Balter, have been discussing these two issues a lot during the campaign.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A closer look at the new voter enrollment figures in the 24th Congressional District. The numbers were posted by the state Board of Elections. The new data shows Democrats increased their ranks over the past seven months. There are also more blank (unaffiliated) voters. A preview of the get-out-the-vote weekend. There are at least a couple of rallies planned. And my election preview stories will run on Sunday.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with U.S. Rep. John Katko, a two-term Republican representing the 24th Congressional District. He is seeking another term. His opponent is Democratic challenger Dana Balter. Other topics discussed on the podcast: New ads in the NY-24 race and the upcoming debates in the congressional contest.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci, the Republican candidate in the 50th Senate District race. Antonacci joined me to discuss some of the important issues in the race. More on the new poll released in the 24th Congressional District race. Some readers (and listeners) have questions about my analysis. (Spoiler: This will include a lesson or two from 2016.)
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A special early morning episode of the podcast analyzing the results of the new Syracuse.com/Spectrum News/Siena College poll of voters in the 24th Congressional District. The survey found U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, leading Democratic challenger Dana Balter by 14 points, 53 to 39 percent. Breaking down the crosstabs of the poll. What are the candidates' favorable ratings? How does President Donald Trump fare in the district? Do voters want Republicans or Democrats to control the House? Plus: Analysis of the race and where things stand with more than a week to go until the election.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An in-depth conversation with John Mannion, the Democratic candidate in the 50th state Senate District race. Mannion, an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus, is vying to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Republican. Mannion answers questions on a range of topics, including education funding, the minimum wage, property taxes, I-81 and more.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Dana Balter, the Democratic candidate in the 24th Congressional District race. This extended interview with Balter covers a lot of ground and a range of issues, from campaign finance reform and what's needed to address gun violence to tackling poverty and improving water quality. Balter, D-Syracuse, is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko in the 24th district race.
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A special episode of the Eye on NY podcast: Breaking down the results of the Spectrum News/Syracuse.com/Siena College poll in the 22nd Congressional District race. The poll found Democratic challenger Anthony Brindisi and Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney in a statistical tie.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of the WCBS gubernatorial debate between Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican challenger Marc Molinaro. It has been described as "fiery" and "spirited." One thing it shouldn't be described as: A debate. A critique of the WCBS moderators. A lot of focus is on Cuomo and Molinaro, and the candidates tend to take the blame when certain issues aren't mentioned. But that's the moderators' responsibility. The good news: Upstate was mentioned during last night's debate. The bad news: It wasn't an important issue.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The week ahead in central New York politics. There are a few debates and forums planned in the 24th Congressional District, 50th state Senate District and 126th Assembly District races.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: There will be debates in the 24th Congressional District race. U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Dana Balter agreed to four debates before the Nov. 6 election. A review of how we got here. Balter criticized Katko for not agreeing to more debates. Katko has fired back and accused Balter of skipping a few forums.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro. Molinaro is the Dutchess County executive, a former state assemblyman and ex-mayor of Tivoli, his hometown. During the 25-minute interview, Molinaro answered questions about debates in the gubernatorial campaign, his positions on economic revitalization, ethis reform and more.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Former Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna endorsed Democratic challenger Anthony Brindisi in the 22nd Congressional District race. Hanna endorsed Brindisi over GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney. Hanna has been a Tenney critic. In the 24th Congressional District race, Democratic challenger Dana Balter participated in a telephone town hall meeting with local AARP members. She discussed Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and more during the hour-long conversation. Also in NY-24: U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, once again called on Balter to disavow the CNY Solidarity Coalition. Balter was involved with the group as an organizer and spokesperson before entering the congressional race.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The second of two(!) episodes on this sunny Tuesday in central New York. If you missed it, make sure you listen to the interview with Upstate Jobs Party founder Martin Babinec. On this episode of the podcast, I'll analyze the third quarter fundraising reports in the 24th Congressional District race between U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Dana Balter. Balter raised more than $1.5 million. Katko raked in over $481,000.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Martin Babinec, founder of the Upstate Jobs Party. Babinec is an entrepreneur who ran for Congress in 2016. When he ran for Congress, he launched the independent party to promote issues important to upstate New York. Babinec discusses the origin of the party and its platform. He also addresses its plan for the future and goal of securing automatic ballot status. A focal point of the interview is the Upstate Jobs Party's involvement in the 50th state Senate District race. The party has endorsed Republican candidate Bob Antonacci, and Antonacci will appear on the Upstate Jobs Party line.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Breaking down the 32-day pre-election filings in three other Cayuga County-area state legislative races, including the 130th Assembly District race between Republican nominee Brian Manktelow and Democratic candidate Scott Comegys.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Did you forget about the 126th Assembly District race? It has been overlooked with the 24th Congressional District contest and the 50th Senate District battle getting most of the attention. But there is a competitive race in AD-126 this year, and it pits Assemblyman Gary Finch against Democratic challenger Keith Batman, a Cayuga County legislator. The latest on the 50th Senate District race between Republican candidate Bob Antonacci and Democrat John Mannion. A joint town hall meeting was held Thursday night and the two candidates debated health care and other issues. I'll also discuss the mailer that received some attention Thursday.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A break from the usual analysis and news in central New York politics. Instead, I'll share some stories from the campaign trail and what it's like to be a reporter during election season.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A review of the latest campaign finance reports in the 50th Senate District race. Republican candidate Bob Antonacci and Democrat John Mannion have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and spent nearly $400,000. There is still a month to go until the election.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The debate over debates continues in the 24th Congressional District. As U.S. Rep. John Katko sticks to his original proposal, Democratic challenger Dana Balter continues to ask for more joint appearances. Will she get her wish? I'll discuss that and more on the podcast. There have been questions raised about who Balter will support for speaker if she is elected to Congress. But the leadership situation for both parties is an open question. I asked Balter and Katko where they stand on the race for House speaker, and who they would support in that election.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Breaking down Cook Political Report's decision to move its 24th Congressional District race rating from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican." What does it mean for U.S. Rep. John Katko, the Republican incumbent? What does it mean for Democratic challenger Dana Balter? Why did Cook change the rating? I try to answer all those questions, and more.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: It has been a big week for Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter. She reported raising a record amount and received former President Barack Obama's endorsement. U.S. Rep. John Katko received an endorsement of his own this week.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Bob Antonacci released the first television commercial in the 50th Senate District race. The ad debuted Saturday during the Syracuse-UConn football game. U.S. Rep. John Katko held a press conference Tuesday to discuss the status of the Violence Against Women Act and the need for a long-term reauthorization. Finally, a quick note about one of my colleagues who is leaving The Citizen.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: An interview with Rachel May, the (likely) Democratic nominee in the 53rd Senate District race. May joined me to discuss her primary night experience, why she thinks her campaign was successful and her views on some of the important issues affecting central New York and New York state. U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, a high-ranking House Democrat, joined Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter for a Latino business roundtable in Syracuse Wednesday. I'll have a brief recap of the event. (You can read my full story on auburnpub.com.) Fort Ontario in Oswego County is one step closer to becoming part of the national park system. The Fort Ontario Study Act was approved by the Senate Tuesday.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The latest news on the 50th Senate District race between Republican candidate Bob Antonacci and Democratic nominee John Mannion. Both candidates have released mailers and Mannion has announced a series of town hall meetings in the weeks leading up to the election. Some programming news: Listen to hear who will be joining me for Thursday's episode of the Eye on NY podcast. It will be the first candidate interview as we gear up for the election. I'll close with some thoughts on a couple of media criticisms, including a critique of how Cynthia Nixon's campaign was covered by New York press outlets. Was the criticism fair? Or did it miss the mark? I'll discuss.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of the New York primary elections Thursday. It was a big night for the Democratic establishment in statewide races, but progressives picked up key wins in state legislative primaries. A breakdown of the unofficial results (as of Friday morning) and how each candidate in a statewide primary performed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary over Cynthia Nixon. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul rebounded after an early deficit and defeated New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams. And in the four-way primary for attorney general, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James won the Democratic nomination. Zephyr Teachout was the runner-up. I'll also share the latest on the 53rd Senate District race. Rachel May challenged state Sen. David Valesky, a former member of the Independent Democratic Conference, for the Democratic nod. She holds a 606-vote lead after the election night tally. There are more than 900 absentees that have been returned.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Looking ahead to the primary election Thursday, Sept. 13. There are three statewide Democratic primaries on the ballot next week. The headliner is the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking a third term, will face Cynthia Nixon, an actress and longtime activist. In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is up against New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams. Finally, the four-way primary for attorney general. The candidates are: New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, anti-corruption expert and law professor Zephyr Teachout and attorney Leecia Eve.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A recap of Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter's town hall meeting in Auburn Wednesday. She answered questions for more than an hour at Seymour Library. The topics included Medicare-for-all, taxes, campaign finance reform and more. Republican state Senate candidate Bob Antonacci reiterated his support for making the property tax cap permanent. I'll discuss his support for the tax cap and why it might be -- or might not be -- an issue in the 50th Senate District race. Former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, an independent candidate for governor, said Wednesday she will appear on the general election ballot after specific objections to her petitions weren't filed.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Recapping the news that Troy Waffner has been named the permanent director of the New York State Fair. Waffner has been the fair's acting director for more than four years. Will there be a NY-24 debate in Cayuga County? It's a possibility. I'll discuss the latest developments on that front.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A post-Labor Day edition of the show. I'll discuss Cynthia Nixon's upstate swing over the weekend and her visit to the New York State Fair. Speaking of the New York State Fair, I'll recap the fair's new attendance record and what helped the fair draw more visitors than ever before.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A little bit of everything! The New York State Fair, a preview of what I'm working on for this weekend and a (brief) recap of our editorial board meeting with U.S. Rep. John Katko.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon participated in their lone Democratic gubernatorial primary debate Wednesday. There were questions about the New York City subway system, single-payer health insurance, marijuana legalization, the Tappan Zee bridge, paid family leave, affordable housing and even sports gambling. But upstate only received passing mentions and there weren't any upstate-centric questions, even though the debate was broadcast statewide. A break down of the new 22nd Congressional District poll released by Spectrum News and Siena College. The poll found the race is a dead heat between U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican, and Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: A preview of the WCBS debate between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon. Cuomo and Nixon are vying for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Breaking down the new Spectrum News/Siena College Research Institute poll of 24th Congressional District voters. The poll found U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, leading Democratic challenger Dana Balter by 15 points. I've got the crosstabs and we'll analyze the results. I'll also (briefly) address the news that President Donald Trump intends to nominate former state Assemblywoman Jane Corwin to serve on the International Joint Commission, a six-member panel responsible for overseeing shared waterways with Canada. If confirmed, Corwin will be designated U.S. section chair, according to the White House.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: We're back! I took a week off due to the busy schedule of events. I'll have new podcasts all this week. I analyze all the forums in the 24th Congressional District and the politics involved. Democratic challenger Dana Balter has pressured U.S. Rep. John Katko to hold open forums. Katko, R-Camillus, held a forum last week in Wayne County and has another scheduled for Cayuga County. Balter has held forums in Onondaga and Wayne counties over the past week and a half. Finally, I'll close with some thoughts on U.S. Sen. John McCain's career. McCain died Saturday after battling cancer. He was 81. He was a rare breed of politician, and this country will miss his honesty.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing criticism for his attempt to slam President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. "We're not going to make America great again," Cuomo said. "It was never that great." Republicans, including gubernatorial hopeful Marc Molinaro and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, pounced. Democrats have criticized the governor, too. A recap of the court hearing Wednesday that led to John Mannion's Reform Party petition being tossed out by a judge.
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Today on the Eye on NY podcast: U.S. Rep. John Katko's re-election campaign released a new TV ad Wednesday. The commercial stars Teresa Woolson, an Oswego County woman who has advocated for laws to crack down on synthetic drugs. Woolson's son, Victor, died in 2012 after he had a fatal reaction to synthetic marijuana. Woolson, a registered Democrat, has worked with Katko to raise awareness about the dangers of synthetic drugs, She supports a bill sponsored by Katko that aims to combat synthetic drugs. Breaking down the 50th Senate District race and why it's one of the most important contests in New York.
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