Up Close with Bill Ritter

Up Close with Bill Ritter

“Up Close” is a politics podcast from the No. 1 TV station in the United States, WABC-TV. Hosted by Eyewitness News veteran anchor Bill Ritter, Up Close gets to the heart of the matter, whether it’s about how things are working in government - or how they’re not working. It shows you how public-policy decisions are made. This Eyewitness News podcast goes beyond the headlines and underneath the surface of politics. Sound bites don’t do that – conversation does. Our guests – varied and diverse - are from both sides of the aisle. In addition to full episodes of Up Close, I'm going to be sharing extra content -- interviews, perspective, news digests and more.

Episodes

Nicole Malliotakis and Adriano Espaillat talk congressional redistricting battle

August 10, 2025 • 27 mins
Governor Kathy Hochul is declaring war on the GOP, threatening to change congressional districts in New York in favor of electing more Democrats. Her tough talk follows her meeting with Texas Democratic lawmakers locked in a redistricting battle in the Lone Star State. They fled the state to avoid a vote after Texas' governor pushed to redraw districts to elect more Republicans. On this edition of Up Close, Mike Marza talk...
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Bill Ritter sits down with Gov. Kathy Hochul to reflect on the tragic Midtown shooting

July 30, 2025 • 20 mins
In the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan, Governor Kathy Hochul sat down with Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter after speaking with fallen NYPD Officer Didarul Islam's wife. The governor also talked about how New Yorkers have been approaching police officers on the beat and thanking them for their service and what they are doing to protect people who live in the city, and those who work here. In addition, she...
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Up Close for 7/27/25: Lawler on his decision not to run for governor

July 27, 2025 • 27 mins
He was for months trying to figure out whether to try to keep his congressional seat or run for the Republican nomination for governor of New York. Mike Lawler decided he will not run for governor. Bill Ritter asks him about why he bowed out, the role President Trump played in the decision, the nasty words Lawler has for Governor Hochul, and vice versa, and his words for the Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York. Al...
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Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo make their case in New York City mayoral race

July 20, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, Bill Ritter goes one-on-one with Mayor Eric Adams, who is trying to make his case for a second term, while Andrew Cuomo kicks his campaign into high gear. Adams talks about the federal corruption charges against him, charges that were dropped a few months ago by President Donald Trump's Justice Department. He also discusses the president's impact on the race for mayor. And with the November gen...
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Mayor Adams takes aim at Cuomo, Mamdani in sit-down with Bill Ritter

July 17, 2025 • 21 mins
Fresh off a blockbuster legal accusation from his former police commissioner on Wednesday, and some major endorsements on Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams sat down one-on-one with Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter as the New York City mayoral race heats up. Adams, a former long-time officer and then later captain in the NYPD, picked up key endorsements from police and corrections officers on Thursday. The groups are calling the endors...
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Andrew Cuomo reflects on primary loss and charts different path for November

July 16, 2025 • 16 mins
Days after announcing his intention to stay in the race for New York City mayor as an independent candidate, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke one-on-one with Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett. Cuomo released a video Monday with the formal announcement three weeks after his loss in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. The former governor says he grossly underestimated Mamdani right up until election night, and explained his...
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Former New York Gov. Paterson, Rep. Malliotakis on NYC mayoral race

July 13, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, former and current New York officials weigh in on the race to be New York City's next mayor. Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is picking up more union support, with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) being one of the latest to endorse the state lawmaker. Meanwhile, the "Stop Mamdani" campaign is also kicking into high gear. There are growing calls to narrow the field of candidates ...
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Republican nominee Sliwa on NYC mayoral race; Democrats try to unite behind Mamdani

July 6, 2025 • 28 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we take a look at the race for New York City mayor following the results of the June primary election. President Donald Trump has tried to skewer Zohran Mamdani, this after the state lawmaker secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York. On the flip side, the president has praised current Mayor Eric Adams, who's running for reelection as an independent. So, will Republican voters in ...
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Zohran Mamdani makes case for New York City mayor

June 29, 2025 • 29 mins
On this edition of Up Close, Zohran Mamdani makes his case for why he should be the next mayor of New York. Mamdani went from a no-name politician to the man now in the political spotlight after his stunning upset in the Democratic nomination to lead the nation's largest city. The Socialist Democrat took his populist message to the people using social media in a grass roots campaign. His win, at least partly, came from young ...
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Exlusive: One-on-One with Zohran Mamdani after stunning election night

June 25, 2025 • 23 mins
Fresh off claiming victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani sat down for a one-on-one conversation with Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter on Wednesday. The 33-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist from Queens has declared the win over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani went from being a relatively unknown state lawmaker to the presumptive Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor in just a mat...
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Who will be New York City's next mayor? Countdown to the primary election

June 22, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we count down to New York's primary election on Tuesday with another look at the state of the race for New York City mayor. The hotly-contested race to be the city's next mayor is now in its final stretch, with the primary just two days away. Latest polling shows New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani closing in on former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo's lead in the final weeks. Former NYC Mayor Micha...
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Election Special: Race for New York City mayor | Vote 2025

June 15, 2025 • 53 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we break down the race for New York City mayor and its leading candidates ahead of the June primary election. Just like in the last several years, it's another crowded field of candidates for mayor of New York City. Primary day is just nine days away, and when he was elected four years ago, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams called himself the face of the new Democratic Party. Adams, however, is no longer...
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Election Special: The race for governor of New Jersey | Vote 2025

June 8, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we break down the race for governor of New Jersey ahead of Tuesday's primary election. For the first time in eight years, there is no incumbent in the race, as current Gov. Phil Murphy can't run again because of term limits. The biggest number of candidates running in this gubernatorial primary election: the Democrats. Out of the six Democrats running, two are members of Congress and two are mayor...
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Outrage over ICE detention of NYC student

June 1, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we discuss the public outrage and growing protests over the Trump administration's recent detention of a young immigrant in New York. The protests are in response to the detention of a man from Venezuela who is seeking asylum in New York. The 20-year-old, identified as Daniel, is a New York City high school student, who also had a job to help his mother and siblings. An undocumented worker, like near...
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Trump's reshaping of Washington; Newark Mayor Baraka on arrest, NJ governor bid

May 25, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we discuss President Donald Trump's move to quickly reshape Washington and the role of the federal government at all levels. The president has already cut major federal programs and made big changes by signing a flood of executive orders. So, how do Democrats fight back? We speak with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York about her party's response. Meanwhile, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arres...
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Addressing ongoing travel woes and issues at Newark Liberty International Airport

May 11, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we examine the ongoing issues impacting travel and operations at one of the nation's busiest airports in the Tri-State area. It's been two weeks of travel woes at Newark Liberty International Airport, and now there's concerns that the chaos could continue well into the summer season. Old technology and a shortage of air traffic controllers are just some of the big issues involved. So, will the...
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Mayor Adams talks new budget; sit-down with NYC Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos

May 4, 2025 • 28 mins
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is running for a second term despite a bucket of legal problems, now gone thanks to President Donald Trump. This week, the mayor unveils what he calls the best budget ever. The $115 billion plan includes more New York police officers, free after school programs for all kids and a lot more. On this edition of Up Close, Bill Ritter talks to Mayor Adams about the budget, the race for mayor, the iss...
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The First 100 Days: Trump's Second Term' on Eyewitness News

April 29, 2025 • 25 mins
As President Donald Trump prepares to mark 100 days in office, join Eyewitness News as we take a special look at all that has happened since his inauguration. Trump has taken action on a number of issues, including immigration, raising tariffs to try to restore the American manufacturing base and trying to broker peace in the three-year Russia-Ukraine war, earning praise from supporters. But he has come under fire on a number of ...
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President Trump's 2nd term approval rating so far

April 27, 2025 • 27 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we discuss the approval rating of President Donald Trump's second term in office so far. He has been president just over three months now, and recent polling shows only 37% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy, while 59% disapprove of his tariffs on good for most other countries. The polls suggest more than disapproval - it's fear from Americans about where the country is headin...
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Council Speaker Adams on Trump administration's actions and its impact on New York

April 20, 2025 • 27 mins
Donald Trump may have been born, raised and made a fortune in New York City, but the political battle between the current president and New York officials is taking a whole new road, in fact, many new roads. From the president having ICE agents setting up shop at Rikers Island to deal with deportation of undocumented immigrants, to possible cuts in the New York City budget because of the Trump administration, it is top of mind for...
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