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

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 • 29 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 • 29 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 • 29 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 • 29 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 • 30 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 • 27 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 • 29 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 • 29 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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Impacts of Trump's global economic trade war

April 13, 2025 • 29 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we continue to examine the ongoing impacts of President Donald Trump's global economic trade war. Whether it's affording groceries, buying a new car or figuring out how to pay rent, it was a presidential attempt to change the way that the U.S. does business with other countries. Americans witnessed President Trump threaten other countries around the world with an avalanche of tariffs, slapping huge am...
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Trump announces expansive tariffs on 'Liberation Day'

April 6, 2025 • 29 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we discuss the Trump administration's latest efforts to declare economic independence for the United States. President Donald Trump continues to escalate his global economic trade war, announcing a new round of expansive tariffs on what he dubbed as "Liberation Day." But the day after Trump's announcement, there was another sell-off on Wall Street, and one of the biggest ever. The tariffs sent waves o...
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US security breach after war plans shared in Trump admin. group chat

March 30, 2025 • 30 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we continue to follow the latest headlines from the Trump administration. President Trump this past week declared a new tariff, this one on imported cars. Meanwhile, more federal workers are being forced off the job while sanctuary cities are facing a Trump order to stop what they're doing. The big deal of the week: a major breach over a meeting at the Pentagon that allowed a reporter to be part of a ...
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Trump takes action to gut Department of Education

March 23, 2025 • 31 mins
When President Donald Trump campaigned for a second term, he made a lot of promises, and he appears to be delivering. This week, he took executive action to gut the federal Department of Education. Joining us on this edition of Up Close is Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, who represents educators in New York City. He talks more about the big move taken by the president and what that means for s...
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President Trump's economic war with tariffs

March 16, 2025 • 29 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we take a closer look at President Donald Trump's economic war with tariffs. While the president says he's got it under control, the stock market and many Americans are concerned about the current state of the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, the president continues to have a hold on the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, waging a domestic agenda that's costed a huge percentage of the federal governmen...
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Politicians on President Trump's presidential address and latest actions

March 9, 2025 • 29 mins
It was another busy week for President Donald Trump, filled with sudden controversial actions and about-faces, and the longest presidential address to a joint session of Congress. President Trump made it clear he is determined to go through his agenda, and he seemed not interested at all in a compromise with Democrats. But will some Republicans start to get antsy about some of these proposals? On this edition of Up Close, Republ...
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Breaking down President Donald Trump's 5 weeks in office, current state of NYC mayoral race

March 2, 2025 • 31 mins
Five weeks into the second presidential term of Donald J. Trump, and there are many people on both sides of the aisle who have been thrown for a loop over the daily drill of executive orders and overturning of items, which has also perpetuated shock among many Americans who are not all accustomed to this constant churning. The reaction isn't just from one party. Both parties in Congress approve bills that spend money, and people f...
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Gov. Hochul decides against removing Mayor Adams

February 23, 2025 • 30 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we examine the ongoing political turmoil facing New York City. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul decided not to remove Mayor Eric Adams. Instead, Hochul says she is using "extraordinary intervention" to limit the mayor and his powers. Another question to consider: will Hochul's intervention also limit the New York powers of President Donald Trump? The president has long had a controversial and dramatic relatio...
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Impact of President Trump's immigration crackdown

February 16, 2025 • 30 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we examine the impact of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and reshaping of the federal government so far. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently took legal action against New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and others, claiming they were trying to resist the federal crackdown on undocumented workers. And is the president now also calling the immigration shots for New York City Mayor Eric Adams?...
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Democrats respond to Trump's latest actions, controversies from Week 3 of presidency

February 9, 2025 • 29 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we examine the latest measures and decisions coming from President Donald Trump's administration. In week three of Donald Trump's presidency, we've seen non-stop actions and controversies, from proposals to remove Palestinians from Gaza, to banning transgender athletes, to Elon Musk's influence in the new administration. So, how do Democrats respond, especially those who believe in bipartisanship? In...
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Recapping President Trump's 1st week in office, use of executive powers

January 26, 2025 • 30 mins
On this edition of Up Close, we recap what's been quite a first week in office for the 47th president of the United States. Donald Trump has used his executive powers and actions to follow through on what he promised he would do during his campaign. With Republicans in control of the House and the Senate, Trump appears to be in an uber-strong position, but the majority party is filled with people who don't have the exact same pol...
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