December 19, 2025 • 26 mins
It's been quite the eventful year in New York politics - from a competitive mayoral race in New York City to controversial policy items and a late state budget debated at the state Capitol. We'll dive into the headlines that drove the year with POLITICO'S Katelyn Cordero, Bloomberg's Raga Justin and Jimmy Vielkind, of WNYC, Gothamist and the New York Public News Network.
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(00:01):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:22):
IT'S BEEN QUITE THE EVENTFUL
YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.
THIS WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE'LL BE
DIVING INTO THE POLITICAL NEWS
THAT MADE HEADLINES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE
CONSEQUENTIAL MAYORAL RACE IN
NEW YORK CITY, THE POLICY ITEMS
THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE COMPLEX
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
(00:43):
LEADERS.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHIE
HOCHUL ALSO MADE HEADLINES BY
SAYING THAT SHE WOULD BE MOVING
FORWARD WITH SIGNING THE MEDICAL
AID IN DYING BILL AFTER
AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT WAS
LEFT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE
GOVERNOR BEFORE THE END OF THE
YEAR.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW YORK
(01:04):
POLITICAL NEWS OF THE YEAR AND
WHAT TO EXPECT HEADING INTO
2026, WE ARE JOINED IN THE
STUDIO BY KAITLYN CORDERO OF
POLITICO, RAGA JUSTIN OF
BLOOMBERG AND JIMMY VIELKIND
KIND OF WNYC, GOTHAMIST, AND THE
NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.
(01:25):
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO RECAP THE
YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.
>> THANK YOU.
HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> WE KNOW IT'S BEEN QUITE A
BUSY YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE
POLITICS BUT NATURALLY, I WANTED
TO START THINGS OFF WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTED
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST
TAKEAWAYS AND MOMENTS FROM
(01:46):
REPORTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL
THIS YEAR?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT STRUCK ME THAT, ONCE AGAIN,
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS SHOWN HER
TACTIC AND HER APPROACH TO THE
SESSION IS TO JUST LET THE
BUDGET GO LATE TO PUT ALL THE
ITEMS THAT SHE WISHES TO ADDRESS
INTO THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH
THIS YEAR ROSE TO MORE THAN A
QUARTER TRILLION DOLLARS,
TRILLION WITH A "T" DOLLARS OF
SPENDING AND TO ESSENTIALLY HOLD
(02:09):
THAT OVER LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS,
PEOPLE IN HER OWN PARTY WHO
CONTROL BOTH THE STATE ASSEMBLY
AND THE STATE SENATE, UNTIL SHE
GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.
SO THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS NOT
ADOPTED UNTIL EARLY MAY.
IT WAS MORE THAN A FULL 30 DAYS
PAST THAT MARCH 31 DEADLINE AND
HOCHUL SEEMS TO BE VERY
COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TACTIC,
(02:30):
VERY COMFORTABLE WITH USING IT
AND I THINK PART OF THE EFFECT
OF THAT IS TO FREEZE OUT OTHER
ACTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
NORMALLY, THERE'S SORT OF TWO
PEAKS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
ONE AROUND THE BUDGET AND THAT
MARCH, LATE MARCH TIME, AND ONE
TOWARD THE END OF JUNE, IN JUNE
WHEN THE SESSION ENDS AND BY
KIND OF EXTENDING BUDGET SEASON
OVER TIME, HOCHUL KEPT HERSELF
(02:52):
IN A FIRM DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE
PROCESS AND REALLY, I THINK,
CHOKED OUT OTHER BILLS THAT MAY
OR MAY NOT HAVE POPPED FORWARD.
>> I THINK THE SESSION WAS ALSO
OVERSHADOWED BY THE THREAT OF
FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.
THE RIGHT?
THERE WAS A BIG FUNDING SHOWDOWN
BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND NEW YORK, AS A BLUE STATE,
BORE THE BRUNT OF THAT IN A LOT
OF WAYS.
(03:12):
SO YOU SAW A LOT OF ANGST FROM
THE GOVERNOR AND FROM, YOU KNOW,
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IT
SENATE LEADER ANDREA
STEWART-COUSINS, AROUND THESE
PROJECTED LOSSES AND SO THEY'RE
TRYING TO POSITION THEMSELVES, I
THINK, THIS PAST YEAR AS A
BULWARK AGAINST THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, BUT THERE'S ALSO
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND HOW
ARE WE GOING TO BACKFILL THESE
(03:32):
LOSSES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT
NEW YORKERS AND EVERYTHING FROM
HEALTH CARE TO FOOD STAMPS.
SO I THINK THAT-- AGAIN, THAT
KIND OF SHADOWED IT FELT LIKE,
TO ME, A LOT OF THE POLICIES
THAT WERE COMING OUT.
IT SORT OF TEMPERED OTHERWISE
STRONG POLICIES AND MAYBE
SOMETIMES IT SPURRED MORE
PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS TO SAY AT
LEAST EVEN IF NOTHING ENDED UP
HAPPENING, WE GOT TO TAKE A
(03:54):
STRONGER STANCE AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE.
>> AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
BUDGET, JIMMY.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT
BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY
INTERESTING TO ME.
I THINK AT THE START OF THE
YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE THE
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID, YOU
KNOW, WE WERE ALL ROWING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION WHEN IT CAME TO
ADJUSTING AFFORDABILITY, BUT OF
COURSE, THINGS TOOK A DRAMATIC
(04:14):
TURN OVER SOME POLICY ITEMS, AS
YOU MENTIONED, DISCOVERY REFORM,
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, CELL
PHONE BANS IN SCHOOL, AND MASS
BANS ACROSS THE STATE.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT
YOU THINK THESE ITEMS MIGHT COME
BACK NEXT YEAR?
>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL
IS A DESIRE TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT
(04:36):
SHE BELIEVES WILL INCREASE
EITHER THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC
SAFETY OR THAT WILL SORT OF ROLL
BACK SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE
STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES
THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE FIRST
FLASH OF DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTERS
IN 2019, 2020, AND TO SOME
EXTENT, INTO 2021.
(04:56):
SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE
CHANGES TO THE STATE'S BAIL
LAWS, YOU KNOW, REDUCTIONS AND
LIMITING REALLY THE INSTANCES IN
WHICH MONEY CAN BE USED TO KEEP
A PERSON BEHIND BARS BEFORE
THEIR TRIALS.
THERE'S ALSO NOW SOME TALK ABOUT
AN OLDER CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CHANGE, WHICH IS THE AGE OF
(05:17):
CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AT WHICH
JUVENILES ARE TREATED AS ADULTS.
SO HOCHUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR
THAT HER TWIN PILLARS ARE
AFFORDABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND HER PUBLIC SAFETY FIGHTS
HAVE COME IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE
SHE HAS LEVERAGE AND THEY HAVE
BASICALLY HELD EVERYTHING UP, AS
(05:37):
YOU POINTED OUT, SHANTEL, THIS
YEAR IT WAS WITH REGARD TO
DISCOVERY, WHICH IS THE EXCHANGE
OF EVIDENCE BEFORE A CRIMINAL
TRIAL, AND SO I THINK IT'S
POSSIBLE WE'LL SEE SOMETHING
LIKE THAT AGAIN.
I'M ALSO COGNIZANT THIS IS A
DIFFERENT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A
RE-ELECTION YEAR.
WE DO KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN
(05:57):
CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE
LEGISLATURE.
HOCHUL IS, OF COURSE, ALSO A
DEMOCRAT, AND THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE LEGISLATURE TEND TO HAVE A
MORE PROGRESSIVE BENT THAN WHAT
WE HAVE SEEN FROM HOCHUL WHO IS
REALLY A MODERATE GOVERNOR.
SO TO THE EXTENT-- WE WILL HAVE
TO SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHE
WANTS TO HAVE CONFLICT AND TO
(06:18):
HAVE ANOTHER FIGHT ON THESE
ISSUES IN AN ELECTION YEAR.
>> AND KATELYN, I KNOW THAT
YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
AWESOME REPORTING AROUND MEDICAL
AID IN DYING.
WE KNOW THIS IS A VERY
CONTROVERSIAL POLICY INITIATIVE
THAT ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO GET PASSED AND YOU KNOW, PUT
OVER THE FINISH LINE FOR OVER A
(06:38):
DECADE.
IT WAS A VERY HISTORIC MOMENT
WHEN IT PASSED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR AND WE SAW
GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SAY THIS
WEEK SAY THAT SHE INTENDED TO
SIGN THE LEGISLATION, SO WHAT
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE
DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW THINGS SORT
OF PROGRESSED THROUGH THE
SESSION?
>> YES. SO THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE
(06:59):
THAN A DECADE.
WE'VE SEEN THESE ADVOCATES.
THEY LINE THE HALLS IN THE
CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, IMPLORING
LAWMAKERS TO COME-- YOU KNOW, TO
SIGN ONTO THE BILL AND TO SHOW
THEIR SUPPORT.
SO THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION
WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE DEMOCRATS,
YOU KNOW, ALL IN LINE AND IN
(07:20):
STEP.
YEAH. THERE WAS-- IT WAS AN
EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL DEBATE OVER
THIS LEGISLATION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL
THAT I'VE SEEN IN, YOU KNOW, IN
RECENT YEARS.
YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS THAT WERE
CRYING, TALKING ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO CONTEND WITH
THEIR PERSONAL MORAL BELIEFS AND
(07:40):
THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND, YOU
KNOW, WITH WHAT THEIR
CONSTITUENTS WANT OR WHAT THEY
THINK IS RIGHT.
SO IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DEBATE
AND YESTERDAY, WE DID SEE OR,
YOU KNOW THIS WEEK, WE SAW THE
GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE
ALSO HAD TO OVERCOME HER
RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.
SHE'S A CATHOLIC AND THIS IS
(08:02):
SOMETHING THAT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH IS VEHEMENTLY AGAINST AND
WE SAW THEIR COMMENTS CAME OUT,
YOU KNOW, VERY STAUNCH
OPPOSITION.
THEY'RE VERY UPSET WITH THE
GOVERNOR NOW.
SO YOU KNOW, IT PUTS HER IN A
TOUGH SITUATION WHERE SHE'S
ALWAYS HAD VERY GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH, YOU KNOW,
RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE STATE
(08:23):
AND THIS IS PUTTING HER AGAINST
THEM ON AN ISSUE THAT THEY
REALLY SEE AS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING
SHORT OF A VETO WOULD BE
ANYTHING BUT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM.
SO THEY NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT.
JIMMY, GOT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS
OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH AND
IT'S-- THEY FINALLY CAME TO SOME
(08:44):
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
MAY NOT BE WHAT THE ADVOCATES
WANTED AND SOME OF THESE
AMENDMENTS, THEY PUSHED AGAINST
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WHEN THEY WERE NEGOTIATING THE
DETAILS, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE
ADDED BACK IN, AND ALSO SOME OF
THEM ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T
SEEN IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE
THIS.
LIKE A VIDEO OR AUDIO REQUEST,
(09:05):
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A
BIT OF A SURPRISE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE
HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY
WERE HAVING NEGOTIATIONS AND
TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
VERY-- IT'S GOT HIGHER
SAFEGUARDS THAN WE'VE SEEN IN
ANY OTHER STATE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE-- THEY
HAVEN'T PASSED IT YET.
THERE IS STILL TIME.
(09:27):
THEY HAVE THE-- THE GOVERNOR IS
PROMISING TO SIGN IT, BUT THE
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE HASN'T COME
OUT YET.
THAT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED IN
JANUARY, AND THEN THE
LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO PASS
THE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS, AND THEN
IT WILL GO BACK TO HOCHUL TO
SIGN.
>> YOU KNOW, KATELYN, YOU WERE
SO RIGHT TO UNDERLINE SORT OF
THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THIS
DEBATE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT
(09:49):
TO ME ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS THAT
SO OFTEN THE THINGS THAT ARE
DISCUSSED AND DEBATED IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE ARE SO
ABSTRACT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERY
REFORM ABOUT WHAT EVIDENCE
BEFORE A TRIAL, YOU KNOW, IT
TAKE 30S SECONDS TO EXPLAIN WHAT
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS SO TANGIBLE FOR PEOPLE.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE--
UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO GRAPPLE
(10:09):
WITH THE END OF THE LIFE OF A
PERSON THAT THEY LOVE AND
THEY'VE SEEN THIS.
THEY CAN PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS
SITUATION.
SO WATCHING OUR LAWMAKERS
WRESTLE WITH THAT IN REALTIME, I
THOUGHT WAS QUITE POIGNANT.
I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
THAT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING, AS
YOU JUST POINTED OUT, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN IN
(10:30):
JANUARY WITH THE VOTE ON THESE
AMENDMENTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT ARE ON
THE DOCKET FOR THE GOVERNOR THAT
YOU ALL ARE LOOKING OUT FOR?
>> I PERSONALLY AM LOOKING AT
THE RAISE ACT.
THAT'S A PRETTY-- IT DOESN'T GET
A TON OF ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS
QUITE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE
(10:51):
INTRICACIES OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT
HONESTLY AT ALL, AND YET WE
STILL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITING
ABOUT THESE BILLS THAT ARE
REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND DEAL
WITH REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL
INDUSTRIALS.
ITS STATED INTENT IS TO PLACE--
WE TALK ABOUT SAFEGUARDS, THIS
IS AN ATTEMPT TO PLACE THE
NATION'S STRONGEST SAFEGUARDS ON
(11:12):
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
DEVELOPERS AND TO BASICALLY HOLD
THOSE COMPANIES, VERY LARGE
COMPANIES, WHAT WE WOULD THINK
OF AS BIG TECH, TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POTENTIAL
RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES THAT
COULD COME FROM VERY LARGE AI
MODELS.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR
AND THE BILL SPONSOR ON THAT.
(11:33):
AS OF NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVESTED IN THIS ISSUE.
AI SAFETY ADVOCATES AND ALSO BIG
TECH REPRESENTATIVES THEMSELVES
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE
GOVERNOR AND EVERYONE IS
WATCHING NEW YORK ON THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL
INTERESTS IN STOPPING STATES
FROM REGULATING AI, ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE, AND YOU KNOW,
(11:54):
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THEORIES AS TO WHY THAT'S THE
CASE.
I THINK SILICON VALLEY HAS BEEN
SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT IN
D.C., AND SO IF YOU'RE AN AI
SAFETY ADVOCATE OR PROGRESSIVE,
LET'S SAY, LAWMAKER, ALTHOUGH
IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, A STATE
LAWMAKER, YOU WANT YOUR OWN
STATE TO BE PUTTING SOME SORT OF
RESTRICTIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF
FEDERAL POLICY ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA
(12:16):
ALREADY HAS A VERSION OF THE
RAISE ACT.
NEW YORK COULD FOLLOW AND IT
COULD GO OUT IN FRONT OF
CALIFORNIA AND SAY WE ARE GOING
TO THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY,
OR IT COULD DECIDE TO BE ON PAR
WITH CALIFORNIA, OR THIRD OPTION
IS THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD
CHOOSE TO VETO THE BILL ENTIRELY
AND SORT OF LEAVE IT UP TO
EITHER NEXT SESSION OR TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO
(12:37):
SOMETHING HERE.
A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS FROM
THE TECH INDUSTRY AND I THINK
PROBABLY JUST CONSUMER SAFETY,
YOU KNOW, PROTECTION ADVOCATE AS
WELL.
>> ONE BILL I'M LOOKING FOR IS
AN OMNIBUS PRISON REFORM BILL
WHICH WAS PASSED IN JUNE, AND
REALLY, IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR
FOR NEW YORK'S PRISON SYSTEM.
STARTING ACTUALLY IN 2024 WITH
(13:01):
THE BEATING DEATH OF ROBERT
BROOKS WHO IS A PERSON
INCARCERATED AT THE MARCY
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OUTSIDE OF
UTICA.
TEN PRISON EMPLOYEES WERE
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS
DEATH.
AT LEAST ONE WAS CONVICTED OF
MURDER AND AS THIS WAS
UNFOLDING, IT REALLY BROUGHT TO
THE FORE YEARS OF ABUSE AND
YEARS OF MISTREATMENT OF
(13:22):
INCARCERATED PEOPLE AT THE HANDS
OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
GUARDS, AND THIS WAS REALLY, IN
THE WAKE OF THIS HORRIFIC
INCIDENT, WHICH WAS CAUGHT ON
THE BODY CAMERA AND THE FOOTAGE
WAS JUST REALLY JARRING TO SEE,
THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE YEAR OF
BIG REFORM FOR LEGISLATORS, BUT
THAT SORT OF GOT DEFLATED A
LITTLE BIT AND THE NARRATIVE
SHIFTED IN FEBRUARY WHEN
(13:44):
CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WENT ON A
WILDCAT STRIKE AND SHUT DOWN THE
PRISON SYSTEM, COMPLAINING ABOUT
STAFFING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT
POLICIES THAT THEY SAY HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO A RISE IN
VIOLENCE.
CHIEF AMONG THEM THE HALT ACT
WHICH RESTRICTS THE AMOUNT OF
TIME AN INCARCERATED PERSON CAN
BE PLACED IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
SO PRISON ISSUES ARE NOT ALWAYS
(14:06):
TOP OF MIND IN ALBANY BUT THEY
REALLY WERE THIS SESSION.
IN THAT MIASMA EMERGED THIS
PACKAGE OF REFORMS WHICH WAS
DRAWN FROM A NUMBER OF BILLS
THAT HAD BEEN PUT FORWARD BY
ADVOCATES AND HAD REALLY BEEN IN
THE PURVIEW OF STATE SENATOR
JEWEL YEAHS SALAZAR, DEMOCRAT
FROM BROOKLYN, WHO CHAIRS THE
(14:27):
CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE IN HER
CHAMBER.
THIS PACKAGE WOULD DO A NUMBER
OF THINGS.
IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FIXED
CAMERAS WITHIN STATE PRISONS.
IT WOULD CHANGE THE OVERSIGHT
BODY, THE STATE COMMISSION ON
CORRECTION, WHICH IS TASKED WITH
OVERSEEING CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES, AND IT'S BEEN UP IN
THE AIR AS TO WHAT GOVERNOR
(14:48):
HOCHUL IS GOING TO DO.
AS RAGA SAID AND AS KATELYN
PERFECTLY EXPLAINED EARLIER,
RIGHT, THE GOVERNOR LIKES TO DO
THESE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS WHERE A
BILL PASSES AND THEN SHE KIND OF
NEGOTIATES HER CHANGES AND THEN
SAYS IF YOU DO THESE AMENDMENTS,
YOU CAN WIN MY SIGNATURE.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
LAWMAKERS COMPLAIN ABOUT, BUT IT
SEEMS TO BE THE PROCESS THAT
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH HERE.
(15:08):
AND SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION AS
TO WHAT CHANGES GOVERNOR HOCHUL
IS GOING TO SEEK ON THIS OMNIBUS
PRISON OVERSIGHT BILL AND
WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE
ACCEPTABLE TO SPONSOR.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT IS COMING TO
A CONCLUSION IN THESE FINAL DAYS
OF 2025 AND PERHAPS IT'S
(15:28):
SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING MORE ABOUT IN 2026.
>> AND I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A
LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT THE, OF
COURSE, COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE
NEXT NEW YORK CITY MAYOR THAT
TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE SAW SO MANY
DIFFERENT CANDIDATES BUT
ULTIMATELY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
ZOHRAN MAMDANI WAS VICTORIOUS IN
THAT RACE AND HE IS THE
MAYOR-ELECT.
(15:49):
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT
RACE?
WHY WAS IT SO COMPETITIVE?
WHAT WILL THE INROADS BE FOR THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER INTO ALBANY COME
NEXT YEAR?
>> WELL, GOOD FROM ZOHRAN
MAMDANI.
HE WENT FROM BEING A BACK BENCH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO, YOU KNOW,
LEADER OF EASILY THE GREATEST
CITY IN THE WORLD.
>> YEAH.
>> AND YOU KNOW, I'M OLDER THAN
HIM SO IT MAKES MY MOTHER ASK
(16:10):
WHY WHAT I'M DOING, WHY I'M NOT
WE WILLING A WORLD-LEADING
METROPOLIS.
SO THANK YOU, ZOHRAN, WE
APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY
INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE HAVE
BEEN SO MANY PERSISTENT GRIPES
ABOUT NEW YORK CITY COMING OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE REAL
CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
THAT REALLY DEFINED THE 2021
MAYORAL ELECTION.
ERIC ADAMS, A FORMER POLICE
(16:32):
OFFICER AND FORMER STATE
SENATOR, HE ROSE TO THE FORE BY
ESSENTIALLY BETTING THAT BEING--
DELIVERING ON A MESSAGE OF
REDUCING CRIME, HELPING AND
BOLSTERING THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION
OF PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD WIN HIM
CITY HALL AND HE WAS CORRECT.
THIS TIME AROUND, YOU SAW
MAMDANI FACE OFF A POLITICAL
(16:53):
PSION, ANDREW CUOMO, THIS
TITANIC FIGURE IN NEW YORK STATE
AND CITY POLITICS, WHO HAS BEEN
ACTIVE IN NEW YORK CITY POLITICS
FOR LITERALLY 50 YEARS, FIVE
DECADES.
SO THIS IDEA OF SORT OF A DAVID
AND GOLIATH, A YOUNG VERSUS OLD,
AND MAMDANI'S MESSAGE OF
(17:15):
AFFORDABILITY, OF FOCUSING ON
COST OF LIVING, ON PROPOSING
THINGS THAT HE HOPES WILL HELP
PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY TACKLE
THAT RISING COST OF LIVING AND
THAT DIFFICULTY OF LIVING IN THE
FIVE BOROUGHS.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT HAS SOME
KIND OF DEEPER MEANING FOR
DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
(17:36):
WONDERING WHAT DIRECTION THE
PARTY CAN TAKE, WHAT THE PARTY
MESSAGE SHOULD BE AND WHAT CAN
BOOST FORWARD-- CAN BOOST THEM
FORWARD IN 2026 AND BEYOND.
>> I THINK HE, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW
THAT HE WAS-- HE HAD A SENSE OF
WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN
HE WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,
AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, YOU
(17:57):
KNOW, KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, AND
THAT'S WHAT HE FOCUSED IN ON,
AFFORDABILITY.
HE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW,
DEESCALATION BY NOT INCLUDING
POLICE IN SOME OF THESE, YOU
KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S
STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH,
IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO BRING
(18:18):
IN THE NYPD OR BRING IN A SOCIAL
WORKER INSTEAD AND CREATING A
NEW SYSTEM THERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF
THESE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN
FRONT OF MIND THAT I KNOW I HEAR
FROM MY FAMILY AT THE KITCHEN
TABLE, AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO
WORK WITH THAT AND SHOW THAT,
YOU KNOW-- APPEAL TO NEW YORKERS
(18:39):
TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO FIX
THESE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS AND
SAYING THAT NEW YORK IS, YOU
KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN
NEW YORK ON A REASONABLE SALARY,
AND TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING
THAT.
THAT'S WHAT MOST NEW YORKERS
WANT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT
TO HEAR.
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A REALLY
INTERESTING DYNAMIC HERE ALSO, I
(19:00):
THINK, JIMMY, YOU SORT OF
REFERENCED THIS, A NEW ENERGY.
THIS IDEA OF CLEANING OUT THE
OLD AND BRINGING IN THE NEW.
I MEAN, HE'S YOUNG.
HE'S IN HIS EARLY 30S.
HE WAS UP AGAINST A MAN WHO WAS
A COUPLE GENERATIONS OLDER THAN
HIM.
PART OF, I THINK, WHAT HIS
CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON WAS THIS
IDEA OF REVITALIZATION OF
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO AN
(19:21):
ESTABLISHED POLITICAL MACHINE
AND TAKING DOWN AN ESTABLISHED
POLITICAL DYNASTY, AND YOU SAW
YOUNG PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT.
ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY, I
MEAN, EVEN UPSTATE, WHICH IS
FUNNY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
THAT I KNOW UPSTATE WHO ARE SORT
OF MY AGE OR IN THAT-- MAMDANI'S
GENERATION, THEY COULDN'T VOTE
FOR HIM BUT THEY WERE TALK ABOUT
(19:42):
IT LIKE IT MEANT SOMETHING FOR
THE GENERATION THAT HE IS A PART
OF AND PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN HIM
AS WELL.
I'M PERSONALLY INTERESTED TO SEE
MAYBE HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO
THE NEXT CYCLE OF RACES.
I THINK THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF
INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, LEFTIST
CHALLENGES TO INCUMBENT
DEMOCRATS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A LOT OF
(20:02):
THEM TEND TO BE YOUNGER.
A LOT OF THEM TEND TO BE OUTSIDE
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY'RE
USING THAT, THEY'RE USING THEIR
AGE AND THEIR, YOU KNOW, SOME
PEOPLE MIGHT CALL IT RELATIVE
INEXPERIENCE AND OTHERS MAY CALL
IT THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR
APPROACH TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE
FOR WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE KIND
OF A WHOLESALE CLEANOUT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> YEAH. HE ALSO DID A GREAT JOB
HARNESSING NEW MEDIA, HARNESSING
(20:24):
SOCIAL MEDIA, SHORT VERTICAL
FORM VIDEOS.
YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATES WHO GET
ON THESE CUTTING-EDGE TACTICS,
BE IT JOHN F. KENNEDY ON THIS
CRAZY THING CALLED TELEVISION IN
THE 20TH CENTURY OR ZOHRAN
MAMDANI ON THE TIKTOK IN 2025.
YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.
ESPECIALLY OVER, AGAIN, A PERSON
LIKE ANDREW CUOMO WHO IS NOT ON
THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY.
(20:45):
>> YES.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK
IS REALLY FASCINATING IS THAT
MAMDANI WILL BE NEW YORK CITY'S
FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR AND THE FIRST
MAYOR OF SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT.
HE TAPPED INTO THIS SORT OF
EVER-CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC
PROFILE OF NEW YORK CITY.
IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THERE WAS
A FIRST ITALIAN MAYOR, AND THE
FIRST IRISH MAYOR AND FIRST
JEWISH MAYOR AND NOW WE'RE
(21:05):
SEEING ANOTHER NEW DEMOGRAPHIC,
NEW PEOPLE WHO MADE THEIR HOME
IN NEW YORK CITY, SEEING SOMEONE
WITH WHOM THEY CAN IDENTIFY,
TAKE POWER IN CITY HALL, AND I
THINK THE FACT THAT HE DID THAT
AND SORT OF FRACTURED THESE OLD
ETHNIC POLITICAL CALCULUSES-- I
DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY
TO MAKE THAT PLURAL, BUT HE
(21:26):
FRACTURED THAT, AND I THINK
THAT'S NOTEWORTHY AND THAT IS
GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE RETHINK
WHAT IT MEANS TO RUN FOR OFFICE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN NEW YORK
STATE.
>> SO WELL SAID.
I THINK THE CAMPAIGN BY THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WAS THE
DEFINITION OF A GRASS ROOTS
CAMPAIGN.
WE SAW PEOPLE COME OUT AND
CANVASS FOR THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
I BELIEVE HE HAD OVER, YOU KNOW,
(21:47):
A CRAZY AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING
ON THE GROUND, DOOR KNOCKING AND
PUSHING HIS POLICIES FORWARD AND
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE NEXT YEAR
HOW THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH THE MAYOR
ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WILL BE HER
GUBERNATORIAL RE-ELECTION, SO
LAST ELECTION CYCLE FOR THE
GOVERNOR, WE SAW REPRESENTATIVE
(22:08):
LEE ZELDIN COME WITHIN, I
BELIEVE, SIX POINTS OF UNSEATING
THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S LOOKING
LIKE NEXT YEAR'S RACE IS GOING
TO BE EQUALLY AS COMPETITIVE.
SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S
POLITICAL POSITIONING HEADING
INTO NEXT YEAR AS SHE IS GOING
TO BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION,
BUT ALSO HANDLING THE REGULAR
BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
>> I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU
(22:29):
TYPICALLY SEE A PRETTY BORING
BUDGET WHEN GOING INTO AN
ELECTION YEAR TO NOT STIR THE
POT TOO MUCH, BUT SHE DOES HAVE
THE CHALLENGE OF FEDERAL CUTS
THAT ARE COMING IN.
AND CUTS TO MEDICAID AND
DIFFICULT DECISIONS REGARDING
INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING
KICKED OFF THE STATE'S ESSENTIAL
(22:51):
PLAN, WHICH IS A LOW-COST HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN.
SO SHE HAS-- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE , BUT
SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE YEARS
DOWN THE LINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE--
THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARSHER
FURTHER DOWN, SO SHE DOES HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME WHERE IF SHE
(23:11):
WANTS TO PUSH SOME OF THESE
HARD, HARD DECISIONS THAT CAN
COME AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE
MAY SEE SOME OF THAT, BUT IT IS
A TOUGH YEAR WHERE YOU HAVE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS
TARGETING STATES LIKE NEW YORK,
YOU KNOW, TO CUT BACK ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE THEIR
POLITICS AND THE POLICIES ARE SO
FAR AGAINST NEW YORK.
(23:33):
SO IT'S A TOUGH, YOU KNOW, SHE'S
GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH-- A TOUGH
POSITION.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN HER
POSITION.
I THINK ALSO I'M WONDERING IF
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME
POLICIES OR SOME SORT OF PACKAGE
AROUND IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED POLITICS
ENTERING THE CHAT WITH THE
(23:53):
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
AND I THINK THE TOPIC OF
IMMIGRATION IS A VERY DEEPLY
POLITICAL ONE.
IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
ASSUME THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK
CITY, I THINK HE'S SPOKEN ABOUT
HIS OWN AFFILIATION WITH THE
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND HIS
DESIRE TO PROTECT THEM FROM
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
(24:13):
ACTIVITY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN HAPPENING.
NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN A HOT BED
OF ICE ACTIVITY OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SO YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT IS SORT OF A
MINE FIELD WAITING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO
HAVE TO AT LEAST MENTION THAT
SHE'S DOING SOMETHING ON IT.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE
(24:35):
SEE IT HAPPEN BEFORE NOVEMBER
2026.
I WOULD THINK THAT IS GOING TO
BE A TOPIC OF CONCERN FOR SURE.
>> YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON BOTH OF
THOSE FRONTS, BOTH ON THE FISCAL
SIDE AND POLICIES ESPECIALLY
INCLUDING IMMIGRATION.
HOCHUL IS GOING TO FACE PRESSURE
TO TACK TO THE LEFT.
SHE FACES A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW FROM
(24:56):
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO
DELGADO.
POLLS SHOW HE'S NOT GETTING A
TON OF TRACTION, BUT HE, COUPLED
WITH MAMDANI'S WIN AND THAT
ENERGY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, I
THINK IS GOING TO PULL HOCHUL TO
DO AND ENACT SOME OF THESE
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT SHE
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE WANT TO.
I EXPECT THE TENSION IN THESE
(25:17):
MONTHS COMING UP TO THE ELECTION
WILL BE KIND OF HOW FAR TO THE
LEFT DOES SHE GO?
AND HOW MUCH AMMUNITION DOES
THAT GIVE TO A PROSPECTIVE
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?
I THINK KATELYN AND RAGA WERE
RIGHT, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE
AREAS TO WATCH.
>> YEAH. SO MUCH TO WATCH HERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
AWESOME REPORTING.
(25:37):
>> THANKS, SHANTEL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
KATELYN CORDERO OF POLITICO,
RAGA JUSTIN OF BLOOMBERG AND
JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC,
GOTHAMIST AND THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
POLITICAL NEWS THAT MADE
HEADLINES IN 2025, YOU CAN VISIT
(25:58):
OUR ONCE, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG.
THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF
"NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:22):
IT'S BEEN QUITE THE EVENTFUL
YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.
THIS WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE'LL BE
DIVING INTO THE POLITICAL NEWS
THAT MADE HEADLINES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE
CONSEQUENTIAL MAYORAL RACE IN
NEW YORK CITY, THE POLICY ITEMS
THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE COMPLEX
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
(00:43):
LEADERS.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHIE
HOCHUL ALSO MADE HEADLINES BY
SAYING THAT SHE WOULD BE MOVING
FORWARD WITH SIGNING THE MEDICAL
AID IN DYING BILL AFTER
AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT WAS
LEFT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE
GOVERNOR BEFORE THE END OF THE
YEAR.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW YORK
(01:04):
POLITICAL NEWS OF THE YEAR AND
WHAT TO EXPECT HEADING INTO
2026, WE ARE JOINED IN THE
STUDIO BY KAITLYN CORDERO OF
POLITICO, RAGA JUSTIN OF
BLOOMBERG AND JIMMY VIELKIND
KIND OF WNYC, GOTHAMIST, AND THE
NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.
(01:25):
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO RECAP THE
YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.
>> THANK YOU.
HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> WE KNOW IT'S BEEN QUITE A
BUSY YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE
POLITICS BUT NATURALLY, I WANTED
TO START THINGS OFF WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTED
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST
TAKEAWAYS AND MOMENTS FROM
(01:46):
REPORTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL
THIS YEAR?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT STRUCK ME THAT, ONCE AGAIN,
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS SHOWN HER
TACTIC AND HER APPROACH TO THE
SESSION IS TO JUST LET THE
BUDGET GO LATE TO PUT ALL THE
ITEMS THAT SHE WISHES TO ADDRESS
INTO THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH
THIS YEAR ROSE TO MORE THAN A
QUARTER TRILLION DOLLARS,
TRILLION WITH A "T" DOLLARS OF
SPENDING AND TO ESSENTIALLY HOLD
(02:09):
THAT OVER LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS,
PEOPLE IN HER OWN PARTY WHO
CONTROL BOTH THE STATE ASSEMBLY
AND THE STATE SENATE, UNTIL SHE
GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.
SO THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS NOT
ADOPTED UNTIL EARLY MAY.
IT WAS MORE THAN A FULL 30 DAYS
PAST THAT MARCH 31 DEADLINE AND
HOCHUL SEEMS TO BE VERY
COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TACTIC,
(02:30):
VERY COMFORTABLE WITH USING IT
AND I THINK PART OF THE EFFECT
OF THAT IS TO FREEZE OUT OTHER
ACTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
NORMALLY, THERE'S SORT OF TWO
PEAKS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
ONE AROUND THE BUDGET AND THAT
MARCH, LATE MARCH TIME, AND ONE
TOWARD THE END OF JUNE, IN JUNE
WHEN THE SESSION ENDS AND BY
KIND OF EXTENDING BUDGET SEASON
OVER TIME, HOCHUL KEPT HERSELF
(02:52):
IN A FIRM DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE
PROCESS AND REALLY, I THINK,
CHOKED OUT OTHER BILLS THAT MAY
OR MAY NOT HAVE POPPED FORWARD.
>> I THINK THE SESSION WAS ALSO
OVERSHADOWED BY THE THREAT OF
FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.
THE RIGHT?
THERE WAS A BIG FUNDING SHOWDOWN
BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND NEW YORK, AS A BLUE STATE,
BORE THE BRUNT OF THAT IN A LOT
OF WAYS.
(03:12):
SO YOU SAW A LOT OF ANGST FROM
THE GOVERNOR AND FROM, YOU KNOW,
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IT
SENATE LEADER ANDREA
STEWART-COUSINS, AROUND THESE
PROJECTED LOSSES AND SO THEY'RE
TRYING TO POSITION THEMSELVES, I
THINK, THIS PAST YEAR AS A
BULWARK AGAINST THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, BUT THERE'S ALSO
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND HOW
ARE WE GOING TO BACKFILL THESE
(03:32):
LOSSES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT
NEW YORKERS AND EVERYTHING FROM
HEALTH CARE TO FOOD STAMPS.
SO I THINK THAT-- AGAIN, THAT
KIND OF SHADOWED IT FELT LIKE,
TO ME, A LOT OF THE POLICIES
THAT WERE COMING OUT.
IT SORT OF TEMPERED OTHERWISE
STRONG POLICIES AND MAYBE
SOMETIMES IT SPURRED MORE
PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS TO SAY AT
LEAST EVEN IF NOTHING ENDED UP
HAPPENING, WE GOT TO TAKE A
(03:54):
STRONGER STANCE AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE.
>> AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
BUDGET, JIMMY.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT
BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY
INTERESTING TO ME.
I THINK AT THE START OF THE
YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE THE
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID, YOU
KNOW, WE WERE ALL ROWING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION WHEN IT CAME TO
ADJUSTING AFFORDABILITY, BUT OF
COURSE, THINGS TOOK A DRAMATIC
(04:14):
TURN OVER SOME POLICY ITEMS, AS
YOU MENTIONED, DISCOVERY REFORM,
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, CELL
PHONE BANS IN SCHOOL, AND MASS
BANS ACROSS THE STATE.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT
YOU THINK THESE ITEMS MIGHT COME
BACK NEXT YEAR?
>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL
IS A DESIRE TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT
(04:36):
SHE BELIEVES WILL INCREASE
EITHER THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC
SAFETY OR THAT WILL SORT OF ROLL
BACK SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE
STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES
THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE FIRST
FLASH OF DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTERS
IN 2019, 2020, AND TO SOME
EXTENT, INTO 2021.
(04:56):
SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE
CHANGES TO THE STATE'S BAIL
LAWS, YOU KNOW, REDUCTIONS AND
LIMITING REALLY THE INSTANCES IN
WHICH MONEY CAN BE USED TO KEEP
A PERSON BEHIND BARS BEFORE
THEIR TRIALS.
THERE'S ALSO NOW SOME TALK ABOUT
AN OLDER CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CHANGE, WHICH IS THE AGE OF
(05:17):
CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AT WHICH
JUVENILES ARE TREATED AS ADULTS.
SO HOCHUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR
THAT HER TWIN PILLARS ARE
AFFORDABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND HER PUBLIC SAFETY FIGHTS
HAVE COME IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE
SHE HAS LEVERAGE AND THEY HAVE
BASICALLY HELD EVERYTHING UP, AS
(05:37):
YOU POINTED OUT, SHANTEL, THIS
YEAR IT WAS WITH REGARD TO
DISCOVERY, WHICH IS THE EXCHANGE
OF EVIDENCE BEFORE A CRIMINAL
TRIAL, AND SO I THINK IT'S
POSSIBLE WE'LL SEE SOMETHING
LIKE THAT AGAIN.
I'M ALSO COGNIZANT THIS IS A
DIFFERENT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A
RE-ELECTION YEAR.
WE DO KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN
(05:57):
CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE
LEGISLATURE.
HOCHUL IS, OF COURSE, ALSO A
DEMOCRAT, AND THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE LEGISLATURE TEND TO HAVE A
MORE PROGRESSIVE BENT THAN WHAT
WE HAVE SEEN FROM HOCHUL WHO IS
REALLY A MODERATE GOVERNOR.
SO TO THE EXTENT-- WE WILL HAVE
TO SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHE
WANTS TO HAVE CONFLICT AND TO
(06:18):
HAVE ANOTHER FIGHT ON THESE
ISSUES IN AN ELECTION YEAR.
>> AND KATELYN, I KNOW THAT
YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
AWESOME REPORTING AROUND MEDICAL
AID IN DYING.
WE KNOW THIS IS A VERY
CONTROVERSIAL POLICY INITIATIVE
THAT ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO GET PASSED AND YOU KNOW, PUT
OVER THE FINISH LINE FOR OVER A
(06:38):
DECADE.
IT WAS A VERY HISTORIC MOMENT
WHEN IT PASSED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR AND WE SAW
GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SAY THIS
WEEK SAY THAT SHE INTENDED TO
SIGN THE LEGISLATION, SO WHAT
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE
DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW THINGS SORT
OF PROGRESSED THROUGH THE
SESSION?
>> YES. SO THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE
(06:59):
THAN A DECADE.
WE'VE SEEN THESE ADVOCATES.
THEY LINE THE HALLS IN THE
CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, IMPLORING
LAWMAKERS TO COME-- YOU KNOW, TO
SIGN ONTO THE BILL AND TO SHOW
THEIR SUPPORT.
SO THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION
WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE DEMOCRATS,
YOU KNOW, ALL IN LINE AND IN
(07:20):
STEP.
YEAH. THERE WAS-- IT WAS AN
EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL DEBATE OVER
THIS LEGISLATION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL
THAT I'VE SEEN IN, YOU KNOW, IN
RECENT YEARS.
YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS THAT WERE
CRYING, TALKING ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO CONTEND WITH
THEIR PERSONAL MORAL BELIEFS AND
(07:40):
THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND, YOU
KNOW, WITH WHAT THEIR
CONSTITUENTS WANT OR WHAT THEY
THINK IS RIGHT.
SO IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DEBATE
AND YESTERDAY, WE DID SEE OR,
YOU KNOW THIS WEEK, WE SAW THE
GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE
ALSO HAD TO OVERCOME HER
RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.
SHE'S A CATHOLIC AND THIS IS
(08:02):
SOMETHING THAT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH IS VEHEMENTLY AGAINST AND
WE SAW THEIR COMMENTS CAME OUT,
YOU KNOW, VERY STAUNCH
OPPOSITION.
THEY'RE VERY UPSET WITH THE
GOVERNOR NOW.
SO YOU KNOW, IT PUTS HER IN A
TOUGH SITUATION WHERE SHE'S
ALWAYS HAD VERY GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH, YOU KNOW,
RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE STATE
(08:23):
AND THIS IS PUTTING HER AGAINST
THEM ON AN ISSUE THAT THEY
REALLY SEE AS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING
SHORT OF A VETO WOULD BE
ANYTHING BUT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM.
SO THEY NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT.
JIMMY, GOT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS
OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH AND
IT'S-- THEY FINALLY CAME TO SOME
(08:44):
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
MAY NOT BE WHAT THE ADVOCATES
WANTED AND SOME OF THESE
AMENDMENTS, THEY PUSHED AGAINST
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WHEN THEY WERE NEGOTIATING THE
DETAILS, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE
ADDED BACK IN, AND ALSO SOME OF
THEM ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T
SEEN IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE
THIS.
LIKE A VIDEO OR AUDIO REQUEST,
(09:05):
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A
BIT OF A SURPRISE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE
HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY
WERE HAVING NEGOTIATIONS AND
TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
VERY-- IT'S GOT HIGHER
SAFEGUARDS THAN WE'VE SEEN IN
ANY OTHER STATE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE-- THEY
HAVEN'T PASSED IT YET.
THERE IS STILL TIME.
(09:27):
THEY HAVE THE-- THE GOVERNOR IS
PROMISING TO SIGN IT, BUT THE
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE HASN'T COME
OUT YET.
THAT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED IN
JANUARY, AND THEN THE
LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO PASS
THE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS, AND THEN
IT WILL GO BACK TO HOCHUL TO
SIGN.
>> YOU KNOW, KATELYN, YOU WERE
SO RIGHT TO UNDERLINE SORT OF
THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THIS
DEBATE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT
(09:49):
TO ME ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS THAT
SO OFTEN THE THINGS THAT ARE
DISCUSSED AND DEBATED IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE ARE SO
ABSTRACT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERY
REFORM ABOUT WHAT EVIDENCE
BEFORE A TRIAL, YOU KNOW, IT
TAKE 30S SECONDS TO EXPLAIN WHAT
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS SO TANGIBLE FOR PEOPLE.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE--
UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO GRAPPLE
(10:09):
WITH THE END OF THE LIFE OF A
PERSON THAT THEY LOVE AND
THEY'VE SEEN THIS.
THEY CAN PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS
SITUATION.
SO WATCHING OUR LAWMAKERS
WRESTLE WITH THAT IN REALTIME, I
THOUGHT WAS QUITE POIGNANT.
I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
THAT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING, AS
YOU JUST POINTED OUT, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN IN
(10:30):
JANUARY WITH THE VOTE ON THESE
AMENDMENTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT ARE ON
THE DOCKET FOR THE GOVERNOR THAT
YOU ALL ARE LOOKING OUT FOR?
>> I PERSONALLY AM LOOKING AT
THE RAISE ACT.
THAT'S A PRETTY-- IT DOESN'T GET
A TON OF ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS
QUITE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE
(10:51):
INTRICACIES OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT
HONESTLY AT ALL, AND YET WE
STILL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITING
ABOUT THESE BILLS THAT ARE
REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND DEAL
WITH REALLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL
INDUSTRIALS.
ITS STATED INTENT IS TO PLACE--
WE TALK ABOUT SAFEGUARDS, THIS
IS AN ATTEMPT TO PLACE THE
NATION'S STRONGEST SAFEGUARDS ON
(11:12):
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
DEVELOPERS AND TO BASICALLY HOLD
THOSE COMPANIES, VERY LARGE
COMPANIES, WHAT WE WOULD THINK
OF AS BIG TECH, TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POTENTIAL
RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES THAT
COULD COME FROM VERY LARGE AI
MODELS.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR
AND THE BILL SPONSOR ON THAT.
(11:33):
AS OF NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVESTED IN THIS ISSUE.
AI SAFETY ADVOCATES AND ALSO BIG
TECH REPRESENTATIVES THEMSELVES
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE
GOVERNOR AND EVERYONE IS
WATCHING NEW YORK ON THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL
INTERESTS IN STOPPING STATES
FROM REGULATING AI, ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE, AND YOU KNOW,
(11:54):
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THEORIES AS TO WHY THAT'S THE
CASE.
I THINK SILICON VALLEY HAS BEEN
SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT IN
D.C., AND SO IF YOU'RE AN AI
SAFETY ADVOCATE OR PROGRESSIVE,
LET'S SAY, LAWMAKER, ALTHOUGH
IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, A STATE
LAWMAKER, YOU WANT YOUR OWN
STATE TO BE PUTTING SOME SORT OF
RESTRICTIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF
FEDERAL POLICY ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA
(12:16):
ALREADY HAS A VERSION OF THE
RAISE ACT.
NEW YORK COULD FOLLOW AND IT
COULD GO OUT IN FRONT OF
CALIFORNIA AND SAY WE ARE GOING
TO THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY,
OR IT COULD DECIDE TO BE ON PAR
WITH CALIFORNIA, OR THIRD OPTION
IS THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD
CHOOSE TO VETO THE BILL ENTIRELY
AND SORT OF LEAVE IT UP TO
EITHER NEXT SESSION OR TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO
(12:37):
SOMETHING HERE.
A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS FROM
THE TECH INDUSTRY AND I THINK
PROBABLY JUST CONSUMER SAFETY,
YOU KNOW, PROTECTION ADVOCATE AS
WELL.
>> ONE BILL I'M LOOKING FOR IS
AN OMNIBUS PRISON REFORM BILL
WHICH WAS PASSED IN JUNE, AND
REALLY, IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR
FOR NEW YORK'S PRISON SYSTEM.
STARTING ACTUALLY IN 2024 WITH
(13:01):
THE BEATING DEATH OF ROBERT
BROOKS WHO IS A PERSON
INCARCERATED AT THE MARCY
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OUTSIDE OF
UTICA.
TEN PRISON EMPLOYEES WERE
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS
DEATH.
AT LEAST ONE WAS CONVICTED OF
MURDER AND AS THIS WAS
UNFOLDING, IT REALLY BROUGHT TO
THE FORE YEARS OF ABUSE AND
YEARS OF MISTREATMENT OF
(13:22):
INCARCERATED PEOPLE AT THE HANDS
OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND
GUARDS, AND THIS WAS REALLY, IN
THE WAKE OF THIS HORRIFIC
INCIDENT, WHICH WAS CAUGHT ON
THE BODY CAMERA AND THE FOOTAGE
WAS JUST REALLY JARRING TO SEE,
THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE YEAR OF
BIG REFORM FOR LEGISLATORS, BUT
THAT SORT OF GOT DEFLATED A
LITTLE BIT AND THE NARRATIVE
SHIFTED IN FEBRUARY WHEN
(13:44):
CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WENT ON A
WILDCAT STRIKE AND SHUT DOWN THE
PRISON SYSTEM, COMPLAINING ABOUT
STAFFING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT
POLICIES THAT THEY SAY HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO A RISE IN
VIOLENCE.
CHIEF AMONG THEM THE HALT ACT
WHICH RESTRICTS THE AMOUNT OF
TIME AN INCARCERATED PERSON CAN
BE PLACED IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
SO PRISON ISSUES ARE NOT ALWAYS
(14:06):
TOP OF MIND IN ALBANY BUT THEY
REALLY WERE THIS SESSION.
IN THAT MIASMA EMERGED THIS
PACKAGE OF REFORMS WHICH WAS
DRAWN FROM A NUMBER OF BILLS
THAT HAD BEEN PUT FORWARD BY
ADVOCATES AND HAD REALLY BEEN IN
THE PURVIEW OF STATE SENATOR
JEWEL YEAHS SALAZAR, DEMOCRAT
FROM BROOKLYN, WHO CHAIRS THE
(14:27):
CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE IN HER
CHAMBER.
THIS PACKAGE WOULD DO A NUMBER
OF THINGS.
IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FIXED
CAMERAS WITHIN STATE PRISONS.
IT WOULD CHANGE THE OVERSIGHT
BODY, THE STATE COMMISSION ON
CORRECTION, WHICH IS TASKED WITH
OVERSEEING CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES, AND IT'S BEEN UP IN
THE AIR AS TO WHAT GOVERNOR
(14:48):
HOCHUL IS GOING TO DO.
AS RAGA SAID AND AS KATELYN
PERFECTLY EXPLAINED EARLIER,
RIGHT, THE GOVERNOR LIKES TO DO
THESE CHAPTER AMENDMENTS WHERE A
BILL PASSES AND THEN SHE KIND OF
NEGOTIATES HER CHANGES AND THEN
SAYS IF YOU DO THESE AMENDMENTS,
YOU CAN WIN MY SIGNATURE.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
LAWMAKERS COMPLAIN ABOUT, BUT IT
SEEMS TO BE THE PROCESS THAT
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH HERE.
(15:08):
AND SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION AS
TO WHAT CHANGES GOVERNOR HOCHUL
IS GOING TO SEEK ON THIS OMNIBUS
PRISON OVERSIGHT BILL AND
WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE
ACCEPTABLE TO SPONSOR.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT IS COMING TO
A CONCLUSION IN THESE FINAL DAYS
OF 2025 AND PERHAPS IT'S
(15:28):
SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING MORE ABOUT IN 2026.
>> AND I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A
LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT THE, OF
COURSE, COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE
NEXT NEW YORK CITY MAYOR THAT
TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE SAW SO MANY
DIFFERENT CANDIDATES BUT
ULTIMATELY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
ZOHRAN MAMDANI WAS VICTORIOUS IN
THAT RACE AND HE IS THE
MAYOR-ELECT.
(15:49):
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT
RACE?
WHY WAS IT SO COMPETITIVE?
WHAT WILL THE INROADS BE FOR THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER INTO ALBANY COME
NEXT YEAR?
>> WELL, GOOD FROM ZOHRAN
MAMDANI.
HE WENT FROM BEING A BACK BENCH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO, YOU KNOW,
LEADER OF EASILY THE GREATEST
CITY IN THE WORLD.
>> YEAH.
>> AND YOU KNOW, I'M OLDER THAN
HIM SO IT MAKES MY MOTHER ASK
(16:10):
WHY WHAT I'M DOING, WHY I'M NOT
WE WILLING A WORLD-LEADING
METROPOLIS.
SO THANK YOU, ZOHRAN, WE
APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY
INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE HAVE
BEEN SO MANY PERSISTENT GRIPES
ABOUT NEW YORK CITY COMING OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE REAL
CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
THAT REALLY DEFINED THE 2021
MAYORAL ELECTION.
ERIC ADAMS, A FORMER POLICE
(16:32):
OFFICER AND FORMER STATE
SENATOR, HE ROSE TO THE FORE BY
ESSENTIALLY BETTING THAT BEING--
DELIVERING ON A MESSAGE OF
REDUCING CRIME, HELPING AND
BOLSTERING THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION
OF PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD WIN HIM
CITY HALL AND HE WAS CORRECT.
THIS TIME AROUND, YOU SAW
MAMDANI FACE OFF A POLITICAL
(16:53):
PSION, ANDREW CUOMO, THIS
TITANIC FIGURE IN NEW YORK STATE
AND CITY POLITICS, WHO HAS BEEN
ACTIVE IN NEW YORK CITY POLITICS
FOR LITERALLY 50 YEARS, FIVE
DECADES.
SO THIS IDEA OF SORT OF A DAVID
AND GOLIATH, A YOUNG VERSUS OLD,
AND MAMDANI'S MESSAGE OF
(17:15):
AFFORDABILITY, OF FOCUSING ON
COST OF LIVING, ON PROPOSING
THINGS THAT HE HOPES WILL HELP
PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY TACKLE
THAT RISING COST OF LIVING AND
THAT DIFFICULTY OF LIVING IN THE
FIVE BOROUGHS.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT HAS SOME
KIND OF DEEPER MEANING FOR
DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
(17:36):
WONDERING WHAT DIRECTION THE
PARTY CAN TAKE, WHAT THE PARTY
MESSAGE SHOULD BE AND WHAT CAN
BOOST FORWARD-- CAN BOOST THEM
FORWARD IN 2026 AND BEYOND.
>> I THINK HE, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW
THAT HE WAS-- HE HAD A SENSE OF
WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN
HE WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,
AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, YOU
(17:57):
KNOW, KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, AND
THAT'S WHAT HE FOCUSED IN ON,
AFFORDABILITY.
HE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW,
DEESCALATION BY NOT INCLUDING
POLICE IN SOME OF THESE, YOU
KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S
STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH,
IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO BRING
(18:18):
IN THE NYPD OR BRING IN A SOCIAL
WORKER INSTEAD AND CREATING A
NEW SYSTEM THERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF
THESE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN
FRONT OF MIND THAT I KNOW I HEAR
FROM MY FAMILY AT THE KITCHEN
TABLE, AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO
WORK WITH THAT AND SHOW THAT,
YOU KNOW-- APPEAL TO NEW YORKERS
(18:39):
TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO FIX
THESE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS AND
SAYING THAT NEW YORK IS, YOU
KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN
NEW YORK ON A REASONABLE SALARY,
AND TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING
THAT.
THAT'S WHAT MOST NEW YORKERS
WANT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT
TO HEAR.
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A REALLY
INTERESTING DYNAMIC HERE ALSO, I
(19:00):
THINK, JIMMY, YOU SORT OF
REFERENCED THIS, A NEW ENERGY.
THIS IDEA OF CLEANING OUT THE
OLD AND BRINGING IN THE NEW.
I MEAN, HE'S YOUNG.
HE'S IN HIS EARLY 30S.
HE WAS UP AGAINST A MAN WHO WAS
A COUPLE GENERATIONS OLDER THAN
HIM.
PART OF, I THINK, WHAT HIS
CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON WAS THIS
IDEA OF REVITALIZATION OF
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO AN
(19:21):
ESTABLISHED POLITICAL MACHINE
AND TAKING DOWN AN ESTABLISHED
POLITICAL DYNASTY, AND YOU SAW
YOUNG PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT.
ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY, I
MEAN, EVEN UPSTATE, WHICH IS
FUNNY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
THAT I KNOW UPSTATE WHO ARE SORT
OF MY AGE OR IN THAT-- MAMDANI'S
GENERATION, THEY COULDN'T VOTE
FOR HIM BUT THEY WERE TALK ABOUT
(19:42):
IT LIKE IT MEANT SOMETHING FOR
THE GENERATION THAT HE IS A PART
OF AND PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN HIM
AS WELL.
I'M PERSONALLY INTERESTED TO SEE
MAYBE HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO
THE NEXT CYCLE OF RACES.
I THINK THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF
INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, LEFTIST
CHALLENGES TO INCUMBENT
DEMOCRATS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A LOT OF
(20:02):
THEM TEND TO BE YOUNGER.
A LOT OF THEM TEND TO BE OUTSIDE
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY'RE
USING THAT, THEY'RE USING THEIR
AGE AND THEIR, YOU KNOW, SOME
PEOPLE MIGHT CALL IT RELATIVE
INEXPERIENCE AND OTHERS MAY CALL
IT THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR
APPROACH TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE
FOR WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE KIND
OF A WHOLESALE CLEANOUT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> YEAH. HE ALSO DID A GREAT JOB
HARNESSING NEW MEDIA, HARNESSING
(20:24):
SOCIAL MEDIA, SHORT VERTICAL
FORM VIDEOS.
YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATES WHO GET
ON THESE CUTTING-EDGE TACTICS,
BE IT JOHN F. KENNEDY ON THIS
CRAZY THING CALLED TELEVISION IN
THE 20TH CENTURY OR ZOHRAN
MAMDANI ON THE TIKTOK IN 2025.
YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.
ESPECIALLY OVER, AGAIN, A PERSON
LIKE ANDREW CUOMO WHO IS NOT ON
THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY.
(20:45):
>> YES.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK
IS REALLY FASCINATING IS THAT
MAMDANI WILL BE NEW YORK CITY'S
FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR AND THE FIRST
MAYOR OF SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT.
HE TAPPED INTO THIS SORT OF
EVER-CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC
PROFILE OF NEW YORK CITY.
IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THERE WAS
A FIRST ITALIAN MAYOR, AND THE
FIRST IRISH MAYOR AND FIRST
JEWISH MAYOR AND NOW WE'RE
(21:05):
SEEING ANOTHER NEW DEMOGRAPHIC,
NEW PEOPLE WHO MADE THEIR HOME
IN NEW YORK CITY, SEEING SOMEONE
WITH WHOM THEY CAN IDENTIFY,
TAKE POWER IN CITY HALL, AND I
THINK THE FACT THAT HE DID THAT
AND SORT OF FRACTURED THESE OLD
ETHNIC POLITICAL CALCULUSES-- I
DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY
TO MAKE THAT PLURAL, BUT HE
(21:26):
FRACTURED THAT, AND I THINK
THAT'S NOTEWORTHY AND THAT IS
GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE RETHINK
WHAT IT MEANS TO RUN FOR OFFICE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN NEW YORK
STATE.
>> SO WELL SAID.
I THINK THE CAMPAIGN BY THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WAS THE
DEFINITION OF A GRASS ROOTS
CAMPAIGN.
WE SAW PEOPLE COME OUT AND
CANVASS FOR THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
I BELIEVE HE HAD OVER, YOU KNOW,
(21:47):
A CRAZY AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING
ON THE GROUND, DOOR KNOCKING AND
PUSHING HIS POLICIES FORWARD AND
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE NEXT YEAR
HOW THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH THE MAYOR
ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WILL BE HER
GUBERNATORIAL RE-ELECTION, SO
LAST ELECTION CYCLE FOR THE
GOVERNOR, WE SAW REPRESENTATIVE
(22:08):
LEE ZELDIN COME WITHIN, I
BELIEVE, SIX POINTS OF UNSEATING
THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S LOOKING
LIKE NEXT YEAR'S RACE IS GOING
TO BE EQUALLY AS COMPETITIVE.
SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S
POLITICAL POSITIONING HEADING
INTO NEXT YEAR AS SHE IS GOING
TO BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION,
BUT ALSO HANDLING THE REGULAR
BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
>> I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU
(22:29):
TYPICALLY SEE A PRETTY BORING
BUDGET WHEN GOING INTO AN
ELECTION YEAR TO NOT STIR THE
POT TOO MUCH, BUT SHE DOES HAVE
THE CHALLENGE OF FEDERAL CUTS
THAT ARE COMING IN.
AND CUTS TO MEDICAID AND
DIFFICULT DECISIONS REGARDING
INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING
KICKED OFF THE STATE'S ESSENTIAL
(22:51):
PLAN, WHICH IS A LOW-COST HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN.
SO SHE HAS-- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE , BUT
SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE YEARS
DOWN THE LINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE--
THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARSHER
FURTHER DOWN, SO SHE DOES HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME WHERE IF SHE
(23:11):
WANTS TO PUSH SOME OF THESE
HARD, HARD DECISIONS THAT CAN
COME AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE
MAY SEE SOME OF THAT, BUT IT IS
A TOUGH YEAR WHERE YOU HAVE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS
TARGETING STATES LIKE NEW YORK,
YOU KNOW, TO CUT BACK ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE THEIR
POLITICS AND THE POLICIES ARE SO
FAR AGAINST NEW YORK.
(23:33):
SO IT'S A TOUGH, YOU KNOW, SHE'S
GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH-- A TOUGH
POSITION.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN HER
POSITION.
I THINK ALSO I'M WONDERING IF
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME
POLICIES OR SOME SORT OF PACKAGE
AROUND IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED POLITICS
ENTERING THE CHAT WITH THE
(23:53):
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
AND I THINK THE TOPIC OF
IMMIGRATION IS A VERY DEEPLY
POLITICAL ONE.
IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
ASSUME THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK
CITY, I THINK HE'S SPOKEN ABOUT
HIS OWN AFFILIATION WITH THE
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND HIS
DESIRE TO PROTECT THEM FROM
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
(24:13):
ACTIVITY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN HAPPENING.
NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN A HOT BED
OF ICE ACTIVITY OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SO YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT IS SORT OF A
MINE FIELD WAITING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO
HAVE TO AT LEAST MENTION THAT
SHE'S DOING SOMETHING ON IT.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE
(24:35):
SEE IT HAPPEN BEFORE NOVEMBER
2026.
I WOULD THINK THAT IS GOING TO
BE A TOPIC OF CONCERN FOR SURE.
>> YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON BOTH OF
THOSE FRONTS, BOTH ON THE FISCAL
SIDE AND POLICIES ESPECIALLY
INCLUDING IMMIGRATION.
HOCHUL IS GOING TO FACE PRESSURE
TO TACK TO THE LEFT.
SHE FACES A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW FROM
(24:56):
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO
DELGADO.
POLLS SHOW HE'S NOT GETTING A
TON OF TRACTION, BUT HE, COUPLED
WITH MAMDANI'S WIN AND THAT
ENERGY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, I
THINK IS GOING TO PULL HOCHUL TO
DO AND ENACT SOME OF THESE
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT SHE
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE WANT TO.
I EXPECT THE TENSION IN THESE
(25:17):
MONTHS COMING UP TO THE ELECTION
WILL BE KIND OF HOW FAR TO THE
LEFT DOES SHE GO?
AND HOW MUCH AMMUNITION DOES
THAT GIVE TO A PROSPECTIVE
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?
I THINK KATELYN AND RAGA WERE
RIGHT, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE
AREAS TO WATCH.
>> YEAH. SO MUCH TO WATCH HERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
AWESOME REPORTING.
(25:37):
>> THANKS, SHANTEL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
KATELYN CORDERO OF POLITICO,
RAGA JUSTIN OF BLOOMBERG AND
JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC,
GOTHAMIST AND THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
POLITICAL NEWS THAT MADE
HEADLINES IN 2025, YOU CAN VISIT
(25:58):
OUR ONCE, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG.
THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF
"NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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