Episodes

  • Recapping President Trump's 1st week in office, use of executive powers

    Recapping President Trump's 1st week in office, use of executive powers
    Jan 26 2025
    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 politics. Some members of Congress are not so much in a red or blue section of the state, but some are in a purple section. One of them is Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. Lawler joins Up Close to talk about what he discussed this week with President Trump and other moderate Republicans. Also joining us on this show is Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat of New York. Together we dig deeper into the Trump crackdown of undocumented immigrants, with hundreds of people rounded up in the first few days of his administration. Espaillat, who was undocumented when he came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic as a child and is the first undocumented person in the U.S. to later be elected to Congress, knows this issue firsthand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Impact of congestion pricing on NYC so far

    Impact of congestion pricing on NYC so far
    Jan 19 2025
    On this edition of Up Close, we examine the impact of congestion pricing on New York City so far and count down to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. It's the beginning of week three for the controversial and emotionally-charged Manhattan driving plan. The plan currently charges drivers a $9 daily fee to drive during peak hours below 60th Street. On top of mind for many: Has congestion pricing reduced traffic? Are more people taking the subway and buses? And will Donald Trump and some members of Congress try to stop federal funding to the MTA? We ask MTA CEO Janno Lieber about the plan's implementation so far. Meanwhile, Trump is set to be sworn in once again as the president of the United States on Monday. It will be only the second time in history when a president has been elected to a nonconsecutive term in office. So, how will Trump's second term compare to his first? We speak with one of the president-elect's most loyal Republicans, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • How to bring the country together as Trump prepares for 2nd presidential term

    How to bring the country together as Trump prepares for 2nd presidential term
    Jan 12 2025
    In this episode of Up Close, we cover several political issues, including a discussion about how to bring this country together, and stop the vitriol and division that is still infecting the U.S. Perhaps, that discussion should include the catastrophe in Los Angeles this week, and the instantaneous fire explosions in the nation's second largest city, the loss of lives and so many homes leveled. With that as prelude, New York Congressman Tom Suozzi from Long Island, joins us as our first guest. Also joining our show is George Helmy, who late last year, became a U.S. senator from New Jersey. Helmy offers an interesting perspective on the Senate and the U.S. government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Democrats George Latimer, Laura Gillen share their vision for 2025

    Democrats George Latimer, Laura Gillen share their vision for 2025
    Jan 5 2025
    In this episode of Up Close, we open 2025 speaking to two new Democratic faces of Congress, and what they hope to accomplish amid a Republican-controlled House. Laura Gillen, who won the 4th Congressional District seat on Long Island, and George Latimer, who won the 16th Congressional District after serving as Westchester County executive, both ran as centrist Democrats who said they were willing to work with Republicans to try to get the people's work done. But these two members of the freshmen class of the 119th Congress will have their work cut out for them. They are Democrats in a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. They talk about what that's like, and what it will be like for two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • NYC Mayor Eric Adams reflects on the year gone by, what lies ahead

    NYC Mayor Eric Adams reflects on the year gone by, what lies ahead
    Dec 29 2024
    In this episode of Up Close, our guest is the 110th mayor of New York City, Eric Adams. What a busy year it's been in the city, and for the mayor. Politically, and personally, there have been no shortage of challenges for the city, and for the mayor. For the third consecutive year, Bill Ritter sat down with the Mayor Adams and talked about the year gone by, and the year ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case raises concerns, disturbing debate

    UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case raises concerns, disturbing debate
    Dec 15 2024
    In this episode of Up Close, we discuss a murder case that has both horrified and captivated New York City, and the nation... the assassination of a healthcare CEO in Midtown Manhattan. Prosecutors in Manhattan are now working on extraditing the suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, from Pennsylvania to face murder charges in New York. He's accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside an investor's day conference in Manhattan on Dec. 4. This case has raised concerns about protection for other company executives, and it has sparked a disturbing debate on social media, where many posts have expressed sympathy for Mangione and his railing against the health insurance company. We talked to former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce about how the case unfolded. Also joining us is criminal defense attorney Michael Bachner, once an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, who weighs in on how to defend a case like this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • NYC Council Speaker addresses contentious issues; NJ Rep. Sherrill's governor bid

    NYC Council Speaker addresses contentious issues; NJ Rep. Sherrill's governor bid
    Dec 8 2024
    In this episode of Up Close, New York City's council speaker addresses contentious issues facing the city going forward, while a congresswoman from New Jersey throws her hat into the race for governor. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams just worked closely with Mayor Eric Adams to pass the "City of Yes" measure which promises to create 80,000 more housing units in a city that really needs them. But a lot of contentious issues are ahead. Among them: how will the city respond to the Trump administration when it comes to deportation of undocumented immigrants, a controversial move that the incoming president has promised he would implement. And in New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, just elected to another term, is now running for a new job. She has entered the Democratic race for governor. We talk to her about the big issues facing the state and also what's ahead when Republicans take control of the House, Senate and the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • New NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on challenges ahead; next steps for Dems after Trump win

    New NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on challenges ahead; next steps for Dems after Trump win
    Nov 27 2024
    On this episode of Up Close, we sit down with Jessica Tisch, New York City's 48th police commissioner and only the second woman to hold the job. She joins us to talk about the challenges ahead at a time when concern over crime remains high, even if some of the crime numbers are lower. Also, when lawmakers return to Washington in January, Democrats will be in the minority in the House and the Senate. Come Jan. 20, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president. So where do the Democrats go from here? We'll talk to New York Congressman Dan Goldman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins