The upcoming midterm elections are the most closely watched midterms in at least a generation. In New York, control of the state Senate hangs in the balance. Republicans hold a slim one seat majority in the chamber, and one race could flip control of the Senate to the Democrats. This week, Grant Reeher moderates a debate between the two candidates running in the 53rd District: Democrat Rachel May, who defeated 7 term incumbent Dave Valesky in a September primary , and Republican Janet Burman.

After beating back ISIS militarily, how is Iraq now faring as a nation? What are its biggest challenges? This week, Grant Reeher speaks with Maj. Gen Walter Piatt, the commanding general of Fort Drum in northern NY. Gen. Piatt recently returned from a mission to Iraq to help build peace.

What can we learn from the Constitution and the oath of office about how presidents should behave, and the appropriate mechanisms of limits when presidents violate those norms? This week, Grant Reeher speaks with Brown University professor Corey Brettschneider , author of "The Oath and the Office: A Guide to the Constitution for Future Presidents."

The nomination hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have taken an important turn. Christine Blasey Ford alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while the two were in high school, and the future of Kavanaugh's confirmation is now uncertain. This week, Grant Reeher speaks with Syracuse University professors Shana Gadarian and Tom Keck about these developments in Kavanaugh's confirmation process. Editor's note: This program was recorded and had aired on WRVO before a second

Tedra Cobb is the Democratic nominee for Congress in New York's 21st District. In November, she faces Republican incumbent Elise Stefanik. This week, Grant Reeher talks with Cobb about why she's running, and her views on issues including healthcare, gun control, and more.

It's hard to believe that Democrats and Republicans discussing Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court are actually talking about the same person. This week, host Grant Reeher talks with Syracuse University professor Tom Keck about the competing arguments being made regarding the confimration process, and the nominee himself.

Across the country, Democratic Party primaries have generated a lot of attention, enthusiasm and some surprising results. Primaries in New York have figured in this trend. This week, host Grant Reeher moderates a debate between the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in central New York's 53rd state Senate district, incumbent Sen. Dave Valesky and challenger Rachel May.

Just how bad is corruption in Albany? Why hasn't more been done to address it? And is there hope for the future? This week, Grant Reeher discusses these questions with Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, or NYPIRG.

How engaged are the citizens of Syracuse and Onondaga County in their comminities? What might be changed to strengthen, facilitate and coordinate that engagement? This week, Grant Reeher speaks with two members of the Onondaga Citizens League, Tina Nabatchi and Thomas Carlin. They discuss OCL's new annual report on the state of community engagement in the region.

After months of speculation about her political plans, former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner announced last month that she was launching an independent campaign for governor. Rather than run as a Democrat, and challenging incumbent Andrew Cuomo in a primary, Miner is the first candidate under a new party, the Serve America Movement. Miner joins host Grant Reeher to discuss her campaign for governor.