All eyes were on New York City for the competitive democratic primary for mayor this week.  Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani bested former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the nomination in a political upset. We sit down with Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, to discuss President Donald Trump's travel ban and the future of the New York for All Act. During the legislative session, there was a push to update the state's 40-year old organ donation statute to allow for multi-listing on transplant lists and other organ donation priorities.

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SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to unpack the threats of federal funding cuts impacting New York's public universities investments from the Fiscal Year 26 state budget. We dive into the end of year traditions at the state capitol - from sneaker day to senate snow cones. The Assembly officially wrapped up session this week. We dive into the last-minute priorities of the lower chamber.

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It was quite the busy week at the state Capitol to close out the 2025 Legislative Session - from Democratic leaders sounding the alarm on federal Medicaid cuts to Rep. Elise Stefanik taking aim at Gov. Kathy Hochul. We'll unpack the news driving the last week of session with Alex Gault, of the Watertown Daily Times and Northern New York Newspapers, and Jeongyoon Han, of WXXI and the New York Public News Network. We dive into the history and support Kyra's Law - a bill that would requires courts to evaluate abuse allegations and safety risks in deciding custody and visitation for children.

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Catch this week's show on your local PBS member station, or watch on YouTube, Facebook, or using the free PBS app anytime after Friday. A podcast version is available wherever you normally get podcasts.

As the legislative session come to a close in the next few weeks, lawmakers and advocates are spending the final days pushing for a slew of policy initiatives they'd like to get passed. One such bill is the Medical Aid in Dying Act. After years of rallying, advocates were happy to see it passed for the first time in the Assembly chamber a few weeks ago. But it's unclear whether or not it will make any movement in the state Senate before the end of session. State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Orange County) joins us to unpack how interchange fees on state taxes and tips are hurting small businesses in the state.

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We sit with State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) to discuss a push for the 21st Century Antitrust Act which would work to increase state regulation on monopolies in the state and Senate Democrats' priorities through the end of the year. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) joins us to unpack the FY '26 state budget, controversial bills in the lower chamber and the possibility of extending the legislative session.

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Lawmakers vote on budget bills, finalizing the state budget 38 days after the April 1 deadline, making it the latest budget in more than a decade. State Sen. April Baskin (D—Erie County) discusses pay disparities in the state, legislative actions taken to address the issue, and how she plans on leading the fight for pay equity. We dive into the mental health crisis, policies intended to target some challenges within the issue, and howit impacted budget negotiations between state leaders.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders have reached a general state budget agreement three weeks after the initial deadline. However, state leaders are working on a few outstanding issues, and lawmakers still need to pass budget bills before the final budget can officially be enacted. We unpack the details of the agreement with Jimmy Vielkind of WNYC and Austin C. Jefferson of City & State. State Sen. Rachel May (D - Chair of Consumer Protection Committee and Legislative Commission on Rural Resources) joins us to unpack consumer protection and environmental priorities this year.

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While the state budget is three weeks late, New York voters seem to back the many policy items that Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to be included in the budget. The governor saw positive job approval and favorability ratings for the first time in over a year. Sanford Berland, executive director of the state commission on ethics and lobbying in government, joins us to discuss the body's plans ahead and budget asks. We look at the state's approach to teaching DEI schools at a time when the federal government is looking to ban schools K-12 from approaching DEI in their curriculum.

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While the state budget is several days late, a breakthrough on discovery reform have pushed negotiations forward. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie met with five New York City DAs and settled on a deal rooted in compromise. State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Senate Labor Committee Chair) talks state budget progress and a bill meant to stop the state from having to pay federal taxes in the event of cuts from Washington. The transition to one single intermediary for New Yorkers enrolled in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program has been far from smooth. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D-Chair of the Senate Health Committee) unpacks the issues.

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