The power of the presidential pardon has our national attention now more than ever. You look at pardons from outgoing President, Joseph Biden, and incoming President Donald Trump. In the new book “The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy” Jeffery Toobin, New York Times Bestselling author and CNN Legal Commentator gives us a narrative of the most controversial presidential pardon in American history. Which is Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon.

It has been a bruising start to the second Trump administration.In today’s Congressional Corner, New York Congressman Paul Tonko, a Democrat from the 20th district, speaks with WAMC’s Ian Pickus. This interview was recorded February 13th.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Semi-retired, Editor at large/columnist/editorial writer, Times Union Jay Jochnowitz, CEO of The Business Council of New York State Heather Mulligan, and Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick.

Tomorrow night at Caffè Lena, Pioneer Valley based singer-songwriter and visual artist Heather Maloney will play a concert marking the release of her first full-length album in five years.“Exploding Star” - now out from Signature Sounds - is a reverie on loss and grief. A collection of songs written after her father died in 2021, “Exploding Star” is made up of sweet and sour memories, wistful, beautiful melodies, and heart.

The Albany Symphony’s February Concerts Celebrate Valentine’s Day and Maestro David Alan Miller’s Birthday, and feature Rachmaninoff’s Romantic, Sensual Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, performed by 19-year-old pianist, Harmony Zhu.

Peter Hughes, Manager of The Linda: WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, joins us with a preview of upcoming events and broadcasts.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Former advance Lead for the White House and former Chief of Staff for State Senator Michelle Hinchey and former Assistant County Executive for Pat Ryan Anna Markowitz, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

The new book “1974: A Personal History” is the first work of memoir from New York Times Bestselling writer Francine Prose where she recounts a momentary but intense relationship she had with the troubled activist Anthony Russo, a galvanizing figure who paid a hefty psychic price for the leaking of the pentagon papers.

This morning, we get an update from the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region. They have events coming up – a public philosophy event in partnership with the Justice Center of Rensselaer County and Siena College on the 24th and their second “Bread and Roses” International Women’s Day luncheon on March 8th.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, Senior Fellow at Bard's Center for Civic Engagement Ambassador Frederic Hof, and Albany Law School Professor Sarah Rogerson.