The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are CEO of The Business Council of New York State Heather Mulligan, Siena College Professor of Economics, Aaron Pacitti, and Executive Director of The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Nic Rangel.

Last year, thanks to her management and PR, singer-songwriter Al Olender came on our show to talk about her second annual Alentine’s Day show at The Old Dutch Church in Kingston, New York. She presented it as a love-fest to her found home and the people in and around it. I attended - with a number of friends - and it was a waking dream. The good kind.In the intervening 12 months, Al has toured in support of Shovels and Rope and Deer Tick, playing shows all over North America. She’s working on and tuning up the magic for her second record. She filled in for Neko Case on a batch of shows with The New Pornographers.She’s back today with a preview of the third annual Alentine’s Day show - coming up on February 7. The website - alentines.com - hails potential attendees with the question and the gentle command: “Heartbroken? Meet me at the rodeo.” It feels to us like everyone is a little heartbroken right now and we can’t think of anyone better than Al - or anything better than her music - to help us.

Tomorrow night, Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, New York presents “An Evening with Tituss Burgess.Burgess is a marvelous singer and hilarious actor - with range in more ways than one. His Broadway credits include “Good Vibrations,” “Jersey Boys,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Moulin Rouge!” In 2008, he originated the role of Sebastian in the Broadway adaptation of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”As for TV: We’ll start with an early credit: a recurring role as D’Fwan on NBC’s “30 Rock.”Burgess then bodied and embodied Titus Andromedon on Netflix’s “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Andromedon was a talented - though entitled and mostly unmotivated - performer and roommate to Ellie Kemper’s title character. Since breaking out (ahem) on "Unbreakable," Burgess’ career as an on-screen actor, voice actor and host has thrived.

Along with a new president, new members of Congress are getting to work in Washington.In today’s Congressional Corner, David Hawkings of The American Leader speaks with WAMC’s Ian Pickus. This interview was recorded January 24th.

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, Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

We need more Ben Franklin in our lives. He is the least dead of America's founders, a tonic for our troubled times. Those are just a few of the takeaways from Eric Weiner’s new book, "Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life."

In the new novel “Flightless Falcon” debut author James Charles Smith guides readers down I-70 on a nostalgic coming of age adventure. The book delicately portrays the very nuances of American political beliefs during the late 1960s Vietnam War Era.

It’s a new era in Washington.In today’s Congressional Corner, David Hawkings of The American Leader speaks with WAMC’s Ian Pickus. This interview was recorded January 24th.

It’s a new era in Washington.In today’s Congressional Corner, David Hawkings of The American Leader speaks with WAMC’s Ian Pickus. This interview was recorded January 24th.

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, 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 corporate attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP Rich Honen.