It's that time of year again in the Capitol, when life as we know it stops and the budget process begins. 

This year's season is off to a familiar start, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo offering a PowerPoint presentation in a frigid state theater packed with acolytes and lawmakers, but it's also poised to be very different.

The variable heading into budget negotiations is the Democratic-controlled state Legislature, which is an unfamiliar quantity in Albany.

Newsday's Mike Gormley joined the podcast to break down the big news, high drama and compelling subplots of this $175 billion high-stakes holiday.

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