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This week on Power & Politics host Tom Eschen sits down with New York State Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, discussing the 2026 midterm election results and the GOP's approach to the 2027 Legislative Session. He also speaks with Democratic Assemblymember John McDonald, talking about the recent ALPR hearing at the NYS Capital, plus reaction from the election results as well. 00:00 New York’s 2027 legislative outlook 01:30 AI research center, data centers, and ALPR privacy 11:51 Redistricting and Albany’s budget challenges 18:54 Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra 33:15 Assemblymember John McDonald 48:15 Power and Pop Culture: classic books in film Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 2026 Midterm Election Recap edition of Power & Politics. Tom Eschen and Olivia Holloway breakdown the biggest headlines from the national, Statewide and local races. Guests include: -NYS Senate District 44 Winner Sarah Rogerson (D) -Assembly District 102 Winner Marc Molinaro (R) -Bluejacket Strategies Partner Morgan Hook -GOP Strategist Peter Guidarelli 00:00 Election-night recap and production 01:55 National election trends and the shift toward Democrats 06:50 Congressional race results: NY-21 and NY-17 12:15 What the results could mean for Congress 16:07 Sarah Rogerson’s upset win in State Senate District 44 20:06 Redistricting and voter confusion 25:03 Interview with State Senator-elect Sarah Rogerson 42:44 Rogerson on municipal funding and rising healthcare costs 50:54 Interview with Assemblyman-elect Mark Molinaro 1:02:33 Molinaro on rebuilding the New York GOP 1:11:44 Morgan Hook on the results and what Democrats need to do 1:24:37 Anthony Constantino and the close NY-21 race 1:28:03 New York’s legislative supermajority and upstate Democrats 1:34:16 GOP Strategist Peter Guidarelli 1:55:30 Power & Pop Culture: Christmas music/decor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York State Senator Peter Oberacker (R), who represents New York's 51st Senate District, is challenging incumbent Democrat Josh Riley in New York's 19th Congressional District. 00:20 Why Oberacker is running for Congress 01:37 Working across the aisle in the State Senate 02:35 Priorities for New York’s 19th District 04:59 Utility costs and New York’s energy policy 07:26 War, fuel prices, and domestic refining 08:50 Immigration and farm labor 10:00 Rural health care and school-based health centers 11:59 Cornell investigation: federal or local response? 13:39 Congressional priorities and preferred committees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York 19th Congressional District Representative Josh Riley (D) discusses his bid for reelection. He's being challenged by Republican New York State Senator Peter Oberacker. 00:17 Riley’s case for re-election 01:48 Bipartisanship and legislation 03:50 Tackling high utility bills 09:15 Iran war, fertilizer prices, and farmers 11:19 Immigration and the agricultural workforce 13:36 Rural healthcare and local investments 16:34 Cornell allegations and campus safety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYS Senate District 44 nominee Sarah Rogerson speaks with CBS6's Tom Eschen on Power & Politics. Rogerson is a public interest attorney and immigration law expert, discussing her campaign. She provides her perspective and ideas on utility costs, State spending, immigration enforcement and more. 00:00 — Sarah Rogerson on Why She’s Running 00:25 — Affordability and State Aid for Local Governments 01:50 — Healthcare Costs, Oversight, and Economic Growth 03:16 — Utility Rates and Modernizing the Power Grid 04:56 — Balancing Climate Goals 08:11 — Data Centers, AI, and Responsible Development 09:28 — Immigration, Constitutional Rights, and Public Safety 13:23 — Progressive Taxes and the Upstate Perspective 15:22 — Horse-Track Safety and State Oversight 16:31 — Day-One Priority: Medical Non-Compete ProtectionsRogerson is facing incumbent Jim Tedisco in this year's election, CBS6 hopes to speak with him prior to Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Midterm Elections days away, an Election-themed episode of Power & Politics. Producer Olivia Holloway's Headlines break down interviews with Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and the candidates in the AGs race. New polling is discussed and JD Vance coming to Upstate New York to stump for NY-21 GOP Candidate Anthony Constantino. Tom Eschen interviews candidates Bruce Blakeman, Letitia James, Saritha Komatireddy. Then he speaks with Cultivated Media's Jeremy Berke on Question 8 on the Massachusetts ballot, which would repeal the legalization of marijuana. 00:00 Welcome and Election-Themed Show Preview 01:38 Election Headlines and Governor’s Race Polling 06:12 New York’s 21st District and Alaska Senate Race 14:17 Interview: Bruce Blakeman on His Campaign Priorities 25:25 Interview: Letitia James on Her Record as Attorney General 33:00 Interview: Saritha Komatireddy on Public Safety, Bail Reform, and the Attorney General’s Role 55:08 Interview: Jeremy Berke on Massachusetts Question 8 1:17:11 Power & Pop Culture, Rapper Rankings, and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYS Attorney General Letitia James, who has been in office since 2019, discusses her reelection campaign. She speaks with CBS6's Tom Eschen about a variety of topics in the AG's race, of which she is being challenged by GOP nominee Saritha Komatireddy. This interview includes James addressing accusations she's "politicizing" her office, questions about Medicaid oversight along with James' assessment of criminal justice reform laws, 7 years following their passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan Cook, who took the role of New York State Chief Cyber Officer a few weeks ago, sits down with CBS6's Tom Eschen to discuss her role in ensuring the cybersecurity of State agencies and municipalities alike. 00:00 New York State’s Cybersecurity Strategy 03:02 Essential Cybersecurity Practices 06:15 Building Organizational Resilience 09:00 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Red-Team Testing 10:59 Supporting Schools and Local Governments 13:55 AI in Cybersecurity 16:17 Why Cybersecurity Matters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, is the GOP Nominee for NYS Attorney General, and sits down with CBS6's Tom Eschen. Komatireddy discusses her approach to public safety and accountability, bail reform, involuntary commitment and fraud investigations. 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Her concerns about crime and public safety 03:59 Proposed approach to repeat offenders and bail reform 07:15 Immigration enforcement and local-federal cooperation 09:54 Responding to claims about political independence 11:05 When she would sue the federal government 12:11 Homelessness, mental health, and treatment centers 16:26 Prediction markets and gambling law 17:06 Body-armor law ruling 17:30 What she learned campaigning across New York 19:23 Medicaid, government, and consumer fraud Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nassau County Executive and GOP nominee for New York State Governor Bruce Blakeman speaks with CBS6's Tom Eschen about his campaign. The conversation spans from utility costs, spending policy proposals, Sanctuary policies, and President Donald Trump 00:00 — Introduction: Bruce Blakeman on the 2026 New York governor’s race 00:20 — Blakeman’s campaign travels 01:16 — His plan to end state funding for asylum seekers 02:33 — State spending and education reform 03:59 — Proposal for statewide childcare benefits for working parents 05:15 — Budget priorities and tax policy 06:06 — Energy costs and Blakeman’s case for natural gas 07:18 — Fracking, environmental concerns, and grid reliability 09:07 — Blakeman’s relationship with President Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Senator Dan Stec sits down with CBS6’s Tom Eschen to make his pitch for reelection in the race for District 45. In the interview, Stec breaks down his policy proposals for what he says will lower energy prices for New Yorkers along with other campaign promises. 00:00 Introduction and reelection priorities 00:29 Energy affordability and the CLCPA 04:37 Natural gas and the energy transition 06:08 Nuclear power and local control 07:13 Data centers and the proposed moratorium 09:57 Local law enforcement and the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act 12:19 Representation and legislative record 13:45 Corrections, prison safety, and body scanners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Seale, the Democratic nominee for NYS Senate District 45 joins CBS6’s Tom Eschen to discuss the plans for one of the largest legislative districts in the state. She brings years of experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the race, as healthcare costs remain a top concern for voters. 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Melissa Seale’s background and why she’s running 01:24 Healthcare spending, Medicaid oversight, and North Country funding 02:02 A “people over party” approach 02:45 The New York Health Act 03:47 Responding to concerns about healthcare costs 04:36 Utility bills, rate hikes, and energy policy 06:26 Natural gas and energy options for the North Country 06:55 Solar development, farmland, and wildlife 07:57 Data center moratorium 08:32 HALT Act and correctional facilities 09:41 Corrections officer staffing and prison conditions 10:56 Local law enforcement and ICE 13:33 Closing message to voters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Holloway's Headlines from producer Olivia Holloway include: City of Albany Common Council's passage of a Commuter Tax, Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Amy Acton, Governor Hochul's recent childcare initiatives and opponent Bruce Blakeman's reaction Tom Eschen sits down with Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox and Anti-Violence Coordinator Shaquana Kakumba discussing juvenile crime statistics, resources and outreach programs. Power & Pop Culture discusses the Victoria Secret Fashion Show and Tom's Marathon 00:00 Holloway's Headlines: Albany’s commuter tax debate09:38 Holloway's Headlines: Ohio campaign ad controversy12:46 Holloway's Headlines: New York childcare proposals14:26 Holloway's Headlines: Congressional debate breakdown18:08 Interview: Albany youth crime and arrest trends26:53 Interview: Family support, truancy, and youth programs34:53 Interview: Social media and youth violence40:14 Interview: Prevention, police staffing, and measuring progress47:26 Power & Pop Culture: Victoria’s Secret fashion show51:58 Power & Pop Culture: Marathon running and training Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CBS6 hosts a special presentation of New York's 20th Congressional District Debate between Democratic incumbent Paul Tonko and Republican nominee Ralph Ambrosio. Moderated by Tom Eschen. 00:09 — Opening and Candidate Introductions 01:16 — Opening Statements 04:18 — Pandemic Relief, Municipal Budgets, and Oversight 09:18 — Healthcare and Energy Affordability 13:29 — Tariffs, Trade, and Inflation 18:54 — When Should the War in Iran End? 23:04 — Debate Resumes: Public Safety 27:57 — Artificial Intelligence and Regulation 33:41 — Impeachment and the Proposed $5,000 Payment 35:34 — National Debt and Democratic Socialism 38:38 — Russia Sanctions and U.S. Energy 42:23 — Epstein Files and Prosecutions 44:13 — Lightning Round 45:34 — Closing Statements 48:56 — Debate Conclusion Broadcast live from CBS6 Studios on October 21st, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chloe Pierce speaks with Tom Eschen about her campaign for New York State's Assembly District 107 00:00 Introduction and Candidacy 02:01 Priorities and Affordability 04:18 Taxes, Utilities, and Data Centers 08:12 Public Safety and Policing 11:23 Immigration and Professional Ethics 14:17 Cornell Allegations and Assembly Bill 101A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices