State budget sweetens public sector pension benefits

Sitting down with the new state bar association president

June 9, 2026-We check in with Taa Grays, the new president of the New York State Bar Association. We discuss her priorities for the organization, the role of a private right to action to protect consumers, and the spotlight on trial lawyers during the budget debate.

Energy and environmental headlines from the Capitol

June 9, 2026- Politico New York reporter Marie French discusses environmental and energy headlines from the legislative session in Albany, including the horse trading involved in Gov. Kathy Hochul's effort to curtail the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals.

State budget sweetens public sector pension benefits

June 9, 2026- New York policymakers on both sides of the aisle got behind budget language that sweetens public sector pensions and comes with an estimated price tag of more than half a billion dollars. We consider why this is a good public policy with Joshua Terry, legislative and political director for CSEA, the state's second largest public sector union.

State wants drivers to 'Give Turtles a Brake'

June 5, 2026 - New York environmental officials are encouraging drivers to "Give Turtles a Brake," as the reptiles may be on the road this month in search of a nesting location. We discuss how to handle these situations with Brianna Denoncour, the state Wildlife Action Plan coordinator, and Sandy Van Vraken, a wildlife biologist in the land management section of the state DEC.

Stagnant state funding for opioid epidemic fight

June 5, 2026 - We examine the top line spending on combatting the opioid epidemic in the recently adopted state budget with Rob Kent, former general counsel at the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports. We also consider regulatory reform to improve the state's capacity.