Power & Politics

WRGB CBS6, Power And Politics, Tom Eschen

A Murrow Award winning podcast that brings you inside the issues impacting our communities. Every week, Tom Eschen sits down with local leaders and power brokers for a frank, sometimes blunt, conversation about the current political environment and how their decisions and stances shape and alter all of our lives. Whether it’s your tax bill, public safety, schools, immigration, or healthcare – politics affects every day and every aspect of your life. From the corridors of power to the heart of the debate, this podcast aims to ask the tough questions you want answered – to hold leaders accountable, to cut through the rhetoric and the canned responses. It’s a conversation that really matters.

  1. 4d ago

    9/11 Air Quality, Flock Misuse, Neighborhood Street Teams, AI Warning with Guests: Andrew Carboy, George Pataki excerpt, Rep. Laura Gillen

    This week, Power & Politics provides multiple perspectives on the release of thousands of documents regarding air quality in the days and weeks following the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. Guests include Andrew Carboy, Attorney for 9/11 Health Watch, Congresswoman Laura Gillen and an excerpt of Tom Eschen's conversation with former Governor George Pataki. Power & Politics producer Olivia Holloway provides this week's Holloway Headlines: -Albany Sheriff investigator Flock misuse allegations -Neighborhood Street Teams legislation introduced -Artificial Intelligence as existential threat? -9/11 Ground Zero air quality documents released Here are suggested podcast chapters based on this episode: 00:00 – Opening & 25th Anniversary SetupTom introduces the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the focus on health impacts, and this week’s guests. 00:58 – Flock Cameras: Misuse, Privacy, and Public SafetyOlivia’s headlines on an Albany investigator’s alleged misuse of Flock data and the broader surveillance vs. safety debate. 05:11 – Senator Bottcher’s Neighborhood Street TeamsDiscussion of Bottcher’s bill to coordinate services for New Yorkers in crisis and balance information-sharing with privacy. 08:15 – AI Doom, Whistleblowers, and Election-Year PoliticsJacob Coxon’s warnings about AI risk, industry responsibility, and whether AI safety becomes a midterm campaign issue. 12:57 – New 9/11 Documents on Toxic Air in Lower ManhattanTom sets up the release of 170,000 NYC records on post-9/11 air quality and the focus on long-term health impacts. 14:47 – Inside the 9/11 Records Fight (Andrew Carboy)Attorney Andrew Carboy details the multi-decade legal battle to obtain NYC’s 9/11 air-quality archive and what it reveals. 33:36 – Governor George Pataki on 9/11 Illnesses & National UnityPataki reflects on toxic exposure at Ground Zero, caring for responders, how to teach 9/11, and the loss of post-9/11 unity. 40:41 – Rep. Laura Gillen on the WTC Health Program & JusticeCongresswoman Gillen discusses reappointing Dr. John Howard, expanding health coverage, and pushing Iran to pay 9/11 judgments. 48:57 – How We Remember: Generational Reflections on 9/11Tom and Olivia compare lived and inherited memories of 9/11, media’s evolution, fear, and what “never forget” means today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Sep 4 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Former Governor George Pataki on if NYS Mayor Zohran Mamdani, President Donald Trump, should attend 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Ground Zero

    As mentioned on this week's Power & Politics podcast, Tom Eschen spoke with former NYS Governor George Pataki about the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The full conversation will be available on the Anniversary, but this is the excerpt Tom was talking about in regards to the attendance for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump at this year's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 4

    Gov. Pataki on Mayor Mamdani, Paying for Extreme Weather, and Hochul's FEMA and Counterterrorism funding questions, Guests: Professor Kevin Reed, Professor Andrew Morris, Business Council of NYS's Ken Pokalsky, Sen. Liz Krueger, September 4th, 2026

    Host Tom Eschen speaks to a variety of stakeholders in the world of climate science and policy, discussing attribution science, FEMA funding, and the New York Climate Change Superfund Act. Power & Politics producer Olivia Holloway provides Holloway's Headlines: Pataki and Mamdani, Hochul and federal funding, Climate Superfund Act struck down. Tom breaks down former NYS Governor George Pataki's comments to him about NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and attending this year's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. Following the interviews, Tom and Olivia discuss the impact of Gloria Steinem 00:01:18 – Holloway’s Headlines: 25th 9/11 Anniversary Politics00:07:42 – Counterterrorism & Disaster Aid Funding Fights00:12:16 – Climate Superfund Act, Extreme Weather & UN Warning00:18:35 – Andrew Morris: Disaster Relief, Partisanship & Climate Blame00:32:23 – Kevin Reed: Attribution Science & Extreme Weather00:58:50 – Business Council vs. NY Climate Superfund: Ken Pokalsky01:12:11 – Sen. Liz Krueger Defends the Climate Superfund & Next Steps01:20:36 – Remembering Gloria Steinem & Women’s Place in Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Aug 28

    Meta's Settlement, 287g agreement ban, congestion pricing, and Lake America Guests: Sec. Sean Duffy, Stephen Creamer

    Tom Eschen speaks with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and President & CEO of the Air Traffic Control Association Stephen Creamer. Tom and producer Olivia Holloway discuss the top stories of the week via Holloway's Headlines. 00:00 – Intro and Show Rundown 01:16 – Meta Kids Settlement and New York’s Safe for Kids Act 06:29 – Hochul’s ICE Policy, 287(g) and Local Control Fight 12:34 – Previewing Sec. Sean Duffy Interview, Congestion pricing 17:42 – Trump Renames Lake Ontario, Canada Tensions and Upstate Reaction 21:46 – Interview: Sec. Sean Duffy on Air Traffic Control, AI and Delays 35:00 – Interview: ATCA President Stephen Creamer on Modernization and Staffing 51:46 – Power and Pop Culture: Dolly Parton’s Legacy and Dream Concerts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Aug 21

    Threat at NYS Capitol, data center NDAs, Albany's Budget and Where's Upstate? Guests: NYS Asm. John McDonald, Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs and Financial Advisor Bob Ward, August 21st, 2026

    00:00:00 Intro to Power and Politics; preview of Capitol threat, data centers, Albany deficit, and the “upstate NY” debate. 00:01:00 Thwarted Capitol Plot – FBI complaint against Jessica Bowie, alleged ISIS support, and targets from the NYS Capitol to Times Square and beyond. 00:04:34 Data Centers, NDAs, and Public Pushback – Pennsylvania’s executive order on data centers, local approval power, NDA ban, and parallels to New York’s data center and transparency debates. 00:08:21 Albany’s $22 Million Budget Hole – How the deficit went from 22 million to 7 and back again, driven by healthcare under-projections, higher pensions, and a revenue shortfall. 00:11:40 Capitol Security with John McDonald – McDonald on tightened security at the Capitol, active-threat training, home protection for lawmakers, and coordination across law enforcement. 00:20:08 Mayor Applyrs and Bob Ward on Fixing Albany’s Finances – Multi-year plan to stabilize Albany: realistic numbers, state aid, bond rating hit, rising debt costs, and what’s on the table for taxes and cuts. 00:46:25 Power and Pop Culture: Where Is Upstate New York? – Tom and Olivia debate where “Upstate” starts—Rockland, Albany, Syracuse—and how Long Island and city perspectives shape the map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Aug 14

    Data Centers, New Siena Poll, New Flock Standards, Municipal Budgeting and more. Guests: Kiran Keshav, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and David Flynn, August 14th, 2026

    Several voices in the data center conversation joined Power & Politics this week: Empire AI Director of Research Computing Kiran Keshav, NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez (D-Queens) and David Flynn, leader of Phillips Lytle’s Environmental Law Practice Team. EmpireAI is one of the exceptions to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's Executive Order implementing a one-year moratorium on new data center development above 50MW. Keshav speaks to their work and growth since implemented in 2024 (now EmpireAI Beta), and why it's exempt. This week, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez announced a statewide tour, visiting 13 communities across New York where data centers, or data center proposals are happening. That includes Albany's Kenwood Commons proposal. Gonzalez is the Senate sponsor of the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed the State legislature in bipartisan fashion during this year's legislative session. She's pushing the Governor to sign it into law as a part of the data center omnibus. David Flynn, leader of Phillips Lytle’s Environmental Law Practice Team, works with clients who have considered data center construction in New York, saying Governor Hochul's Executive Order of a One-year Moratorium has a "bit of a chilling effect" across the industry. He speaks to the challenges developers would face in complying with a potential framework set forth when the Moratorium is lifted in July 2027...something he's concerned won't happen by then. 0:00-17:27 Introduction and Headlines 17:32-32:36 Empire AI Director of Research Computing Kiran Keshav 32:37-44:24 NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez (D-Queens) 44:45-1:00:54 David Flynn, leader of Phillips Lytle’s Environmental Law Practice Team 1:00:55-1:09:07 Closing Thoughts, Power & Politics & Pop Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Aug 7

    George Pataki, former New York State Governor, and New York State Acting Chief Cyber Officer Michaela Lee, August 7th, 2026

    Former New York State Governor George Pataki appeared on Power & Politics this week, speaking with Tom Eschen on the heels of the dedication of the "Governor George E. Pataki Center" on Spring Street in Albany. The conversation, taking place in a room adorned with photos of Pataki from his tenure as Governor, covered portions of his time in the State Legislature, as Governor, discussing the dynamic of politics and government at play then, and now too. They also discussed 9/11, and what he believes has changed since then. New York State Acting Chief Cyber Officer Michaela Lee also joins the show, discussing $9 million will be awarded to 153 local water projects on the heels of cyber attacks in other States. 00:00 – Pataki Building & Public Service 01:45 – Governing vs. Partisan Politics 05:10 – Silver v. Pataki & Governor Power 06:40 – 9/11, Unity & Division Today 09:25 – Lock One & Reviving Downtown Albany 10:20 – Cyber Grants for NY Water Systems 15:10 – Nation-State Threats & Critical Infrastructure 17:55 – Outro & Subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Jul 31

    Ray Brescia, Associate Dean for Research and Intellectual Life at Albany Law School, on Supreme Court's latest term, July 31st, 2026

    Ray Brescia, who helped pen a recent commentary piece in SCOTUSBlog, discusses the impact of the most recent Supreme Court term, and what he believes it means for the balance of power in the Federal Government. Intro & Setup – [0:00–0:42] Roberts Court & Power Shift – [0:42–6:23] Partisanship & Conservative Supermajority – [6:23–12:36] History & Birthright Citizenship – [12:36–19:05] Tariffs, Learning Resources & Executive Power – [19:05–27:26] Court Reform, Term Limits & Wrap – [27:26–end] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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About

A Murrow Award winning podcast that brings you inside the issues impacting our communities. Every week, Tom Eschen sits down with local leaders and power brokers for a frank, sometimes blunt, conversation about the current political environment and how their decisions and stances shape and alter all of our lives. Whether it’s your tax bill, public safety, schools, immigration, or healthcare – politics affects every day and every aspect of your life. From the corridors of power to the heart of the debate, this podcast aims to ask the tough questions you want answered – to hold leaders accountable, to cut through the rhetoric and the canned responses. It’s a conversation that really matters.

Information

  • Creator
    WRGB CBS6, Power And Politics, Tom Eschen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    211
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sinclair Broadcast Group
  • Show Website
    Power & Politics

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