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. 3d ago

    NYS Comptroller Democratic Primary Debate, Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle, June 12th, 2026

    Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle, Democratic candidates for NYS Comptroller, discuss their priorities and motivations in running for office at the CBS6 Studios in Schenectady. NYS Incumbent Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was invited, but declined the invitation. 0:00 – Introduction and Debate Setup0:24 – Opening Statements: Goyle2:38 – Opening Statements: Warshaw4:11 – Why Run Now? Trump, ICE, and Pension Politics8:23 – Palantir, ICE, and Israel Bonds Debate10:35 – What Is the Comptroller’s Job? Competing Definitions and Powers13:18 – Pension Fund, Housing Crisis, and Investing Outside New York19:24 – State Budget Growth, Tier 6, and Taxing the Rich21:44 – Medicaid, Utility Bills, and “Value for Money” in State Spending32:01 – Upstate Cities in Crisis, Bandwidth, and Municipal Audits (Buffalo Focus)37:16 – Is the Pension Fund Being Politicized? Fossil Fuels, Israel Bonds, Palantir45:13 – Candidate Contrast: Experience, Records, and Progressive Cred49:02 – Rapid-Fire Round: Refund Checks, AI, and Unclaimed Funds53:37 – Closing Statements and Final Appeals to Voters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  2. 6d ago

    Bonus: Melinda Person, President of New York State United Teachers, June 8th, 2026

    NYSUT President Melinda Person discusses the organizations recent resolution calling for more restrictions regarding technology and Artificial Intelligence in schools in New York State. 00:00 – Introduction and NYSUT ed tech resolution00:16 – Parent concerns, screen time, and attention research01:31 – Assumption that more tech = more learning challenged03:29 – Computer-based testing vs. paper and pencil options04:28 – AI in classrooms, foundational learning, and guardrails06:07 – Companion chat bots, mental health apps, and student relationships07:05 – Teacher voice in ed tech decisions and AI-detected work09:48 – Technology balance, phone-free schools, and Albany next steps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  3. Jun 5

    Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford and Finance Commissioner JoAnne Kiernan on city's budget deficit, June 5th, 2026

    Saratoga Springs, NY — Following an update on the city's finances, displaying a potential $5.1 million budget deficit, the Saratoga City Council approved a hiring freeze on Tuesday night. Finance Commissioner JoAnne Kiernan, who started her term in January 2026, showed the Council a powerpoint presentation detailing the City's financial situation. Kiernan tied the deficit in part to increasing overtime costs, health insurance, retirement and liability insurance. "Our employees and their benefits are 83% of our budget, so any employee-related thing is very expensive," Kiernan told CBS6 on Wednesday. "Everyone is seeing increased utility costs, increased material costs. It's just everything we're in an inflationary period, everything's more expensive." She says the hiring freeze is an "interim solution", giving them time to look deeper into the budget itself. They will now form a recovery leadership team, review vacant positions, identify critical positions and review purchasing, all while developing a revised 2026 budget. 0:00 – Intro & Fiscal SnapshotSetup of the interview and basic outline of the deficit. 1:30 – Deficit Numbers & Unsound BudgetHow the gap grew and why 2025’s budget was a problem. 3:00 – Message to TaxpayersWhy residents need to understand the situation. 4:45 – Public Safety Costs & OvertimeFire/police staffing, overtime, and SAFER grant impact. 8:50 – Structural Budget IssuesOne-year budgeting and missing long-term projections. 10:45 – Hiring Freeze & Immediate ControlsFire hiring freeze and early cost-containment steps. 14:10 – Revenue & BelmontSales, occupancy, parking, cannabis, and Belmont’s net effect. 20:40 – Fund Balance RisksDrawdown of reserves and charter minimum concerns. 23:10 – Looking AheadVacancy review, contract talks, efficiencies, and audits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  4. Jun 1

    Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, Mayor of the City of Albany provides update on budget, June 1st, 2026

    Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs joins Power & Politics to provide an update regarding the city's finances. She discusses the recent historic State Aid for the City, totaling $44.4 million, which is intended to help mitigate the city's budget deficit now, and in the future. She also discusses the measures they're taking to help provide long term stability for the City's finances, and how they're approaching potential hurdles like Tier 6, the Rapp Road landfill closure, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    27 min

  5. May 29

    NY 21st Congressional District Republican Primary Debate, Anthony Constantino vs. Robert Smullen, May 29th, 2026

    Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino and Assemblymember Robert Smullen, candidates in the Republican primary for New York's 21st Congressional District, took the CBS6 debate stage on Thursday evening. They debated and discussed issues like the North Country, farmers, health care, immigration, President Trump, GOP endorsements and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  6. May 26 ·  Bonus

    Bob Ward, former Deputy New York State Comptroller and an Albany resident on Albany Budget Deficit, May 26th, 2026

    Bob Ward, former Deputy New York State Comptroller and an Albany resident, joined Power & Politics this week. Ward served as Deputy New York State Comptroller from 2012-2021, and prior to that was with Rockefeller Institute of Government. He also wrote a comprehensive look at State government workings in his book: New York State Government. More recently, Ward has been analyzing the City of Albany's budget deficit, writing articles on Substack breaking down everything from the impact of State Aid to the city's debt to sales tax receipts. Intro and Albany’s Fiscal Crisis0:00:00 – 0:03:46Who Bob Ward is, and how Albany’s $19 million deficit and fiscal crisis came into focus. How Albany Ended Up in the Red0:03:46 – 0:08:59Revenue shortfalls, rising debt, borrowing to cover gaps, labor costs, and a heavily tax‑exempt property base. State Aid, Grants, and Development Slowdown0:08:59 – 0:16:35Uncertain state aid, grant management challenges, reduced development, and lost PILOT revenue. Landfill, Long‑Term Costs, and Debt0:16:35 – 0:18:50Rapp Road landfill closure obligations, bonding for environmental costs, and pension deferrals. Services, Taxes, and Public Accountability0:18:50 – 0:23:21Impact on services and taxes, how city leaders are responding, the push for transparency, and how residents can engage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  7. May 22

    Meghan Keegan, Chair of the City of Albany Common Council Finance, Taxation & Assessment Committee, provides update on Albany's budget, May 22nd, 2026

    Meghan Keegan is the Chair of the City of Albany Common Council Finance, Taxation & Assessment Committee, provides an update on the City of Albany's finances. She discusses the movement towards bringing in the State Comptroller to review the City's finances, the impact State aid could have on the present, and future of the city's fiscal health, along with long-term concerns, and remedies to bring the City's budget back into balance. [00:00] Intro & Albany’s Budget Crisis [01:25] Where the Budget Stands NowQ4 reports, 2025 closeout, early 2026 savings and unanswered questions. [03:02] Comptroller, Trust, and Impact on ResidentsWhy Keegan wants the state comptroller, council split, tax and affordability concerns. [07:10] State Aid, Essential Services, and Tax‑Exempt Land19‑a and capital city funds, what “essential” means, 62% tax‑exempt land, regional hub costs. [17:30] Housing, 81 Questions, and Data ProblemsHousing crunch, Keegan’s budget questions, mis‑stated revenue lines, need for better data. [24:04] Oversight Reforms and Debt LimitsCouncil’s limited power under the charter, Local Law I of 2026, why borrowing can’t fix a structural deficit. [31:17] New Administration, Comptroller Review, and Next StepsFraming the comptroller as a trust‑builder, collaboration with the mayor, aligning spending with real revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  8. May 18 ·  Bonus

    Former U.S. IG Mark Mark Greenblatt on impact of Minnesota's IG addition, oversight, Epstein Files audit, May 18th, 2026

    Former United States Department of the Interior Inspector General Mark Greenblatt speaks with Tom Eschen about the State of Minnesota moving forward with adding a Statewide Inspector General, and how that impacts the rest of the country when it comes to taxpayer money, especially regarding Medicaid. He also discusses the recent letter from the Department of Health and Human Services to States to prosecute Medicaid fraud. He discusses the DOJ's audit of the release of the Epstein files as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

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
    195
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sinclair Broadcast Group
  • Show Website
    Power & Politics

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