Podcast appearances and mentions of Kathy Hochul

This week we focus on the Trump Administration's seizure of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro as Ralph welcomes legendary former ambassador, Chas Freeman, who calls it nothing more than a “gas station stick-up.” Then our resident Constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, lays out some of the legal ramifications of the whole affair.Ambassador Chas Freeman is a retired career diplomat who has negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Freeman was previously a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok and Beijing. He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. In addition to Chinese, Ambassador Freeman speaks French and Spanish at the professional level and can converse in Arabic and several other languages.We have been engaged in murder on the high seas, people who are suspected on flimsy grounds of carrying narcotics. If they are carrying narcotics, it is not to the United States [but] between Venezuela and Trinidad, from which the drugs go to Western Europe and West Africa. We have been guilty of acts of piracy, seizing vessels on the high seas, on the basis of no authority. And (very dangerously) we have seized a Russian-flagged tanker…And we are risking a war with a nuclear-armed superpower over an issue that is peripheral to Venezuela.Ambassador Chas FreemanDomestically, we have a constitutional crisis. We are the most powerful country on the planet, and our domestic constitutional crisis has turned out to be contagious to the international system. And so we're seeing the disappearance of well-established norms of human behavior, interactions between states. It will not be easy to resurrect those. The precedents we've just set could come home to trouble us.Ambassador Chas FreemanI think we have scared everybody around the world. If there is no protection from international law, people will arm themselves as heavily as they can to defend themselves. So diplomacy is not prospering in this environment. And I would just conclude by saying that the Trump administration has more than decimated our diplomatic service. About one third of the diplomatic service has left or is in the process of leaving public service of the government. So they join scientists and engineers in trying to bail out from what they consider to be an increasingly intolerable situation. Not a happy picture.Ambassador Chas FreemanBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.The fact is, if you read the NATO Charter Article 5—I think right now we've got 32 members of NATO, and 31 countries would be obliged to take up war and arms against the United States. [The United States' intervention in Venezuela] is an invasion. It's every bit as much of an invasion as Hitler going into the Sudetenland after Munich. Everybody knows this isn't going to be a voluntary secession. If it isn't by military conquest, it'll be by coercion, by threats. So we may be at war with all the other NATO members. That's why I liken this to the Napoleonic Era when France and Napoleon were against all of Europe. He had no allies anymore, and I think we will have no allies either. Bruce FeinNews 1/9/25* Our top story this week is, of course, the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro, who has served as president of the Bolivarian Republic since 2013, was abducted from his home, along with his wife, by the Fort Bragg-based Delta Force squadron. Maduro was then transported to New York and is now being held in detention pending trial. Before getting into the fallout of this operation, it is critical to note the complicity of the mainstream press. Semafor reports, “The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew.” The preeminent American newspapers justified their decision to withhold this critical information from the public by claiming that publishing what they knew could have endangered American soldiers. This decision however raises longstanding questions about what the role of the media should be in national security matters. Is it their responsibility to protect American forces as they carry out legally dubious missions? Or is it their responsibility to inform the public of their own government's shadowy operations if they might endanger all Americans?* Meanwhile, the future of Venezuela appears deeply uncertain. Despite pressure from the Venezuelan exile community to install one of their own to lead the country, such as Maria Corina Machado, Trump has shown little interest in this path, saying Machado “doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country,” per Reuters. Instead, he has so far supported the elevation of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. Rodríguez, who has been “likened…to a sort of Venezuelan Deng Xiaoping,” according to NBC, has sought to court Trump in the past and it seems that for the time being at least, he is content to keep her in place so long as she is willing to accede to the demands of the American oil companies.* Whatever the long-term outlook for Venezuela in general, this incident is sure to have certain short-term consequences. At the administration level, this operation was seen as a rousing success and is likely to embolden them to attempt similar operations in other countries deemed adversarial. The Hill reports Trump said “Colombia…[is] Run by a sick man,” referring to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, but won't be for “very long.” Similarly, he remarked that “We're going to have to do something [about Mexico].” Cuba, he said, is “ready to fall.” South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, traveling with Trump, added that Cuba's days are “numbered.” It remains to be seen how far Trump will go with regime change operations in these sovereign nations, but the success of the Maduro abduction makes each one – and the inevitable blowback from these actions – that much more likely.* Beyond Latin America, Trump is again pressing for an American annexation of Greenland. According to the BBC, the administration is discussing “a range of options” including military force. Ironically, the White House is claiming that the acquisition of Greenland – a semi-autonomous region of Denmark – is a “national security priority,” despite Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's warning that any attack would mean the end of NATO, rattling the foundations of U.S. international security architecture. Nevertheless, Trump has continuously returned to the idea of annexing Greenland, so do not count on this quietly fading away, consequences be damned.* Moving to domestic politics, the AP reports the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the private entity created in 1967 to shepherd public funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of public television and radio stations across the country, has voted to dissolve itself. The CPB has been under heavy assault by the Trump administration, which pushed Congress to defund the entity last year. Patricia Harrison, the organization's president and CEO, is quoted saying “CPB's final act would be to protect the integrity of the public media system and the democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks.” With the shuttering of CPB, the future of public media hangs in the balance. It will be up to the next Congress to restore funding, or allow these cherished institutions to fall into the dustbin of history.* Alongside the federal assault on public media, the federal government continues its assaults on public health. The New York Times reports Jim O'Neill, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has “announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children,” drawing down the number from 17 to just 11. The six vaccines on the chopping block, those for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus – which, the Times notes, is the “leading cause of hospitalization in American infants,” – will only be recommended for some high-risk groups. Meanwhile, the New York Post reports Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has unveiled new federal guidelines recommending alcohol use. Dr. Oz is quoted saying “Alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together…it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize, and there's probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way.” He added that the takeaway should be, “Don't have it for breakfast.” Given the well documented health risks of alcohol consumption, it is difficult to see this as anything besides a sop to the alcohol industry.* In more local news, the primary race between incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman and former Comptroller Brad Lander in New York's 10th congressional district is turning into nothing short of a proxy war between different factions within the Democratic Party. Goldman, who officially announced his reelection bid this week, was immediately endorsed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, per the New York Daily News. Lander on the other hand, can boast the endorsement of Mayor Zohran Mamdani along with support from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, among other local progressives, per ABC7. With so much political muscle on both sides, this primary is sure to have important ramifications for the future direction of the Democratic Party.* For his part, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has hit the ground running. On January 5th, Mamdani signed Executive Orders No. 9, on combatting hidden junk fees, and No. 10 on fighting subscription tricks and traps. Among other things, these executive orders will Establish a Citywide Junk Fee Task Force, to be cochaired by Deputy Mayor of Economic Justice and former Biden Administration Secretary of Labor Julie Su. This announcement ends with a message stating that Mayor Mamdani “takes the protection of New York consumers and tenants seriously,” citing his recent “executive order to hold ‘Rental Ripoff' hearings in every borough,” which will “provide an opportunity for working New Yorkers to speak about the challenges they face – from poor building conditions to hidden fees on rent payments,” to be followed by a report and policy recommendations. This all from NYC.gov.* A fascinating new poll has been released by “Speaking with American Men,” also known as the SAM Project, which seeks to understand young American men of various backgrounds. One startling number from this study is that 31% report having been homeless or near-homeless in the past five years. In more direct political findings though, only 27% say Trump is delivering for them, and slightly less, 25%, say Republicans are delivering. However, despite these abysmal numbers, just 18% say Democrats are delivering for them. Clearly, while young men are not joined at the hip to the Republican Party, the Democrats have a long way to go to win them back and won't get there without profoundly changing their approach to courting this key voting bloc.* Finally, the battle between Netflix and Paramount over corporate control of Warner Bros. Discovery continues to drag on. This week, WB announced they would formally reject Paramount's latest bid, their eighth so far, arguing that it is inferior to Netflix's proposal, citing the “extraordinary amount of incremental debt,” Paramount would have to incur in order to take over the larger company. This is estimated to be over $50 million. Although Paramount's hostile bid is higher per share than Netflix's offer, Paramount's bid includes WB's cable assets, such as CNN, which the company believes will be worth more if spun off from the rest of the company. This from CNN itself. Meanwhile, Paramount – led by the Ellison family – is calling in political favors on their behalf. In a letter to the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim, who led the Antitrust Division of the DOJ under Trump 2017-2021, accused the proposed Netflix WB merger of being “presumptively unlawful,” because it would “further cement [Netflix's] dominance in streaming video on demand,” per Deadline. Congress cannot directly block a merger or acquisition, that power rests with the DOJ, but it does possess oversight power in that realm and can exert pressure to this end. Given the high stakes of this fight, expect all parties to call in their chits on Capitol Hill and in the administration in order to win the big prize.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three living in Minneapolis, is gunned down in her car by an ICE agent as cameras roll. Jon and Dan react to the tragedy and discuss the administration's response, especially JD Vance's despicable remarks in the White House briefing room. Dan talks to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey about how the city plans to investigate and push back. Then, Jon and Dan discuss Trump's quest for hemispheric domination, and how Congressional Republicans are are starting to cross him on foreign policy and health care. Then, Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks with Tommy about a new deal with Gov. Kathy Hochul to expand free childcare in New York.New York Times video analysis: Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in MinneapolisFor a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, talks about Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani's announcement on their proposed universal 2-Care program which would provide free child care for New York City's 2-year-olds, and her work advocating for child care in New York.

Governor Hochul is backing new legislation aimed at protecting children and teens online. Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children & Screens, unpacks the impact of technology and social media on young people and discuss various legislative efforts to protect kids on the internet.

In December 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul reached an agreement with the New York state legislature to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would legalize what proponents call "death with dignity" and what critics call physician-assisted suicide. About a dozen other states already permit doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. The state of Oregon pioneered this practice in 1994 and it has since spread across the Western world. Now, there are people who have an ailing parent or grandparent or, God forbid, a child who is genuinely suffering—suffering in agonizing ways that make the cessation of that suffering seem like the only humane response. It would be inhuman not to acknowledge the enormous emotional, psychological, and physical burdens of that pain, or to minimize it. But the question of physician-assisted suicide ultimately is one about medical ethics as upheld by the physician, the distorting market effects of this practice, and social policy. What happens when the state makes it possible for large numbers of people to receive this option from the very person whose profession calls on him to heal and not harm? What happens to the moral foundations of our culture when assisted death becomes something we learn to abide? The evidence from places like Canada and the Netherlands begins to answer those questions in deeply disturbing ways. What started as a carefully limited option for the terminally ill has expanded dramatically. In Canada, deaths from medically assisted dying rose from 4,480 in 2018 to over 10,000 in 2021—and by 2022 accounted for 4 percent of all deaths in the country. Patients are now approved for reasons of poverty, loneliness, and mental illness. Veterans seeking PTSD treatment are sometimes offered death instead. The physician and educator Leon Kass warned nearly 30 years ago that once we break the ancient taboo against doctors killing patients, the practice would prove "in principle unregulable." The evidence now seems to vindicate that warning. To discuss this topic, Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver is joined by Aaron Rothstein, a neurologist at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellow in bioethics and American democracy at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. They discuss the origins of the modern euthanasia movement, and the disturbing reality of how euthanasia functions once legalized. This episode of the Tikvah Podcast is generously sponsored by David Bradlow. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the Tikvah Podcast, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle. Visit tikvah.org/circle to learn more and join.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first week in office brought both major announcements and minor controversies. On Thursday, the mayor unveiled a joint plan with Gov. Kathy Hochul for a statewide push to expand universal pre-K and create new 2-K child care initiatives. On the other side of the ledger, questions arose over the appointment of Cea Weaver to lead the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants in the wake of past tweets she has made. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena break down an eventful first week at City Hall. After that, City Hall officially welcomed a new leader of the City Council. Upper East Side Councilmember Julie Menin was elected speaker unanimously on Wednesday. The "Off Topic" team looks ahead at what her leadership could mean for the Council and the city.

It has been a roller coaster of a week for child care advocates in New York State. On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it was cracking down on the Child Care and Development Fund, a program that subsidizes care for 1.4 million children from low-income households. The administration alleges fraud is reason for the move, and it will require states like New York to provide extra documentation before receiving money. Meanwhile, advocates in New York State are celebrating an announcement today by Governor Kathy Hochul. Her administration is investing in statewide universal pre-K and additional programs to help families. We sit down with Assemblymember Sarah Clark and Pete Nabozny, policy director of the Children's Agenda, to discuss what it all means for families in our region. In studio: Assemblymember Sarah Clark, District 136 Pete Nabozny, director of policy for The Children's Agenda ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Our 230th episode with a summary and discussion of last week's big AI news!Recorded on 01/02/2026Hosted by Andrey Kurenkov and Jeremie HarrisFeel free to email us your questions and feedback at contact@lastweekinai.com and/or hello@gladstone.aiRead out our text newsletter and comment on the podcast at https://lastweekin.ai/In this episode:Nvidia's acquisition of AI chip startup Groq for $20 billion highlights a strategic move for enhanced inference technology in GPUs.New York's RAISE Act legislation aims to regulate AI safety, marking the second major AI safety bill in the US.The launch of GLM 4.7 by Zhipu AI marks a significant advancement in open-source AI models for coding.Evaluation of long-horizon AI agents raises concerns about the rising costs and efficiency of AI in performing extended tasks.Timestamps:(00:00:10) Intro / Banter(00:01:58) 2025 RetrospectiveTools & Apps(00:24:39) OpenAI bets big on audio as Silicon Valley declares war on screens | TechCrunchApplications & Business(00:26:39) Nvidia buying AI chip startup Groq for about $20 billion, biggest deal(00:34:28) Exclusive | Meta Buys AI Startup Manus, Adding Millions of Paying Users - WSJ(00:38:05) Cursor continues acquisition spree with Graphite deal | TechCrunch(00:39:15) Micron Hikes CapEx to $20B with 2026 HBM Supply Fully Booked; HBM4 Ramps 2Q26(00:42:06) Chinese fabs are reportedly upgrading older ASML DUV lithography chipmaking machines — secondary channels and independent engineers used to soup up Twinscan NXT seriesProjects & Open Source(00:47:52) Z.AI launches GLM-4.7, new SOTA open-source model for coding(00:50:11) Evaluating AI's ability to perform scientific research tasksResearch & Advancements(00:54:32) Large Causal Models from Large Language Models(00:57:33) Universally Converging Representations of Matter Across Scientific Foundation Models(01:02:11) META-RL INDUCES EXPLORATION IN LANGUAGE AGENTS(01:07:16) Are the Costs of AI Agents Also Rising Exponentially?(01:11:17) METR eval for Opus 4.5(01:16:19) How to game the METR plotPolicy & Safety(01:17:24) New York governor Kathy Hochul signs RAISE Act to regulate AI safety | TechCrunch(01:20:40) Activation Oracles: Training and Evaluating LLMs as General-Purpose Activation Explainers(01:26:46) Monitoring Monitorability(01:32:07) Sam Altman is hiring someone to worry about the dangers of AI | The Verge(01:33:38) X users asking Grok to put this girl in bikini, Grok is happy obliging - India TodaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reviews a slew of bills signed by Governor Hochul at the end of 2025 and previews the State Assembly's upcoming legislative session.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is panicking, Trump is now reversing their entire system, The D’s have no choice but to fold and go along with Trump’s no tax on tips etc, they resisted but the people complained, this will not work out well for them. Trump is now lowering the fuel prices by unleashing Venezuela’s oil, this will be used to go against the [DS]. Trump is in the process of dismantling the [DS], Venezuela has been released from the [DS] grasp. Maduro was arrested and brought to the US to stand trial. Maduro will most likely assist with the overthrow of the US government in 2020. The flow of money, training of terrorist happened in Venezuela, it is all coming to an end, soon the other countries will fall and the people will take them back. The world is being returned to the people. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Kathy Hochul Caves On ‘No Tax On Tips’ Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill made a straightforward promise: more money in workers' pockets. The plan eliminated the federal tax on tips and overtime pay for linemen and factory workers, and created a new deduction for seniors relying on Social Security. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “the most pro-worker, pro-family legislation in a generation.”   several blue-state governors were refusing to reciprocate by eliminating state taxes on tips, including Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.), and Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused them of “deliberately blocking their own residents” from the bill's benefits at the state level. Bessent made clear that states that refused to comply with the law should expect consequences. “Treasury stands ready to work with any state committed to delivering on that promise, but we will not stand idly by as this obstructionism drags down the national recovery,” he said. “This is about fairness. This is about opportunity. And this is about putting America first, starting with the families and workers who make our economy the envy of the world.” Kathy Hochul has now caved. On New Year's Day, she announced that New York will finally move to exempt service workers' tips from state income taxes on up to $25,000 in tipped income.   “Starting today, tax rates for the vast majority of lower and middle-class New Yorkers will be cut, families with children will see a sweeping increase in the child tax credit, and minimum wage workers across the state will see their wages go up. I'm kicking the new year off with a proposal of no state income tax on tips, continuing my efforts to make New York more affordable for hard working New Yorkers.” The change comes only after months of outrage from restaurant owners and service workers who accused Albany of putting politics ahead of paychecks. Service industry workers noticed and called it a slap in the face to people barely scraping by in such an expensive state.   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007496574889537687?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2007500910277325260?s=20 https://twitter.com/TKL_Adam/status/2007468568619696559?s=20  damaged last night. On top of this, President Trump says the US will be “very much involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry going forward and China is “going to get oil.” In 2010, Venezuela was producing over 3 million barrels of oil per day, now down to ~900,000. If the US truly takes control of Venezuela’s oil industry, MUCH more supply is coming to market. Oil and gas prices would head much lower. Geopolitical https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266?s=20 https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1274910217508196352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1274910217508196352%7Ctwgr%5E7e79690e7ff94a98319d1a5f7cef15f68e12ceb9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjoe-bidens-old-tweet-claiming-trump-admires-thugs%2F https://twitter.com/willchamberlain/status/2007652410077086175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007652410077086175%7Ctwgr%5Ee26360c03ca670b2e4da2b86849c02fab10ca741%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjust-kamala-harris-gets-lit-up-x-after%2F Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces on January 3, 1990, after seeking refuge for 10 days in the Vatican’s embassy (Papal Nunciature) in Panama City.  This event marked the end of Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama that began on December 20, 1989, under President George H.W. Bush, aimed at deposing Noriega and bringing him to face U.S. charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.  To pressure Noriega into surrendering, U.S. psychological operations teams blasted loud rock music—including tracks like Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and Van Halen’s “Panama”—at the embassy nonstop, contributing to his decision to give up.   He was immediately flown to Miami, where he stood trial, was convicted in 1992, and initially sentenced to 40 years in prison (later reduced).  After serving time in the U.S., Noriega was extradited to France in 2010 for money laundering charges, and finally to Panama in 2011 to face additional sentences for murder, corruption, and human rights abuses during his rule.   He died in Panama in 2017 while under house arrest for medical reasons.   The invasion itself involved around 25,000 U.S. troops, resulting in 23 American deaths, hundreds wounded, and estimates of 200–4,000 Panamanian civilian casualties, drawing international criticism despite achieving its primary objective. https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/2007796748631314839?s=20 https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/2007549887098040495?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007518675641983427?s=20   advance. Trump Admin's Top Secret Maduro Military Operation Plans Reportedly Leaked To Legacy Media Outlets Despite an unidentified party leaking plans of the Trump administration's top secret military operation targeting Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela to both The New York Times and the Washington Post, neither publication decided to expose it, Semafor reported Saturday night. Two anonymous sources, described as familiar with the communication between the administration and media outlets, told Semafor that both outlets declined to break the news on the operation before it happened out of concern for U.S. troops involved. The military incursion, carried out early Saturday, resulted in the capture and ouster of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, whom a grand jury later indicted on four charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. The identity of the leaker or leakers was not made public as of Sunday morning. Source: dailycaller.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007811723013603611?s=20 Russia, China Demand That US Immediately Release Maduro From Custody Within mere hours after President Trump announced the Saturday capture by US forces of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after a brief shock bombing campaign and special forces operation in Caracas, Russia has demanded from Washington his immediate release. “We firmly call on the U.S. leadership to reconsider this position and release the lawfully elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, and described that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic means. “Russia will continue to support the course pursued by its Bolivarian leadership to defend the country’s national interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry said, while also calling for restraint and cautioning against further escalation. China has joined Moscow’s calls for the immediate release of Maduro from US custody: China has called on the United States to immediately releaaljazeera.com/…/china-urges-us-to-stop-toppling-venezuelan-government-release-madurose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out massive military strikes on the capital, Caracas, as well as other regions, and abducted the leader. Beijing on Sunday insisted the safety of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores be a priority, and called on the US to “stop toppling the government of Venezuela,” calling the attack a “clear violation of international law“. https://twitter.com/alaynatreene/status/2007491168389525809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007491168389525809%7Ctwgr%5E1cec862879fed0a0919d0a99238a33d07975d1bb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Frussia-china-demand-us-immediately-release-venezuelas-maduro Source: zerohedge.com China has embedded operational control into critical mineral extraction that feeds weapons manufacturing  Iran has established drone production facilities within strike range of the continental United States. Russia has deployed military advisers and integrated air defense systems in the Caribbean. Venezuela represents the only location where all three adversaries operate simultaneously https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007644800779169936?s=20   legitimate, outstanding US drug charges from 2020, the real reason for the military operations early this morning is that neutralizing Maduro’s Venezuela had become a strategic imperative for the USA. Under Maduro, Venezuela had become the Latin American crossroads for all of the USA’s principal enemies. Maduro was nurturing relationships with Russia, Hezbollah and Iran. Worst of all, Venezuela was eagerly becoming a part of Red China’s Belt & Road initiative. As America’s enemies were lining up Venezuela as their base of operations in the Western Hemisphere to cause mischief and destruction for the USA, Maduro was at the same time making Venezuela a crossroads, safe haven and enabler for all manner of narcoterrorist operations, ranging from Colombia’s FARC to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. On top of all that, Venezuela had become a key player in the illegal alien invasion of the USA, shipping its very worst to the USA in a deliberate and comprehensive destabilizing operation that might have worked had Donald Trump not won in 2024. Next in importance: oil. The global and regional ambitions of both China and Russia are in large part dependent on the politics of petroleum, and the USA just deprived both of the cudgel afforded by friendly Venezuelan oil. Trump opponents say “It’s about oil” as if that was a bad thing. Yeah, it’s about oil. Finally, all of this was in keeping with the most essential and fundamental foreign policy mandate of the USA almost since the nation’s inception: the Monroe Doctrine. Operations like what Maduro was running simply cannot be allowed in the Western Hemisphere. Trump was right for falling back on this most basic of doctrines that protects the USA’s sovereignty. So was Maduro seized because of some five year-old drug charges? Yes. Legally–yes. However, like so many strategic issues in the world today, an action needed to be backed by the fine points of law, and it was. But the reality is that the Maduro takedown was a Monroe Doctrine-driven necessity that has greatly enhanced the power and national security of the USA. Congratulations, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and the rest of the Trump national security team: you boldly took the steps necessary to defend the USA. Well done. https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2007597322549469370?s=20  Uh… but what about America 1st!!!!” Dominating our hemisphere is America 1st.  READ: Maduro Indictment Unsealed  https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007468832567222274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007468832567222274%7Ctwgr%5Ea380e4654af6dbcd0ced13d78085deb2a2a57e8d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fread-maduro-indictment-unsealed%2F Read the indictment here. The grand jury indicted Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores and four others on four counts: Narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. “Nicolas Maduro Moros, the defendant, now sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking,” the indictment read. “That drug trafficking has enriched and entrenched Venezuela's political and military elite, including Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace Diosado Cabello Rondon, the defendant, and former Minister of the Interior and Justice Ramon Rodriguez Chachin, the defendant,” the charging document read. The White House absolutely savaged Maduro on Saturday. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/2007459071985676697?s=20 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007412199132934453?s=20   with it. Go America! https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/2007404924393697601?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007510867307626848?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007503643453559225?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007737447631945888?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007759220851327278?s=20 War/Peace https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007814479892111690?s=20  Years after he left office, a reflective Barack Obama admitted that he and his administration made a “mistake” in not forcefully supporting an Iranian civilian uprising in 2009 that could have ousted that country's ruing mullahs. Faced with a fresh protest movement 16-plus years later led by street vendors, President Donald Trump has taken the opposite tact in a robust embrace of everyday Iranians that caught the attention of Tehran. If Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote in a 3 a.m. post Friday on his TruthSocial platform. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”  The president was not more specific about his intentions, but Iranian dissidents and non-official Trump advisers cheered the statement and said it set the stage for tougher sanctions or other actions by the administration. Interesting Timing – Zelenskyy Planning to Remove Head of the Security Service of Ukraine This is very interesting timing considering the recent denial by Zelenskyy that Ukraine had anything to do with the attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence. According to Politico, Zelenskyy is removing Vasyl Malyuk as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the state's top counterintelligence agency. Malyuk previously worked with British intelligence on operation “Spiderweb” where Ukrainian drones hit Russia's strategic bombers on several protected airfields (USA not informed). Source: theconservativetreehouse.com [DS] Agenda  President Trump's Plan FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Terror Plot In North Carolina The FBI said it foiled an ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina. Suspect Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson said at a Jan. 2 press conference. Sturdivant appeared in court on Jan. 2. A U.S. citizen, Sturdivant had allegedly planned the attack for about a year, according to Ferguson. A hand-written document titled “The New Year's Eve Attack 2026” was found in Sturdivant's bedroom trash can and included a section labeled, “martyrdom Op,” court papers claim.  Sturdivant read ISIS material online, visited the terrorist group's websites, and made TikTok videos, Ferguson said. Source: zerohedge.com Former CBS Reporter Catherine Herridge Reveals How Executives Delayed Her Reporting On Hunter Biden Laptop Former CBS investigative reporter Catherine Herridge said Thursday CBS News executives postponed airing her reports on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. https://twitter.com/C__Herridge/status/2006795554471186519?s=20   always do the story when it’s ready to go. You should not be dictated by the political cycle.” At that time, CBS News was under different management, and did not respond to our questions seeking comment.   Source: dailycaller.com  https://twitter.com/bread_n_caviar/status/2007473725331960305?s=20 how much Jeb Bush is connected to drug trafficking. Here's my Substack article on that subject: https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2007377888858062869?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007528129988862028?s=20 is undoing the damage the CIA has been used to do over the last 78 years around the world. The Deep State network is being dismantled. Trump did the same thing with Iran. Who enabled and paid Iran to make nukes? Obama via the Iran Deal. Neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities was Trump cleaning up another Deep State mess created by past administrations. Trump knows where all the Deep State assets and proxies are, and he is uprooting them. It's actually happening. Trump is obliterating the Deep State! Maduro a Cartel/Deep State puppet for a while  Wants out  Negotiates exit with Trump  U.S. military extracts him  Trump rugs the Deep State’s regime change op with his own regime change op https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2007682086271103487?s=20   Maduro played a large role in the destabilization efforts, sending drugs and murderous gangs into our country. Is it considered one crime syndicate?   https://twitter.com/TheQNewsPatriot/status/2007662811296731504?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007516103950414317?s=20   nations and regions that past US administrations have destabilized and destroyed. If there is no instability, the Deep State cannot operate. Therefore, Trump is going to neutralize those causing the instability, ie, the cartels. Trump is essentially undoing the decades of damage caused by the Deep State, and creating a new world the way it should be.  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007547290035302659?s=20   MIL in their cities? Now do you see why they have been panicking about the Insurrection Act? The Dems are Deep State puppets just like Maduro. They fear that what just happened to Maduro, is going to happen to them. THEY FEAR THE RECKONING! (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Chris in Bethpage, NY, called Curtis to ask him what happened with Curtis being on Sid Rosenberg's morning show about 4 days a week. Bob in Perth Amboy, NJ, calls Curtis to ask him what he thinks Gov. Kathy Hochul and other New York politicians will do about the Outerbridge Crossing route. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris in Bethpage, NY, called Curtis to ask him what happened with Curtis being on Sid Rosenberg's morning show about 4 days a week. Bob in Perth Amboy, NJ, calls Curtis to ask him what he thinks Gov. Kathy Hochul and other New York politicians will do about the Outerbridge Crossing route.

Dive into Ron the Waiter's raw struggle with seasonal layoffs and endless unemployment calls that expose New York's broken system. From Trump's no-tax-on-tips promise thwarted by Governor Hochul, Ron is saying exactly what everyone else is thinking.​ Also, quirky global New Year's rituals and deadliest animals, this episode unpacks economic chaos with irreverent banter. ​Hit play for a dose of "rage-laughter" and the unfiltered truth about the economic grind.

New York a un nouveau maire. Le démocrate Zohran Mamdani prend ses fonctions ce jeudi 1er janvier. Son ambition est de rendre la ville plus abordable pour ses 8,5 millions d'habitants. Zohran Mamdan a multiplié les annonces-chocs pendant sa campagne : gratuité des crèches municipales et des bus publics, gel des loyers dits « stabilisés », création d'épiceries municipales... Des mesures que ses détracteurs qualifient de « populistes » et d'« irréalisables ». Pour les mettre en œuvre, le nouveau maire prévoit des hausses d'impôts. Pour cela, il va devoir convaincre les autorités démocrates de l'Etat, qui renâclent à les augmenter, à commencer par la gouverneure Kathy Hochul, candidate à sa réélection en novembre. En revanche, Zohran Mamdani ne devrait pas se heurter à l'hostilité de Donald Trump, en tout cas, pas immédiatement. Les deux hommes se sont rencontrés le 21 novembre et contre toute attente, cela s'est plutôt bien passé. « Le président a été séduit par le personnage qui est, comme lui, une sorte d'outsider qui a tout renversé sur son passage, notamment l'establishment de son propre parti », explique à RFI Serge Jaumain, professeur d'histoire contemporaine à l'Université libre de Bruxelles. Le président est également content que le Parti démocrate ait « une sorte d'épine dans le pied. Zohran Mamdani incarne la gauche du parti et il fait peur à un certain nombre d'eléecteurs plus centristes », analyse l'universitaire. Malgré tout, la stratégie du trentenaire de mettre l'accent sur la vie chère plutôt que sur la défense de la démocratie pourrait bien inspirer son camp. Sur la forme, Zohran Mamdani avait également innové en menant une campagne joyeuse et en jouant la carte de l'espoir. Une recette que le parti démocrate pourrait appliquer pour les élections de mi-mandat. À dix mois de l'échéance, le débat n'est toujours pas tranché. Donald Trump a bien tenté de contester la victoire de Joe Biden en 2020 Mercredi 31 janvier, à la demande de l'ancien procureur spécial, Jack Smith, la commission des Affaires judiciaires de la Chambre des représentants a publié le compte-rendu de son audition qui avait eu lieu à huis clos, le 17 décembre, explique le site Axios. Selon l'ex-magistrat, sans Donald Trump, il n'y aurait pas eu d'assaut du Capitole, le 6 janvier 2021. « Notre enquête a conclu, au-delà de tout doute raisonnable, que le président Trump s'est livré à un stratagème criminel visant à renverser les résultats de l'élection présidentielle de 2020 et à empêcher le transfert légal du pouvoir », a-t-il affirmé, comme le relève le New York Times. Donald Trump est également coupable d'avoir a délibérément conservé des documents confidentiels après avoir quitté le pouvoir, en janvier 2021, toujours selon l'ancien procureur. Lors de son audition, Jack Smith a également défendu son enquête. Il aurait procédé de la même manière avec un président démocrate, assure-t-il. Il affirme avoir fait preuve d'impartialité, avoir travaillé en toute indépendance et n'avoir reçu aucune instruction de la part de Joe Biden, précise Axios. Jack Smith en est certain : si Donald Trump avait été jugé, il aurait été condamné, souligne Politico. Mais comme le veut l'usage, il a dû abandonner toute poursuite pénale à son encontre dès qu'il a été élu président. Comme le raconte le New York Times, Jack Smith « s'est efforcé de démonter le récit selon lequel le président est une victime innocente, persécuté par ses opposants qui instrumentalisent les lois ». L'ancien magistrat sait que Donald Trump va, malgré tout, chercher à se venger. Au Mexique, encore des progrès à faire en matière des droits des femmes Comme le raconte le journal Milenio, dans l'État de Morelos, les partis politiques refusent la parité homme-femmes. La justice avait ordonné que plus de la moitié des postes de maires de cet État soit réservée aux femmes. Une liste de villes n'ayant jamais été dirigées par une femme ou alors il y a très longtemps, avait été dressée, poursuit Milenio. 21 des 36 communes de Morelos étaient, donc, censées élire des femmes à leur tête lors des prochaines élections, en 2027. Mais les partis politiques s'y sont opposé et le Congrès de Morelos a voté une autre règle. Seul un tiers des communes reviendront bien à des femmes. Une décision que dénonce Perla Pedroza de l'Observatoire de la parité et de la violence politique et de genre de Morelos. À Milenio, elle explique pourquoi il faut absolument réserver des postes aux femmes. Elle cite l'exemple d'une ville où lors des dernières élections, un seul homme s'est présenté face à plusieurs femmes. Il a été élu. « Ce n'est pas parce que nous, les femmes, nous ne savons pas gérer une ville ou que nous n'avons pas d'autorité ; c'est parce que les partis ne nous donnent pas de budget et que les gens sont toujours machistes », témoigne cette féministe. En Argentine, les « bureaucrates de la corruption » La Nacion s'est penché sur « les fonctionnaires et les intermédiaires » qui opèrent dans les coulisses du pouvoir « pour piller l'État », ceux qui touchent des pots-de-vin au sein même des administrations, le tout en étant protégés par certains de leurs supérieurs. La Nacion résume les principales affaires qui ont secoué le pays ces dernières années, calculent pour chacune d'entre elles, les sommes perdues par l'État (4 milliards de dollars, par exemple, dans l'affaire VTV - des fonctionnaires qui faisaient sauter des PV). Le journal propose, enfin, des solutions : réduire les pouvoirs arbitraires accordés aux fonctionnaires ou donner la possibilité aux citoyens de s'adresser à différentes personnes. Il ne faut plus qu'une seule personne puisse accorder ou retirer un avantage à quelqu'un, résume La Nacion. La police haïtienne veut récupérer Port-au-Prince En Haïti, mardi 30 décembre, la police nationale a récupéré un important arsenal lors d'une opération à Bel-Air dans le fief du chef de gang connu sous le nom de Jamesley. « Cela fait plusieurs semaines que la PNH essaie de reprendre le contrôle du centre-ville de Port-au-Prince. Elle lance désormais des attaques alors qu'avant, elle était surtout dans un mode défensif », précise Frantz Duval, rédacteur en chef du quotidien Le Nouvelliste. Dans la capitale, rares sont les quartiers qui échappent encore aux gangs. Hier, malgré les coupures de courant et l'insalubrité, on a fêté la nouvelle année. « Dans les quelques zones que ne contrôlent pas les bandits, les festivités durent depuis plusieurs jours », raconte le journaliste. Le 31 décembre au soir, le Premier ministre s'est d'ailleurs rendu au Champ de mars. « Mais par peur, le public n'a pas répondu présent », précise Frantz Duval. « En 2026, des grandes batailles attendent le pays : il faudra retrouver le chemin de la démocratie et organiser des élections », insiste le patron du Nouvelliste.

This show includes five climate related segments from the past year. 2025 was a bad year for climate action in both New York and the United States. At the federal level, President Trump took action to remove the US from the Paris climate accords while dismantling existing programs that supported the development of clean, renewable energy while promoting the expansion of gas, oil, coal, and nuclear power. In New York, Governor Hochul increasingly distanced herself from climate action while the state legislature failed once again to pass strong climate bills. The five segments look at the state energy plan, 100-foot rule for gas hookups, the 10th anniversary of NY Renews, the climate lawsuit against Hochul for failing to implement the CLCPA and nuclear power. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management firm EBMG walks listeners through the changes noted in the Real Property Access Law, signed by Governor Hochul on December 5, 2025.Email the show! nycrealestatepodcast@gmail.com.Find Mark now on TIkTok @markinrealestateAmong other parts, the new law gives adjoining property owners (the person seeking access, or the “licensee”) the right to seek court intervention if a property owner (the person granting access, or the “licensor”) refuses to grant access or does not respond to multiple notices seeking access within sixty days. The prospective licensor also must identify its tenants so that the prospective licensee can join them in the litigation if necessary.View the entire law here: https://files.constantcontact.com/c28f8372601/899d3836-e8ba-4905-bc7c-6607988eaded.pdf?rdr=true Happy New Year from our family to yours!

John talks with NY State Governor Kathy Hochul who highlights her accomplishments in public safety, affordability and energy resilience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cease-fire has been reached between Thailand and Cambodia after the deadliest clashes in years between the two Southeast Asian nations. At least 101 people were killed, and leaders on both sides are now expressing hope the new agreement will hold.On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law requiring warning labels on the addictive features of social media platforms such as TikTok and X. The move is part of the state's effort to address a youth mental health crisis linked to social media use.As Americans take to the roads and airports during the busy travel period between Christmas and New Year's, a winter storm has caused more than a thousand flights to be canceled or delayed across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans avoid a costly primary in the race for New York Governor, after Rep. Elise Stefanik drops out and President Trump gets behind Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. While the polling favorite is still incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, could Zohran Mamdani shake up the state's politics once he's sworn in? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the All Local morning update for December 24, 2025.

Offshore wind projects in our region have been suspended by the Trump administration. The flu is ripping through Long Island. Governor Hochul signs a bill eliminating the so-called “100 foot rule”. Plus, an effort in Connecticut to keep foster kids with family.

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The Other Side of the Story with Tom Harris and Todd Royal – The National and Liberal parties in Australia have also called for a retraction of dangerous and expensive climate plans? Or that New York State and Governor Kathy Hochul appear to have stepped back from green energy, regarding buildings and pipelines. Or that Massachusetts also seems to be stepping back from renewable energy?

After the release of new Jeffrey Epstein documents and photos, Rep. Tim Burchett joins Carl Higbie FRONTLINE to call for those responsible to be held accountable. Pastor Lucas Miles joins Saturday Report to discuss the future direction of Charlie Kirk's movement. Newsmax's Tom Basile discusses the importance of faith. On America Right Now, Boston Archbishop Richard Henning discusses keeping Christ in Christmas and the true focus of the holiday season. Nassau County Executive and New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman says he prioritizes New Yorkers as he challenges Gov. Kathy Hochul. Today's podcast is sponsored by : WEBROOT : Live a better digital life with Webroot Total Protection. Newsmax Daily listeners get 60% off at http://webroot.com/Newsmax  Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at ⁠http://Newsmax.com/Listen⁠ Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at ⁠http://NewsmaxPlus.com⁠ Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : ⁠http://nws.mx/shop⁠ Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: ⁠http://nws.mx/FB⁠  -X/Twitter: ⁠http://nws.mx/twitter⁠ -Instagram: ⁠http://nws.mx/IG⁠ -YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV⁠ -Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV⁠ -TRUTH Social: ⁠https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX⁠ -GETTR: ⁠https://gettr.com/user/newsmax⁠ -Threads: ⁠http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX⁠  -Telegram: ⁠http://t.me/newsmax⁠  -BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com⁠ -Parler: ⁠http://app.parler.com/newsmax⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mamdani Administration announces an inauguration block party, Governor Kathy Hochul signs a bill to increase state prison oversight and a roundup of New Yorkers' tips for staying in budget this year.

-New York governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Friday aimed at holding large AI developers accountable for the safety of their models. The RAISE Act establishes rules for greater transparency, requiring these companies to publish information about their safety protocols and report any incidents within 72 hours of their occurrence. -OpenAI revealed that users can adjust characteristics under new Warm, Enthusiastic, Header & Lists and Emoji options found in the Personalization settings. Between the four options, you can choose between more, less or default to fine-tune exactly how you want ChatGPT to sound in its responses. -On Friday, Bloomberg reported on the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) severing its ties with FWD.us. Zuckerberg's group provided no funding to the advocacy group for the first time this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The bill will require large AI developers to publish information about their safety protocols and report safety incidents to the state within 72 hours. Also, the newest episode raises questions about whether Sequoia's new leadership -- managing partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady, who took over last month -- can or will rein in Maguire's social media activity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google sues SerpApi, Chrome and Edge browser extensions secretly collect and sell AI chatbot conversations, Starlink satellite explodes. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS Live ad-free. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. If you enjoy what you see you can support the show onContinue reading "New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs the RAISE Act Into Law – DTH"

This is the afternoon All Local for December 20th, 2025.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is facing new scrutiny and criticism after his newly-appointed director of appointments resigned just hours into the job. Catherine Almonte Da Costa stepped down Thursday afternoon following the resurfacing of antisemitic statements she posted more than a decade ago on social media — raising questions about the Mamadani team's vetting process. Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams is making a series of last-minute appointments to the Rent Guidelines Board that could complicate Mamdani's pledge to freeze rents once he takes office. NY1 political reporters Bobby Cuza and Ayana Harry, and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down the developments at City Hall, and what they mean for the incoming administration. After that, Gov, Kathy Hochul says she plans to sign legislation legalizing medically-assisted suicide next year, after pushing lawmakers to add a series of new "guardrails" to the bill.The "Off Topic" team looks at this initiative, first introduced in 2016 but stalled for years amid opposition from the New York State Catholic Conference and other groups.

New report finds apprenticeships increasing for WA; TN nursing shortage slated to continue amid federal education changes; NC college students made away of on-campus resources to fight food insecurity; DOJ will miss deadline to release all Epstein files; new program provides glasses to visually impaired Virginians; Line 5 pipeline fight continues in Midwest states; and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul agrees to sign medical aid in dying bill in early 2026.

New report finds apprenticeships increasing for WA; TN nursing shortage slated to continue amid federal education changes; NC college students made away of on-campus resources to fight food insecurity; DOJ will miss deadline to release all Epstein files; new program provides glasses to visually impaired Virginians; Line 5 pipeline fight continues in Midwest states; and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul agrees to sign medical aid in dying bill in early 2026.

What happens when kids put down their phones and step into the wild? Jen Skilbred knows firsthand. She's the assistant director for environmental education at Group for the East End, where her job often means leading students off the pavement and into forests, fields and shorelines to discover the region's plants and wildlife. Last year alone, Group for the East End reached more than 2,270 students across the East End. So earlier this year when Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide ban on student cellphone use during the school day, Skilbred saw an opportunity to extend that phone-free time beyond the classroom by getting kids outside and reconnecting them with nature. This week, the editors are joined by Skilbred to talk about what happens when young people discover the magic of the natural world. “Let's make real life more interesting than screens,” Skilbred says. “We live on the East End, and there are so many beautiful outdoor spaces.” CHRISTOPHER SCOTT PHOTO

This is your 4 p.m. All Local update for Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Today's Headlines: Donald Trump had a not-so-stellar day yesterday. First, Indiana's GOP-controlled state senate actually stood up to him and rejected his pressure campaign to pass a wildly gerrymandered congressional map. So instead of all nine districts going red, only seven will — proving that sometimes his bullying doesn't work (shocking, I know). Then Congress did its favorite thing: nothing helpful. Both parties tanked bills that would've extended Obamacare subsidies, meaning everyone's insurance premiums are about to skyrocket.  Over in the House, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem got grilled during the annual “worldwide threats” hearing — mostly about immigration and the administration's messy due-process violations. She even denied ICE had detained veterans… until a deported veteran showed up…on zoom. Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia because ICE couldn't produce a single legal document justifying why they were trying to deport him. CBP also wants to require travelers from 40 visa-waiver countries to hand over five years of social media, emails, phone numbers, and family history before visiting the U.S. And the administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern border just because. Trump also failed yet again to manufacture a criminal case against NY AG Letitia James — the second grand jury in two weeks declined to indict her for fake mortgage fraud. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law requiring disclosure when ads use AI-generated actors and requiring consent for post-mortem likeness use. But Trump immediately tried to kneecap state AI rules with an executive order letting DOJ punish states that “restrict” AI — all part of the administration's push for “AI neutrality” (whatever that means), including new federal guidance to ban “woke” AI. And finally, Disney struck a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to let Sora use Disney characters in AI-generated videos. So basically… they're paying someone to copy their own IP. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: Indiana Senate Republicans Reject Trump's Redistricting Effort CNN: Live updates: Trump administration, health care vote and latest Venezuela news PBS News: WATCH: Noem defends Trump immigration policy in House hearing on security threats AP News: Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening AP News: Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along southern US border NYT: A Grand Jury Again Resists Trump's Push to Reindict Letitia James WSJ: Trump Signs Executive Order to Curtail State AI Laws Axios: White House issues federal agency guidance against "woke" AI Axios: N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes major changes to AI bill Deadline: Disney Inks Blockbuster $1B Deal With OpenAI, Handing Characters Over To Sora Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him.

Department of Homeland Security's Kristi Noem was challenged on Capitol Hill yesterday by Democrats regarding her handling of ICE. Today, we also remember the legendary music icon Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 110th birthday. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews pollster John McLaughlin. John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him.

Could the Democrats' constant criticism of President Trump actually increase his chances of helping the GOP win the midterms next year? According to sources in D.C. that Mark knows, Americans will notice significant changes in their paychecks starting in January of next year. Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Which Democrats are most likely to be winners in the upcoming elections over the next few years? Howie, currently in Palm Beach, Florida, shares his perspective on the holiday season in the area. Department of Homeland Security's Kristi Noem was challenged on Capitol Hill yesterday by Democrats regarding her handling of ICE. Today, we also remember the legendary music icon Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 110th birthday. Mark interviews pollster John McLaughlin. John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him.

Could the Democrats' constant criticism of President Trump actually increase his chances of helping the GOP win the midterms next year? According to sources in D.C. that Mark knows, Americans will notice significant changes in their paychecks starting in January of next year. Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Which Democrats are most likely to be winners in the upcoming elections over the next few years? Howie, currently in Palm Beach, Florida, shares his perspective on the holiday season in the area. Department of Homeland Security's Kristi Noem was challenged on Capitol Hill yesterday by Democrats regarding her handling of ICE. Today, we also remember the legendary music icon Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 110th birthday. Mark interviews pollster John McLaughlin. John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Department of Homeland Security's Kristi Noem was challenged on Capitol Hill yesterday by Democrats regarding her handling of ICE. Today, we also remember the legendary music icon Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 110th birthday. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews pollster John McLaughlin. John breaks down the latest behind-the-scenes poll numbers, focusing on the 2026 gubernatorial race in NYC. United States Representative Elise Stefanik is currently trailing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, while Governor Kathy Hochul could face a serious challenge ahead. There are also concerns that President Trump's approval rating polls may be manipulated against him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WABC Host Brian Kilmeade joins Sid to discuss Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's consideration and eventual announcement to run for governor. Brian weighs in on the primary battle between Blakeman and Stefanik and discusses potential impact President Trump might have. The conversation also ventures into broader political topics, including the weaknesses of current Governor Kathy Hochul, and the strategic errors of previous Republican campaigns, like Dr. Oz and Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman joins Sid to discuss his candidacy for Governor of New York, crediting Sid and his listeners for their support in his initial election as County Executive in discussing his political roots and connections. He emphasizes his commitment to Republican values, safety, prosperity, and community outreach, mentioning his significant wins among diverse voter groups. Blakeman also touches on key policy issues, including ending cashless bail and opposing the current migrant program. Acknowledging potential primary competition with Elise Stefanik, he voices his intention to run a positive campaign focused on defeating incumbent Kathy Hochul. Notably, Blakeman identified his pro-choice stance as a major difference from Stefanik's pro-life position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Congressman Peter King joins Sid for his weekly Wednesday morning hit to discuss a range of topics, including local and national politics, with a focus on Bruce Blakeman's candidacy and his potential to unite the Republican Party and defeat Kathy Hochul. King also criticizes Elise Stefanik's team's attack on Blakeman. The conversation shifts to international matters, where King opposes Trump's stance on Ukraine and supports continuous aid to counter Russian aggression. They also criticize JD Vance's relationship with Tucker Carlson and discuss the ongoing threat of terrorism, highlighting the necessity of vigilant security measures. Additionally, they touch on college football controversies involving Notre Dame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most complex medical, ethical, moral, and religious questions of our era is that of physician-assisted suicide—also known as Medical Aid in Dying, or MAID. Eleven U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have legalized some form of MAID for terminally ill patients. And New York might join them. Over the summer, a Medical Aid in Dying Act passed New York's state legislature. It is now sitting on Governor Kathy Hochul's desk as she decides whether to sign it into law. Under the proposed New York bill, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live would be able to access a prescribed, self-administered life-ending medication. Supporters argue that this is a compassionate option—one that can relieve people of immense pain and suffering, allowing patients to choose when and where they die, and to do so surrounded by loved ones. Opponents see this as a violation of physicians' fundamental oath to do no harm. They also worry that while access may begin narrowly, it could expand over time to include people seeking death for reasons other than terminal illness—such as mental suffering or simply a desire to stop living. Cases like this have already occurred in Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and Switzerland. Rafaela Siewert sat down with two experts who see this topic very differently for a heated debate. David Hoffman is a healthcare attorney, clinical ethicist, and professor of bioethics at Columbia University. He argues that hypothetical future abuses of MAID shouldn't outweigh the needs of terminal patients who need this option now. Dr. Lydia Dugdale is a physician, medical ethicist, and professor of medicine at Columbia University. In her view, legalizing this practice of physician-assisted suicide risks undermining the responsibilities of governments, medical systems, and families to care for the mentally ill, the poor, and the physically disabled. And she fears that the potential for excessively expanded access over time is too great. We are among the many Americans who do not know what the right answer is. We see both sides—which is why grappling with the nuances of this subject is so important. This is a debate you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Governor George Pataki joins John Catsimatidis & James Flippin as they substitute for Sid Rosenberg, to discuss New York State's budget inefficiencies compared to Florida, highlighting the tripled expenditures and reduced population. Pataki comments on the refusal of Governor Hochul to release data on potential food stamp fraud and the looming battle over tax increases. He emphasizes the need for reducing the state workforce and addressing corruption and inefficiencies to make New York more prosperous and affordable. Pataki also discusses the crowded gubernatorial race with potential candidates Bruce Blakeman and Elise Stefanik, criticizing Andrew Cuomo's potential re-entry. The discussion concludes with Pataki's hopeful outlook for New York's future and his upcoming speaking engagement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York State Senator George Borrello joins John Catsimatidis & James Flippin as they substitute for Sid Rosenberg to talk about issues surrounding New York's management of the SNAP and Medicaid programs under Governor Kathy Hochul. Borrello asserts that waste, fraud, and abuse have led to billions of dollars being misused, contributing to a bloated state budget. He argues for the need to restore political balance in New York by electing a Republican governor and highlights the inefficiencies and corruption in current spending, particularly emphasizing the high costs of green energy projects and education. Borrello calls for common-sense governance to improve public safety, affordability, and quality of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd Shapiro, CEO of Manhattan and Long Island based Public Relations Firm, joins John Catsimatidis & James Flippin as they substitute for Sid Rosenberg, to discuss Bruce Blakeman's announcement to run for governor in New York State next year. Shapiro emphasizes Blakeman's strong Republican support base in Nassau and Suffolk counties, arguing that this area is crucial for any GOP victory in New York. He praises Blakeman as a relentless and popular figure in the Republican party. The discussion also touches on Governor Hochul's stance on MAGA, her political decisions, and the overall state of politics in New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices