It's the Brian Lera Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone.

So we've talked about the Mammani administration in its first five days at the beginning of the show. We've talked about the

crisis involving the United States and Venezuela in our last stretch. And even though there's

plenty happening in the city and around the world, there's also a lot happening in Albany,

the New York State Capitol, as they are about to start a new

legislative session, things that will affect Mayor Mamdani's agenda and New York City, as well as

New Yorkers all over the state in many ways. So, for example, as governors tend to do every year,

Governor Hochel spend the final days of 2025 clearing her desk, she signed 73 bills into law and

vetoed 49 others. We're going to go down a few of them. The result was a burst of major policy.

A new AI safety law, expanded prison oversight after the deaths of two incarcerated men, and after years of back and

forth, legislation allowing medical aid in dying in New York. So we'll unpack some of that,

as well as how the state legislature is gearing up for a new session, just as New York City has

inaugurated its brand new mayor and many of

mayors are on Mondani's biggest promises as most of you know most notably on child care

depend on state cooperation and some state funding that might mean raising taxes on people with

million dollar incomes per year and some corporations,

or maybe they can find another way. But the question now is, what does Albany seem poised

to take on in this new year? So to help us unpack where things stand and where they may be

headed, and you just heard a short version during Michael's

newscast.

We are joined by Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues Reporter for WNYC.

Hey, Jimmy, always great to have you on the show.

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