It's the Brian Laird show on WNC.

It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYC.

Welcome back everybody. I'm Matt Katz, reporter in the

WNY newsroom and I'm filling in for Brian today. Now for our monthly Call Your

Senator segment with New York Democratic senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

There's plenty to discuss this morning from the big changes at the top of the presidential

ticket on the Democratic side to her recent efforts on behalf of veterans and 9-11 responders and more.

So if you're a New Yorker, call your senator with your relevant questions at 212

433 WNYC, non New Yorkers are allowed to call to Senator Gillibrand is your

senator to during these call-ins. 212 433 9692. You can also text a question to the same number.

212 433 9692.

Senator, we always appreciate that you do this.

I'm sorry you got me today instead of Ryan but welcome back to

WNYC. Thanks so much I'm glad to be on the call thank you. Excellent so just

just to start off with some breaking and apparently good news we're hearing reports of a big prisoner swap with Russia that will see the release of

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerschkovich and and former Marine Paul Whelan.

They've been jailed there without due process.

Do you know anything more about this prisoner swap that you're able to share?

I don't.

I wasn't briefed on it ahead of time and I'm so excited about it because

for New York and for our communities we've been particularly disturbed by these two imprisonment. I think for the media world,

Evans imprisonment has been just gut-wrenching and so distressing, and so distressing, and so I'm very excited that Evan is coming home and for our

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