The Albany Update with Jason McGuire

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. When I interact with colleagues involved in government affairs work around the country, the conversation often turns to comparing legislative processes in our respective home states. Undoubtedly, we begin talking about legislative hearings. Hearings are a staple of government affairs work, but not in New York. In the Empire State, hea...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. The drama surrounding Justice Hector LaSalle, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pick for Chief Judge, came to a conclusion as the State Senate allowed a floor vote for the nominee. Nevertheless, the Senate’s move was underhanded and a sneak attack on a well-qualified individual. We’ll discuss. In other state news, there is a growing effort to elimi...

Tensions in the State Senate are still running high over the Hector LaSalle nomination, and now one state senator is filing suit to force a vote on Governor Kathy Hochul’s pick for chief judge. Then, over in the State Assembly, a recent rules change would curtail the ability of the Assembly Minority to force consideration of legislation. Pulling out of the innerworkings of Albany, we’ll look at so...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Today, we bring you five different stories. Some are from New York, others are not. However, the biggest news of the week is an Empire State win for churches who would like to provide armed security for services. Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Last week was a rough one for pro-life people in New York. The State Legislature speedily moved to enshrine a constitutional right to abortion in our state constitution. In addition, a handful of other pro-abortion bills aggressively passed the State Senate and are on their way to the State Assembly. The anti-life agenda is ironically ali...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee considered Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nomination for Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Progressives in the State Senate were not happy with the pick, and unsurprisingly the Judiciary Committee failed to recommend the candidate for a full floor vote in the Senate.  We’ll discuss.

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. In this week’s program, we’ll take a closer a look at the abortion proposals promoted by Gov. Kathy Hochul in her State of the State Address. Next up, we’ll note that the State Senate is positioning itself to fund even more out-of-state abortions. Then, turning to national issues, we’ll more positively point to the fact that the Republica...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. The Democratic supermajorities in Albany proposed and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an exorbitant $32,000 pay raise for each legislator. They’re counting on the fact that voters will forget before the 2024 primary and general elections. Next up, it’s time to start discussing the new legislative session. Last week, was the first week of the new...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. The story that has dominated the headlines last week was that of Rep.-elect George Santos, a man quickly becoming known as the Long Island Poser. We’ll explain. Then, we have a little cleanup to do as we revisit two stories that didn’t get nearly enough attention from Americans during the busy holiday season. Let’s take a closer look at t...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Three days before Christmas, when most people were tuned out of politics, the State Legislature snuck back into Albany and gave themselves a massive pay raise. Then, we’ll look back at some of the state political occurrences that marked 2022. Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. In today’s program, we’ll look at how media basis toward the pro-life movement cripples the conversation. Then, we’ll note Republican gains in the last election, and postulate as to how it might affect future elections. Next up, President Joe Biden maddingly signed the [Dis]Respect for Marriage Act into law. Continuing with the Biden Admi...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Today's program shares the disappointing news that the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on the so-called Respect for Marriage Act sends the measure to the President’s desk for his signature. Then, we’ll look at a U.S. Supreme Court case known as 303 Creative v. Elenis that whichever way it’s decided will have a major impact on religiou...

Thank you for joining another episode of the Albany Update. Today's podcast provides the latest regarding the so-called Respect for Marriage Act. The measure passed the U.S. Senate and is headed to the House. Following that, we’ll discuss the elevation of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, to Minority Leader in the next session of Congress. He’s replacing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. Today, we’ll catch you up on the latest regarding the [Dis]Respect for Marriage Act. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is pushing hard for an amendment that would strengthen religious liberty protections should the bill become law. Then, in another example of political correctness run amok, New York State Attorney General Letitia James is using...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. In this week’s program, we’ll look at where the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the State Senate stand now that most of the races have been called. Then, we need to talk about that [Dis]Respect for Marriage Act cloture vote in the U.S. Senate last week. Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. In this week’s program we’ll offer a review of last week’s election results. We’ll look at not only the statewide races, but also what we know about the congressional races across the Empire State. Also, there were multiple pro-life ballot proposals in various states. Sadly, none fared well. The pro-life community needs to ask themsel...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. As we record this program, we are only a few days away from the General Election. Much of today’s program will revolve around that event. Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. In today’s program we’ll look at the latest court action regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s new gun control law and a recent win for houses of worship across the state. Next up, we’ll review that lone gubernatorial debate between Gov. Hochul (D) and Congressman Lee Zeldin (R). Let’s get started. 

Today’s program is going to feel a little different than other episodes. The Regional Transformation Initiative is a gathering of Christian leaders in the greater Rochester region who have a common vision to use biblical principles to equip and activate people to bring transformation and reformation to their spheres of influence. Recently, the Regional Transformation Initiative invited Jason to si...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. This week, we were floored by the arrogance and blasphemy that flowed from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s lips when she declared that God was on her pro-abortion side. Next in Kathy Hochul’s New York, pro-marijuana policies led to at least one police officer’s death and a gang turf war in the Rochester region. The Flower City isn’t the only plac...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. In today’s news, we’ll update you about a legal challenge to the state’s new gun control law, particularly as it pertains to houses of worship. Next, we’ll tell you about potential probe of Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration regarding a pay-to-play state COVID contract. Then, the Election is in less than a month and early voting...

Thank you for joining this week’s episode of the Albany Update. In today’s news, we tell you about a legal challenge to the state’s new gun control law. There have been other suits filed, but what makes this case different is that it’s filed on behalf of evangelical churches across the state. Then, the Election is only about a month away. We’ll look at the race for Attorney General, as well as Sta...

In today’s program we note the fact that New York is ranked last in religious freedom. Then, the U.S. Department of Education has received 349,000 comments concerning a proposed Title IX rule change that would negatively impact and even endanger female students. Also, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is strategically slowing the rush to enshrine gay “marriage” in federal law. And finall...

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived—Gov. Kathy Hochul finally allowed her emergency pandemic powers to lapse. Some see this as a political move only weeks before the General Election, but whatever the reason, we’re thankful for it! Then, the Board of Regents gave approval to new regulations that will affect private schools across the state. We’ll fill in some of the details. Next, mo...

Thank you for joining this episode of the Albany Update. Let’s begin today’s program with some good news. A Syracuse-based Christian adoption agency received a significant court win that assures its right to continue acting in accordance with the faith it was founded upon. Then, more good news. New York has a new state law that adds protections for children with disabilities and further protects p...