WAMC News Podcast

The candidates running for Plattsburgh, New York mayor have debated as part of a Mountain Lake PBS broadcast. Democrat Wendell Hughes represents Area 8 in the Clinton County Legislature, which includes the south end of the city, and Republican Don Kasprzak served as mayor from 2004 to 2014. Mayor Chris Rosenquest is not running for a second four-year term. WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pa...

Wall Street profits increased more than 79 percent in the first of half of the year compared with the same period last year — and annual profits are expected to finish the year much stronger than 2023’s mark. That’s according to a new report from New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. 

Longtime NPR Music contributors Ann Powers and Alison Fensterstock stop by to discuss the new book “How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History From NPR Music.” The book is part reclamation, part encyclopedia, and part critical reconsideration.

The presidential election is almost here, and it features a familiar face who’s already held the office against a trailblazer many Americans are still learning about. A new PBS “Frontline” documentary is the latest in an election year series focused on the candidates that dates to 1988. We speak with filmmaker Michael Kirk about “The Choice: Harris vs. Trump.”

The last several years have been a rollercoaster for state and local budget-writers, who confronted the disruption and uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, which torpedoed revenues, then an influx of federal aid that shored things up in the near term but left question marks in the out years. We speak with Justin Theal about new research from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Author Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic has spent years studying how figures in Washington secure power and hold on to it – often regardless of the outcome of any particular election. The Atlantic's latest issue is making some headlines of its own, with its wordless cover suggesting the peril to American institutions that may be in store in a second Trump term. Leibovich's new article is titled "Hyp...

The Trust for America’s Health has released a new report on American obesity rates, and the numbers are startling. Four in 10 American adults are obese, and 23 states have adult obesity rates at or above 35 percent. We speak with Trust president Dr. Nadine Gracia.

We speak with Region 2 Deputy Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Andrew D’Amora about National Preparedness Month and his memories of responding to the 9/11 attacks during his NYPD career.

WAMC's Josh Landes and James Paleologopoulos stop by to discuss the results of Tuesday's primaries in Massachusetts.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to answer questions before a U.S. House coronavirus committee Tuesday. We talk about that and the latest scandals in state politics with WNYC's Jon Campbell.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a correct way to open Velcro quietly…or hundreds of other questions, great news: NPR podcast "How To Do Everything is coming back." The podcast from Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag, producers of "Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me," wrapped up its initial run in 2016. The reboot will feature new episodes and highlights from the archives.

The summer conventions are over and the fall campaign season is here. It brings with it an unexpected matchup for president, key races for Congress across New York, and looming decisions in the state legislature that could put Governor Kathy Hochul to the test. We welcome back Errol Louis of Spectrum News and New York Magazine.

VP Harris has officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president after a whirlwind summer. Now that the national convention in Chicago is over, attention turns to the fall campaign against former President Donald Trump. We speak with James Pindell, National Political Reporter for the Boston Globe.

We speak with Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, a delegate for Vice President Kamala Harris at this week's Democratic National Convention in Albany.

Sadly, we bid farewell to WAMC's assistant news director Jim Levulis, who is leaving the station after 11 years.

In early July, the Springfield School Committee welcomed the district’s new superintendent. Dr. Sonia Dinnall, a longtime district educator, was selected to lead Springfield Public Schools, one of the largest districts in New England.

We speak with Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren about the change atop the Democratic ticket and her own bid for a third term.

Deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide in the U.S. increased by 142 percent from 2002 through 2022.  That’s according to a new study from the non-profit Trust for America’s Health, which calls the mortality rates “alarmingly high.” The report is called Pain in the Nation 2024: the Epidemic of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths. Rhea Farberman is the Director of Strategic Communications and Policy R...

Now that President Biden has halted his re-election campaign, all eyes are on Vice President Harris — and her own running mate shortlist ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One name getting a lot of attention lately is Josh Shapiro — the 51-year-old Pennsylvania governor who took office last year. For some insight on Shapiro and his career, we called up Ben Wasserstein, capitol...

Kamala Harris already made history four years ago when she was elected with President Joe Biden as vice president. Now, she's hoping to keep Democrats in control of the White House. One person who is watching closely is former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick — who is raising money for Harris' effort in the Bay State, where he served two terms as its first Black governor.

While Democrats hope Vice President Kamala Harris can turn around their November chances, now that President Biden is out, it’s fair to say much of the country is considering what a Harris presidency would look like for the first time. Harris is a former California state attorney general and U.S. Senator — and her time in those roles is sure to attract a new round of scrutiny. We speak with Chris...

Republicans are united behind former President Donald Trump as he seeks a second term. That was the message of the Republican National Convention, which came just after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt. Jake Lahut is covering the campaign for The Daily Beast and is just back from Milwaukee.

We listen to our appearance on Radio Catskill to discuss the historic presidential campaign and what might be looming in November.

With the Summer Olympics in Paris upon us, reporter Rose Eveleth is looking back on the long history sexual division in elite sports. Eveleth’s new series “Tested” is a co-production of NPR’s Embedded and the CBC, and it took them to Africa, Europe and beyond — and deep into the annals of athletics.

The state of Massachusetts has released a plan to protect and manage forest lands, prioritizing the natural resource for its carbon sequestration capabilities. More than 55 percent of the Bay State is forested, covering roughly 3 million acres. The Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative includes recommendations from a state-formed committee and public input, covering topics such as forest managem...