Up Close with Bill Ritter

On this edition of Up Close, we discuss a legal ruling with big political implications for New York and perhaps the country. A judge ruled that New York's 11th congressional seat, held by Republican Nicole Malliotakis, must now be redrawn. The ruling would make it harder for New York City's only Republican to win reelection. Congresswoman Malliotakis, who says the fight against this is not over, joins Up Close to discuss. Also with his take: Democrat Dan Goldman, who represents neighboring Congressional District 10. We talk with Goldman about the push to change Rep. Malliotakis' district, President Trump's first year in office and controversies over the ICE crackdown. Also coming up: the head of New York City Emergency Management, Zach Iscol. Iscol was appointed to the job by former Mayor Eric Adams back in 2022. Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked Iscol to stay through the winter. So, why is the commissioner leaving next month? The outgoing NYCEM commissioner joins Up Close to talk about his decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new year started with no shortage of political controversies. President Trump ordered a U.S. military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The Trump administration calling it a law enforcement action and insisting it's not an invasion. Meanwhile, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department froze $10 billion in child care funds to New York and four other Democrat-led states. While all this is going on, Obamacare health care premiums have ended for more than 20 million Americans. The Republican-led House and Senate so far resisting Democratic push to extend health care subsidies to lower skyrocketing premiums. Joining Up Close to discuss is Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. And New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in his second week in office continues to push for his ambitious agenda -- from free child care to free buses, to name a few. But can the city afford Mamdani's agenda? New York City's new Comptroller, Mark Levine, gives his take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this edition of Up Close, we speak with outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker in our latest series of exit interviews. As we get ready to bid adieu to 2025, Up Close has interviews with two prominent newsmakers who are leaving their jobs. Up first is our interview New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The Garden State governor opens up about his successes and challenges over the last eight years. Also on our program: New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker. Although in the chair for less than a year and a half, Tucker has a significant impact on the FDNY. One reason is because he wasn't a stranger to the fire department. As an adult, he raised money for them. As a young man, he was an intern for the FDNY. And as a child, Tucker followed fire trucks when he heard their sirens. Tucker sits down with Up Close Anchor Bill Ritter to discuss his time as FDNY commissioner and his decision to ultimately step down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"It's Jersey baby!" Governor Phil Murphy talked with Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter about his tenure running the state of New Jersey, the incoming governor and his next chapter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special podcast produced by the WABC-TV Community Affairs Department, we present "Dementia: The Caregivers' Journey." Host Nina Pineda examines the challenges that caregivers face as they help a loved one with dementia. She discusses her experience taking the "Virtual Dementia Tour, " an experience created by the Act Now Foundation, a New Jersey nonprofit that helps caregivers of those with the condition. The tour gives caregivers immersive insights into the complex difficulties their loved ones face. The eight minutes Nina spent in the tour were nothing short of life-changing. She discusses her experiences, as well as important tips for caregivers, with Kristine Allen, the president and co-founder of Act Now, and Cary Lopez, co-founder and executive director. WABC-TV has partnered with Act Now for a television report and this podcast, distributed on the feed of WABC-TV's public affairs show Up Close. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this edition of Up Close, we discuss what lies ahead for Americans following the end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The longest shutdown in the history of the federal government ended Wednesday night after 43 days. In order to shut down the shutdown, eight Democrats in the Senate agreed to join Republicans and allow a measure for funding to go through. What Democrats did not get, however, were subsidies for Obamacare, which expire this year. Next year, the big increase in health premiums for more than 24 million Americans. That will happen unless Republicans agree to extend the subsidies. Joining us to discuss what's next is U.S. Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey and House Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this edition of Up Close, we sit down and talk with Mikie Sherrill, the Governor-elect of New Jersey, following her historic win in the November general election. Sherrill became only the second woman ever and first female Democrat to be elected governor of New Jersey. It was a hard-fought battle and one of the most expensive in the Garden State's history. In the end, Sherrill won big and is now getting ready to lead the state with more than 9.5 million residents. The Governor-elect joins our program to discuss the election and her next steps as she prepares to take office. Also ahead: His name is Zohran Mamdani, and this past week in the biggest city in the country, he made history. Mamdani is just 34 years old, the youngest New York mayor in the century. He's also the first Muslim mayor of New York City. The mayor-elect won more than 1 million votes in November's general election -- more than 50% of the vote. It was a race that had the biggest voter turnout in more than half a century, with Mamdani viewing himself as an agent of change. One of the biggest questions of the morning: Will NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch say yes to the new mayor? Will she stay as the police commissioner when Mamdani takes office on Jan. 1, 2026? And how will rank-and-file officers react to a mayor who, just a few years ago, was quite critical of the NYPD? Joining us to discuss is Bill Bratton, who was police commissioner under two different mayors of New York City: Bill De Blasio and Rudy Giuliani. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices