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Susan Arbetter

@sarbetter.bsky.social
653 followers 82 following 51 posts

Political anchor for Spectrum News. Formerly WCNY, WMHT, WAMC. Emmy, Murrow, AP, NYSBA, Scripps-Howard, Headliner & NY Women's Press Club Hall of Honor

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Reposted by Susan Arbetter
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 21/01/2026
Breaking news: The Post demanded in a court filing that federal law enforcement officials return electronic devices the government seized from a staff reporter’s home, writing that the search “ignores federal statutory safeguards for journalists.”
washingtonpost.com
Washington Post demands government return materials seized from reporter
The Post demanded in a court filing Wednesday that federal law enforcement officials return electronic devices the government seized from a staff reporter’s home.
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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Remember when the Supreme Court’s rationale for “absolute immunity” was that it would prevent politically motivated investigations against former political opponents?
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Northern Rivers Family of Services @northernrivers.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Our friend Glenn Liebman from MHANYS spoke eloquently and at length about the insufficient state investment in mental health and human services (among other things) in this year's budget with @sarbetter.bsky.social on Capital Tonight. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-...
spectrumlocalnews.com
A look at how mental health workers fared in the New York state budget
Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association of New York State, spoke with Capital Tonight.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
In 2000, Joe Donahue and I started The Roundtable Show on WAMC. On Thursday May 1st we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show. Tomorrow I’ll be there, reminiscing with Roundtable favorites. Tune in at 9am!
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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
This criminal complaint seems pretty thin on the statutes charged. She allowed the defendant to leave the courtroom by a different door in her courtroom. The arresting agents literally saw him in the hallway right after going to elevator 1/
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
media.tenor.com
an elderly woman wearing glasses and a blue jacket says nope
ALT: an elderly woman wearing glasses and a blue jacket says nope
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
New NYTimes-Siena poll- Trump losing significant ground among independent voters. Only 29% of independent voters support him. 66% of voters call his term so far “chaotic”; 59% say it’s “scary”. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
nytimes.com
Voters See Trump’s Use of Power as Overreaching, Times/Siena Poll Finds
Skepticism has grown of his efforts to expand his authority and of his handling of issues long seen as strengths for him, including the economy and immigration.
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Micah Lasher @micahlasher.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
I spoke to @sarbetter.bsky.social about my legislation, the RECOURSE Act, which would enable New York to fight back when Trump illegally withholds federal funds from the state:
spectrumlocalnews.com
N.Y. bill would aim to counter threat of federal funding withholdings to state
It would give the state the ability to withhold payments to the federal government if the Trump administration withholds funds from the state in defiance of court orders.
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Lincoln Square @lincolnsquare.media · 15/04/2025
Constituents to Chuck Grassley: "Are you bringing back that guy from El Salvador?" Senior Citizen: “If I get an order to pay a ticket to pay $1200 and I just say ‘no’, does that stand up? Because he just got an order from the Supreme Court and he just said ‘screw it’” “I’M PISSED!”
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
.@PamelaHunter128 on the slow pace of budget negotiations: “I am frustrated; I know that the rest of the leadership is frustrated. We want to get this budget done.” Watch @CapitalTonight at 7pm.
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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
I was told that Trump would be good for the economy.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
This is an outstanding effort by the reporters at @nysfocus.bsky.social ->
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biancafortis.bsky.social @biancafortis.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Last week I reported that 24 school districts are at risk of losing $$ under the gov's budget proposal. The Center for Educational Equity's Michael Rebell speaks w/ @sarbetter.bsky.social about why the Foundation Aid formula needs to be overhauled: spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...
spectrumlocalnews.com
Attorney Michael Rebell weighs in on Foundation Aid changes in one-house budgets
Michael Rebell, executive director of the Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia, joins Capital Tonight.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education. I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”. Here is a portion:
After President Trump's inauguration last month, he has steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep these education promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology extremism, and discrimination in admissions. President Trump has also been focused on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and harmful programs in the federal government. To that end, today he signed [Executive Order XYZ, entitled "Eliminating the Department of Education,] which has given us a clear and final mission.

We are to identify which of the Department's functions, programs, and offices are not mandated by statute, and eliminate them. This reorganization will impact staff, budgets, reporting, and more —and in coming months, we will determine how it can be accomplished with minimal delay and disruption. The President further tasked us with creating a plan to reallocate and reassign functions of the Department of Education that would be more effectively managed by other agencies. This plan will offer Congress a road map toward fulfilling the expectations of the President and the American people.

The new vision—which I hope each of you will embrace going forward—can be expressed as four main convictions:
Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education.
Students deserve to be protected from physical violence, racial discrimination, medical tyranny, and gender extremism ideology on campus.
Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs. 
Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning: proficiency in math, reading, and core subjects, and patriotism in American history and civics.
As we move to reduce the Department's middleman role in education, these four convictions must guide us toward conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals

Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make th
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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
OMG
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Senator Rachel May @rachelmayny.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Many families in NY struggle to afford rent, groceries, and other essentials. The Working Families Tax Credit can help them achieve financial stability by providing significant assistance to cover some of these costs. Thank you to everyone who came to the Capitol to advocate for this critical bill.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
LG Antonio Delgado is not running for LG with Hochul in 2026, which leaves the door open for him to challenge the Governor. x.com/DelgadoforNY...
x.com
Antonio Delgado on X: "https://t.co/k9xKnoIaTp" / X
https://t.co/k9xKnoIaTp
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Looks to be the first big split between Trump & Musk -> wapo.st/3F5KxeQ
wapo.st
Trump administration tells agencies they can ignore Musk order on email reply
The Office of Personnel Management told HR officials that employees wouldn’t be let go for not replying to an email asking what they did last week.
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Sara Foss @sarafoss.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
apnews.com/article/blac...
apnews.com
NAACP lists companies that dump DEI in its tactical spending guide for Black Americans
The NAACP wants Black Americans to steer their buying power toward corporations that haven’t pulled back from diversity programs under conservative pressure.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
“Beyond depraved” In Canandaigua, NY: 5 people have been charged with second degree murder over the death of Sam Nordquist, 24, who police say was tortured for more than a month in a case that investigators described as “beyond depraved.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/n...
nytimes.com
Person Killed in New York Was Tortured for More Than a Month, Police Say
The remains of Sam Nordquist, 24, a transgender man, were found after he had been reported missing. The district attorney in Ontario County, N.Y., called the circumstances surrounding the death “beyon...
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Instead of prosecuting the mayor of America’s largest city with the ample evidence that he took bribes from a foreign government, the Trump administration decided to leave him in office, and use the threat of charges to blackmail him into carrying out their agenda. And they did it all in the open.
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Rebecca C. Lewis @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris says that Mayor Adams should resign or be removed
STATEMENT FROM SENATE DEPUTY LEADER GIANARIS REGARDING ERIC ADAMS


NEW YORK, N.Y. – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris issued the following statement this morning:

“The last thing the people of New York want is for our city to turn into an annex of the Trump administration, yet that is exactly what is happening. Eric Adams is clearly compromised and can no longer be considered the legitimate leader of our city. He must step down or be removed.”
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Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Immigrants are being arrested at NY courthouses, top judge says www.timesunion.com/capitol/arti...
timesunion.com
ICE is arresting immigrants at New York courthouses, top judge says
The future of New York’s immigrant population has been a top concern for Democrats in the Legislature since President Donald J. Trump was elected in November.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Coming up at 7pm on @CapitalTonight @zellnor.bsky.social, Codes Committee Chair and candidate for NYC Mayor, talks immigration, Discovery reform and Pam Bondi's suit against NY's Green Light Law. Check it out at 7pm on the Spectrum News app or your favorite device!
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Asm Amy Paulin and Jeanne Chirico of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of NYS join me on Capital Tonight to discuss a bill to prohibit the expansion of for-profit hospice. The Governor has vetoed the bill 2x. Advocates say they want to protect NYers from fraud seen in other states.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Coming up at 7pm, @AmyPaulin and @JeanneChirico of @HPCANYS discuss a bill Paulin is carrying with @LizKrueger to prohibit the expansion of for-profit hospice in New York. The bill has passed the legislature 2x and Hochul has vetoed it 2x.
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Maya Kaufman @mayakaufman.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
If you're a researcher in New York who's struggling to access NIH grant funds, please reach out! I'm a NYC-based health care reporter covering the local impact. Tips are confidential. #medsky
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Sara Foss @sarafoss.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
"In short, the CFPB has proven time and time again the government can be effective on behalf of the welfare of the people. No wonder oligarchs hate it." www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
msnbc.com
Opinion | The closure of a consumer watchdog will help Elon Musk — but hurt the rest of us
The CFPB has proven time and time again the government can help people. No wonder oligarchs hate it.
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Rebecca C. Lewis @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Asked about the dropped charges against NYC Mayor Adams, Gov. Hochul says, "I'm going to continue doing what I've been doing since September," talking about working with the mayor to "clean house" in his administration. "It's about what's happening on the streets," not who's in the office
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Larry Norden @larrynorden.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
This is troubling, but again not surprising. The dismantling of election security safeguards, including key work done by CISA to protect our election infrastructure was telegraphed 9in Project 2025. /1
abcnews.go.com
US cyber agency puts election security staffers who worked with the states on leave
Staffers at the nation’s cybersecurity agency whose job is to ensure the security of U.S. elections have been placed on administrative leave, jeopardizing critical support provided to state and local ...
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Coming up on @capitaltonight, the executive director of the Correctional Association (CA) Jennifer Scaife discusses the killing of Robert Brooks and CA's report on Marcy Correctional from 2022. www.correctionalassociation.org/postvisit-br...
correctionalassociation.org
Post-Visit Briefing & Recommendations No.22-10: Monitoring Visit to Marcy Correctional Facility | October 11-12, 2022 — Correctional Association of New York
Link to Report
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
5 former Treasury Secretaries sound the alarm. “We take the extraordinary step of writing this piece because we are alarmed about the risks of arbitrary and capricious political control of federal payments, which would be unlawful and corrosive to our democracy.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Timothy Geithner, Jacob Lew, Janet Yellen: DOGE Is a Threat to U.S. Democracy.
Former Secretaries Rubin, Summers, Geithner, Lew and Yellen argue that DOGE is a threat to America.
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Dylan Faden Fan Club @thornsperfected.bsky.social · 24/06/2023
Reskeet to save someone’s fucking life
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
"We are in a constitutional crisis," - AG James. You don't want to miss @CapitalTonight this evening featuring AG @tishjames1.bsky.social ... Tune in at 7pm.
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Kara Swisher @karaswisher.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Spot on from @chrismurphyct.bsky.social
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Northern Rivers Family of Services @northernrivers.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
The entire nonprofit Human Services sector is standing together in favor of a 7.8% investment in our services. Tune in to hear from a pair of powerful advocates.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
We're asking some big questions on @CapitalTonight: Should involuntary commitment be expanded in New York? Or should mental health agencies see a 7.8% rate hike? Governor Hochul wants to expand Kendra's Law and increase mental health by 2.1%. But mental health advocates have other ideas.
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Tim Williams @timw518.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Proposed capital for the Capital City? Sen. @patriciafahy46.bsky.social and Asm. Gabby Romero joined @sarbetter.bsky.social in the studio to discuss it. nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-pol...
nystateofpolitics.com
Fahy, Romero discuss hoped-for $400 million Albany revitalization proposal
The city has struggled with issues like safety in the wake of the pandemic.
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Senator Patricia Fahy @patriciafahy46.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
🎥 Headed onto Capital Tonight to talk about Albany’s game-changing $400 million proposed in this year’s state budget with Assemblymember Gabriella Romero and @sarbetter.bsky.social! Catch the full interview tonight at 7:00pm on Spectrum News!
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
.@patfahy46 and @amromero109 join @CapitalTonight to discuss the $400 m proposal for the City of Albany. Watch at 7pm tonight.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is outraged that the new Treasury Secretary has given Musk and his “flunkies” access to sensitive data. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u...
nytimes.com
Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System
In a letter to the Treasury secretary, the Democratic senator warned against meddling with a system that processes trillions of dollars of transactions.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
we were warned.
from 10/30/24 NBC news article: “We have to reduce spending to live within our means,” Musk said. “And, you know, that necessarily involves some temporary hardship, but it will ensure long-term prosperity.”
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 01/02/2025
More than 90% of the 313 air traffic control facilities in the U.S. are understaffed, according to an analysis of staffing data from the union representing controllers obtained by The New York Times.
nytimes.com
285 of 313 Air Traffic Control Facilities Are Understaffed
Persistent staff shortages have raised safety concerns. At many facilities, staffing is so low that at least a quarter of the work force is missing.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
NYS Budget Director Blake Washington joins me on @CapitalTonight to talk Medicaid, CDPAP and whether he’s worried about uncertainty in Washington. Thune in at 7pm.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
.@petergolden32 who penned Joe Bruno’s memoir, has a new novel out set in New York during the run up to the 1960 election. It’s titled “Their Shadows Deep”, published by Lake Union Press. Tune into @CapitalTonight for a fun preview.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
This AP story is from a week ago. Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee. apnews.com/article/coas...
apnews.com
Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee
President Donald Trump has moved quickly to remake the Department of Homeland Security by firing the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard before their terms are up while...
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Environmentalists are angry at what they claim is Hochul’s decision to delay a “Cap-and-Invest” program. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...
spectrumlocalnews.com
Environmentalists respond to Hochul's delay of a part of carbon-pricing system
Gov. Kathy Hochul is feeling the heat from environmentalists angry at what they claim is her decision to delay.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
As a constitutional crisis seems headed to the Supreme Court, documents show the chief justice declared that a president has no authority to block required spending. www.levernews.com/roberts-memo...
levernews.com
Roberts Memo Could Complicate Trump’s Spending Freeze
As a constitutional crisis seems headed to the Supreme Court, documents show the chief justice declared that a president has no authority to block required spending.
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Susan Arbetter @sarbetter.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Here are some programs impacted by Trump’s freeze which are now under review: Cancer research Medicare Prescription Drug Grid infrastructure Charter schools Nuclear nonproliferation Naval reconnaissance WIC SNAP ROTC Wildfire prevention www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Which Federal Programs Are Under Scrutiny? The Budget Office Named 2,600 of Them.
The Trump administration ordered temporary freezes in funding for programs spanning virtually every part of the government. Here’s the full list.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 28/01/2025
President Donald Trump has moved to fire Democratic members of two independent federal commissions, a break from decades of legal precedent that could hand Republicans control over boards that oversee swaths of U.S. workers, employers and labor unions.
wapo.st
Trump moves to fire members of EEOC, NLRB boards, breaking with precedent
The dismissals target two independent agencies that oversee swaths of U.S. workers, employers and labor unions.
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