ICYMI: Lots of ground to cover in the latest newsletter, including Trump's visit to New York this week and an audit that found that DEC isn't able to adequately track how much waste is recycled at the state's licensed facilities. More: tinyurl.com/4tm3vpmm

Harmful algal blooms have increased tenfold in New York over the past decade. In the latest CapCon, experts explain what the state must do to curb their spread—and protect the waterways and communities that depend on them. More: tinyurl.com/4tm3vpmm

Harmful algal blooms have spiked tenfold in New York over the last decade. Here’s what experts say the state needs to do to combat their spread as they harm bodies of water and the communities that rely on them.

New York's murky harmful algal bloom problem

Plus: Trump to visit New York this week and the DEC doesn't know how much trash is recycled

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ICYMI: Lots of items of interest in Friday's newsletter. Here's what you might have missed. More: tinyurl.com/mwdx2dmw

Billionaire James Dolan quietly dropped $1 million into an anti-Hochul super PAC that has now started spending. More: tinyurl.com/3hyb5xcb

As New York waits to learn the fate of its law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, a large coalition of states is coming to its defense before an appellate court.

NY gets backup in DOJ 'Green Light' fight

And the state's 'Cottage Laws' are the subject of a newly introduced bill.

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We’re in the thick of this year’s elections and, while the state Legislature isn’t in session, plenty of bills are still being introduced by lawmakers. A handful of recently introduced bills aim to reshape New York elections in significant ways. More: tinyurl.com/uyfdfjbu

ICYMI: Lots to cover in the latest CapCon. That includes a story about a New York judge being recommended for removal after he allowed a longtime friend to practice law, despite not being an attorney, and kept his own cases after his election. More: tinyurl.com/5cyyv9w8

NEW: New York sets tight carbon cap in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative regulations redo. More: tinyurl.com/5cyyv9w8

ICYMI: New lobbying data shows that spending increased during this year’s legislative session compared to 2025, due entirely to expenses more than doubling. More: tinyurl.com/j8uk2du5

George Pataki is still the last Republican to win statewide office in New York. As Republicans hope Bruce Blakeman can upset Gov. Kathy Hochul, Pataki offered simple advice: work hard, believe in yourself and focus on making people’s lives better. More: tinyurl.com/j8uk2du5

Former Gov. George E. Pataki was the last Republican to win statewide in New York. What advice does he have for Nassau County Bruce Blakeman as he tries to do the same?

Pataki's advice for Blakeman in his bid to unseat Hochul

And an aid in dying delay is being sought by the law's opponents.

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A coalition of tech and civil rights groups is asking Hochul to veto a bill to restrict “stealth crawlers” on the web. More: tinyurl.com/3kcd76xc

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has raised less than half of what Gov. Kathy Hochul has in his bid to unseat her in this year’s race for governor. But he’s expecting new support from a freshly registered PAC. More: tinyurl.com/3kcd76xc

ICYMI: Here's what's in yesterday's CapCon. More here: tinyurl.com/mr48ruzd

Two and a half decades after Elizabeth Crothers said she was sexually assaulted by a top staffer in the state Assembly, her case against the chamber’s handling of the matter is headed to trial.

Assembly's handling of rape case headed to trial

Plus: Two new bills hit Hochul's desk and a lawmakers wants prediction market restrictions

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While there was good news for the number of people homeless in New York City, some areas of upstate New York saw double-digit increases in their population that’s unhoused.

New York sees homelessness surge in upstate areas but drop in NYC

And substitute child care

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ICYMI: We follow the money behind state Republicans and Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial bid. More: tinyurl.com/tczne6ek

In today’s CapCon, landlords challenge New York City’s two-year rent freeze, alleging a “corrupted and compromised process.” We also examine the biggest Republican legislative donors, including a billionaire backing Bruce Blakeman for governor. More ⬇️⬇️

New York City's rent freeze targeted in landlords' lawsuit

And the top donors to Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly.

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ICYMI: We've got some good stuff in yesterday's newsletter, including who is donating to state Senate and Assembly Democrats. More: tinyurl.com/2vbnm3ys

We sorted through the campaign filings for accounts controlled by Democrats in the state Legislature. Here's what we found.

Full list: Top donors to Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly

Here's who gave the most to the campaign accounts for Democrats in the state Legislature.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing back on comments from Tom Homan, border czar for President Donald J. Trump, on a planned ICE surge in New York City.

Hochul to Homan: 'Talk to the big boss' before ICE surge

Plus: Radiation rocks relocated families in western New York and 15 bills land on Hochul's desk

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Here's why Democrats in New York aren’t taking anything for granted in this year’s elections, which could have major consequences both at the state and federal levels.

Why NY Democrats are taking no chances in 2026

And two new bills that would change New York's elections.

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We poured through the new campaign filings submitted in the past day by Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Hochul's big-dollar donors and Blakeman's big booster

And New York is hitting back at the DOJ's bid-rigging claims around a popular home care program.

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State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is raising several red flags around this year’s enacted state budget. His office identified multiple risks to the state’s finances in a new report.

New York's finances 'highly exposed' to risk, DiNapoli says

Plus: The first nonbinary member of the state Legislature and an income tax in Ulster County.

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While Hochul's data centers executive order was well-received by her supporters, opponents of the action aren’t happy about it.

Data centers bill not dead despite Hochul executive order

And Hochul is asking Zeldin for help in western New York.

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Attendance records for the state Senate and Assembly in New York aren't online. We got our hands on attendance for every member on every day of this year's session. Here's who missed the most, including some who missed more than half: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/full-list-...

Full list: State Senate and Assembly attendance in 2026

Who missed the most days and why you wouldn't know it.

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New York's largest bond act project isn’t a park or river. It’s Empire State Plaza.

New York's largest climate bond act project? The Empire State Plaza.

And New York is still losing middle-income taxpayers

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Hochul is sitting on a decision that could reshape how millions of dollars flow through New York’s education system.

Hochul’s big-stakes decision for New York schools

And there's a new wrinkle in the even-year election lawsuit saga

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A lawsuit filed against the State University of New York alleges that it illegally expanded its authority to remove or disqualify interim community college leaders. More: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-york-s...

New York's power struggle over interim community college leadership

Hochul's executive order extends a long push for leaner government.

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