From the day New York state Democrats passed the SAFE ACT — the law banning certain assault weapons and limiting magazine capacity — many Republicans have been vocal about their displeasure.

More than a decade later, it’s a battle that continues.

Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill could be doing more to push back against President Donald Trump, warns a historian who studies the rise of autocracy.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor at New York University and author of the book “Strongmen,” warns the United States is in a “democratic emergency” that is “getting worse every day.”

Buffalo Congressman Tim Kennedy is calling on President Donald Trump to permanently rescind tariffs on Canada.

Rep. Kennedy said that Canada is our greatest ally and trading partner. He said that Trump's pausing of the tariffs is a positive step as Trump needs to avoid an all out trade-war.

Republicans in New York’s congressional delegation backed a resolution Thursday supporting the ongoing strike by correction officers at prisons across the state that is now in its 18th day.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, of New York's 24th Congressional District, introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives and was cosponsored by Reps. Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Nick Langworthy, Andrew Garbarino and Nicole Malliotakis.

One day after the Congressional Budget Office said the proposed House GOP budget was impossible without cutting Medicare and Medicaid, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the CBO assessment is proof of what Democrats have been saying since Republicans approved the budget blueprint last week.

“House Republicans and Donald Trump have proposed the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, and they’ve also put the target on the back of Social Security and Medicare,” Jeffries said during a news conference Thursday.

The New York State Business Council and more than a dozen chambers of commerce sent a letter Thursday pressing the state's congressional delegation to push back against President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health grants — arguing it would be detrimental to New York communities.

Business leaders urged the state's 26 representatives to fight cutting the NIH grants, which provides over $3.5 billion to more than 250 entities across the state for some of the nation's leading biomedical, cancer and other health care research.

Bronx U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres is re-introducing legislation aimed at improving the federal government’s response to public health emergencies, Spectrum News NY1 has learned.

The bill was initially inspired by concerns over the government’s handling of COVID-19 and mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Torres is reintroducing it in this session of Congress as the U.S. grapples with outbreaks of the bird flu and measles.

Democrats in the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill flipped the script Wednesday, sharply questioning one of their own: New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

During the hearing, they pressed him repeatedly on the Trump Justice Department’s controversial push to drop the federal corruption case against him. More than a half dozen veteran prosecutors resigned, some alleging an improper quid pro quo between the White House and the mayor over immigration enforcement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During his congressional address Tuesday, President Donald Trump boasted the country has seen $1.7 trillion in new investment over the past several weeks — a result, he said, of confidence in his election and new economic policies.

That included a $100 billion commitment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to expand its Arizona operations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Public service is in Western New Yorker Alissa Ellman's DNA.

She joined the U.S. Army in 2001, still a junior in high school. Then early in her senior year, Sept. 11, 2001 happened.

A bill that would amend New York’s special election schedule remains stalled, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters Tuesday in Albany.

Democrats in the state Legislature introduced a measure earlier this year that would allow the governor to delay congressional special elections until Election Day. Republicans labeled the measure as a pure political one, as it would directly impact the race to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in the 21st Congressional District once she resigned to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney has invited Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton to be her guest at President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress next week.

"Sheriff Don Hilton is a highly regarded law enforcement officer from our district, and I am honored to have him join me in attending the Joint Address this year. Since 1987, Sheriff Hilton has dedicated his life to public service, serving in a variety of law enforcement roles across our region," Tenney said in a statement Friday. "He started his career in Oswego County as a corrections officer and has since returned to serve as the Oswego County Sheriff."

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat will deliver the Democratic Party’s Spanish-language response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming joint address to Congress, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday.

Espaillat represents New York's 13th Congressional District, which includes upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. He is currently the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

WASHINGTON — Two days after House Republicans narrowly approved the “big, beautiful” budget blueprint President Donald Trump has been asking for, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., derided it as a reckless scheme.

“The Republican budget will set in motion the largest cut to Medicaid in American history,” he said. “Children will be hurt. Families will be hurt. Seniors will be hurt. Everyday Americans with disabilities will be hurt. Hospitals will be hurt. And nursing homes will be hurt all across America.”

Congressional lawmakers are launching yet another bipartisan push for permanent funding for the health program that helps people sickened by toxic smoke and debris from the World Trade Center's collapse.

“We've made a promise that we will never forget and we will keep fighting for this,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, introducing the legislation at a Wednesday press conference on Capitol Hill.

Democrats are warning of the possibility of devastating cuts to Medicaid, as House Republicans in Washington move ahead with legislation to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda.

On a nearly party-line vote Tuesday, House Republicans advanced a budget blueprint, setting the framework for the eventual spending package. As part of the final bill, Trump is seeking massive tax and spending cuts alongside new funding for immigration enforcement.

New York Congressman Mike Lawler, a rising star in the state GOP, is facing backlash after questioning the citizenship status of a Westchester County legislator at a public meeting.

The comment came during a larger discussion Tuesday about immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would require manufacturers to report their dairy processing costs every two years.

“New York dairy farmers deserve to be paid a fair price for their milk, and they need a milk pricing system that they can count on,” said U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand Thursday in a press release. “Requiring manufacturers to report dairy processing costs on a biennial basis will give dairy producers, processors, and cooperatives the data they need to ensure that their prices accurate reflect the costs of production.”

As he continues to mull his 2026 options, Hudson Valley Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler was in Western New York on Wednesday to stand with state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt at a press conference on the prison strikes happening across New York state.

The congressman, who has been mentioned as a top Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2026, joined Capital Tonight on Wednesday to discuss the strikes, President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw federal support of New York City’s congestion pricing plan and the calls for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign or be removed from office.

On the heels of the Trump administration announcing Wednesday that it is moving to end congestion pricing in New York City, Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a fierce critic of the toll, joined NY1 to air her thoughts on the decision.

Tap the video player above to watch the full interview.

Pharmacists are calling on Congress to pass reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, also known as PBMs, who act as middlemen between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, and are supposed to negotiate the cost of drugs to save patients money.

But pharmacists like Pine Plains’ Nasir Mahmood say they haven’t been doing that, and instead, they’ve driven up costs and made it harder for locally owned pharmacists.

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy’s district office in Clarence was evacuated on Thursday after a suspicious package was found at the location, the Republican congressman said.

Local law enforcement and the Capitol Police were notified and are investigating the matter.

First-term Rep. Josh Riley is introducing his first bill in Congress, Spectrum News 1 has learned. The focus: lowering energy bills for low-income households.

The legislation, which Riley, a Democrat representing New York's 19th Congressional District, is rolling out with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, would modify the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program, a nearly five-decade-old program that helps individuals retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient. Upgrades can include improving insulation and moisture control.

President Donald Trump has Mayor Eric Adams on a "short leash."

That's just one of several reactions from New York Democrats on Capitol Hill after the U.S. Department of Justice ordered the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office to halt its criminal prosecution of the mayor — while still holding out the possibility of reviving charges later.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer called for continued funding to community health centers.

He spoke Monday at Syracuse Community Health, saying federal funding is set to run out in a month for these type of health care facilities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney's district offices are closed after reporting of three separate incidents Wednesday of threats of violence and intimidation against staff.

Tenney's office said Capitol Police and local law enforcement responded to the threats. The statement does not identify which offices were targeted.

As the United States Senate moves forward with the nomination of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador, North Country Democrats are preparing for the special election to fill the seat whenever a special election is called by selecting St. Lawrence County dairy farmer Blake Gendebien as their candidate.

In a special election for New York's 21st Congressional District, there is no primary for voters to pick their party’s nominee – the nominee is selected by the chairs of the county parties in the district. Gendebien is a third-generation dairy farmer from Lisbon, and operates Twin Mill Farms. He is married and has three children. He has degree in agriculture from Penn State University.

The top two Democrats on Capitol Hill announced legislation Tuesday to rein in billionaire Elon Musk, who has launched a campaign to remake the federal government.

“It’s an all hands on deck effort,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, standing beside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

A Western New York air base is being floated as a potential place to help support the recent expansion of ICE operations.

Rep. Nick Langworthy (R - NY23) and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R - NY21) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to potentially use the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is vowing to push back against President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, saying the plan is only going to drive up costs for everyday Americans.

“I think what President Trump is doing is harmful. It's creating chaos. It doesn't make sense. It's not going to have the impact that he's hoping it has. It's just going to raise costs for everyday Americans,” Gillibrand said Monday on “Mornings On 1.”

It was a moment that vaulted New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to prominence on the national stage and won her the admiration of MAGA Republicans.

As House Democrats pursued impeachment against President Donald Trump during his first term in the White House, Stefanik aggressively mounted a defense of the president, with pointed questioning at impeachment hearings.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Wednesday as the new Environmental Protection Agency administrator.

The chamber voted 56-42 in favor of the former New York congressman.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-NY-23, spent about 45 minutes with Buffalo Immigration Customs Enforcement officials Tuesday to discuss how operations have changed under President Donald Trump's new executive orders.

Across the country, ICE has reported detaining individuals including three this past week in Western New York.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- Alton's Restaurant has been serving customers in Cheektowaga for more than 40 years.

General Manager Audrea Arricale said the casual dining establishment is known for serving breakfast all day.

U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle has been chosen to serve as vice ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, the New York congressman announced Friday.

The committee has significant influence over federal spending.

Former U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams will serve as the next under secretary for nuclear security and also the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration at the federal Department of Energy, President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday morning.

“Brandon is a successful businessman and Veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer, and Strategic Missile Officer,” Trump wrote. “He is a graduate of Pepperdine University, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations Brandon!”

The confirmation hearing for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik to become the next ambassador to the United Nations will take place next Tuesday, Jan. 21 with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Confirmation hearing for @EliseStefanik to become UN Ambassador is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10a before the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte >> https://t.co/9RLthBNAqg

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For 887 days, Livingston County native Ryan Corbett has been wrongfully detained by the Taliban. He’s been living in a nine-by-nine basement cell with little access to food, water and sunlight. Since his detention, he says he’s had constant ringing in his ears, dental issues, fainting spells and seizures, among many other illnesses.

His family heard from him Sunday around 5:30 a.m. and learned he has finally been able to put on a little weight and he’d been given a bit more access to sunlight.

With the 119th Congress underway, New York’s newest members of the House of Representatives received their committee assignments on Tuesday.

Democratic Rep. John Mannion, of the 22nd District in Central New York, was appointed to the House Education and Workforce Committee, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.

A former candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District has died.

The family of David Wagenhauser confirms he died over the weekend after a brief illness.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler stood beside New York legislative Republicans Tuesday morning to criticize Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic policies ahead of her State of the State address as the Hudson Valley congressman mulls a run for governor next year.

Lawler slammed the Democratic governor on state spending, criminal justice reforms, the migrant influx, congestion pricing and other issues.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said Monday that President-elect Donald Trump supports efforts to raise the state and local tax deduction cap and oppose New York’s congestion pricing plan,

Malliotakis, who attended a weekend meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida with Republican members of the New York delegation, said Trump’s stance on the SALT cap—created during his administration in 2017—has shifted because of rising taxes in New York.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler will serve as chairman of the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee announced Thursday.

The panel has jurisdiction over the Middle East and North Africa regions and has oversight responsibilities over activities in the State Department.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement Wednesday saying the state’s Republican congressional delegation should demand a full repeal of the cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT, as negotiations on its future continue with Donald Trump about to return to the White House.

“The New York Republican delegation owes middle class New Yorkers a full repeal of the SALT cap. This cap has cost New Yorkers as much as $12 billion every year since it took effect in 2018, robbing middle-class families of their hard-earned money,” Hochul said in the statement. “Republicans have drained billions directly from the pockets of their own constituents, and now it’s time for them to deliver. No excuses. No half measures. It's all or nothing – New Yorkers deserve a full repeal.”

Disgraced former congressman George Santos has asked a New York judge to delay his sentencing on federal fraud charges until the summer so he can pay off more than half a million dollars in fines by making more episodes of his recently launched podcast “Pants on Fire."

But prosecutors, in their response Tuesday, dismissed the New York Republican's promises of a financial boon as “extremely speculative” and derided the program's title as a “tone-deaf and unrepentant reference to the crimes he committed."

Rep. Pat Ryan is urging President-elect Donald Trump to include Democrats in discussions about the future of the cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.

“If President-elect Trump is serious about removing the SALT cap and ending double taxation, he’s going to need bipartisan support,” the Hudson Valley Democrat said in a statement shared first with Spectrum News NY1. “I’ll go to Mar-A-Lago myself if that’s what it takes.”

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has been selected to lead the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign arm for the caucus, for the 2026 election cycle, Senate Democrats announced Monday.

“We are excited to announce Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will serve as the next DSCC Chair for the 2026 cycle working to build strong campaign infrastructure, hold Republicans accountable, and mobilize voters to win the majority for Senate Democrats!” Senate Democrats posted on X.

Members of the new 119th Congress descended on the nation’s Capitol Friday with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress and the second term of Donald Trump on the horizon.

While the GOP has the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is one of the smallest in congressional history. So what can New Yorkers expect from the new Congress?

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday she will be joining the Senate Committee on Appropriations in the next Congress, which is set to convene on Friday.

The panel in Washington’s upper chamber oversees federal spending and allocates funding to programs and government agencies.

From the lake-effect machines that batter Buffalo's Southtowns, the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier and the remnants that crash the Capital Region down to the Hudson Valley, we know Mother Nature is nothing to discount.

Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26) and others in offices across New York state do too, and come the next legislative session, there could be some meaningful change for preparation and recovery.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There is good news and bad news for New York with regards to new population estimates.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the state gained about 130,000 people between 2023 and 2024.

Plates, forks and knives are everyday essentials for all of us, however, most of these items are made abroad. Now, state leaders are pushing for the items to be American made with the FORKS Made in America Act.

It would require the Department of Defense to buy stainless steel flatware and dinnerware from manufacturers in the United States, potentially good news for Sherrill Manufacturing in upstate New York.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Kids Online Safety Act is not on the agenda before Congress wraps up the year.

Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said the leading nonprofit advocating for the legislation is not pleased with the decision.

Republican U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro thanked his constituents and colleagues in his farewell remarks to Congress Wednesday as he exits his role as representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, while also promising to have a future in public service.

“To the people of NY-19: thank you. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your unwavering belief in me. Representing you was never just a job; it was a deeply personal mission,” Molinaro said on the House floor. “Your faith in me inspired every decision I made, every vote I cast and every moment I spent advocating for our shared future. Together, we focused on what truly matters: delivering results for the people and places that make our district extraordinary.”

New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has lost her bid to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress following a caucus vote that picked Virginia Rep. Jerry Connolly as ranking member instead.

Currently second in line to the ranking member, Ocasio-Cortez made a play for the position since Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the current ranking member, is seeking to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after New York Rep. Jerry Nadler said earlier this month he would not seek another term in that spot.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — EBT card skimming has become an issue for families relying on food assistance programs like SNAP. Tens of thousands of users have fallen victim to this crime, with their benefits wiped out without warning. To address this, Congress authorized a temporary provision in late 2022, allowing the replacement of up to two months’ worth of stolen SNAP benefits.

In New York alone, more than 64,000 households have had their stolen benefits restored, providing much-needed relief to families in crisis.

After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests.

The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office.

One of Donald Trump’s top achievements during his first term as president was confirming federal judges - reshaping the courts with conservative jurists for decades to come.

Now, with just weeks to go before they lose power in Washington following the outcome of the November election, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleagues are rushing to finalize a judicial counterbalance.

A St. Lawrence County farmer is seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York's 21st Congressional District.

Blake Gendebien is a North Country native and owner of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon and vice chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark.

Damar Hamlin's impact continues to stretch far beyond the gridiron.

Hamlin's cardiac arrest scare during a Monday night game in January 2023 has led to new legislation aimed at improving access to resources for heart health nationwide.

Micron and the federal government have sealed the deal on the funding agreement on their future plant outside Syracuse.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's office confirmed Tuesday that the up-to-$6.1 billion in CHIPS & Science Law funding for Micron to build a new facility upstate is finalized and secured. This locks in the funding for the massive new chip fabrication facility being built in Clay.

New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she will seek the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress, according to a letter she sent to colleagues on Friday.

Currently second in line to the ranking member, Ocasio-Cortez is bidding for the position since Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the current ranking member, is seeking to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after New York Rep. Jerry Nadler said earlier this week he would not seek another term in that spot.

Several New York and Pennsylvania House Republicans, led by Rep. Nick Langworthy, called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to end opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline that would’ve run through parts of the Southern Tier and Western New York, according to a letter they sent Thursday.

Known as the Northern Access Pipeline, National Fuel Gas Co. proposed a decade ago to build a two-foot wide, 96-mile pipeline that would run through parts of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Erie counties, as well as one county in Pennsylvania, and carry natural gas to a variety of places in North America.

Food prices are high and older Americans are struggling to fill their pantries. But there are efforts in Washington, D.C., to help curb the trend.

It's called the Older Americans Act, which includes a nutrition program that provides millions of affordable meals to older adults. It’s no secret, the number of Americans older than the age of 65 is growing, and right now, 1 in every 4 of them are skimping on basic needs like food.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, of New York, will relinquish his role as the top Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee in the next Congress, according to a letter to colleagues on Wednesday.

Nadler has been the party’s top member of the committee for seven years, as chairman from 2019 to 2022 and ranking member since then.

Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of New York.

The former Democratic congressman was nominated by President Joe Biden in July for the position to replace David Hurd, who is retiring.

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is lobbying to be President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Drug Enforcement Agency administrator after he narrowly lost his reelection bid in November, members of his team told Spectrum News 1 Wednesday.

The Long Island Republican congressman’s endeavor after leaving the House of Representatives was first reported by Axios. Trump’s first pick to run the DEA, Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister, withdrew his name from consideration Wednesday.

Congressional Democrats Tuesday scolded Andrew Cuomo, saying the former governor and his top aides were less than candid about the number of nursing home deaths in the state during the pandemic.

While most Democrats generally agree with the former governor that President-elect Donald Trump botched the country’s COVID-19 response, those House Democrats investigating the pandemic don’t have Cuomo’s back when it comes to his defense of how he tabulated nursing home deaths.

The dean of New York’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Jerry Nadler, is fighting a movement to replace him as the top Democrat on the powerful Judiciary Committee.

If Nadler is ousted, it could open the door for another notable New York Democrat, Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to land a high-profile role in the new Congress.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer has been reelected as leader of the Senate Democrats and will continue leading the caucus as it shifts back to the minority with Donald Trump once again in the White House.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen by my colleagues to continue leading Senate Democrats during this crucial period for our country. Our caucus has led the way in passing historic legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans and we remain laser focused on addressing the most pressing challenges facing our country,” Schumer said Tuesday in a post on X. “As I have long said, our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families. However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.”

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, of New York, is now fighting to remain the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said Monday he also wants the job.

There will be a vote of the committee by Democrats at some point to decide whether Nadler will keep his position.

A staffer for U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle was charged by the U.S. Capitol Police for carrying unlawful ammunition on Capitol grounds, authorities said Monday morning. The staffer has since lost his job.

Capitol Police said in a statement that Michael Hopkins, 38, entered the Cannon House Office building and put his bag through screening, where authorities detected what appeared to be ammunition on the X-ray screen.

In his final weeks as Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer is making it a priority to stave off the end of Medicare coverage for telehealth and related services, set to expire at the end of the year.

“They won’t do it anymore, and that means if you want telehealth, you have to pay it out of your own pocket, or the hospital has to pay for it,” he said of the looming deadline known as the “telehealth cliff.”

The transition team for Donald Trump said Wednesday that several of the president-elect's appointees, including Cabinet nominees, were targeted with bomb threats and swatting Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Calling the threats “violent” and “unAmerican,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not say which, or how many, officials had been targeted but said law enforcement acted quickly to ensure their safety.

One of the keys to helping people climb out of opioid addiction is to ensure access to help, including access to buprenorphine, a medication proven to reduce overdose deaths.

A 2023 federal law called the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, or MAT Act, helps to do just that by increasing the number of medical professionals who can prescribe the drug from 130,000 to 1.8 million.

Democrat Laura Gillen started her congressional career off with a win Thursday morning.

The incoming Nassau County congresswoman nabbed first dibs on vacant office space, in the lottery for incoming House members.

Before they declined to share how they would vote on President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations, you might have heard multiple U.S. senators state on last weekend’s Sunday morning talk shows that the Senate has the responsibility to provide "advice and consent" on appointments. It’s true. Under the U.S. Constitution, the Senate must confirm a president’s cabinet nominations. But what about Trump's demand for so-called “recess appointments?"

These kinds of appointments don’t need a vote by the Senate and could be in place for up to two years.

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell gave U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik a glowing review after meeting with her Thursday regarding her nomination to be the next ambassador to the United Nations.

"The world’s largest international organization is in dire need of a wake-up call, and Representative Stefanik is uniquely well-suited to deliver it,” McConnell said.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand won reelection to her third full term in office just over two weeks ago, but she’s not letting any grass grow under her feet. Instead, the state’s junior senator has expressed an interest in chairing the Senate Democratic Campaign arm, and she’s urging students to apply for a Cyber Service Academy scholarship program which provides full college tuition.

Gillibrand, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke with Capital Tonight about the president-elect’s tentative nomination of Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense – a nomination that she has serious concerns about, although she stated she is looking forward to meeting with each and every one of the cabinet nominees.

Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres is not ruling out a run for governor against fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, telling Spectrum News NY1 “we have a leadership crisis in America, and nowhere is it more profound than in New York."

In an interview Wednesday, Torres said he has made “no final decision” but, he argued, the gains President-elect Donald Trump made in traditionally Democratic New York in this year’s election are a “vote of no confidence in the leadership of New York state.”

In two months, President Joe Biden will be heading for the exits. And his would-be heir, Vice President Kamala Harris, will be following him out the door.

As Democrats regroup following this month’s elections, which left them out of power in Washington, many are turning to Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to help forge a path forward and lead their comeback.

Manhattan prosecutors Tuesday opposed efforts by President-elect Trump’s legal team to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction and are asking the judge to freeze the case while Trump serves out his four-year term.

Trump’s election victory has complicated the future of the case, and so did a Supreme Court decision back in July that gave presidents sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution.

WASHINGTON — House Leader Hakeem Jeffries won reelection Tuesday as the Democratic leader, receiving support from his colleagues despite the party's inability to win back majority control of the chamber in the November election.

Jeffries of New York was chosen during an internal party vote of the House Democrats underway at the Capitol. Most of the Democratic leadership team is expected to be reelected for the new Congress.

Incoming New York Rep. Josh Riley is joining a chorus calling on OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to rethink its proposed new safety standards for firefighters.

He said he was concerned about the possible impact on New York volunteer firefighters.

As lawmakers get back to work in Washington, there are a couple of issues that are front and center for elected officials in the Hudson Valley and Long Island.

The first is congestion pricing, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has reembraced, and President-elect Donald Trump has again panned.

Democrat Chris Ryan declared victory and Republican Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro conceded the close race for New York's 50th state Senate District, both campaigns said Friday afternoon following more counting of absentee and affidavit ballots a week and a half after Election Day.

"I am deeply honored by the trust the people of the 50th State Senate District have placed in me. With the majority of ballots scanned and the margin greater than than the outstanding ballots remaining, I am proud to declare victory," Ryan said in a statement Friday. "Throughout the campaign, I listened to your concerns and hopes for our future. You’ve called for a senator who will fight for good-paying jobs, quality schools, health care access, safe and affordable communities, and smart economic investments for the future. Now, I am ready to get to work delivering on these issues."

New York’s U.S. House victories were among the few bright spots this election season for Democrats.

Democrats flipped three seats: the 22nd Congressional District in Central New York, the 4th District on Long Island and the 19th District in the Southern Tier and Hudson Valley. But it wasn’t enough to flip control of the House, which is still in Republican hands.

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro left the door wide open to future public service after conceding his reelection loss Tuesday to Josh Riley in New York's 19th Congressional District, including not ruling out making a play for Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat, which would be vacant if she were to be confirmed as U.N. ambassador.

"I am not done providing public service to the people of the state of New York, and quite frankly, considering what options might be available to me moving forward,” Molinaro told Spectrum News 1 Tuesday evening on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

A week after winning her re-election bid, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Tuesday she's inviting President-elect Donald Trump to tour the semiconductor manufacturing industry in New York.

"So that he can see for himself that these are jobs that will last for decades and that we want to be competitive with China, something he's said publicly many times, he wants to out compete China. New York is the way to do that," she told Spectrum News 1.

Republican U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro on Tuesday evening conceded the race for New York's 19th Congressional District to Democrat Josh Riley, fully concluding the rematch contest from two years ago that was one of the most closely watched races in the country.

"Our race didn’t go the way we had hoped, but let me tell you, I am so proud of what we’ve built together," Molinaro said in a statement. "This campaign was about more than just winning a seat; it was about standing up for the people who make this state great, who work hard, who love their families, and who believe in the promise of New York and this nation."

A week after Election Day, as President-elect Donald Trump announces cabinet nominees and the Senate Republicans gear up for a leadership race, control of the U.S. House of Representatives remains unknown.

The trendlines indicate, like two years ago, Republicans will maintain a narrow majority in Capitol Hill’s lower chamber, but the Associated Press has yet to declare the party has won the necessary seats to clinch control. As of Tuesday afternoon, AP has declared Republicans have won 214 seats while Democrats have won 205, with 218 needed to win a majority. There are 16 uncalled races, mostly on the West Coast, where California in particular has a number of purple districts that will be decided by close margins.

Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination by President-elect Donald Trump for U.N. ambassador brings up the inevitable conversation about who will replace her. While the official process of selecting a replacement has not yet begun, speculation certainly has.

The seat has been a Republican stronghold since 2014, but was represented by former Democratic Rep. Bill Owens for several years. The process will begin once Stefanik resigns and Gov. Kathy Hochul calls a special election. State law gives parties latitude in the methods by which they select their nominee.

Former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned from Congress following a tax fraud conviction, is paralyzed from the chest down after being thrown from a horse during a polo tournament, according to friends who are raising funds to pay for the ex-lawmaker's medical care.

Grimm, 54, suffered the devastating injury in September and is now being treated at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey, where the late actor Christopher Reeve was treated after a similar equestrian accident in 1995, according to Vincent Ignizio, a friend of Grimm's who is a former New York City Council member.

Two years after he helped orchestrate the CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday said he’s confident the legislation will remain intact despite the changes of power coming to the White House and Congress.

“The CHIPS Act has always been bipartisan so I believe it will certainly survive,” Schumer told reporters at an event highlighting toxic algae blooms in Penn Yan, New York.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a boost in federal funding to combat toxic algae blooms in the Finger Lakes region.

Speaking in Penn Yan on Monday, Schumer says the region has seen more harmful algae blooms (HABs) this year than anywhere else in the state. According to the majority leader, Seneca Lake reported a record-breaking 50 blooms from Aug. 24-29. Canandaigua Lake also recorded 42 blooms from Sept. 6-13 that led to the closure of two local beaches. There were also 16 blooms at Cayuga Lake and Keuka Lake saw 21, of which 11 were identified as harmful algae blooms.