The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast
@BrianLehrer
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Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most in local and national politics weekdays at 10am on @WNYC. Subscribe to our Daily Politics Podcast.
New York, NY
Joined January 2008
Breaking News!.Officer Pantaleo was found guilty on charges of illegal choke-hold. And the judge has recommended that he be fired.
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Trump's biggest ethics breach? . "The original sin of this Administration was that he did not divest his conflicting financial interest,"says @waltshaub "But I don't think people have a full appreciation for how dangerous that actually is.".
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BREAKING: Flights have been halted into LaGuardia + Newark because of a shortage of air-traffic control staff. @NYCMayor: If our airports are not functioning people will die. What a tragedy. We're supposed to be the greatest country on earth and we can't keep the airports open.
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It's official: she's running for mayor. After announcing her bid earlier in the week, @mayawiley joined Brian on today's show. Catch up here:.
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Along with all my colleagues, I am devastated by the death of Richard Hake. He was as beautiful a human being as he was a great broadcaster. BL.
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Mueller reminds the nation that Trump betrayed the USA, according to our guest @DavidCornDC
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Would it make anybody feel better if we all tweet tomorrow’s debate using only @springsteen lyrics? Do we need to #brucethedebate?
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You are getting sleepy. You will vote on Thursday, September 13th in the New York Primary. You will vote on Thursday. You will vote on Thursday. You will get out the vooooote.
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One of the first staffers to quit the Trump White House was the ethics guy. Now @waltshaub returns with better ideas for reigning in bad behavior.
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"When you look at this race the way it is, I'm really going to miss Barack Obama," says @AlecBaldwin. "He's one of the most gracious men.".
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Richard was such an integral part of my show as our daily newscaster. I will so miss both his truth-telling and his playfulness. BL.
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Trump told Tucker Carlson Montenegrins are "very aggressive" -- @jameshohmann notes that raised alarms b/c he's told "that is the exact language that the Kremlin uses" to describe E. Europeans not under Russian influence.
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In today's interview, @RepJerryNadler expressed frustration at the misconception that impeachment proceedings aren't underway. The committee is holding impeachment hearings this week, and investigations are active. LISTEN: .
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Listen to @DanRather talk about his years in covering the conventions and offer his insights for the COVID era.
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Maybe the stat of the night: NBC reports Dearborn Michigan, 40% Arab, goes to Jewish candidate in Democratic primary. BL.
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Coming up at 10AM:. @AOC on the federal relief package to include cash payments, @taraparkerpope talks safety and grocery shopping, @MTA chair Patrick Foye talks about reduced schedules + @Yale's Dr. Jaimie Meyer on what to do if you get COVID-19.
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Caller Matthew was 13 on 9/11. His father was killed. "My teacher brought me to the office to tell me. my father worked on 104th floor.". "Today I drove my 4 y/o son to school. He's named Joseph, after my father. It's remarkable to see happiness. It's been a long journey. ".
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"Are you a scorned woman?". — Sen. Howell Heflin questions Anita Hill in 1991. Archival audio on air now as conversation gets underway with New York Times political reporter Kate Zernike (@kzernike).
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"It's not 'is he a nice man, does he have some Af-Am friends colleagues,' it's also what is his record on civil rights?" says @emilybazelon.
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"This President has an active disinterest in learning abt the separation of powers & that's vexed a lot of his advisors." says @maggieNYT.
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Hear Mayor @PeteButtigieg on his possible run for president in 2020, what he thinks of the Green New Deal and "Medicare for All Who Want It," plus his new book, "Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future."
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.@GlennThrush weighs in on @melissamccarthy's Sean Spicer parody for SNL in which @bibbymoynihan impersonated Thrush.
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We talked to historian @TimothyDSnyder about how Trump's "big lie" that the election was stolen will impact our democracy and politics for years to come.
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"Trump treats everything like it's an open ended negotiation & that's dangerous when u're dealing w/matters of nat'l security," -@maggieNYT.
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.@jacobsoboroff calls the children's detention center he reported on for @MSNBC "one of the most horrific things I've ever seen with my own eyes.".
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The exit polls in Florida showed "19% of African American women voted against Gilum," says @RepJeffries "There is no way that is possible.".
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30 years ago today, Brian hosted his first show on @WNYC. We sadly don't have that audio, but this is what Brian sounded like a year into his 30-year reign as one of NY's most beloved voices. Here's to decades of important discussions, and a love of our city. Happy Anniversary!
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"Obstruction is about stopping the investigation of something. And the question is, what is that something?" says @DavidCornDC "That's the thing Trump wanted to not come out: The Trump campaign was playing footsie with the Russians while they were intervening to help him win. ".
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"Millennial voters are extremely upset, feel like they've been given illusion of choice," says @TheYoungTurks @AnaKasparian.
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It’s been 50 years since the song “Imagine” was released. @seanonolennon discusses the song his parents wrote, Yoko Ono’s work producing the album of the same name and the lasting significance of the song’s message. Listen here:.
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ICYMI: @AndrewYang has launched a new political party, and he has a new book, "Forward," that draws on his forays into electoral politics.
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LISTENERS! We're starting the show at 9 AM on Thursday morning, to provide extra coverage of the historic indictment against Mayor Eric Adams. Get ready to call in, and tune in to 93.9 FM, AM820 or @WNYC.org.
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Comedian @gracehelbig discusses her fake-it-till-you-make-it guide to being an adult: http://t.co/ySNt89CiLh.
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Really wonderful conversation today with @neal_katyal about where the impeachment probe stands today, and why he thinks Trump needs to be removed before the election.
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We know many of you as listeners will miss Richard’s presence in your mornings too. Feel free to share any thoughts, feelings or memories as we grieve together. BL.
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"Ppl want 2 suggest there's a master strategy. it's not true.1 of the ways Trump thrives is creating an illusion of strategy" - @maggieNYT.
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December 15th is TOMORROW! Last chance to sign up.
No jump shots. No ferns. No memes. Not this time. I’m going to give it to you straight: If you need health insurance for 2019, the deadline to get covered is December 15. Go to today and pass this on — you just might save a life.
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Puerto Rico is looking for volunteer truck drivers to distribute emergency supplies. If you hold this special license call 469-401-9603.
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As a radio program, we would be remiss if we failed to note that it turns out William Taylor has an incredibly soothing voice.
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.@cameron_kasky & @funkpuncher will receive a @PENamerican Freedom of Expression Courage Award for their activism against gun violence
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On today's edition of Monday Morning Politics, @ElieNYC discussed the conflicting rulings coming out of Texas and Washington state regarding mifepristone, a prescription medication used for early stage abortions.
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"Fascinating" the way anger played out between men and women at the Kavanaugh hearing . and in the elevator outside. -- @rtraister . One of the reasons women's anger is discouraged is because it is a tool of insurrection.
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Now: @SethAbramson, attorney, professor @UofNH and author of "Proof of Collusion: How Trump Betrayed America" (Simon & Schuster, 2018), combs the record to argue the case that the president colluded with the Russian government to win the election.
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Two concurrent murder trials underpin how race and white supremacy factor in the courtroom following last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests. @ElieNYC explains jury selection in the Ahmaud Arbery trial and the self defense argument of Kyle Rittenhouse.
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Thx to all who reported on your local rep. Looks like all local NJ/NY/CT @HouseDemocrats are sitting! #NoBillNoBreak
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"Even if you made your money honorably, the reason you still have all that money is we have a taxation system that has hugely prioritized your ability to make + keep an enormous amount at the expense of common institutions that allow people to live a decent life," @AnandWrites.
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"Amazon decided that they would rather leave New York City rather than change their corporate culture and allow workers to organize. Shame on them for that. Them wanting to leave the greatest city in the world is their loss," says @JimmyVanBramer.
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ICYMI @gwlauren, former campaign manager for @staceyabrams for Governor, talked to us about voter suppression efforts in Georgia, and her organization's lawsuit aimed at stopping them:
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"The Bolsonaro government is trying to use this trip to reestablish his reputation as a respected, strong leader because Trump is meeting him. I want the press to understand how much trouble he is in and the person he is, not fall prey to the propaganda," says @ggreenwald.
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Our guest this morning, @DavidCornDC had some thoughts about the president's tweets on #MuellerStatement #ICYMI - listen here:
Hey News Media, the president of the United States just admitted he was elected with covert help from Russia, a foreign adversary. This means American democracy was subverted. There should be no bigger story right now.
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This is a very good dog!.
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"Whether you want to talk about his motives or not, there’s an appearance of partisanship, of bias, of a lack of clarity given what he’s written in the past…. This is why William Barr is not the right man for the job, because of his view of executive power." 2/2.
William Barr "wrote a memo to the Department of Justice that the Mueller investigation for obstruction was misplaced… because a president essentially cannot obstruct justice by definition, that’s his view," says @jamifloyd. 1/2.
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"The Confederate flag is nothing less than the American swastika," says @JamilSmith. http://t.co/UKndK4BCfc.
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What laws might help put a stop to police brutality? We spoke to NY state @SenatorMyrie -- who was pepper-sprayed and handcuffed at a protest on Friday -- about police reform measures currently working through the Legislature. LISTEN:.
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We spoke with prominent Russian dissident, Democracy advocate, and chess grandmaster @Kasparov63 about the evolution of the Ukraine crisis.
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Sorry Brooklyn. This #DemDebate, like all the others, has no sense of place. No NY issues, same old national go-rounds again. BL.
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"Reading comes first, taste comes later," says @neilhimself. "Anything is a gateway to reading.".
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Former presidential hopeful @AndrewYang is running for mayor of New York City. He joined us to talk about his plans for the Big Apple. Take a listen:.
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Tune in NOW: @NewYorkStateAG Letitia James joins us now to talk about her office's new lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new federal policy that will bar New Yorkers from the government’s Trusted Travelers Programs.
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Earlier today, @gregggonsalves joined to talk about the ongoing pandemic, and why, with infections rising, he thinks precautions like masking should be matters of public policy, not personal choice.
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"She is singular in American history. we shouldn't tell her to 'shut up and go away.'" --@rtraister on Hillary Clinton.
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@NYCMayor: 8 new cases since yesterday, including:. 7 y/o girl in the Bronx.68 y/o man in BK, in ICU.22 y/o man, hospitalized but stable, "a vaper".75 y/o man in Queens, preexisting diabetes, in critical condition. All cases are being investigated for further transmissions.
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.@Ocasio2018: We need to protect the ACA, make sure it remains in place as long as there is a Republican majority. And at the first opportunity, we need to replace it with improved and expanded Medicare for all.
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Catch mayoral candidate @Dianne4NYC's latest interview on the city's economic recovery & fighting persistent inequality here:
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Fun Fact: Brian holds a master's in public health from Columbia, so in addition to the physical bubble of his home studio, from which he's been broadcasting since Monday, he's also encased in a bubble of knowledge and preparedness on this very topic.
@ilyamarritz @BrianLehrer We have been fervently hoping that someone is placing a protective bubble around Brian.
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Are you up to date on the latest Supreme Court decisions? This A.M., we heard @ElieNYC's analysis of the Supreme Court's latest opinions and what's in store for the final week of the term.
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The big challenge for the global left is providing a legitimate populist alternative to right wing authoritarianism as the establishment's failures get rejected. @ggreenwald says "The UK is succeeding" w that challenge but many other country's left parties are still too corporate.
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"A college freshman today was born around 9/11. they came of age in an era during a stark political polarization… it wasn’t always this way and there was a conscious set of choices that led us here," says @KevinMKruse, professor at Princeton and author of "Fault Lines.".
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For those wondering why the @NPR anchors keep talking over the testimony, a reminder that:.1) There are no chyrons on the radio, .2) It's important to know who is talking,.3) Listeners tune in at different times and shouldn't be left in the dark if they tune in late.
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Our final round of interviews with the Democratic mayoral candidates on the economy and inequality concludes with @AndrewYang -- listen here:
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Some things that are Zizmorcore: a Zabar’s reusable tote. A Gray’s Papaya tee. A hoodie from Playground Coffee. Things that are NOT Zizmorcore: Equinox. Drybar. Shake Shack. Sugar Factory. What else counts as Ziz?.
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Listeners, if you've found @WNYC informative, helpful or comforting through the challenges of the past year, we need your support. Join WNYC as a member, at any level, at We'll send you a thank you gift, like this "Peace Love & @BrianLehrer" tye-dye tee
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Richard brought journalistic curiosity, accuracy and so much warmth and smiles to those around him. We are in grief but better for having known him. BL.
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RIP Flaco 💔🦉💔. Listeners call in share their remembrances:.
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On last Tuesday's show, we heard from @eliehonig, a former NJ and federal prosecutor and author of "Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It." He shed light on the unequal treatment in the justice system for those with wealth and power.
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"The behavior of cyclists, car drivers, truck drivers, pedestrians, in terms of not abiding by certain laws is about the same, but the responsibility you have wielding a multi ton car or truck is very different from walking or from riding a bike," says Marco Conner, of @TransAlt.
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"The fact that a woman can succeed in a discriminatory system doesn’t mean it’s not a discriminatory system," says @jiatolentino.
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'He gets worked up about Canadian milk, but he doesn't seem to give a damn about our allies apparently torturing, murdering, and dismembering an American resident.' paraphrases a comment made by @MaxBoot. The "he" here refers to Trump.
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Jay Chang from @BDU4official is on with us now! Call or text your questions for Jay at (212) 433-WNYC (-9692)!.
[🔔]. On August 15th at 11:40 AM (ET),.#JAYCHANG will participate on The Brian Lehrer Show!.B.U🍀 Live radio show - call the number below 💞. 📞 (212) 433-WNYC (-9692).🔗 @WNYC @BrianLehrer #WNYC.#BDU #비디유 #제이창.
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@washingtonpost @MaxBoot @WNYC After rethinking the history of the Republican party @MaxBoot realized "what a lot of liberals have realized all along." . "There is a long, sad, pathetic history of Republicans pandering to racists.".
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@PeteButtigieg joined us today to talk about Amy Coney Barrett, his thoughts on expanding the court, the upcoming election & more. Listen:
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Today, @kate_manne joined us to explain why she uses the phrase "pregnant people," and why it doesn't mean she's had to stop saying "women" when discussing abortion rights. LISTEN:.
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Happy Thanksgiving listeners! . It's a strange year for the holidays, so we'll take calls on how you're doing this year differently, and what you remain grateful for. Join us on @wnyc at 10 for 2 hours of gratitude on the radio. Plus, a Brian curated gratitude playlist!! 👀 🔊.
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As you watch reports of gunshots at the Capitol, this is a good time to consult @onthemedia's breaking news guide. http://t.co/4hzeI85yZl.
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.@AnaKasparian (@TheYoungTurks) explains why Clinton fails the authenticity test for youth.
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"All the people who doubted Nancy Pelosi’s strength and vigor… the skirmishes with Donald Trump since she’s become speaker seem to have invigorated her," says @AliVelshi.
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ICYMI: @rtraister on Hillary Clinton: "She is not 'just like' other politicians who have lost the presidency."
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"We have laws in this country that contemplate the attempt of crime just as seriously as the fruition of crime," says @ElieNYC, "attempted conspiracy is also a conspiracy."
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Happening now! @JuanMaBenitez NY AG @TishJames, talks about her latest lawsuits against the Trump administration and more.
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Earlier this morning, @ElieNYC broke down the latest from the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and what that case means for our national conversation about racial justice, white supremacist violence, and blindspots in our court system.
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Activist @lsarsour moves to the national stage. Hear her discuss her latest career move, travel ban 2.0 + more:
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Are you registered to vote in the NYC mayoral primary? Today's your last chance!.
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Up first: We're talking about Trump's indictment, with @RepDanGoldman (D, NY-10), who acted as lead attorney for the 45th president's first impeachment, and then @AWeissmann_, the head lawyer in the Mueller probe. Listen LIVE on @WNYC .
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This just in: Hillary Clinton takes New York State and the @EmpireStateBldg projects her image.
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