In 1995, Allen Porter was convicted of a double murder in Queens. He spent nearly 34 years in prison, maintaining his innocence every step of the way.

On Jan. 30 of this year, a Queens judge vacated his conviction, but the case is far from over. Porter, who is out on bond and wearing an ankle monitor, and his attorney, Charles Linehan, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss why Porter remains in legal limbo as the Queens district attorney appeals the ruling.

Linehan explained the judge's findings that prosecutors suppressed significant exculpatory evidence, including notes documenting that a witness said Porter was not at the scene. The prosecutor acknowledged that the evidence had not been disclosed to the defense. Porter reflected on earning his degree from Bard College while incarcerated, his plans to study finance at Baruch College, and what life has been like since his release. They also discussed what comes next in Porter's fight to fully clear his name.

Is labor union influence in New York shifting? Recent elections have raised new questions about the political value of a major labor union endorsement. Andrew Cuomo secured backing from many prominent unions in the 2025 mayoral primary but lost to Zohran Mamdani, while Antonio Reynoso fell to Claire Valdez in a congressional race despite broad labor support.

NY1 statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis to examine what a union endorsement means for candidates in 2026. They discussed how an endorsement's value depends on more than a logo: unions must invest money, mobilize members, and build a real turnout operation for their support to matter. The conversation also explored the union-backed Working Families Party, its tensions with the Democratic Socialists of America, and its challenge of maintaining ballot status while deciding whether to align with Gov. Kathy Hochul in this November's election. They also considered Mamdani's high popularity as he approaches consequential contract negotiations with powerful public-sector unions.

This year, New York City under Mayor Zohran Mamdani has looked like a different city after Eric Adams' turbulent term. The contrast is stark: Adams-era crises have given way to a wildly popular first six months for Mamdani, which includes excitement around the World Cup and a long-awaited New York Knicks championship.

Katie Honan, who covers City Hall for newsoutlet The City Reporter and co-hosts the "FAQ NYC" podcast, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss Mamdani's first year in office and recent budget negotiations, including a new housing voucher program. They also dug into City Hall's growing use of influencers for messaging and the misinformation risks that come with it. Honan also outlined some of Mamdani's stalled campaign promises amid fiscal constraints and shared her reporting on sports books losing $48 million after the Knicks' victory.