You Decide with Errol Louis

In 2021, New York state passed legislation aimed at limiting solitary confinement in prisons and jails. But a new report from state Inspector General Lucy Lang says that the state needs to modernize its record-keeping capabilities in order to comply with the law, known as the HALT Act. Lang joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the antiquated record-keeping systems — currently done by pen and paper — that have made it difficult to track the use of segregated confinement. They also talked about cracking down on cases of welfare fraud, as well as misconduct in the gaming industry. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

The subject of autocracy is on the minds of many. We often hear about an existential threat to our democracy in the United States. But is fascism truly possible in America? Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection. Her most recent book, "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present," explores what modern authoritarian leaders have in common and how they can be stopped. She joined NY1's Errol Louis before a live audience at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, New York, to discuss the book, her thoughts on how dictators rise to power and what she feels are effective weapons against strongmen. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide, give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message, or send an email to [email protected].

Since Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Kamala Harris has been riding a Democratic wave, raising over $200 million in a week with 66% of the donations coming from first-time donors. Vote.org said there was a massive increase in voter registration, with people under 35 making up nearly 85% of the new voters registering. And at a recent Zoom call for Harris supporters, over 100,000 people attempted to log on, which broke Zoom. All of this is welcome news for Democrats, as are the memes, the coconut trees, the social media presence and the Beyonce soundtrack. But who exactly is Kamala Harris? Alex Cohen is a Spectrum News political anchor in southern California and has been covering Harris for decades, including Harris' time as a state senator and as state attorney general of California. She joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss Harris' momentum and her record. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected]

The States Project is an organization that believes state legislatures are the strongest force for change in the country. The Democratic-aligned group was founded by former New York state Sen. Daniel Squadron in 2017 and is focused on winning governing majorities by making state legislative campaigns more effective and better funded. The actor J. Smith-Cameron and author Melissa Walker are two members of the States Project team, and they say they're starting to see the fruits of their grassroots efforts. Smith-Cameron and Walker joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the States Project's goals for this election year. They also explained the power of state legislatures and how, unlike congressional races, they usually don't require massive fundraising for victory. Smith-Cameron also talked about her role on the smash hit television show "Succession" and her many years as a New York stage actor. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected]

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the death of Eric Garner, a man who was placed in an illegal chokehold by police who were arresting him for selling cigarettes illegally on a Staten Island street. Garner's dying words to police, "I can't breathe," became a rallying cry for protesters who were outraged at the police brutality. Debi Rose was a former Staten Island councilwoman whose district included the block where Garner was killed. Reverend Kirsten Foy is an activist who was a major organizer around the Garner case. They both joined NY1's Errol Louis to tell the story of Garner's killing and the many attempts by his family to fight for justice. They also discussed what, if anything, has changed in the ensuing decade. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected]