Episode 40: Army Veteran Cait Conley Talks About Her Bid to Flip NY-17

[music] Local Matters Westchester, a podcast where we interview the voices shaping Westchester. With Adam Stone, publisher of the Examiner News. Featuring Martin Wilber, former editor-in-chief of the Examiner News, a long-time journalist in the area, and now Senior Reporter for the Recorder in Bedford. And Shane McGatby, former stage manager of PCPB. Welcome to Local Matters Westchester. I'm Martin Wilber, one of the co-hosts of the show. Today our guest is Kate Connelly, one of the Democratic primary candidates seeking to challenge Republican Congressman Mike Lawler in November's general election. Connelly is an Army veteran and national security expert running a New York 17th Congressional District. We'll be talking with her about why she believes she's the right choice in a Democratic field. And where she stands on some of the biggest national and local issues facing the district. Welcome to the show, Kate. Martin Adam, thank you for having me, Stoke, to do it. And thanks for all of the important stories that you guys have covered for years on our community and the big stuff that matters. Thank you. So let's start with the big picture in a Democratic field, which now is had been more credit is now down to six candidates including yourself. Why do you believe you're the best candidate to represent the 17th Congressional District? I mean, I think that's the most important question one could ask, right? Because at the end of the day, you know, we can talk about a lot of different policy issues and things we want to do differently and concerns we have with what is playing out with this administration. But we can't fix any of that if we're not governing and we don't get to govern if we don't win. And what we have seen coming out of Mike Luller representing us and our families has been just disgraceful in terms of a failure to stand up and fight for the values that we all share and a future that we all can be proud of and have confidence in. And so to answer your question as to why I mean look, I come from a blue collar family that's been here for generations, you know, my great grandfather and grandfather worked in the brick yard in Montrose when that was open. My mom was born in Peaks Hill has been with the US Postal Service for 48 years serving communities up and down the Hudson Valley. And then my dad was born and raised in Hopewell Junction, so over in Southern Duchess County. And you know, it was a construction worker and so it is the values that my family and that our community is here in the Hudson Valley instilled in me that has shaped my life and my choices. You know, I'm a proud West Point graduate Army Special Arts Combat Veteran and really was moved to that pathway of military service growing up being a junior in high school here in the Hudson Valley when non-Eleven happened. And you guys remember how hard that period was for us how much lost that our community suffered that day and across the nation. And so it was that point where I made my decision to go to West Point and then I served after West Point 16 additional years as an Activity Army officer and did six overseas tours, you know, I went to combat zones like Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Faud Al Qaeda, Faud the Islamic State. And then my last two years in uniform, I was actually at the White House as the Director for Counter-Carrism on the National Security Council staff and then spent two subsequent years as a senior executive over at the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency working on ensuring the safety and security of our domestic critical infrastructure. And I say all of that because I never thought with everything that I have seen and everything that I've done in protecting this country to keep it safe, that I would ever feel like the greatest threat to America, to who we are as a nation and to our future would come from within our own borders. And what we are seeing under this administration and enabled by cowards in Congress like Mike Lawler is a complete disregard for the rule of law, a complete disregard for the best interests of the American people and working families. And it's trajectory that is fueled only by greeting corruption. So that is why I am doing this because we not only deserve better. At a moment like this in our nation's history, we must have better leaders of character, leaders of moral courage, who live for sacrifice and for public service. And not the selfishness that we see this, this bullshit happening. Kate, Adam Stone here, can you take us through in just a bit more detail, the decision to join the military to go to West Point September 11th, you mentioned. Just sort of give us a little bit more narrative on how you made that decision back as a young woman. Adam, you know, when we talk about moments in our lifetime that we'll never forget, I'll never forget sitting in 11th reading wish class. My English teacher wheeling in the TV, you know, the big bubble on top of a stand and plugging that in. We didn't know what was happening yet. And it was right before the second tower was struck. And we just sat and watched until the towers fell. And, you know, there was folks who suffered the losses of parents, you know, we suffered the losses of recent graduate of my high school. Like people who made it just feel so real. And then you saw the stories of so many families that have been impacted across the community across the Hudson Valley, across the country. And so, you know, when I talk about why West Point, when I hear people today talk about how they're losing faith in America and American values and they worry about who we are becoming. I tell them they should take a trip to West Point. Just go and watch. Because there you will see young men and women from all 50 states and territories from some of the nation's wealthiest families and some of the nation's poorest, all there wearing the uniform, having sworn a north to support and defend our Constitution. They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice out of love for this country and the American people. And that is the best of who we are as a nation. And so that is why it was the honor of a lifetime to go to the United States military academy at West Point to become a member of the long gray line. You know, and to try to live a life that upholds the ethos of the academy. Duty, honor, country. Like that is a love and a path that transcends wearing the uniform or not. And that's what I feel like this next chapter in service is. You know, I grew up in the special ops community and there is a saying you run to the sound of the guns. That means that if there is a fight, you have a responsibility to go there for your nation to be there to go after the problems to be part of the solution. And that's what I feel like I am doing right now, just like I felt that call to serve with West Point running for Congress. I feel like I am running to the fight that my nation needs me to fight right now for our future. Was there a moment like that for you in your decision to run for Congress, not just the big picture, but something dramatic and specific? Not really. It was kind of just the days after the 2024 election where and the lead up, you know, I was actually as a senior executive at CISA leading the election infrastructure security mission for the 2024 election. And during that, I traveled across the country to work with critical infrastructure owners and operator, state local election officials to help them secure our infrastructure to include our election infrastructure. And I have to tell you Adam that what started to absolutely just break my heart was seeing the level of political division in our country to the point where you had families not talking to one another. You know, you you saw neighbors who've lived next to each other for years. Forget that friendship and that sense of community because of political division. And I was watching this country. Just be torn apart at the seams. I will tell you I have since deciding to run for Congress absolutely felt the moments, especially recently where I knew this is the only place I belong in this fight against law learned and and really to just bring a leader of character back who's going to stand up and do the right thing. You know, when we saw in January, the killing of Renee good by masked federal agents on American streets. Killing an American citizen and then the audacity of this administration not doing the right thing and investigating transparently what happened holding those responsible accountable. I'm sure that this never happened again instead of that they hold the audacity to blame the victim to investigate her spouse and then weeks later we saw the killing of Alex Freddie yet again by masked federal agents on American streets. That is the most unhinged and un-American thing you could imagine and unacceptable and Mike Lawler continues to make excuses and to try to to hide what is happening in terms of the weaponization of the executive branch behind things like bipartisan policy failures, bullshit. Do your job hold this administration accountable protect the American people. That's your job. Distinguishes you from your democratic opponents aside from resume but also in your in your priorities if you were to be elected. I don't often quote Mike Lawler but I will quote him here. He talks about how New York 17 is the district of heroes where over 50% of households are either veterans, the family of veterans, first responders of the family of first responders. And so when you talk about the ability to connect and build trust with voters because honestly Martin that's what we're talking about is when a voter walks in and casts their ballot all they see is a list of names on a piece of paper. And how does your name make them feel do they feel like they can trust you even if they don't agree with you on 100% of policy issues do they believe you are going to do the right thing for them and their family. And I do believe that my lifetime has literally been committed to keeping the American family safe and secure to doing that work. I've put my life on the line for everyone in this district. It didn't matter how they registered a voter even if they voted. You know, and I do believe that actions speak so much to who a person is. And so in that sense, my ability to just connect with people in a different way. And what I tell you, no bullshit. I'm here to get the work done for you because I believe in it. And I believe in this country. People being able to believe it and have faith and hope again. And so in terms of where I am, laser focused, Martin, I am a product of the American dream. My parents, I was raising a blue collar household, right? I still remember being raised by a single mom raising three girls working for the postal service. Trying to find change in her car or in the couch cushions so she could get a cup of coffee at the deli on her way to work. You know, I get the affordability struggle. My parents do not graduate from college. I got to earn degrees from West Point Harvard and MIT because of the American dream. And I want that American dream to still be real, but for too many families in the Hudson Valley. That dream feels gone. And that is wrong. That is government failing. I'm doing this because I want America to work for working American families because I want the American dream to still be something that people can believe in and aspire to and hope for. That is America. And we are off of that path. Hey, this is story in the news that I wanted to ask you about the intercept recently reported you were paid to do work connected to AI companies whose tools are used by the department of homeland security. Including for immigration enforcement. I did see you put out a statement. And if if you disagree with the premise of the question or 100% of it. I disagree with it. So sorry, but you can hear my frustration because we've actually requested corrections that are not being made as this is. Look, I know this is the political space. I know folks are going to try to use misinformation to come after me, especially because look right now the amount of momentum we've built to take on law or in win. I know he is scared. So I am well not surprised still incredibly disappointed. Do you feel the audience in on what the story is and what it isn't. And then I do have a related follow up question for you. Yeah, so there was an article that completely misrepresented the very noble work that I completely stand behind that I'm doing. I serve as an advisor leveraging my 20 plus years of counterterrorism experience to help to start up companies who provide security help for critical infrastructure providers for private sector businesses as well as the government. One of those companies helps with data analysis. It has nothing to do with ice. There is no contract with ice. There is no support to ice. It has nothing to do with domestic immigration enforcement. But the stories deliberately I would say were misleading and trying to say that they did. I am incredibly proud of the work I continue to do to help keep the American people safe every day. The work I do helps companies do things like stop terror groups from dropping explosive drones into sports teams. You know, stops things like Russian cyber criminal gangs from locking up our hospitals and understanding the threats that they are facing from cyber security and ransomware. It's the type of work to try to keep the American people safe. And that is important work that I will always stand by. I saw at least a portion of your written response to the story. And one thing I wanted to follow up about is if I'm incorrect me if I'm wrong, but a lot of your emphasis in your defense was criticizing Congressman Lawler. But aren't some of these attacks as you call them coming from more of the further left. Isn't there critique coming from civil liberties groups, even if you disagree with the premise of the story itself. Where are the attacks coming from in your mind with this particular story? I know that this is something that Congressman Lawler has absolutely criticized me on. He posted on social media about it yesterday. But in terms of the work we are doing to keep the American people safe. I think you might be conflating there are very valid criticisms that courts have ruled on. With what the federal government is doing with respect to ICE misusing IRS data and other data there. Those are very real and legitimate issues that I have called for immediate action might federal government blasted them over and saying it's wrong and must stop and fix it. I have been incredibly strong and my condemnation of ICE and the American conduct we are seeing coming out of it. I have called for Kristi Noem to step down. I have called for her to resign and if not in peacher. I have called for accountability at all levels of those who are involved responsible for the killings of the Americans and any hapless. Like that is the real issue. We are going to see people try to misrepresent and slander people running for office. That is an unfortunate part of the American political process. But Adam I will tell you where I am going to stay laser focused is on the real issues. And because right now you know what I do here across the district. People are sick of the political infighting and bullshit. What they want less of between political parties or even internal to political parties is less of the infighting and more on the actual delivering solutions. How much hate is this expected because you're perceived as one of the front runners. Certainly on the democratic side you've been a strong fundraiser so far in this campaign. How much of a do you think is because you might be you know the top candidate grounds. The parallel that someone told me was it's like playing Mario Kart and someone keeps firing the blue shell right it's going to come at the leader. And like you are just always going to be the target and so that's where to that point you I think you're absolutely correct in that look. We have outraged the rest of my primary field. We've raised over two million dollars to date in quarter four of 2025. I outraged the entire primary field combined in terms of donations received. The next closest person we more than double outraged in our fundraising numbers. So to your point yeah I'm the shots are going to be coming you know. And that's fine you know what I'm used to taking shots for this country and stepping into the arena and fighting. No one will get me to back down or or try to intimidate me out of being in this fight and doing what is right. So I am sure there's more shots to come bring it. I am in this because our country needs leaders of character who are going to do the right thing. And that is not my global. And Martin I think to your point just reinforcing like. Yeah you know in November there was a third party that came out and did a poll where it took me and the next assessed closest competitor like most viable democratic person in the primary. And they ran us in a head to head against Mike Loller with general election voters in New York 17. In that poll Mike Loller in a head to head with my next closest democratic competitor beat her by five points. When they ran me versus Mike Loller with those same respondents I beat him by five points. And so going back to look in New York 17 we have run democratic politicians against Mike Loller and he has beaten them every time. If we want a different kind of outcome we need a different kind of Democrat and I believe that is what I represent someone who is dedicated my life to keeping the American people safe and serving this country. Kate you mentioned it in passing early affordability it comes up constantly with voters you're engaging with them sure. Groceries child care taxes utility bills all the rest what can Congress do realistically to use some of the pressure. I mean at a to your point there's no silver bullet right like all of these issues contribute to the overwhelming feeling people have when it comes to affordability. Where the federal government must play a role I'm going to use an army combat trauma analogy step one we need to stop the bleeding what I mean by that is you saw devastating cuts to critical programs in Medicaid and food assistance in others with this one big beautiful bill. Those are only adding to the pressures and the hardships of struggling American families at a time where there is already affordability crisis. So reinstating those cuts making sure that over 30,000 New York 17 residents are not kicked off of Medicaid that is a top priority stop the bleeding same thing with the tariffs right. We are facing a housing credits you talked about you know the cost of living housing is a huge part of that we're facing a housing crisis in the Hudson Valley. We should be enabling conditions to build more middle class workforce housing in the Hudson Valley so that families like mine can afford to raise their families in the communities that raise them. But instead of setting conditions that enable that that drive that you saw things like reckless tariffs implemented on Canadian timber using a national security justification that per the Canadian chamber of commerce last year was going to drive up the average age or the average cost the average price of home construction in the United States in 2027 by $14,000. Same home higher price tag because of the tariffs. So that is the stop the bleeding part but then I think we need to get to the actual solutions that go beyond just stopping the pain. And that is where I do believe we need to be investing more into our boses and technical trade schools programs where the pathways to the middle class are different than they were 20 years ago. You don't need to just go to a four year college to be able to make money and live a comfortable secure life. You can absolutely pursue honorable trades things like being an electrician being a plumber make good money provide for your family and not have to get a four year degree or you may be riddled with student debt for years to come. And so it's investing and expanding those programs expanding our community college programs to really encourage people to go into these technical trades. I think the other part is look when you see the housing crisis. Adam I was able to buy my home. When I was in the army not because I could save 20% for down payment I never made that much money. But because of the program called the VA loan that essentially guaranteed my mortgage to the lender by the federal government. I think we must absolutely be looking at pursuing these programs that help middle class and critical community servant workers who are part of our communities have the means to stay there. And what I think is I think first responders, nurses, teachers, these are examples of career fields where people put in a decade of service to their community having a VA loan equivalent program. Where no one's given a money. All we're saying is we are backing their loans so they can afford to put their monthly payments towards a mortgage and not rent and not need the 20% down which will forever be the barrier of entry for them to home purchasing. Programs like that really get after how do we solve it? How do we help people with real tangible things that can make a difference and address this not with a single silver bullet but with smart pragmatic policies that actually make a difference in people's lives. The registration obviously remains one of the most polarizing issues. What reforms might you support if you're elected to Congress and what's your position on the calls to defund ICE or at least the fight that's going on in Congress now to make sure there is some reforms. I 100% support the measures right now to enforce greater restrictions on accountability on ICE. And what is very disappointing is this should not be a partisan issue. This should not be a democratic or Republican issue. This is an American issue. It's about keeping the American people safe. After we just saw two US citizens killed on the streets of America by American federal agents. If that doesn't tell you something is off, I don't know what does. So I do believe that the reforms that are being pushed for are not only reasonable, they are necessary. I do believe there needs to be transparent investigations into the agents involved and the leadership teams that enabled these things to happen and for people to be held accountable. And I will tell you I think that starts at the top of Christy. No, you know, if she is still in office and I am elected, I am happy to lead impeachment efforts because that kind of accountability needs to happen. I am also pro immigration right and I will tell you as someone who has worked in national security for two decades. I know that drug cartels, human traffickers and terrorist organizations try to exploit the weaknesses at our border to conduct activities here in America right. I am absolutely pro immigration and pro border security and I think those things reinforce one another. I also believe that our immigration system is broken. It takes way too long for people to have their cases adjudicated. But that is a failure of Congress to invest and provide the means for the Department of Homeland Security to update its systems and to implement a better system. And so again, I think it is important to understand where accountability lies, where we have seen a failure in policy and leadership across the board. And to call out what is really happening. You know, and I caution people, I am like this isn't just about ice and what is happening with immigration. What we have seen by this administration since its first days is the increased weaponization of the executive branch. We have seen it with executive orders issued within days of President Trump taking office that directed DOJ and FBI investigations into political opposition. And from Chris Krebs, the former director of CISA, who was a Republican Trump appointee who in 2020 refused to back him in his one big lie around the election outcome. To our own attorney general, Tish James. We have also seen the weaponization of the Department of Defense. We are here you have a department that this president is threatening to use not to ensure the safety and security of the American people. But literally to extort foreign oil from foreign countries. And so that's where Martin, I just I caution because there is a bigger problem we see going on with the weaponization of the executive branch. We just saw Donald Trump last week talking about the potential need to nationalize elections in 15 states. I think this is some of the most un-American activity that we have ever seen in our country's history. And it is important to not lose sight like can't take your eye off the ball here in terms of what we were seeing in the big picture. Even with Minneapolis, when you saw our attorney general, Pambondi, issued the terms for which you would see an ICE withdrawal and CBP withdrawal. It talked about handing over voter records from the state of Minneapolis. That has nothing to do with immigration. And so I think we have to be very clear-eyed about the exact kind of administration that we are seeing that we have. And exactly the types of people who are enabling it like Michael. We're going to take a quick time out so we can hear from our sponsor and we'll be right back with more from Kate Conley, Democratic candidate for the 17th congressional district. Hey folks, Kevin Kane here and I've had the pleasure of running the Salma Club's Amal Kisco for the past 25 years. A lot has changed over that time but one thing hasn't. Our commitment to community. We are absolutely obsessed with making fitness fun, with programs for the entire family that keep you moving year-round. Swingbysalmaoclub.com to learn more or even better. Come say hello and person and take your free tour. I would love to meet you. We're back with Kate Conley, one of the Democratic candidates for the 17th congressional district race this year. Kate health care access and cost are major concerns across the country as well as locally, especially as corporate ownership of medical practices grows. What role does the federal government have in protecting patients and doctors for them? I mean right now, I think almost everyone would tell you our health care system or health insurance system is pretty broke. This is no longer about even just you people have health insurance. Yes, that is the struggle. But what we're really seeing is even if you have health insurance, does that health insurance actually cover the things that you need so you can afford the care and access the care that you need? Right? And so when we look at how do we fix this? There needs to be some very significant changes to how our current system is structured. And we can start with introducing a public option where you allow for folks to buy into Medicare at an earlier age, which will allow some downward pricing pressure and encourage an increased competition in the marketplace. Which I think is a very healthy thing. Look at capitalism. Like this is that let's put some downward pressure on this market because I don't know about you, but I know my insurance premiums are going up. So we need to do that as a starter to actually help contain the rising premiums that we are seeing. Going beyond that, this is also an issue with big pharma. When we are looking at the pricing rates and the schemes that are involved with big pharma, I'll give you one example, the pay for delay scheme where you literally have these pain generic manufacturers after a patent has expired to not produce the generics. Like that, that is wrong. That should not be allowed. That should be banned. You know, I think we've seen really good models with cost plus drugs, Mark Cuban's initiative that shows there are far better ways to get after pharmaceutical pricing that doesn't break the bank. That is this really gross and opaque system that has developed unchecked that has made it so hard for people to just have affordable access to good health care. And that is something the government should absolutely be stopping and addressing and making a priority. And I think there are some very tangible ways like I just talked about that we can make a difference in people's lives. But I sometimes say that federal candidates candidates for congressional office don't talk enough about hyper local concerns. Issues that go beyond the national headlines, you know, and those topics are tough to ignore these days when there's so much to talk about on a national scene, but going around the district in this campaign, are there any under the radar screen hyper local type issues that you might want to highlight or that you're hearing a lot about. Yeah, the two that jump straight up are let's say the three that jump straight up to the forefront of mine, one. The cost of electrical bills, right? Like people are getting crushed. We just had all of the electrical providers for New York 17 seek rate increases with the public service commission to include. And so the digital digit rate hikes for not just electricity, but natural gas, you know, nice thing had a 33% rate increase that they proposed to the public service commission. At a time where you already have Hudson Valley families behind on their electric bills and already making tradeoffs between prescriptions and groceries because everything is just so overwhelming and so expensive. And so the cost of utilities and I think this goes back to holding utility companies accountable and how we have failed to do that look they have monopolistic control. You can't shop around for a different energy provider. You have what you have. And when that kind of structure exists, it is even more important for government to be checking it. And I think what we are seeing is a failure in leadership in these companies that are not taking the necessary measures to ensure that their infrastructure is reliable. And we need to start really capping some of the the profits that you are seeing to the performance of these companies. I want these companies to focus on the quality of their service to New York 17 residents and not just the quality of their executive pay packages, which seems to be their focus. So one is utility prices and we need to hold them accountable. I'd say the second thing, you know, we see real concern with folks having PFAS in their water. And here you have the EPA under Donald Trump that rolled back designating for out of the six major PFAS chemicals as actual like toxin and measuring for it. At a time where this is a very real issue across our district from towns to individual residential wells. And so that's another issue that again, people are concerned like look, you know, and I say this, I live through the dredging of the Hudson River debate, right. People are concerned that all of these environmental factors we've seen play into our overall health. So even going back to your earlier comment on health care. This isn't just about health insurance plans anymore like this is also about the environmental conditions that could lead to developing a serious illness. But you're going to have to battle and pay for the rest of your life and how do we prevent that. And so I think things like the rolling back of environmental standards is a real concern. And then the other part, and we talked about this a little bit already, but the other thing that I hear all the time for families is the concern over their kids future and the cost of just giving them a pathway to the middle class. For the first time in modern American history, the economic prospects of young Americans are worse than their parents or grandparents. That is failure. And when you talk to families, I keep hearing the stories of how either the family or the child is just saddled with student debt. And they can't find a job that actually pays the bills. And so that is another thing that I hear all the time where folks are so concerned for their kids, some of whom are now living back at home, being unable to find a job that will even give them a pathway to living independently and having a good life. And that is a very real thing. Speaking of affordability housing, affordability and availability remains problematic as, but also as people debate how policies could impact the character of communities, what policies might you support to help increase supply and hold down prices a little bit. So I hit some of this earlier, right? Sorry, I probably could have saved that one for now, but I do believe that we have to ensure we have responsible federal policies that enable conditions for the construction of affordable homes. And that means doing things like ensuring we do not have tariffs that are jacking up the cost. That's also revisiting outdated regulation that is adding additional burdens to state and local construction projects, things like NEPA. But I also believe this is also how do we help people right be able to afford homes. And that is where programs like I talked about where I believe there should be a public service equivalent for a VA loan program. And encouraging people to pursue these public service careers in our communities in these fields that are so essential and they are not going to make a huge financial incentive pursuing. How do we help ensure that they can afford to live in the communities that they are serving right they are investing in their communities. How do we help invest in them? And that's not about giving people hand out their money. This type of investment after a decade of service and all we're saying is we are going to back their loan so they don't need to put 20% down. Like I think those are very practical ways to get after the housing issue. I will also say I'll build off of the energy discussion. I also believe that we need to reinstate programs that help encourage residences to get to greater energy autonomy. You know, we just saw this administration roll back the tax credit programs around solar installation and other energy and efficient installations at homes. That was stupid. We should be encouraging that. In fact, we should make those programs more accessible. But instead, this administration is punishing anything that has to do with solar or wind at a time where we are facing an energy crisis. And so those are the types of programs that I will absolutely fight to the nail to get over the goal line and going back to not to finding programs that are possible right and intangible. These are real things we can do that will have real impacts on people's lives. And to hit another issue that you've already touched on, but maybe to expand on how urgent is climate action for you. What can you say is maybe practical federal policy look like or any priorities that you want to focus on if elected to Congress. So in my lifetime, I have seen how climate change has become has gone from being a academic kind of debate to a national security crisis. I have watched as American families, you know, are dying. American communities are being displaced. American businesses devastated because of the effects of climate change. We are seeing this play out in real time across our country at increasing frequency. And with that, we have to be addressing climate change with that same degree of national security urgency. This has to be something we tackle head on. And I do believe that means continuing to raise the bar on environmental protection standards when it comes to the things I just said, like PFAS. We should not be allowing PFAS in our water systems, right. And measuring that and making sure we understand the deleterious impacts of that and we're ensuring enforcement of those measures. And encouraging investment and alternative energy projects that both address our climate concerns and the growing demand for energy production. These are areas that I will focus on wholeheartedly as well as critical infrastructure investment overall. Like another major issue we see a gap in is just our infrastructure is outdated. You know, you talk to town supervisors and they'll tell you how in some parts of this district. The water system is literally from the 1930s. There are wood pipes wrapped in tar. You know, that are serving as active water pipes. We need to be investing in updating and upgrading our systems and that is a role between the federal government and state and local that I feel like has not been filled. And sereness about hate crimes have increased across the region in recent years. How should Congress respond and what does real prevention might what might that look like? It has been heartbreaking to watch how especially in social media, you have really seen a rise of of hate speech. And I think coming from this administration, you have seen the normalization and encouragement and justification of that. I mean, we just saw that atrocious racist AI video that came out of our president's social media account. Like in which the former president Obama and his wife were very clearly being attacked racially. This is not okay. This is not America. America is about liberty and justice for all regardless of your religious creed, your sexual orientation, your gender, who you pray to. Like these are the key things that make America the country that it is. And so I do believe it is imperative that leaders across the board and the public and private sector stand up and say, hate has no home here. Do you think though there are competing visions of what America is? What you just illustrated is your view in the view of many Americans, but there's a good chunk of Americans. You mentioned social media who don't push back on some of that rhetoric in that language. I guess a question I have is how do elected officials go about trying to change hearts and minds if it's not just a matter of it being an issue of top down from politicians, but also just everyday people who hold views that you might disagree with. I mean, Adam, I think this goes back to the kind of way we start this conversation. We are watching our country be torn apart at the social scenes through largely political division. And we have to heal that. And that means remembering that regardless of someone's political affiliation, we're neighbors first, we're a community first. And we're Americans first. And I do believe it is a responsibility of all of us, regardless of what job field we're in or what have you just as members of the community to bring ourselves back to that and to lead by example in that way and to set the example for the next generation. We are not a country that has succeeded for nearly 250 years because of hate, but the exact opposite because of love and hope and freedom and equality. And we are on this path to form a more perfect union. You know, I used to tell my soldiers that doing the right thing when it's easy. That's just doing your job, but doing the right thing when it is hard, when it comes with sacrifice and maybe even harm. That is courage. And for 250 years, America was built by brave people in dark times and hard hours who lived with courage to shape this nation and to make sure that we were better going forward. That quest for a more perfect union. And I do believe it is incumbent on all of us right now to realize we are in another one of those moments that chapter in American history has not yet been written who we are and what we become as a nation. And it is up to us in this moment to live with courage to help ensure that our best days as a nation are still ahead of us. But that's not going to happen on its own. That happens when we fight for it, when we do the hard work. The war in Israel and Gaza has deeply divided the country in particular, a lot of Democrats. Where do you stand and how do you balance US security interests with humanitarian concerns? So look, as somebody who has actually been to war, I can tell you that the last thing you ever want to see is more war. And I do believe that we need to focus on how do we get to a peaceful two-state solution? We need to focus on how we can have sovereignty and equal protections for both sides. I think that means really also focusing on how do we go forward to make sure those conditions are set. Things like ensuring humanitarian aid is getting in there, ensuring that the violence on both sides stops, ensuring that Hamas, a terror organization, is not part of a governing structure. Because that is not what they're going to do. I think it's about how do we bring in a third party to be a peacekeeping force to help set those conditions and maintain stability? And that is where I think we really need to be pressing and focusing. You know? Some of what you've talked about today gets to this, but trust in government and democratic institutions has eroded a lot in recent years. Are there steps that a single member of Congress can take to work towards restoring it? And if so, how do you perhaps display leadership as one individual member to try to achieve that? Actions are how you build trust. And that is what this is about. We have to get the federal government to deliver in ways for the American people that give them confidence in it again. And so I do believe that there are one big part of that is accountability. Holding those who think they're above the law accountable. Holding those who think they can lead with impunity accountable. That's really targeting Christy Noam and Pam Bondy. That is an important first step, but we can't stop there. Because what we also need to do is rebuild the faith and confidence with the American people and working Americans who are struggling right now. Who are doing their part, they're working hard. And the system isn't working for them. And so Adam, I believe the most important thing we must do is even with Trump in the White House. We have to find ways after being, I hope to God we take back the House. We have to find ways to still deliver for the American people, right? To find those areas of commonality that affect all communities. And how do we do better for them? Because the American people cannot wait for three or four more years for the federal government to do its job. One area that for good reason the public is preoccupied with is over the Epstein files. And when you talk about transparency and government and holding everyone accountable for their actions, this is right up there. What would you like to see Congress do to try and hold the perpetrators of these offenses accountable going forward? I mean Martin, it should be making the FBI do their job. You know, instead of the FBI being an independent arbiter of law enforcement and investigation. Under this administration, we have seen it weaponized and become a tool of political oppression. I mean, just look at what we saw for the Democratic members, right? Melissa Slock and Jason Crowe, Mark Kelly, after a social media video talking about, you know, the importance of the military remaining a political and staying, you know, faithful to doing the legal thing. They're getting investigated by the FBI. Like this is the type of stuff where we have seen a weaponization that we can accept or normalize. And I think it starts with holding the Department of Justice accountable going back to the Epstein files and the recklessness and just how they did this entire process. It's just it's been a gross delivery in that is not put the safety or security of the victims at the forefront. That clearly seems to have some political implications with some of the names that are blacked out and the frequency and what isn't is and shared. And so this goes back to holding the Department of Justice and the FBI accountable for doing their a political independent job. Okay, Congressman Lawler often describes himself as bipartisan, maybe a centrist. Where do you think he's fallen short? How would you represent the district differently? And also, if you are to win the primary, how do you plan to reach out to Republican voters and expand your reach? I mean, Adam at the end of the day, the job that I'm working hard to try to earn is the privilege of representing all folks in the year 17, all people, regardless of their political affiliation. You know, I don't even like talking about the district that way because it's just like, look, I am fighting to try to earn the trust of everyone here and the privilege of fighting for them. And I'm not just running against Lawler because he's a Republican. I'm running against him because he's failing to fight a deliver for families here in New York 17. Examples of that. There's lots. Whether it is literally tens of millions of dollars and food assistance programming that was cut in just one of our four counties in the district, whether it was over the 30,000 people in our district that he is going to have cut off of Medicaid benefits. Whether it was the enablement or encouragement, an acknowledgement of Donald Trump ripping back federal grant funding from programs here in the Hudson Valley and across New York that impact the Hudson Valley. All of those things are making it harder for every family here in some way, shape, or form. And so this is the question I just asked folks since Mike Lawler was elected November of 2022. Is it any easier for you to put food on the table, a roof over your head, keep the lights and the heat on a Ford healthcare or give your kids a better future. And if the answer is no, you deserve better. No, we've covered a lot of ground in this discussion. A lot of ground. In our remaining moments of good, we would give you the opportunity to any last words or final thoughts or any issue that we may not have brought up in this time. I love this country. I love the Hudson Valley. I believe in it with my whole heart. And I am concerned for its teacher. And I believe that families here deserve someone who can fight hard to ensure their safety and their security. And I mean that across the board, not just their physical safety and security, but their economic safety and security. Too many families right now are living in fear. And that is not the country I fought for. You know, I am sitting here watching the country that I was willing to die for become something I barely recognize. And that is unacceptable. I am doing this because I believe that the politicians who got us into this mess are not going to get us out of it. And that our best days are still ahead of us if we do the hard work. And I promise you, I will step up every day and do that. Thank you so much Kate for coming on and joining us today on local matters, Westchester. We really appreciate having you on and best of luck in the in the primary. I appreciate it. Well, maybe next time we can do it up here in Austin. I'm going to be fun. And it's good. That's Kate Conley, one of the six remaining Democratic candidates who are seeking the party's nomination in June in the primaries for the 17th Congressional District. For Adam Stone, this is Martin Wilber. See you next time on local matters, Westchester. So long. You've been listening to local matters, Westchester.