New York State Archives

end of thelma and lousie screen grab car flying off a cliff into the grand canyon

MACDONALD: Death By New York

August 2, 2026 Steve MacDonald

If you want to “Thelma and Louise it” (the end of the movie, not all the stuff before that), there’s not much to stop you, and I mean that metaphorically. Though I suppose you could do a reenactment, which – aside from ruining a perfectly good 1966 Ford Thunderbird – would bring out the advocates … Read more

PAGE: Across Lake Champlain, MAGA Candidate Wins Primary

June 28, 2026June 28, 2026 Guy Page

…punishes the press. What a difference a lake makes. In Vermont, on Lake Champlain’s eastern shore, any alignment with President Donald Trump is considered a kiss of death for any candidates, barring perhaps those running in a small handful of ‘red’ districts on the electoral map. But across Lake Champlain in upstate New York, President … Read more

MACDONALD: 2A Wins and Losses in Christian v. Keane

May 22, 2026 Steve MacDonald

After getting its fat blue ass handed to it in Bruen, the political left and New York State in particular tried to squeeze gun control into a tighter pair of jeans than ever it could possibly fit. Add Heller, and there isn’t much room left in there for gun-grabbing neo-Marxists to fit all their bullshit. … Read more

Kathy Hochul Twitter screen grab hate speech

Millions Allocated to Spy on Citizens in Search of Hate Speech

November 15, 2023 Op-Ed

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced surveillance efforts on Americans. She, through the New York State government, claims a need to target and root out hate speech on social media to create a safer and more just New York State.

The Chiefs on the NY State Dept. Of Ed Just Banished Indian Mascots “To the Reservation”

November 20, 2022 Steve MacDonald

New York is full of liberals who always want to run things into the ground, and tradition is high on the list of targets. Liberal “Native Americans” are just as bad; get a few together, and they’ll pressure anyone they can (in the name of anti-discrimination) into erasing any sign of tribal influence on American culture.

If You Flee New York’s High Taxes You Will Get Audited and Lose

March 11, 2019 Steve MacDonald

Remember when Gov. Cuomo said that New York couldn’t pile any more taxes on the rich because they might leave. They are going anyway. It’s causing budgetary separation anxiety. To ease the pain, any high earner that decides to pack up and move out will get a state tax audit. Guaranteed.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s Horrible Awful Week (Infanticide, Blackface, Klan Edition)

February 2, 2019 Steve MacDonald

We ended last week with news of Andrew Cuomo’s One World Trade Center Woody in celebration of New York’s embrace of infanticide. A few days later I added some thoughts about clinics closing if they couldn’t perform abortions. In the midst of that news broke about a bill in Virginia that would allow abortion when a woman is dilating. That’s, giving birth. When asked for his thoughts the Governor of Virginia probably ended his political career.

Cuomo Declares New York Independence – Wants Gun Control and Green New Deal Future

October 6, 2022December 30, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Let’s call this Trump Derangement Syndrome taken to its logical conclusion. If the President won’t’ saddle the nation with the elites suffocating political-class agenda, we’ll do it ourselves.

The ACLU Defends the NRA from Gov. Andrew Cuomo

September 26, 2018August 27, 2018 Steve MacDonald

The State of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo are engaged in a campaign to encourage banks and insurance companies to divest themselves of any dealings with the National Rifle Association (NRA). Bereft of insurance or financial tools, it would become difficult if not impossible for the organization to operate.

The NRA has taken the State of New York to Court and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has written a brief in their defense on first amendment grounds.

NY Senate Advances Speech Suppression Bill Disguised As Anti-Bullying Legislation

September 26, 2018June 10, 2018 Steve MacDonald

The New York State Senate, under cover of protecting under-eighteen year-olds from ‘cyberbullying’ have advanced a bill that presents the government with a far-reaching tool to silence a wide range of speech it decides has violated their law.

I’ll let you explore Eugene Volokh’s examination of potential issues for speech suppression here, but I wanted to make the point that this exercise is no different than the progressive motivations on health care. Expand Medicaid. Expand Medicare. When they meet, you’ve got single-payer health care.

NY State District Attorney Will Not Prosecute Cuomo’s Gun Laws

September 26, 2018June 4, 2013 Rick Olson

“Where it is a duty to worship the sun it is pretty sure to be a crime to examine the laws of heat.” — John Morley

Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, Former Columbia County Judge- Times Union

Two New York State troopers stopped Gregory Dean, a 31-year-old Dutchess County resident on Route 22 in New Lebanon for a broken license plate light.

Three summonses were issued to Dean: Driving with a suspended license; an inadequate license plate; and unlawful possession of ammunition device, a Class B misdemeanor.”

Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka said he examined the seriousness and nature of the crime along with Dean’s criminal history (or lack thereof) and subsequently determined it to be the best exercise in prosecutorial discretion in declining