N.J. politics roundup

Air Date: August 28, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, center, stands with supporters as he speaks about flood insurance during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Union Beach, N.J. Menendez and Rep. Frank Pallone, far right, want changes made to federal flood insurance they said will fix a system that often failed beleaguered homeowners, including in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The two Democrats described legislation they have proposed that will reauthorize a 2012 flood insurance bill scheduled to expire next month and add key provisions. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Guests: Joe Hernandez, Ryan Hutchins, Brigid Harrison

The corruption trial of New Jersey’s Democratic Senator, Bob Menendez, is underway, the outcome of which could have consequences on a national scale. If he is found guilty and is forced to leave office before the election of the next governor, then Republican Governor Chris Christie will have the ability to appoint his replacement, tipping the balance in the U.S. Senate further in Republican control. And as the trial is playing out, the governor’s race between Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Kim Guadagno is heating up. Today on Radio Times, guest host Marty Cummings-Jordan is joined by POLITICO’s New Jersey bureau chief RYAN HUTCHINS, and political science professor BRIGID HARRISON of Montclair State University to discuss the Menendez trial, the potential fallout, as well as the New Jersey race for governor the political status of their current one. But first, we’ll hear from WHYY’s JOE HERNANDEZ about New Jersey’s new law which essentially eliminates cash bail and has sparked efforts to stop this measure.

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