NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: President Trump Threatens to Withhold Funds From States Over Bail Rollbacks, MTA Holds Public Fare Hearings, and Breanna Stewart Returns to Liberty Lineup

Episode Date: August 26, 2025

President Trump is threatening to cut funding to states that rolled back cash bail, including New York. Meanwhile, the MTA is holding in person hearings for riders to weigh in on fare changes. Plus, Breanna Stewart returned to the Liberty lineup after a month-long injury, scoring 19 points in an 81–79 win over the Connecticut Sun.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Tuesday, August 26th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. President Trump is threatening to withhold money from states that rolled back cash bail. Double NIC's John Campbell reports, that could include New York. New York eliminated cash bail for people charged with most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies in 2019. The law's been amended multiple times since then, giving judges more discretion to hold people in jail before trial. State Assembly Speaker Carl Hasty says Trump can't withhold money on his own.

Presidents can't unilaterally deny funding just because they feel like it. You know, that's why you have a legislature and a Congress. The president ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to come up with a list of jurisdictions that have, quote, substantially eliminated cash bail. From there, he wants a list of federal. money that could be suspended. The MTA is hosting in-person public comment sections for sessions, rather, for New Yorkers who want to share their opinion on plans to change the city's fare system. Double NIC's Julia Hayward has more.

The cost to ride city's subways and buses is slated to go up early next year. Unlimited monthly fairs and metro cards will also disappear. These are the heart of the changes being proposed by the MTA. but there are almost two dozen chances to let the agency know how you feel. The MTA will be holding public comment sessions from August 25th through September 12th. They're being held on the subway in mobile vans and even at Long Island Railroad and Metro North stations. You can find the full schedule and list of locations for the public comment sessions at the MTA's website, mTA.info. Breonna Stewart has returned to New York Liberty lineup after missing a month with a bone bruise in her knee.

The Liberty Star scored 19 points last night in New York beat the Connecticut Sun, 81 and 79. Now, in the 13 games, Stewart missed. The Libs lost eight of those games and won five. They also slipped behind the Atlanta Dream in the Eastern Conference standings. Their next game for the Libs is Thursday at home against the Washington Mystics at 7 o'clock. Low 60s right now, a clear sky, sunny and near 80 today. Tomorrow on Thursday, sunshine in upper 70s, and then Friday a chance of showers,

maybe some afternoon thunderstorm, sunshine in upper 70s as we head into the Labor Day weekend. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcast. More soon.