Former Congressman John Katko is developing a new political discussion show on public television in which guests will be asked to help find common ground on divisive issues.
The show “Balancing Act with John Katko” will premiere on WCNY-TV (Channel 24) in Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 4 at 8:30 p.m.
This will be the first in a six-episode pilot series that WCNY leaders hope will air nationally on PBS stations.
WCNY President and CEO Mitch Gellman said the show will focus on national political issues with guests who play a role in national politics.
“I know there are a lot of stories on the left that feed an audience, and there are a lot of political stories on the right,” Gelman told syracuse.com. “But is there an appetite for shows that try to make compromise cool again?”
Mr. Katko, 61, is a Republican who represented Central New York in Congress for eight years from 2015 to 2022. He consistently ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House of Representatives.
After leaving Congress, he began working as a lobbyist at HillEast Group in Washington, DC. His clients include Syracuse University and Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
Gelman said Katko will not be paid for the six-episode pilot series. He said the show would reveal potential conflicts of interest between Katko’s lobbying efforts and the issues discussed on the show.
The premiere episode of Friday night’s show will feature former House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Another panel discussion will feature moderate Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus. The caucus is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans and aims to broker a bipartisan agreement in Congress.
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