Investigative reporter in Albany for The New York Times. Native Texan. Moitié français. Email: Jay.Root AT https://xitter.cf/t.co/XzPq5NoUnL; 518-779-6529. DMs open.

Albany, NY
Joined April 2009
Jay Root retweeted
Cuomo's new digs are referred to in a listing as “resort-like,” with a nine-bedroom, nine-and-a-half-bathroom main home that was once a 19th-century hunting lodge. There is a four-bedroom guesthouse, saltwater pool, and tennis court. nytimes.com/2026/09/30/nyreg…
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NEWS — Ken Paxton trashed President Trump’s convention in leaked audio obtained by NYT. Paxton told donors and lobbyists last week that the convention hurt his polling numbers. Paxton was a huge part of the Dallas convention. Exclusive in NYT. nytimes.com/2026/09/30/us/po…
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Despite the court order overnight, CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters are still being blocked from entering the White House grounds today. Yet for Xi’s visit, members of the Chinese state media are present.
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The decision by the television outlets not to participate in the White House pool today in response to Trump's self-declared "ban on the free press" will leave the most TV-addicted president in our history without major network cameras recording his every utterance and movement.
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Jay Root retweeted
We all have memories of that day, and how we've processed it. Here's mine, from the perspective of an overwhelmed journalist. Take care, everyone. nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
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I am pro literally ANY publication that manages to emerge in this current moment, BUT especially excited about @washingtonsun, featuring many of my talented former co-workers and offering real local coverage for a community that devours it. nytimes.com/2026/09/08/busin…
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Sandra Beattie, who briefly served as Gov. Hochul's acting budget director in 2023, will pay a $5k fine to settle an ethics probe into her dealings with a lobbyist, per the state ethics board. ethics.ny.gov/system/files/d…
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NEW: Hearing @NYCCouncil government ops committee is preparing to hold a hearing on @NYCMayor’s use of social media influencers and his team’s use of Signal to communicate with them. Also hearing they’re introducing a bill to require more influencer disclosure.
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The self-described most transparent administration has restricted specific journalists from major mainstream news outlets from attending the G20 finance meeting in N.C. next week nytimes.com/2026/08/29/busin…
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Jay Root retweeted
A novel interpretation of the law from @NYSenate . Receipts I FOILed for and received a decade ago showed an Assembly Member claiming per diems on days he wasn’t even in Albany, leading to a federal criminal charge. politico.com/states/new-york…
When @biancapallaro & I requested travel vouchers for Sen. @jessicaramosqns & others, we repeatedly asked @NYSenate Secretary Alejandra Paulino for receipts that must accompany them for NYS senators seeking direct reimbursement. She has repeatedly refused. Here's an example:
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Fun fact: The Secretary of the Senate also requires the public to pay to view attendance records for the chamber. They're not online.
When @biancapallaro & I requested travel vouchers for Sen. @jessicaramosqns & others, we repeatedly asked @NYSenate Secretary Alejandra Paulino for receipts that must accompany them for NYS senators seeking direct reimbursement. She has repeatedly refused. Here's an example:
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Jay Root retweeted
Brooklyn Democratic Party staff is blocking the one small clear window with pieces of paper so reporters cannot even peek in to view the proceedings tonight, as Bichotte Hermelyn tries to hold on to leadership of the party.
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Jay Root retweeted
“The rollout could’ve been better,” Ms. Hochul said in an interview this week, recounting a conversation she had with Mr. Mamdani earlier this summer. “Absolutely, I said the rollout has to be cleaned up and fixed.” nytimes.com/2026/08/21/nyreg…
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Congratulations, @vwang3, on this great recognition of your nuanced, in-depth, on-the-ground reporting about the lives of ordinary Chinese in these most unusual times. Such work is increasingly harder to do as access becomes more restricted.
Asia Society is pleased to announce the winner of the 2026 Osborn Elliott Prize  for Excellence in Journalism on Asia. Congratulations to Vivian Wang of @nytimes for a series of deeply reported stories exploring the paradox of life in contemporary China, and the challenges ordinary people in their daily lives face in a society powered by technology and driven by nationalist ambition. The $10,000 cash prize is awarded annually by an independent jury to the best example of journalism about Asia during the previous calendar year.
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