The Catch Up is a podcast produced by The Daily Catch in conjunction with Radio Free Rhinecliff. The Daily Catch is the local newspaper for the towns of Rhinebeck and Red Hook in New York's Hudson Valley region. In the podcast we discuss recent stories that have appeared in The Daily Catch. We take listeners "inside the news" to help them understand how we report stories for our paper.
Leon Botstein has given up all his roles at Bard College after five decades. In a new two-reporter format for The Catch-Up, editor Emily Sachar and arts and entertainment reporter Matt Moment look at what that means for the music he built. JoAnn Falletta, James Bagwell, Zachary Schwartzman and Tan Dun are taking over the conducting and rehearsals. TŌN’s stipends alone cost roughly $1.3 to $1.5 million a year. Emily describes a strained October 17 concert, and Conservatory director Frank Corliss tells listeners not to read too much into it. Fisher Center chief Gideon Lester explains how SummerScape is run, and there are open questions about the American Symphony Orchestra’s role next summer. Plus: how to sign up for The Culture Catch, The Daily Catch’s new arts newsletter.
Produced by Emily Sachar, Walter Mullin, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at the Radio Free Rhinecilff studio
23 Oct 2026
Eminent Domain Upheld: Red Hook’s Waterfront Park Moves Closer
A unanimous four-judge panel of the Appellate Division has upheld the Town of Red Hook’s decision to acquire the Red Hook Boat Club by eminent domain for a public waterfront park. Publisher Walter Mullin and Editor-in-Chief Emily Sachar, who reported the story with Aleah Gatto, explain what the court decided: that the town established a legitimate public purpose, adequately considered alternative sites, and conducted a sufficient environmental review. They untangle how this ruling coexists with Judge Maria Rosa’s earlier decisions striking down the town’s zoning laws, and what the court said about objections from the Waterfront Advisory Committee.
They also look at what remains unsettled: how the price will be set for the 2.37-acre Barrytown property, where the town will find the money, and whether Commodore Richie Ross and the club will appeal to the Court of Appeals. And with Supervisor Robert McKeon, Deputy Supervisor Bill Hamel, and Jacob Testa all up for reelection in 2027, Emily explains why the next moves in this fight may be political rather than legal.
Produced by Emily Sachar, Walter Mullin, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at the Radio Free Rhinecilff studio
16 Oct 2026
A Congressional Inquiry, a Disputed Email, and Botstein’s Final Exit From Bard
Last week, Leon Botstein resigned from every remaining Bard-affiliated position. That includes his professorship, The Orchestra Now and the college’s music programs. It came after Representatives Jamie Raskin and Madeleine Dean called for a federal investigation into his possible involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. Publisher Walter Mullin sits down with Daily Catch founder and editor-in-chief Emily Sachar to sort out what the reporting establishes and what remains unresolved.
Emily explains the two separate strands in the congressional material. One is Botstein’s relationship with Epstein. The other is whistleblower allegations about sexual misconduct and the handling of Title IX complaints at Bard. She also explains why The Daily Catch held a disputed 2014 email for months, what changed that made it newsworthy, and what evidence could settle who wrote it. They discuss acting president Jonathan Becker’s response, unanswered questions about the earlier WilmerHale review, the mood on campus, and what Botstein’s departure means for The Orchestra Now, SummerScape, the Bard Music Festival and the Conservatory.
This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse and allegations of sexual misconduct. Read the full coverage at thedailycatch.org.
Produced by Emily Sachar, Walter Mullin, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud at the Radio Free Rhinecilff studio
Who has been a guest on The Catch Up
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Eleanor Pupko
Mimi Joh-Carnella
Jennifer Neufeld
Eloise Goldsmith
Tammy Peters
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