The New York political community is buzzing over a confrontation caught on tape between gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and New York Post State Editor Fred Dicker. Dicker confronted Paladino over his insinuation that Andrew Cuomo had an extramarital affair. Updates below: Brian Lehrer's take, Paladino response, and the latest on the allegations at the heart of the confrontation.

Welcome to Wonk Wars, a weekly feature from It's A Free Country as part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days. Early each week, we'll post one of those issues in the Wonk Wars sections of the website and invite two or more policy experts to start the discussion online, along with your input. Then, each Thursdays, the conversation continues on-air at the Brian Lehrer Show.

This Week's True/False: The Tea Party Is Good For America

Welcome to what we hope will be a polarization-busting chat - our attempt to find some common ground around some common issues. We're inviting anyone from anywhere on the political spectrum to get out of their silos and chat directly with others about the proposition "True or False: The Tea Party Is Good For America."

Here's how it works: we'll pair two chatters at a time for five minutes each pair, giving each a chance to state their case around a specific aspect of this topic. They'll have ample room to disagree but also a chance to say if they heard each other and learned anything new. Then, others may chime in too, and a new pairing will begin. Our very own Brian Lehrer will moderate - read, argue, listen, maybe change some minds or find some common ground.

Eric Schneiderman (D) vs. Dan Donovan (R)

The race to become New York's next Attorney General is a contest between Democrat Eric Schneiderman, a current State Senator, and Republican Dan Donovan, current Staten Island District Attorney 

Eric Schneiderman (D)

WNYC Coverage of Eric Schneiderman

The Brian Lehrer Show:

Your General Election Guide: Who's Running, Where To Vote, Endorsements, and More

Buzzing »» Tea Party | Stimulus | Polling | Krugman vs. Gingrich

Tim Bishop (D) vs. Randy Altschuler (R)

The race for Representative of New York's 1st Congressional District is a contest between incumbent Democrat Tim Bishop, who was Provost at Southampton College, against Republican Randy Altschuler, a businessman who beat out Richard Nixon's grandson, Christopher Nixon Cox, in the primary.

Tim ...

Rush Holt (D) vs. Scott Sipprelle (R)

The race to represent New Jersey's 12th Congressional District is a contest between Democratic incumbent Rush Holt, a physics expert who is a strong advocate for the environment, and Republican Scott Sipprelle, a venture capitalist making his first run for public office.

Rush ...

John Hall (D) vs. Nan Hayworth (R)

The race to represent New York's 19th Congressional District is a contest between Democratic incumbent John Hall, guitarist from the band Orleans, and Republican Nan Hayworth, an ophthamologist running for public office for the first time.

John Hall (D)

WNYC Coverage of John ...

Andrew Cuomo (D) vs. Carl Paladino (R)

The race for Governor of New York is a contest between Democrat Andrew Cuomo, District Attorney for New York State and son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, and Republican Carl Paladino, a wealthy Buffalo businessman and political newcomer.

Andrew Cuomo (D)

Michael McMahon (D) vs. Michael Grimm (R)

The race to represent New York's 13th Congressional District in Staten Island is a contest between incumbent Democratic Representative Michael McMahon, the first Democrat elected to this swing district in 28 years, and Tea Party-backed Michael Grimm, a former undercover FBI agent.

Michael ...

Last week, we got the first good look at New York voters views' on their general election choices for NY governor. But it was a puzzling picture. There were three polls, three different samples, and three totally different results in the match-up between Republican Carl Paladino and Democrat Andrew Cuomo (and sometimes Rick Lazio, who's since dropped out). The race is really close, or really not, depending on whom you believe.

Congress is set to go into recess soon and that means we’re entering the final stretch of the midterm campaign. House Minority Leader John Boehner may have been hitting the press circuit, but he’s also made it clear to the Wall Street Journal he hasn’t been hitting the tanning salon, telling the paper last week that  "I have never been in a tanning bed or used a tanning product." Collins picked up there in the Leonard Lopate Show's latest installment of“How Did Politics in America Get So Weird?”

Rick Lazio called into The Brian Lehrer Show while Brian and WNYC's Azi Paybarah were dropping his run for Conservative Party run for governor.

Lot's of interesting comments, on-air and online, today at It's A Free Country. Check out some highlights, then visit the comments page for each conversation to see more and add your voice.

Angry voters have pushed Republican Linda McMahon to within a "statistically insignificant" three percentage points of Democrat Richard Blumenthal in their tightening race for U.S. Senate, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.