The Capitol Pressroom

Aug. 12, 2025 - Artificial intelligence is invading New York's political campaigns this year and the burgeoning technology could be even more prevalent in the future, according to Annie McDonough, a senior reporter for City & State New York. This is an excerpt of Dispatches from Planet Albany.

Aug. 12, 2025 - For more than a decade, New York lawmakers have tried to secure a compensation boost for home care workers in the New York City area, but those efforts haven't always resulted in more money in pockets, according to reporting by Sam Mellins, a senior reporter for New York Focus.

Aug. 12, 2025 - New Yorkers prescribed expensive, name-brand drugs may have to try cheaper alternatives before they get what the doctor ordered, as the result of insurance practices. We discuss how this process could be more transparent and have stricter rules with Ashira Vantrees, director of legal strategy and advocacy at Aimed Alliance.

August 11, 2025- New York Attorney General Letitia James is recommending the state narrowly restrict when police can engage in high-speed pursuits. We discuss the risk of police chases with Josh Parker, deputy director of policy for The Policing Project at NYU School of Law.

August 11, 2025- New York is fighting back against federal efforts to access state immigration information and interfere at state courthouses, citing the "sovereign rights" of the state. We explore this argument and its history with Sarah Rogerson, director of the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center at Albany Law School.

August 11, 2025- In light of an endangered sea turtle being released back into the wild this summer, we check in with Rob DiGiovanni Jr., founder and chief scientist for the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, to learn about his organization and the state's role in promoting their work.

August 8, 2025- State Sen. Jake Ashby, a Capital Region Republican who did combat tours overseas with the Army Reserves, talks about increasing services for Purple Heart awardees and reflects on the Trump administration's handling of U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

August 8, 2025- We go through the agenda items in Albany for New York's nearly 500,000 public sector retirees with Tom Tatun, the recently anointed executive director for the Retired Public Employees Association.

August 8, 2025- Gov. Kathy Hochul is promising affordable and reliable energy from new nuclear power plants, but how achievable is her vision? We get a contrarian take from John Howard, the former head of the New York Public Service Commission.

August 7, 2025- The state's "All-Electric Buildings" mandate will begin to be phased in next year and, while environmental advocates are welcoming the change, the construction industry is continuing to warn about unintended consequences. We discuss the transition with Mike Fazio, executive director of the New York State Builders Association.

August 7, 2025- In the wake of Gov. Kathy Hochul pushing to make it easier for New Yorkers to be involuntarily committed, President Donald Trump issued an executive order designed to promote more forced psychiatric institution of the country's homeless population. We unpack the significance of the action at the federal level, which could also hurt undermine harm reduction efforts in New York, with Patrick Wildes, director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law.

August 7, 2025- Starting in August, the more than 30,000 people incarcerated in New York don't have to pay to make outgoing phone calls. We unpack this policy decision from the Hochul administration, including how it could benefit society, with Bianca Tylek, founder and executive director of Worth Rises.

August 6, 2025- More than 100 marijuana dispensary owners are grappling with the revelation that their approved locations are in violation of a state law as the result of a measuring mix up by the Hochul administration. We consider possible remedies to this situation with Joe Rossi, founder of Modern Advocacy and a cannabis lobbyist, and Joseph Levey, founding partner of Helbraun Levey, a law firm focused on cannabis and hospitality.

August 6, 2025- As we continue to unpack the ramifications of the Big Beautiful Bill adopted by Republicans in Washington D.C., we're turning our attention to what it means for community health centers that serve low-income New Yorkers in medical deserts. Our guest is Rose Duhan, president and CEO of the Community Healthcare Association of New York State.

Aug. 5, 2025 - Shontell Smith, the former political director for Andrew Cuomo's unsuccessful mayoral primary bid in New York City, reflects on what went right and what went wrong during this Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt.

August 5, 2025- School districts have been encouraged by the state to find regional partnerships that might save money and improve operations. We consider what regionalization has looked like in the past and how it could happen in the future with Anita Murphy, a retired superintendent from the Capital Region BOCES, and Brian Backstrom, director of Education Policy Studies at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

August 5, 2025- New Yorkers will get a chance this fall to bring the expansion and operation of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports complex in compliance with the state Constitution, while also expanding the footprint of the Adirondack preserve. We hear the case for the constitutional referendum from John Sheehan, director of communication for the Adirondack Council.

August 5, 2025- A United States Supreme Court ruling this summer may give parents more influence over their school curricula if they have religious concerns with subjects and materials. We discuss the majority opinion from the court and its implications with Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel for the State Education Department.

August 4, 2025- New York's prisons may have rescinded from the headlines, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to discuss about the corrections system with Chris Gelardi, a criminal justice reporter for New York Focus.

August 4, 2025- New York's development of offshore wind has stalled, so state regulators are hitting pause on the hunt for more transmission capacity. We explore the decision by the state Public Service Commission and its ramifications with Ekin Senlet, co-chair of Regulatory Practice area at Barclay Damon, and David Solimeno, an associate with the firm.

August 4, 2025- The administration of non-emergency medical transportation has undergone multiple transformations in the past 15 years as state policymakers look to save money. State Sen. George Borrello, a western New York Republican, argues the simplest answer to preventing fraud and abuse is returning oversight to the counties.

July 31, 2025- New York's effort to cap emissions may have stalled, but the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has entered a new phase, with updated goals adopted this summer. We talk about the program and its role in combatting climate change with Jackson Morris, director of state power sector policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

July 31, 2025- As New York pivots away from using Regents exams in order to graduate from high school, the state Board of Regents met this summer to approve an updated pathway to getting a diploma. We hear concerns about implementing this new vision from Jeff Smink, deputy director of The Education Trust-New York.

July 31, 2025- We explore the significance of new prevention agenda adopted by state health officials with our guest Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, medical director for the Office of Public Health at the State Department of Health.

July 30, 2025 - State law required a system restricting pollution from major emitters to be in place by now, but it hasn't been implemented so environmental groups sued the Hochul administration in a case now making its way through the courts. We explore the legal challenge and what's at stake with Collin Kinniburgh, a climate and environment reporter for New York Focus.

July 30, 2025 - New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare discusses an expanded speed camera program, gives an update on the service plazas, and explains what is being done to target toll evasion.

July 30, 2025 - We explore a new survey of LGBTQ New Yorkers and how it will be used to address health disparities with Kraig Pannell, director of the Office of LGBTQ Services at the state's AIDS Institute, and Dr. Lauren Miller, coordinator for the New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

July 29, 2025 - After nearly two decades as a journalist, including serving as news director WAMC public radio, Ian Pickus is taking a communications job in the Hochul administration. In an excerpt from Dispatches from Planet Albany, we reflect on some of the interviews he coordinated with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

July 29, 2025 - The state Department of Health is implementing a legal settlement to resolve a challenge to its controversial transition of the administration of an expensive home care program. We explore the underlying lawsuit and the impact of the settlement with Elizabeth Jois, supervising attorney with New York Legal Assistance Group's Special Litigation Unit and an attorney for the plaintiffs.

July 29, 2025 - New York Democrats want to use mid-decade redistricting as a way to boost their numbers in Congress, but the legal pathways for this gambit are basically non-existent, according to Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and adjunct professor with the New York Law School's Census and Redistricting Institute.

July 28, 2025 - We learn about some of the complaints to the state's gambling regulator received by the state Inspector General's Office in 2024 and consider some of the controversies they're reviewing in 2025. Our guest is Ryan Hayward, chief of staff for the New York IG's Office.

July 28, 2025 - The social safety net in New York will have some holes moving forward as the result of the Big Beautiful Bill adopted this summer by Republicans in Washington D.C., according to Barbara Guinn, commissioner for the state Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance. We explore the future of housing supports, anti-hunger initiatives, and child poverty.

July 25, 2025 - The death of a state assistant forest ranger has renewed calls for state environmental officials to update the system for tracking government personnel deployed into the wilderness. We discuss this tragedy and the campaign for reform with James Odato, a contributing editor for the Adirondack Explorer.

July 25, 2025 - The legislative session in Albany included a few initiatives to avoid wasteful economic development spending and many more measures that will promote unnecessary government subsidies, according to John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany.

July 25, 2025 - State Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian highlights new regulations designed to ensure more working families have access to discounted energy bills.

July 24, 2025 - This summer, Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York Power Authority to get the ball rolling on the development of new nuclear power. We discussed this mandate and how it might be implemented with Charles Imohiosen, senior vice president for external affairs and communication at NYPA.

July 24, 2025 - New York State Office of Mental Health Chief Fiscal Officer Joe Katagiri explains efforts to boost access to mental health and substance abuse treatments for New Yorkers, including removing insurance barriers for Medicaid patients and requiring prompt access to providers.

July 23, 2025 - Public schools across the state have been forced to make hard decisions about programs funded with federal dollars that the Trump administration is looking to claw back. We talk about these challenges and looming budgetary challenges with Brian Cechnicki, executive director of Association of School Business Officials of New York.

July 23, 2025 - No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella discusses the potential fallout in the Empire State from federal cuts and changes to the hunger prevention safety net.

July 23, 2025 - For rural communities, a physician assistant is the first and last source of available medical care. We talk about these important health care providers and expanding their capacity with Katie Compagni, a PA in central New York.

July 23, 2025 - New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray discusses federal cuts to emergency services and considers a future without FEMA.

July 22, 2025 - State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli visits the studio to discuss increasing overtime hours and costs from the state workforce, the distribution of unclaimed funds, and whether state policymakers should be tapping into reserve funds to offset federal cuts.

July 22, 2025 - The "Big Beautiful Bill" adopted in July could have massive ramifications for New York's health care system, according to Paul Francis, chair of the Step Two Policy Project. We explore cuts in federal aid to health care providers, New Yorkers losing their state-provided health insurance, and how state policymakers might respond to this new landscape.

July 21, 2025 - Dan Egan, the outgoing head of Feeding New York State, reflects on the demand for food assistance over the last six years and considers how hungry New Yorkers will be affected by changes in Washington D.C.

July 18, 2025 - We check in with Adam Herbst, a former top health official in the state and now a partner with Sheppard Mullin, who describes the funding demands and other implementation challenges for the state master plan on aging.

July 18, 2025 - State Health Commissioner Jim McDonald and State Aging Director Greg Olsen explain how the state's master plan on aging came together, the process of evaluating proposals, and why federal spending cuts could impact implementation.

July 17, 2025 - On this excerpt from Dispatches from Planet Albany, we talk with Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a Brooklyn Democrat, and NYC DSA Co-Chair Grace Mauser about the Democratic Socialists rallying behind Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign and how they build support for his agenda in Albany.

July 16, 2025 - Assemblymember Micah Lasher, a Manhattan Democrat, talks about legislation empowering the state attorney general's office to go after unfair business practices and addresses a critique that the measures doesn't go far enough.

July 16, 2025 - We check in with Benjamin Pomerance, deputy counsel at the state Department of Veterans' Services, to discuss services for marginalized veterans, addressing the risk of suicide among veterans, and closing holes in the social safety net.

July 14, 2025 - State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson swings by the studio to explain how the Hochul administration plans on spending record levels of funding for crime victims and discusses the challenges of getting this money to the right people.

July 14, 2025 - Business Council of New York State Vice President Ken Pokalsky reflects on the manufacturing landscape in the Empire State and considers why the industry looks the way it does.