The Capitol Pressroom

June 18, 2026- State Department of Agriculture & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball talks about a federal disaster declaration requested for fruit farmers whose crops were impacted by a spring frost.

June 17, 2026 - State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan talks about relaxing New York's restrictions on where and when alcohol can be enjoyed and a new law restricting some of the fees charged by wholesalers in the industry.

June 17, 2026 - New York City's business interests spent millions lobbying on the state budget. We discuss the final outcomes with Steven Fulop, president and CEO for the Partnership for New York City.

June 17, 2026 - We explore bipartisan legislation designed to stop online outlets from scraping content from news sites and using artificial intelligence to repackage the material. Our guest is Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance.

June 16, 2026- We consider what the adopted state budget does - and doesn't do - to make child care more accessible. We talk subsidies, workforce investments and pilot programs with Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy Vice President of Policy Dede Hill and Alliance for a Quality Education Co-Executive Director Marina Marcou-O'Malley.

June 16, 2026- Kathleen Brady-Stepien, president and CEO of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies, discusses state funding for human services providers and explore the future of foster care providers, which are grappling with high insurance costs and serving a broader swath of family members.

June 16, 2026- We explore the real and perceived powers of a state office responsible for permitting large-scale solar projects and the development of transmission infrastructure. Our guest is Jessica Waldorf, chief of staff and director of policy implementation for the New York State Department of Public Service.

June 15, 2026 - In an excerpt from an upcoming Dispatches from Planet Albany conversation, Politico New York Albany Bureau Chief Nick Reisman shares insights he gleaned from a one-on-one interview with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

June 15, 2026- New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden reflects on an overdue state report examining the afterschool care landscape in the Empire State, including what universal access might cost.

June 12, 2026- New York State Troopers PBA President Charles Murphy discusses language in the budget ensuring state police members can get paid time off when they're involved in the use of force that kills or seriously injures someone.

June 11, 2026 - A new report from InUnity Alliance highlights the long delays for New Yorkers in need of community-based services for mental health and substance abuse disorders. We explore the underlying problems and how to address them with Jihoon Kim, the organization's president and CEO.

June 10, 2026- Times Union Investigative Reporter Ezra Bitterman talks about the future development of data centers in New York, including concerns about their energy consumption, debates over their economic value and legislation imposing a one-year moratorium.

June 10, 2026- New York Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps discusses how the state budget impacted cities and villages, including additional aid and new pension costs.

June 10, 2026- We get to know Kathy Moser, the recently confirmed commissioner for the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. We discuss land conservation efforts, making parks more accessible and celebrating the country's 250th birthday.

June 9, 2026-We check in with Taa Grays, the new president of the New York State Bar Association. We discuss her priorities for the organization, the role of a private right to action to protect consumers, and the spotlight on trial lawyers during the budget debate.

June 9, 2026- Politico New York reporter Marie French discusses environmental and energy headlines from the legislative session in Albany, including the horse trading involved in Gov. Kathy Hochul's effort to curtail the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals.

June 9, 2026- New York policymakers on both sides of the aisle got behind budget language that sweetens public sector pensions and comes with an estimated price tag of more than half a billion dollars. We consider why this is a good public policy with Joshua Terry, legislative and political director for CSEA, the state's second largest public sector union.

June 5, 2026 - New York environmental officials are encouraging drivers to "Give Turtles a Brake," as the reptiles may be on the road this month in search of a nesting location. We discuss how to handle these situations with Brianna Denoncour, the state Wildlife Action Plan coordinator, and Sandy Van Vraken, a wildlife biologist in the land management section of the state DEC.

June 5, 2026 - We examine the top line spending on combatting the opioid epidemic in the recently adopted state budget with Rob Kent, former general counsel at the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports. We also consider regulatory reform to improve the state's capacity.

June 4, 2026- New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation President and CEO Michael Seereiter highlights the high unemployment rates for New Yorkers with disabilities and discusses the policy and cultural changes needed to address the problem.

June 4, 2026- We explore the expanded use of red-light and speed cameras in New York with Melba Rivera-Irizarry, vice president of strategic accounts for Verra Mobility, which operates hundreds of red light cameras in New York City.

June 4, 2026- Politico New York reporter Katelyn Cordero talks about the health care funding that made it into the state budget and what got left out of the final deal.

June 4, 2026- State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee Chair, Joe Addabbo, a Queens Democrat, weighs in on the development of New York City casinos, the future of prediction markets and the fate of subsidies for horse racing.

June 3, 2026- State Sen. George Borrello, a Western New York Republican, calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to suspend the state's taxes on gasoline to provide some relief at the pump in light of high fuel prices for drivers.

June 3, 2026- Food date labels can be misleading and lead to wasted food, so Democratic lawmakers are considering standardizing these practices with meaningful terms. We discuss this campaign with Claire Walsh Winsler, director of food, agriculture, and land use for Environmental Advocates NY.

June 3, 2026- New York Democrats are looking to gain an upper hand in future congressional races, with changes to the redistricting process that will allow for blatant partisan gerrymandering and eliminate when new lines can be drawn. We explore the proposed changes with Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and distinguished adjunct professor with the New York Law School's Census and Redistricting Institute.

June 2, 2026- Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, a Rochester-area Democrat, discusses language in the state budget - championed by Gov. Kathy Hochul - that is supposed to bring down car insurance costs.

June 2, 2026- New York's top court has invalidated a program set up by the Hochul administration that critics described as a "shadow" foster care system. We explore the issue with Betsy Kramer, director of policy and special litigation at Lawyers for Children.

June 2, 2026- Jordan Nathan, founder and CEO of Caraway, an eco-friendly cookware company, makes the case for legislation would restrict the sale of pots and pans that use Teflon.

June 2, 2026- Allergy Advocates New York Executive Director Toni Taylor and parent advocate Amy Weber discuss legislation requiring restaurant menus to disclose major allergens.

June 1, 2026- Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner makes the case for a package of bills designed to ensure eligible voters can cast their ballot.

June 1, 2026- We break down what the state budget means for schools, including education aid to districts and delaying a transition to zero-emission school buses. Our guest is Brian Fessler, chief advocacy officer for the New York State School Boards Association.

June 1, 2026- Assemblymember Pat Burke, a Buffalo-area Democrat, discusses the legislative efforts to make psilocybin available for mental health conditions in New York.

May 29, 2026- We examine what comes next for the regulation of wetlands in New York after the Hochul administration chose not to challenge a court ruling limiting wetland protection rules. Our guest is Tom Berkman, a partner at Hodgson Russ and former general counsel for the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

May 29, 2026- State Office of Cannabis Management Chief Medical Officer Dr. June Chin discusses the findings from a listening tour that solicited feedback from young people, including what they know and the questions they have about marijuana.

May 29, 2026- Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, a Queens Democrat, discusses language in the state budget that redefines the relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.

May 28, 2026- National Jewish Advocacy Center CEO Mark Goldfeder wants to write into state law a widely used, but controversial definition of antisemitism. We consider why a definition is needed in state law and what it should include.

May 28, 2026- Assemblymember Pamela Hunter, a Syracuse Democrat, wants to expand state criminal law to make it easier for prosecutors to bring charges against sex traffickers.

May 28, 2026- New York Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Renée St. Jacques argues against legislation restricting the sale and use of a herbicide banned in dozens of countries.

May 28, 2026- Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer makes the case for updating state law governing the use and oversight of state-land in the Adirondacks.

May 27, 2026- State Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat, discusses the effort to adopt more consumer friendly regulations for live-event ticket purchasing. He talks about a federal anti-trust lawsuit and his pending legislation.

May 27, 2026- We explore the state of dams in New York and how best to oversee their maintenance or removal. Our guests are Laura Rabinow, director of research for the Rockefeller Institute of Government, and Mathilda Scott, a policy analyst with the organization.

May 26, 2026- The Democratic state comptroller candidates squared off last week in a televised debate, so we're highlighting some of the messaging and whether the forum will impact the race. Our guest is Democratic political consultant Jack O'Donnell, managing partner at O'Donnell & Associates.

May 26, 2026- State Sen. Lea Webb, a Southern Tier Democrat, provides an update on the state task force exploring the problem of missing women of color in New York.

May 26, 2026- The state Commission on Correction is supposed to get a shakeup of its leadership and mandate under state law, but not much has happened yet. We discuss the prison oversight agency with Yonah Zeitz, director of advocacy at the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, and Ziyadah Amatul-Matin, a member of the organization.

May 22, 2026-Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven Technologies, makes the case for creating alternatives to the yellow school bus to transport kids for school-related activities.

May 22, 2026- On the latest Dispatches from Planet Albany, New York Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper explain why her organization is sitting out the Democratic primary for state comptroller and highlights their effort to influence the state senate.

May 22, 2026- We explore a coordinated effort to use cryptocurrency kiosks to scam seniors and consider a potential legislative response. Our guest is Bill Ferris, state legislative representative with AARP New York.

May 22, 2026- State Sen. Jabari Brisport, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for his package of bills that are designed to prevent deed theft and ensure penalties for bad actors.

May 21, 2026- Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for amending New York's state constitution to accelerate and overhaul the redistricting process to boost his party's edge in the congressional delegation.

May 21, 2026- Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses her legislation making it easier for New Yorkers living in apartments to generate their own solar power.