The Capitol Pressroom

Sept. 17, 2026 - State education officials have set an expiration date on the importance of the Regents exams for graduating high school, but what comes next is still a work in progress. We discuss concerns about the ambitious timeline with Patrick Mannion, an upstate member of the New York State Board of Regents.

Sept. 17, 2026 - A state-appointed monitor is being credited with watering down lucrative local subsidies handed over to an Amazon warehouse project in the Hudson Valley, so we wanted to explore whether this model could work in the rest of the state. We discuss the Orange County experience and the potential expanded oversight of taxpayer subsidies with State Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat.

Sept. 17, 2026- Reinvent Albany Senior Policy Advisor Rachael Fauss makes the case for returning some autonomy to an obscure state financial watchdog that hasn't had much bite in recent years.

Sept. 16, 2026- New York State Animal Protection Federation Executive Director Libby Post makes the case for legislation prohibiting any differences in renters' insurance costs based on the breed of dogs people own.

Sept. 16, 2026- We explore legislation giving school districts and government institutions more flexibility when procuring food, so they don't just have to focus on cost when choosing suppliers. Our guests are Monti Lawson, founder and lead land steward with Catalyst Collaborative Farm, and Jessica Gilbert-Overland, director and co-founder of the Good Food Buffalo Coalition.

Sept. 16, 2026- We highlight legislation standardizing the criminal penalties for commercial sexual exploitation to eliminate a loophole involving certain minors that are victimized. Our guest is Rebecca Zipkin, vice president of policy & programs for World Without Exploitation.

Sept. 16, 2026- New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli discusses a state program incentivizing private banks to operate in communities with limited access to financial services.

Sept. 15, 2026- Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, visits the studio to make the case for expanding New York's solar footprint, addressing the concerns of small lake associations, and billing fossil fuel providers for the costs associated with climate change.

Sept. 15, 2026- We examine legislation designed to strengthen the effectiveness of consumer debt protections with Evan Denerstein, a senior staff attorney at Mobilization for Justice.

Sept. 15, 2026- Political memorabilia nerd Brian Fessler talks about how he secures hard to find campaign swag, including requests from Capitol Pressroom host David Lombardo. Anyone interested in campaign paraphernalia should visit a political memorabilia show on Oct. 17 in Albany.

Sept. 14, 2026- We explore legislation boosting Medicaid payments for medical suppliers providing durable medical equipment to patients. Our guests are John Quinlan, owner of Quinlan's Medical Equipment in central and western New York, and David Chandler, vice president of payer relations for the American Association for Homecare.

Sept. 14, 2026- We compare the policies of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to modern day political issues, including the use of special commissions and the evolution of primaries. Our guest is historian David Frisk, a resident fellow at the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, where he's teaching a class this fall.

Sept. 11, 2026 - Democratic state lawmakers are trying (again) to put guardrails on the collection and use of New Yorkers' electronic health data. We explore this digital privacy issue with Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel for the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Sept. 11, 2026 - State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses cuts in funding to victim services and we explore her legislation intended to improve access to services for survivors of crimes.

Sept. 11, 2026 - We get a lesson on the marine life management done by state environmental officials, including what gets protected and how they balance sometimes competing interests. Our guest is John Maniscalco, bureau chief for marine fisheries at the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Sept. 11 , 2026 - Fossil fuel providers are celebrating a federal court victory this summer striking down a New York imposing billions of dollars in penalties on major contributors to climate change. We explore the opposition to the law with Ken Pokalsky, vice president at the Business Council of New York State.

Sept. 10, 2026- In a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt, Republican Political Consultant Chapin Fay talks about the super PAC boosting Bruce Blakeman's bid for governor.

Sept. 10, 2026- Fort Drum could be leading the way in New York's nuclear future, with plans for a cutting edge microreactor. We discuss the development and efforts to develop new commercial uses for nuclear energy in New York with Assemblymember Scott Gray, a Watertown-area Republican.

Sept. 9, 2026- Republicans in Washington D.C. are limiting federal financing for student loans, which will likely drive more people to less consumer friendly private lenders. We explore a state effort to more tightly regulate private student loans with Kirsten Keefe, senior director of policy and advocacy for New York at The Institute for College Access & Success.

Sept. 9, 2026- Assemblymember Kwani O'Pharrow, a Long Island Democrat, makes the case for enhanced training for school security guards to improve their interactions with students.

Sept. 9, 2026- Legislation is awaiting the governor's signature that would standardize exit interview procedures at state agencies. We discuss this effort to improve future civil servant retention with Joshua Terry, director of legislative and political action at CSEA.

Sept. 8, 2026- New York is poised to break from federal vaccine recommendations, prompting Democrats in Albany to update legal protections for healthcare providers administering immunizations. Our guest is Dr. Jeff Kaczorowski, district chair in New York for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sept. 8, 2026- Democratic state lawmakers are looking to strengthen restrictions on the use of shackles on pregnant women in police custody or a carceral setting. Our guest is Dr. Natalie Whaley, legislative chair for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District 2.

Sept. 8, 2026- New York has extended the life of an advisory board promoting state-chartered banks. We discuss the work of the board with Keisha Williams, deputy director at Neighborhood Legal Services and a member of the State Charter Advisory Board.

Sept. 4, 2026- We get a status update on accessibility issues with New York's child care subsidies and consider what needs to be done to realize the state's statutory goals to cut child poverty. Our guest is Pete Nabozny, a member of the state's Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council and deputy executive director of programs at The Children's Agenda.

Sept. 4, 2026- State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, talks about how New York should spend its windfall from a legal settlement with Facebook's parent company. We also explore efforts to safeguard kids from the addictive features of social media sites.

Sept. 3, 2026- We examine legislation requiring adult changing stations at state-operated buildings and public event spaces. Our guests are Penny Pagliaro, executive director for the Hudson Valley division of Constructive Partnerships Unlimited, and Joe Pancari, president and CEO of the organization.

Sept. 3, 2026- State Sen. Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat, talks about legislation mandating prompt decisions about unemployment benefit claims submitted to the state Department of Labor.

Sept. 3, 2026- Assembly Racing & Wagering Committee Chair Carrie Woerner, a Capital Region Democrat, weighs in on the future of horse racing in New York. We discuss equine safety, subsidies from casino operations, and control of racing at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Sept. 2, 2026- Times Union Executive Managing Editor Brendan Lyons discusses his reporting into an internal email at the state attorney general's office alleging NY AG Tish James directed staff to target President Donald Trump and his allies.

Sept. 1, 2026- Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for state financial regulators to dramatically reduce the health insurance premiums proposed for the state's health insurance marketplace. We discuss concerns about excessive profits and administration costs and consider what the Hochul administration is doing to address health insurance costs.

Sept. 1, 2026- Met Council CEO David Greenfield explains how New York is using Medicaid dollars to address the social determinants of health and argues that this experiment, which needs federal approval, should continue beyond 2027.

Sept. 1, 2026- We explore legislation designed to ensure members of the media can access encrypted police radio communications. Our guest is Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel of the National Press Photographers Association.

August 31, 2026- Assemblymember John McDonald, a capital region Democrat, talks about his legislation helping businesses navigate cash transactions without a penny and his campaign to prevent the recreational use of nitrous oxide.

August 31. 2026- We're sharing an excerpt of our Dispatches from Planet Albany conversation with Politico New York reporter Jason Beeferman, who highlighted the rising political star of two-term Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan.

Aug. 28, 2026 - We check in with Katherine Nadeau, deputy executive director for Environmental Advocates NY, to discuss the group's scorecards for state lawmakers, including their methodology. We also look ahead to their 2027 legislative agenda and how they'll get it done. This is an excerpt from an upcoming episode of Dispatches from Planet Albany.

Aug. 28, 2026 - Genealogists are hoping the governor will approve a bill increasing the accessibility of mental health records for deceased New Yorkers under the care of the state. Our guest is Alex Green, who teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School and is a scholar of disability rights.

Aug. 27, 2026 - We unpack a legislative effort to regulate the practice of listing properties for sale in exclusive marketplaces. Our guest is Mike Kelly, vice president and chief lobbyist for the New York State Association of REALTORS.

Aug. 27, 2026 - New York State Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe discusses a controversial law restricting formal collaboration between police departments and federal immigration officials. He also explains why more than a dozen sheriffs are suing to block the measure.

Aug. 27, 2026 - State environmental officials could soon gain the authority to issue deer management permits across northern New York. We discuss the issue with Brian Bird, field operations coordinator for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Aug. 27, 2026 - We explore two bills designed to smooth out the licensure process for aspiring social workers. Our guest is Todd Karlin, chief program officer at Astor Services.

Aug. 26, 2026- A new state initiative is offering one-on-one sustainability counseling for small businesses in New York. We discuss the program with NY DEC Director of Sustainability Brendan Woodruff and Empire State Development Environmental Services Unit Director Rebecca Miller.

Aug. 26, 2026- We get an update on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and consider how it could be a roadmap for economy-wide carbon restrictions in New York. Our guest is former state environmental official Jon Binder, executive director of the Model Climate Laws Initiative.

Aug. 26, 2026- A new report highlights the abundance of watchdogs for New York's state government, but questions whether they're setup to succeed. We explore these structural challenges with Reinvent Albany Senior Policy Advisor Rachael Fauss.

Aug. 25, 2026- State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham discusses the flow and destination of money intended to combat the opioid epidemic secured from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Aug. 25, 2026- This summer it was revealed that thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote in New Jersey, prompting questions about New York's voter registration process. We discuss the system and potential vulnerabilities with Douglas Kellner, former Democratic co-chair for the State Board of Elections.

Aug. 25, 2026- In a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt, former Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris talks about his accomplishments in office.

Aug. 25, 2026- Politico New York reporter Marie French unpacks the campaign by energy utilities to get back into the business of operating power plants, which is under consideration by the state Public Service Commission.

Aug. 24, 2026- The Hochul administration is being sued by environmental groups alleging state health officials aren't doing enough to reduce child lead exposure in rental homes. We discuss the lawsuit with Nicholas Loh, associate attorney at Earthjustice.

Aug. 24, 2026- State Sen. George Borrello, a western New York Republican, talks about his role leading the political campaign arm of the state Senate Republicans in this excerpt of Dispatches from Planet Albany.

Aug. 24, 2026- Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, makes the case for New York to lay down some guardrails and best practices for gene synthesis practices.