The Capitol Pressroom

May 20, 2026- State Sen. Jake Ashby, a Capital Region Republican, discusses his bill giving New Yorkers more opportunities to change their health insurance coverage if a health care provider they rely on leaves their network.

May 20, 2026- Assemblymember Sarah Clark, a Rochester-area Democrat, explains why she thinks New York needs to level the playing field in home purchases. Her legislation is designed to promote the practice of property inspections for buyers.

May 13, 2026 - Could direct contracting for health care services be a cheaper alternative to employer-sponsored health insurance coverage? We explore how this type of self-insurance is utilized in New York with Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

May 13, 2026 - Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for updating New York's stalking laws to make it easier to obtain orders of protection against non-family members.

May 12, 2026- Efforts in New York to scale back the use of a popular coolant that contributes to climate change has generated bipartisan pushback. We discuss what the implementation of these restrictions should look like with Richie Kaur, senior super pollutant reduction advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

May 12, 2026- New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe makes the case for the state to stay on track with the implementation of a 2019 state law designed to reduce the Empire State's carbon footprint. We discuss about regulatory and legislative efforts to curb the ambitious law.

May 12, 2026-We talk about education services in state's prisons and how these programs can help incarcerated New Yorkers return to society. Our guest is Trent Griffin-Braaf, founder of Success Map Initiative.

May 11, 2026- State law requires school districts to adopt zero-emission school buses by 2035, so we discuss the implementation of this controversial mandate with Adam Ruder, director of clean transportation for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

May 11, 2026- The increase in online ordering has driven up the number of warehouses across the state, with environmentalists raising concerns about the concentrated pollution from delivery vehicles. We discuss pending legislation designed to curb the environmental risk with Sasan Saadat, senior research and policy analyst at Earthjustice.

May 11, 2026- Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, talks about regulatory changes to ensure vulnerable kids are getting the behavioral health services they need. He also makes some last-minute pitches for the state budget and laments this year's budget process.

May 8, 2026- We explore the effort to preserve and grow the Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeon population in the Hudson River. Our guest is Amanda Higgs, a fisheries biologist with the State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Marine Resources and Cornell University.

May 8, 2026- We talk to New York State Association of Cemeteries Legislative Director David Fleming about issues facing non-profit cemeteries across the Empire State, including long-term financing of operations.

May 8, 2026- Legislation has been kicking around the Capitol for more than a decade that would promote more specialized care for New Yorkers with sickle cell disease. We discuss this effort with Ginger Davis, president of the Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patients Network.

May 8, 2026- Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter, fills in some of the details on the proposed state budget, which is finally taking shape, despite the protestations from state lawmakers that there are still many unresolved questions.

May 7, 2026- We check in with New York Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, as part of mental health awareness month, to talk about the need for mental health services in the Empire State and what the Hochul administration is doing to meet the demand.

May 7, 2026- The state's financial regulators are in the process of implementing a law designed to regulate the evolving "buy now, pay later" lending industry. We consider what the rules should look like with Miranda Margowsky, head of communications for the Financial Technology Association.

April 30, 2026-We consider what happens to people facing criminal charges and are found not guilty because of a medical condition. We talk about reforming the mental health system with Garrett Smith, a statewide organizer for the Center for Community Alternatives, and Jayette Lansbury, a member of the New York State Criminal Justice Committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

May 6, 2026- State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, talks about updating New York's sex trafficking laws and hearing from victims of Jeffrey Epstein at a legislative committee meeting.

May 6, 2026- New York is looking for large-scale solar and wind projects to add to its green energy pipeline and receive ratepayer subsidies. We discuss the solicitation effort with Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.

May 6, 2026- Democrat Mary Finneran discusses her bid for a deep-red Assembly seat, including her path to victory and policies she would prioritize.

May 6, 2026- We get to know Assemblymember Keith Powers, a Manhattan Democrat, who won a special election earlier this year after serving eight years in the New York City Council.

May 5, 2026- Assemblymember Joe Angelino, a Central New York Republican, discusses his effort to incentivize more volunteer first responders and reflects on the challenge of moving legislation at the Capitol when you're in the minority.

May 5, 2026- We look at the evolving landscape of online prediction markets, which have attracted the eye of state regulators and lawmakers in New York. Our guest is Jimmy Vielkind, a Capitol reporter for Gothamist & WNYC.

May 5, 2026- Assemblymember Karines Reyes, a Bronx Democrat, discusses a package of bills designed to help New Yorkers make healthy food decisions.

May 5, 2026 - Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the GOP gubernatorial nominee, discusses what he would do as governor to bring down energy costs and combat child poverty. He also explains how he would approach the Democratic majorities in the state legislature.

May 4, 2026- In advance of the World Cup and America's 250th Birthday Celebration, Gov. Kathy Hochul tapped former NYC Council Member Justin Brannan, to serve as her senior director for major event operations. He joined the show to talk about his mandate and the big summer in New York.

May 4, 2026 - In a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt, Doug Clark, a co-managing partner of Shenker Russo & Clark, discusses legislation that would make lobbyists and their clients go into greater detail about their positions on pending legislation.

May 4, 2026- Empire State Passengers Association Executive Director Steve Strauss makes the case for Metro North to offer train service north of Poughkeepsie and discusses how it could be implemented.

May 4, 2026- New York State Community Action Association CEO Tim Nichols wants the state to reverse course on plans to divert money away from home weatherization, which helps lower energy consumption and utility bills for low-income New Yorkers.

May 1, 2026- The New York Foundling President and CEO Melanie Hartzog discusses programs designed to prevent child abuse and discusses the network needed to support survivors of abuse.

May 1, 2026- A state law designed to limit rent increases for mobile park residents could get stronger teeth if an update is approved by the governor. We discuss the pending measure with Yvonne Maldonado, former New York organizer for Manufactured Housing Action.

May 1, 2026- Assemblymember Michael Cashman, a Plattsburgh Democrat, shares ideas to address safety in New York prisons.

May 1, 2026- We revisit the dispute resolution process for determining the reimbursement rates for out-of-network emergency services. Our guest is Dr. Thomas Lee, executive vice president of the Medical Society of the State of New York.

April 30, 2026- Assemblymember Pamela Hunter, a Syracuse Democrat, makes the case for a comprehensive set of rules and regulations for how automated license plate readers can be used and their data stored.

April 30, 2026- Voters for Animal Rights President Allie Taylor explains why New York should ban octopus farming, even though the practice hasn't been developed for commercial use yet.

April 29, 2026- We sit down with Robert Rodriguez, president and CEO of the New York State Dormitory Authority, which helps finance many of the state government's capital priorities. We talk about the evolution of the authorities mandate, the experience with marijuana dispensaries and their capacity to take capital upgrades in the SUNY and CUNY system.

April 29, 2026-We consider the merits of legislation restricting the sale of nonstick pots and pans made with Teflon in New York. Our guest is Kevin Messner, a senior vice president of public affairs for the manufacturer Groupe SEB and representative of the Cookware Sustainability Alliance.

April 27, 2026- A plan from Democratic state lawmakers to safeguard the online experience of kids would have unintended consequences for LGBTQ New Yorkers, according to Shae Gardner, policy director for LGBT Tech.

April 27, 2026- State policymakers are considering legislation that would restrict a host of potentially problematic chemicals from being used in beauty products. We hear the case for these broad restrictions from Oriene Shin, a manager for safety advocacy at Consumer Reports.

April 27, 2026- Gov. Kathy Hochul has embraced a surcharge on second homes in New York City worth more than $5 million as a way to address the Big Apple's finances. But the proposal has logistical challenges that we unpack with Martha Stark, a New York City finance commissioner in the Bloomberg administration.

April 28, 2026- We talk with State Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jeremy Cooney about keeping New Yorkers safe from dangerous drivers. The Rochester-area Democrat discusses how to deploy speed cameras, penalties for injuring road workers, and restrictions on vehicles driven by "super speeders."

April 28, 2026- We highlight legislation that would make it easier for incarcerated New Yorkers to shorten their prison sentences with good behavior. Our guests is Katie Schaffer, director of advocacy and organizing at Center for Community Alternatives.

April 28, 2026- State Sen. Dean Murray, a Long Island Republican, pitches a package of bills catering to crime victims and argues that policymakers could do a better job responding to the wishes of crime victims and their families.

April 24, 2026- Keene Town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson talks about managing the visitors to the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks following a controversial report that recommended capping attendance to certain spots.

April 24, 2026- New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang discusses her office's report on workers' compensation fraud in 2025.

April 24, 2026- The door to fracking in the Southern Tier has seemed closed for more than a decade, but a new lawsuit may give new life to the idea. We discuss the case in federal court with Yvonne Hennessey, a partner with Barclay Damon.

April 23, 2026- State policymakers are weighing whether to disconnect a state tax break for manufacturers from a federal credit that was made more lucrative this summer. Our guest is Todd Tranum, executive director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.

April 23, 2026- Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito talks about the proliferation of toxic forever chemicals, including in vegetables, and makes the case for cutting the spread off at the source.

April 23, 2026- The process for authorizing charter schools in New York is in the crosshairs of New York's powerful teachers' union. We discuss their concerns with Bob Lowry, deputy director for advocacy, research, and communications for the Council of School Superintendents, which is backing the union's legal challenge.

April 23, 2026- Reinvent Albany Executive Director John Kaehny talks about the relationship between municipalities and state government and makes the case for giving localities more authority.

April 22, 2026- Assembly Racing & Wagering Committee Chair Carrie Woerner, a Capital Region Democrat, talks about steps the state can do to prevent problem gambling with the expansion of gambling opportunities.