The Capitol Pressroom

October 31, 2025- Paleontological Research Institution Director Dr. Warren Allmon talks about the work his organization does in the Finger Lakes and explains why they're in desperate need of funding to keep their door open, including a natural history museum.

October 31, 2025- New York Independent System Operator's Kevin Lanahan discusses a reliability assessment for the New York City area suggesting that the region's power supply and demand could be out of whack as early as next year.

October 31, 2025- We discuss the governor's new choice to lead the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Kathy Moser, with Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks and Trails New York.

Oct. 31, 2025 - Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado talks about implementing the New York Health Act, providing relief to can and bottle redemption centers, and "Medical Aid in Dying" legislation allowing terminally ill New Yorkers to end their lives with the help of a doctor.

October 30, 2025- State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon talks about an increase in maximum unemployment benefits and responds to concerns about the administration of New York's unemployment system.

October 30, 2025- Assemblymember Karines Reyes, a Bronx Democrat and registered nurse, discusses her legislation to define a role for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in New York's health care system.

October 30, 2025- After years of lobbying and legislative wins in Albany, consumer advocates are celebrating a reduction in medical debt being amassed by New Yorkers. We explore the landscape and future steps to reduce health care costs with Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives for the Community Service Society of New York.

October 30, 2025- Democratic state lawmakers and mental health advocates are pushing a package of bills to make mental health services more accessible for New Yorkers using commercial insurance. We discuss the legislation with David Lloyd, chief policy officer for the advocacy group Inseparable.

October 29, 2025- A new law responding to the threat of foreclosures by homeowners' associations and condo boards could have been designed with more consumer protections, according to Jacob Inwald, director of litigation for economic justice at Legal Services NYC.

October 29, 2025- Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, a Hudson Valley Democrat, discusses legislation making it easier for communities outside of New York City to demonstrate a housing crisis in order to implement pro-tenant protections.

October 29, 2025- State Sen. Pamela Helming, a Finger Lakes Republican, makes the case for creating a risk-assessment tool that judges can use for making pre-trial detention decisions about criminal defendants.

October 29, 2025- State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn explains what's at stake for nearly three million New Yorkers because of the Trump administration's decision to halt food assistance for low-income families. She also outlines the state's initial response to this crisis and considers future steps.

October 28, 2025- We explore how the state's system of reimbursing domestic violence shelters could be updated to help more families in crisis. Our guests is Joan Gerhardt director of Public Policy and Advocacy for New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

October 28, 2025- Assemblymember Jake Blumencranz, a Long Island Republican, explains why he thinks the high-profile seizure and euthanasia of Peanut the squirrel in 2024 warrants reforming the procedures for state environmental conservation officers.

October 28, 2025- We close the book on this year's state fair in Syracuse by recapping the experience and looking ahead to 2026 with Julie LaFave, director of the New York State Fair.

October 27, 2025- In order to help New Yorkers without a retirement option at work save for their golden years, the Hochul administration is rolling out a state-facilitated savings program. We talk about how this initiative will work with Chris Curtis, state treasurer for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

October 27, 1015- New York policymakers have prioritized testing for exposure to lead, but are they doing enough to mitigate the risk of lead, especially to kids? The answer is "no," according to Blair Horner, senior policy advisor for the New York Public Interest Research Group, and John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment America, who want to install water filters at all New York schools.

October 27, 2025- Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, makes the case for expanding the role pharmacists play in New York's health care system, including prescribing abortion medication. She also weighs in on the upcoming state budget battles and medicinal psilocybin uses.

October 24, 2025- In order to increase organ donations in the Empire State, state lawmakers want to allow close friends of a dead New Yorker to authorize an anatomical gift. We discuss this pending legislation and a new law expanding access to organ donation lists with Aisha Tator, executive director for Donate Life New York State.

October 24, 2025- Assemblyman Brian Miller, a central New York Republican, explains why he is pushing a bill directing the state to study the distractions to drivers caused by modern headlights on vehicles.

October 22, 2025- Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses his legislation allowing time spent on studies out of the classroom by college students to qualify for their work requirements to receive public assistance.

October 22, 2025- State Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat, shares an update from a roundtable she convened on improving the math education provided to New York students.

October 22, 2025- The largest algal bloom recorded in the Hudson Valley over the last four decades appeared this summer in the Hudson River, so we explore how to prevent these environmental risks in the future with Shannon Roback, science director for Riverkeeper.

October 21, 2025- Assemblymember Gabriella Romero, an Albany Democrat, makes the case for her legislation expanding the state attorney general's office's authority to take federal officials to court for violating the civil rights of New Yorkers.

October 25, 2025- North Country Republican Brent Davison discusses why he's running in a special election for the Assembly, including his concerns about one-party rule in Albany and his record of public service.

October 20, 2025- The state attorney general's office is supposed to offer a pathway for exonerating New Yorkers held behind bars for crimes they didn't commit, but reporting in New York Focus suggests the convictions review bureau hasn't lived up to its billing. We discuss the shortcomings of this initiative with investigative reporters Willow Higgins and Curtis Brodner.

October 20, 2025- Rockefeller Institute of Government Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke discusses the administration of New York's Medicaid program and how it could be improved.

October 20, 2025- In response to the Trump administration weakening federal safeguards against white-collar crime and corruption, Democrats in Albany want to make sure their state guardrails aren't undermined. We talk about updating a 2023 law promoting LLC transparency with Tom Speaker, legislative director for Reinvent Albany.

October 17, 2025- The state agency responsible for overseeing permitting in the Adirondacks has a new leader, so we explore the transition with Gwen Craig, a Capitol reporter for the Adirondack Explorer.

October 17, 2025- Assemblymember Patrick Burke, a Buffalo-area Democrat, shares insights from a recent hearing on medicinal uses of Psilocybin, which can be found in "magic mushrooms," and offers his vision for future state regulation.

October 17, 2025- Assemblymember Sarah Clark, a Rochester-area Democrat, makes the case for changing the definition of a toddler under state law to make child care more accessible in New York.

October 17, 2025- Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera, a Buffalo Democrat, discusses his legislation that would reshape the judicial districts in New York, including carving out districts for Onondaga, Erie, and Monroe counties.

October 16, 2025- Driverless cars may be the future, but when will that future arrive in New York and what will it look like? We discuss the campaign to promote and regulate autonomous vehicles with Brianna January, director of state and local government relations in the northeast for the Chamber of Progress.

October 16, 2025- New York State Higher Education Services Corporation President Guillermo Linares talks about free college applications, modernizing his office, and expanded access to financial assistance for higher education.

October 16, 2025- Rosaleen Nogle, principal sanitary engineer for Buffalo Sewer Authority, breaks down an agreement with state environmental regulators designed to reduce sewage overflows in Buffalo.

October 15, 2025- Counties are on the hook for ensuring criminal defendants are mentally fit to stand trial, with the competency restoration process being costly and time consuming. We consider reforms to the process, including changing who foots the bill, with Dr. April Aycock, director for the Office of Mental Health in Monroe County, and Laura Kelemen, director of Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Niagara County.

October 15, 2025- Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, a Queens Democrat, argues that the state government should get in the business of manufacturing and distributing generic drugs as a more affordable option for New Yorkers.

October 13, 2025- New York's prison population has declined dramatically in the last quarter of a century, but is there a point when society should be concerned that not enough people are held behind bars? We consider that balance and the staffing needs of prisons with Shawn Bushway, a professor for the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at UAlbany.

October 13, 2025- State Sen. Pat Fahy, an Albany Democrat, wants companies to share the expected lifetime of internet-enabled devices with consumers. We also get an update on her campaign to arm New Yorkers with information to repair personal devices, like smartphones and electric wheelchairs.

October 14, 2025- A state watchdog report for 2024 reaffirms past findings that prison officials are failing to implement solitary confinement reforms from 2021 and make sure mental health services are being administered. We discuss the findings, potential changes to the use of solitary confinement and much more with Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York.

October 10, 2025- Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, a Bronx Democrat. talks about her visits to the TikTok offices and shares her thoughts on regulating social media.

October 10, 2025- The union representing police officers at SUNY campuses is looking to standardize and centralize their operations, which they argue will increase efficiency and performance. Our guest is Kurt Nolan, executive director of the PBA of New York State.

October 10, 2025- In the wake of the annual judiciary hearing on improving the delivery of civil legal services in New York, we check in with Adriene Holder, chief attorney of the civil practice for The Legal Aid Society.

October 9, 2025- Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein explains how fare and toll evasion cost the New York City transit system about $1 billion in 2024 and highlight strategies to curtail bad actors in the future.

October 9, 2025- Joshua Norkin was tapped this spring to lead the New York Authorities Budget Office, an obscure agency overseeing hundreds of quasi-governmental authorities all over the state. We talk about his new role and his oversight plans.

October 9, 2025- A massive piece of property in the Adirondacks that has long been coveted by conservationist is in the process of changing hands, so there is renewed pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul to secure at least some of the land for preservation. We discuss the issue with Claudia Braymer, executive director of Protect The Adirondacks.

October 8, 2025- Raj Goyle, a former Kansas state lawmaker and co-chair of a New York City think tank, explains why he's looking to take on state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in the Democratic primary next year.

October 8, 2025- In an excerpt from Dispatches from Planet Albany, we explore how advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are hoping to wield more clout at the Capitol. Our guest is Mike Schweinsburg, president of the 504 Democratic club, which endorsed Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado's bid for governor.

October 8, 2025- It's the 200th birthday of the Erie Canal, so we're exploring how this milestone is being celebrated and what's in store for the future of the system with Rebecca Hughes, executive deputy director of the New York State Canal Corporation.

October 8, 2025- State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, weighs in on proposed rules from the state attorney general's office to implement his legislation designed to keep the most addictive features of social media away from kids.

October 7, 2025- Gov. Kathy Hochul championed $2 billion for "inflation refund" checks, but new reporting from Gothamist/WNYC Capitol reporter Jimmy Vielkind indicates that some of that money will be collected back by the federal tax man.