The Capitol Pressroom

March 27, 2026- In 2022, Democratic state policymakers rushed through a gun control law following the mass shooting in Buffalo. Now the state is having to walk back a part of the law requiring the disclosure of social media accounts to apply for a concealed carry permit. We discuss the problems with this defunct initiative with Adam Scott Wandt, an associate professor of public policy at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

March 27, 2026- Following a failed attempt to use a drone to deliver prison contraband, we explore what items are forbidden in prisons and the efforts to keep them out. Our guest is Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York.

March 26, 2026- We explore what the Empire State is doing this year to commemorate the founding of America with David Frank, assistant commissioner at the State Education Department, which co-leads the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission.

March 26, 2026- Empire State Association of Assisted Living Executive Director Lisa Newcomb makes the case for increased state funding to help cover the cost of specialized care for New Yorkers with Alzheimer's.

March 26, 2026- We examine the logistical, fiscal and regulatory burdens preventing  vacant commercial properties upstate from being converted into housing. Our guest is Jeff Buell, the principal with Sequence Development.

March 25, 2026- New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels makes the case for extending mayoral control of public schools in the Big Apple. He discusses accountability measures, input from stakeholders and compromises with state lawmakers.

March 25, 2026- We examine the implementation of New York's "Green Amendment," which has been narrowly interpreted in court rulings since 2002. Our guest is Thomas Berkman, a partner at Hodgson Russ and former general counsel for the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

March 25, 2026- We explore the availability of high-speed, affordable internet in New York and consider increasing the state's oversight of internet providers. We speak with Becca Miller, director of the Legislative and Political Department at the Communications Workers of America District 1.

March 24, 2026- In light of the Trump administration's inquiry into New York's Medicaid program, we consider the existing oversight of the program and the potential for more efficient spending. Our guest is Carlos Cuevas, founder of Safety-Net Health Advisors and former senior policy advisor to the New York State Medicaid Director.

March 24, 2026- We explore the shortage of engineers in New York and the potential of liability reforms for engineering work done as part of disaster relief. Our guest is John Evers, president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York.

March 24, 2026- Earthjustice New York Policy Advocate Liz Moran discusses Gov. Kathy Hochul's potential rollbacks of the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and argues the changes won't prevent energy cost increases.

March 23, 2026- We highlight the struggle to access supervised visitation in New York and consider how a well funded state system could keep families together. Our guest is Sheila Schwanekamp, a member of the New York State Coalition for Supervised Visitation.

March 23, 2026- State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, a Long Island Republican, discusses an ethics complaint against New York's chief judge, who commented on the type of judges voters should elect.

March 23, 2026- We explore the health of New York's nursing homes and how they could be strengthened with Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of New York State Health Facilities Association and New York State Center for Assisted Living.

March 23, 2026- Home Care Association of New York State President and CEO Al Cardillo makes the case for thinking more holistically about home care in the health care system and identifies policies and funding to boost the industry.

March 20, 2026- We're joined in the studio by New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James to talk about recruitment efforts, their relationship with federal immigration officials, curbing auto insurance fraud, and takeaways from a leadership scandal.

March 20, 2026- Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, a Rochester-area Democrat, shares concerns with statutory changes proposed in Gov. Kathy Hochul's plans to lower car insurance rates.

March 19, 2026- For decades the personal allowance afforded to New Yorkers on Medicaid in nursing homes has been stagnant. We consider the argument for increasing the available spending cash with Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition.

March 19, 2026- New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas makes the case for scaling back environmental protections to promote housing growth and provides an update on a housing voucher pilot program.

March 19, 2026- National Grid Ventures U.S. President Will Hazelip looks to build support for overhauling power plants that are decades old. We discuss the regulatory landscape and living within the state's green energy goals.

March 19, 2026- We assess plans to reduce energy prices and Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign to roll back New York's green energy goals with Marie French, energy and environment reporter for Politico New York.

March 18, 2026- In part two of our conversation with Sports Betting Alliance President and CEO Joe Maloney we discuss betting restrictions on New York collegiate sports and regulations on push notifications through smartphones.

March 18, 2026- A report from the watchdog Available to All highlights the de facto segregation in New York's schools and the policies that contribute to the division. We explore potential policy responses with Tim DeRoche, the group's president.

March 18, 2026- Assembly Task Force on Women's Issues Chair Jessica González-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, discusses budget priorities for the task force, including increased investment in food assistance for new mothers and support for reproductive healthcare.

March 18, 2026- State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Hudson Valley Democrat and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, make the case for legislation creating criminal penalties for company executives whose decisions contribute to property damage or serious injuries.

March 17, 2026- In part one of our conversation with Sports Betting Alliance President and CEO Joe Maloney he makes the case for the adoption of online casino gambling in New York and discusses the sports gambling disruption of prediction markets.

March 17, 2026- Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, discusses efforts to boost access to primary care in order to save money and improve health outcomes.

March 17, 2026- State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for increasing taxes and limiting tax deductions in the state budget in order to increase spending on programs like child care and the social safety net.

March 16, 2026- We talk with professional genealogist Alec Ferretti about the challenge of accessing records maintained by state health officials and consider accessibility improvements.

March 16, 2026- Gov. Kathy Hochul is moving forward with efforts to develop new nuclear power projects, but what will that rollout look like and how long could it take? We try to answer these questions with the help of Ekin Senlet and Paul Powers, who are part of the nuclear team formed by Barclay Damon.

March 13, 2026- State Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat, discusses funding for schools, access to pre-k, immigration reform, and the future of the Senate Democratic leadership.

March 13, 2026- Mental Health Association in New York State CEO Glenn Liebman makes the case for investing in a statewide expansion of teen mental health first aid training.

March 13, 2026- We sit down with Zoe Jacobs, who is tasked with leading Gov. Kathy Hochul's effort to cut red tape in state government. The campaign is currently soliciting input from the public.

March 13, 2026- We get to know Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, the state's chief AI officer. We discuss her background, coordinating with state agencies and opportunities to use artificial intelligence.

March 12, 2026- New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley highlights common consumer complaints received by his department's division of consumer protection and identifies steps being taken to address bad actors.

March 12, 2026- State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, shares insights from a recent hearing he led on white-collar crime in New York and offers up potential policy responses. He also foreshadows a deeper investigation into student loan services.

March 12, 2026- State Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat, talks about chronic absenteeism, which has become a big problem following the pandemic, and lays out a legislative response.

March 11, 2026- We talk about regulating utilities, providing energy relief to ratepayers and the future of New York's statutory emission reduction goals with Brian Welsch, a vice president at National Fuel, a gas-only utility serving western New York.

March 11, 2026- A 2022 state law designed to prevent the dilution of racial and ethnic minorities in election districts is starting to have real consequences, as municipalities are changing their approach to elections as the result of lawsuits. We talk about the underlying law and the changes its bringing with David Imamura, an attorney promoting the implementation of the measure.

March 11, 2026 - Capitol Confidential author Dan Clark assesses some of the budget priorities of the legislative majorities, including their commitment to raising taxes.

March 10, 2026- A board controlling funds for civil legal services is being undermined by Gov. Kathy Hochul. We discuss the holdup and what it could mean for low-income families with Kristin Brown, president and CEO of the Empire Justice Center.

March 10, 2026- We dive into Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to address car insurance costs, including utilizing the state's excess profit law, with the help of Kaitlin Asrow, acting superintendent for the state Department of Financial Services.

March 10, 2026- New York Charter Schools Association CEO Anna Hall provides an explainer on the role public charter schools play in the Empire State and makes the case for updating how the state funds their operations.

March 9, 2026- We learn about the role community schools play in integrating a variety of services into academic settings. Our guest is Kelly Sperduto, director community schools for the Greece Central School District.

March 9, 2026- The acting head of the state Office of Cannabis Management, John Kagia, talks about his short-term goals and addresses the new seed-to-sale tracking system and the struggling medical marijuana landscape.

March 9, 2026- We chat about the lack of wheelchair accessible rides provided by services like Uber and Lyft. Our guests are Justin Wood and Eman Rimawi-Doster, from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

March 6, 2026 - Agudath Israel of America Director of New York Government Relations Yeruchim Silber speaks out against efforts to change how parents of kids with disabilities in private school access special services.

March 6, 2026 - We examine the Hochul administration's effort to regulate the "buy now, pay later" industry with Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.

March 6, 2026 - Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett, a Hudson Valley Democrat and Assemblymember John McDonald, a Capital Region Democrat, share a plan for lowering energy costs and consider whether the state's emission goals need to be relaxed.

March 5, 2026- Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, talks about the prison landscape a year after an illegal strike rocked the system and continues to have ramifications for people living and working in correction facilities.

March 5, 2026- Assemblymember Emérita Torres, a Bronx Democrat, makes the case for prohibiting companies from setting online prices based on a shopper's personal data and wants to require disclosure for other forms of automated pricing.