The Capitol Pressroom

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.

Aug. 21, 2026- Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, a Rochester-area Democrat, explains her bill that would restrict the use of toxic chemicals in playground surface materials. We also consider why state lawmakers don't take a more holistic approach to regulating these potentially dangerous substances.

Aug, 21, 2026- The Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs has a new five-year strategic plan, which emphasizes quantitative analysis and collaborative engagement. We discuss the plan, as well as how it was crafted and parts that aren't explicitly addressed, with Maria Lisi-Murray, the organization's acting executive director.

Aug. 21, 2026- Assemblymember Steve Otis, a Westchester County Democrat, makes the case for legislation intended to speed up the timeliness of power restoration by utilities after major storms.

Aug. 19, 2026- New York State Bar Association President Taa Grays discusses the intersection between the practice of law and artificial intelligence. We consider how to regulate the technology and how it can improve legal activity.

Aug. 18, 2026 - Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia, a Bronx Democrat, explains why she wants to stop state-chartered banks from charging ATM fees to New Yorkers trying to access government assistance money.

Aug. 18, 2026- Assemblymember Pat Burke, a Buffalo-area Democrat, makes the case for giving municipalities a check on state economic development officials looking to give away local tax breaks. We also consider shifting the incentives for local economic development agencies.

July 24, 2026 - Public Service Commission CEO and Chair Rory Christian visits the studio to explain how financial penalties are used to incentivize better customer service by New York's utility operators. We also discuss the state utility regulator's role in developing future nuclear power and data center projects.

July 24, 2026 - After decades of stagnant housing subsidies for low-income New Yorkers, the Hochul administration is being taken to court to boost the shelter allowance offerings. We discuss the case and potential remedy with Susan Antos, managing attorney for the benefits practice group at the Empire Justice Center.

July 24, 2026 - One of the country's largest student loan servicers has been playing hard to get with state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who has been trying for more than six months to get answers about their operations. We talk with the Brooklyn Democrat about his interest in their operations and why he thinks more oversight of this multi-billion dollar industry is warranted.

July 23, 2026 - State lawmakers overwhelmingly backed legislation signing the state up with a multi-state compact allowing psychologists and their patients to work together across borders. We consider the merits of the initiative with Dr. Francis Lee, chair of the psychiatry department at Weill Cornell Medicine.

July 23, 2026 - Assemblyman Phil Steck, a capital region Democrat, makes the case for legislation requiring social media companies to respond to search warrants in a timely fashion.

July 23, 2026 - Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, a Long Island Democrat, talks about his first term in office, including how it compared with his expectations, staying present in the district, and approaching the work with soft eyes.

July 23, 2026 - A concurrent opinion in a case before the state's top court, which was asked to weigh in on New York's "Equal Rights Amendment," sheds new light on how the anti-discrimination language might be utilized in the future. We discuss the issue with legal observer Rob Rosborough.

July 22, 2026 - Politico New York reporter Marie French unpacks Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to pause state permitting of large data centers for a year.

July 22, 2026 - We discuss an audit of the state's services for survivors of domestic violence with Kelli Owens, executive director at the State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

July 22, 2026 - Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, a Long Island Democrat, makes the case for ensuring New Yorkers under the care of a guardian can be visited by family members.

July 22, 2026 - Democrat Dan Norton discusses his bid for an open Assembly seat in the Southern Tier. He talks about why he's running and makes the case for local zoning changes.