All Episodes
Dispatches from Planet Albany — 178 episodes
The shape of things to come in the Assembly
The secret of her success
NY Dems chair on primaries, November, and his future
The DSA's big night in New York City
The art of campaign mail
Inside the strategy of Gov. Kathy Hochul
2026 legislative session superlative awards
End-of-session vibes with Shontell
Capitol odds and ends with Josh and Raga
Answering the prayers of underdog primary candidates
Confirmapalooza
Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
NY WFP on comptroller's race, legislative primaries, and the senate's number two
The (LCA) show must go on!
Friends, frenemies and enemies in New York politics
The legislature's airing of budget grievances
More transparency considered for Planet Albany lobbying
Getting to 'yes' on the state budget
Hochul budget strategy relies on time and special interest attacks
The uphill battle of going red to blue in rural New York
Election Law 101: Ballot objections
Could Tom DiNapoli lose the Democratic primary?
Planet Albany Power Rankings revisited and budget timing accountability
The Planet Albany Power Rankings
Former assemblyman eyes Capitol comeback 15 years after departure
One battle after another for the Blakeman campaign
Assemblyman Al Stirpe unpacks budget contention and process
Hochul's communications director talks strategy
Intersection of religion and politics for Assemblyman Sam Berger
One-house budgets dream the impossible dream
Polling complaints, fast talking, CLCPA rollback and legislative process
Using artificial intelligence to quantify life on Planet Albany
The Rockefeller College path to Planet Albany
Minority Leader (Assemblyman Ed Ra's version)
All of the above with Marie French
WFP navigates governor's race and leadership change
NYC landlords find compelling messenger on social media
Surprise retirement shakes up Senate Democratic leadership
The path to (some) new congressional lines
Hochul's new running mate, endorsement, and Brooklyn feud
Are Hochul and Mamdani on a collision course?
Getting to know Assemblyman Brian Cunningham
Handicapping the odds of Blakeman's LG choice
Handicapping the odds of Hochul's LG choice
What you might have missed in the executive budget
No new taxes? No problem
About that recreational marijuana rollout in New York....
Drafting Lawmakers for the 2026 Fantasy League
How do you judge an effective state lawmaker?
Predictions and hopes for the 2026 session in Albany
The 2025 stories that could linger into 2026
The storylines we can't quit from 2025 (and a new game)!
Former budget butcher explains how the fiscal sausage is made
BONUS: Elise Stefanik suspends bid for governor
Senate Dems look to go on the offensive in Hudson Valley
122 bills on the governor's desk
Bruce Blakeman emerges as GOP gubernatorial alternative
Broome County GOP chair sees strong bench as path to victory in blue New York
The evolving gambling landscape in New York
Could Elise Stefanik be leading the race for governor?
Debunking Albany conspiracies and handicapping Hochul's LG field
A new chapter for former LG Brian Benjamin
Won't somebody think of the businesses?!?!?
A letter to New York Democrats
Navigating Planet Albany with Zohran's Bronx Assembly ally
Rep. Elise Stefanik officially jumps in
An election post-mortem for NY Democrats
LG Antonio Delgado's vision for the NY Dems
And then there were three casino projects
Hochul struggles to connect with Mamdani's base
Buying and selling Andrew Gounardes, treatment courts, and affordability
NY Health Act advocates hope federal chaos aids their cause in 2026
Former Kansas Democrat sets his sights on DiNapoli
Disability advocates look to flex political muscle in Albany
Construction Update: Work is underway at the Capitol complex
The growing case against Hochul's 'inflation refund' checks
Herding cats in the Assembly takes a responsible nerd
Zohran puts live-event ticket regulations back in the spotlight
100 dispatches from Planet Albany!
Mr. Jones and me look into the past
Lobbyists prepare for 2026 legislative session
NYC mayor's race thrusts sex work debate into spotlight
They don't make 'em like Danny Donohue anymore
Four years of Kathy Hochul
Planet Albany journalist joins the dark side
Longshot comptroller candidate calls 'bullshit' on status quo
Kathy Hochul goes on the PR offensive
Good government groups sidelined in NY redistricting dialogue
New York Dems prepare for redistricting battle
Political campaigns look to harness artificial intelligence
Shontell reflects on the Cuomo mayoral primary campaign - Part 2
Shontell reflects on the Cuomo mayoral primary campaign - Part 1
A western NY perspective on Zohran Mamdani's meteoric rise
Radical transparency and progressive politics at core of new polling firm
Where does the NYC DSA go from here?
The uphill battle of lobbying for kids and families
Assembly Republicans have joined the drafting!!!
The 1st Annual Dispatches Awards!
In the Albany lobbying trenches with Shontell Smith
Antonio Delgado's path to the executive mansion - Part 2
Antonio Delgado's path to the executive mansion - Part 1
Navigating the chaos of the cannabis industry
Beating the end of session blahs with Ken Zebrowski
Drafting political movies
The budget goes out with a whimper
How "Medical Aid in Dying" got an Assembly vote
Where's the budget?
Contenders, pretenders, and ascenders in the GOP gubernatorial field
Shontell's revenge
We're drafting again!!!
So you've died and gone to budget purgatory
Skoufis on failed DNC bid, 2026, and New York Dems
Held for consideration
100% chance we're talking election betting
The politics of the prison strike
So you're telling me there's a chance
Delgado splits from Hochul
Fantasy Lawmaker Draft
It's Caucus Weekend in Albany
Is the gravitational pull of Planet Albany weakening?
NYC polling and election calendar maneuvering
Not much energy in environmental conservation at the Capitol
Shontell's how-to guide to being a lobbyist and digesting the budget
A uniquely Hochul state of the state
Assembly Dems identify committee chairs and some 2025 priorities
Shontell is back and better than ever
A redder shade of blue in New York
Democrats (and Hochul) look to get their groove back in New York
So what if Governor Hochul has bad poll numbers?
Legislating 101: A Senate Democrat's freshman experience
New York's boring primary results
Legislating 101: The end-of-session sausage making
Legislating 101: A Manhattan Democrat's freshman experience
Legislating 101: Social media regulations for minors
Making cents of New York's financial plan
LIVE from Planet Albany 3.0
In the weeds at OCM
Green agenda faces uphill battle in 2024
It's a Dispatches potluck episode!
The recipe for a budget COLA
A cyberattack and budget framework at the Capitol
No pets or budget deals at the Capitol
NY Dems hope to regain ground with Asian American voters
Education 2024: The good, the bad, and shifting alliances
Brother, can you spare a matching contribution?
One-house budgets take center stage in kabuki theater
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
Housing 2024: Let's make a deal
Redistricting 2024: No Democrat left behind
New York's marijuana marketplace 'disaster'
New York's costly (and behind schedule) green future
LIVE from Planet Albany 2.0
Not your typical bill signing
Hochul's 'common sense' budget
The state of the state is...
Gaveling in on Planet Albany
Searching for meaning in the 2023 elections
Justice for All: Unfinished business
Justice for All: A new sheriff in Albany
Justice for All: A cycle of abuse and neglect
Trailer: Justice for All
A postmortem on the 2023 legislative session
Another swing and miss on housing policy
LIVE from Planet Albany
Suburban Democrats flexing their muscles at the Capitol
MIA: Antonio Delgado and legislative ambition
Democrats divided on influx of asylum seekers
Harsh vibes from New York's marijuana rollout
Who is calling the shots?
The future of the New York Working Families Party
Legislature grapples with how to address sexual misconduct in its ranks
State's top court poised for shakeup
One-party rule, but competing voices on public safety in Albany
What it takes to win
Budget theater begins final act
And then there were three budget proposals
No clear center of gravity at the Capitol
Introducing Dispatches from Planet Albany