Shows / Dispatches from Planet Albany
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Dispatches from Planet Albany is brought to you by David Lombardo, host of WCNY's The Capitol Pressroom. The weekly conversations are a smart and funny encapsulation of the discussions reporters and sources have off the microphone at the Capitol in Albany. This inside baseball is for listeners who know the acronym ELFA, anxiously await the legislative calendar drop each December, or fondly recall the Poozer Politics podcast.
Episodes
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Marc Molinaro provides a postmortem on deadly election night for GOP
The blue wave that hit the country on election night also hit New York, delivering big wins for Democrats up and down the ballot. So what comes next for the…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Alex Bores reflects on his first year of fatherhood
Most new parents try to clear their schedule with the birth of a child, but Assemblyman Alex Bores added a congressional primary to his to-do list shortly…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Predicting the unexpected in parenting with Jen Lunsford
When it comes to parenting, you hope for the best and prepare for the rest. That's a lesson that's been hammered home for Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, who has…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Senator Cooney is living his childhood dream of being a dad
State Senator Jeremy Cooney has wanted to have a kid of his own since he was a kid. And this spring the Rochester-area Democrat became a dad with the birth of…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Turning out the many in the Hudson Valley
A grassroots progressive movement in the Hudson Valley will get a big test of their effectiveness this November. For the Many has gone all in on the effort to…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The D-A-V-E of parenting by Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins offers parenting advice for host David Lombardo, who is expecting a daughter any day now. The Westchester…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Exit interview with Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli joins the show for an exit interview. The Syracuse-area Democrat reflects on his low-turnout primary loss in June, his…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Hochul takes aim at Planet Albany's sacred cow
Gov. Kathy Hochul may be preparing for another policy battle with the state legislature. After successfully taking on the trial lawyers in 2026, the Hochul…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Rachel May pushes the establishment, while Jay Jacobs plays the inside game
Politico New York reporter Bill Mahoney joins the show to discuss two Democratic leaders with very different styles. State Sen. Rachel May is going up against…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Back to business with Raga and Dan
After a long summer apart, we've got the return of Bloomberg Government's Raga Justin and Capitol Confidential's Dan Clark. We catch up on their summer…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Super PAC to the rescue!
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman needs help making up Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul's fundraising advantage, even with his campaign tapping…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Senate GOP hope to hold the line (and grow)
Senate Republican Campaign Committee Chair George Borrello joins the show to talk about the underdog battle he's leading this fall. The western New York…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Environmental report card show state lawmakers could try harder
New York's state lawmakers have room for improvement, according to a scorecard released this summer by Environmental Advocates NY. We broke down the findings…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Pat Ryan wants a promotion. Can he get one?
Congressman Pat Ryan appears to be making all the right moves for a New York Democrat envisioning statewide office. We unpack his recent track record and…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Mike Gianaris spent a career 'seeing around corners'
Former Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris joins the show for an exit interview. We talked with the Queens Democrat about what comes next, his battle…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Ed Ra hopes to squeeze the Assembly Dems
Earlier this summer we talked with Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra for The Capitol Pressroom about settling in as the top Republican in the people's house. Left…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
A stroke can't stop Liz Krueger the 'anarchist'
State Sen. Liz Krueger is on the mend after a stroke this spring took her out of commission during the peak of the budget process. The Manhattan Democrat joins…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Shelley Mayer takes over political arm of Senate Dems
It's a changing of the guard at the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, as Sen. Shelley Mayer takes over for the retiring Sen. Mike Gianaris. We talked with…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Unions eye influence over marijuana industry
A bill approved at the end of the legislative session without any fanfare could be a major disrupter of New York's marijuana industry. We explore the story…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Into the weeds with Micah Lasher
Before Assemblyman Micah Lasher departs Planet Albany for the nation's capital, the Manhattan Democrat joined us for an exit interview. We did a deep dive into…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Musical chairs in the state Senate
Retirements, a primary defeat and other moving parts mean the leadership structure in the state Senate will be remade in 2027. Some of the big prizes that we…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
New York's political landscaping evoking memories of 2018
The shifting political landscape in New York is getting a lot of attention, but have we seen this story before? At least to some degree, with the insurgent…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Your lobbyist's favorite lobbyist
If Goldilocks was choosing a lobbying firm, she might gravitate toward Statewide Public Affairs. The 13-year-old operation isn't a household name or one of the…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The power of protest
Protests at the Capitol are taken as a given when state lawmakers are in town, but do they actually influence the agenda in Planet Albany? That's the question…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Albany through the eyes of Patrick Jenkins
Lobbyist and consultant Patrick Jenkins joins the show to discuss his work and reflect on life in Planet Albany. The Queens power broker talks about lobbying…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The shape of things to come in the Assembly
Retirements and progressive wins in the Democratic primaries are poised to shakeup the Assembly in 2027. To assess the impact of the incoming members and…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The secret of her success
Assemblymember Amy Paulin is one of the most active lawmakers at the Capitol and 2026 was no exception, with the Westchester County Democrat leading her…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
NY Dems chair on primaries, November, and his future
New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs discusses the primaries in New York City, tapping into the enthusiasm of the state's progressives, and crafting a…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The DSA's big night in New York City
The story from the Democratic primary results in the Big Apple appears to be the ascendency in the party of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The art of campaign mail
Campaign mail is still a critical tool for candidates, but only if it's done strategically and with the right messaging. To discuss what effective campaign…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Inside the strategy of Gov. Kathy Hochul
Politico New York Albany Bureau Chief Nick Reisman joins host David Lombardo to discuss insights and observations he gained from an extended one-on-one…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
2026 legislative session superlative awards
Capitol Confidential author Dan Clark, Bloomberg Government reporter Raga Justin and host David Lombardo hand out superlative awards for the 2026 legislative…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
End-of-session vibes with Shontell
Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer joins host David Lombardo to reflect on the final days of the legislative session, including what the Democratic…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Capitol odds and ends with Josh and Raga
Sometimes you record a 52-minute podcast and you end up cutting it down by 60 percent. That's what happened in this lean episode with Assemblymember Josh…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Answering the prayers of underdog primary candidates
With primary elections less than a month away, trailing candidates have limited means of shaking up their races. But what if they had a magic wand that could…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Confirmapalooza
While state lawmakers are expected to be bogged down with hundreds of bills during the final days of the legislative session, state senators will likely also…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is looking to make waves outside of Western New York. The Buffalo Democrat launched a political action committee this year…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
NY WFP on comptroller's race, legislative primaries, and the senate's number two
We're diving back into the world of New York's liberal third party. New York Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper joins the show to explain why…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The (LCA) show must go on!
With the 124th Legislative Correspondents' Association Show fast approaching, host David Lombardo and recovering journalist Liz Benjamin discusss whether the…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Friends, frenemies and enemies in New York politics
New York politics is littered with marriages of convenience. Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have enjoyed an unlikely - but mutually…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The legislature's airing of budget grievances
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a general agreement on the budget on Thursday morning, but Democratic state lawmakers are calling foul, arguing that major…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
More transparency considered for Planet Albany lobbying
The intentions of organizations and individuals looking to influence state government could become clearer in the future. Pending legislation would require…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Getting to 'yes' on the state budget
Finalizing a state budget requires varying degrees of compromise from the governor and legislature. But knowing when and where you have to give and when your…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Hochul budget strategy relies on time and special interest attacks
The state budget is three weeks late and a deal does not appear imminent. Eventually all the pieces for a final budget will fall into place - seemingly all at…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The uphill battle of going red to blue in rural New York
The race for an open Assembly seat in Trump Country is getting an unusual amount of coverage because Republican Marc Molinaro has chosen to mount his political…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Election Law 101: Ballot objections
Now that campaign signatures have been collected and submitted for ballot access, we're entering the phase of the election calendar in New York when candidates…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Could Tom DiNapoli lose the Democratic primary?
The general consensus is tha state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic nominee in November, when he seeks a fifth full…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Planet Albany Power Rankings revisited and budget timing accountability
Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer responds to last week's Planet Albany Power Ranking discussion by explaining the ebb and flow of power at the Capitol…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The Planet Albany Power Rankings
Who are the five most powerful people in Planet Albany? That's the question for this episode, as host David Lombardo, Bloomberg Government Capitol reporter…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Former assemblyman eyes Capitol comeback 15 years after departure
After following a traditional career trajectory for three decades, Marc Molinaro is mixing things up this year as he looks to return to the state Assembly, a…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
One battle after another for the Blakeman campaign
In the best of circumstances, a Republican bid to be governor of New York is going to be a longshot. And the landscape has been less than ideal for the first…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Assemblyman Al Stirpe unpacks budget contention and process
Assemblyman Al Stirpe, a Syracuse-area Democrat, provides a reality check on budget negotiations and considers how the points of contention might play out in…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Hochul's communications director talks strategy
Anthony Hogrebe is not a household name in Planet Albany, but as communications director for Gov. Kathy Hochul he plays an outsized role in shaping the…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Intersection of religion and politics for Assemblyman Sam Berger
Assemblyman Sam Berger, a Queens Democrat, visited the studio to discuss what it's like being one of a handful of Orthodox Jews in the state legislature. We…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
One-house budgets dream the impossible dream
The Democratic majorities have identified their budget priorities, but now the question is what they'll fight for during negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Polling complaints, fast talking, CLCPA rollback and legislative process
It's a grab bag episode featuring clips from the Capitol Pressroom cutting room floor and a new interview about a polling experiment. Up first, Siena Research…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Using artificial intelligence to quantify life on Planet Albany
Who is the most effective state lawmaker? Will a bill become a law? What is the impact of a piece of legislation? While denizens of Planet Albany may all have…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
The Rockefeller College path to Planet Albany
There are many ways to getting a job at the Capitol, so we wanted to explore the efficacy of a degree from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
Minority Leader (Assemblyman Ed Ra's version)
Host David Lombardo is joined by, friend of the show, Assemblyman Ed Ra to talk about his ascension to head of the Assembly GOP Conference, including how he…
- Dispatches from Planet Albany
All of the above with Marie French
In response to this winter's energy bills, Planet Albany is rife with discussion about how to give ratepayers some relief. To cut through all the rhetoric and…