Claim OwnershipDispatches from Planet Albany
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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.
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.
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Nearly five years since the legalization of marijuana in New York and the effort to standup a recreational marketplace is still facing challenges. To discuss some of the recent headaches, including leadership turnover at the state's marijuana regulator, and some ideas for addressing the illegal products ending up on shelves in New York, we spoke with Herb Barbot, the former director of operations at the state Office of Cannabis Management and now the chair of the Empire State Green Standard Alliance. Then we have another episode of "Know Your Politicos," with an internal Marathon Strategies competition between Matt Hamilton and Liz Benjamin. And don't forget to assemble your state lawmakers for the 2026 Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League. Make your selections by 5 pm on Jan. 16 and follow along to see who is the all-knowing expert on the legislative process.
To commemorate the Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League for 2026, we held a live draft in the Capitol. Host David Lombardo was joined by Assemblyman Josh Jensen, a Rochester-area Republican, and Bloomberg Government Capitol reporter Raga Justin to assemble a roster of six state lawmakers. They explained their preparation strategy, revealed some of the names at the Capitol they can't pronounce, and responded to some of the team names that were selected for the league. (SPOILER: Some are great.) And don't forget to assemble your state lawmakers for the 2026 Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League. Make your selections by 5 pm on Jan. 16 and follow along to see who is the all-knowing expert on the legislative process.
Since 2017, The Center for Effective Lawmaking has been trying to gauge the effectiveness of state and federal legislators. And they recently turned their analytical skills to the New York state lawmakers from the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. We broke down their report with the help of Craig Volden, the organization's co-director and a professor with Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy at the University of Virginia. He explained how they calculate their scores, addresses the challenges of quantifying effectiveness, and considers how the analysis could be improved in the future. And don't forget to assemble your state lawmakers for the 2026 Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League. Make your selections by 5 pm on Jan. 16 and follow along to see who is the all-knowing expert on the legislative process.
In advance of the legislative session, host David Lombardo and Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Plummer are making some predictions for the year ahead and putting out into the world their hopes and dreams for life in Planet Albany. They discuss the timing of the budget, the potential for increasing taxes, funding for child care, overhauling alcohol laws and the possibility of seeing dogs at the Capitol. And don't forget to assemble your state lawmakers for the 2026 Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League. Make your selections by 5 pm on Jan. 16 and follow along to see who is the all-knowing expert on the legislative process.
For the final episode of 2025, host David Lombardo talks with Politico New York Albany Bureau Chief Nick Reisman about some of the stories from the last 12 months that will likely reverberate in 2026 and the events that New Yorkers will probably not remember. They chat about the fallout from the prison strikes, the election law changes that never materialized, restrictions on smartphones in schools and Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature inflation refund checks. And if this type of insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
Before we say goodbye to 2025, we want to remember some of the narratives and events that captivated us (for good or bad) during the year. For this trip down memory lane, host David Lombardo is joined by Capitol Confidential author Dan Clark and Bloomberg Industry Capitol reporter Raga Justin. They discuss cursing from politicians, the election law changes that never happened, turnover at the Capitol, and the survival skills of Jay Jacobs. We also had the inaugural run of our "Know your Politicos," where we test the ability of guests to recognize voices from Planet Albany. And if this type of insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
Former state Budget Director Bob Megna, now the president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, joins the show to explain how the Hochul administration is navigating lost federal funding. We discuss the wiggle room in the state's spending plan, the potential for cutting agency red tape, and how serioulsy to take projected holes from the Division of Budget. He also sheds some light on behind-the-scenes discussions about child care funding and the delivery of health care in the Empire State. And if this type of insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik suspended her short-lived bid for governor on Friday afternoon, so we're breaking down her anouncement and the ramifications of the decision, including what this means for the Republican gubernatorial landscape. Our guest is Chapin Fay, a Republican strategist and founder of Lighthouse Public Affairs. And if this type of insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
On paper, a Hudson Valley Senate District that includes the communities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Beacon would seem made for a Democratic representative, but since redistricting it has been occupied by Republican Rob Rolison. In 2026, Poughkeepsie City Councilman Evan Menist is hoping to flip control of the seat by riding a blue wave and talking about affordability until he is blue in the face. The former senate staffer joined the show to discuss his campaign and explain why this purple seat has eluded Democrats so far. And if this type of insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
It's the season of giving: Giving somewhat controversial bills to the governor for her signature, veto, or the promise of future amendments. There are 122 bills awaiting action by Gov. Kathy Hochul (at the time of the podcast recording), so we're reflecting on the process of delivering bills at the end of the year and unpacking some of the pending legislation with the help of Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter. And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's flirtation with a run for governor became official this week, as he announced his bid to be the GOP nominee to take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026. We explored his path to a primary victory and an upset in November with Michael Dawidziak, a Long Island-based Republican strategist. We talked about Blakeman's resume, the possibility of strategic voting by GOP primary participants, and the role of President Donald Trump in picking his party's nominee. And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
While Democrats were making inroads all over New York in November, they were turned back in the race for mayor of Binghamton, where the GOP incumbent secured re-election despite a major enrollment disadvantage. This got us interested in the larger Broome County Republican apparatus, so we're checking in with their 31-year-old chair, Benji Federman. We talk about his pathway into political leadership, why he supports Rep. Elise Stefanik's gubernatorial bid, and how he thinks Republicans can rebuild their presence in the state legislature. And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
After years of anticipation, plus some twists and turns along the way, there is clarity about the future casino landscape in the New York City area. We broke down the significance of the state siting board's decision with Bennett Liebman, one of the architect's of the 2013 law that paved the way to the proliferation of casino licenses in New York. We consider what to expect with these projects, like when they'll start asking for tax breaks, and take a broader look at New York's gambling operators. And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
The race for governor of New York won't be decided for another eleven months, but a snapshot of the contest from the fall by a conservative think tank suggests the election is winnable for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. We unpack the findings, including Gov. Kathy Hochul's underwhelming performance in New York City, and the poll's methodology with Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, where his duties include polling. And if this discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our limited-time offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12x9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.
Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Smith Plummer is back on the podcast after a lengthy absence to discuss whether a leak from the Hochul administration was accidentally done on purpose, the possibility of tax increases in next year's state budget, and whether Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol are going to veer to the left because of possible primaries. We also talk about who the governor might tap to be her running mate in 2026 and whether any of the contenders need to try less. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
In 2022, corruption charges blew up the career trajectory for then-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. More than three years later, with the case dropped by federal prosecutors, the Harlem Democrat has a new life and a new perspective on the legal system and his life's journey. Benjamin visited the studio to reflect on the allegations of bribery from his time in the state senate, consider the role of the governor's number two and what makes a good lieutenant governor, and share his plans for the future. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
A recent report from the Business Council of New York State made the case that employers in the Empire State don't feel like they're being heard by state policymakers. Putting aside that every interest group feels like this, it's undeniable that business interests do play a lot of defense during the legislative session in Albany. To discuss the lobbying efforts of the business community we sat down with former Democratic Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, who is now a lobbyist with Brown & Weinraub. And for Working Rules we explored the relationship between New York governors and the State Education Department with Patrick Mannion, an upstate representative of the state Board of Regents. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
What does it mean to be a Democrat? That's the question being posed to the party faithful in New York by Matt Castelli, who is best known in the Empire State for his 2022 congressional shellacking at the hands of Rep. Elise Stefanik. The former CIA operative has regrouped in Dutchess County, where there is speculation about a 2027 run for county executive, and is hoping to rebuild his party's brand in New York with input from the county committees. Castelli joined the show to make the case that Democrats have to stand for more than a resistance to President Donald Trump, discussed his political future, and offered some messaging tips for candidates from his party. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has a short list of accomplishments in Albany during his time in the Assembly, but his plans for the Big Apple will require him to be successful at the state's Capitol. We talked about that path to success with Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, a Bronx Democrat, who has been described as part of Mamdani's "brain trust." We consider what he'll prioritize for Albany in 2026, how she can be helpful to his agenda, and what the relationship between the mayor and governor could look like next year. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
After months of flirting with a gubernatorial run, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik jumped into the race in November. We discuss the North Country Republican's longshot path to the Executive Mansion in Albany with Chapin Fay, a veteran GOP strategist and founder of Lighthouse Public Affairs. We talk about the importance of New York City for Stefanik in a general election, consider the ramifications of a GOP primary, and debate whether President Donald Trump or NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will be more problematic for their respective parties in the race for governor.
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