The Capitol Pressroom

July 3, 2025 - The state's top court recently upheld the implementation of state rental regulations in Kingston, which a handful of other communities are trying to utilize. We explore the ruling and making it easier to invoke rental regulations with State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, a Manhattan Democrat.

July 3, 2025 - The medical marijuana industry in New York was launched more than a decade ago, but it has struggled to take off. State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, a Rochester Democrat, discusses the challenges facing the industry and the legislative response to the problem.

July 2, 2025 - New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Division of Criminal Justice Associate Commissioner Rabiah Gaynor talks about a recent visit to a Westchester County Jail program serving people behind bars with substance abuse and mental health conditions.

July 2, 2025 - Assemblymember Grace Lee, a Manhattan Democrat, makes the case for tax breaks designed to incentivize companies to grow or relocate to New York City, particularly in lower Manhattan.

July 2, 2025 - State lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to give restaurants and bars the flexibility to purchase wine and liquor from a retail store if they're in a pinch. We discuss the potential update to the state's alcohol laws and consider some other potential changes with Melissa Fleischut, president & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, and Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association.

July 2, 2025 - NEW Pride Agenda Executive Director Kei Williams reflects on what was included in the state budget and during the legislative session to support LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. We also talk about unfinished business for 2026.

June 30, 2025 - In the second part of our conversation with Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, the aspiring Democratic gubernatorial candidate talks about how to fund universal child care and how his approach to federal immigration policies would look different than Gov. Kathy Hochul.

June 30, 2025 - State Budget Director Blake Washington stopped by the studio to discuss the state's finances following the release of the enacted budget financial plan. We talk about the future of corporate tax rates set to expire after next year and the ambiguity of future federal support.

June 30, 2025 - Eight parties submitted applications for three New York City-area casinos, so we examine the proposals and how they'll be vetted with Jason Beeferman, a Capitol reporter with Politico New York.

June 27, 2025 - We check in with Denise Miranda, the recently confirmed commissioner for the state Division of Human Rights. We talk about her mandate to overhaul the embattled agency, consider the ramifications of anti-discrimination language added to the state constitution, and discuss improvements under way at the division.

June 27, 2025 - We discuss what the state budget does (and doesn't do) to help seniors in New York, with Adam Herbst, a former Hochul administration health official, who is now a partner at Sheppard Mullin.

June 27, 2025 - Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado shares his reaction to Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's upset victory in the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City and outlines some of the policies he would enact as governor. (We'll have more of the conversation next week.)

June 25, 2025 - Among the challenges facing New Yorkers reentering communities after life behind bars is access to medical services, especially chronic conditions that this vulnerable population is more likely to suffer from. We explore how to ensure a continuum of care after leaving prison and discuss the state of medical services behind bars with Megan French-Marcelin, senior director of New York State policy at the Legal Action Center.

June 24, 2025 - Democratic state lawmakers pushed through a package of prison reforms in the waning days of the legislative session in June, but their proposals fell short of what progressive reformers were hoping for. We consider the scope of the proposed changes with Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York.

June 24, 2025 - Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, discusses his legislation putting guardrails on cutting-edge artificial intelligence research and explains how the measure was curtailed during the amendment process. He also talks about unfinished business from the legislative session, weighs in on the movie Mountainhead, and considers the status of Empire AI.

June 23, 2025 - State lawmakers have taken incremental steps to regulate "lawsuit lending," but the latest legislation abandons earlier protections that had been proposed, according to Tom Stebbins, executive director of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York.

June 23, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to spend $1 million to identify sustainable revenue sources that could fund universal child care. We discuss the potential funding sources, as well as the cost of universal care, with Pete Nabozny, director of policy at The Children's Agenda and the lead author of a new report on universal child care.

June 23, 2025 - The state budget included $8.5 million to help a few thousand low-income families shoulder the cost of having a new baby. We explore the benefits of unconditional cash for new families and the limitations of the state's program with Steph Silkowski, director of policy and strategic initiatives at The Bridge Project.

June 18, 2025 - Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, talks about legislative actions that could safeguard labor protections for private employees at the state level, as federal institutions abdicate their oversight role.

June 18, 2025 - The anti-discrimination language added to the state constitution is being tested in the courts, as judges challenge a forced retirement age in New York. We explore this constitutional amendment and its ramifications with attorney Evan Davis, who helped craft the protections.