The Capitol Pressroom

April 16, 2026- Mamaroneck High School Students Max Dowell and Mark Lebowitz make the case for an amendment to the state constitution that would make primary voting open to New Yorkers who turn 18 between the primary and general elections.

April 16, 2026- State Sen. Chris Ryan, a Syracuse-area Democrat, wants to delay state rules limiting access to chemicals that are integral for existing cooling systems, but are major greenhouse gas contributors. His legislation was align New York's restrictions with federal guidelines.

April 16, 2026- Times Union Investigative Reporter Ezra Bitterman explains why the developers of clean energy projects are looking for additional funding from the state and how reluctance to pony up additional dollars could kill the initiative.

April 16, 2026- While Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to backtrack on the implementation of New York's greenhouse gas reduction law from 2019, a former state energy official is calling for New York policymakers to lean into this mission. We talk about implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act with Jamie Dickerson, senior director of Clean Energy and Climate Programs at Acadia Center.

April 15, 2026- We highlight funding requests for state programs designed to maximize utilization of federal anti-hunger programs. We talk about the potential return on investment with Krista Hesdorfer, director of Public Affairs at Hunger Solutions New York.

April 15, 2026- New York Solar Energy Industries Association Executive Director Noah Ginsburg talks about what the state could do to accelerate the deployment of home and community solar projects.

April 15, 2026 - Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, provides an update on state budget negotiations. He weighs in on a lobbying campaign from Uber and car insurance companies, identifies budget priorities for the Senate Democrats, and explores New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's influence in the budget process.

April 14, 2026- We get to know State Sen. Erik Bottcher, a Manhattan Democrat, who won a special election earlier this year. We discuss his policy area priorities, adjusting to life outside of the New York City Council and factoring the needs of all New Yorkers.

April 14, 2026- We explore the state budget priorities of students at New York's public colleges and universities with the help of Luca Rallis, president of the SUNY Student Assembly.

April 14, 2026- We talk with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's election attorney, Adam Fusco, about his lawsuit against the state Public Campaign Finance Board, which denied matching campaign funds to his bid for governor.

April 13, 2026 - In a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt, we explore whether any of the Democratic outsiders challenging state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in the party primary could be successful this summer. Our guest is Alex Elmasri, vice president of operations and growth for The Parkside Group.

April 13, 2026- In advance of an Albany screening of a documentary about censorship we talk with state Librarian Lauren Moore about efforts to ensure a diverse collection of thoughts and values on the shelves of New York libraries.

April 13, 2026- Just a few years after expanding health insurance coverage for Medicaid patients with cancer to include biomarker screenings, Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to limit access to the diagnostic tool. We talk about the coverage fight in the state budget negotiations with Michael Davoli, senior director of government relations in New York for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

April 10, 2026- We highlight a proposed amendment to New York's Constitution that would mandate the state take care of the mental health needs of people in the Empire State. We consider what the language would mean with James Norton, government and community affairs manager for the New York State of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

April 10, 2026- Legislation would empower the state to declare a disaster in the event of hazardous air conditions. We discuss the potential ramifications with Max Micallef, New York advocacy manager on clean air initiatives with the American Lung Association.

April 10, 2026- State Senate Consumer Protection Committee Chair Rachel May, a Syracuse Democrat, wants to empower home camera owners with informed consent about how their footage might be used. We also address a spiraling misconception about her legislation dealing with transmission lines.

April 10, 2026- A federal program providing hospitals and clinics access to discounted prescription medicines to subsidize care for low-income patients is being accused of being wasteful and opaque. We consider this critique with Bill Smith, senior fellow at the conservative Pioneer Institute.

April 9, 2026- A coalition of major business interests in the Big Apple are launching an advertising campaign opposing higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and large corporations in the state budget. We talk about the opposition with Steven Fulop, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City.

April 9, 2026- Assemblymember Paula Elaine Kay, a Hudson Valley Democrat, discusses her legislation requiring a prompt response by utilities when they're notified about downed electrical wires.

April 9, 2026- We discuss an increase in veteran suicides in New York during 2023, the latest year with available federal data. Our guest is Derek Coy, senior program officer for the New York Health Foundation.