The Capitol Pressroom

Feb. 26, 2026- Miguel Velázquez, CEO of Regional Transit Service and president of New York Public Transit Association, makes the case for a recurring $25 charge on drivers to fund public transit systems outside of New York City, which are in need of dedicated operating funds to improve services.

Feb. 26, 2026- We explore some of the health care proposals in the governor's budget and consider how the state might spend unanticipated federal dollars. Our guest is Paul Francis, chair of the Step Two Policy Project.

Feb. 25, 2026- State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham addresses marijuana and sports gambling addictions, explains how the state wants to treat New Yorkers with co-occurring disorders, and responds to concerns about the speed of spending funds secured from opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Feb. 25, 2026- A report from the New York Independent System Operator explored what is driving the cost of wholesale electricity prices in New York. We discussed what they found and what it means for ratepayers with Kevin Lanahan, senior vice president for corporate communications and external affairs for the organization.

Feb. 24, 2026- New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli shares his concerns about the governor's budget proposal, including long-term deficits and restrictions on his oversight.

Feb. 24, 2026- New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon joins the show to talk about cutting red tape, spending on child care subsidies, and expanding an AI tool on the department's website.

Feb. 24, 2026- The governor's budget creates new penalties and higher registration fees for lobbyists, but that revenue isn't going to the New York's ethics watchdog, which is facing a funding cut. We discuss these proposals with Sandy Berland, executive director of the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.

Feb. 24, 2026- We try to make sense of the fallout from the Trump administration rolling back federal rules and regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. Our guest is Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, who also talks about state regulations governing expanded wetland maps.

Feb. 23, 2026- New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Lauri Cole talks about prompt payments for her members, curtailing the role of insurance companies, and cutting red tape.

Feb. 23, 2026- We highlight the consumer protections available to New Yorkers who pay for a tax preparer. Our guest is Sara Carlson, director of community engagement for the State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Feb. 23, 2026- New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen talks about what the governor's budget proposal means for seniors, including funding to implement the master plan on aging and ensure oversight of long-term care facilities.

Feb. 23, 2026- We dive into the opaque and inconsistent world of discipline by the state police. Our guest is Sammy Sussman, an investigative journalist, who examined a decade's worth of records to shine a light on this important issue.

Feb. 20, 2026- Despite pledges of increased transparency by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a new report from Reinvent Albany found that executive agencies have a lot of room for improvement in responding to records requests under the Freedom of Information Law. We discuss the findings and the opaque state senate confirmation voting process with Rachael Fauss, a senior policy advisor for the good government gr...

Feb. 20, 2026- Kevin Bolan, a physician assistant practicing in the Adirondacks and legislative chair for the New York State Society of PAs, makes the case for the governor's plan to let physician assistants work with less oversight.

Feb. 20, 2026 - After years of adding to a patchwork system of licensed financial services, state lawmakers took steps in 2025 to ensure New York's financial regulators have tools to go after unlicensed operators. We discuss this landscape and how it evolved with Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.

Feb. 20, 2026 - In this excerpt from Dispatches from Planet Albany, New York Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper explains why the liberal third party did not back a primary challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Feb. 19, 2026- Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing to eliminate $230,000 in state funds for programs that help vulnerable New Yorkers living in adult homes advocate for better living conditions. We talked with representatives from the Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled and the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, plus peer advocate and former adult home resident Deborah Hunter.

Feb. 19, 2026- Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer makes the case for amending the state Constitution to allow for the redevelopment of three shuttered prisons in upstate New York.

Feb. 19, 2026- State Sen. Jake Ashby, a Capital Region Republican, discusses his legislation that would limit local law enforcement's collaboration with ICE agents and discusses the politicization of immigration issues.

Feb. 19, 2026- We explore legislation that would prohibit certain food additives and promote greater disclosure of what's in the food consumed by New Yorkers. We talk about the bill and the approach of state regulators with Jensen Jose, regulatory counsel for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Feb. 18, 2026- We explore the pathway to a gubernatorial upset for Republicans in New York, digest the news that Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is dropping his bid for governor, and consider the leadership change for the Assembly Republicans. Our guest is Nick Reisman, Albany bureau chief for Politico New York.

Feb. 18, 2026- Immediately after the New York Democrat's state convention in Syracuse we checked in with State Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat and member of the Democratic National Committee. We talked about next steps for the state party and the path to victory for Democrats in November.

Feb. 18, 2026- The Children's Agenda Senior Policy Analyst Shannon Mullin discusses the limited access to pre-kindergarten outside of New York City and considers what has been proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase availability.

Feb. 18, 2026- We consider the best way to implement a new personal finance education mandate from the state Board of Regents. Our guest is Next Gen Personal Finance Director of Educational Outreach Yanely Espinal, who calls for a standalone instruction on financial literacy.

Feb. 16, 2026 - After the New York Democratic Party Convention wrapped up in Syracuse earlier this month, we sat down with state party Chair Jay Jacobs to discuss the Democrat's next steps and whether he thought he would be in this role after a public disagreement with Gov. Kathy Hochul