The Capitol Pressroom

Jan. 7, 2026- A decade ago the state changed the way it administered Medicaid payments for behavioral health providers in order to save money and improve outcomes, but the plan hasn't worked according to providers. We consider returning to a fee-for-service model with Lauri Cole, executive director of the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Health Care.

Jan. 7, 2026 - Center for Effective Lawmaking co-Director Craig Volden discusses who were the effective state lawmakers during the legislative sessions in 2023 and 2024 in New York. This is an excerpt of a conversation for an upcoming Dispatches from Planet Albany episode.

Jan. 7, 2026- Progressive criminal justice activists are hoping this is the year that state policymakers take action to expand access to treatment courts. We discuss this diversion program with Casey Dalporto and Stephanie Bazell, senior policy attorneys with the New York County Defender Services.

Jan. 7, 2026- In advance of New York implementing a law allowing the terminally ill to legally end their lives with the help of a doctor, we check in with Medical Society of the State of New York President Dr. David Jakubowicz to explore how the program should be rolled out.

Jan. 6, 2026- Diane Eber, the executive director of the unique performing arts center at the Capitol complex, known as The Egg, discusses a major renovation of the venue and her vision for the future.

Jan 5. 2026- In the face of the Trump administration attempting to roll back Biden-era drinking water standards, environmental officials are calling on the Hochul administration to proactively backfill federal protections. We discuss the effort to increase state regulations of PFAS in drinking water with Rob Hayes, senior director of clean water at Environmental Advocates NY.

Jan. 5, 2026- Times Union Managing Editor Brendan Lyons talks about his coverage of the New York State Police and the union representing state troopers during 2025, which was a tumultuous year for both institutions.

Dec. 30, 2025- New York Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Renée St Jacques talks about the overtime threshold for farmworkers and her organization's agenda for the legislative session in 2026.

Dec. 26, 2025- In light of Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani becoming mayor of New York City in a few days, we dug into The Capitol Pressroom archives and we're dedicating the entire show to some of our past conversations. The appearances include the summer of 2020 after winning a Democratic Assembly primary, March of 2021 during his first few months at the Capitol, May 2022 when we dove into "Strange...

Dec. 24, 2025- Assemblymember Demond Meeks, a Rochester Democrat, discusses the implementation of the "Raise the Age" law in New York, including the needs to spend allocated resources.

Dec. 24, 2025- The issue of title insurance is getting increased attention in New York because of efforts to curb deed theft and changes to the state's land acquisition process. We discuss these moving parts and more with John Kenealy, a vice president for Chicago Title in their Syracuse office.

Dec. 23, 2025- Politico New York reporter Marie French discusses the significance of the recently adopted state energy plan and what it indicates about the future priorities of the Hochul administration.

Dec. 23, 2025- A new fee from the state Thruway Authority that is scheduled for 2026 is getting pushback from the commercial interests that use New York's super-highway system. We talk about the charge with Darrin Roth, vice president of highway policy with the American Trucking Associations.

Dec. 23, 2025- Jimmy Vielkind, a capitol reporter for Gothamist & WNYC, shares his experience tailing case workers deployed to 9-1-1 calls by the Albany Police Department and considers how this model could be expanded.

Dec. 23, 2025- New York State Energy Research & Development Authority President & CEO Doreen Harris explains how the state's energy plan fits with New York's green energy goals and what the future of offshore wind could look like.

Dec. 22, 2025- Rebecca Zangen, chief policy officer for the Supportive Housing Network for New York, makes the case for greater government investment into services and housing subsidies for New Yorkers who struggle to live independently.

Dec. 22, 2025- Businessman Joseph Hernandez explains why he is hoping to be the Republican state comptroller candidate in 2026 and discusses how he would use the office if elected.

Dec. 19, 2025- Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Lavine, a Long Island Democrat, talks about his legislation designed to address the shortcomings of the state's guardianship system, which is failing elderly New Yorkers.

Dec. 19, 2025- We check in with Zeryai Hagos, executive director of the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission, to discuss new rules designed to speed up the permitting of new transmission projects.

Dec. 18, 2025- As New York policymakers consider a pathway to universal child care access, afterschool services will need to make up part of that continuum of care. We discuss an expansion of high-quality afterschool care with Alli Lidie, CEO of New York State Network for Youth Success, and Jenn O'Connor, a consultant specializing in services for working families.

Dec. 18, 2025- Association of School Boards and Business Officials of New York Executive Director Brian Cechnicki talks about state support for school districts to provide services to English Language Learners and how funding might be tweaked.

Dec. 18, 2025- Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca makes the case for legislation fostering a stronger working relationship between local law enforcement and Indian Nations trying to combat illegal activity, like drug trafficking.

Dec. 17, 2025- New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe discusses new emissions data being collected from polluters by state environmental officials and makes the case for taking additional steps to reduce pollution.

Dec. 17, 2025- We check in with New York State Restaurant Association President & CEO Melissa Fleischut, and restaurateur Dominick Purnomo talk about changes to New York's alcohol laws and why restaurants want a break from credit card fees.

Dec. 17, 2025- Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, talks about his recent colonoscopy and why he's encouraging other New Yorkers to get a preventative screening.