The Capitol Pressroom

April 23, 2026- State policymakers are weighing whether to disconnect a state tax break for manufacturers from a federal credit that was made more lucrative this summer. Our guest is Todd Tranum, executive director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.

April 23, 2026- Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito talks about the proliferation of toxic forever chemicals, including in vegetables, and makes the case for cutting the spread off at the source.

April 23, 2026- The process for authorizing charter schools in New York is in the crosshairs of New York's powerful teachers' union. We discuss their concerns with Bob Lowry, deputy director for advocacy, research, and communications for the Council of School Superintendents, which is backing the union's legal challenge.

April 23, 2026- Reinvent Albany Executive Director John Kaehny talks about the relationship between municipalities and state government and makes the case for giving localities more authority.

April 22, 2026- Assembly Racing & Wagering Committee Chair Carrie Woerner, a Capital Region Democrat, talks about steps the state can do to prevent problem gambling with the expansion of gambling opportunities.

April 22, 2026- Civil rights activists and health care professionals want to ensure pregnant women provide informed consent before submitting to alcohol and drug screenings. Our guest is Dr. Erinma Ukoha, an OB-GYN and a maternal fetal medicine specialist.

April 22, 2026- Adirondack Council Director of Communications John Sheehan makes the case for having state regulators take additional steps to promote the remote nature of the Adirondack Park.

April 22, 2026- High-level college sports have entered a new phase with opportunities for college athletes to get paid, but government regulations haven't kept up. We discuss potential rules and regulations with Richard Winsten, a lobbyist for the firm State & Broadway.

April 21, 2026- State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, explains his concerns with Gov. Kathy Hochul's latest effort to redefine the working relationship between federal immigration officials and local law enforcement.

April 21, 2026- State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson talks about navigating the Trump administration, new pathways for crime victims to receive support, and overcoming challenges funding community organizations.

April 21, 2026- The process to resolve disputes over out-of-network medical billing has become a very lucrative dynamic for healthcare providers, but Gov. Kathy Hochul and health insurers want to reform the dynamic. Our guest is Bill Hammond, senior fellow for Health Policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy.

April 21, 2026- Assemblymember Pat Burke, a Buffalo-area Democrat, discusses the implications of the White House's softening toward "magic mushrooms," shares his concerns with the governor's budget approach, and addresses the fiscal woes of New York's cities.

April 20, 2026- Legislation in New York and states around the country would limit when a criminal defendant's creative expression - such as their original music - can be used against them in a trial. Our guest is Todd Dupler, chief advocacy and public policy officer for the Recording Academy.

April 20, 2026- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez talks about Gov. Kathy Hochul's approach to combatting potholes in the Empire State.

April 17, 2026- In a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt, we speak to Democrat Thomas Boomhower about his longshot bid to flip a rural Assembly seat from red to blue.

April 17, 2026- We explore a court ruling invalidating state wetland regulations designed to implement protections adopted into law in 2022. Our guests are Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, and Drew Gamils, senior attorney with Riverkeeper.

April 17, 2026- American Fintech Council CEO Phil Goldfeder discusses the operations of "earned wage access" platforms and makes the case that they shouldn't be regulated like payday loans.

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.