Dispatches from Planet Albany

We're drafting again at the urging of Assembly members Josh Jensen and Ed Ra.

The Assembly Republicans join Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter, Raga Justin, a Capitol reporter for the Times Union, and David Lombardo, the host with most, to pick Planet Albany's best dressed, funniest, and best talker, as well as the Capitol reporter who would make the best state lawmaker. 

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider becoming a recurring contributor to help keep the podcast alive.

We're handing out "The Dispatches" awards for the 2025 legislative session! 

Host David Lombardo, Times Union Capitol reporter Raga Justin, and Capitol Confidential author Dan Clark recognize the environmental movement, smartphone restrictions in school, Medical Aid in Dying, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, "affordability," Sen. James Skoufis and many more at this prestigious event.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider becoming a recurring contributor to help keep the podcast alive.

The lobbying restrictions were off Shontell Smith this past legislative session, so we talked with the Tusk Strategies partner about her efforts this year to move bills through the state Assembly and Senate.

We discuss a controversial measure paving the way to a casino in Queens, the stress of last-minute bill amendments, asking for meetings with state lawmakers, and reflect on how difficult it is to get legislation across the finish line at the Capitol.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider becoming a recurring contributor to help keep the podcast alive.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has embarked on a longshot bid to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2026, so we wanted to explore what the path looks like to beating Gov. Kathy Hochul next June.

Mapping out this course is Rebecca Garrard, co-executive director of Citizen Action of New York, which is playing footsie with Delgado. In the second part of our conversation we touch on the role of the Working Families Party in a Democratic gubernatorial primary, the implications of a multi-candidate field, and Delgado's messaging skills.

In the first part of our conversation we...

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has embarked on a longshot bid to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2026, so we wanted to explore what the path looks like to beating Gov. Kathy Hochul next June.

Mapping out this course is Rebecca Garrrard, co-executive director of Citizen Action of New York, which is playing footsie with Delgado. In the first part of our conversation we touch on the benefits of a "tax the rich" message, the importance of fundraising, boosting name recognition, and what lessons should be learned from Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign.

And if you...

The passage of four years since the legalization of marijuana has done little to calm these rocky waters and bring stability to this chaotic industry. To discuss how the wind is currently blowing in the cannabis landscape, we checked in with Katie Neer, who is of counsel with Dickinson & Avella.

Katie and host David Lombardo talked about an anonymous letter from staff at the Office of Cannabis Management, the legislative approach (or lack of one) to marijuana issues, and forecasted the next big cannabis conundrum.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider...

There are two weeks left on the legislative calendar and staff, lobbyists and state lawmakers are already feeling the crunch. So we explore what it's like navigating this stressful time period and whether anything big will get done down the stretch this session with former Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, a lobbyist with Brown & Weinraub.

Host David Lombardo talks with the Rockland County Democrat about pending environmental bills, his new hybrid truck, and next year's gubernatorial election.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider becoming a recurring contributor to help keep the podcast alive.

We're drafting again and this time we've got a new cast of characters selecting their favorite political movies.

Host David Lombardo is joined by Amanda Henning Santiago, of The Parkside Group, and Sam Alberti, formerly of the executive chamber. We're picking six different categories of films, exploring what constitutes a political movie, and debating how to push your favorites on to other people.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please consider becoming a recurring contributor to help keep the podcast coming. Visit capitolpressroom.org/donate to support the show. 

The state budget is in the rear view mirror, so we pick through some of the leftover crumbs and consider what tasty stories are left for the rest of session with Shontell Smith, a partner with Tusk Strategies.

We also explore the budget dynamics between the state legislature and governor with former state Budget Director Bob Megna, who also reveals if his opinion was ever solicited on non-fiscal issues during the budget process.

Controversial legislation allowing terminally ill New Yorkers to end their lives with the help of a doctor received a vote in the Assembly this spring, surprising Capitol observers because the measure divided important constituencies in the Assembly majority, has no guarantee of getting a vote in the Senate and might be dead on arrival if it gets to the governor.

To learn how the floor vote came together, we talked with the measure's Assembly sponsor, Westchester County Democrat Amy Paulin.

And then we're joined by Times Union Capitol reporter Raga Justin to recap our experience...

Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith and Capitol Pressroom host David Lombardo try to explain why "Medical Aid in Dying" legislation got a vote in the Assembly this week. Then they talk about the state of the budget (which we still haven't seen) and whether any of the highlights championed by Gov. Kathy Hochul will resonate with voters.

Along the way they also reveal how their significant others consume this podcast. 

The field of Republican candidates for governor in 2026 is starting to take shape, so we wanted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the big names who are out there and consider what it will take for the GOP to win back the executive mansion in next year.

Our guest is Chapin Fay, a conservative communications and political strategist, who is founder of Lighthouse Public Affairs. 

Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Smith brings the fury and wrath of a vengeful god to this episode, as she responds to last week's political draft on the podcast, when her firm was not selected in the "Most Powerful Lobbying Firm" category.

She addresses this omission and other categories from the draft, before discussing state budget negotiations and a potential run for governor by Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Based on the success of our first Dispatches from Planet Albany draft, we're going back to the well and drafting new categories.

We're drafting most powerful interest groups, most effective PR consultants, best LG choice for Governor Hochul in 2026, and much more. Teams are being assembled by Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter for the Times Union, Raga Justin, a Capitol reporter for the Times Union, and David Lombardo, keeper of the Excel spreadsheet.

After you listen to the podcast, visit The Capitol Pressroom’s Twitter account to vote on who drafted the bes...

At this point in the state budget process, a few days into the new fiscal year and high-level negotiations still hammering out major sticking points, there isn't much for rank-and-file state lawmakers to do when they're at the Capitol.

We talked with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, now working on her fifth budget, about how she prepares for this period and what she does to occupy her time.

We also check in with Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith to recognize her budgetary prediction powers and learn how a final budget comes together. 

State Sen. James Skoufis may not have gotten to lead the DNC, but he did get the next best thing: an invite to this podcast.

We talked with the Orange County Democrat about his unsuccessful national leadership bid, his political ambition in New York, the 2026 race for governor, and reforming the Democratic state party. 

This week's Dispatches from Planet Albany episode features content that couldn't fit on the radio, but is perfect for political nerds looking for inside baseball conversations.

We peppered state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli about his political ambitions, who he's backing for governor in 2026, the debate over aging elected officials, and how he'll approach oversight of the new CDPAP contract.

And Richard Rifkin, legal director for the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, gets into the weeds on the court ruling that upheld COELIG and shares some reflections as a former ethics watchdog. 

Did you know you can legally bet on political outcomes in America? And not just big elections, but obscure political races in New York City or the fate of Gov. Kathy Hochul's rebate check proposal.

In light of host David Lombardo jumping into this world with both feet, we explore the odds behind some of the most hotly discussed elections in Planet Albany and consider what other political events in New York are worth a bet. Our guest is Alex Elmasri, a vice president with The Parkside Group.

And first we'll check in with Shontell...

We explore what contributed to the wildcat strike by prison guards around New York and whether there is a long-term solution to the underlying tension in the state corrections system. Our guest is Chris Gelardi, a reporter with New York Focus. 

For our banter with Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith, we discuss the conscious decoupling between Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and Gov. Kathy Hochul. Then we reflect on the governor's underwhelming effort to put so-called guardrails on the powers of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Our deep dive this show is into the 21st Congressional District and whether Democrats should be spending any of their blood, sweat and tears on this GOP-controlled seat when it becomes up for grabs in a special election. We talk about the Democrats' longshot chances to flip this district with SKDK Managing...

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado formally detached his political future from Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, announcing he would not be running for re-election in 2026.

In light of this shakeup in the political landscape, we had to do a bonus episode of the podcast and we turned to Rich Azzopardi, a veteran of years of gubernatorial drama and now the founder of Bulldog Strategies.

We discussed the next steps for Delgado, unpacked in real time the response from the Hochul administration, and considered whether this creates openings for other Democrats hoping to be governor.

We're breaking new ground on the podcast and holding our first ever fantasy draft, where we choose elected officials for six different categories. Our teams will be assembled by Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter for the Times Union, Raga Justin, a Capitol reporter for the Times Union, and David Lombardo, home cook.

After you listen to the podcast, visit The Capitol Pressroom's Twitter account to vote on who drafted the best team. 

If you enjoy this podcast format, please suggest other draft formats that could intersect with Planet Albany. 

This weekend is one of the biggest celebrations in Planet Albany, as the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators hosts its 54th Annual Conference. We talk about the glitz and glamour, the workshops, overhauling the association's scholarships, and the code of conduct with Charlene Gayle, the organization's executive director.

We also gab about the past week's political headlines with Shontell Smith, head of the New York practice for Tusk Strategies. 

Democratic consultant Bradley Honan, president and CEO of the Honan Strategy Group, is making the case that power in state government has become more diffuse (while still acknowledging that the legislative leaders and governor still call the shots). 

We also get our first "Delgado Watch" update from Jason Beeferman, author of the Politico New York Playbook PM, who tracked down Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado this week to discuss his relationship with Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

On this bonus episode, we're joined by Democratic political operative Bradley Honan, CEO & President of the Honan Strategy Group.

Up first, we discuss the potential fallout for Democrats in New York if they adjust the election calendar to extend the vacancy of a GOP congressional seat. Then we learn why Honan is polling the New York City Democratic mayoral primary and consider how candidates should be strategizing for a ranked-choice election.

Politico New York reporter Marie French explains the latest delays in implementing cap-and-invest, considers the ramifications of the governor's likely pick to lead the DEC, and reveals the New Zealand snack that fueled her budget hearing consumption.

And we also check in with Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith, who gabs about "widely attended events" and her disappointment with the Democratic response to the new Trump administration. 

Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith is back on the podcast to answer a listener question about her favorite lobbyist, explain how she digests the budget (compared to her time in the Senate), and address the challenges standing in the way of a final budget deal this year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered a State of the State address that was emblematic of her policy priorities and rhetorical style, as she offered homespun pearls of wisdoms and western New York anecdotes to pitch her affordability and safety agenda to policymakers, interested stakeholders, and the press.

We break down the big day and what could happen next with Dan Clark, author of the Times Union's Capitol Confidential newsletter. 

And a reminder that we’re soliciting questions to use in a future episode for Shontell Smith. Leave a voicemail (that we might play on the air) at ...

This past week marked the return to Albany by state lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists, as both houses had their opening days of session. And amid the pomp and free food, there was also some news, with legislative leaders (vaguely) identifying their session priorities and tapping committee chairs.

We're exploring what to expect from the people's house in 2025 and the significance of the new committee leaders with the help of former Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, who now works for Brown & Weinraub.

And a reminder that we're also soliciting questions for Shontell Smith for a future episode. Leave...

For the season three premiere of Dispatches from Planet Albany we're checking in with Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith to discuss Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado's flirtation with a gubernatorial run, the legislative ramifications of violent murders captured on video, the likelihood of changes to school aid distribution, and whether Gov. Kathy Hochul will be able to deliver on her promise of "Inflation Refund" checks.

We are also soliciting questions for Shontell and host David Lombardo to answer in a future episode. Is there something you want to know about Planet Albany? Want us to weigh in on...

The 2024 elections were a mixed bag for New York Democrats, who reversed the 2022 gains Republicans made in the state’s congressional delegation, but also saw their traditional electorate shrink.

To make sense of the results, as well as the polls leading up to Election Day and where Democrats in the Empire State go from here, we spoke with Loren Amor, a senior vice president with BerlinRosen.

The big election questions for New York in 2024 are the balance of the state's congressional delegation and whether a statewide referendum adding anti-discrimination language to the state constitution will pass.

We try to answer these questions and discuss state legislative power with Loren Amor, a campaign veteran, who is now a senior vice president with BerlinRosen. 

After listening, use the knowledge you've gained to enter our 2024 Election Contest!

Gov. Kathy Hochul reached historic lows for her job performance and favorability ratings in a recent Siena College Research Institute poll, but does it matter?

We explore how the low popularity levels could impact the exercising of gubernatorial powers, consider why the numbers are as bad as they are, and do our best to ignore the 2026 campaign noise (because that stuff is just noise).

Our guests are Morgan Hook, managing director for SKDK, and Shontell Smith, partner and head of the New York practice for Tusk Strategies. 

State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Queens Democrat, reflects on his first two legislative sessions in Albany. We discuss the process of moving bills at the Capitol, living out of a suitcase for half the year, and taking over a newly carved up district.

The primary campaigns for state legislative races in New York may have been exciting, but the results of the elections were not.

We explore why the status quo was so powerful in Democratic primaries this year and consider what the outcomes mean for governing in Albany for the next two years.

Our guests are Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Part, and Loren Amor, a senior vice president with BerlinRosen.

Two bills - one imposing a controversial waste reduction mandate and the other a broadly supported employee benefit update - successfully made it through the state Senate in the waning days of the legislative session in June, but didn't end up coming up for a vote in the Assembly.

Both of these measures were expected to make it to the governor's desk, so we explored what happened.

Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, talks about the effort to curb plastic packaging waste and Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, a...

Assemblyman Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, reflects on his first two legislative sessions in Albany. We discuss the end of session crunch, working with central staff, and navigating the budget process.

We also have special theme music courtesy of Anthony Mazzanti. 

Despite passing with overwhelming bipartisan support, legislation to curtail the most addictive features of social media was never a sure thing at the state Capitol in 2024.

To learn how the measure went from an idea in 2022 to passing both houses in Albany, we talked with the bill's Senate sponsor, Brooklyn Democrat Andrew Gounardes. We discussed the role of the state attorney general's office, amending the bill at the end of session, and keeping the legislation on the mind of state lawmakers.

The updated financial plan from the Hochul administration sheds new light on how much the state is going to spend in the current fiscal year ($2 billion more than advertised) and what's going to happen with leftover funds from last year.

We break down these revelations and much more with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citzens Budget Commission. 

We’re back with another recording in front of a raucous audience at the Bull Moose Club down the hill from the Capitol, with Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, and Shontell Smith, head of the New York practice for Tusk Strategies.

We discuss overrated and underrated political stories and get an update on the wedding event of the year.