Podcast
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Hosted by WCNY · EN
Dispatches from Planet Albany is brought to you by David Lombardo, host of WCNY's The Capitol Pressroom. The weekly conversations are a smart and funny encapsulation of the discussions reporters and sources have off the microphone at the Capitol in Albany.
This inside baseball is for listeners who know the acronym ELFA, anxiously await the legislative calendar drop each December, or fondly recall the Poozer Politics podcast.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Albany through the eyes of Patrick Jenkins
Yesterday00:32:44Tap to summarizeLobbyist and consultant Patrick Jenkins joins the show to discuss his work and reflect on life in Planet Albany. The Queens power broker talks about lobbying against single-use plastic restrictions, navigating ethical boundaries, and the direction of the Assembly next year. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →The shape of things to come in the Assembly
4d ago00:33:54Tap to summarizeRetirements and progressive wins in the Democratic primaries are poised to shakeup the Assembly in 2027. To assess the impact of the incoming members and consider who might fill major leadership posts in the chamber, we check in with Miguelina Camilo, the former counsel for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. As part of the conversation, host David Lombardo gets feedback on his list of contenders to fill top committee vacancies and the open majority leader job. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →The secret of her success
1w ago00:36:02Tap to summarizeAssemblymember Amy Paulin is one of the most active lawmakers at the Capitol and 2026 was no exception, with the Westchester County Democrat leading her colleagues in bills approved by both chambers. We checked in with the veteran legislator to understand what separates her from the pack and she shared some of her secrets, including finding the right legislative partners, preparing well in advance, and limiting opposition. Paulin also reveals some legislative regrets from the past session and forecasts her upcoming push for medical marijuana. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →NY Dems chair on primaries, November, and his future
2w ago00:26:22Tap to summarizeNew York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs discusses the primaries in New York City, tapping into the enthusiasm of the state's progressives, and crafting a winning narrative for November. The Long Island Democrat also reflects on his future leadership role and offers career advice for the Erie County Democratic Party chair. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →The DSA's big night in New York City
2w ago00:29:19Tap to summarizeThe story from the Democratic primary results in the Big Apple appears to be the ascendency in the party of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. We're joined by City & State NY Editor-in-Chief Jeff Coltin to talk about the enthusiasm edge for DSA candidates, the fall of incumbent state lawmakers and what's in store for the Brooklyn Democratic leadership. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →The art of campaign mail
3w ago00:31:08Tap to summarizeCampaign mail is still a critical tool for candidates, but only if it's done strategically and with the right messaging. To discuss what effective campaign mail looks like in 2026, host David Lombardo checked in with political consultant Trip Yang. He talked about the goals of campaign mail, who to target, the photos that get under the skin of opposing candidates and how he's using artificial intelligence. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →Inside the strategy of Gov. Kathy Hochul
4w ago00:25:19Tap to summarizePolitico New York Albany Bureau Chief Nick Reisman joins host David Lombardo to discuss insights and observations he gained from an extended one-on-one interview with Gov. Kathy Hochul. They discuss how to prepare for this type of conversation, the governor's relationship with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Hochul's approach to negotiating immigration reforms that made it into the state budget. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →2026 legislative session superlative awards
4w ago00:37:34Tap to summarizeCapitol Confidential author Dan Clark, Bloomberg Government reporter Raga Justin and host David Lombardo hand out superlative awards for the 2026 legislative session. Tune in to find out who won class couple, least popular, most memorable and other major recognitions for their work in Planet Albany. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →End-of-session vibes with Shontell
Jun 900:37:57Tap to summarizeTusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer joins host David Lombardo to reflect on the final days of the legislative session, including what the Democratic majorities prioritized and how the calendar got squeezed by the late budget. They discuss surveillance pricing protections, grade the session "vibes," and reflect on the right-wing kerfuffle over the "gestating parent" legislation. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
Transcribe →Capitol odds and ends with Josh and Raga
Jun 800:19:35Tap to summarizeSometimes you record a 52-minute podcast and you end up cutting it down by 60 percent. That's what happened in this lean episode with Assemblymember Josh Jensen and Bloomberg Government's Raga Justin, which touches on the governor's LCA Show rebuttal and fallout from the "cool kids" discussion earlier this year. What got cut out? Who can say. And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, please leave us a rating and consider becoming a recurring contributor to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / https://www.publicmediasubscriptions.org/WCNY/subscription/pressroom Follow the show on Twitter / https://twitter.com/CapPressRoom Follow the show on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/capitolpressroom/ Follow the show on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolpressroom
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