Dispatches from Planet Albany

The race to be the Democratic mayoral nominee in New York City is in the rear view mirror, so Shontell Smith is making good on her promise this spring to peel back the curtain on her work for Andrew Cuomo's unsuccesful primary bid.

In the second part of our conversation, the Tusk Strategies partner reveals that progressives wanted to work behind the scenes for the former governor, reflects on the mayoral campaigns of Brad Lander an...

The race to be the Democratic mayoral nominee in New York City is in the rear view mirror, so Shontell Smith is making good on her promise this spring to peel back the curtain on her work for Andrew Cuomo's unsuccesful primary bid.

The Tusk Strategies partner explains what she did as political director for the Cuomo campaign, addresses possible missteps by the team, and discusses what was going on with state senators Zellnor Myrie ...

Assemblyman Pat Burke thinks everyone needs to calm down about his Queens colleague, who may be the next mayor of New York City.

The western New York Democrat is responding to what he feels are misplaced fears about Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's personal beliefs and agenda, as well as the Democratic politicians falling all over themselves to denounce or embrace the movement launched in New York City.

Burke explains all of this and h...

After more than a decade of working for other people, political pollster Adam Carlson is ready to work for himself and has launched a new polling and research firm. He joins the show to discuss his business model and how he hopes to drum up business, before wading into the New York City mayoral polling, Gov. Kathy Hochul's reluctance to embrace Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and his incessant tweeting. 

And if you enjoy Dispatches fro...

A commanding victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary this summer by Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist from Queens, raises new possibilities and challenges for the New York City Democratic Socialists of America.

We discuss the NYC DSA's role in uplifting Mamdani's campaign and how they'll support his agenda moving forward with NYC DSA co-Chair Grace Mauser a...

Politicians on both sides of the aisle talk about their support for families, so why is it so hard to get major policy and spending initiatives enacted in Planet Albany that demonstrably improve their lives?

Universal child care is still years away at best. The effort to reduce child poverty in half is going in slow motion. And the health care system is in need of an overhaul.

We explore what it's like to lobby on some of these key...

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. 

Don't forget to vote on the winner!

A...

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, pl...

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 fini...

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 Democra...

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 impor...

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 s...

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 n...

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 P...

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...