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Dispatches from Planet Albany

WCNY
Albany
Kathy Hochul
New York State Budget
Albany, United States
Working Families Party
New York State Senate
New York State Legislature
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
CLCPA
New York
Redistricting
Bruce Blakeman
Elise Stefanik
Budget Process
Election Law
New York State Assembly
Immigration
Auto Insurance Reform
Lobbying
New York State United Teachers

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 ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes173Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsGovernment

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Artwork for Dispatches from Planet Albany

Latest Episodes

Politico 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... more

YouTube

Capitol 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... more

YouTube

Tusk 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 surv... more

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Sometimes 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 rebutt... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

James Skoufis
State Senator, Orange County Democrat
New York State Senate
Episode: Answering the prayers of underdog primary candidates
Beth Garvey
Shareholder with Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Episode: Confirmapalooza
Mark Poloncarz
Erie County Executive; founder of Boosting Future Leaders Onward PAC
Erie County, BFLO/NDCO
Episode: Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
Jasmine Gripper
Head of the Working Families Party in New York
Working Families Party (WFP)
Episode: NY WFP on comptroller's race, legislative primaries, and the senate's number two
Liz Benjamin
Managing Director for Marathon Strategies, recovering journalist
Marathon Strategies
Episode: The (LCA) show must go on!
Emily Gallagher
Assembly Member, Brooklyn Democrat
New York Assembly
Episode: The legislature's airing of budget grievances
Doug Clark
Co-managing partner and government affairs team leader at Shenker, Russo, and Clark
Shenker, Russo & Clark
Episode: More transparency considered for Planet Albany lobbying
Miguelina Camilo
Former council to Speaker Carl Hasty, Chief of Staff to NYC Council Speaker
New York City Council
Episode: Getting to 'yes' on the state budget
Nick Reisman
Albany Bureau Chief, Politico New York
Politico New York
Episode: Hochul budget strategy relies on time and special interest attacks

Host

David Lombardo
Host of Dispatches from Planet Albany (WCNY) and The Capitol Pressroom.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Off to a flying start

    Lively and frank conversations about the politics behind state government. The rapport between host David Lombardo and guests, especially the never wrong Shontell Smith, makes for fun listening. Looking forward to special off-session series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Saratoga Citizen
    United States3 years ago
  • Lively Debates

    Enjoy the lively debates about what happens in the halls of the Capitol.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Live Free of Die State
    United States3 years ago
  • Inside baseball

    A great listen about life in the Capitol.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CrazyLady2016
    United States3 years ago
  • Off to a flying start

    A lively, informative, fun and frank conversation about the politics behind state budget decisions. The participants seemed to enjoy it as much as the listener. Looking forward to future Disptaches from Planet Albany.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Saratoga Citizen
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Accessible yet insider-focused coverage of Albany power dynamics.
Lively, frank conversations about state government politics.
Behind-the-scenes insights and candid guest interactions.
Smart, humorous, and informative about budget and lobbying topics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
Q: How does this strategy interplay with national party dynamics and local elections?
While national issues matter, local context drives outcomes; the aim is to empower local counties and committees with data, staff, and resources the national party has traditionally neglected, to make local campaigns more competitive and sustainable.
Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
Q: How does the fund-raising and resource distribution work for these local races?
Funds are modest but targeted; individual races may receive tens of thousands, and the strategy is to combine money with technical guidance to maximize impact, allocating based on where we think we can have the greatest influence.
Mark Poloncarz hits the road to support local Democrats
Q: What is the central aim of your Boosting Future Leaders Onward effort and which regions are you targeting?
The goal is to build a bench of strong local leaders by supporting candidates with advice and strategic resources, including in southern states like Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, as well as in New Hampshire and Tennessee, focusing on areas where local races can be swayed by practical, issue-driven campaigns.
Handicapping the odds of Blakeman's LG choice
Q: Who would be a strong geographic fit for the LG ticket?
Chapin Fay suggests a candidate with regional appeal, such as someone from the Hudson Valley or Western New York, who can anchor parts of upstate while the rest of the ticket appeals to downstate voters.
How do you judge an effective state lawmaker?
Q: How did you go about assessing the substantive nature of policy proposals, especially given the volume of bills moving through both chambers?
They categorize bills into three tiers, with a top tier for substantial and significant bills that attract media attention and governance interest, while also weighing volume, movement through committees, floor passage, and ultimate enactment to avoid rewarding only rare, high-impact bills or sheer quantity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Dispatches from Planet Albany

What is Dispatches from Planet Albany about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Insightful, insider-facing political commentary focused on New York state government, with a mix of policy analysis, budget dynamics, lobbying transparency, and strategic campaigning. The show features a seasoned host who channels off-the-record conversations into accessible discussions about Albany power, budget timing, endorsements, and the interplay between lawmakers, staff, and advocacy groups. Notable strengths include sharp humor, candid guest interactions, and a track record of unpacking complex political processes for listeners who follow state politics closely. The format tends to blend practical how-tos (ballot objections, lobbying disclosures) with strategic takeaways (endorsement criteria, power rankings), making it appealing to... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Dispatches from Planet Albany?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Dispatches from Planet Albany:

1. The Capitol Pressroom
2. The Daily
3. FAQ NYC
4. Strict Scrutiny
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

How many episodes of Dispatches from Planet Albany are there?

Dispatches from Planet Albany launched 3 years ago and published 173 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Recent guests on Dispatches from Planet Albany include:

1. James Skoufis
2. Beth Garvey
3. Mark Poloncarz
4. Jasmine Gripper
5. Liz Benjamin
6. Emily Gallagher
7. Doug Clark
8. Miguelina Camilo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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