Rephonic
Artwork for Dispatches from Planet Albany

Dispatches from Planet Albany

WCNY
Albany
Kathy Hochul
New York City
New York State Assembly
Zohran Mamdani
Albany, United States
New York State Government
New York
New York State Legislature
New York State Budget
Elise Stefanik
Redistricting
New York State Senate
Working Families Party
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
CLCPA
Bruce Blakeman
Democratic Party
Albany, New York
Budget Process

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 weeklyEpisodes183Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dispatches from Planet Albany

Latest Episodes

Retirements, a primary defeat and other moving parts mean the leadership structure in the state Senate will be remade in 2027.

Some of the big prizes that we know about are deputy leader and chairs of the housing and labor committees, but there is ... more

The shifting political landscape in New York is getting a lot of attention, but have we seen this story before?

At least to some degree, with the insurgent left and Democrats banking on an anti-Donald Trump mood, this is the same narrative that unf... more

YouTube

If Goldilocks was choosing a lobbying firm, she might gravitate toward Statewide Public Affairs.

The 13-year-old operation isn't a household name or one of the biggest earners at the Capitol, but with their list of blue chip clients and big ticket ... more

YouTube

Protests at the Capitol are taken as a given when state lawmakers are in town, but do they actually influence the agenda in Planet Albany?

That's the question we put to Rebecca Garrard, co-executive director of the liberal advocacy group Citizen Ac... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Patrick Jenkins
President of Patrick Jenkins and Associates, influential lobbyist
Patrick Jenkins and Associates
Episode: Albany through the eyes of Patrick Jenkins
Amy Paulin
Assembly Health Committee Chair (Westchester County Democrat)
New York State Assembly
Episode: The secret of her success
Jay Jacobs
New York State Democratic Party Chair
New York State Democratic Party
Episode: NY Dems chair on primaries, November, and his future
Jeff Colton
City & State New York Editor-in-Chief
City & State New York
Episode: The DSA's big night in New York City
Trip Yang
Founder and CEO of Trip Yang Strategies
Trip Yang Strategies
Episode: The art of campaign mail
Raga Justin
Bloomberg Government Capitol Reporter
Bloomberg Government
Episode: Capitol odds and ends with Josh and Raga
Josh Jensen
Montessori professor and Assemblymember
New York State Assembly
Episode: Capitol odds and ends with Josh and Raga
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

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.

Top Politics Podcasts

Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
Candace
CandaceCandace Owens
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Ruthless Podcast
Ruthless PodcastJosh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook
Letters from an American
Letters from an AmericanHeather Cox Richardson

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The secret of her success
Q: How do you manage the balance between working with central staff, Ways and Means, and minority partners to move legislation?
She describes a trust-based process where she communicates openly, adjusts proposals based on minority concerns, and coordinates with staff and committee leaders to advance bills.
The secret of her success
Q: What was the heaviest lift for you during the 2026 session?
She notes that while no single bill stood out, several early-passed bills and strategic deals with Senate partners and central staff defined the year, with debates used strategically for those that mattered.
The secret of her success
Q: Well, I guess for starters, are you aware of your reputation as a bill passing machine?
Amy Paulin acknowledges a systematic, year-round approach to bill work, emphasizing preparation, collaboration with Senate sponsors, and a readiness to debate when necessary.
Longshot comptroller candidate calls 'bullshit' on status quo
Q: Do you plan to rely on public financing to run your campaign, and why is that important to you?
Yes. Public financing is crucial to run a competitive statewide campaign in New York's expensive media market and to ensure that money does not disproportionately determine the outcome of the race.
Longshot comptroller candidate calls 'bullshit' on status quo
Q: What would you do differently with the pension fund to improve returns for taxpayers and public employees?
I would apply a strict fiduciary framework focused on maximizing returns while minimizing risk and cost to taxpayers, re-evaluate investments including divestment where financially prudent, and ensure transparency and performance benchmarks guide all decisions.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Dispatches from Planet Albany. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Dispatches from Planet Albany and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Dispatches from Planet Albany get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Dispatches from Planet Albany, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Dispatches from Planet Albany, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Dispatches from Planet Albany have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Dispatches from Planet Albany has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. FAQ NYC
3. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
4. The Bulwark Podcast
5. On the Media

How many episodes of Dispatches from Planet Albany are there?

Dispatches from Planet Albany launched 3 years ago and published 183 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Dispatches from Planet Albany from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Dispatches from Planet Albany. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Dispatches from Planet Albany?

Recent guests on Dispatches from Planet Albany include:

1. Patrick Jenkins
2. Amy Paulin
3. Jay Jacobs
4. Jeff Colton
5. Trip Yang
6. Raga Justin
7. Josh Jensen
8. Beth Garvey

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days