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Dispatches from Planet Albany

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

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 weeklyEpisodes178Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Retirements 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 Cami... more

YouTube

Assemblymember 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 und... more

YouTube

New 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 leader... more

YouTube

The 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... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Dan Clark
Capitol Confidential author
Capitol Confidential
Episode: 2026 legislative session superlative awards
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
James Skoufis
State Senator, Orange County Democrat
New York State Senate
Episode: Answering the prayers of underdog primary candidates
Alex Elmasri
Vice President of Growth and Operations for The Parkside Group; former Executive Director of the NYS DSCC
Parkside Group / DSCC
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

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.

Senate Dems look to go on the offensive in Hudson Valley
Q: Congestion pricing, should it be overturned by the legislature or kept in place?
The guest deflects, saying transit access is strong in the district and focuses on transit improvements and broader economic messaging rather than taking a firm stance on congestion pricing.
Could Elise Stefanik be leading the race for governor?
Q: How confident should we be in the margin of error given the sampling approach and sub-sample sizes?
The margin of error is calculated using industry standards and accounts for weighting and population size; sub-sample margins can be large, especially for upstate urban groups, so caution is advised in interpreting local subsample results.
Could Elise Stefanik be leading the race for governor?
Q: What explains the discrepancy between NYC results and broader state results, particularly Hochul's NYC lead versus statewide margins?
Differences reflect regional dynamics and turnout patterns, including the urban-rural divide and the presence of strong supporters for different candidates in NYC versus upstate and suburban areas, as well as external influences like endorsements that affected turnout.
Could Elise Stefanik be leading the race for governor?
Q: Can you explain how you formed the statewide sample from 600 NYC voters and 300 statewide registered voters, and why you used a mixed-mode approach?
We used a blended design, weighting the NYC likely voters and statewide registered voters, with a back-end reweighting to reflect population distribution. The mixed-mode method—SMS, landline, and cell—was chosen to maximize reach and representation, with translations in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
End-of-session vibes with Shontell
Q: What criteria do you use to evaluate the session's success besides the number of bills passed?
The guests explain that they weigh the quality and impact of legislation, the difficulty of getting bills through both houses, and the broader effect on people's lives, rather than counting bills or focusing on process alone.

Audience Metrics

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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. FAQ NYC
3. Explain It to Me
4. Max Politics
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Dispatches from Planet Albany are there?

Dispatches from Planet Albany launched 3 years ago and published 178 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. Jeff Colton
2. Trip Yang
3. Dan Clark
4. Raga Justin
5. Josh Jensen
6. James Skoufis
7. Alex Elmasri
8. Beth Garvey

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