Are Hochul and Mamdani on a collision course?
Release Date: 02/03/2026
The legislature's airing of budget grievances
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a general agreement on the budget on Thursday morning, but Democratic state lawmakers are calling foul, arguing that major questions still need to be resolved. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie went so far as to tell reporters that he's never approaching the budget process like this again. For more on the legislature's grievances, we checked in with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, who has pushed a constitutional amendment to change the budget process in Planet Albany. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming...
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More transparency considered for Planet Albany lobbying
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The intentions of organizations and individuals looking to influence state government could become clearer in the future. Pending legislation would require interests that are lobbying state policymakers to declare whether they support something, oppose it, or their support is contingent on changes. The current rules just require a disclosure that you're lobbying on a specific bill or regulation. Doug Clark, a co-managing partner of Shenker Russo & Clark, joins the show to discuss the proposal and what implementation might look like. We also consider Capitol entry badges for lobbyists...
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Getting to 'yes' on the state budget
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Finalizing a state budget requires varying degrees of compromise from the governor and legislature. But knowing when and where you have to give and when your negotiating partners will give a little more or won't budget another inch, is a key aspect of executing this annual dance in Planet Albany. To understand the budget choreography, host David Lombardo spoke with two veterans of the state budget process, Shontell Plummer, a partner with Tusk Strategies, and Miguelina Camilo, chief of staff for the New York City Council speaker. They also recount amusing remarks from the floor and how...
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Hochul budget strategy relies on time and special interest attacks
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The state budget is three weeks late and a deal does not appear imminent. Eventually all the pieces for a final budget will fall into place - seemingly all at once - but we wanted to explore how Gov. Kathy Hochul is approaching that point, as she utilizes one of her favorite tactics and one new one. To analyze these machinations we spoke with Nick Reisman, the Albany bureau chief for Politico New York. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter...
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The uphill battle of going red to blue in rural New York
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The race for an open Assembly seat in Trump Country is getting an unusual amount of coverage because Republican Marc Molinaro has chosen to mount his political comeback in the district. But Democrat Thomas Boomhower is hoping to disrupt the script and is running a longshot campaign, which will first require a primary win in June. He visited the studio to talk about the components of a potential upset, explain how his mom inspired him, and describe how he would serve in the Assembly. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because...
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Election Law 101: Ballot objections
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Now that campaign signatures have been collected and submitted for ballot access, we're entering the phase of the election calendar in New York when candidates wait to see if they'll withstand any administrative or legal challenges to their petitions. To learn about this process we talked with Adam Fusco, one of the small cadre of election lawyers in the state, who explained how he looks for defects, navigating the courts, and why - despite primarily working for Republicans - he takes on Democratic clients in parts of New York City. Plus, on The Capitol Pressroom, Adam discusses his work on...
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Could Tom DiNapoli lose the Democratic primary?
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The general consensus is tha state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic nominee in November, when he seeks a fifth full term in office. But we wanted to explore the variables and conditions that could lead to a Democratic outsider pulling off the biggest statewide upset in more than three decades, so we're checking in with Alex Elmasri, vice president of operations and growth for The Parkside Group. Spoiler alert: The smart money is still on DiNapoli. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast...
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Planet Albany Power Rankings revisited and budget timing accountability
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer responds to last week's discussion by explaining the ebb and flow of power at the Capitol and identifies who was underrated and overrated on the lists. She also takes a victory lap for her of a budget that would be at least four weeks late. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because we could really use the money). Subscribe to our newsletter / Follow the show on Twitter / Follow the show on Instagram / Follow the show on Facebook /
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The Planet Albany Power Rankings
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Who are the five most powerful people in Planet Albany? That's the question for this episode, as host David Lombardo, Bloomberg Government Capitol reporter Raga Justin and Assemblymember Josh Jensen, a Rochester-area Republican, share their personal lists. The only rules are they can't include Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Also, we don't define what constitutes power or "Planet Albany." After you hear the episode, make sure you and let us know (anonymously) about your power rankings. And if you enjoy , please leave us...
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Former assemblyman eyes Capitol comeback 15 years after departure
Dispatches from Planet Albany
After following a traditional career trajectory for three decades, Marc Molinaro is mixing things up this year as he looks to return to the state Assembly, a chamber he left in 2012. The decision is a head scratcher for most in Planet Albany, so we talked with the Greene County Republican about why serving in the Assembly is the right fit for him at this point in his life. We also explore the North Country congressional run that never materialized, the state of the gubernatorial race and how he'll fit in at the Capitol as a freshman lawmaker. And if you enjoy , please leave us a...
info_outlineGov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani have largely been able to paper over their ideological differences, but the financial situation in the Big Apple could test that dynamic.
Host David Lombardo and Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer consider whether the mayor and governor's unholy alliance can withstand this public disagreement and if the ultimate outcome is increasing taxes or some other solution to fund New York City's budget.
We also reflect on how interest groups in Albany had to change their lobbying approach when the state Senate flipped hands in 2019 and how much influence the trial lawyers still have at the Capitol.
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).