Surprise retirement shakes up Senate Democratic leadership
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The decision by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris not to run for re-election in 2026 could have a dramatic impact on the faces in state senate leadership. And not just on the government side, as he was also head of the Senate Democrat's political arm. Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer, who used to work closely with Gianaris in her previous life, discusses the internal roles held by the Queens Democrat for more than a decade and considers what might happen with his posts. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast...
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The path to (some) new congressional lines
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Redistricting is traditionally supposed to be on the menu once a decade, but it has become a recurring staple in New York, where Democrats are exploring options to redraw congressional lines before 2032. Host David Lombardo breaks down the potential outcomes from a court case challenging the NY-11 boundaries with the help of Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and distinguished adjunct professor with the New York Law School's Census and Redistricting Institute. He also discusses the outstanding constitutional amendment to rewrite New York's redistricting process and an effort to get an early start on...
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Hochul's new running mate, endorsement, and Brooklyn feud
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Wednesday was a big day for Gov. Kathy Hochul's election campaign. The incumbent Democrat identified former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate and almost immediately lost the support of the Brooklyn Democratic Committee as a result. Then it was leaked out that NYC Mayora Zohran Mamdani would be endorsing her re-election. To understand all of these Big Apple based developments we checked in with Jeff Coltin, the editor-in-chief for City & State New York. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because...
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Are Hochul and Mamdani on a collision course?
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Gov. 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...
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Getting to know Assemblyman Brian Cunningham
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Assemblymember Brian Cunningham's public profile has gone up a notch or two since of running mates for Gov. Kathy Hochul, but the Brooklyn Democrat is still far from a household name (even among Albany insiders). So host David Lombardo sat down with Cunningham in the studio at the Capitol to discuss his background (he interned with Sen. Kevin Parker), whether he's been vetted for the LG role (he hasn't), and the untold story behind his first name (you'll have to listen for that one). And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because...
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Handicapping the odds of Blakeman's LG choice
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Host David Lombardo and Lighthouse Public Affairs founder Chapin Fay handicap the odds for the contenders to be Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's running mate on the Republican ticket to win the executive mansion in Albany. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because we could really use the money).
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Handicapping the odds of Hochul's LG choice
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Because a reunion between Gov. Kathy Hochul and her number two, Antonio Delgado, is unlikely, she'll be running with a new lieutenant governor candidate in 2026. But who? The Dispatches from Planet Albany number crunchers have run the odds on a variety of options and host David Lombardo has The Parkside Group Vice President Alex Elmasri assess whether the lines should be higher or lower. They cover some of the frontrunners, names that would be good choices, and a couple jokes. You decide which is which. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a ...
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What you might have missed in the executive budget
Dispatches from Planet Albany
The highlights from Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget have permeated the consciousness of Planet Albany, but what about the other tasty morsels from the fine print? Host David Lombardo and Capitol Confidential author Dan Clark share some parts of the executive proposal that they think have been underappreciated, including new fees on lobbyists while cutting funding for the ethics watchdog and giving retroactive subsidies to New York City's theater productions. And if you enjoy , please leave us a rating and consider becoming a to support the podcast (because we could really use the money)....
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No new taxes? No problem
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Gov. Kathy Hochul is planning to propose a budget that makes major investments into child care, increase spending on education and boosts the state's commitment for health care, but without raising taxes. How does that math work? We consider how Hochul and her budget team will make the numbers add up in her executive proposal with the help of Rockefeller Institute of Government President Bob Megna. The former budget director talks about the state's recent cash reports, which show revenues dramatically exceeding expectations, and considers how reserves might address future ambiguity. Then...
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About that recreational marijuana rollout in New York....
Dispatches from Planet Albany
Nearly five years since the legalization of marijuana in New York and the effort to standup a recreational marketplace is still facing challenges. To discuss some of the recent headaches, including leadership turnover at the state's marijuana regulator, and some ideas for addressing the illegal products ending up on shelves in New York, we spoke with Herb Barbot, the former director of operations at the state Office of Cannabis Management and now the chair of the Empire State Green Standard Alliance. Then we have another episode of "Know Your Politicos," with an internal Marathon...
info_outlineRedistricting is traditionally supposed to be on the menu once a decade, but it has become a recurring staple in New York, where Democrats are exploring options to redraw congressional lines before 2032.
Host David Lombardo breaks down the potential outcomes from a court case challenging the NY-11 boundaries with the help of Jeff Wice, a senior fellow and distinguished adjunct professor with the New York Law School's Census and Redistricting Institute. He also discusses the outstanding constitutional amendment to rewrite New York's redistricting process and an effort to get an early start on the Census count for 2030.
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).