Dispatches from Planet Albany

Congressman Pat Ryan appears to be making all the right moves for a New York Democrat envisioning statewide office.

We unpack his recent track record and potential future with Politico New York reporter Jason Beeferman, who recently profiled the two-term representative. We discuss Ryan's "patriotic populism," the landmines he might encounter on the left, his social media presence, and the political office that might attract his attention in 2028 or beyond.

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Former Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris joins the show for an exit interview.

We talked with the Queens Democrat about what comes next, his battle against subsidies for an Amazon HQ, flipping the state senate, and advocating for animals. We also get the backstory on his LCA Show rebuttal video and explore his relationship with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

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Earlier this summer we talked with Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra for The Capitol Pressroom about settling in as the top Republican in the people's house.

Left on the cutting room floor was our discussion about the benefits of a good relationship with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the potential governance challenges facing the Assembly Democrats, and my test of how well the Long Island Republican knows his potential new GOP colleagues.

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State Sen. Liz Krueger is on the mend after a stroke this spring took her out of commission during the peak of the budget process.

The Manhattan Democrat joins the show to discuss the medical emergency and her subsequent recovery, the experience of working remotely, and her plans for 2027, including a possible shakeup at the Senate Finance Committee. We also consider the ramifications of a major cannabis bill that moved through the legislature in the waning hours of the legislative session.

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It's a changing of the guard at the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, as Sen. Shelley Mayer takes over for the retiring Sen. Mike Gianaris.

We talked with the Westchester County Democrat about why she was the right next leader of the DSCC, potential pickups for the Senate Democrats, and whether she wants an expanded government portfolio too.

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A bill approved at the end of the legislative session without any fanfare could be a major disrupter of New York's marijuana industry.

We explore the story behind this AFL-CIO championed measure, which would create a cannabis wage board and might ultimately contribute to consolidation of marijuana businesses. We also consider the case for overhauling New York's THC beverage landscape, what lawmakers might emerge as leaders in the cannabis space next year, and what to expect from the state's marijuana regulator.

Our guest is Katie Neer, who is of counsel with the lobbying firm Dickinson & Avella.

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Before Assemblyman Micah Lasher departs Planet Albany for the nation's capital, the Manhattan Democrat joined us for an exit interview.

We did a deep dive into his state government experience, from his time pushing Michael Bloomberg's New York City agenda nearly 20 years ago to integrating himself into the people's house after working for Gov. Kathy Hochul. We also discuss navigating the legislative process, his policy mandate working for the governor, and an idea for improving the flow of bills in the state legislature.

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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 also speculation that the finance post will also be relinquished by Chair Liz Krueger. To discuss how these posts might get filled, as well as the head of the political arm of the Senate Democrats, we're joined by Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Plummer.

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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 unfolded in 2018, when AOC burst on the scene, Democrats flipped control of the state senate and Andrew Cuomo cruised to re-election.

To consider this dynamic, we're checking in with Loren Amor, an executive vice president with BerlinRosen. We'll discuss whether the enthusiasm on the far left will translate in purple districts, share expectations for Kathy Hochul's re-election bid, and reflect on where Pat Ryan is heading.

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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 issues they're still a force to be reckoned with in Planet Albany. And they're getting bigger.

We reflect on the firm's history and future, with founder and managing partner Chris Duryea. We talk about his approach to attracting new business, working with friends and where he was during the failed Bragman coup.

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