Dispatches from Planet Albany

While Democrats were making inroads all over New York in November, they were turned back in the race for mayor of Binghamton, where the GOP incumbent secured re-election despite a major enrollment disadvantage.

This got us interested in the larger Broome County Republican apparatus, so we're checking in with their 31-year-old chair, Benji Federman. We talk about his pathway into political leadership, why he supports Rep. Elise Stefanik's gubernatorial bid, and how he thinks Republicans can rebuild their presence in the state legislature.

And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.

After years of anticipation, plus some twists and turns along the way, there is clarity about the future casino landscape in the New York City area.

We broke down the significance of the state siting board's decision with Bennett Liebman, one of the architect's of the 2013 law that paved the way to the proliferation of casino licenses in New York. We consider what to expect with these projects, like when they'll start asking for tax breaks, and take a broader look at New York's gambling operators.

And if this insider discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our holiday offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12×9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.

The race for governor of New York won't be decided for another eleven months, but a snapshot of the contest from the fall by a conservative think tank suggests the election is winnable for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

We unpack the findings, including Gov. Kathy Hochul's underwhelming performance in New York City, and the poll's methodology with Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, where his duties include polling.

And if this discussion is your cup of tea, you may be interested in our limited-time offer for supporters of the program. For a $50 contribution or a recurring commitment of $5 a month we'll give you a 12x9 poster celebrating life on Planet Albany.

Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Smith Plummer is back on the podcast after a lengthy absence to discuss whether a leak from the Hochul administration was accidentally done on purpose, the possibility of tax increases in next year's state budget, and whether Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol are going to veer to the left because of possible primaries.

We also talk about who the governor might tap to be her running mate in 2026 and whether any of the contenders need to try less.

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).

In 2022, corruption charges blew up the career trajectory for then-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. More than three years later, with the case dropped by federal prosecutors, the Harlem Democrat has a new life and a new perspective on the legal system and his life's journey.

Benjamin visited the studio to reflect on the allegations of bribery from his time in the state senate, consider the role of the governor's number two and what makes a good lieutenant governor, and share his plans for the future.

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).

A recent report from the Business Council of New York State made the case that employers in the Empire State don't feel like they're being heard by state policymakers. Putting aside that every interest group feels like this, it's undeniable that business interests do play a lot of defense during the legislative session in Albany.

To discuss the lobbying efforts of the business community we sat down with former Democratic Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, who is now a lobbyist with Brown & Weinraub.

And for Working Rules we explored the relationship between New York governors and the State Education Department with Patrick Mannion, an upstate representative of the state Board of Regents.

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).

What does it mean to be a Democrat?

That's the question being posed to the party faithful in New York by Matt Castelli, who is best known in the Empire State for his 2022 congressional shellacking at the hands of Rep. Elise Stefanik. The former CIA operative has regrouped in Dutchess County, where there is speculation about a 2027 run for county executive, and is hoping to rebuild his party's brand in New York with input from the county committees.

Castelli joined the show to make the case that Democrats have to stand for more than a resistance to President Donald Trump, discussed his political future, and offered some messaging tips for candidates from his party.

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).

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has a short list of accomplishments in Albany during his time in the Assembly, but his plans for the Big Apple will require him to be successful at the state's Capitol.

We talked about that path to success with Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, a Bronx Democrat, who has been described as part of Mamdani's "brain trust." We consider what he'll prioritize for Albany in 2026, how she can be helpful to his agenda, and what the relationship between the mayor and governor could look like next year.

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).

After months of flirting with a gubernatorial run, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik jumped into the race in November.

We discuss the North Country Republican's longshot path to the Executive Mansion in Albany with Chapin Fay, a veteran GOP strategist and founder of Lighthouse Public Affairs. We talk about the importance of New York City for Stefanik in a general election, consider the ramifications of a GOP primary, and debate whether President Donald Trump or NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will be more problematic for their respective parties in the race for governor.

Democrats made inroads all over New York on Election Day, including flipping some Republican-held county legislatures, and the party's mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, got the highest number of votes in decades.

We break down this good news for the Democratic Party, the not-so-good news in Nassau County, the status of the New York party infrastructure, and the prospects of governing and running for elections in 2026 with the help of BerlinRosen Senior Vice President Loren Amor, SKDK Senior Vice President Bryan Lesswing, and Long Island Assemblymember Chuck Lavine.