The Capitol Pressroom

Sept. 16, 2026- We highlight legislation standardizing the criminal penalties for commercial sexual exploitation to eliminate a loophole involving certain minors that are victimized. Our guest is Rebecca Zipkin, vice president of policy & programs for World Without Exploitation.

Sept. 16, 2026- New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli discusses a state program incentivizing private banks to operate in communities with limited access to financial services.

Sept. 15, 2026- Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, visits the studio to make the case for expanding New York's solar footprint, addressing the concerns of small lake associations, and billing fossil fuel providers for the costs associated with climate change.

Sept. 15, 2026- We examine legislation designed to strengthen the effectiveness of consumer debt protections with Evan Denerstein, a senior staff attorney at Mobilization for Justice.

Sept. 15, 2026- Political memorabilia nerd Brian Fessler talks about how he secures hard to find campaign swag, including requests from Capitol Pressroom host David Lombardo. Anyone interested in campaign paraphernalia should visit a political memorabilia show on Oct. 17 in Albany.

Sept. 14, 2026- We explore legislation boosting Medicaid payments for medical suppliers providing durable medical equipment to patients. Our guests are John Quinlan, owner of Quinlan’s Medical Equipment in central and western New York, and David Chandler, vice president of payer relations for the American Association for Homecare.

Sept. 14, 2026- We compare the policies of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to modern day political issues, including the use of special commissions and the evolution of primaries. Our guest is historian David Frisk, a resident fellow at the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, where he's teaching a class this fall.

Sept. 11, 2026 - Democratic state lawmakers are trying (again) to put guardrails on the collection and use of New Yorkers’ electronic health data. We explore this digital privacy issue with Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel for the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Sept. 11, 2026 - State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses cuts in funding to victim services and we explore her legislation intended to improve access to services for survivors of crimes.

Sept. 11, 2026 - We get a lesson on the marine life management done by state environmental officials, including what gets protected and how they balance sometimes competing interests. Our guest is John Maniscalco, bureau chief for marine fisheries at the state Department of Environmental Conservation.