The Capitol Pressroom

Jan. 21, 2026 - For tens of thousands of low-income New Yorkers trying to access public benefits, the process of making their case to the state can drag on for months, which has prompted a lawsuit urging faster resolutions. We talk about what's driving this case with Saima Akhtar, a senior attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.

Jan. 21, 2026 - We review some of the top line figures and trends from Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal with Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein.

Jan. 21, 2026 - New York Focus Albany Bureau Chief Chris Bragg explains how Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration has become more opaque as they get entrenched in the second floor, refusing to release the governor's meeting logs in a timely fashion.

Jan. 19, 2026- In light of Micron Technology breaking ground in central New York, we wanted to explore the work of the state-aligned nonprofit working to support high-tech manufacturing in the Empire State. NY-CREATES President David Anderson weighs in on the Micron developments, creating a workforce for the semiconductor industry and weathering the volitivity at the federal level.

Jan. 19, 2026- Following an investigation into the use of algorithmic pricing by Instacart, the state attorney general's office is asking for information from the third-party shopping service. We explore the use personal data to set prices and efforts to regulate these practices with Justin Brookman, director of technology policy for Consumer Reports, which helped expose the tactics of Instacart.

Jan. 19, 2026 - In an excerpt of Monday's Dispatches from Planet Albany podcast, Rockefeller Institute of Government President Bob Megna discusses the significance of the latest cash report from the state comptroller's office.

Jan. 13, 2026- Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to boost housing production, but are her policies making a difference? We explore recent actions at the Capitol and consider other means of producing more affordable housing with Lisa Damiani, executive director of the Western New York Property Owners Association, and Tim Foley, CEO of the Building and Realty Institute.

Jan. 16, 2026- Office of the New York State Comptroller Deputy Comptroller for State Accountability Tina Kim discusses an audit that highlighted room for improvement in the state's dispersal of funds to replace lead service lines in the Empire State.

Jan. 13, 2026- Consultant Jenn O'Connor and Marion Waldman, executive director of Teach My Kid to Read, make the case for state grants to libraries so they can fill the gaps in efforts to promote early literacy.

Jan. 15, 2026- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham makes the case for New Yorkers to drink less alcohol and gives an update on efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.