Best WCNY Podcasts (2025)

1
SUNY and CUNY leaders urged to confront President Trump 13:59

3m ago13:59

13:59

April 30, 2025 - Frederick Kowal, president of United University Professions, argues that SUNY and CUNY leaders should be part of a vocal, coordinated rebuttal to President Donald Trump's effort to disrupt the status quo on college campuses, including stifling academic freedom.By WCNY

1
Cancer survivors push update to state medical leave policy 9:49

6m ago9:49

9:49

April 30, 2025 - The state's paid medical leave benefit has been stagnant for more than three decades, which hinders the ability of cancer patients to access care, according to Michael Davoli, senior New York State government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Stacy Betler, a cancer survivor.…

1
Troopers want time to process violent incidents 12:29

7m ago12:29

12:29

April 30, 2025 - New York State Troopers PBA President Charles Murphy makes the case for a state law ensuing troopers have up to 30 days of paid leave to process their direct involvement with a use-of-force incident that leads the death or serious injury of another person.By WCNY

1
Students, parents and educators navigate school smartphone restrictions 9:49

1h ago9:49

9:49

April 30, 2025 - New York is poised to become the latest state to restrict access to smartphones during the school day, based on a state budget deal announced Monday. The Capitol Pressroom's J.T. Stone examined the policy scheduled to take effect for the 2025-2026 school year and talked with education stakeholders from around New York.…

1
Framework takes shape for $254 billion state budget 13:59

6h ago13:59

13:59

April 29, 2025 - On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a budget deal was reached with the Democratic majorities in the state legislature. And while the bills still need to be printed and final details agreed upon, we review the broad strokes of the agreement with Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter for the Times Union.…

1
Do Senate Dems need a new approach to plastic waste? 13:59

4h ago13:59

13:59

April 29, 2025 - Sen. Monica Martinez, a Long Island Democrat, talks about why she is pushing plastic packaging waste legislation that is an alternative to a proposal with waste reduction mandates that has been under consideration for years.By WCNY

1
NY car insurance costs squeezing ride-hailing services 15:23

4h ago15:23

15:23

April 29, 2025 - New Yorkers are used to high insurance costs, for everything from property coverage to a foster care program, and now the cost of car insurance has prompted the ride sharing industry to push for change. We talked with Josh Gold, senior director of public policy and communications at Uber, about the ramifications of costly insurance…

1
Former Syracuse mayor's memoir exposes reality of governing 24:26

4h ago24:26

24:26

April 29, 2025 - Stephanie Miner, who served as mayor of Syracuse from 2010 until 2018, discusses her new memoir, including why her political relationship with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo fizzled and what it was like working with the state legislature.By WCNY

1
Insurance mandate proposed for obesity treatment 15:25

19h ago15:25

15:25

April 28, 2025 - Monica Billger, director of state government affairs at the American Diabetes Association, discusses legislation intended to make obesity treatments, including popular weight loss drugs, more accessible by mandating insurance coverage.By WCNY

1
Court system simplifies uncontested divorce process 9:49

20h ago9:49

9:49

April 28, 2025 - We consider changes to the uncontested divorce process in New York with April Dalbec, co-chair of the matrimonial and family law practice group for Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP. We also consider potential changes to the legal separation laws and access to pro bono divorce attorneys.…

1
Studying New York's eel population 12:29

2d ago12:29

12:29

April 28, 2025 - Chris Bowser, education coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Conservation‘s Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the NYS Water Resource Institute talks about the eel population in New York and explains a program that engages New Yorkers to track the state’s eels.…

1
Thousands languish on wait lists for mental health services 12:29

4d ago12:29

12:29

April 25, 2025 - Luke Sikinyi, vice president of public policy at the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, highlights the long wait lists for state-funded mental health services in New York and argues against expanding the use of involuntary commitments.By WCNY

1
Assessing the GOP candidates for governor 9:49

4d ago9:49

9:49

April 25, 2025 - In a new excerpt from Dispatches from Planet Albany, we broke down the evolving field of GOP gubernatorial candidates with Republican communications consultant Chapin Fay.By WCNY

1
Hochul promotes early release in prisons 13:59

4d ago13:59

13:59

April 25, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to give the state's prisons some breathing room by moving up the release date of hundreds of New Yorkers already scheduled to be let go. We discuss this policy with Laura Roan, vice president of in-prison services for The Osborne Association.By WCNY

1
Trump's DOJ looking at NY AG Tish James 13:59

4d ago13:59

13:59

April 25, 2025 - New York Attorney General Letitia James could soon find herself under a federal criminal investigation, but is this a weaponization of the justice system? We explore the case against the Brooklyn Democrat and the response by the Trump administration with Dale Margolin Cecka, an assistant professor of law at Albany Law School.…

1
Contenders, pretenders, and ascenders in the GOP gubernatorial field 27:40

4d ago27:40

27:40

The field of Republican candidates for governor in 2026 is starting to take shape, so we wanted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the big names who are out there and consider what it will take for the GOP to win back the executive mansion in next year. Our guest is Chapin Fay, a conservative communications and political strategist, who is f…

1
POLL: Late budget, gubernatorial candidates, & Trump policies 12:29

6d ago12:29

12:29

April 23, 2025 - We break down the latest survey of voters by the Siena College Research Institute, which asked if New Yorkers care about a late budget, who they want to be the gubernatorial nominees next year, and their reactions to some Trump administration priorities. Our guest is Siena pollster Steve Greenberg.…

1
Regulating prices set with consumer data 9:49

6d ago9:49

9:49

April 23, 2025 - Assemblymember Emérita Torres, a Bronx Democrat, explains her legislation regulating the use of price adjustments informed by consumer data.By WCNY

1
AG Tish James goes after de facto payday lenders 13:59

6d ago13:59

13:59

April 23, 2025 - New York State Attorney General Letitia James is going after de facto payday lending operations that she claims are engaging in abusive and deceptive practices. Andy Morrison, associate director of the New Economy Project, discusses the attorney general's lawsuit and makes the case for stricter regulations of online financial servi…

1
Thousands of foster kids on the move without luggage 13:59

6d ago13:59

13:59

April 23, 2025 - Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a Brooklyn Democrat, talks about why kids in foster care need to be provided with luggage. The thousands of kids in the system without luggage, and how the problem could be addressed, was recently explored by The Imprint.By WCNY

1
Inspector General looks to curb workers' compensation fraud 22:18

7d ago22:18

22:18

April 22, 2025 - New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang discusses a recent report on workers' compensation fraud investigations in 2024, which led to an increase in arrests and recovered payouts.By WCNY

1
Counties want to stop diversion of 9-1-1 funding 13:59

7d ago13:59

13:59

April 22, 2025 - New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen Acquario calls on state policymakers to stop siphoning off funds intended for New York's 9-1-1 system in order to pay for critical upgrades to the emergency network.By WCNY

1
Trump administration takes over Penn Station overhaul 9:49

8d ago9:49

9:49

April 21, 2025 - We get an update on the Trump administration's decision to take control of the long-stalled overhaul of Penn Station, Our guest, Stephen Nessen, a transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains what had been happening under the Metropolitan Transit Authority and identifies some of the big questions moving forward.…

1
Out: Property taxes; In: Land values taxes 13:59

9d ago13:59

13:59

April 21, 2025 - State Senator Rachel May, a Syracuse Democrat, and Assembly Member Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, make the case for allowing a handful of municipalities to transition how they tax land in an attempt to promote growth and shift the local tax burden.By WCNY

1
Hochul sued for pausing solitary confinement protections 12:29

8d ago12:29

12:29

April 21, 2025 - Antony Gemmell, supervising attorney with the Prisoners' Rights Project at the Legal Aid Society, discusses a lawsuit against the Hochul Administration's pause on parts of a state law restricting the use of solitary confinement in New York prisons.By WCNY

1
Trump halts construction of offshore wind project 16:50

11d ago16:50

16:50

April 18, 2025 - New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe responds to the Trump administration hitting pause on the construction of an offshore wind project along Long Island that was expected to be in operation next year and power about 500,000 homes.By WCNY

1
Improving the processing of rape kits in New York 15:34

12d ago15:34

15:34

April 18, 2025 - In order to improve the processing of sex offense evidence, legislation has been introduced to ensure that rape kits processed at hospitals are part of a statewide tracking system and are addressed by law enforcement in a timely manner. Our guest is Ilse Knecht, director of policy and advocacy at the Joyful Heart Foundation.…

1
Legislation for SUNY and CUNY student bill of rights 9:49

12d ago9:49

9:49

April 18, 2025 - Gabrielle Lerner, president of the Student Government Association at Empire State University, makes the case for codifying a student bill of rights for SUNY and CUNY students.By WCNY

1
DiNapoli reviews state's Cuomo-era COVID purchases 12:29

12d ago12:29

12:29

April 18, 2025 - New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli discusses an audit of more than $450 million of medical equipment purchased by the state in the early days of the pandemic and has gone almost completely unused. He also addresses why his office didn't conduct this review years earlier.By WCNY

1
Shontell's revenge 28:01

11d ago28:01

28:01

Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Smith brings the fury and wrath of a vengeful god to this episode, as she responds to last week's political draft on the podcast, when her firm was not selected in the "Most Powerful Lobbying Firm" category. She addresses this omission and other categories from the draft, before discussing state budget negotiations …

1
GOP Assemblyman reflects on controversial immigration detention 17:39

13d ago17:39

17:39

April 17, 2025 - Assemblymember Scott Gray, a North Country Republican, discusses his role in helping a family of constituents who were detained and brought to Texas by federal immigration officials.By WCNY

1
Assemblyman Billy Jones discusses prison landscape 36:17

13d ago36:17

36:17

April 17, 2025 - Assemblymember D. Billy Jones, a North Country Democrat, discusses the prison landscape in New York and makes the case for hiring prison guards dismissed earlier this year. We also talk about the potential closing of additional facilities, the high-profile killings in central New York prisons, and much more.…

1
Consumer directed home care program enters new chapter 12:29

14d ago12:29

12:29

April 16, 2025 - We get an update on the transition of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program from Katelyn Cordero, a health care reporter with Politico New York.By WCNY

1
Trump's tariff policies supported by Mohawk Valley lawmaker 17:47

14d ago17:47

17:47

April 16, 2025 - Assemblymember Robert Smullen, a Mohawk Valley Republican, defends the Trump Administration's approach to tariffs and argues that increased tariffs could benefit American manufacturing and the federal government's coffers.By WCNY

1
Improving flow of health records among providers 12:29

15d ago12:29

12:29

April 15, 2025 - Alexandra Fitz, head of the enterprise initiatives and partnership for the New York eHealth Collaborative, explains an effort to improve the flow of health care records among providers all over the state and public health officials.By WCNY

1
Constitutional amendment needed for Adirondack sports complex 9:49

15d ago9:49

9:49

April 15, 2025 - Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer discusses an amendment to the state constitution making its way through Albany that would ensure that upgrades to a Lake Placid-area sports complex are in line with the state constitution's Adirondack protections.By WCNY

1
1199 SEIU leader taps union funds for personal benefit 15:07

15d ago15:07

15:07

April 15, 2025 - Politico New York health care reporter Maya Kaufman shares her findings from a deep dive into the spending of 1199 SEIU. Her reporting exposes how the union's president, George Gresham, and his close associates have personally benefited from the organization.By WCNY

1
Audit: Hochul administration needs AI guardrails 13:59

15d ago13:59

13:59

April 15, 2025 - A handful of state agencies have room for improving their standards and practices governing artificial intelligence use, according to an audit by the state comptroller's office. We break down their findings and recommendations with Tina Kim, deputy comptroller in the division of state government accountability for the comptroller's…

1
Regional food bank launches training kitchen 13:59

16d ago13:59

13:59

April 14, 2025 -Regional Food Bank President CEO Tom Nardacci talks about a newly opened training kitchen and explains how Republicans in Washington D.C. could exacerbate New York's food insecurity problems.By WCNY

1
Divvying up additional federal health care dollars 9:49

16d ago9:49

9:49

April 14, 2025 - Jihoon Kim, CEO of InUnity Alliance, makes the case for using additional federal dollars to support mental health and substance abuse services. He also talks about a cost of living raise for nonprofits and shares concerns about the Trump administration.By WCNY

1
Opioid settlement board faces new (and old) challenges 26:28

16d ago26:28

26:28

April 14, 2025 - State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board Chair Debra Pantin discusses the flow of settlement funds, the board's future, and the impact of the Trump administration policies on overdose deaths.By WCNY

1
Assemblyman Hevesi talks working families agenda for budget 13:59

19d ago13:59

13:59

April 11, 2025 - Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, discusses what he's hoping to get inserted into the final state budget to help working families.By WCNY

1
New York's unemployment system needs some attention 12:29

19d ago12:29

12:29

April 11, 2025 - Emily Eisner, chief economist with the Fiscal Policy Institute, discusses the various ideas on how to tackle the extra billions of dollars that businesses have been asked to pay as a result of unprecedented unemployment benefits paid out five years ago.By WCNY

1
Early intervention crisis persists in New York 9:49

19d ago9:49

9:49

April 11, 2025 - The state budget adopted in 2024 included a much needed rate increase for early intervention providers, but that support hasn't been realized and the Hochul administration has implemented cuts to reimbursements, according to Brigit Hurley, chief program officer for The Children's Agenda.…

1
Debunking narratives about the state budget process 13:59

19d ago13:59

13:59

April 11, 2025 - Democrats in the state legislature claim they're relatively powerless in the budget process compared to the governor, but is that the case? We debunk some of the common misconceptions about making the budget with EJ McMahon, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute.By WCNY

1
We're drafting again!!! 45:56

18d ago45:56

45:56

Based on the success of our first Dispatches from Planet Albany draft, we're going back to the well and drafting new categories. We're drafting most powerful interest groups, most effective PR consultants, best LG choice for Governor Hochul in 2026, and much more. Teams are being assembled by Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter…

1
Data undercuts 'discovery' narrative from Hochul and DAs 16:40

20d ago16:40

16:40

April 10, 2025 - Assemblymember Gabriella Romero, a Capital Region Democrat and former public defender, argues against an effort by Gov. Kathy Hochul and prosecutors to amend the state's evidentiary disclosure laws, which underwent major changes in 2019.By WCNY

1
Democrats want to incentivize electric lawn equipment 9:49

20d ago9:49

9:49

April 10, 2025 - Assemblymember Steve Otis, a Westchester County Democrat, makes the case for creating a rebate that would incentivize the purchase of electric lawn care equipment.By WCNY

1
Rule promoting electric truck sales in limbo 13:59

20d ago13:59

13:59

April 10, 2025 - State environmental regulators are delaying enforcement of rules promoting the sale of electric trucks and state lawmakers also want to pause the system. We consider the future of this environmental proposal with Ryan Gallentine, a managing director with the trade association Advanced Energy United.…

1
NY policymakers brace for illegal federal funding cuts 13:59

20d ago13:59

13:59

April 10, 2025 - Assemblymember Micah Lasher, a Manhattan Democrat, discusses his legislation establishing a framework for New York to withhold payments to the federal government if the Trump administration withholds state funds in violation of a court order.By WCNY

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