The Capitol Connection
Thursdays, 3-3:30 p.m.
Maybe you voted for them and maybe you didn’t, but either way, what they do and how they think affects you. Each week on The Capitol Connection, you can keep yourself abreast of political developments and gain a little insight into how New York State’s politicians think. David Guistina holds conversations with the governor, the comptroller, members from the Assembly and Senate, and other political movers and shakers.
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(Airs 01/08/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York State Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay, about their agenda for the 2026 session, his thoughts about Congresswoman Elise Stefanik dropping out of politics forcing him to switch his endorsement to Bruce Blakeman, discussion of the new prison reform law, and more. -
(Airs 01/01/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Jimmy Vielkind, public media reporter for WNYC, The Gothamist and the New York Public News Network, about some of the new laws in New York in 2026, some of the bills Governor Hochul vetoed, and some of the top political stories of 2025. -
(Airs 12/25/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Paul Wolf, President Emeritus of The New York Coalition for Open Government, about why they put Governor Kathy Hochul on their naughty list for the third year in a row, and much more. -
(Airs 12/18/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, about why she does not support the Medical Aid in Dying Act which the Governor agreed to sign this week, how to deal with mental health problems in young people, the need to boost medical cannabis, and much more. -
(Airs 12/11/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York Senator James Skoufis, a Democrat, about his new retail to retail bill, the situation with the Orange County IDA and an Amazon warehouse proposal, whether his relationship with Governor Hochul is strained, and much more. -
(Airs 12/04/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Michelle Hadden, Executive Director of The New York Council on Problem Gambling, about the definition of gambling addiction, the expansion of legalized gambling in the state, online gambling and its impact on youth, and much more. -
(Airs 11/27/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Blair Horner, Senior Policy Advisor for The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), about Blair not liking “Big Oil” getting big tax breaks amid a climate crisis, wanting the bottle bill to be expanded, and much more. -
(Airs 11/20/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina speaks with Pollster Steven Greenberg of the Siena Poll about the latest numbers on the New York governor’s race between Govenor Kathy Hochul, Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado, and Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, how New Yorker’s feel about New York City Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani, and more. -
(Airs 11/13/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina speaks with Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter and reporter covering New York government and policy for the Times Union, about Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayoral election, Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik officially entering the race for New York Governor, redistricting, and much more. -
(Airs 11/06/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina speaks with Yancey Roy, Albany Bureau Chief for Newsday, about this week’s elections, redistricting and more.
