From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell

On this week's From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , Jack breaks down the election results, the political shake-up, and what he's watching next. He's talking: 🔹 Hochul's 20-point victory: What does it say about New York voters? 🔹 Dissecting Democrats' big wins: Can the party deliver on voters' expectations? 🔹 The Republican reckoning: Where did it all go wrong, and wh...

Days to go. Polls are shifting. Early voting is surging. And the balance of power could be up for grabs. On this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , political strategist Jack O’Donnell breaks down the races, the risks, and the surprises that could shape Tuesday’s results. Here’s what’s at stake: Kathy Hochul’s lead: Is it all but over for Bruce Blakeman campaign for governor? Early voting...

The clock is ticking toward Election Day, and the political stakes are getting higher. With early voting underway, can Bruce Blakeman make up ground against Governor Kathy Hochul? And what do the latest polls tell us about the Republican Party’s chances heading into the midterms? On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , political strategist and campaign veteran Jack O’Donnell breaks...

A fiery debate, a billionaire’s big midterm bet, and a fight over the future of New York City’s horse carriages. Who’s gaining ground, who’s taking a gamble, and what happens next? On this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell : Debate Night Showdown: Did Kathy Hochul or Bruce Blakeman come out on top? And did Hochul play the Trump card too often? The Road to Congress: Democrats see an opening...

The news is moving fast as Election Day approaches, and the stakes are getting higher. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack talks polls, power, and the money moves that could shake up New York: Hochul’s lead: Is Blakeman’s strength upstate and among independents enough to make this a real race? Trump’s wildcard: Will the president’s push for Blakeman help his campaign or Hochul&#...

Election Day is just over a month away and the stakes are rising. On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Joanna Pasceri sits down with Jack to break down the races, money, and issues shaping New York politics right now. Tax cuts are taking center stage. What should voters watch as Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman make their cases on affordability? The money race is heating up. How...

Trump and Mamdani. Two political opposites. One increasingly interesting relationship. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack breaks down: • Trump & Mamdani: They disagree on plenty. So why do these meetings keep happening and does either side gain politically? • The governor’s race: Two new polls tell very different stories. What explains the wide gap and which numbers deserve...

November is getting closer, and the political stakes are getting higher. In this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack digs into the moves, numbers, and questions shaping the road to Election Day: $1 billion in utility rebate checks are about to reach New Yorkers. The timing is drawing attention with the governor’s race weeks away. Bruce Blakeman faces a steep Democratic registration ad...

As New York marks 25 years since 9/11, the anniversary is becoming a political battleground. Jack O’Donnell weighs in on what that says about the state of politics today, and takes on a series of other fights unfolding in New York and across the country. In this episode: 9/11 at 25: Why is a day of remembrance becoming a political flashpoint and when will justice prevail? Open primaries: Should un...

The governor’s race just got a lot more interesting. A new Siena poll cuts Kathy Hochul’s lead over Bruce Blakeman in half—from 20 points to 10. Is Blakeman really gaining ground? Or is this just one poll catching a moment in time? On this week’s From the Lobby , Jack O’Donnell digs into the numbers behind the headline and what they could mean as the campaign heats up. Inside the episode: Why Hoch...

Twenty-five years ago, Jack O'Donnell took a leap and founded O'Donnell & Associates with one goal: build a public affairs firm focused on solving problems. Did he ever imagine it would grow into what it is today? In this candid conversation, Jack reflects on the moments that shaped him—both professionally and personally—and the lessons he's learned along the way. Inside this episo...

The campaign trail is getting busier. The policy debates are getting louder. And with the midterms fast approaching, the political stakes are only getting higher. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , we discuss: What's behind Governor Hochul's statewide tour defending her data center moratorium? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also hits the road to shore up votes for...

What does a lobbyist actually do? It's one of the questions we hear most, and in this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , we're answering it. This week, we turn the spotlight on the profession itself, taking you inside the world of government affairs and separating fact from fiction. Listen in as we discuss: How Jack got into the lobbying profession after years in politics...

Big decisions. Big questions. And another busy week in New York politics. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell, Jack breaks down the headlines and what to watch next. Listen in as we discuss: ​Why Governor Hochul paused new data center projects, and why some are saying it’s a mistake. ​Bruce Blakeman's campaign cash claims. Why are there conflicting fundraising numbers? ​A new w...

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , Jack goes behind the headlines to explain what's driving the latest political shifts, and what they could mean for voters, lawmakers, and business leaders. In this episode: Why two new polls tell completely different stories about Governor Hochul's reelection chances. Would Congresswoman Elise Stefanik have been Hochul's toughest Re...

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , Jack breaks down the latest political shakeups, policy battles, and what they could mean as attention turns toward the midterms. Listen in as we discuss: A surprise Democratic primary upset in Syracuse. Is the progressive movement gaining ground Upstate? Is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries vulnerable? And can he help Democrats regain con...

The votes are in—now the real impact begins. This week on 'From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell,' we unpack a primary election that is reshaping the political conversation across New York. In this episode: How much political muscle does Mayor Zohran Mamdani really have? Why incumbents suddenly look a lot more vulnerable Can progressive candidates deliver on the promises driving their sup...

Primary Day is around the corner, and while turnout may be low, the political stakes are anything but! This week on From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell , we look at the races that could reveal where New York Democrats and perhaps the country is headed next. In this episode: ​How will progressive Democrats fare? ​What the primary results could mean for Congress in November ​The multi-billion-dollar...

The budget was late. The session was a blur. And now legislative leaders in Albany are calling these past two months productive. This week on From the Lobby , Jack O'Donnell breaks down the wins, the loose ends, and the political consequences of one of the strangest legislative sessions in recent memory. Inside this episode: ​The budget is done. The session is over. Can lawmakers campaign on w...

Lawmakers are heading out the door in Albany. Whichpriorities made the cut... and which ones quietly ran out of time? In this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell ,Jack takes you inside the final sprint, where deals happen fast, tensions rise, and every vote counts. Inside this episode: Jack’s thoughts on the marathon finish and the session overall A controversial push to make redistricti...

New York finally has a budget. After weeks of delays, lawmakers wrapped up a marathon session just after midnight, delivering the latest state budget in 16 years. On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack breaks down the politics behind the budget process and what this bruising battle reveals about how Albany really works. This week: • Why Jack believes the budget could have bee...

After weeks of delays, deadlocks, and behind-the-scenes drama, New York’s budget is finally moving. And when the dust settles, this will be the latest state budget approval in 16 years. This week, Albany insider Jack O’Donnell joins us ' From the Lobby' to break down the budget battles, the political maneuvering, and the fallout that could shape New York politics heading into election seas...

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack offers some perspective on this drawn-out budget season & has an update on talks after last week's public blowup. In this episode: • Whether this year’s budget chaos is unusual or classic Albany • Can the budget process really change as lawmakers are promising? • Do New Yorkers really care more about policy than spending numbers? • The...

A budget deal… or not? Just when it looked like Albany had finally landed the plane, leaders sent mixed signals and turned the state budget process into another headline-grabbing showdown. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , Jack breaks down the confusion, the compromises, and the political pressure behind a $268 billion state budget that arrived late, and still may not be fully sett...

A month late, but finally some movement on the NY budget. On this episode of 'From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell,' Jack is back, tracking every twist, every trade-off, and every pressure point. In this episode: Why the budget is still not done & how close we really are to a final deal The growing frustration with how Albany gets things done. Should the process change? A rare moment of unity in...