From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell

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...

From campaigns… to a New York senator’s office… to the heart of New York City Hall, Kara Hughes has built her career on the inside of government and politics. This week, we sit down with OD&A’s Senior Advisor and Head of NYC Practice to discuss her decades of public service and policy work. Kara has helped shape legislation, navigated crises, and now advises clients on how to move ideas forwar...

Three weeks late. No budget. And patience is wearing thin. So, are we any closer to a deal? In this episode of From the Lobby , Jack O’Donnell dives into the budget talks and the quiet shifts that could change the outcome. Here’s what we’re getting into: Is there any real progress on a final budget? Kathy Hochul softens her stance on climate goals—is it a compromise or a strategy? The auto insuran...

In this Meet the Team episode of From the Lobby , we sit down with Lauren Voorhees, a University of Toronto grad stepping into her new role in NYC, bringing a mix of legal insight and global experience. From working on justice reform to living across Europe, Lauren’s not just starting a job—she’s bringing a different lens to the work. Here’s what we get into: ​The connection between political scie...

Budget talks just got louder. Lawmakers are calling each other out, and Governor Hochul isn’t backing down. In this episode of From the Lobby , Jack O’Donnell breaks down the tension building in Albany, the political pressure behind it, and what it all means as budget talks continue to drag. Here’s what we’re getting into: ​Do tense budget talks extend the date for a new deal? ​Questions around ca...

A surprise exit in Albany. A wave of lawmakers heading out the door. And a budget that’s still inching along. We break it all down with Jack O'Donnell, who’s closely watching every move and every delay. In this episode: ​What does Crystal Peoples-Stokes’ retirement from politics mean for Albany and Western New York? ​Why are nearly 20 state lawmakers choosing not to run again? ​The budget slowdown...

The NY budget deadline came and went. How much longer does this process go? In this episode of From the Lobby , Jack O’Donnellwalks us through where things stand and what bogs down budget talks every year. At the same time, a new poll is turning heads in thegovernor’s race, and in New York City, a budget fight is getting louder. Here’s what we’re digging into: The budget is late (again)—are we clo...

Budget talks are dragging. Protests are boiling over. And what is really happening behind closed doors? In this episode of From the Lobby , our Jack O’Donnell goes beyond the headlines and tells you what really matters. Inside this episode: Why the Albany budget fight is getting more intense by the day How immigration is jamming up negotiations What’s behind Zohran Mamdani’s sudden shift away from...

In this week’s episode of Meet the Team , we sit down with Peter McGowan, one of the newest members of O’Donnell & Associates, already jumping into the day-to-day work in Albany. From New York City government relations… to State Senate campaigns… to time with Congressman Joe Morelle, Peter knows how decisions come together from multiple sides. In this episode: When politics first clicked for P...

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , we check in with Jack on where things stand right now, from ongoing budget talks in Albany to policy debates that could have real impacts in the weeks ahead. In this episode: Albany budget talks : Why things seem to be moving slowly Energy policy & costs : The governor is signaling changes, but will the Legislature go along? Auto Insurance refo...

For this episode, we’re flipping the script. Usually, Joanna Pasceri is the one asking the questions. Today, she’s in the hot seat! OD&A VP of Public Affairs Ralph Ortega, former City & State NY editor, takes the mic to interview Joanna, Director of Communications at O’Donnell & Associates and TV News veteran. Reporter to reporter. Newsroom to lobbying. This conversation is full of ins...

The One-House budgets were released this week by the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate. What stands out? And what actually has a chance of making it into the final budget? Jack O’Donnell, Managing Partner of O’Donnell & Associates, walks us through the biggest moves and what they could mean for New Yorkers in his latest ‘From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell’ podcast. Inside t...

What’s it really like to work on a presidential campaign in one of the most-watched states in the country? And how do you juggle all of that while still in college? In this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell , our Meet the Team series continues with Emily Sullivan , a fellow at O’Donnell & Associates . In this conversation, we talk about:  The moment politics first grabbed her atten...

On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, we take you inside the latest political moves shaping New York. Jack O’Donnell, Managing Partner of O’Donnell & Associates, joins us to break down what the headlines really mean. Here’s what we’re digging into: 📊 A new Siena poll shows Kathy Hochul with a big lead, but most voters still don’t know challenger Bruce Blakeman. Can you win wh...

From storm recovery to healthcare funding to the future of tech, our Jim Moore has seen it all and knows how to get things done. This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell — Meet the Team , we introduce you to Jim Moore, Vice President and Policy Director at O’Donnell & Associates. Jim works at the center of some of the biggest issues facing New York and he’s helped secure millions in fun...