From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell

Albany is in the thick of budget talks after the NY Senate and Assembly have approved their One-House budgets. Jack unpacks the spending proposals and talks about where legislators stand on raising taxes, criminal justice reforms, inflation rebate checks, and the cell phone ban in schools. Also, the impact of Canadian tariffs on NY and can Democrats in D.C. get along? Worth a listen!

Jack is in Albany as he joins us "From the Lobby" with an update on the budget process. Call it March Madness... politics style! What can we expect from the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget? Which issues from the Governor's budget will they push back on, and can everyone agree on a final deal by the April 1st deadline? Plus, where do federal budget talks stand just days awa...

In this week's Monday Morning Minute, Jack unpacks the problems piling up for NY's Governor. From the NYC Mayor troubles to the congestion pricing fight with DC to a breakup with her Lt. Governor, how is Kathy Hochul handling the chaos? What's the impact of the split with the LG? What's next as she takes on Trump over congestion pricing? When will we have a NYS budget? Can the federal government r...

Our own Alec Lewis is back at the mic as he goes 'From the Lobby' with Christopher Wyatt, former captain of the University at Albany basketball team and founder of Danes of Greatness, a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective launched to support the UAlbany men's basketball program. Listen as they talk about the role of collectives in college athletics, community and corporate partnerships, the...

In this week's Monday Morning Minute, Jack unpacks the unfolding legal drama surrounding NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Will a judge allow the charges against him to be dropped and what's next if he resigns or is removed from office? Plus, it is NY v. DC over congestion pricing. Who wins, and what's the potential impact on the MTA? Jack also weighs in on the corrections officer strike and discu...

This week's Monday Morning Minute kicks off with a special guest and her big dreams for the future! Then our Jack O'Donnell unpacks the Conservative Party Political Action Conference in Albany and the challenges and opportunities to elect a Republican governor in '26. Plus: --> Polling woes for NY Democrats --> Governor Hochul's LG problem --> Special election controversy --> Budget obstacles for...

The state budget process is in full swing in Albany and our Jack O'Donnell is closely watching how it is unfolding: -->Where is pushback so far? -->Impact of Trump's tariffs and other moves on the negotiating process -->Can changes to criminal court cases improve public safety? -->Congestion pricing dilemma --> Jack's favorite news link! Give it a listen!

Jack is back with his deeper dive into our Monday Morning Memo which highlights Governor Hochul's Executive Budget. He breaks down the numbers and the fiscal impact of the Governor's proposals, including affordability, public safety and mental health initiatives. He also talks: -->Transportation Funding Challenges -->The Trump Factor in NY Plus, reaction to President Trump's first week and i...

Our Alec Lewis is at the mic as he continues our series profiling New York's business community with Sonya Smith, State Director of the NY Small Business Development Center. Listen as they discuss: --> The demographics of NY's small business owners --> Impact of the incoming Trump Administration on NY's small businesses --> Empowering diverse entrepreneurs for economic growth

We're back in the new year with a comprehensive look at the politics and policies in play for New York State and Washington, D.C. Our 2025 Albany Preview is out! Listen as our Jack O'Donnell breaks down the busy legislative season ahead: --> NY/DC relationship under Trump -->Most contentious budget issues in NY -->Fiscal health of the Empire State -->Governor Hochul's image and upcomin...

Jack goes in depth on the housing boom in NYC after the city says "yes" to a program to build 80,000 new homes. --> Can this work Upstate and will Governor Hochul address new housing in her Executive Budget? Also: -->Will some NY businesses have to pay for the effects of climate change on the state? -->Why Governor Hochul has reversed course on cuts to NY school districts -->The plan to keep the f...

Jack dives into the resounding win by former President Trump: -->Where did he gain votes? -->Harris's biggest misstep -->What to expect from GOP control in D.C. -->How will the NYS Legislature respond to a Trump presidency? Give it a listen!

Will trade relations with Canada be affected under President-elect Trump? Our Jack O'Donnell joins host David Common to talk election results and impact. Give it a listen!

Our Jack O'Donnell joins CBC Metro Morning host David Common for an interview on the neck and neck race for the White House. How are the presidential campaigns being viewed in Canada? Worth a listen!

Listen as Jack O'Donnell dives into the topics written about in our Monday Morning Memo for October 21st. -->Budget talk from Governor Hochul's top aides... any surprises? -->Is Hochul interested in a Cabinet job if Harris wins? Hear what Jack says. -->Impact of a court case on when to count absentee ballots -->Jack weighs in on the campaign strategies in the race for the White House a...

Listen as Jack dives deeper into the issues featured in our Monday Morning Memo for October 14: —>Growing rift between NY's PBA and Governor Hochul and the union's billboard attack campaign —>Why NY's election year changes are on hold for now —>What's behind Trump’s campaign rally in NYC? —>OD&A’s Election Day Digest Next week’s preview and Jack's favorite read! Check it out!

The issues driving the tight presidential race top this week's Monday Morning Minute, the podcast version of our popular weekly newsletter, Monday Morning Memo. Jack breaks down the topics for October 7: -How Hurricane Helene packs a punch in the presidential race -Why Jack thinks J.D. Vance won the vice-presidential debate -Can the NYC Mayor remain in office following his indictment? -NY budget s...

Jack is back with even more insight on our Monday Morning Memo for September 30 that led with the bombshell indictment of NYC Mayor Eric Adams. --> Impact on NYC and state --> What happens if he resigns? --> Will the Governor remove him from office? Jack also talks about the end-of-year stress on Congress to pass a final budget, his VP debate predictions and favorite read!

Jack O'Donnell joins us 'From the Lobby' to break down the topics in the Monday Morning Memo from September 23. He talks: -->Spending opioid settlement money -->Closing the gap on MTA budget -->Trump NY rally and SALT reversal --> Budget breakthrough in DC -->This week's favorite read: toy vote from The Strong National Museum of Play Check it out!

Our Jack O'Donnell is back ‘From the Lobby’ for our first-ever Monday Morning Minute, the podcast version of our popular weekly newsletter. It’s a chance for Jack, managing partner at O’Donnell & Associates and author of our Monday Morning Memo to take a deeper dive into the topics written about in the latest edition. September 16, 2024: -Unprecedented campaign bounces from the presidentia...

In our third installment on the Upstate NY Tech Hub, our Alec Lewis talks to Rob Simpson, President and CEO of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity on Central NY's role in the acceleration of the semiconductor industry. Rob talks about workforce training, job creation and how they are engaging businesses across the Syracuse region to prepare Upstate NY to become one of the nation&#...

We are continuing our series on the Upstate NY tech hub recently awarded a $40M federal grant to accelerate the semi-conductor industry in the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse regions. What is Rochester’s role and how will it impact its economy and beyond?  Listen as our Alec Lewis goes ‘From the Lobby’ with OneRoc President and CEO Dr. Joseph Stefko.

Our Alec Lewis is back at the mic to break down the $40 million federal grant awarded to the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse regions to accelerate the growth of the semiconductor industry across Upstate NY. What does the project entail? What is the economic impact for NY and beyond? This three-part series begins with Buffalo Niagara Partnership President/CEO Dottie Gallagher.

Newly-elected Onondaga County Legislator Maurice ‘Mo’ Brown joins our Alec Lewis once again to talk about his first few months in office, his push for affordable housing, a major grant from the federal government, and how he and other newly-elected candidates in Onondaga County are shaking up the status quo.

One-house budgets are out and Jack says it’s go time for negotiations in NY! He joins us ‘From the Lobby’ to talk about the differences between the spending plans and what it will take to reach a final deal. Worth a listen!