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 push to stop companies from changing prices based on your personal data

• The political wins and worries surrounding the NYC budget

• And how Bruce Blakeman’s public funding victory could change the race for governor

Listen now to From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell!

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 settled.

In this episode:
• Why the budget was “done”… until it suddenly wasn’t
• What Governor Hochul gave up to get closer to a deal
• Does the lengthy budget fight hurt Hochul politically?
• Why redistricting conversations are heating up again in Albany
• Jack’s unforgettable Sabres playoff moment during the Canadian national anthem!

Listen now From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell.

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 New York City on taxes and a fast shutdown from Albany
• A major SCOTUS ruling that could reshape elections

• The bigger national mood: rising costs, global tension, and political pressure

Got 10 minutes? Worth a listen!

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 forward in a complex system.

In this episode:

• How she got her start  and what pulled her into politics
• Lessons from working across campaigns, government, and policy
• Her role in 9/11 recovery efforts & the weight of that moment
• What she learned negotiating legislation at City Hall
• Her take on where New York City stands with challenges and opportunities
• Life outside work and how she starts her day, every day

Listen as we take a closer look at the experience behind the strategy!

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 insurance fight and why Gov. Hochul will stand her ground
• A new tax on high-end second homes… and now other regions want in!
• Democrats are gaining ground heading into the midterms—real shift or early noise?
• Sticker shock for the FIFA World Cup: Why Jack says NJ is wrong to make costs out of reach

Quick, clear, and straight to the point—Listen in!

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 science and psychology and how it caught her attention
• ​Her nonprofit work providing equal justice to marginalized communities
• ​Funding challenges for nonprofits and what she has learn about creating buy-in for donors
• ​How living in Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland changed the way she thinks about government and problem-solving
• ​What she does to unwind outside of work and World Cup excitement in NYC

It’s a conversation about perspective, purpose, and what the next generation is bringing to the table. Give it a listen!

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 campaign cash and insurance money. Does it complicate the governor’s push for reform?
• ​A new tax idea targeting high-end second homes. Is this a win for NYC Mayor Mamdani?
• ​Bruce Blakeman put on the spot—fair questions or political hit?
• ​A growing clash between Zohran Mamdani and Julie Menin—what does it mean?
• ​And a quick break from politics as Jack basks in the rebirth of the Buffalo Sabres, including his Stanley Cup prediction!

Fast-moving, straight answers, and the context you need! Give it a listen!

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. Is progress actually happening?
• ​Biggest budget fight and where it stands
• ​Conflicting polls on Zohran Mamdani, so which way is New York City really headed?

Worth a listen!

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 close, or nowhere near a deal?
• Why big policy issues keep getting folded into budget talks, and who benefits
• A new poll shows Bruce Blakeman gaining on Kathy Hochul—is it real momentum?
• Blakeman’s campaign hits a snag over funding. How much does it hurt?
• A tense standoff in NYC between Zohran Mamdani and the City Council. Who blinks first?
• And in Washington, a possible deal on DHS funding. Is it progress, or just talk?

Get up to speed with Jack!

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 tax hikes
• The governor’s race: is Kathy Hochul already out of reach?
• Questions swirling around Mike Lawler’s campaign spending and whether voters care
• Airport chaos, a deadly runway incident in New York, and rising pressure on Washington to fix TSA funding

Join us for some straight talk from Jack!