This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, we break down the moments everyone’s talking about and what they actually mean.

Jack O’Donnell, Managing Partner of O’Donnell & Associates, is tracking the policy and political moves from New York to Washington.

Here’s what we dig into:

• The poll surprise: Hochul’s approval hits a record high, yet a third of New Yorkers say they may leave the state.

• Schumer and Gillibrand slipping: Why are their numbers falling, and could 2028 bring real change?

• Tax the rich? More than 1,000 rally in Albany. Is their cause gaining momentum?

• Trump’s marathon speech: What stood out in the hour-and-forty-seven-minute address? Did it help the Republican Party ahead of the midterms?

If you want to understand where things are heading—before they get there, this one’s for you! Check it out!

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, get to know Marc Cohen! We head to Rochester to sit down with the Vice President of Government Affairs at O’Donnell & Associates.

Marc’s path runs through Congress, the New York State Capitol, and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, where he worked on behalf of more than 1,300 businesses across the Finger Lakes region.

He’s also deeply involved in his community, and he’s a devoted husband and dad.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What lured him into public service

• How to bridge the gap between government and the business community

• What business owners are really worried about right now

• The most rewarding part of helping clients

• What he does when he actually has free time

It's a closer look at the experience and heart behind the work.

Listen in!

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, we break down the money moves and political fights that could shape what you pay and what your city gets.

Jack gives it to us straight. What’s smart, what’s risky, and what it all means.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Why the governor is sending another $1.5 billion to New York City
• Mayor Mamdani’s push for higher taxes and his warning about a possible property tax hike.
• Buffalo’s $40 million bailout and whether the state can keep writing these checks
• The state comptroller’s warning about weakening oversight of billions in spending
• What President Trump needs to accomplish in his upcoming State of the Union address

Listen to Jack’s candid conversation!

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell — Meet the Team, we sit down with Michael Greco. He's a Buffalo native and Senior Associate at O’Donnell & Associates.

Michael has witnessed the many sides of politics, from New York City Council races to the halls of Congress, and now he’s helping clients navigate it all.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What first sparked his interest in politics at St. Joe’s in Buffalo

• The jump from campaign life to working with former Congressman Brian Higgins

• Why balancing district priorities with national politics is harder than it looks

• How campaign and experience working for a Congressman make him a strong advocate for OD&A clients

• As a former ACHA player at Pitt, we talk Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh as a hockey town 🏒

Listen in for a great conversation with one of the rising voices at OD&A!

A lot is happening in New York politics this week, and not all of it was expected.

There are surprise exits. Big budget pressure. And cities across the state asking Albany for help… loudly.

On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, we break down what’s really going on and what it could mean next.

Jack O’Donnell, Managing Partner of O’Donnell &Associates, joins us from the Lobby to walk through the biggest moves from Albany to D.C.

We get into:

• Why Governor Hochul’s lieutenant governor ended his run for governor
• A wave of powerful lawmakers deciding not to run again and what that signals
• Mayors flooding the state capital asking for cash as local budgets get tighter
• Mayor Mamdani’s push to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers to close a massive budget gap
• What struggling cities like Buffalo need from the state right now
• A rocky start to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s run for governor
• And a new voting bill in Washington. Does it have any chance of becoming law?

Worth a listen!

For this week’s Meet the Team episode, we’re welcoming a familiar voice in New York politics, even if you’ve only known him by his byline.

Ralph Ortega has spent more than 30 years telling New York’s story from the inside. From breaking news and investigations to shaping the conversation as Editor-in-Chief of City & State New York, Ralph has had a front-row seat to some of the biggest moments in state and NYC politics.

Now, he’s bringing that newsroom instinct and a deep understanding of how politics really works to O’Donnell & Associates.

In this episode, we cover:

• What TV show inspired Ralph to pursue journalism and why he stuck with it
• What it was like leading coverage during a turbulent era in New York politics: Cuomo’s downfall and Eric Adams’ rise
• The stories that left a lasting mark from 9/11 to the death of a young boy
• Why advocating for greater Latino representation has been central to his work
• How he recharges after three decades in the newsroom and his all-time favorite movie

Give this thoughtful & engaging conversation a listen!

A last-minute running mate pick. Party leaders pushing back. Poll numbers moving. And a few big fights brewing as convention season and a high-stakes election year kick off.

On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Jack breaks down what’s really going on and what to watch next.

We get into:

• A surprise lieutenant governor pick just days before the Democratic Convention
• Why Brooklyn Democrats flip-flopped on backing Hochul
• How much Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsement matters
• New poll numbers showing Governor Hochul at her strongest yet
• The next funding fight in Washington

Tune in and join us as we go 'From the Lobby!'

What does it really take to keep a fast-moving government affairs firm running smoothly? This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, we continue our Meet the Team series with someone who knows that answer better than anyone.

We’re sitting down with Diane Ong, Chief of Staff at O’Donnell & Associates, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about her experiences from Capitol Hill… to international policy work… to the pressure cooker of a presidential campaign.

In this episode:

• ​ What first drew Diane into public service and when she knew this was the path for her

• How her background as an organizer, policy researcher, and campaign operator shapes the way she leads today

• What it was really like running operations on the Harris–Walz presidential campaign

• How her work on women’s health, humanitarian aid, and international affairs informs her approach to policy

• And what helps her unplug when politics never seems to slow down, including her all-time favorite movie!

Tune in — and meet the team, From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell.

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Jack discusses the political implications during this critical election year and the pressures of the upcoming budget season.

In this episode:

• Why New York is on track to lose influenceon Capitol Hill, and can it be turned around?

• The rapid rise of the Democratic Socialists of America and what it signals for this election cycle

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first budget rollout and the $12 billion gap he’s blaming on the Adams administration

• The Governor’s race heats up as Hochul searches for a new lieutenant governor. Who’s in line for the number two job?

• Immigration takes center stage as Governor Hochul and her GOP challenger draw sharp lines over ICE enforcement

• And a last-minute push to avoid a government shutdown

Give it a listen!

Meet Dr. Ellen Grant!

In this conversation, Dr. Grant shares her extensive experience in healthcare, discussing the challenges organizations face today, the importance of government funding, and the need for innovative solutions.

She also emphasizes the significance of servant leadership and community support in addressing these issues, while also reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey and the human experience in healthcare.

Give it a listen!