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 Peter, and what led him to this path
• The shift from fast-paced campaigns to government work
• What he learned in New York City about how decisions really get made
• What it’s like working in Albany, where those decisions happen every day
• How he steps away from it all and recharges

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the next generation of people shaping New York policy! Give it a listen!

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 reform: A push to lower costs faces an uphill battle after being left out of One-House budget proposals

• Unified Ireland discussion: What you should know and why New York leaders are part of the conversation

• U.S. and Iran tensions: What a recent Senate vote says about the direction of U.S. policy

• Voting laws and the midterms: A Republican-backed bill gets attention, but what are its chances?

Jack walks us through it all! Give it a listen!

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 insight, laughs, and a few surprises.

Tune in to hear:

• Joanna’s journey from delivering the news to helping organizations tell their stories

• Lessons from decades in the newsroom and what still sticks with her today

• Career transitions at the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Erie County DA's Office

• Reporter habits she can’t shake and what she loves most about her work now

Curious about the person behind the questions? This is your chance to meet Joanna Pasceri, from the newsroom to O’Donnell & Associates.

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 this episode:

• The Legislature plans to spend billions more, but who will pay for it?
• Tax the wealthy: Can NY afford to ignore it?
• Energy rebate checks for New Yorkers: real relief or political tactic?
• Higher handouts for NYC
• And the question we ask every year… will the budget be on time?

If you want to understand what’s really happening with New York’s budget & what could change before the final deal, this episode is worth a listen!

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 attention growing up in New York
• What surprised her most about campaign life when she first jumped in
• What organizing a voter outreach team actually looks like day to day
• How working on real campaigns changes the way you see politics in class
• And how she unwinds while balancing college & politics

A fun conversation about getting started in politics, learning on the ground, and the next generation stepping into public service.

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 when many people don’t recognize your name?

💰 Momentum grows to raise taxes on millionaires, even as Hochul pushes back. Is Albany heading for a major showdown?

🏛️ A proposal to boost lawmakers’ salaries is turning heads at the Capitol. Does it actually have a chance?

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court steps in on a disputed New York congressional district. Is the fight over or just getting started?

🏢 Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes has an idea to turn empty office space into housing. Could it really happen?

🎧 If you want to understand what’s happening in Albany & what it could mean for New Yorkers, this episode is worth a listen!

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 funding for organizations that truly need it.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What first pulled him into public service

• What he learned working in Senator Schumer's state office

• The real challenges facing healthcare nonprofits right now

• What it feels like to help secure major funding wins

• And what he does to recharge when the workday ends

Give it a listen and get to know Jim—right here From the Lobby.

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!