Matt O'Donnell

Matt O'Donnell Action News AM anchor. Gets up early. Certified alarm clock whisperer. Host of The True Philadelphia Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/y3sdb82o

Watch U.S. Senator Chris C***s (D-Delaware) come to the defense of President Biden's continued candidacy for re-election...
07/07/2024

Watch U.S. Senator Chris C***s (D-Delaware) come to the defense of President Biden's continued candidacy for re-election, plus we welcome brand new panelist The Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry head Laura Manion on Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action News

The buzz surrounding Jon Haidt ‘s new book   which chronicles how smartphones hijacked our children’s happiness, inspire...
06/11/2024

The buzz surrounding Jon Haidt ‘s new book which chronicles how smartphones hijacked our children’s happiness, inspired a PA legislator to seek to restrict phones in schools.
Watch my interview with Senator Ryan P. Aument

Is America's youth truly in a crisis?And if so, what is causing it?More and more researchers, parents and teachers are becoming convinced that children these...

05/28/2024

Hear why PA State Senator Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) wants to restrict cell phones in schools across the state, plus what our Inside Story panelists think about the idea:

Meet the PA lawmaker who wants to restrict smartphones in schools across the state on   Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action Ne...
05/25/2024

Meet the PA lawmaker who wants to restrict smartphones in schools across the state on Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action News

My work buds
05/18/2024

My work buds

Well done, son!
05/14/2024

Well done, son!

Pleased to introduce Amalia and her big sister Nella, two students with the First Tee - Greater Philadelphia program.The...
04/19/2024

Pleased to introduce Amalia and her big sister Nella, two students with the First Tee - Greater Philadelphia program.
They helped us break ground on a new outdoor classroom at Walnut Lane Golf Club
Golf is a game I love and enjoy almost every day - but it is expensive, time-consuming and therefore inaccessible to so many people who would also enjoy playing.
This new project will bring new opportunities to children across Philadelphia.
Great to see old faces and meet some new ones, and thanks for letting me help dig into the dirt!

Scenes from the Conversation With the Governor event at Drexel University last night.Governor Josh Shapiro defended his ...
04/18/2024

Scenes from the Conversation With the Governor event at Drexel University last night.
Governor Josh Shapiro defended his plan to use state rainy day funds to boost basic education, promised he would prioritize Septa funding and branded his administration as “GSD” (the first and last words are ‘getting’ and ‘done’).
Thanks to the governor, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia for putting on a great event and thanks so much to all who attended!

And huge thanks to Anne DeMutis Cummins for snapping some pics!

Masters SaturdayIt is Sunday morning and I am returning home to Philadelphia. The previous day, I was in Georgia, fighti...
04/14/2024

Masters Saturday

It is Sunday morning and I am returning home to Philadelphia. The previous day, I was in Georgia, fighting a sensory overload, trying to absorb as much as I could for what little time I had in a place that can sometimes feel indescribable. My best friend Simon and I witnessed Masters Saturday 2024 and for those who are asking “did it live up to your expectations?”, well, let’s talk about that.

The first thing you notice is the grass. Is it real? It looks a lot like newly-laid, fine, expensive artificial turf. Grass doesn’t grow that perfectly, does it? Yes, the hills are steeper than they look on television - like, tumble-off-the-world steep. The green complexes look tinier, more narrow, offering only quadrants to land and no “safely in the middle” shot, small islands in an arboretum ocean. Finer details of Augusta National’s design also emerge: look at those bumps short of that green! Geez, the 18th tee soars out into a shoebox of an opening! Some holes look like they push out forever, others drop to a dramatic finish amongst a bunkers, slopes and a yellow flag. Would I break 120 here?

Walking the expansive campus of 18 wonderful golf holes makes you feel like you are climbing, then descending, then climbing again as if you are lost in the foothills of some unknown, remote, evergreen redoubt. You get tired, you reach the pinnacle, you go down again, you catch your breath. The trees tower over you, like totems of protection. They sway, they bend, they return to symmetry with the others. You might see a scattered fallen leaf or two dancing just above the grass. That’s it. You will not see any sort of trash or refuse. Immaculate but not in an intimidating way.

You literally don’t know what to look at sometimes, it is that beautiful. Astounding, superb, shockingly precise and efficient. And yet, this does not fully describe what makes the experience so special.

There have only been a few instances in my lifetime where I have taken part in a mass event where each and every person was willfully present, extremely happy, particularly anxious of something awesome about to happen and uncaring of what is going on outside your temporarily-formed social bubble. The Eagles Super Bowl Parade in 2018 was one of those times. As you might know, Augusta National does not allow anyone to carry cell phones - you simply cannot bring them inside the tournament at all. My friend Simon and I wondered at one point if we had ever been without our portable screens for a longer period of time (12 hours at ANGC) since the release of the iPhone more than 15 years ago. It forced all of us humans into a community that was, in fact, not forced at all. It was quite voluntary. It was beyond refreshing. It made us human again.

Our conversations with strangers were positive and understood, we formed connections with potential new acquaintances, we helped patrons find their way to here or there, we shared our excitement with neighbors along fairways over witnessing what should have been an impossible recovery shot, what was an impenetrably long drive, what was a precisely performed chip. We shared smiles, we looked at one another directly in the eye and we enjoyed their company.

What is so special about the Masters? Sharing it with other people you joined on the pilgrimage and the others you had never met. As a major champion said to begin the week: “It’s great to be together again, isn’t it?”

- Matt

Call have been flooding in to our newsroom...
04/05/2024

Call have been flooding in to our newsroom...

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit Hunterdon County, New Jersey on Friday morning, with shaking felt across the Northeast, including Philadelphia.

Recap from the "Let's Hire a PA Attorney General" event:
03/29/2024

Recap from the "Let's Hire a PA Attorney General" event:

Candidates for state attorney general gathered for The Citizen's latest Ultimate Job Interview. See what you missed and meet the candidates

03/22/2024

If I were to do the weather…

Temple TV
6abc Action News

Honored to be the moderator of this event on Monday night. Tickets are free but you must register in advance. Link here:...
03/22/2024

Honored to be the moderator of this event on Monday night. Tickets are free but you must register in advance. Link here: https://tinyurl.com/dkuhty72

The Philadelphia Citizen 6abc Action News

He was the heart and soul of this team, exhibiting toughness (never missed a game since 2014), leadership on the field a...
01/16/2024

He was the heart and soul of this team, exhibiting toughness (never missed a game since 2014), leadership on the field and in the locker room and more importantly, generosity and grace towards us Eagles fans and the community.
Jason Kelce is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. And he deserves it.

Eagles star center Jason Kelce told his teammates in Monday night's postgame locker room that he is retiring, sources told ESPN.

Call us crazy, but we threw an "Inside Story Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" this week.See the results on 6abc Action News...
12/24/2023

Call us crazy, but we threw an "Inside Story Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" this week.
See the results on 6abc Action News Sunday 11:30am.

12/20/2023

So many of you have reached out to me and my 6abc colleagues today to express your condolences regarding the Chopper 6 tragedy. All of you must know this means so much. We will pass them along to the families of the pilot and photographer on board. Thank you.

This is a sad day for me and all of my colleagues at 6abc. Two people who helped bring you the news every day lost their...
12/20/2023

This is a sad day for me and all of my colleagues at 6abc. Two people who helped bring you the news every day lost their lives while on the job last night. We want to express our deepest condolences to their family and friends.

An investigation is underway after Action News' helicopter Chopper 6 crashed in a wooded area of Burlington County, New Jersey on Tuesday night.

Photo taken April 8, 2016.Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, during the first year of his first term, joined me on   to talk...
12/17/2023

Photo taken April 8, 2016.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, during the first year of his first term, joined me on to talk about passing a sugary drinks tax to fund pre-K.
He joins me one more time as mayor for his exit interview Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action News

12/13/2023

On the naughty list, 17 years running now...

The Action News morning team conducted a traffic test involving the following routes to the heart of Center City:- Using...
11/22/2023

The Action News morning team conducted a traffic test involving the following routes to the heart of Center City:
- Using a highway
- Taking back roads
- Using Septa regional rail
Which commuter do you think showed up first?

https://6abc.com/philadelphia-traffic-worst-schuylkill-expressway-6abc/14087997/

6abc Action News

Morning commute options: Action News conducts unscientific commuter test

Have you noticed traffic patterns in the Philadelphia region changing since the pandemic - and getting worse? PennDOT ha...
11/22/2023

Have you noticed traffic patterns in the Philadelphia region changing since the pandemic - and getting worse? PennDOT has noticed this too.
Find out how traffic engineers are trying to head this off in this special report from Action News mornings:

Many drivers in the Philadelphia region believe significant congestion has returned to area roadways after the pandemic and it appears to happen at all times of the day.

Low Cut Connie is bringing their sweat-soaked rock sermon to the Philadelphia Film Festival tonight. Details below:
10/27/2023

Low Cut Connie is bringing their sweat-soaked rock sermon to the Philadelphia Film Festival tonight. Details below:

The South Philadelphia boogie express known as "Low Cut Connie," fronted by Cherry Hill native Adam Weiner, is about to release its globe-trotting documentary "Art Dealers."

Watch the two main-party candidates for mayor - Cherelle Parker and David Oh - explain to our Sharrie Williams why they ...
10/24/2023

Watch the two main-party candidates for mayor - Cherelle Parker and David Oh - explain to our Sharrie Williams why they should be the 100th chief executive in the history of Philadelphia.

The candidates for mayor of Philadelphia stopped by 6abc Studios for a live town hall.

09/28/2023

I spoke at a Leadership Delaware conference at Goldey-Beacom College this week. The focus was: "Think Differently: Create Your Own Possibilities for Success".
I started my speech with three questions for the audience, forcing them to think about their careers:
- in the beginning
- in the end
- and in the middle.
Take a listen and tell me what you think about them.

And thanks to the entire Leadership Delaware, Inc. staff for a great morning/afternoon!

How Septa hopes to prevent a “death spiral” on   Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action NewsGuest: Septa GM Leslie Richards
09/24/2023

How Septa hopes to prevent a “death spiral” on Sunday 11:30am on 6abc Action News
Guest: Septa GM Leslie Richards

09/21/2023

There's a little Ron Burgandy in all of us...

New information we learned this morning:- Danelo Cavalcante was bitten by one of the K-9 dogs searching for him- His fac...
09/13/2023

New information we learned this morning:
- Danelo Cavalcante was bitten by one of the K-9 dogs searching for him
- His face was coated with dripping blood
- He managed to find an Eagles sweatshirt to change into ahead of his capture
- Thermal imaging began to work better overnight when the rains moved in and the temperature dropped
- State police had tightened the search perimeter, got a "hit" from the dogs and waited until sunrise to move in

CAPTURED: Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante has been taken into custody.

Breaking news just in…
09/13/2023

Breaking news just in…

CAPTURED: Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante has been taken into custody.

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