Meet the mastermind behind Hochul’s unhinged pressroom X account

While scrolling through X, you might come across @NYGovPress and initially be confused. No, this isn’t Gov. Hochul’s official government account – that’s @GovKathyHochul – but another account from her office that isn’t afraid to clap back at the Trump administration and Republicans in an authentic, funny and surprisingly opinionated way. Frequently posting millennial and Gen Z-like content (think memes, slang and witty humor) that often goes viral, the @NYGovPress account is managed by Ben Freedman, Hochul’s communications strategist.

The account has amassed over 35 million impressions since Freedman’s first post on Aug. 25, 2025, and shows no signs of slowing down. Its purpose is to fact check misinformation and promote the governor’s agenda, and to have fun while doing it.

The governor’s press team views the account as an extension of Hochul. “I will say one thing about the governor is that she's a fighter,” said Jen Goodman, Hochul’s director of rapid response, who works closely with Freedman. “I think having this account to be a fighting voice for our office, is a benefit to the state,” she continued. “It's a benefit to everyone and we can push back against especially misinformation and attacks from the Trump administration.”

Freedman said his strategy for posts is simple: “be chronically online and be monitoring social media all the time.” But it’s not entirely a one-man job, and other members of the press team frequently contribute.

“We have a group chat that includes many members of our team at the junior level and senior level, and it's very collaborative,” Goodman said. “People are allowed to share ideas, and if it's a good idea, we move it quickly, we take risks, and we hope that we can be responsive to things in the moment.”

To keep up with how fast-paced social media today is, the press team has streamlined its process. “I think the biggest takeaway we've had is that, if you're not responding in real time, you're missing a moment,” Goodman said. “And so that has led to an approval process that's quick and that keeps up.”

As for what Freedman is allowed to post, Goodman said he has a lot of creative liberty.

“I would say he's very good at identifying moments that are happening online that are worth engaging with,” she said. “And then understanding how to respond to them in a way that is unique to both the Governor but also the political moment and the cultural moment.”

Freedman’s unique voice online has allowed @NYGovPress to go viral. In the months since the account was created, its posts on the Epstein files, the federal government shutdown and congestion pricing have performed especially well. Freedman had also used the account to share Hochul’s personality and platform. His personal favorite post is one about the governor’s love of the Buffalo Bills; Goodman’s favorite post is the Wrath of Kath poster.

Of course, Freedman’s posts aren't always well-received.

“Sometimes, the comments are positive and sometimes the comments are negative,” he said. “But you're going to get that online, where there's a lot of people with different accounts, a lot of bots with accounts, just saying some crazy things in the comment section.”

Despite the occasional criticism, Freedman isn’t deterred. “I think overall, it's definitely been a good experience and a good thing for us to have created,” he said.

So, the next time you see a post on X poking fun at the Trump admin and Republicans from the @NYGovPress account, thank Freedman and the rest of Hochul’s press team for the chuckle.