For several decades, Ray Hartmann was a regular on the Nine Network’s Donnybrook where he often clashed with other St. Louis journalists about a litany of local issues. He also started the Riverfront Times, which regularly took a contrarian view about politics and culture in the St. Louis region. But earlier this year, Hartmann announced he was leaving the journalism world to take on U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin. And on an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Hartmann made the case that he would be a more present and effective legislator for the 2nd Congressional District, which includes a large swath of the St. Louis region. “Our politics are broken and Congress is broken,” Hartmann said. “And I've been in the public eye for a long time, and I just felt this was the time to step up.”

For Republicans like Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner, intraparty rancor was a recurring theme throughout the past two years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Because of a fairly small majority, and Democratic control of the Senate and the White House, House Republicans weren’t able to accomplish many of their priorities. And the schisms within the House GOP became so bad that a renegade group of lawmakers teamed up with House Democrats to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy. But throughout the tumult, Wagner said on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast she’s been able to get things done both on the House floor and on the House Financial Services Committee. She’s also pointed to her advocacy for Boeing, one of the St. Louis region’s biggest employers. “There are ways to get things done in divided government,” Wagner said. “I do reach across the aisle. I believe that I am part of the governing portion of this House.”

On this week’s Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, we welcome opponents of two high-profile Missouri ballot items to legalize sports betting and abortion. We’ll also examine new polling from the Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College taking the pulse of how Missourians feel about both of those issues.

For many close observers of Missouri politics, David Wasinger’s win in a crowded primary to succeed Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe was something of a surprise. The St. Louis County attorney narrowly edged state Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican who had nabbed a slew of key endorsements and raised a substantial amount of money. During an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Wasinger attributed his win to something unusual: His 2018 loss in a Republican primary for state auditor. Even though he fell short to eventual primary winner Saundra McDowell, Wasinger said that campaign gave him a good perspective on what he needed to do to win in a crowded statewide race. And it also ensured he had a solid base of supporters from all over Missouri. “I would not have been able to run for lieutenant governor on this shorter ramp up period of time unless I had run for state auditor,” Wasinger said. “So I honestly, whether it's fate, or I think the good Lord looks over you, and this is what he saw as my calling. So it works out in mysterious ways, and this was the path that I've been given.”

Illinois U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, said she’s not taking anything for granted in her first reelection bid this November. “We're working really hard throughout the district to tell the story of the work that we've been doing in this first term and making the case for the work that I want to continue to be doing,” Budzinski said on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. While Illinois’ 13th Congressional District could be a swing district, stretching from a majority of the Metro East to Springfield and Urbana-Champaign, electoral experts have it rated as a safe or solid Democratic seat this election cycle.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Missouri Chamber of Commerce's interim President Kara Corches explains why her organization is opposing Proposition A. That measure would raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 and institute mandatory sick time for employers.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, former Missouri Ethics Commission executive director Liz Ziegler joins the show to answer a slew of listener questions about the state's byzantine campaign finance laws. Also on the program: Democrat Lucas Kunce makes the case about why he has a chance against GOP Sen. Josh Hawley. And the state's trade union members talk about how they're approaching the 2024 election.

On paper, Illinois’ 13th Congressional District could be winnable for a Republican, but it will be an uphill battle for Joshua Loyd, who’s hoping to unseat incumbent Nikki Budzinski in November. The biggest factor working against Loyd, R-Virden, is cash. At the end of the second quarter, Budzinski, D-Springfield, held a 123 to 1 fundraising advantage over her GOP challenger in the race to represent the district which stretches from the Metro East to Urbana-Champaign. “I'm not concerned at all with the finances because I'm actually out there talking with individuals,” Loyd said on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “This is not necessarily a money game. People always say it's about the money. No, it's about being analytical, understanding where to put your effort.”

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, author Heather McGhee talks about her support for a ballot item raising Missouri’s minimum wage. McGhee is a New York-based attorney who wrote the New York Times best-selling book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Part of her work involved following the movement in Missouri to raise the minimum wage, particularly in the Kansas City area. “I wanted to come back and see what was going on, and I'm really thrilled to see the amount of broad-based support for something that should be common sense, which is that people should not work all day and come home in poverty,” McGhee said. And they should be able to earn sick time to take care of themselves and their loved ones.”

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with St. Louis County election directors Eric Fey and Rick Stream about GOP secretary of state nominee Denny Hoskins' push to hand count ballots. Rosenbaum also talked with voters in Illinois and Missouri who are getting involved in this year's presidential election — even though the results in each state are not in doubt. Rosenbaum also caught up with Wake Up to Politics' Gabe Fleischer, who has been writing about politics since he was a 9-year-old St. Louis County resident.

Rep. Richard Brown, Assistant Missouri House Minority Floor Leader, returns to the show. The Kansas City democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his candidacy for Lt. Governor.

Democrat Randi McCallian is once again running for Missouri’s 8th Congressional District seat, a swath of southeast and southern Missouri that’s been represented by Republicans since the 1980s. Even McCallian admits her run against GOP Congressman Jason Smith is an uphill battle.The 8th District used to have significant pockets of Democratic voters, particularly in the Bootheel region. But Donald Trump’s emergence supercharged the district’s drift to the GOP — a trend that McCallian said hasn’t been good for people who live in the district. “Politics is now what I do, because people deserve to have a government that is made up by them and working for them,” McCallian said on an episode of Politically Speaking. “And that's not what we have here in Missouri — or especially in the 8th Congressional District.”

On this week's episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with veteran political journalist Jo Mannies about the history of presidential debates at Washington University. Rosenbaum also talked about the upcoming presidential election with four students at MICDS. And Rosenbaum welcomes historian Cassandra Good onto the program to talk about the history of nepotism in American politics.

State Rep. Barbara Phifer declined to run for another term in the Missouri House, even though she was eligible to spend four more years in the General Assembly’s lower chamber. But the Kirkwood Democrat chose instead to run for secretary of state. While the race for that office typically doesn’t get as much attention as the U.S. Senate or governor, Phifer said the stakes are high enough for her to throw her hat into the statewide electoral arena. “This is the single most important statewide race in Missouri this year, and I could see that a year and a half ago,” Phifer said on an episode of St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking. “And so I told my husband, even as I was planning to retire: ‘Honey, you just need to know that if we don't have somebody on the Democratic side with experience who's running for secretary of state, I'm going to do that.”

Mark Osmack has been out of the electoral fray for awhile, but he never completely abandoned his passion for Missouri politics. Osmack, a Valley Park native and U.S. Army veteran, previously ran for Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District seat and for state Senate. During an episode of Politically Speaking, Osmack received a phone call from Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan asking him to run for state treasurer. “There's a lot of decision making and processing and evaluation that goes into it, which is something I am very passionate and interested in,” Osmack said. Osmack is squaring off against state Treasurer Vivek Malek, who was able to easily win a crowded GOP primary against several veteran lawmakers — including House Chairman Cody Smith and Sen. Andrew Koenig.

Elad Gross, the Democratic candidate for Missouri Attorney General, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Gross, who ran for Attorney General back in 2020, spoke to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about why he decided to run again and how he believes the office can serve Missourians.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks to Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel about labor unions are approaching the general election cycle. Rosenbaum also talks with SLU political science professor Christopher Duncan about third party candidate in Missouri and American politics. And Rosenbaum expresses his immense frustration about political text messages.

Missouri's U.S. Senate race between Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and Democrat Lucas Kunce will likely be the most high-profile contest on the state's Nov. 5 ballot. But there is another candidate seeking the office: Better Party contender Jared Young. The Webb City resident talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum about why he believes a candidate who isn't a Republican or Democrat can make an impact in the 2024 election cycle.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with UMSL's Anita Manion and STLPR's Sarah Kellogg about Tuesday's primary results. Rosenbaum also spoke with Wesley Bell, Mike Kehoe, Crystal Quade and Bob Onder about their big wins — and what they could mean for Missouri politics.

On August 6, Missourians will go to the polls to decide some of the most important primary elections in recent memory. On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Sarah Kellogg and Jo Mannies about the big things to look for when the results come in on Tuesday. Rosenbaum also talks with Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mike Hamra about his primary campaign.

The latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air features Democrat Lucas Kunce explaining why he should take on GOP Sen. Josh Hawley in the fall. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum also talks with former state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal about her bid for Missouri's 1st Congressional District.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Sen. Jason Bean joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to discuss Gov. Mike Parson’s budget vetoes — and the future of the Missouri Senate. Bean represents Missouri’s 25th Senatorial District, which includes Stoddard, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Oregon, Mississippi, Butler, Wayne and Carter Counties. The Holcomb Republican was elected to his post in 2020.

Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush is no stranger to confronting powerful political and civic institutions. After all, Bush challenged, and eventually defeated, Congressman Lacy Clay in 2020 — and before that became well known in St. Louis for her time in the protest movement that arose after Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson. Now, Bush is facing another challenge on Aug. 6. She’s trying to outflank St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell and former state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal in a nationally-watched contest. Bush spoke with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. Rosenbaum also talked with state Sen. Karla May on her bid to take on GOP U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in the fall.

Before he became attorney general, Andrew Bailey served in a number of roles — including a soldier, a security guard, a prosecutor and general counsel to Gov. Mike Parson. And as the GOP statewide official faces a tough primary battle with St. Louis County attorney Will Scharf for the right to keep his job, Bailey is hoping that Republican voters see his collective experience inside and outside of politics as a compelling drawing point. “I care about the state because it's home,” Bailey said on an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “I got to grow up in a Missouri that enjoyed freedom, safety, prosperity. And I want my kids and your listeners' kids and grandkids to enjoy those things as well.”

Republican Secretary of State candidate Jamie Corley joins the show. Corley speaks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about her candidacy, why she filed an initiative petition that would have reversed Missouri's abortion ban and why she thinks her position isn't out of line with Missouri Republicans.

Over the past few months, Missouri attorney general hopeful Will Scharf became a familiar face on national news for his legal advocacy for former President Donald Trump. Now, over the next few weeks, the St. Louis County attorney is hoping to make the case to GOP primary voters that he should replace Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “I never really thought this was something that I would do,” Scharf said on an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “Friends of mine approached me about running and said that they thought it was really time to shake up Jefferson City and get more conservative outsiders, as opposed to establishment politicians and establishment people in the office.”

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with STL County Prosecutor Wesley Bell about his bid to represent Missouri's 1st Congressional District. Bell is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush and former state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal. At the beginning of the show, Rosenbaum talks with GOP gubernatorial contender Jay Ashcroft about he plans to stand up above the pack in a competitive Aug. 6 primary.

Malek is definitely getting a crash course in Missouri politics this summer. After Gov. Mike Parson appointed him to the treasurer’s office after Scott Fitzpatrick became state auditor, Malek is running for a full four-year term against five other GOP candidates in the Aug. 6 primary: House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, state Sen. Andrew Koenig, Springfield resident Lori Rook, St. Joseph resident Tina Goodrick and Berkeley resident Karan Pujji. Malek has raised by far the most money for the statewide contest that typically flies below the radar. He’s making the case that he’s done a capable enough job thus far in office, including returning record amounts of unclaimed property and expanding a program called MoBUCK$ that provides low-interest loans to certain businesses. “When I became treasurer, my whole purpose was to do the job — not to get the job,” Malek said. “I have done great in my professional career and the business that I had. And now it was time for me to take some time off from my regular occupation, come to this field, and do my service as a public servant with a servant’s heart.”

House Speaker Dean Plocher joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about his bid to become Missouri's next secretary of state — and also the ethics controversies that have followed him over the last few months.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller is no stranger to crowded primaries — including to be the GOP nominee for secretary of state. The GOP countywide official defeated two well-funded and well-organized Republican opponents in 2012 to become the party’s candidate to succeed then-Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. But thanks, perhaps in part, to Republican Todd Akin’s implosion in his race against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, Schoeller narrowly lost to Democrat Jason Kander. Two years later, Schoeller became Greene County clerk — which means he’s the top elections official for the fast growing southwest Missouri county. And he contends that experience helps him stand out in a secretary of state field that includes seven other GOP contenders. “I think what distinguishes me from everyone else is I've actually been administering elections for the past 10 years,” Schoeller said on an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “It’s no different than when you think about voting for sheriff, you want someone who has law enforcement experience before they become the sheriff of your county. I strongly believe we need someone who has election experience to become the next Secretary of State.”

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum interviews TWO Missouri gubernatorial hopefuls — GOP Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade. The two are trying to maneuver through primaries that are slated to take place on Aug. 6. Rosenbaum also talked with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg about the high-stake governor's contest.

Mike Carter, a municipal judge from Wentzville, said he filed to be Missouri’s next Secretary of State because of its electability. “I identified the Secretary of State's office is having the least amount of competition, the least amount of dollars dedicated to it, and the largest opening for me to repeat what I did in the past and just ascend right to the position,” Carter said. However, the day Carter filed, two other Republicans joined the race the same day, bringing the number of Republican candidates running for Secretary of State up to eight. Along with Carter, other Republican candidates for the race include House Speaker Dean Plocher, state Senators Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Denny Hoskins, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, state Rep. Adam Schwadron, St. Louis County resident Jamie Corley and St. Louis resident Valentine Gomez. House Rep. Barbara Phifer is the most well-known Democrat candidate who filed.

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman was the first candidate to jump into the GOP fray for the now-open 3rd Congressional District seat. And she ended up being one of the last contenders to file to be the next secretary of state. During an episode of St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking, Coleman detailed why she chose to switch up races — contending that the statewide post that oversees business registration, securities regulation, and elections is a better fit for what she wants to accomplish in state government. “I have always had a hard race, I have always been a proven fighter,” Coleman said. “And I have never run in a race that wasn't a multi-candidate primary, a scrum. Now, this is certainly the place that I've had the most opponents in. But when you're in a race, really what your focus is talking to the voters, getting to know them, talking about the issues that matter most to you so that they get to know you. And I don't think that the number of competitors or candidates really changes how you run that race.”

State Sen. Bill Eigel spent his roughly two terms in the Missouri Senate going against the grain of GOP leaders. But the Weldon Spring Republican doesn’t believe his clashes with fellow GOP elected officials will be a detriment to his gubernatorial bid. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Eigel said his anti-establishment posture puts him in a good position in a competitive GOP primary that includes Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. In addition to Eigel's interview, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg discuss the Missouri governor's race. And Rosenbaum sits down with St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore about his first year in office.

Former Missouri U.S. Sen. John Danforth witnessed lots changes to politics over his lifetime. Danforth, added his age 87, who served in the Senate from 1976 to 1995 and as Missouri’s attorney general from 1969 to 1976, was at the cutting edge of turning Missouri from a state that voted for Democrats for statewide posts to a bellwether that was somewhat evenly divided between the parties. But Danforth is now decrying a force that helped Missouri Republicans take unprecedented power throughout state: Former President Donald Trump. “It's possible to be a Trump Republican. It's possible to be a Reagan Republican. But the two are not compatible. They're inconsistent,” Danforth said in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio. “It's really impossible to be both at the same time.”

Missouri's 2024 session is over. And in some respects, the divides between Missouri Republicans, especially in the Senate, were more noteworthy than the things that were actually passed. STLPR's Sarah Kellogg joins The Politically Speaking Hour to talk about what passed — and why the supermajority era may be coming to an end. Later in the show, STLPR's Rachel Lippmann discussed St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' State of the City address.

Missouri child abuse investigators missed warning signs of fentanyl use among parents before their young children died of accidental overdoses from the drug, according to a new state report. It found that Children's Division investigators, who are tasked with following up on claims of abuse and neglect, “lacked essential procedures, missed warning signs and left vulnerable children at risk.” St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Department of Social Services director Robert Knodell on how Children's Division could change course after the report.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with child welfare advocate Jessica Seitz about a startling new reporting detailing how Children's Division investigators missed warning signs of fentanyl use among parents before those parents' children died. Rosenbaum also talks to Congressman Mark Alford about his recent trip to Taiwan and Richard Von Glahn about a ballot item aimed at raising the state's minimum wage.

NPR National Political correspondent Sarah McCammon recently released The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. It is part memoir and part exploration into the role Evangelicals play in politics. In a conversation with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, McCammon first talked about how her book connected with a wide audience — including people who didn’t grow up Evangelical like her.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks to Missouri Independent's Jason Hancock about the ethics investigation into House Speaker Dean Plocher. Rosenbaum also spoke with Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo about Senate Democrats' expectations about the final weeks of session. And he also discussed a ballot item legalizing sports betting with Jack Cardetti of Winning for Missouri Education.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Missouri state Sen. Brian Williams discusses the state budget process and the 2024 election cycle. Williams represents Missouri’s 14th District, which takes in several dozen municipalities in St. Louis County. Williams was first elected to his post in 2018 and reelected with no opposition in 2022.

Yes, political can be interesting and exciting. But in the latest episode of The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Saint Louis University's Ken Warren about what's driving increased voter apathy. Rosenbaum also speaks with state Rep. Tony Lovasco of St. Charles County about his call for Gov. Mike Parson to commute Brian Dorsey's death sentence. And in an exclusive interview, fashion icon and philanthropist Karlie Kloss talks with Rosenbaum about her passion for abortion rights.

State Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg returns to Politically Speaking to talk about his campaign for secretary of state — and the prospects of being able to legalize sports betting in Missouri. Hoskins is one of eight GOP contenders seeking to succeed Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

Webster Groves native Karlie Kloss took the modeling world by storm in the 2010s before launching a highly successful effort to connect young women with computer coding and, more recently, helping relaunch Life Magazine. But on Monday, Kloss discussed another passion in an exclusive interview with St. Louis Public Radio: Her advocacy for abortion rights in Missouri and around the Midwest. “I'm one of four daughters. I grew up here in the Midwest. My father is a physician. The idea of reproductive care was never political in my house,” Kloss said. “It's devastating to me the reality of what is happening and how it has become so politicized. Because to me, this is a conversation that belongs between an individual and their physician and an individual and their loved ones. To me, politicians should not be involved.”

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his decision to depart from the secretary of state’s contest. The Columbia Republican had announced his statewide bid last year. He had the most campaign money out of any of the GOP competitors for the post and had experience winning tough elections.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum discusses the Illinois primary results with STLPR's Will Bauer and Brian Munoz. Rosenbaum also chats with SLU's Steven Rogers and STLPR's Jo Mannies about the SLU/YouGov poll and what it could mean for the 2024 election cycle

Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. The Platte County Republican is the sponsor of an omnibus bill dealing with public safety. Luetkemeyer breaks down his bill, as well as discusses other topics like sports betting, his bill last session creating a property tax freeze for seniors and how he's felt the 2024 Legislative Session has gone so far.

State Rep. Scott Cupps joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about his pathway from the agricultural business to the Missouri House. The Shell Knob Republican also talked about his explosive committee hearing with state Treasurer Vivek Malek, which featured bipartisan criticism of his decision to place unclaimed property decals on Torch's controversial gaming machines.

On the latest episode of The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Senate Majority Leader Cindy O'Laughlin of Shelbina about the state of the Missouri Senate. Rosenbaum also discussed what to expect in the second half of the Missouri General Assembly's session with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg. And in the final segment of the show, St. Louis Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier talks about her bill to make it easier to open homeless shelters in the city.

After a long hiatus from electoral politics, former Missouri Sen. Kurt Schaefer is re-entering the fray with his entry into Missouri's 3rd Congressional District contest. The Columbia Republican talked with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum earlier this week about why he decided to run — and provided his stances on a slew of foreign policy and domestic issues.

The latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air features an extensive interview with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. Jones talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about crime prevention, regional homelessness policies, and how city policymakers shouldn't spend the St. Louis Rams settlement. Later in the program, Rosenbaum and STLPR's Will Bauer talk with IL Sen. Jil Tracy about Governor JB Pritzker's State of the State and budgetary address.

Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, spoke to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum on Saturday Feb. 17, 2024, at Missouri Republican Party Lincoln Days in Kansas City. Burlison talked about his support for former President Donald Trump's policies, his opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine, and why Republicans should embrace early voting strategies instead of constantly complaining about them.

The leader of Missouri’s agency responsible for investigating child abuse and neglect says its St. Louis office is making progress in eliminating a massive case backlog. Last year, St. Louis Public Radio reported on the troubles in the Children’s Division office in St. Louis, which serves the city and St. Louis County. A combination of high turnover and inability to hire people created a backlog of 6,124 cases of abuse or neglect allegations that remained open after 45 days. And the staff’s 16 investigators had an average caseload of 150 — when federal guidelines say it should be closer to 10 to 12. In a wide-ranging interview on Wednesday, Children’s Division Director Darrell Missey said that increased hiring should play a major role in eliminating overdue cases over the next few months. Missey said the agency is close to reaching its goal of having 60 investigators to look into abuse and neglect claims in St. Louis and St. Louis County.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, last faced a primary opponent in 2018 when the longtime lawmaker cruised to victory with nearly 84% of the vote. However, this year former GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state legislator, Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, is hoping to unseat Bost from the 12th Congressional District when voters go to the polls next month. “He says I'm a professional politician,” Bost said of Bailey on the Politically Speaking podcast. “Well, he's a professional candidate.”

On the latest episode of The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum takes a closer look at two complex, but important civic events: The Democratic and Republican presidential contents in March and an effort to get voters to decide on the future of abortion access in the state. Rosenbaum also talked with St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha about her recent segments about the dearth of civic education in the state and the nation.

Darren Bailey, the former Republican Illinois gubernatorial candidate, is banking on his deeply conservative values and unwillingness to sacrifice them to propel him to victory against U.S. Rep. Mike Bost in the 12th District primary next month. “As a Republican — and as a conservative Republican — I cannot compromise my values,” Bailey said on the Politically Speaking podcast.

Democratic state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she spoke to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about education legislation. The freshman lawmaker was first elected to her post in 2022, representing a district that includes a portion of the city of Columbia.

The latest episode of The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air is a first: It's the first ever episode of St. Louis on the Air to be recorded entirely in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg interviewed Gov. Mike Parson and Democratic state Rep. Ashley Aune. The duo also broke down Parson's final State of the State speech — and the recent legislative dysfunction.

Missouri Congressman Jason Smith is hoping to inch his colleagues toward future bipartisan collaboration with a bill that increases the child tax credit and provides incentives for business research and development and low-income housing. The Salem Republican joined forces with Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden to put forward the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. While Smith noted in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio that neither side of the political spectrum is completely happy with the bill, the agreement could provide some guidance for federal lawmakers struggling to come up with legislation around immigration or aid to Ukraine or Israel.

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Arnold Republican spoke about her decision to run for Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District contest. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer announced his retirement earlier this month. The district includes parts of Jefferson, St. Charles, Cole, Boone, Callaway and Warren counties.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer threw a bit of a curve to Missouri’s already crowded primary season when he announced he wouldn’t run for another term. The St. Elizabeth Republican hasn’t been shy about expressing his disdain about high-profile infighting within his party, culminating in Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as speaker and a marathon melodrama to pick his replacement. But Luetkemeyer stressed his decision to retire after 16 years is based on a legitimate desire to stop working. “I’m going to be 72 years old in May. And so people ask me about my health … is that the reason I'm retiring? I say: ‘No, my health is good. That's why I'm retiring,’” Luetkemeyer said in a wide-ranging interview.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt has more experience as a Missouri state senator than a U.S. senator, but after his first year in Washington, he says he’s seen a big difference with how Congress handles government funding. During a wide-ranging interview Friday on The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, the Missouri Republican discussed the latest budget standoff. If Congress doesn’t act in the next week, there could be a government shutdown. Schmitt said he doesn’t like how his colleagues don’t vote on multiple bills funding the federal government, which is the standard for Missouri.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway expounds on her decision to not run for another term this year. The Chesterfield Democrat represents the council’s 2nd District, which includes municipalities like St. Ann, Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Bridgeton and Hazelwood. She was first elected to her post in a 2019 special election and won a full four-year term in 2020.

The Independence Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum to talk about helping the state's child abuse investigators — and whether the 2024 session deserves its low expectations.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen went through a major political and structural transformation in 2023. On “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green talked about some of the highlights of the past year and what to expect from her aldermanic colleagues in 2024. This interview was recorded on Dec. 18, 2021.

Missouri’s attorney general is intervening in a highly-publicized legal fight between billionaire Elon Musk and a left-leaning media watchdog group documenting antisemitic content on his social media platform. Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced last week he’s initiating an investigation against Media Matters for America, a Washington, D.C.-based group that writes articles critical of conservative media outlets and personalities. Media Matters also showcased some of the alleged deficiencies of Musk’s stewardship of X, the new name for Twitter, including how extremist accounts were thriving on X.

State Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee's Summit, joins STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. Ingle provided her thoughts about what to expect for the legislature's 2024 session — and Democratic prospects for next year's election cycle.

St. Louis Public Radio's senior environmental reporter Kate Grumke talks with U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley about the next steps now that a proposal compensating St. Louis area residents who became sickened due to radioactive waste exposure isn't in a critical national defense bill.

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about his first year in office. Fitzpatrick became state auditor earlier in January after winning election to the post over Democrat Alan Green. He previously served as state treasurer and also was House Budget Committee chairman when he was a member of the Missouri House.

State Rep. Ian Mackey is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his concerns around the upcoming legislative session and the 2024 elections. Mackey represents Missouri’s 99th House District, which takes in St. Louis County cities like Clayton, Ladue and Olivette. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2018, and won reelection in 2020 and 2022.

As he prepares to accept the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship on Saturday at the Musial Awards, former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley said his family and teachers in Crystal City taught him “discipline, selflessness, courage, imagination and responsibility.” “And the more you succeed, the more fuel that provides to the fire — and the harder you work,” Bradley said on The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. “And so, some people say that's the origin of my workaholism. But it's also the origin of the way you make your way through life.”

St. Louis Alderwoman Daniela Velázquez is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to discuss her first few months in office. Velázquez represents the city’s 6th Ward, which takes in Compton Heights, Compton Hill, Shaw, Tower Grove South and portions of Dutchtown. She was first elected to her post in 2023, and became the first Latina ever to serve on the Board of Aldermen.

Missouri House Rep. Adam Schwadron, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The St. Charles Republican is running to be Missouri's next Secretary of State. He joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum to speak on his candidacy and offer his thoughts on the upcoming session.

Missouri House Majority Leader Jon Patterson is slated to become speaker in 2025 — and he’s receiving more attention this week after current House Speaker Dean Plocher became embroiled in a controversy over his expense reimbursements. In the debut episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR Political Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Plocher. STLPR statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg for analysis, and we open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about local government and politics.

State Rep. Ken Waller is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Herculaneum Republican talked about his first year in the Missouri House. Waller is a longtime county official who was elected to Missouri’s 114th District last year. The district includes Pevely, Herculaneum and Festus.

State Rep. Mike Haffner is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Pleasant Hill Republican talked about efforts to curtail some foreign-based companies from owning Missouri agricultural land.

State Rep. Mark Matthiesen, R-O'Fallon, talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his journey back to the Missouri House, compensating people who have become sickened due to nuclear waste exposure, and how to tackle rising personal property tax bills effectively.

Rep. Peter Merideth joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss why the Missouri Legislature has yet to pass legislation on gun control in the almost year since the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Additionally, the St. Louis Democrat shares his opinions on this year's budget, the current examining of earnings and personal property taxes by a House committee and Republicans' effort to make it harder to amend Missouri's constitution.

State Sen. Tracy McCreery is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the St. Louis County Democrat spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about her first year in office. McCreery represents Missouri’s 24th District, which includes cities such as Kirkwood, Sunset Hills, Valley Park and Creve Coeur. Before getting elected to her post in 2022, McCreery served two stints in the Missouri House: The first was for roughly a year in 2012. The second was from 2015 to 2023.

State Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County, joins STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about veto session, a committee examining the earnings tax, and what to expect during the 2024 legislative session.

State Sen. Bill Eigel talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his bid for governor — as well as how he'd approach a host of issues as Missouri's chief executive. The Weldon Spring Republican also discussed fallout from veto session.

St. Louis Alderman Rasheen Aldridge joins STLPR's Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his transition into aldermanic life. The 14th Ward Democrat previously served as a state representative for the 78th District House seat — and now has more opportunities to make a policy impact after departing from a chamber where Democrats are in the superminority.

Rep. Paula Brown makes her appearance as a guest on Politically Speaking for the first time. The Hazelwood Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss topics like the upcoming veto session, what education issues she expects to return in the upcoming session as well as the 2024 election.

Sen. Karla Eslinger makes her debut on Politically Speaking. The Wasola Republican joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the upcoming veto session. Eslinger also spoke on education, foreign acquisition of farmland as well as the 2024 session and election.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features state Rep. Doug Clemens talking with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg on the public policy response to radioactive waste contamination. Clemens represents Missouri’s 72nd House District, which takes in portions of northwest St. Louis County. He was first elected to his post in 2018.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Melanie Stinnett discusses her entry into the Missouri General Assembly. The Springfield Republican represents Missouri’s 133rd District, which takes in portions of Greene County. She was elected in 2022 to succeed Curtis Trent, who vacated the seat to run for the state Senate.

Earlier this summer, a consortium of media agencies dropped a bombshell report: The federal government spent decades downplaying or ignoring the risks of radioactive waste in the St. Louis area. And while the issue has been prominent in places like north St. Louis County and St. Charles County for quite some time, the spotlight on the documents revealed in the media reports — and the work of activists who have sought to bring attention to it — sparked fresh calls for governmental action. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has been particularly outspoken on the issue. He managed to get an amendment attached to a critical national defense bill that could compensate people in St. Louis who became sick. Hawley spoke with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum about the unusual legislative trajectory of his proposal — and whether it can survive tough legislative headwidns.

State Sen. Andrew Koenig joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his candidacy for state Treasurer. The Manchester Republican also spoke on why lawmakers need to try again at making the state's constitution harder to amend.

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon jumped back into the political fray. The longtime Democratic official is joining the political group "No Labels" as the director of the organization's Ballot Integrity Project. He said he joined the group that emphasizes centrist political views because he was upset that some Democratic groups are trying to block a potential presidential ticket from certain states. “It deeply, deeply troubled me that we were in a situation in which you had folks working against the public's ability to get things on the ballot,” Nixon said.

State Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Groves returns to Politically Speaking to talk about changes to Missouri's Children's Division, expectations for the 2024 legislative session and why she supports raising the threshold to amend the state's constitution.

State Rep. Michael Burton is the latest guest on “Politically Speaking,” where he spoke about his impressions of the 2023 legislative session. Burton is a Lakeshire Democrat who represents the state’s 92nd District. He was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022. His district, which takes in a slice of south St. Louis County, is split relatively evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

The Platte County Democrat talks with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about Gov. Mike Parson's budget vetoes, her expectations for the 2024 session — and why she's running for House Minority Leader.

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek will have competition next year as he seeks a full four-year term. House Budget Chairman Cody Smith said on an episode of Politically Speaking that he will run in the GOP primary for the statewide office. The Carthage Republican said his experience leading the committee that helps craft the state’s budget sets him up well to be treasurer.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann is not running for a sixth term in 2026. He sat down with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum to explain what's changed in Missouri politics since he started out in the late 1980s — and what needs to be done in the St. Louis region.

State Rep. Steve Butz joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about effort to clamp down on gun violence in the city of St. Louis. The Democrat from south St. Louis also discussed what to expect in the 2024 legislative session — and how his party is gearing up for a pivotal election cycle.

Mike Jones returns to Politically Speaking to talk about St. Louis Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s entrance into the U.S. Senate race — and the state of the St. Louis region’s politics. Jones numerous titles throughout the past few decades include service as a St. Louis alderman, a corporate executive, the head of the St. Louis housing authority and an adviser to a St. Louis mayor and a St. Louis County executive. He also served on the state Board of Education.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features GOP Congressman Mark Alford of Raymore talking with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum. Alford talks about his agenda for Ft. Leonard Wood, fallout from the debt ceiling vote and much more.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Bill Hardwick talks about fallout from the 2023 legislative session and what next year may bring. Hardwick is an attorney who was first elected to the Missouri House in 2020. The Waynesville Republican represents a portion of Pulaski County, including Fort Leonard Wood.

Joe McCulloch recently took over as St. Charles County prosecutor after his predecessor Tim Lohmar resigned. If McCulloch’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the brother of former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch — who served in his post from 1991 until the end of 2018.

Minority leader for the Missouri House of Representatives Crystal Quade returns as a guest. The Springfield Democrat speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about her thoughts on the 2023 Missouri Legislative Session as well as her predictions on the 2024 General Election, including if she plans to run for governor.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt discussing his initial impressions of federal legislative service and the ongoing standoff over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. After serving as a state senator, state treasurer and attorney general, Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate last year to succeed Roy Blunt. He currently serves on the Senate Armed Services and Commerce Committee.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, 2nd Ward Alderman Tom Oldenburg discusses chairing a committee on red tape, finding common ground with the growing progressive bloc at City Hall, and plans for his political future.

Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Democrat from Kansas City, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Arthur speaks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about this year's session so far, as well as her opinions on the final week. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Arthur also speaks on what she liked about this year's budget and what she was disappointed in.

On a special edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Attorney General Andrew Bailey about whether his office, and regional prosecutors, can help stabilize the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's office. He also talked about why he's not ready to drop his quo warranto case against Kim Gardner, who announced her resignation earlier this week.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, of Illinois’ 12th District, recently returned to Washington, D.C. after a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, where the border patrol is struggling with an uptick in agent suicide, he said. Many of those agents are veterans. As chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Bost said that’s concerning. More broadly, figuring out how to make the system at the border better is a tough subject, Bost said.

When an 84-year-old white man shot 16-year-old African-American Ralph Yarl in Kansas City earlier this month, people around the state and country were outraged. And now, Andrew Lester is facing felony charges. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talked with Saint Louis University Law School professor Anders Walker about how Missouri’s castle doctrine and stand your ground laws likely won’t help Lester.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg on the latest episode of Politically Speaking to talk about a host of issues confronting his office and the state. That includes Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s rules restricting gender-affirming care for minors and adults.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, whose 13th District includes a portion of the Metro East, reflects on her first 100 days in office.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern talks to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the state budgetary process — and how Missouri lawmakers should approach education policy. Nurrenbern represents Missouri’s 15th House District, which takes in a portion of Clay County. She was first elected in 2020 and then re-elected last year. The former teacher serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

Rep. Lane Roberts joins Politically Speaking for the first-time. The Joplin Republican speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his legislation that Republicans say will reduce crime in Missouri. Included in the bill is language allowing for the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to handle violent crime cases in jurisdictions that exceed a specified murder case rate.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, outgoing 14th Ward Alderwoman Carol Howard discusses raising aldermanic pay, what it might take to lift a residency requirement for city employees, and how the digital age changed everything about being an alderperson.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Annie Rice, the outgoing alderwoman of the 8th Ward, talks about setting up a charter commission, her political legacy, and what it was like to serve on the board.

Former Congressman Russ Carnahan was elected as Missouri Democratic Party chairman over the weekend. And the St. Louis Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the challenges and opportunities for a party that's been in an electoral slump since 2012.

Republican-led states all over the country are passing bill restricting transgender rights, particularly the ability for minors to access health care procedures like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgeries. But Missouri may actually pass a less restrictive version of that idea, thanks to the fact that the Missouri Senate has a tradition of a strong filibuster. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Democratic Sen. Greg Razer of Kansas City about how the filibuster can reshape the debate over bills affecting transgender people.

State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about a multitude of issues during the 2023 legislative session. That includes bills that would curtail the purchase of farmland by some foreign corporations and efforts to extend Medicaid to postpartum mothers.

House Rep. David Tyson Smith makes his return on Politically Speaking. The Columbia Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the 2023 Legislative Session as it begins its third month. Smith sits on the House Elections and Elected Officials committee, meaning he has heard not only bills changing the election process but also numerous resolutions that would make it harder to amend Missouri's constitution.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is facing the fight of her political life after a man on house arrested seriously injured a 17-year-old girl. Republicans and Democrats are calling for her to resign, contending she has neglected her duties in office. Gardner has refused to step aside, adding that St. Louis' judges bare responsibility for what happened to Janae Edmondson. Attorney General Andrew Bailey subsequently filed what's known as a quo warranto motion aimed at ousting her from office. This is not unprecedented. Back in 2009, Joe Dandurand played a major role in then-Attorney General Chris Koster's efforts to remove Dent County Prosecutor Jessica Sparks from office. Dandurand also was a Cass County judge when the Missouri Supreme Court decided a landmark quo warranto case known as Fuchs v. Foote. Dandurand talked with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum what the quo warranto process entails and why Gardner's fate could be hugely significant to the legal profession.

State Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-Kirkwood, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about the contentious nature of the 2023 General Assembly session. Phifer represents portions of St. Louis County in the Missouri House. Prior to serving in the legislature, Phifer was a United Methodist pastor for more than 40 years.

State Rep. Phil Christofanelli is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked about his legislative priorities and key issues of the 2023 session. Christofanelli represents Missouri’s 104th House District, which takes in a portion of St. Charles County. He was first elected to his post in 2016, and will be unable to run again for the House after 2024 due to term limits. Christofanelli announced he’s running for a Missouri Senate seat that’s currently held by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, in 2024.

State Rep. Donna Baringer is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about legislation around St. Louis’ ability to fight crime. Baringer is a Democrat who represents Missouri’s 82nd District in the Missouri House. After redistricting, that district takes in a number of neighborhoods in southwest St. Louis.

Missouri Congressman Sam Graves Graves talked to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about his goals and expectations as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Tarkio Republican represents Missouri's 6th Congressional District.

Gov. Mike Parson won plaudits from an unlikely group of people: Missouri legislative Democrats. To break down why, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg look at some of the highlights of his 2023 speech — and what the GOP chief executive's legacy in office could be.

Richard Brown, Assistant House Minority Floor Leader, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Kansas City Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the priorities for House Democrats during the 2023 legislative session, which includes childcare, tax policies that support working families and gun control measures.

House Majority Leader Jon Patterson is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the start of the 2023 legislative session. Patterson is a Republican from Lee’s Summit who was recently elected as majority floor leader. He first won election to the 30th District House seat in 2018, and was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2022. His district includes a portion of Jackson County.

Missouri politics in 2022 featured a little bit of everything: High-stakes elections, nasty legislative fights and landmark court decisions. And all of the storylines that defined 2022 stoked enough contention and conflict to likely affect events in 2023 and beyond. So as we always do this time of year, the STLPR politics team counts down the stories that defined the last 12 months.

Sen. Doug Beck is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The south St. Louis County Democrat talked about what to expect in the 2023 session and some of his priority legislation. Beck represents the 1st Senate District, which takes in most of unincorporated south St. Louis County and municipalities like Webster Groves and Crestwood. He will be up for reelection for a second term in 2024.

After close to 50 years in public life, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is heading into retirement. He leaves behind a substantial political and policy legacy in Missouri — much of what the Republican attributes to working with Democrats on major issues. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talked with the two-term senator about the big takeaways from his life and career.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Sen. Denny Hoskins talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about an issue that’s bedeviled lawmakers over the past few years: Legalizing sports betting — and allowing for businesses to have video lottery terminals. Hoskins is a Republican from Warrensburg who was first elected to represent Missouri’s 21st Senatorial District in 2016. He was re-elected to his post in 2020.

Current Missouri House Representative and incoming State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss her legislative goals ahead of the 2023 state session. Other topics discussed include the possibility of a constitutional challenge to Missouri's abortion ban, the dynamics of the Missouri Senate and how Coleman feels Republicans fared this past election cycle.

State Rep. Marlene Terry is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Democrat from Bellefontaine Neighbors talked about her pathway to the Missouri House and her goals as chairwoman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

Rep. Emily Weber joins Politically Speaking as a first-time guest. The Kansas City Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss House Democrats' success at picking up three new seats this past election. Weber also speaks on the work House Democrats are doing to build their party and what some of their priorities may be for the upcoming session.

St. Louis County Councilman-elect Dennis Hancock is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Fenton Republican talked about his win in this month’s 3rd District County Council race and his expectations for when he takes office in 2023. Hancock will represent the council’s 3rd District, which includes municipalities like Fenton, Kirkwood, Valley Park and Manchester. He defeated Democrat Vicki Englund in what was the most competitive county council race of 2022. Hancock will succeed Tim Fitch, a Republican who chose not to run for another term after his residence was drawn out of the 3rd District.

Missouri Republicans won the two statewide races on the ballot yesterday. But calling the 2022 election cycle a disaster for Missouri Democrats would be a stretch — even though the party still has a lot of work to do to win statewide elections.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her re-election campaign in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. Wagner has represented the 2nd District since 2013. The district changed after redistricting, and now contains parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren Counties — as well as all of Franklin County. For the past few years, Wagner has served on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She serves as the vice ranking members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — and she could gain influence if she wins re-election and the GOP takes control of the House.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, Megan Green, 15th Ward St. Louis alderwoman, talks about getting asked by the mayor to run for board president, setting a new tone at the board, and getting it ready to be a body of 14, rather than 28.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about Missouri’s new law that requires a government-issued photo ID to vote. Ashcroft also talked about his proposed rule on state library funding, which would include oversight of the material in libraries.

Marilyn McLeod is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The President of the League of Women Voters of Missouri joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg on why the League joined the Missouri NAACP in suing against Missouri's new election law. In addition to the barriers McLeod says the new photo-ID requirement creates for voters, she also speaks on how the law's new language on voter registration and absentee ballots is already impacting the League's work.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Seventh Ward Alderman Jack Coatar explains why he is the best person to fill a leadership vacuum left by indictment and resignations.

John Payne is with Legal Missouri 2022, the group trying to legalizing marijuana for adult use. He talked with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the ins and out of Amendment 3 — and whether Missourians want to legalize cannabis products.

Democratic Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. She joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the reasons why, despite being a co-sponsor of the Cannabis Freedom Act this past legislative session, she is against Amendment 3, which would legalize adult-use of marijuana in Missouri.

Lisa McCarthy is running for the open 122nd District House seat. She talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Jonathan Ahl about running as a Democrat in territory that's become increasingly GOP-friendly. McCarthy is running against Republican Tara Peters, who also recorded an episode of Politically Speaking.

Politically Speaking takes a close look at a race for the 122nd House District, which takes in parts of Phelps County. St. Louis Public Radio's Jonathan Ahl talks with GOP nominee Tara Peters about her bid for the seat. Democratic nominee Lisa McCarthy's episode will be posted later this week.

Republican state auditor nominee Scott Fitzpatrick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his plans for the office if he prevails in November. Fitzpatrick won a hotly-contested GOP primary earlier this year against Republican state Rep. David Gregory. He’s facing off against Democrat Alan Green on Nov. 8. Green served in the MIssouri House from 2014 through the end of 2020.

With a special session on income tax cuts and agricultural tax credits still ongoing, state Rep. LaKeySha Bosley returned to Politically Speaking and talked about why she feels the debate thus far has been a “disaster.” Bosley represents Missouri’s 79th District, which takes in a portion of St. Louis. She is running unopposed in November for her seat – which means she will serve in her third term since getting elected to the Missouri House in 2018.

Mark Mantovani ran twice for St. Louis County executive as a Democrat. But now the retired businessman is the GOP nominee under unusual circumstances. He talks about his return to electoral politics — and his views on a wide range of pertinent issues.

St. Louis-based author Sarah Kendzior spoke with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum earlier this week about her new book They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent. Rosenbaum and Kendzior spoke in front of a live audience at the Ethical Society in Ladue. The event was organized by Left Bank Books

Republican George Hruza is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his bid for the 24th state Senate district. Hruza is seeking to represent the St. Louis County-based district that includes Fenton, Maryland Heights and Kirkwood. He’s running against Rep. Tracy McCreery, an Olivette Democrat who has served in the Missouri House for roughly nine years.

Lis Smith is the author of the best-selling book "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story." Much of it talks about her life and career around political communications work, including her tenure with Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. But she also spent time in Missouri working for Democratic heavyweights like Claire McCaskill and Chris Koster. Smith spoke extensively with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about her time in the Show Me State — and other major points in the best-selling book.

Democratic Rep. Tracy McCreery is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. She joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about not only the upcoming special session, but her candidacy to be the state Senator for Missouri's 24th District, which is considered to be the most competitive Senate race this election cycle.

Democratic state Auditor nominee Alan Green is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he discussed his campaign for state auditor with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg. Green served as a member of the state House from 2014 through the beginning of 2021. He is squaring off against state Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick in November. Fitzpatrick is planning on appearing on an episode of Politically Speaking at a later date.

Republican Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about a litany of topics, including the upcoming special session dealing with tax cuts and credits. Hough, vice-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee says he wants to pass an income tax cut Missouri can afford in the years to come. Hough also spoke on the August 2nd Primary, the upcoming November election and how he thinks the Missouri Senate may function after the dissolution of the Conservative Caucus.

Democrat John Kiehne is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his bid for the 26th Senatorial District. Kiehne is seeking to represent a district that includes a small part of St. Louis County and all of Franklin, Osage, Gasconade and Warren Counties. He ran in 2018, losing decisively to Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz. Republican Ben Brown won the GOP contest to succeed Schatz, who cannot run for another Senate term because of term limits.

Ben Brown is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where the Washington native talked about his win in the Republican primary for the 26th Senate District. Brown beat four other GOP candidates in the race to represent a seat that includes part of St. Louis County and all of Franklin, Osage, Warren and Gasconade counties. He will face Democrat John Kiehne in November.

State Rep. Travis Fitzwater is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about his recent victory of securing the Republican nomination for Missouri's 10th Senate District. Fitzwater faced a tough primary with four Republican opponents. In addition to his own election, Fitzwater shares some of his thoughts on the upcoming November election as well as what he plans to focus on as a Senator.

For John Wood, Tuesday’s results in Missouri’s closely-watched U.S. Senate race doesn’t change much about his candidacy for the post as an independent. Wood recently turned in signatures to appear on the ballot in the race to succeed Roy Blunt. The former U.S. attorney and counsel for the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection believes he can provide a different option for voters who generally hold conservative political views but don’t like how many Republicans embraced the idea that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Sarah Kellogg and Rachel Lippmann break down the results of Tuesday's primary. And the trio takes stock in a span of time that included a lot of wild moments, everything from a former governor's attempted comeback to a controversy around the Ying Yang Twins' suspicious endorsement of Mark McCloskey

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, U.S. Rep Cori Bush, D-St. Louis County, talks about her re-election campaign in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. Bush was elected to represent the district in 2020. It includes all of St. Louis and some of St. Louis County, and is the only congressional district in Missouri with a plurality of Black residents.

St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Days talks about her bid for a full four-year term with St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum. Days is being challenged in the 1st County Council District Democratic PRIMARY

Terry Wilson, who is running for the 1st District St. Louis County Council seat, is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Jennings City Councilman talked about his primary challenge against Council Chairwoman Rita Days.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann about his re-election campaign — and how he would approach the powerful post if he's elected a full four-year term.

State Sen. Jill Schupp talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum her time in state legislative politics. The Creve Coeur Democrat came on the legislative scene in 2008 by winning a seat in the Missouri House. She eventually was elected to two terms in the Missouri Senate, and is departing in early 2023 because of term limits.

St. Louis County Executive hopeful Jane Dueker, the latest guest on the Politically Speaking. Podcast, talked about why she’s challenging incumbent St. Louis County Executive Sam Page on Aug. 2. Dueker is an attorney who previously served as chief of staff during part of Gov. Bob Holden’s administration. Until recently, Dueker was a lobbyist — most notably representing state and local police unions. She ended her registration as a lobbyist to be able to raise money for her campaign committee.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about his new book Invisible Storm: A Solider's Memoir of Politics and PTSD.

Democratic candidate for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat Lucas Kunce joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about his candidacy. Kunce is one of three major candidates on the Democrat side and has directly raised more than $3.3 million for his campaign. On this episode of Politically Speaking, Kunce shares his policy ideas related to abortion, gun control and other topics.

State senator and candidate for Missouri's 1st Congressional District Steven Roberts is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about why he decided to run against incumbent Cori Bush as well as his policy ideas including on abortion, gun control and the economy.

U.S. Congresswoman and candidate for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat Vicky Hartzler is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Hartzler joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to speak on her campaign as well as policy topics including abortion, inflation and the Jan. 6th committee.

U.S. Congressman and Senate candidate Billy Long is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Long joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about why he should be Missouri Republicans' choice in the upcoming primary on Aug. 2. Long also spoke about inflation, gun control, the Jan. 6. committee and other policy topics.

Missouri 2nd Congressional District hopeful Ray Reeds talks with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about why he's the best person to be the Democratic nominee for the seat that includes parts of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Warren Counties.

Missouri House Representative and a Democratic candidate in the race to be Missouri's 2nd Congressional District representative joins the latest episode of Politically Speaking. Gunby talks to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the challenging task of flipping the district as well as her policy positions on gun control, the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and more.

Attorney and Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Mark McCloskey is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. McCloskey, who gained national attention in 2020 after he and his wife brandished firearms at protestors who marched past their home, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about his stances on topics such as gun control, abortion and the United States' actions over the war in Ukraine.

St. Louis' political world was turned upside down over the past week or so when three key officials were indicted on bribery charges. STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Rachel Lippmann and Kavahn Mansouri about what these legal proceedings mean for both politics and legislating in the city (and St. Louis County).

Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Spencer Toder joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to share why he is running to replace outgoing Sen. Roy Blunt, as well as his positions on a litany of topics impacting both Missouri and the United States including gun control, abortion and the current elevated inflation rate.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to break down his campaign for the U.S. Senate. The Sullivan Republican is part of a crowded field angling to succeed U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt later this year.

Drew Dampf joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about a new state Senate map — and the lay of the land for 2022 races for seats in the Missouri General Assembly's upper chamber.

State Rep. Kevin Windham Jr., talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the 2022 session — and how Democrats made a mark during the budgetary process.

Ben Samuels makes an announcement about his participation in Missouri's 2nd Congressional District contest.

State Rep. Joe Adams returns to Politically Speaking to talk to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the now completed 2022 Missouri General Assembly session. The University City Democrat represents a portion of St. Louis County in the Missouri House. After redistricting, his district will consist of University City and portions of Clayton.

With the 2022 Missouri Legislative Session finished, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg spend this episode of Politically Speaking answering your questions about the legislature. What does the redistricting process look like now that the legislature has passed a map? How will the contentiousness that happened this year impact future sessions? What song best describes this session? Those questions and more answered in this mailbag episode.

House Minority Floor Leader Crystal Quade joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the last week of the 2022 Missouri Legislative Session. In addition to reflecting on this year's session, Quade spoke on the recently passed $49 billion state budget, the possibility of the legislature passing a congressional redistricting map and more.

The 17th Ward Alderwoman joined Politically Speaking to talk about equitable development, efforts to reduce opioid overdoses, and a varied athletic and professional career.

Zora Mulligan, Commissioner of Higher Education for the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg, Jason Rosenbaum and Kate Grumke to talk about the state of higher education in Missouri. Mulligan spoke on current challenges the state is facing in regards to higher education, how the COVID-19 pandemic left its mark, as well as how the state plans to spend some of its funding from the American Rescue Plan Act on capital improvement projects for colleges across Missouri.

After a nearly eight year hiatus, former Missouri state Sen. John Lamping returns to Politically Speaking to discuss this year’s unpredictable U.S. Senate primary. Lamping represented the 24th Senate district from 2011 to 2015. Since then, he’s moved to St. Charles County but knows many of the contenders to succeed U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt well. He noted that he hasn’t endorsed any of the candidates and doesn’t plan to at this point.

Democratic Rep. Sarah Unsicker, whose district includes both St. Louis City and St. Louis County is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Unsicker joins both St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss not only the 2022 Missouri Legislative Session, but also the state budget. Unsicker serves on the House Budget Committee and believes the budget that House members passed a few weeks ago underutilizes the surplus Missouri has in its treasury. Unsicker also spoke on her efforts to raise awareness of sex trafficking in the state.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan about her first few months on the job — and how her agency will help execute the federal infrastructure bill.

Missouri Senator and member of the Conservative Caucus Bill Eigel is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Eigel joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his thoughts on how Missouri should draw its congressional redistricting map. Eigel has been a proponent of a 7-1 majority Republican map, though he ultimately did vote on a map that would likely send six Republicans and two Democrats to Washington. Eigel also spoke on the state of the Senate as well as what he hopes to accomplish this session.

Republican Rep. Bill Hardwick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg to talk about how he feels the 2022 legislative session has gone so far. Unlike some of his colleagues in the House, Hardwick is less concerned about the pace of the Missouri Senate, saying its doing its job of being more deliberative. Hardwick also spoke on congressional redistricting as well as his bill that bans public entities from issuing COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The 13th Ward Alderwoman joined Politically Speaking to talk “Zooming while driving,” spending the Rams settlement dollars, and running for re-election.

On this episode of Politically Speaking, Rep. Ron Hicks joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg to talk about his bill that would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state. Hicks, a St. Charles Republican, is serving his last year in the House. He also spoke on how he feels the 2022 legislative session is going, including the lack of action on the congressional redistricting map that the House passed in January.

On this episode of Politically Speaking, Rep. Peter Merideth joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg to talk about the current session, including the Missouri budget. The legislature has more to do this year money-wise, including passing an extra supplemental budget bill and allocating billions in federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Merideth also talked about the series of proposed constitutional amendments that have either passed the House or received first round approval.

Democratic Sen. Brian Williams joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg to talk about the Missouri Senate, which spent almost all of last week talking about redistricting without reaching a conclusion. Despite the delays and continued tensions, Williams is still optimistic about the 2022 Legislative Session. Williams also spoke on recent House activity, including the passage of a supplemental bill and a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the initiative petition process.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg to talk about how the 2022 Legislative Session has progressed one month in. Rowden also spoke on the redistricting process and also about the Senate's decision to essentially kill the appointment of Don Kauerauf to serve as Missouri's health director on a permanent basis.

The 12th Ward alderman joins Politically Speaking to discuss Zoom board meetings, why he wants to focus on river issues, and what it means to be a gay atheist representing a portion of south St. Louis.

Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jonathan Ahl and Sarah Kellogg to talk about the agriculture agency's 2022 agenda.

The St. Louis Democratic senators joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about the 2022 session — as well as what she would like to see in terms of redistricting for the 1st Congressional District. This episode also features an announcement at the end from Rosenbaum.

In the first episode of the new year, Republican Rep. Dirk Deaton joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum on Politically Speaking. Deaton talked about the legislative session, redistricting and the billions Missouri must eventually allocate in federal coronavirus aid. Deaton serves as the vice-chair of the House Budget Committee.

Can you feel it the end of 2021 coming ever so close? If you're listening to this episode, there are only a few hours left in a year that served a transition period for Missouri and St. Louis politics. Join STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum, Sarah Kellogg, Jonathan Ahl, Rachel Lippmann and Eric Schmid in discussing the top political stories of 2021.

On this edition of Politically Speaking, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo speaks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg. Rizzo talked about his expectations for the 2022 session, how an election year brings more legislative obstacles as a result of political ambition, and the likelihood of Republicans drawing a 7-1 congressional redistricting map.

On a first of its kind episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum answer your questions about Missouri policy and politics. Kellogg and Rosenbaum solicited queries from various social media sites, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and, most successfully, Reddit’s Missouri Politics page.

During this episode of Politically Speaking, Sen. Holly Rehder, a Republican representing part of southeast Missouri, speaks about a letter she cosigned calling for a special session to pass legislation barring private companies from issuing mask mandates. Rehder also spoke about a recent hearing on missing foster children in the state, the statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program she helped pass after years of prior attempts, as well as her expectations for the 2021 legislative session.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Kate Grumke interview three school board members about how they made big decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guests include Maplewood-Richmond Heights Board member Katie Kaufmann, Parkway School Board member Kristy Davis and Jennings School Board member Miranda Jones.

On this edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with STLPR's Eric Schmid and the Belleville News-Democrat's Kelsey Landis about how Illinois Democrats reshaped Metro East congressional districts.

On this edition of Politically Speaking, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Donald Kauerauf speaks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Sarah Fentem. He began the job in September. The two Sarahs talk with Kauerauf about the COVID-19 pandemic, including the strides Missouri still needs to make to further combat the virus as well as his goals for public health beyond the coronavirus.

In this episode of Politically Speaking, Rep. Michael O'Donnell, who represents part of south St. Louis County, talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the upcoming 2022 legislative session, including its larger than normal to-do list. O'Donnell also speaks on a bipartisan town hall he participated in centered on south St. Louis County.

Congresswoman Cori Bush talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about why she voted against a federal infrastructure bill — and what the future holds for a broader spending plan known as the Build Back Better proposal.

State Rep. Doug Richey, a Republican from Clay County, discusses his role as chairman of a committee determining where federal stimulus funds go — and how he's leading a committee of representatives and senators who study education policy.

In this "bonus" episode, Farrakhan Segog talks to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about his work on a commission tasked with drawing Missouri Senate districts. Shegog was interviewed for a larger story on the state legislative redistricting process, which has historically deadlocked. Shegog, though, is optimistic.

During this episode of Politically Speaking, Rep. Robert Sauls joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the newly established Missouri Latino Caucus, of which he is one of two House representatives who are members. Sauls also gave his thoughts on the 2022 session, including why redistricting is going to be major focus. Sauls is a Democrat, representing the 21st district, located in Jackson County.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, Rep. Ashley Aune speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg about recently revealed security risks on a state-run website that left thousands of school employees' social security numbers vulnerable and why this incident proves Missouri needs to further prioritize the security of its online infrastructure. Aune is Democrat, representing the 14th District, located north of Kansas City.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about what Medicaid expansion could mean for the state's people and budget. This interview was conduct on October 4, 2021.

The Joplin Republican talks about a committee that could produce proposals affecting Planned Parenthood in Missouri. He also talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about acrimony in the Missouri Senate.

Continuing St. Louis Public Radio political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum's partnership with Left Bank Books, Rosenbaum talks with journalist Eric Michael Garcia about his new book "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation." The two discuss how the politics of autism have changed, how the vaccine panic of the 1990s and 2000s sowed the seeds of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation — and how pop superstar Sia screwed up royally with how she portrayed nonverbal autistic people.

The Richmond Heights Democrat talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about some of the potential conflicts ahead for the 2022 legislative session.

The Missouri Senate spent over four hours of its veto session debating a procedural tradition over who exactly gets to motion to override a veto. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg spoke with both Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden and Sen. Bob Onder on their thoughts about the issue and if the disagreement will carry over into the 2022 general session.

State Reps. Keri Ingle and Rudy Veit are the latest guests on Politically Speaking. They talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about a recently-enacted law that provides oversight for unlicensed residential youth homes. Ingle is a Lee’s Summit Democrat and Veit is a Wardsville Republican.

St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Eric Schmid interview both St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and NPR Illinois' Hannah Meisel about how Missouri and Illinois are taking different approaches to redistricting. While Illinois has already created and amended their state legislative map, Missouri has yet to begin the bulk of the process. Meisel, Schmid and Rosenbaum then answer listener questions on redistricting.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum interviewed St. Louis native Carl Power, the author of the new book Home, Land, Security. It was part of an ongoing partnership that Rosenbaum has had with Left Bank Books to interview authors of fascinating books. Power's book details the concept of deradicalization by traveling around to world to talk to people affected personally by terrorism and white supremacy.

St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg makes her Politically Speaking debut by breaking down how Missouri has received a ton of money over the past year or so from the federal government. Some of which came from the CARES Act, which was passed in 2020 to combat COVID-19. Other funds are coming from the American Rescue Plan, which lawmakers approved earlier this year. State Budget director Dan Haug and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman serve as guest for the podcast.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Donna Baringer returns to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about congressional and state legislative redistricting — and some election-related items that could be up for discussion in 2022. Baringer is a St. Louis Democrat who represents the 82nd District, which takes in a number of southwestern wards in the city.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, Mike Jones returns to the podcast to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the state of St. Louis and St. Louis County politics — and how redistricting may play a role in reshaping both environments. Jones is a man of many titles, but most recently was a member of the state Board of Education. He’s also served as a St. Louis alderman, a corporate executive, the head of the St. Louis housing authority and an adviser to a St. Louis mayor and a St. Louis County executive. He retired from public life recently but is still a sought-after analyst of regional politics.

The Kansas City Democrat talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid expansion and congressional redistricting. He also discussed whether the Missouri legislature needs to change how it structures its session.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum interviewed Missouri's governor in his office in Jefferson City. The two talked about the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid expansion, the 2021 legislation session and Missouri's 200th birthday.

State Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Fentem to talk about how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting southwest Missouri — and what political leaders can do to convince people to get vaccinated. Hough represents the 30th District. He was elected to his post in 2018 after spending time as a Greene County commissioner and a member of the Missouri House. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which makes key decisions about the state budget.

St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Rita Days is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Bel-Nor Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about how the council wants to spend the latest round of federal relief money — and whether more COVID-19 related restrictions are on the horizon.

State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about a ballot item that could bolster his office’s ability to invest the state’s money. Fitzpatrick is a Republican who was easily elected to a full four-year term last year. He was appointed to his post in 2019 after spending about six years in the Missouri House, including a lengthy stint as House Budget Committee chairman.

State Rep. David Tyson Smith talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about how he received a crash course in the legislative process. The Columbia Democrat also discussed the recently completed FRA special session — and some of his key priorities in future sessions.

The Shelbina Republican talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Jonathan Ahl about how the Missouri Senate's women changed the course of a special session around a critical tax that funds Medicaid.

Rep. Phil Christofanelli of St. Charles County talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the passage of Empowerment Savings Accounts, new law surrounding HIV, and special sessions on the FRA and redistricting. This show was recorded on June 24, 2021 while the FRA special session was still going on in the Missouri Senate.

With more than a year to go before Republicans head to the polls to choose their nominee for the U.S. Senate, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with The Kansas City Star's Jeanne Kuang and Jonathan Shorman about the current status of the field — and what dynamics could influence the outcome.

State Rep. Tracy McCreery of Olivette joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies on the special sessions over the federal reimbursement allowance and congressional redistricting. Note: This podcast was recorded before Gov. Mike Parson put down a deadline at noon on June 22, 2021, to come up with a FRA special session deal.

On this unusual episode of Politically Speaking, former state Rep. Stephen Webber steps in as host to talk with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about what's changed in Missouri politics and journalism over the past 15 years. Rosenbaum and Webber have had a professional relationship since 2005 — when Rosenbaum interviewed Webber when he was signing a book about his experiences in Iraq. Webber served as a state representative from 2009 to 2017 and then as Missouri Democratic Party chairman after the 2016 election cycle. He's currently the political director of the Missouri AFL-CIO

House Majority Leader Dean Plocher talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum for a discussion about the twists and turns of the 2021 legislative session. Plocher's appearance on the definitive show about Missouri politics marks the 500th episode that's focused on interviewing a guest. That's an admittedly arbitrary milestone, since the show went over 500 episodes one or two years ago if you include "roundup" or "chat" shows.

The Steelville Republican talks about why Missourians should vote on a gas tax hike — and what could happen during multiple special sessions this year.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking takes a bit of a break from Missouri political happenings and instead looks at what's going on in Illinois with redistricting. STLPR's Eric Schmid and NPR Illinois' Hannah Meisel explain what's going into Illinois Democrats' thinking — and whether it chafes with national Democratic rhetoric on redistricting.

In an extensive interview with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, the former Democratic senator from Missouri talks about her role at MSNBC, the state of the media, social media, the Jan. 6 insurrection and the way forward for Missouri Democrats. McCaskill recorded the interview at a Kirkwood St. Louis Bread Company, and the conversation came about after Rosenbaum lost a bet with her over Joe Biden's performance in St. Louis County.

Missouri's secretary of state explains why he wants a special session for election-related issues — including a requirement for a government-issued photo identification to vote.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jonathan Ahl and Rachel Lippmann provide their takeaways of the 2021 legislative session, which was saw dramatic success and a lot of frustrations among lawmakers.

State Sen. Lauren Arthur returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the final week of the 2021 legislative session. Arthur is a Democrat who represents a portion of Clay County. She won a special election in 2018, bringing a traditionally Republican seat into the Democratic column. Arthur won election to a full term in 2020, and will get to serve through the end of 2024 when term limits will prevent her from running again.

Sen. Paul Wieland returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about some of the big policy fights of the 2021 legislative session. Wieland represents Missouri’s 22nd Senatorial District, which takes in a portion of Jefferson County. He was first elected to his post in 2014 after serving in the Missouri House and re-elected in 2018. Wieland is one of the few Missouri lawmakers who served in the General Assembly when Democrats controlled the legislature, as he represented a Jefferson County-based House district in the 1990s.

Aviva Okeson-Haberman died earlier this week after being shot in her Kansas City apartment. Her death has left a tremendous void amongst her family and friends, as well as people who worked with her. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum pays tribute to Aviva, who embodied the spirit of collaboration, tenacity and kindness that all of us should strive for in our lives. If you want to donate to a fund in Aviva's name that will go to help aspiring journalists, please click here: https://kcurwebdonate.umkc.edu/alleg/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=AOHEN&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=labM9KtPxqPiQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, joined Politically Speaking, talking with St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid, Jia Lian Yang and Lauren Brown about her environmental justice legislation. Duckworth was first elected to the Senate in 2016, defeating incumbent Republican Mark Kirk in a landslide. Before becoming a senator, Duckworth served in the House for four years representing a suburban Chicago district. She’s up for re-election in 2022.

Jason Rosenbaum collaborates with We Live Here Host Jia Lian Yang and Lauren Brown to interview Congresswoman Cori Bush about some of her environmental legislation.

Lyda Krewson spent four eventful years as mayor of St. Louis. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann sort out the Democratic chief executive's ups and downs in office.

State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Kansas City Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about election-related bills being considered in the Missouri General Assembly and other pressing issues to come in the last month of session. Bland Manlove is the chairwoman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus. She was first elected to the Missouri House in 2018, easily winning a Democratic primary to succeed House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty. She was re-elected in 2020 without serious opposition.

State Rep, Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, talks extensively about election administration and redistricting policy with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum.

On this episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann break down Tishaura Jones' historic win as the first Black woman to become St. Louis' mayor.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about a host of issues the Missouri General Assembly could take up in the second half of the 2021 session.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, House Budget Chairman Cody Smith talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about this year’s budget process — which has drawn more attention than usual because of the battle over expanding Medicaid. Smith represents Missouri’s 163rd District, which takes in parts of Jasper County. The Cartharge Republican has served as chairman of the powerful Budget Committee since the 2019 legislative session.

The Vice President of the United States talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the mass vaccination site in St. Louis — and why Missouri should expand Medicaid.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann, Corrine Ruff and Jason Rosenbaum about the campaign to preserve the city’s earnings tax. Daly, who was first elected collector of revenue in 2006, has provided $50,000 from his campaign bank account to help keep the earnings tax. Every five years, St. Louis voters have to decide on whether to renew the 1% tax on income for people who either live or work in the city.

The Kansas City Democrat talks about her thought on the 2021 session, including a bid to remove the residency requirement for the Kansas City Police Department.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt talked about his decision to not seek re-election with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum.

It’s been one year since COVID-19 fundamentally changed how Missourians, and the rest of the world, lived. And the pandemic also transformed politics in Missouri and in the St. Louis region. It fostered divisions on a multitude of fronts, from whether policymakers should reopen schools to if local or state governments should require masks. And it also shone a spotlight on executive leaders — and public health officials who typically stay out of the media’s glare. On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, five St. Louis Public Radio reporters gave their takeaways about how the virus changed politics and them.

State Rep. Tony Lovasco is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Republican House member from St. Charles County talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the big issues that his colleagues are dealing with during the 2021 session. Lovasco represents Missouri’s 64th House District, which takes in parts of St. Charles and Lincoln Counties. Some of the cities he represents include O’Fallon, Moscow Mills, St. Paul, Josephville and St. Paul.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann break down the results of the March primary for St. Louis mayor — and look to how the candidates stack up with each other in April.

State Rep. Jo Doll of Webster Groves is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the freshman Democratic lawmaker talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her first few weeks in office. Doll represents Missouri’s 83rd district, which takes in portions of Richmond Heights, Webster Groves, Brentwood, Maplewood and St. Louis. In addition to being a state lawmaker, Doll is also a member of the Webster Groves Board of Education.

State Rep. Bill Hardwick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Waynesville Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jonathan Ahl about his first impressions of being a member of the Missouri House. Hardwick represents Missouri’s 122nd District, which takes in Fort Leonard Wood and other portions of Pulaski County. He was first elected in November, succeeding Steve Lynch who was term limited.

Sen. Brian Williams is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the University City Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about his legislation changing some police practices. Williams represents the 14th Senate District, which takes in St. Louis County municipalities such as Clayton, Normandy, Ferguson and Northwoods. He was elected to his post in 2018.

Board of Aldermen president Lewis Reed discusses executive power, leasing St. Louis-Lambert International Airport and marketing the city with Rachel Lippmann

Utility executive and mayoral candidate Andrew Jones talks to Rachel Lippmann about his plan for the city.

State Rep. Peggy McGaugh is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Carrollton Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about what’s next for absentee voting in Missouri. McGaugh also discussed her reaction to Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State speech, including the impending expansion of Medicaid.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll break down Gov. Mike Parson's 2021 State of the State speech, which was defined by a change of venue and his promise to deliver on Medicaid expansion.

The St. Louis treasurer and candidate for mayor speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann

The 20th Ward alderwoman and candidate for mayor joins us to talk about her plan to tap into the city's "endless potential"

State Rep. Barbara Phifer is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Kirkwood Democrat talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her first couple of weeks in the Missouri General Assembly. Phifer was elected last year to represent the 90th District after then-Rep. Deb Lavender vacated her seat in an unsuccessful run for the state Senate. Her district includes places like Kirkwood, Glendale, Rock Hill and Oakland.

Former Sen. Jamilah Nasheed looks back at her legislative career — and talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the future of St. Louis politics.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jaclyn Driscoll and Eric Schmid sort out what Wednesday's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol means for federal politics in Illinois and Missouri. And it examines the backlash over U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley being the first senator to object to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

The former state lawmaker looks back at her 16 years of service in the Missouri House and Missouri Senate.

St. Louis Public Radio's politics team breaks down the top five stories of 2020 (and some honorable mentions that didn't make the cut). Featuring analysis from St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jonathan Ahl, Jaclyn Driscoll, Eric Schmid and Rachel Lippmann.

State Rep. Peter Merideth is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to talk about his effort to legalize recreational marijuana. The St. Louis Democrat also discussed how he thinks his party will fare next year in the Missouri House, where Republicans hold a commanding majority for yet another year.

St. Louis County Councilwoman-elect Shalonda Webb is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her priorities for the north St. Louis County-based 4th District. The Democrat won the race to represent the district in November. It includes municipalities like Florissant, Bellefontaine Neighbors and Black Jack, as well as unincorporated communities like Spanish Lake. She’ll take office in January.

State Rep.-elect Chad Perkins joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum on the latest episode of Politically Speaking to talk about his election to the Missouri House and northeast Missouri’s political metamorphosis The Bowling Green Republican won an election to represent Missouri’s 40th District, which takes in portions of Pike, Ralls, Monroe and Lincoln Counties. He is succeeding state Rep. Jim Hansen, a Frankford Republican who was barred from running again due to term limits.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr reflects on his eight years in the Missouri House, which included two years as the Missouri House's top Republican leader.

State Rep.-elect Fogle was the only Democrat or Republican to flip a state legislative seat during the 2020 election cycle. And Springfield Republican with experience in public health care wants to focus on expanding Medicaid and access to health care services in the Missouri House.

State Rep. Kip Kendrick returns to the definitive program about Missouri politics to talk about why he's leaving the Missouri House, and why term limits played a role in his decision to go work for state Sen.-elect Greg Razer, D-Kansas City.

State Rep.-elect Adam Schwadron is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his election to the Missouri House, and some of his priorities and expectations. Schwadron is a St. Charles County Republican who defeated Democrat Cindy Berne earlier this month to represent the 106th District. That includes a portion of St. Charles that is more politically competitive than other parts of the county.

The Affton Democratic senator reflects on his party's dismal showing in this month's elections. Missouri Democrats got walloped in statewide contests, and also fell short in key congressional and state legislative races.

St. Louis Public Radio's political team goes in-depth on the results and takeaways from Tuesday's Missouri and Illinois elections.

Sean Soendker Nicholson, who is leading the campaign to defeat Amendment 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. Nicholson talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about why voters should reject the measure that overhauls Missouri’s state legislative redistricting system.

Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst makes his case for why the state's voters should back Amendment 3, which would overhaul the state legilsative redistricting procedures.

Betsy Dirksen Londrigan joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jaclyn Driscoll and Eric Schmid to discuss the highly-competitive 13th District Congressional Race in Illinois.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he spoke to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum about his campaign for a full four-year term. Parson became governor in June 2018 after ascending to the post from the lieutenant governorship following Eric Greitens’ resignation. He easily won a GOP primary earlier this year and is squaring off against state Auditor Nicole Galloway in one of the most competitive gubernatorial elections in the nation.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum his re-election campaign. Ashcroft was first elected to the statewide posts that monitors elections, securities and libraries in 2016. He’s running this cycle against Democrat Yinka Faleti, who recorded an episode of Politically Speaking earlier this year. Since the four other Republicans running for statewide offices either ascended to or were appointed to their posts, Ashcroft is the only GOP hopeful running for a second term in the office he was elected to in 2016.

Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt joins St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his attention-grabbing lawsuits, fighting violent crime, and the race for his old state Senate seat.

Congressman Rodney Davis of Illinois talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Jaclyn Driscoll and Eric Schmid about his high-profile race for re-election in the state's 13th Congressional District.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Ballwin Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her competitive race for re-election against state Sen. Jill Schupp. Wagner represents Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, which takes in portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties. Her contest against Schupp is considered one of the more competitive House matchups in the nation, which some political prognosticators signaling the race is a tossup.

Democrat Richard Orr talks about his re-match with Sen. Bill Eigel in a race to represent parts of St. Charles County in the Missouri Senate.

The Weldon Springs Republicans join STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum in a majestic Cottleville St. Louis Bread Company patio to talk about his bid for re-election.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to talk about his campaign for a full-four year term. Kehoe is running against Democrat Alissia Canady on November 3. He was appointed to his post in 2018 after then-Lt. Gov. Mike Parson ascended to the governorship. This is Kehoe’s first statewide contest.

Sen. Andrew Koenig returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his re-election campaign in Missouri’s 15th Senate District. Koenig represents cities like Ballwin, Manchester, Valley Park and Kirkwood. He’s squaring off against state Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, in a contest most observers believe is the most competitive legislative race in the state this year.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nicole Galloway joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to talk about some of the key issues in the closely watched contest against Gov. Mike Parson.

St. Louis County Councilman Ernie Trakas talks about why voters in the 6th District should give him another four years in office.

David Lenihan is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the GOP candidate talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum on his candidacy for the 1st District Missouri Senate seat. Lenihan is running against Democratic state Rep. Doug Beck in the district that takes in parts of unincorporated south St. Louis County, Crestwood, Maplewood and Webster Groves. That part of St. Louis County has typically been competitive.

State Rep. Doug Beck is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his bid for the 1st Senate District. The Affton Democrat is running against Republican David Lenihan for the seat, which takes in parts of unincorporated south St. Louis County, Crestwood, Maplewood and Webster Groves. The district is widely seen as one of the more competitive in Missouri. Lenihan also recorded an episode of Politically Speaking that will be posted in the coming days.

State Sen. Jill Schupp is the latest guest on Politically Speaking for the record-tying sixth time to talk about her bid against Congresswoman Ann Wagner in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. Schupp has served as a state senator in the St. Louis County-based 24th District since 2015. She is seeking to represent portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties in Congress. Wagner has been invited to record an episode of Politically Speaking in the coming days.

State Rep. Bob Burns is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to talk about his campaign for the St. Louis County Council’s 6th District seat. In the Missouri House Burns represents the 93rd District, which takes in portions of Affton, Lemay and Bella Villa. He’s running against Councilman Ernie Trakas for the right to represent the south St. Louis County-based district. That race is the most competitive general election for a county council seat in November.

Missouri Democratic attorney general nominee Rich Finneran is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss his campaign against Republican incumbent Eric Schmitt. Finneran defeated Elad Gross in the August Democratic primary for attorney general. He and Schmitt will square off in the Nov. 3 general election. Schmitt has been invited to record an episode of Politically Speaking in the coming days.

The Democratic circuit attorney joins host Rachel Lippmann to talk about long-term solutions to crime and the November general election.

State Rep. Raychel Proudie joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to talk about the jarring end to the 2020 special session on violent crime, which saw some of Gov. Mike Parson’s policy priorities fall by the wayside. Proudie is a Ferguson Democrat who represents the 73rd District, which includes parts of Ferguson, Berkeley, Kinloch, St. Ann and Hazelwood. She was first elected in 2018 and is unopposed for re-election in November.

Former state Rep. Vicki Englund joins Politically Speaking to discuss her state treasurer bid. Englund served two non-consecutive terms in the Missouri House.

Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about his bid for a full four-year term. The Republican statewide officeholder is squaring off against Democrat Vicki Englund in November. Englund is planning on recording an episode of Politically Speaking in the coming days.

St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about efforts to drum up more money for early childhood education programs. Clancy is a Maplewood Democrat who was elected to represent the St. Louis County Council’s 5th District in 2018. She currently serves as the chairwoman of the council.

State Rep. Deb Lavender is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where she talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about running in the competitive 15th District Senate contest. The 15th District takes in portions of south central and southwest St. Louis County, which includes cities like Kirkwood, Ballwin, Manchester, Twin Oaks and Valley Park. Lavender is squaring off against Sen. Andrew Koenig, a Manchester Republican who won his general election in 2016 by nearly 20 percentage points. Koenig is slated to record an episode of Politically Speaking in October.

The Republican candidate for St. Louis Circuit Attorney discusses his philosophy for the office and what he sees as his path to victory.

Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Alissia Canady is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to discuss her run against GOP incumbent Mike Kehoe. Kehoe is slated to record an episode of Politically Speaking in the coming weeks. Canady easily won the Democratic nomination for the post last month against Greg Upchurch.

Republican St. Louis County Executive nominee Paul Berry III is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his campaign. Berry is running against incumbent Sam Page. Also on the Nov. 3 ballot are Green Party nominee Betsey Mitchell and Libertarian Theo Brown, Sr.

State Sen. Bob Onder returns to Politically Speaking to talk to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the stalled special session on violent crime and the future of the Conservative Caucus in the Missouri legislature. Onder has represented the 2nd Senate District since 2015. The district covers the western part of St. Charles County, including Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon and Wentzville.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Alderwoman Dwinderlin Evans joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to discuss her first few weeks on the board. Evans represents the 4th Ward, which encompasses all or part of The Ville, Greater Ville, JeffVanderLou, Kingsway East and Vandeventer neighborhoods. She won a special election in June without opposition to fill out the term of the late Sam Moore.

State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the St. Louis Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the special session on violent crime — and primary results that showcased the power of Black women in Missouri politics. Bosley was elected to represent Missouri’s 79th House District in 2018. She is unopposed for re-election, so she will represent the district that includes parts of St. Louis through at least 2022.

After easily winning in a challenge for re-election on Tuesday night, St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones chose to reflect on one of the unmistakable themes of the 2020 Missouri primary: Black women prevailing in bruising, and often, personal elections. For Jones, Tuesday was about “a wave of Black girl magic that’s hit Missouri.” She pointed to Democratic wins by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, Lt. Gov. nominee Alissa Canady and, of course, 1st Congressional District nominee Cori Bush. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jaclyn Driscoll and Rachel Lippmann break down Tuesday's pivotal primary election.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum teams up with Left Bank Books' Shane Mullen once again to interview author Larry Tye. Tye is the author of the new book Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy. It's the definitive biography of the Wisconsin senator who gained historical infamy for his ill-fated crusade against communism. You can buy Tye's book at Left Bank Books by going to left-bank.com — or copying and pasting this address (https://www.left-bank.com/book/9781328959720) into your browser.

State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Arnold Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the 2020 special session on violent crime. Coleman was first elected in 2018 in a hotly-contested race for the 97th District, which encompasses parts of Jefferson County and St. Louis County. She is unopposed for re-election in 2020.

Mary Pat Carl returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum about her bid for St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Carl is running against incumbent Kim Gardner. Carl and two other Democratic candidates lost to Gardner in the 2016 race to succeed Jennifer Joyce. You can listen to Gardner’s episode by clicking here. Those interviews occurred before Gardner made national news by charging Mark and Patricia McCloskey with unlawful use of a weapon when they confronted protesters outside their home. That issue will be addressed in a story next week.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Democratic official talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum about her re-election bid. Gardner is running against Mary Pat Carl in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. Carl recorded an episode of Politically Speaking that will be posted later this week. This interview occurred before Gardner made national news by charging Mark and Patricia McCloskey with unlawful use of a weapon.

Former Democratic Secretary of State Jason Kander is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his efforts with the Veterans Community Project to end homelessness among veterans. Kander joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum for a special edition of the podcast that was livestreamed on Twitch. Kander also discussed national efforts to make it easier to vote from home and protests decrying police killing Black people.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Democrat spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about why he’s seeking two more years in office. Page is one of four Democrats running. All four will appear on Politically Speaking in separate episodes released this week. This episode was recorded in late June.

St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his bid for county executive. Zimmerman is one of four Democrats seeking the post. All four candidates will appear on Politically Speaking in separate episodes released this week. This episode was recorded in mid-June.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Mark Mantovani joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his campaign for St. Louis County Executive. Mantovani is one of four Democrats seeking the post. All four candidates will appear on Politically Speaking in separate episodes released this week. This episode was recorded on June 29, 2020.

St. Louis County Executive hopeful Jamie Tolliver is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The University City resident talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her bid. Tolliver is one of four candidates running in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. All four candidates will appear on Politically Speaking in separate episodes released this week.

State Rep. Kevin Windham, Jr., is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Hillsdale Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about how the legislature expanded absentee balloting this session — and the prospects for policy change amid protests for police accountability. Windham represents the 85th District, which takes in roughly 20 municipalities in central and north St. Louis County. When he won his seat in 2018 at age 25, he became the youngest African American man ever to get elected to the Missouri House.

Earlier this week, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Elizabeth Shackelford — the author of the new book The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. It was part of a live event for Left Bank Books. You find out more about Shackelford's work by going here: https://www.left-bank.com/event/elizabeth-shackelford-dissent-channel

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Democratic Missouri attorney general candidate Elad Gross talks about his bid for the office — and the steps he would take to reshape the post. Gross is a former assistant attorney general who currently runs his own law firm. He’s also served as a special public defender in St. Louis. He started a nonprofit called Education Exchange Corps that primarily helps students in the St. Louis Public School system. Gross received his undergraduate degree at Duke University and his law degree from Washington University.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Democratic attorney general candidate Rich Finneran talks about his bid to unseat Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt — and his priorities for the office. Finneran is a University City resident who most recently worked for the Bryan Cave law firm. Before that, he served as an assistant U.S. Attorney during most of Richard Callahan’s tenure as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. Finneran grew up in St. Louis County and got his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina. He then received his law degree from Washington University.

James Knowles III was taking down tents with his father at the Ferguson Farmers Market on August 9, 2014, the day one of his city’s police officers shot and killed Michael Brown. He learned about the shooting that would spark months of protests in his town and elsewhere through a phone call from Ferguson’s city manager. “It was one of those things at 12:30 or so on an August, Saturday… if the city manager’s calling me, it’s probably nothing good,” Knowles said. Nearly six years after Brown’s death sparked change and protests in the north St. Louis County city, Knowles is stepping down as mayor tomorrow due to term limits and turning the job over to Ella Jones. On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Knowles reflected on a consequential tenure in office that changed his town — and his life.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Yinka Faleti, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state joins the program to discuss his bid for the office — and the burgeoning protest movement for police accountability. Faleti’s appearance on the podcast kicks off an effort to have all of Missouri’s major statewide candidates on Politically Speaking. The two Democratic contenders for attorney general, Elad Gross and Rich Finneran, are slated to record episodes later this month — and we’ll be reaching out to GOP and Democratic candidates to come on the show in the coming weeks.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Creve Coeur Mayor Barry Glantz joins the show to talk about his run for the 2nd District St. Louis County Council seat. Glantz is facing incumbent Kelli Dunaway in the Aug. 4 primary. Dunaway was elected to represent the district that takes in Creve Coeur, Chesterfield, Maryland Heights, Overland and St. Ann in 2019. She filled the seat vacated by Sam Page when he was named County Executive. Dunaway was on Politically Speaking last week.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about how the county is spending federal coronavirus funding — and how county police should respond to protests over George Floyd’s death. Dunaway is a Chesterfield Democrat who represents the council’s 2nd District. That takes in cities like Creve Coeur, St. Ann, Maryland Heights and Chesterfield. She was elected to her post in 2019, filling out the rest of Sam Page’s term on the council after he became county executive.

A conversation with 10th Ward Alderman Joe Vollmer

St. Louis County Councilman Ernie Trakas is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The south St. Louis County Republican joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the split between the council’s Republican and Democratic members. Trakas was elected to represent the council’s 6th District in 2016. His district includes a part of largely unincorporated south St. Louis, which means that he makes many of the development and zoning decisions for the area.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Springfield Democrat joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to provide her impressions of how the Missouri General Assembly is faring after it was idle for weeks due to the coronavirus. Quade represents a House district that takes in part of Springfield. As the leader of the House Democrats, Quade is largely responsible for crafting her party’s message and strategy in the Missouri House.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley wants to force a paradigm shift in how the United States handles mass employment during an economic calamity. The Missouri Republican senator wants the federal government to step in to help pay for an employee’s wages at companies negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It’s a move he says will substantially tamp down on economic anxiety among workers and employers. Hawley’s proposal, which mirrors what some European countries are doing to deal with the economic downturn, has some fans among economists and Democrats. But it’s an open question whether his GOP colleagues that run the U.S. Senate will make it a priority.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Springfield Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about why the General Assembly is coming back into session on Monday — and what issues lawmakers plan to discuss. Haahr, a Springfield Republican, became Missouri House speaker in 2019 after serving two years as House Speaker Pro Tem. Term limits will bar Haahr from running again for his House seat.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talks with Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller and Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon about how Missouri elections should proceed amid the COVID-19 crisis. Schoeller, a Republican, and Lennon, a Democrat, have been working on a public policy response together since the coronavirus outbreak came to the state. Their main objective is to make absentee ballots more available to people during a pandemic or emergency.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis-based author Sarah Kendzior talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her new book Hiding in Plain Sight — which chronicles President Donald Trump’s rise to power from the 1980s to present day. Kendzior, who holds a doctorate in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, has become a nationally-known voice in opposing Trump’s presidency. Her last book, The View From Flyover Country, was a New York Times-best seller. Kendzior’s episode is split into two parts. The first part features Kendzior talking about the key points of her book, as well as her experience living in St. Louis during the aftermath of Michael Brown’s shooting death in Ferguson.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis-based author Sarah Kendzior talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her new book Hiding in Plain Sight — which chronicles President Donald Trump’s rise to power from the 1980s to present day. The second part features Kendzior answering questions about Donald Trump, the 2020 presidential election, and the media.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann has dealt with a lot of challenges since he became the fast-growing county’s top political leader in 2007. But it’s likely the GOP official has never dealt with something as impactful as the coronavirus outbreak. Ehlmann and St. Charles County Public Health Director Demitrous Cee-ance-ee-Chapman talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue about how their county is dealing with the pandemic.

The mayor talks about the city's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Columbia Republican talked about how coronavirus upended the Missouri General Assembly’s legislative session. Rowden represents Missouri’s 19th District, which takes in all of Boone and Cooper counties. As majority leader, Rowden is responsible for what the Senate debates — making him one of the more powerful and influential lawmakers in Jefferson City.

St. Louis Alderwoman Heather Navarro is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the 28th Ward alderwoman talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum on how the city of St. Louis is handling coronavirus. Navarro represents portions of the Central West End, Skinker-Debaliviere, Hi-Pointe and Wydown Skinker neighborhoods. She was first elected to the Board of Aldermen in a 2017 special election to succeed Lyda Krewson, who represented the ward before she was elected mayor.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue about his county's response to coronavirus. Page and O'Donoghue spoke remotely using the videoconferencing program Zoom.

Luetkemeyer talks with Julie O'Donoghue about what Coronavirus means for the 2020 legislative session. He also walks her through a bill he has sponsored to lengthen prison sentences for violent offenses and the prescription drug monitoring program legislation.

Dan Guenther, the first-term alderman for St. Louis’ 9th Ward, is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. Before being elected in 2017 to represent the ward, which covers part of seven south St. Louis neighborhoods including Soulard, Benton Park and Kosciusko, Guenther worked for Operation Brightside and with former Mayor Francis Slay’s Office of Sustainability. He says his three years on the Board of Aldermen have been “quite an adventure.”

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O'Donoghue and Jo Mannies break down former Vice President Joe Biden's huge win in Missouri Democratic presidential primary.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum takes a look at some of the week’s biggest news stories — including what state and local officials are doing to prepare for the coronavirus. Rosenbaum talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem about how state and local health officials are monitoring the coronavirus. There have been no recorded cases of the virus in Missouri, but there have been five confirmed cases in Illinois. Here's what else is on this week's roundup show: - St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Jaclyn Driscoll talks about legislation in the Missouri General Assembly on LGBTQ issues. - Rosenbaum and Driscoll also discussed some of the developments in the Democratic presidential campaign — and how they affect Missouri’s primary Tuesday. - St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann broke down the resignation and federal indictment of St. Louis Alderman Larry Arnowitz, who is accused of using campaign money for personal use. Lippmann also explained the process for filing aldermanic vacancies.

St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The St. Louis County Republican joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to talk about some of the biggest issues circulating throughout county government. Fitch, a former St. Louis County police chief, was first elected to the county council in 2018, succeeding longtime Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger. He represents the council’s 3rd District, which includes Town and Country, Huntleigh, Kirkwood, Des Peres, Fenton and Sunset Hills.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies try to wrap their arms around Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary — which will take place on March 10. One of the reasons why that contest is difficult to handicap right now is because Missouri’s delegates are up for grabs a week after Super Tuesday. And it’s unclear how many of the seven major candidates will still be in the race by the time the Show Me State goes to the polls.

State Sen. Brian Williams is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The University City Democrat joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his priorities for the 2020 session — and what to expect when the General Assembly hits the home stretch. Williams represents Missouri’s 14th Senatorial District, which takes in a slew of municipalities in central and northern St. Louis County. That includes places like University City, Ferguson, Normandy, Bridgeton and Hazelwood.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking weekly news round-up, St. Louis Public Radio’s team of political reporters talk about efforts in Jefferson City to pass a prescription drug monitoring program — and the reemergence of former Gov. Eric Greitens. St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum discussed how a so-called PDMP once again passed the Missouri House despite loud opposition from some conservative Republicans. It faces a tough reception in the Missouri Senate, where the program aimed at stamping out opioid abuse.

The latest edition of Politically Speaking’s weekly round-up show zeroes in on two big stories that made waves in St. Louis County government: St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar’s retirement and the settlement of Lt. Keith Wildhaber’s discrimination case. Those two events occurred within hours of one another. And St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O’Donoghue and Rachel Lippmann explained how they’ll impact county government going forward.

The Democrats from Columbia talk gas tax, free tampons, Medicaid expansion and Clean Missouri with Jason Rosenbaum.

Here's some highlights from this week's weekly roundup podcast: -St. Louis Public Radio’s Jaclyn Driscoll joins the program to talk about what Galloway’s audit was trying to convey — and how people from across the political spectrum are reacting to the findings. -Rosenbaum talked about his story this week that broke down the continued deadlock to start the Board of Freeholders. That 19-person panel can offer up big changes to St. Louis and St. Louis County governance, but it hasn’t done anything due to St. Louis’ inability to approve its members. -The Kansas City Star’s Jason Hancock talked with O’Donoghue about complaints around Missouri’s medical marijuana program. -O’Donoghue and Rosenbaum reacted to President Donald Trump sending out a tweet that incorrectly congratulated the “Great State of Kansas” after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. The Chiefs, of course, play in Kansas City, Missouri in a stadium that Jackson County taxpayers funded.

Senate President Pro Tem David Schatz talks legislative redistricting, gambling restrictions, St. Louis police residency requirements and Medicaid expansion.

On the latest Politically Speaking weekly roundup, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O'Donoghue dive into how an unreleased audit of Josh Hawley's tenure as attorney general is getting state legislative attention. O'Donoghue talks about how an oversight committee that monitors the St. Louis County's jail is not happy with transparency at the facility. Rosenbaum and O'Donoghue also talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann about St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner's lawsuit — and her political future. And Rosenbaum and O'Donoghue talk about whether Missouri's state lawmakers make enough money.

St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum talked with the Ballwin Republican about a multitude of issues, including the ongoing saga of the Loop Trolley. Harder represents the council’s 7th District, which takes in most of western St. Louis County. He is the council’s longest serving member after Hazel Erby resigned to take a post in St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s administration. Since he’s not up for election this year, Harder could run in a special election for St. Louis County executive as a Republican and not give up his council seat. He said he hasn’t made a decision on whether he will run.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum take a look at some of the local, state and national stories that made news this week. That includes the unsuccessful proposal from the head of the Bi-State Development Agency to revive the Loop Trolley, which shut down after a string of financial difficulties. Here's what else is touched on during the show: - O’Donoghue and Rosenbaum talked about how the St. Louis County Council is trying to retool its vagrancy laws. - The Kansas City Star’s Bryan Lowry returns to the program to talk about how Missouri Sens. Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt are maneuvering through President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. - And for the final segment, Rosenbaum and O’Donoghue discuss legislation spurred on by Drag Queen Story Hours at libraries throughout the state.

Sen. Dan Hegeman returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum about Missouri’s finances and his proposal to change state legislative redistricting. The Cosby Republican represents Missouri’s 12th Senate District, which takes in a huge swath of northwest Missouri. He represents the largest Senate district in the state of Missouri.

On the first Politically Speaking round-up show of 2020, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll recap Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State address. During Parson’s speech, the GOP chief executive focused on the effort to get a handle on violent crime in Missouri’s biggest cities — and discussed how his administration is managing the state’s Medicaid program. Here’s what else was discussed on this week’s show: -St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann joined the program to discuss what Alderwoman Cara Spencer’s entry into the 2021 St. Louis mayor’s contest means for Mayor Lyda Krewson’s re-election chances. -St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Jack Suntrup discussed a Missouri Ethics Commission decision that led an unsuccessful medical marijuana campaign to publicize its formerly secret donors. -Rosenbaum touched on how a documentary about former St. Louis state Rep. Bruce Franks was nominated for an Academy Award this week.

State Rep. Cody Smith is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Carthage Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue about his role as House budget chairman — and his thoughts on overhauling Missouri’s criminal justice system. Smith was first elected to the Missouri House in 2016 to a seat encompassing parts of Jasper County in southwest Missouri. He became House budget chairman after his predecessor, Scott Fitzpatrick, was appointed as state treasurer.

Missouri House Rep. Rasheen Aldridge represents the 78th district in St. Louis, which includes Hyde Park, Old North St. Louis, Carr Square, downtown, Soulard, Benton Park and LaSalle. At 25, he's one of the youngest elected officials in the statehouse.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue, Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum take a look at the big issues Missouri lawmakers may take on during the 2020 session. Some of the topics could include overhauling a recently-enacted change to Missouri state legislative redistricting, as well as measures to curb gun violence and expand gambling.

State Rep. Jim Murphy is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The south St. Louis County Republican joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O’Donoghue to talk about what to expect in the 2020 legislative session. Murphy represents Missouri’s 94th House District, which includes places like Mehlville and Green Park. It is one of the most competitive House seats in the state, as it famously flipped between Democrat Vicki Englund and Republican Cloria Brown for roughly a decade.

The 2010s brought about immense change to the world of Missouri politics. At the beginning of the decade, the Show Me State was a competitive electoral battleground where both political parties had a chance to make significant gains. By 2019, Republicans took near complete control of state government and key federal posts. So how did we get here? On the last episode of Politically Speaking of the 2010s, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Rachel Lippmann and Jo Mannies join me to break down the 10 stories that defined the decade.

State Rep. Dan Shaul joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum on the latest edition of Politically Speaking. The Imperial Republican represents the 113th District in the Missouri House. That takes in a portion of northern Jefferson County, particularly parts of Arnold, Imperial and Barnhart. Shaul is the chairman of the Special Interim Committee on Gaming. That committee held hearings over the summer on the proliferation of gaming machines in truck stops and gas station — and the expansion of sports betting.

There was some pretty big news that dropped right after our weekly round up show hit the Internet: St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced on St. Louis Public Radio's St. Louis on the Air that a bid to bring a private operator to run St. Louis Lambert Airport was dead. We felt this was big enough news to create a mini-episode where St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum talk with Corinne Ruff, who had been closely following airport privatization for months.

On the final Politically Speaking roundup show of 2019, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum look at some of the headlines that made an impact in the waning days of the year. O’Donoghue talked with St. Louis Public Radio reporter Eric Schmid about impending legalization of marijuana in Illinois. It’s a move that will have a profound impact on towns in the Metro East — and on neighboring states like Missouri.

State Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, joins public radio political reporters Julie O’Donoghue, Jason Rosenbaum and Aviva Okeson-Haberman to talk about her first year in office and what she expects in the upcoming 2020 legislative session. Ingle has a background in social work and has investigated child abuse and neglect. She won election in 2018 in a district outside Kansas City. She flipped her House seat from Republican to Democrat.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum talking with Kae Petrin about red light cameras. This show also features The Kansas City Star's Bryan Lowry talking about the impending impeachment of President Donald Trump — and how MIssouri's congressional delegation is reacting.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ray Price talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum about his legal career and his new role as chairman of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page appointed Price to the board that oversees the county police department earlier this fall. Page has now appointed four out of the five members — and could potentially replace former county executive Steve Stenger’s final appointee at any time.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking's Friday round up show, St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum talk about Missouri's 2nd Congressional District race. O'Donoghue also talks with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Kurt Erickson about how Missouri is handling Medicaid waivers. And we also discuss the turmoil in Missouri's public defender system with The Kansas City Star's Katie Moore.

State Rep.-elect Trish Gunby is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The St. Louis County Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jo Mannies about her victory in the 99th House District special election that flipped the seat. Gunby defeated Republican Lee Ann Pitman to serve out an unexpired term in a district that takes in Valley Park, Manchester, Twin Oaks and unincorporated St. Louis County.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann chat with St. Louis Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia, of the 6th Ward, about airport privatization, MetroLink and the city's new soccer stadium.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jaclyn Driscoll and Julie O'Donoghue discuss vaping, St. Louis police residency requirements and General Motors' tax incentives. Associated Press reporter Summer Ballentine also appears in this episode.

State Rep. Becky Ruth joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. Ruth represents a portion of eastern Jefferson County, which includes cities like Festus, Herculaneum, Pevely and Hematite. The Festus Republican is the first woman to ever lead the House Transportation Committee.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jason Rosenbaum and Jacyln Driscoll review some of the week’s biggest stories in state and local politics. One of the big topics on the show is the first meeting of the Board of Freeholders, which can propose consolidating services in St. Louis and St. Louis County — or even combining city and county governments.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll welcome state Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum to Politically Speaking for the first time. The discussion includes her effort to improve health care. Appelbaum represents Missouri’s 71st House District, which takes in portions of Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Olivette, Overland and unincorporated St. Louis County. She was first elected in 2018.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O'Donoghue and others talk about the St. Louis airport privatization efforts, sports betting and the ongoing controversy over Paul McKee's city development plans.

Blake Strode, executive director of ArchCity Defenders, and Jacki Langum, the organization’s advocacy director, talk about the group’s 10th anniversary on the latest edition of Politically Speaking.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum take a closer look at some of the biggest political stories of the week. Topping the headlines was turmoil in the St. Louis County Police Department after a jury awarded a nearly $20 million verdict to Sgt. Keith Wildhaber in his discrimination suit. That decision is prompting calls for sweeping change in one of Missouri’s largest local law enforcement agencies.

Baringer talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the need to regulate vaping and other topics during this episode of Politically Speaking.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann and others talk about efforts to curb surveillance in St. Louis, how legislators adapt to lobbyist descriptions and efforts to merge the city and the county.

State Rep. Shamed Dogan returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum about his efforts to change how Missouri handles criminal justice. The Ballwin Republican represents the 98th House District, which includes parts of Ellisville, Fenton, and Wildwood.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll break down some of the week’s biggest stories in federal, state and local politics. Of particular interest for many St. Louis area residents is the financial peril surrounding the Loop Trolley.

St. Louis Alderwoman Sarah Martin returns to Politically Speaking to talk about some of the big issues percolating in city government. That includes bringing crime under control and an impending debate on having a private operator run St. Louis Lambert Airport.

The latest episode looks at how U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is reacting to the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump. The Politically Speaking team also examines a hearing where lawmakers asked sharp questions about gambling devices that are showing up around Missouri. We also talked with The Kansas City Star's Jason Hancock about his story showcasing how much money that state's spent on defending a lawsuit over self-destructing texts. You can read that story here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235795407.html

Tim McBride is a professor at Washington University’s Brown School, where he focuses on health care policy. He’s also served on a board that oversees Missouri’s Medicaid program — so he has a lot to say about the possibility of expanding the health care program. McBride joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll on the latest episode of Politically Speaking, so let’s hit the music.

St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue, Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll talk about the news that matter during the week of Sept. 30, 2019. We also talked with St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Jeremy Kohler on his latest story about St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson conversed with a Centene business executive about fighting crime.

Sen. Bill Eigel is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll about the future of the Conservative Caucus in the Missouri legislature. The St. Charles County Republican is a member of a six-person Senate faction which has questioned GOP proposals involving transportation spending and economic development.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry spokes with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum ahead of his Oct. 1, 2019, speech in St. Louis. Kerry is taking part in Maryville University's St. Louis Speakers Series.

Missouri House Rep. Ian Mackey is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Democrat from Richmond Heights talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum. Mackey won his first election to the state house in 2018. His district includes Richmond Heights, Clayton and University City.

The latest edition of Politically Speaking takes a closer look at what’s historically known as the Board of Freeholders, a 19-person body that could present a plan merging St. Louis and St. Louis County to local voters. Earlier this week, the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis submitted its last batches of signatures in St. Louis and St. Louis County to jumpstart the freeholders process. St. Louis County Board of Elections Democratic director Eric Fey said the county’s signatures will likely be certified on Monday.

State Sen. John Rizzo is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Democrat from Independence talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll. Rizzo has been a state senator since 2017 and previously served as a House member from 2011 to 2017. His district includes parts of Kansas City.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll and The Kansas City Star’s Crystal Thomas review this past week’s special session. Gov. Mike Parson wanted lawmakers to deal with a vehicle sales tax technicality as they gathered for veto session. Legislators ended up following through on that request without too much trouble.

Sen. Lincoln Hough is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Springfield Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the upcoming special session — and what to expect when lawmakers come back to Jefferson City in January. Hough represents Missouri’s 30th Senatorial District, which takes in a big chunk of Springfield and Greene County. He was sworn into office in early January for a four-year term.

St. Louis County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Chesterfield Democrat talked to St. Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O’Donoghue about her childhood in rural Illinois and her first month in office. Dunaway’s district includes Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Overland and Hazelwood. She joined the St. Louis County Council in after a special election to replace Sam Page in August.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking takes stock of how political and community leaders are responding to St. Louis children getting killed in an outbreak of gun violence this summer. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O’Donoghue, Rachel Lippmann, Chad Davis and Andrea Henderson look into how city and state leaders are feeling the pressure to act — especially when it comes to implementing more stringent gun laws.

State Rep. Hannah Kelly is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Mountain Grove Republican talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O’Donoghue about some of the important issues for her rural Missouri district. Kelly represents portions of Wright and Webster Counties. She has served in the Missouri House since 2017.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking explores the state of the Missouri Democratic Party — and what some of the party’s leadership feels needs to be done to reverse its decline. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies, Julie O’Donoghue and Jaclyn Driscoll chart out why Missouri Democrats went from dominating the state’s politics to being nearly completely out of power. Many Democrats believe that state Auditor Nicole Galloway’s 2020 gubernatorial bid is the first big step towards engineering a comeback.

St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O’Donoghue about the titanic changes in county government. Harder represents the council’s 7th District, which includes Ballwin, Chesterfield, Ellisville and Wildwood. With recent departures of council members, the Ballwin Republican is now the most senior member of the council.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis County Councilwoman-elect Rita Days talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Julie O’Donoghue about her impending service on the St. Louis County Council. Days was elected to fill out the rest of Hazel Erby’s term in the 1st District, which takes in more than 40 cities in central and north St. Louis County. The Bel Nor Democrat’s term goes until the end of 2022.

On this edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum reflect on the rise and fall of former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger. The Democratic official was sentenced to 46 months in prison last week for his role in a pay-to-play scheme. He’s been the subject to public scorn after a sentencing memo detailed vulgar and boorish comments about his political enemies. But there’s more to Stenger’s story than just his rapid departure from office. A number of interest groups, such as organized labor, business leaders and top elected officials, played a key role in his rise to power. After entering office with the power to radically change St. Louis County government, most of Stenger’s tenure devolved into heated confrontations with the St. Louis County Council.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Julie O’Donoghue and Rachel Lippmann take a look at how politics and policy has changed in five years since Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson. This show looks at how the slow progress picked up last year with the election of Wesley Bell as St. Louis County prosecutor. That ushered in a new political coalition that’s affecting other parts of county government. But progress has been slower in state and national politics.

St. Louis Alderman Bret Narayan is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his first few months on the Board of Aldermen. The 24th Ward Democrat represents the neighborhoods that encompass Dogtown in southwest St. Louis. He won election to the seat earlier this year.

State Rep. David Wood is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Versailles Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum Wood was elected to Missouri’s 58th House District in 2012. He’s currently serving his final term in the General Assembly’s lower chamber, where he’s chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Health, Mental Health and Social Services.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features state Rep. Doug Clemens talking to St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue and Jason Rosenbaum about his first impressions of legislative life. The St. Ann Democrat represents the 72nd House District, which takes in portions of Maryland Heights, St. Ann and Breckenridge Hills. He was first elected to his post in 2018.

State Rep. Derek Grier is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about how Missouri is approaching economic development policy. The Chesterfield Republican represents the 100th District in the Missouri House. That St. Louis County-based district takes in parts of Chesterfield, Town & Country, Winchester and Ballwin. Grier is a St. Louis County native who first entered the local electoral scene in 2011 when he won a seat on the Chesterfield City Council. Aside from his political pursuits, Grier has spent time working in the real estate industry. When Rep. Sue Allen departed from the Missouri House due to term limits, Grier jumped into the GOP primary for the 100th District House seat. He ended up defeating Allen’s husband, Michael Allen, by roughly 1,000 votes — which was tantamount to election since no Democratic candidate filed to run for the seat.

State Rep. Chuck Basye is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The Rocheport Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about some of his accomplishments during the 2019 session — and some agenda items that remain unfinished. Basye represents a portion of Boone, Howard, Cooper and Randolph counties in the Missouri House. He was first elected to the General Assembly’s lower chamber in 2014. Basye is a Marine Corps veteran who spent roughly 30 years as an air traffic controller. The St. Charles County native also was the president of the Columbia Pachyderm Club, which often hosts lunches featuring prominent political figures. After years of working behind the scenes in Mid-Missouri Republican politics, Basye entered the electoral arena in 2014 when he challenged Democratic Rep. John Wright. Wright spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money in 2012 to win the 47th House District, which includes counties that are historically Democratic.

Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about Gov. Mike Parson’s first year in office, as well as the lay of the land for organized labor. The Bellefontaine Neighbors Democrats represents Missouri’s 13th Senatorial District, which takes in a portion of north St. Louis County. Walsh will leave the Senate after 2020 because of term limits, completing a 16-year legislative tenure that began in the early 2000s. As minority leader, Walsh is often the spokeswoman and chief negotiator for the 10-person Democratic caucus. While Democrats are heavily outnumbered in the Missouri Senate, they often have a lot more power to make a mark on major bills because of the state’s tradition of a strong filibuster.

Sen. Karla May is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where the St. Louis Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about a bipartisan push to overhaul the criminal justice system. May represents parts of St. Louis and St. Louis County. She was elected to the Senate in 2018 after spending eight years in the House. Among the things May worked on during the 2019 session was an effort to pare down mandatory minimum sentences. She worked with Republican Sen. Ed Emery ADD on legislation that gives people convicted of certain crimes a chance to be paroled. It doesn’t affect major offenses, such as sexual assault.

Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Jean Evans is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the state of her party going into next year’s election cycle. Evans served for one term in the Missouri House before resigning earlier this year to take on the executive director position in the state party. She’s in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Missouri GOP, including helping organize the process to select state delegates for next year’s Republican National Convention.

State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his first few months in the statewide office. Fitzpatrick is a Republican who served three full terms in the Missouri House, including two years as the chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee. Gov. Mike Parson appointed the Barry County Republican to be treasurer after Eric Schmitt was picked to be attorney general. Fitzpatrick is a native of Shell Knob, a Barry County community that’s about 40 miles away from Branson. He started a dock repair business while he was in high school, a company that grew dramatically while he was in college. After state Rep. David Sater termed out of the Missouri House, Fitzpatrick prevailed in a contested Republican primary for his seat – the real contest in the heavily Republican district. He became House Budget Chairman in 2017, which gave him a major say over how to craft Missouri’s spending priorities.

Sen. Jill Schupp returns to Politically Speaking to talk about the aftermath of the 2019 legislation session, which saw passage of a ban on abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy and other aspects of Gov. Mike Parson’s workforce development agenda. The Creve Coeur Democrat is serving her second term in the Missouri Senate. The 24th Senatorial District includes St. Louis County cities like Creve Coeur, Town and Country, Maryland Heights, Olivette and Ladue. During the 2019 session, Schupp alternated between handling pieces of legislation that got to Parson’s desk — and trying to either stop or force compromise on GOP priority legislation. For instance: Schupp ended up passing what’s known as Nathan’s Law, which restricts capacity at in-home daycares. Schupp also was a key participant in debate over the abortion legislation, which also bars the procedure except for medical emergencies if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Senate Democrats chose not to filibuster the final legislation after hours of negotiations.

St. Louis Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her transition onto the Board of Aldermen. Hubbard represents the 26th Ward, which takes in a portion of western St. Louis. That ward includes neighborhoods like Skinker DeBaliviere, the West End, Hamilton Heights and Kingsway West. Hubbard is a second generation member of the Board of Aldermen. Her grandfather, Joseph Clark, represented the 4th Ward. He also served as the head of the St. Louis NAACP and was the city’s first African American public safety director. Back in 2012, Hubbard successfully ran for 26th Ward committeewoman — but decided against running for re-election four years later. When Alderman Frank Williamson chose not to run for another term, Hubbard jumped into a Democratic primary against Leata Price-Land and Jake Banton.

State Sen. Andrew Koenig is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Manchester Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum on the end of the 2019 session, including passage of the state’s abortion ban. Koenig represents Missouri’s 15th District, which takes in a portion of St. Louis County. He represents cities like Kirkwood, Wildwood, Manchester and Ballwin. Koenig was first elected to the Missouri House in 2008 and served for four terms. He defeated former state Rep. Rick Stream in a highly competitive primary in 2016 for the 15th District seat, and easily defeated Democratic candidate Stephen Eagleton in the general election.

State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The St. Louis Democrat spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her first year as a member of the Missouri House. Bosley represents the 79th District, which takes in portions of north, central and south St. Louis. She was first elected to her seat in 2018. Bosley comes from a prominent political family in St. Louis. Her father, mother and two brothers have all served in elected office. Her brother Freeman Bosley, Jr. was elected as St. Louis’ first African American mayor in the 1990s. Her father, Freeman Bosley, Sr., served on the Board of Aldermen for decades. Her brother Brandon Bosley is currently the alderman for St. Louis’ 3rd Ward. And her mother, Lucinda Frazier, is a longtime Democratic committeewoman.

On a special edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio links up with KCUR’s Statehouse Blend to review the ins and outs of the 2019 session of the Missouri General Assembly. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann joined KCUR’s Samuel King and Brian Ellison to talk about the final week of the legislative session. That’s when the legislature sent a wide-ranging economic development bill to Gov. Mike Parson over the objections of conservative senators. The General Assembly also passed a far-reaching abortion ban that bars the procedures after eight weeks of pregnancy. There are no exceptions in the bill for women who become pregnant because of rape or incest. And the legislation would ban abortion completely with the exception for medical emergencies if Roe versus Wade is overturned.

Alderman Jack Coatar joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum in talking about what to expect in the next few months at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Coatar represents the city’s 7th Ward, which includes neighborhoods like downtown St. Louis, Soulard, Lafayette Square and Compton Heights. He was elected to a full term on the board in 2017 after winning a 2015 special election.

State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal returned to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the leadership change in St. Louis County — and several issues percolating in the Missouri General Assembly. The University City Democrat represents the 86th District in the Missouri House, which takes in parts of University City, Wellston, Pagedale and Hanley Hills. After spending eight years in the Missouri Senate representing a slew of municipalities in central and north St. Louis County, Chappelle-Nadal chose to run for another term in the Missouri House last year.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the GOP statewide official talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his first few months in office. Gov. Mike Parson appointed Schmitt to succeed Josh Hawley, who resigned as attorney general after being elected to the U.S. Senate. Before taking on the role of attorney general, Schmitt served as state treasurer and as a state senator. Soon after taking over as attorney general in early January, Schmitt announced a number of high-profile initiatives. One included deputizing assistant attorneys general as special assistant U.S. attorneys. Schmitt said that’s allowed his office to work with federal authorities more closely on cracking down on violent crime. He’s also soliciting information from Missourians to help with lawsuits against the opioid industry launched under Hawley’s administration.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, Jo Mannies reunites with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum for a special edition of the show featuring former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. Blunt served as the state’s chief executive from 2005 to 2009. He was the first Republican governor to serve with a GOP-controlled General Assembly in modern history. Blunt was a third-generation elected official. His father is U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, who also served as congressman, secretary of state and Greene County clerk. His late grandfather, Leroy Blunt, was a state legislator representing part of southwest Missouri. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993, Blunt embarked on a career in the Navy that lasted for 14 years. He served for six months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during his tenure as secretary of state, which made him the first statewide official in Missouri history to be called in for military service. Blunt served as a state representative for one term before being elected secretary of state in 2000. Blunt then won a closely contested race for governor in 2004 against then-Auditor Claire McCaskill.

Rep. Bruce Franks returns for his third appearance on Politically Speaking, where the St. Louis Democrat talked about how he’s been faring during his third year in the Missouri House. Franks first burst on the Missouri political scene in 2016, when he defeated (after a high-profile redo election) incumbent Penny Hubbard. He was elected to another term last year without opposition, getting another two years to represent a part of eastern St. Louis. After a first term that saw a decent amount of success for a Democrat in the super minority, Franks said that he’s had a more frustrating 2019 session. For one thing, his effort to get more money for summer jobs programs in the state budget faltered. That comes amid increasing scrutiny of SLATE, a St. Louis agency that helps connect people with jobs.

Rep. Dean Plocher is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Des Peres Republican primarily talked about a potential merger between St. Louis and St. Louis County. Plocher represents the 89th House District, which includes parts of Town & Country, Huntleigh, Des Peres and Country Life Acres. Plocher, an attorney by trade, is the chairman of the influential House General Laws Committee. A group called Better Together unveiled a plan earlier this year to createa metro government overseeing St. Louis and St. Louis County. Among other things, the new entity would have a mayor, assessor, prosecutor and 33-person council government what is now the city and the county. Organizers are seeking to get the Better Together plan before statewide voters in November 2020. They contend a constitutional amendment is necessary to implement key elements of the plan, such as consolidating police departments and municipal courts. But that decision has sparked bipartisan criticism, because it means that a city-county merger could happen if it passes statewide, even if St. Louis and St. Louis County residents vote against it.

House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the O’Fallon Republican discussed some of the issues that may consume the Missouri House’s time over the next few weeks. Wiemann is part of the GOP leadership team that runs the Missouri House. As speaker pro tem, Wiemann often presides over the Missouri House — and is part of some key policy discussions among the Republican supermajority. Originally from Phelps County, Wiemann is an insurance broker who first won election to the House in 2014. But he’s been involved in Missouri politics for several decades. He worked for then-Secretary of State Roy Blunt in the early 1990s. And he also helped out on his father’s unsuccessful state Senate campaign in 1990 against then-Democratic state Sen. Mike Lybyer.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum spoke with U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley about his first few months in the United States Senate. The Republican senator was elected to a six-year term last November. Saturday will mark his 100th day in office, which has been jam-packed with some big debates over President Donald Trump’s agenda and administration. Hawley first burst onto the Missouri political scene in 2016, when he was elected as the state’s attorney general. Roughly two years later, he unseated U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in one of the most expensive and high-profile federal contests of the 2018 election cycle. After being sworn into office in January, Hawley was assigned to a number of key committees — including the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees. The Judiciary Committee is responsible for voting on a president’s nominees to the federal bench. Thus far, Hawley has introduced legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, placing more safety measures on duck boats and creating a grant that would pay for programs to reduce law enforcement suicides.

State Rep. Wiley Price is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The St. Louis Democrat talked extensively about his first few months in the Missouri House, as well as a slew of bills he’s sponsored to overhaul the state’s elections. Price was first elected last year to represent Missouri’s 84th House District, which takes in portions of the western part of St. Louis. It includes largely African-American neighborhoods in north St. Louis, as well as primarily white parts of south St. Louis. Price comes from a civically-minded family. His father, Wiley Price III, is a photographer for the St. Louis American and a recent inductee into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame. His mother Leata Price-Land is a longtime community activist who recently ran for the 26th Ward aldermanic seat, losing narrowly to Shameem Hubbard. When the 84th District House seat became open after state Rep. Karla May ran for the state Senate, Price ran against attorney Brad Bakker in the August 2018 Democratic primary. He emerged victorious by about 800 votes, a win that was tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic district.

State Rep. Deb Lavender returns to Politically Speaking to talk about upcoming debate over the Missouri budget, which is slated to take place over the next few weeks. Lavender, D-Kirkwood, is currently serving her third term in the Missouri House. She serves on the House Budget Committee, and has sought to make her mark on the panel responsible for mapping out the state’s spending priorities. Missouri has been experiencing a decline in revenue for months compared to the previous fiscal year. But the state has a fairly large surplus to fill in the budget gap this year. One of the other major initiatives going through the House Budget Committee is a plan from Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, to steer $100 million in general revenue funds to repair the state’s bridges. That’s in contrast to Gov. Mike Parson’s bonding plan, which Republicans like Smith worry will saddle the state with interest payments.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe joins Politically Speaking to talk about his first few months in office — and some of the issues that his Republican legislative colleagues are dealing with during the 2019 session. Kehoe spent nearly eight years as a state senator representing several Mid-Missouri counties, including Cole. After he became chief executive last year, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as lieutenant governor. In many respects, the lieutenant governor’s office doesn’t have a lot of defined duties. The officeholder presides over the Senate and sits on a number of key boards and commissions. But the lieutenant governorship came into greater focus last year when Gov. Eric Greitens became embroiled in scandal.

State Rep. Kevin Windham is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where the Hillsdale Democrat talked about his first few months as a member of the Missouri House. Windham represents the 85th District, which takes in roughly 20 municipalities in central and north St. Louis County. When he won his seat in 2018, he became the youngest African-American man ever to get elected to the General Assembly’s lower chamber. Windham is a graduate of Southeast MissourI State University. After college, he worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. It’s a similar to path to former state Rep. Stephen Webber, who, like Windham, worked for the Democratic senator before getting elected to the House at the age of 25.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed’s narrow victory on Tuesday required some unusual political coalitions and allies to come together. Reed bested state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed and Alderwoman Megan Green in easily the toughest re-election bid since he captured the presidency of the Board of Aldermen in 2007. It came after years of political toil for the Democratic official, featuring two unsuccessful bids for mayor and high-profile fights with aldermanic colleagues. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann break down the results.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed’s narrow victory on Tuesday required some unusual political coalitions and allies to come together. Reed bested state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed and Alderwoman Megan Green in easily the toughest re-election bid since he captured the presidency of the Board of Aldermen in 2007. It came after years of political toil for the Democratic official, featuring two unsuccessful bids for mayor and high-profile fights with aldermanic colleagues. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann break down the results.

Sen. Denny Hoskins is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where the Warrensburg Republican talked about some of the legislation he’s sponsoring during the 2019 session. Hoskins was elected to the 21st Senatorial District in 2016. That seat includes Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline counties. Before running for the Senate, Hoskins served for eight years in the Missouri House. The certified public accountant was elected as House Speaker Pro Tem, which is the second highest ranking position in the General Assembly’s lower chamber.

State Rep. Nick Schroer joins Politically Speaking to talk about his legislation that would substantially restriction abortion in Missouri. The St. Charles County Republican's bill ended up passing the Missouri House earlier this week. It's expected to face a Democratic filibuster when it hits the Senate floor. Among other things, Schroer’s bill would ban abortion if a doctor can detect a heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks. It would also ban almost all abortions if Roe versus Wade is overturned. The legislation does have exceptions for medical emergencies, but if a woman becomes pregnant because of rape or incest. Doctors could face criminal penalties if they run afoul of the legislation's provisions.

State Rep. Phil Cristofanelli joins Politically Speaking for the first to talk about some of his key priorities for the 2019 legislative session. The second term Republican lawmaker represents Missouri’s 105th House District, which takes in portions of St. Charles County. A graduate of Washington University, Cristofanelli was elected as a Republican committeeman when he was 21. He later served on the Missouri Republican Party state executive committee. Before getting elected to the House in 2016, Christofanelli was press secretary for U.S. Congressman Dan Benishek, R-Michigan. Since entering the legislature, Christofanelli has zeroed in an array of fiscal issues. He sponsored legislation requiring the Missouri Department of Revenue to map out the state’s special taxing districts, which was signed into law last year.

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger joins Politically Speaking to talk about Better Together’s proposal to merge St. Louis and St. Louis County. If statewide voters approve the plan next year, Stenger will become the unified government’s first “metro mayor.”  That office was designed to be powerful: A mayor in the new government can make key appointments, use a line item veto, and help appoint whoever is in charge of drawing districts for a 33-person council. Stenger and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson are backing the Better Together plan, which was formally unveiled late last month.  It comes as Stenger has lost some of his power as county executive after voters approved a charter amendment giving the St. Louis County Council more authority over financial matters. Among other things, Stenger believes the reorganized government will allow for greater efficiency — and better services for roughly 1.3 million people. He’s also enthusiastic about having one police department and one municipal court serve the region, as opposed to dozens of smaller ones.

Alderwoman Megan Green, D-15th Ward, has done a lot of campaigning over the last 29 months. Between October 2014 and April 2017, Green ran in three elections to secure a full term representing the ward, which covers parts of the Tower Grove South and Tower Grove East neighborhoods. Pretty soon after that last election, she set her sights on higher office. In the race for president, her main opponents are incumbent Lewis Reed and State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis. (You can find Reed’s episode of Politically Speaking here, and Nasheed’s episode here.) “I’m running for president of the Board of Aldermen basically because I feel like the status quo in our city is not working, and our city in order to move forward desperately needs some different leadership at the top of the board,” Green said.

State Rep. Raychel Proudie is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her first year in the Missouri House. Proudie represents the 73rd House District, which takes in St. Louis County municipalities like Ferguson, Berkeley, Kinloch, St. Ann and Hazelwood. Proudie is a Ferguson native who received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Grambling State University and her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Southern University and A&M College. She also is a doctoral candidate at Grambling State.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Columbia Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the lay of the land for the 2019 legislative session. Rowden was first elected to the Senate in 2016, winning one of the most expensive legislative races in history against Democratic Rep. Stephen Webber. He represents Boone and Cooper Counties in the Missouri Senate. After the 2018 election cycle, Rowden was elected by his fellow Republicans as majority leader. He’s responsible for deciding which bills are brought up for debate — making him one of the more powerful lawmakers in the General Assembly.  

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed is latest guest on Politically Speaking. The St. Louis Democrat is running against three other candidates in the March 5 contest for Board of Aldermen president. Episodes with incumbent Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed and Alderwoman Megan Green will be posted throughout the month of February.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. He joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to talk about his re-election bid. Reed is squaring off against three other Democratic candidates in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Jamilah Nasheed and Alderwoman Megan Green, D-15th Ward. Both Nasheed and Green have recorded Politically Speaking episodes that will air later this month. A native of Joliet, Illinois, Reed first appeared on the local political scene in the 1990s when he was elected alderman for the 6th Ward, which includes the Midtown and Lafayette Square neighborhoods. In 2007, he successfully challenged Board of Aldermen President Jim Shrewsbury. As board president, Reed joined the powerful Board of Estimate and Apportionment that makes most of the city’s financial decisions. He also appoints aldermanic committees and presides over meetings.

St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his first few weeks on the job. Butler was elected to the citywide office in November 2018 after defeating longtime incumbent Sharon Carpenter in a Democratic primary. His office is responsible for issuing birth and death certificates, as well as filing real estate deeds. Before jumping into the recorder of deeds race last year, Butler served for three terms in the Missouri House. He was a member of the House Budget Committee and captured a leadership position as the Democratic Caucus Chairman.  

State Rep. Dottie Bailey joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum to talk about her first few days as a member of the Missouri House. The Eureka Republican represents parts of St. Louis and Franklin counties, including municipalities such as Wildwood, Pacific and Eureka. A native of Belleville, Illinois, Bailey’s professional history is in the banking industry as an accounts manager and loan buyer. She’s been active in local politics for some time, becoming a part of the St. Louis area Tea Party movement.  

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum as the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Springfield Democrat was elected as minority leader late last year, succeeding former Rep. Gail McCann Beatty of Kansas City. Quade was first elected to the House in 2016 to represent part of Springfield. After the 2018 election cycle, Quade is the only Democrat to represent a district that’s south of Interstate 70. She’s noted that her district is relatively competitive, as much of the terrain was represented by a GOP lawmaker from 2010 to 2012.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about what to expect during the 2019 legislative session. The Springfield Republican was elected as House speaker on Wednesday. His caucus will have a chance to accomplish a lot, since the GOP holds commanding supermajorities in both of the General Assembly’s legislative chambers. An attorney, Haahr was first elected to his post in 2012 to represent a part of Springfield in the Missouri House. He quickly rose up the ranks, eventually being selected to chair the House General Laws Committee and being elected as House speaker pro tem.

St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about a slew of issues affecting county government. Clancy was sworn in last week to represent the council’s 5th District, which takes in more than a dozen municipalities in eastern and central St. Louis County. Clancy has a master’s degree in social work and has worked for about a decade with nonprofit groups. She also has been president of the Hadley Township Democrats, which includes Richmond Heights, Maplewood, University City, Clayton and Shrewsbury.

With a revolutionary year in Missouri politics winding down, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann decided to reflect on what happened and why it matter. And what better way to do that than a list of the five biggest stories of 2018? You’ll have to listen to the final Politically Speaking to find out which event topped our list. But it’s fair to assume that the startling descent of Eric Greitens and the Missouri U.S. Senate contest made the cut. Other developments that were contenders including the repeal of right to work, which bars unions and employers from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of employment. And big political developments out of St. Louis County also caught the Politically Speaking team’s attention.

Senate President Pro Tem-elect Dave Schatz joins Politically Speaking to talk about issues that may arise during the 2019 legislative session. Schatz is a Sullivan Republican who represents all of Franklin County and most of western St. Louis County. He won a contested race for president pro tem in November, meaning he’ll appoint committee chairs and direct legislation to certain committees. Schatz’s family owns a utility contracting business. He successfully sought a vacant House seat in 2010. He then filed to run for the 26th District Senate seat in 2014, which was occupied at the time by Sen. Brian Nieves. Nieves ultimately decided against running for re-election, while prominent GOPers like former House Speaker Tim Jones and former Sen. Jane Cunningham chose not to challenge Schatz in the primary. This effectively handed the election to Schatz, since winning the Republican primary in the 26th District is tantamount to election.

Councilman Sam Page and Councilwoman Hazel Erby join the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast to talk about the tumultuous year in St. Louis County government. Page, D-Creve Coeur, and Erby, D-University City, are the chair and co chair of the St. Louis County Council. They’ve held those positions for two years amid tensions with St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger. Since the beginning of 2017, Page and Erby have been part of a bipartisan coalition that’s clashed with Stenger on a multitude of issues. Earlier this week, the council passed a budget with roughly $35 million in cuts from what Stenger recommended. They also overrode his veto numerous times, including on removing a requirement that bidders for construction contracts be linked to apprenticeship programs.

St. Louis Alderman Terry Kennedy is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann about his 30-year tenure on the Board of Aldermen. Kennedy represents the 18th Ward, which takes in nine neighborhoods in central and north St. Louis — including the Central West End, Vandeventer and JeffVanderLou neighborhoods. He’s planning to resign in early January to become clerk of the Board of Aldermen. A second generation alderman, Kennedy joined the board in 1989. He succeeded his father, Sam Kennedy, who served on the board for 21 years. During his time in office, Kennedy helped create the North Sarah development — a state, federal and private partnership that brought about new housing in his ward. Kennedy was also the key backer of a Civilian Oversight Board for the St. Louis Police Department. That idea languished for years, until aldermen ended up passing legislation after Michael Brown’s shooting death in Ferguson. After the Jason Stockley protests, aldermen ended up giving that board subpoena power.

Sen.-elect Eric Burlison, the latest guest on Politically Speaking, talked about the upcoming legislative session  — including his bill that would implement “right to work” in Missouri. The Greene County Republican served for eight years in the Missouri House before hitting term limits. He successfully ran for a state Senate seat this year that includes part of Greene and all of Christian County. Burlison is a computer programmer who has been active in GOP politics for some time. He first ran for the Missouri House in 2008, winning a seat that took in part of the city of Springfield with about 57 percent of the vote. During his tenure in the Missouri House, Burlison became chairman of the House Professional Licensing and Registration Committee. While that committee doesn’t attract a lot of attention, it’s arguably one of the most important legislative committees since it places regulations on a host of industries.  

Veteran Democrat Mike Jones – who has played significant roles in St. Louis and St. Louis County government – joins Politically Speaking to offer his take on how best for Democrats to regroup after their generally poor showing. Jones also talks policy, particularly in his current role as a member of the state Board of Education. Jones began his political career more than three decades ago as a St. Louis alderman in the city’s 21st ward. Since then, he’s become a go-to person for state, city and county officials. Most recently, he’s been tapped as a consultant in the city’s deliberations of whether to privatize St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

State Rep.-elect Mary Elizabeth Coleman joins Politically Speaking to talk about her big win in Missouri’s 97th District House seat — and her expectations about the upcoming legislative session. Coleman is a Republican from Arnold who defeated Democratic state Rep. Mike Revis in this month’s election. She will represent parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties when lawmakers return for the 2019 session in January. Coleman is an attorney who previously served on the Arnold City Council. She was one of three Republicans who signed up to take on Revis, who took over a seat that Republicans had controlled for roughly eight years.

St. Louis Alderman Scott Ogilvie returns to Politically Speaking to talk about the pressing issues before the Board of Aldermen — and why he’s decided to leave after the 2019 elections. Ogilvie represents the 24th Ward, which takes in six neighborhoods around southwestern St. Louis. That includes neighborhoods that encompass Dogtown, such as Cheltenham, Clayton Tamm, Franz Park, Hi-Pointe and Ellendale. Ogilvie first burst onto St. Louis’ political scene in 2011 when he prevailed as an independent candidate against former Alderman Tom Bauer. For a time, he was the only member of the Board of Aldermen who wasn’t elected as a Democrat. He successfully ran for re-election in 2015 as a Democrat, once again defeating Bauer. Throughout his tenure as an alderman, Ogilvie has been advocate for bolstering the city’s mass transit and bicycle infrastructure. He was also the sponsor of legislation that implemented donation limits for city-based candidates.

Sen.-elect Cindy O’Laughlin joins the Politically Speaking podcast for the first time to talk about her priorities for the 18th Senatorial District — and her experiences as a first-time candidate. O’Laughlin won the election last week to represent the 18th Senatorial District district, which takes in a swath of northeast Missouri including cities like Hannibal, Kirksville and Bowling Green.

St. Louis Public Radio’s political trio – Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann – did a postmortem of Tuesday’s election results on the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast. The upshot is that Missouri Republicans did well, and state Democrats have some rebuilding to do. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., was ousted by Republican Josh Hawley, and state Auditor Nicole Galloway barely won, despite a low-budget challenge from Republican Saundra McDowell. One Democratic bright spot was Cort VanOstran’s strong – but unsuccessful – bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin.

For Missouri Democrats, tomorrow is judgment day. After leading the Show Me State for most of its existence, voters will decide if the last two Democratic statewide officials remain in their posts. If U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and state Auditor Nicole Galloway prevail, it could provide a jolt for a party seeking to rebound after the disaster of 2016. But if GOP Attorney General Josh Hawley is able to topple McCaskill, and Saundra McDowell is elected auditor, it could be the surest evidence that once-purple Missouri is now deep red. Those two races aren’t the only things on the electoral radar. Voters will also decide on several major ballot initiatives — including three on legalizing medical marijuana. And across the river in Illinois, Republicans are on the defensive after Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tumultuous term.  

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Webber joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about how Democrats are stacking up in next week’s election. Both Webber and Missouri Republican Party Chairman Todd Graves recorded episodes of Politically Speaking. You can listen to Graves’ episode by clicking here. Webber is a former state representative from Columbia who was elected in 2016 as party chairman. The 35-year-old took on that role after narrowly losing a state Senate race to Republican Caleb Rowden. Since becoming chairman, Webber has been traveling all over the state to rebuild the party after the 2016 election. He’s placed an emphasis on fielding more candidates in state legislative races — instead of letting Republicans run unopposed. And he’s also sought to foster a more aggressive get-out-the-vote effort to help U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and state Auditor Nicole Galloway win their elections.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman Todd Graves joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies on the latest edition of Politically Speaking. Both Graves and Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Webber taped podcasts giving their perspective on next week’s election, which will have a major impact on the state’s future political trajectory. Graves is a partner at the Graves Garrett law firm in Kansas City. He became chairman of the Missouri Republican Party after the 2016 election cycle.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies take a deep look at Amendment 1 on the latest edition of Political Speaking. The measure, widely known as Clean Missouri, combines a host of ethics-related alterations with an overhaul of state legislative redistricting. Out of all the things on the Nov. 6 ballot, Clean Missouri is eliciting the most unusual political alliances. Proponents include left-of-center activists and groups that helped craft the measure, as well as some prominent Republicans. Backers contend that Clean Missouri will make politics more accessible to people — as opposed to special interests or lobbyists. Detractors believe that the ethics-related items in Clean Missouri, including curtailing lobbyist gifts and slightly lowering campaign donation limits, are aimed at making the state legislative redistricting changes more palatable to voters. While many of the opponents are Republicans, some African-American officials and groups aren’t supporting Clean Missouri because of fears it will lead to fewer black lawmakers getting elected.

GOP state auditor nominee Saundra McDowell joins the Politically Speaking podcast to talk about her campaign for the statewide office. McDowell is squaring off against incumbent Democrat Nicole Galloway, who was appointed to her post after Tom Schweich’s death in 2015. You can listen to Galloway’s appearance on the show here. McDowell is an Oklahoma native and Air Force veteran who received her law degree from Regent University. She worked as an assistant attorney general and as director of enforcement for the securities division under Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway returns to the Politically Speaking podcast to talk about her quest for a full four-year in office. The Democratic official was appointed to her post in 2015 after the suicide of  Tom Schweich. She’s squaring off against Republican Saundra McDowell in Nov. 6 election. McDowell’s episode of Politically Speaking will be posted on Wednesday afternoon.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies examine Thursday night’s televised debate between U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and Attorney General Josh Hawley. The debate comes as most polls show a tight race between McCaskill and Hawley. And few observers believe that Democrats have any chance of taking over the Senate if McCaskill can’t win a third term. Among other things, the candidates debated health care, immigration policy, “right to work” laws, global warming and Second Amendment rights. Hawley contended that McCaskill is too liberal for a state which went for President Donald Trump by 19 points. McCaskill emphasized her independence, someone who will work with “anyone, anytime” to address the state’s needs.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner joins Politically Speaking to talk about her re-election battle against Democrat Cort VanOstran. The Ballwin Republican represents Missouri's 2nd District, which includes parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties. Many political prognosticators believe that Democrats have a good chance of retaking the House this year. And if they do, the party may gain the most ground in places like Wagner’s 2nd District — which take in a big portion of the St. Louis suburbs. Wagner contends she’s well positioned to fend off a potential "blue wave."  

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies delve into the three medical marijuana initiatives. Missourians will vote on Amendment 2, Amendment 3 and Proposition C. All three initiatives would make it legal to get marijuana for medical use. But they differ greatly in terms of how much marijuana will be taxed, how the regulatory framework would work, and where the money would go toward.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies look at three things playing a big role in Missouri’s 2018 election cycle. The first is debate over pre-existing conditions between U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and her GOP opponent Josh Hawley. It stems from Hawley’s decision to be a part of a lawsuit seeking to upend the Affordable Care Act. McCaskill made health care a signature issue of her re-election campaign long before it became a trend among other Democratic candidate running in states where President Donald Trump is reasonably popular. Mannies and Rosenbaum also discuss the importance of turnout, and Democratic unity, in St. Louis County for candidates like McCaskill. They also reflect on former Secretary of State Jason Kander’s decision to bow out of the Kansas City mayor’s race to seek treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Randy Auxier, the Green Party nominee in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. Auxier is running against incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Bost and Democratic nominee Brendan Kelly. Both Kelly and Bost both recorded episodes of Politically Speaking earlier this year. Auxier is a Memphis native who is currently a philosophy professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He’s been active in Green Party politics for some time, most recently running for a slot on the Jackson County Board in 2016.

Democrat Robert Butler is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Abigail Censky to talk about his bid for the 22nd District Senate seat. Butler is running against incumbent Sen. Paul Wieland, an Imperial Republican who first captured the Jefferson County-based district in 2014. Wieland’s episode of Politically Speaking was posted on Monday. Butler is an attorney who has lived in Jefferson County for more than 20 years. The Barnhart resident is not a first time candidate: He’s run for a state House seat encompassing part of northern Jefferson County twice, losing both times to House Majority Leader Rob Vescovo.  

Sen. Paul Wieland is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Abigail Censky about his re-election bid in Missouri’s 22nd District Senate seat. The Imperial Republican represents a portion of Jefferson County in the Missouri Senate. His race against Democrat Robert Butler is one of the most competitive state Senate races in the entire state — and could give a sense of how other statewide campaigns shake out.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies look at the importance of Jefferson County in this year’s statewide election. Whenever there’s a competitive statewide election, Jefferson County often gets a lot of attention. That’s because voters there almost always pick winners of statewide elections — as they did in 2016 and 2012.

Democrat Patrice Billings is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast. The St. Charles County resident talked to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies about her bid for Missouri’s 2nd Senatorial District seat. Billings worked for several decades a helicopter pilot for the St. Louis County Police Department. She is squaring off against incumbent Sen. Bob Onder, a Lake Saint Louis Republican who recorded an episode of Politically Speaking earlier this month.

St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about his re-election bid — and what he learned from his successful run for attorney general two years ago. The Olivette Democrat has served as St. Louis County assessor since 2011. Before that, Zimmerman was a member of the Missouri House and a staffer for governors Jay Nixon and Bob Holden.

Illinois Congressman Mike Bost joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies on Politically Speaking to talk about his bid for a third term. The Murphysboro Republican has represented Illinois’ 12th District since 2015. He’s running against Democrat Brendan Kelly, who is St. Clair County’s state’s attorney. The Bost-Kelly race is expected to be one of the competitive congressional races in the nation. Kelly previously appeared on Politically Speaking. You can listen to that episode by clicking here.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s decision to vote against Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is a key topic of the latest Politically Speaking podcast. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies look into how undisclosed political money is playing into the contest between McCaskill and GOP Attorney Josh Hawley. It comes as millions of 501(c)(4) cash is going to support Hawley’s bid — and to ensure McCaskill wins a second term.

East Central College hosted a candidate forum on Thursday night featuring numerous contenders for local, state and federal offices. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum moderated the event, which featured questions on pressing public policy issues — as well as ballot initiatives that voters will consider on the Nov. 6 election.   The candidates that Rosenbaum questioned include: State Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, and Democrat John Kiehne, who are running for the 26th District Senate seat. Democrat Katy Geppart, who is running for Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District seat. Constitution Party candidate Jacob Luetkemeyer, a contender for Missouri state auditor. Republican Aaron Griesheimer and Democrat Pamela Menefee, who are running for the 61st District House seat. Republican John Simmons and Democrat James Cordrey, the candidates for the 109th District House seat. Republican Dottie Bailey, the GOP nominee for the 110th District House seat. Democrat Marcie Nichols, who is running for the 119th District House seat.

Conservative writer Jonah Goldberg is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. He joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about his new book Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy. Goldberg is a syndicated columnist and a senior editor for National Review. He was intimately involved in the start of National Review Online, one of the most enduring political sites devoted to conservative politics. Goldberg was in St. Louis this week for a Show-Me Institute event at Washington University Law School.

Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. The Republican served in various federal and state capacities for more than 20 years. While Talent is no longer a candidate himself, he is leading the charge against a constitutional amendment known as Clean Missouri. Talent is a St. Louis County native who has served in the Missouri House, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. He lost to U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2006. While many Missouri Republicans have wanted Talent to run again for statewide office since then, he has stayed out of the electoral fray — and instead became an expert on defense and national security policy. You can listen to a past episode of Politically Speaking with Clean Missouri proponents by clicking here.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies detail Friday's Missouri Press Association Forum. It featured U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and Attorney General Josh Hawley. The journoduo also took a closer look at the state auditor's contest between incumbent Democrat Nicole Galloway and Republican Saundra McDowell.

Cort VanOstran joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about his Democratic bid in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. VanOstran is squaring off against Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner, a Ballwin Republican who has represented the 2nd Congressional District since 2013. The district includes parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties.

Brendan Kelly, the Democratic candidate in the 12th Congressional District, talked extensively with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his decision to enter the highly-competitive congressional contest. Kelly is squaring off against Congressman Mike Bost, who became one of the first Republicans to represent the 12th District in generations. The Bost-Kelly contest is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the nation this year.

This week's episode of Politically Speaking takes a look at next week's special session of the Missouri General Assembly. Gov. Mike Parson called lawmakers back to work to pass bills aimed at expanding STEM education and drug courts. It comes as Missouri's election season is in full swing. One of the items that voters will decide on later this year is a gas tax increase. St. Louis Public Radio's Marshall Griffin joins Jason Rosenbaum to break down the issue.

Sen. Bob Onder joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to talk about Gov. Mike Parson’s transition in the state’s chief executive office — and what the legislature could deal with in 2019. The Lake Saint Louis Republican represents a portion of St. Charles County. He’s running for re-election against Democrat Patrice Billings. Because Mike Kehoe became lieutenant governor, Onder will serve as the floor leader during next week’s special session. Parson wants the legislature to revamp two bills he vetoed dealing with STEM education and expanding drug courts.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann round of some of the week’s biggest developments in the 2018 elections. One of the topics Rosenbaum and Lippmann take a look at this week is President Donald Trump’s aluminum and steel tariffs — and how they may affect Missouri’s U.S. Senate contest. And in our weekly election analysis feature, Lippmann and Rosenbaum take a closer look at Proposition B — which would raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2023. This push to raise the wage floor took hold recently in St. Louis and Kansas City — and may have a good chance of passing statewide if organized opposition doesn’t emerged before November.

Brian Williams joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann to talk about his big win in the 14th Senatorial District Democratic primary. Williams will represent the central and north St. Louis-based district once the legislature reconvenes in 2019. The 14th District includes municipalities such as Clayton, University City, Ferguson, Hazelwood, Northwoods and Bridgeton. Williams is a Ferguson native who worked many years for Congressman Lacy Clay, D-University City. Among other things, Williams was responsible for communicating with local and state legislative officials on issues that Clay was working on — such as moving the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to north St. Louis.

Libertarian Nick Kasoff joins Politically Speaking to talk about his bid for St. Louis County executive. Kasoff is one of four candidates running in the Nov. 6 election. They include incumbent Democratic County Executive Steve Stenger, GOP challenger Paul Berry III and Constitution Party nominee Andrew Ostrowski.

This week’s Politically Speaking zeroes in on how President Donald Trump will affect Missouri’s election cycle — particularly U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s re-election bid against Attorney General Josh Hawley. On the surface, Trump should benefit Hawley — especially since the GOP chief executive won Missouri by nearly 19 percentage points in 2016. Missouri’s public opinion polls show his approval ratings hovering around 50 percent. But Trump has faced a torrent of controversy this week with the Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen court proceedings.

State Rep. Karla May joins Politically Speaking to talk about her ouster of Sen. Jake Hummel in Missouri’s 4th District. May is a four-term Democratic lawmaker who represents a portion of western St. Louis in the Missouri House. Her dominating victory over Hummel was arguably the biggest statehouse surprise in the Aug. 7 primary. If May wins in November, she will represent St. Louis with Sen. Jamilah Nasheed. It would mark the first time that two African-American women have represented the city in the Missouri Senate.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill joins Politically Speaking to talk about her quest for a third term in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. The Missouri Democrat was first elected to the Senate in 2006. Before that, McCaskill served as Missouri’s auditor, Jackson County prosecutor and a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. This time around, McCaskill is squaring off against Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, a Republican who is emphasizing his conservative bonafides — and his endorsements from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Friday’s edition of Politically Speaking looks at three different storylines to watch as candidates and campaigns ramp up for the November election. The first one that St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies tackle is how U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill is meeting with Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s latest pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. Both sides of the political spectrum are pressuring McCaskill, which comes as she runs against GOP Attorney General Josh Hawley. As the expensive and competitive Senate race between McCaskill and Hawley continues, unidentified money is flowing into ballot initiatives — including a bid to raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $12 an hour. A group called the Sixteen Thirty Fund has given nearly a million dollars to that initiative — and has refused to say where its money comes from. Meanwhile, the GOP nominee for state auditor, Saundra McDowell, is facing questions about whether she’s qualified to run for the statewide office. The Kansas City Star wrote this week about how legal scholars wonder if McDowell has lived in Missouri long enough to be auditor. McDowell said in a statement that she believes qualifies.

GOP St. Louis County executive nominee Paul Berry III joins the Politically Speaking podcast to discuss his campaign to be one of the region’s top elected officials. Berry won a two-way GOP primary last week for the county executive’s office. He’ll square off against incumbent St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger in November, along with several third-party candidates.

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon returns to Politically Speaking to discuss a multitude of issues, including the state of St. Louis’ education system and the challenges of gubernatorial leadership. Nixon served as governor from 2009 to 2017. He is one of only four men (Mel Carnahan, John Ashcroft and Warren Hearnes) to be elected to two consecutive terms as Missouri’s chief executive. He also was elected to four terms as attorney general and to a Jefferson County-based Senate seat.

If Missourians proved anything on Tuesday, it’s that they aren’t predictable when it comes to how they vote. Less than two years removed from endorsing President Donald Trump and a slate of GOP statewide aspirants, voters overwhelmingly repealed the party’s signature policy, right to work, from the law books. But instead of backing candidates that won the blessing of organized labor groups, St. Louis and St. Louis County voters decided to go in very different directions.

On the surface, the purpose of Tuesday’s primary is only to select candidates that will run in the November general election. But in reality, the results could resonate for years to come. That’s because Missouri voters will decide whether to retain right to work, which bars unions and employers from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of employment. And in the St. Louis region, prevailing in the Democratic primary is often tantamount to election — especially in state legislative and local contests. So on this episode, Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum break down what to look for on Tuesday. And they're joined by a mystery guest to explain some vital information about going to the polls.  

David Steelman joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies to talk about the health of the University of Missouri System, as well as the demise of former Gov. Eric Greitens. Steelman is a veteran Republican public official who served as a state lawmaker in the 1980s. He’s currently the chairman of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators, which oversees four campuses in Columbia, St. Louis, Rolla and Kansas City.

Attorney General Josh Hawley joins Politically Speaking to talk about the nationally-watched contest for Missouri’s United States Senate seat. Hawley is the most well-known and well-funded Republican seeking to take on U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in the fall. He’s facing off against 10 GOP candidates in next month’s Aug. 7 primary, including two, Austin Petersen and Tony Monetti, that have been guests on Politically Speaking.

This week’s Politically Speaking takes a look at three competitive elections in St. Louis County. It comes as relations between St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger and the St. Louis County Council have deteriorated. Stenger is facing an expensive bid for re-election against businessman Mark Mantovani. St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch is engaged in an increasingly high-profile race against Ferguson City Councilman Wesley Bell. And two Democrats are challenging Councilman Pat Dolan’s bid for re-election.  

St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch joins Politically Speaking to talk about his bid for re-election. McCulloch is one of the longest serving elected officials in Missouri. He’s squaring off against Ferguson City Councilman Wesley Bell in the August 7 primary. Since no Republican filed for the position, the winner of that contest will get to serve a four year term.

This week’s election edition of Politically Speaking examines how national and state-based political figures are assisting Attorney General Josh Hawley and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s campaigns. Hawley received a fundraising boost this week from Vice President Mike Pence, who swung through the St. Louis area on Thursday to promote President Donald Trump’s policies. Meanwhile across the state, House Democrats are trying to a link a 2017 controversy involving Senate President Ron Richard with Hawley. In addition to recapping a few of the week’s top events, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies break down two Democratic primaries for St. Louis-based congressional seats.  

Ferguson City Councilman Wesley Bell comes back to the Politically Speaking podcast to talk about the race for St. Louis County executive. The Democratic official is taking on incumbent St. Louis Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, one of the longest serving local officials in the entire state. Since no Republican signed up to run, the winner of the August 7 primary will serve a four year term.

This week's election edition of Politically Speaking looks into the referendum over Missouri's right to work law — and the GOP primary for state auditor. Besides the U.S. Senate contest, the right to work fight and GOP auditor race will be on every Missouri primary ballot on Aug. 7. And both matters could have long-term ramifications for the state's politics.

State Rep. Gina Mitten returns to the Politically Speaking podcast to talk about serving on the committee that investigated former Gov. Eric Greitens. Mitten was one of three Democrats who were members of a committee looking into Greitens conduct. The committee ended up releasing a bombshell report in April in which Greitens was accused of sexual and physical abuse, which he denied. But the personal and campaign finance allegations against Greitens prompted lawmakers to call themselves into special session to possibly consider impeachment.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies debut a new edition of the show — a weekly roundup of the big issues shaping Missouri’s election cycle. It will also showcase some contests that are below the radar — as well as marquee contests that will attract national attention. On this week’s show, we look into how U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement will factor into Missouri’s U.S. Senate race. If President Donald Trump’s pick is confirmed, it will likely reshape legal precedent on a host of topics for decades.

St. Louis Alderman Shane Cohn, D-25th Ward, joins Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann on the latest edition of Politically Speaking to talk budgets, progressive politics, and running for office as an openly gay man.

Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joins Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. Ashcroft's been busy since he took office in January 2017. He's overseen the implementation of the state's voter photo identification law. He's also in charge of certifying petitions for the November election, which could include several on marijuana.

On this week's episode, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann talk to former St. Louis County police chief Tim Fitch, who is running as a Republican for the County Council's Third District. On the podcast, Fitch discusses the role he can play in getting the Council to work better with County Executive Steve Stenger, why he wants to "put a box" around money from a public safety sales tax, and why he isn't taking campaign contributions.

On this episode of Politically Speaking, Jo Mannies and Marshall Griffin talk to State Sen.-elect Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City-area Democrat. Arthur flipped a state Senate seat that had been held by Republicans for more than a decade. On the show, she discusses how she believes Democrats should stay true to a progressive message.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes Sean Soendker Nicholson, Sen. Rob Schaaf and former Sen. Jim Lembke to the program to talk about a ballot initiative known as “Clean Missouri.” Clean Missouri is a multi-faceted ethics proposal that seeks to curb lobbyist-paid freebies, make it more difficult for lawmakers to become lobbyists, tweak campaign finance laws and, perhaps most notably, overhaul how state legislative districts are drawn.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann reflect on Gov. Eric Greitens’ decision to resign from office. The move marks a stunning end to a fast-rising political career that began with presidential ambitions and ended with a wave of scandal.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum is pleased to welcome University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to the program for the first time. Choi oversees four University of Missouri campuses in Columbia, Rolla, Kansas City and St. Louis. He took on his job on March 1, 2017, succeeding interim President Michael Middleton.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies go over this week’s big developments in Gov. Eric Greitens’ political and legal saga. This week’s episode zeroes in on how the woman at the heart of the scandal, identified only as K.S., spoke publicly for the first time. It came as lawmakers read depositions where the woman had to answer provocative and personal questions about her interactions with Greitens.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger to the program. The Democratic chief executive of Missouri’s largest county is running for a second four-year term. His main opposition is in the Democratic primary this August, where businessman Mark Mantovani is seeking to oust him. There are no well-known Republicans seeking the office.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann and Jo Mannies detail a dramatic week in Gov. Eric Greitens’ legal and political saga. This was supposed to be the first week of Gov. Eric Greitens’ trial for felony invasion of privacy. But as jury selection trudged along at a glacial pace, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s office shocked many courtroom observers by dropping the case.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Peter Merideth to the program. Merideth is a St. Louis Democrat who represents south central portions of the city in the Missouri House. He was elected to his seat in 2016 and running for re-election later this year. The Missouri General Assembly is going into the final week of its regular session this week. It comes as lawmakers are mulling over whether to impeach Gov. Eric Greitens, who is set to go on trial this week on felony invasion of privacy charges.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann, Marshall Griffin and Jo Mannies break down all of the developments this week in Gov. Eric Greitens’ political and legal saga. This week’s episode gives a preview of the governor’s felony invasion of privacy trial, which is slated to get started next week. We also get an update on whether legislators will impeach the governor — and the status of Greitens’ second felony charge for computer data tampering.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Shamed Dogan to the program. Dogan is a Republican from Ballwin. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016. He decided to run for another House term in 2018 after mulling over whether to run for St. Louis County executive. Unlike many of his Republican and Democratic colleagues, Dogan called on Greitens to resign soon after he was indicted for felony invasion of privacy. Many lawmakers ended up following Dogan’s lead after a House report accused Greitens of physical and sexual abuse against the woman he had an affair with.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann examine what turned out to be a very busy week in the legal and political saga of Gov. Eric Greitens. This week’s edition of the show zeroes in on a historic special session to possibly consider impeachment — and a second House committee report regarding the acquisition of a fundraising list from the Mission Continues.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Councilwoman Hazel Erby to the program. The University City Democrat represents the council’s 1st District, which takes in a number of municipalities in central and north St. Louis County. Erby represents most of Ferguson, and she was a key figure in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s shooting death in that city.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann review what occurred in the Gov. Eric Greitens saga.   After two particularly bad weeks, it could be argued that there were rays of light on the legal front for the GOP governor. That’s because an investigator who allegedly made false statements during a deposition took the Fifth Amendment — which could place critical evidence in jeopardy.

The latest edition of Politically Speaking takes a bit of a break from the frenetic discussion of Missouri politics by welcoming conservative writers Guy Benson and Mary Katharine Ham onto the show. Benson and Ham are co-authors of the book End of Discussion: How the Left's Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun). They were in St. Louis last week to speak at the St. Louis Chess Club.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann break down all of developments in ongoing saga around Gov. Eric Greitens. This week was particularly newsworthy. After last week’s release of an explosive House report that lead to widespread calls for Greitens to resign, at least three events ended up placing Greitens’ political career on virtual life support.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Mark Mantovani to the program. The Democrat is running for St. Louis County executive. He's seeking to deprive incumbent St. Louis County executive Steve Stenger of a second term.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann and Marshall Griffin examine all of the developments in Gov. Eric Greitens’ legal and political saga. This week’s episode focuses on a House committee report that’s prompting bipartisan calls for Greitens to step down.  

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Sen. Jamilah Nasheed to the show for the fourth time. Nasheed represents roughly half of the city of St. Louis. The Democratic official was first elected to her state Senate post in 2012, and was re-elected in 2016. After news broke that Gov. Eric Greitens had an extramarital affair before he was elected to office, Nasheed was one of the first Missouri politicians to call for the GOP chief executive’s resignation. But she said later in February that “Democrats, they want to play it out all the way until November,” a reference to how some in her party want to use the governor’s political woes for their electoral benefit.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann break down all of the developments in the legal and political saga of Gov. Eric Greitens. This week’s show zeroes in on how a special House committee investigating Greitens is set to release its report in the coming days.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Sen. Bill Eigel back to the program. The Weldon Spring Republican represents a portion of St. Charles County in the Missouri Senate. He was elected in 2016 after a hotly-contested GOP primary, and a fairly easy general election victory. Eigel is one of several Republicans who have put forward bills to overhaul the state’s tax code. It’s also been a priority for Gov. Eric Greitens, who promised during his State of the State speech to push through an ambitious tax cut plan.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann break down all of the developments in the legal and political saga of Gov. Eric Greitens. This week’s episode zeroes in on St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison’s decision to have a jury, rather than himself, decide whether Greitens is guilty of felony invasion of privacy.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Sen. Scott Sifton to the program.   The Affton Democrat (who is now tied with state Treasurer Eric Schmitt for most appearances on the show with five) represents parts of south and central St. Louis County in the Missouri Senate.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann round up this week’s legal and political news surrounding Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. This week’s episode zeroes in on how Greitens’ political plight is weighing on other political figures — including Attorney General Josh Hawley.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tony Monetti to the program. Monetti is one of 20 people that have signed up to run for the seat that U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill currently holds. Ten Republicans, including Attorney General Josh Hawley, have filed thus far.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann round up this week’s legal and political news surrounding Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. This week’s episodes focuses on how the governor’s allies and adversaries are trying to alter public opinion in the run up to his felony invasion of privacy trial on May 14.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Republican U.S. Senate candidate Austin Petersen to the program.   Petersen is one of nine Republicans vying for the U.S. Senate in Missouri, a field that includes Attorney General Josh Hawley. The winner of that GOP primary will almost certainly square off against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat seeking a third term in office.

As Gov. Eric Greitens’ legal and political future continues to dominate the headlines, Politically Speaking is launching a standalone show detailing the developments in the Missouri chief executive’s saga. St. Louis Public Radio’s political reporters will discuss what’s going on in court, the Missouri General Assembly and the electoral arena with the governor’s case. We’ll also answer your questions about the situation. This week, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann are taking a look at: How prominent attorneys are joining up with Greitens’ legal team — and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s office. Why some lawmakers are not happy that a House Committee looking into the Greitens indictment are keeping the meetings closed to the public. Whether Greitens’ legal woes will affect the 2018 election cycle — especially when it comes to a nationally-watched U.S. Senate contest.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio's Jo Mannies and Marshall Griffin welcome back Sen. Jill Schupp to the program. The Creve Coeur Democrat represents the 24th Senatorial District, which takes in portions of St. Louis County. She was elected to her post in 2014 and will be up for re-election later this fall. This show was recorded on February 28, 2018, a few days after Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted on felony invasion of privacy charges.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio's Jo Mannies welcomes back Congresswoman Ann Wagner to the program. The Ballwin Republican represents Missouri's Second Congressional District, which takes in parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties. She recently filed for another term for the seat.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome Sen. Dan Hegeman to the program for the first time. The Cosby Republican represents most of northwest Missouri in the Missouri Senate. The 12th Senatorial District has the largest geographic area of any House or Senate seat.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann welcome Alderwoman-elect Annie Rice to the show. Rice defeated 8th Ward Democratic Committeeman Paul Fehler on Tuesday to represent the 8th Ward in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. The 8th Ward takes in the Shaw, Southwest Garden, Tower Grove South and Tower Grove East neighborhoods.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Greg Razer to the program for the first time. Razer, a Democrat, represents a portion of Kansas City in the Missouri House. He was first elected to his post in 2016, winning a primary and general election with no opposition.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back St. Louis County Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger to the program. The Huntleigh Republican represents the council’s 3rd District, which includes municipalities such as Kirkwood, Manchester, Fenton, Sunset Hills, Frontenac and Valley Park. Wasinger has represented her district since 2007.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder to the program. The Ballwin Republican represents the council’s 7th District. It takes in a number of large municipalities in St. Louis County, including Chesterfield, Wildwood, Ellisville and Ballwin.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty to the program. The Kansas City Democrat has been the leader of Missouri House Democrats since 2017. She’s often the public face for a 46-member caucus that regularly faces an uphill battle to outflank the Republican supermajority on key issues. Most of the attention in Jefferson City these days is over the uncertainty around Gov. Eric Greitens. He addressed reporters last Monday for the first time since admitting to an extramarital affair before he became governor. Greitens has denied allegations he blackmailed a woman into keeping the infidelity secret and repeatedly said he won’t resign from office.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Marsha Haefner to the program. Haefner made news last week when she and state Rep. Kathie Conway, R-St. Charles, became the first Republican House members to call for Gov. Eric Greitens to resign. Greitens admitted earlier this month that he had an extramarital affair before he was governor, but denied allegations he took a photo of a woman to keep the infidelity a secret. He reiterated to the Associated Press this weekend that he will not be stepping down.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome state Rep. Crystal Quade to the show for the first time. The freshman legislator is the only Democrat to represent a House district in southern Missouri. She is a member of the powerful House Budget Committee, which makes big decisions about the state's financial future.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jo Mannies welcomes St. Louis County Councilman Ernie Trakas on the program for the first time. The St. Louis County Republican was elected to his post in 2016. He represents a part of south St. Louis County on the council.

On a special edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies talk about Gov. Eric Greitens’ admission of an extramarital affair — and allegations that he blackmailed a woman to prevent her from speaking out. The startling report from KMOV-TV came out Tuesday after Greitens gave his second State of the State address. The governor admitted to infidelity before he was elected governor. But his attorney is forcefully denying that he took a compromising photo of the woman as a way to make her not reveal the affair.  

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum is pleased to welcome state Reps. Kip Kendrick and Martha Stevens to the program. Rosenbaum recorded the show with the Columbia Democrats at KBIA’s studios on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. Both lawmakers represent fairly Democratic-leaning districts that take in portions of the city of Columbia.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes Lt. Gov. Mike Parson to the program. Parson recorded the episode of the show from his office in Jefferson City. He won election to the statewide position in November 2016, defeating well-funded general election and Republican primary challengers.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum is pleased to welcome House Speaker Todd Richardson back on the show for the fifth time. The Poplar Bluff Republican is in his final year in the Missouri House. He has served as speaker since the middle of 2015.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and KBIA’s Bram Sable-Smith welcome back Sen. Caleb Rowden to the show. The Columbia Republican represents Missouri’s 19th Senatorial District. That includes Boone and Cooper Counties, which include the cities of Columbia and Boonville.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome St. Louis Alderman Tom Oldenburg to the show for the first time. The Democrat was recently elected to represent the city’s 16th Ward, which takes in parts of St. Louis Hills, Southampton, Princeton Heights and Lindenwood Park. He is filling out the remainder of Donna Baringer’s four-year term after she won election to a Missouri House seat. In addition to his elected service, Oldenburg is a vice-president of community development at U.S. Bank.

On this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum takes a closer look at how young African-American politicians are making an impact after a judge found former St. Louis Police officer Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith. It's a topic Rosenbaum explored in a feature that was published last week. St. Louis' black elected officials under the age of 40 are seeking policy changes in St. Louis and the Missouri General Assembly that would change how police interact with African-Americans. They’ve also joined people in the streets to protest Stockley’s acquittal.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Sen. Gary Romine to the program for the first time. The Farmington Republican represents the 3rd Senatorial District, which takes in parts of Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Iron, Reynolds and Washington counties. He was re-elected in November to his traditionally competitive seat without Democratic opposition.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Treasurer Eric Schmitt to the program. With his latest appearance, Schmitt becomes the first elected official to be on the show for the fifth time. He was a guest during his tenure as a state senator representing a portion of St. Louis County. The treasurer’s office is responsible for investing the state’s money and running Missouri’s college savings plan. The officeholder also sits on a number of key boards, including the Missouri Housing Development Commission and the Missouri State Employee’s Retirement System.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Gina Mitten to the program. A Democrat, Mitten is a lawyer and resides in Richmond Heights. Before she was elected to the General Assembly in 2012, she spent eight years on the Richmond Heights City Council. Mitten serves as the assistant minority leader, making her the second highest-ranking Democrat in the Missouri House.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum welcome St. Louis Alderwoman Sarah Martin onto the show for the first time. Martin represents St. Louis’ 11 th Ward, which takes in parts of the Boulevard Heights, Holly Hills, Patch, Mount Pleasant and Carondelet neighborhoods. It’s also home to the Carondelet YMCA, which Martin affectionately nicknamed the “South City Country Club."

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back U.S. Rep. John Shimkus to the show for the third time. Shimkus is a Collinsville Republican who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996. He represents the enormous and heavily Republican 15th congressional district, which encompasses a big chunk of southern Illinois. In fact, since redistricting went into effect in 2012, Shimkus says his district appears to be the largest – area-wise – of any district east of the Mississippi River.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Missouri state Rep. Joe Adams, a Democrat from University City. It’s the first appearance on the podcast for Adams, who has been involved in area politics for more than three decades.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Missouri state Rep. Shane Roden to the program for the first time. The Cedar Hill Republican represents portions of northwest Jefferson County in the Missouri House. He was first elected in 2014, a year when the GOP took control of most of that county’s legislative offices.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Clem Smith to the program. The Velda Village Hills Democrat has represented a slew of central and north St. Louis County municipalities since 2011. He will leave the House after the 2018 session due to term limits.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr to the program for the second time. The Springfield Republican recently emerged victorious in his party’s race to become speaker of the Missouri House in January 2019. He ended up defeating Reps. Robert Cornejo, and Holly Rehder.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Sarah Unsicker to the program for the first time. The Shrewsbury Democrat was first won election in 2016 to represent the 91st House District, which takes in portions of St. Louis and St. Louis County, including most of Webster Groves, Shrewsbury and Crestwood.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome the National Review’s David French to the program. French was in St. Louis on Wednesday for a Washington University lecture about free speech on college campuses. It’s a topic that’s become more pronounced in recent months, especially after Donald Trump’s election as president.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Justin Alferman back to the program. The Hermann Republican represents Missouri's the 61 st House District, which takes in portions of Gasconade, Franklin and Osage counties. Alferman is vice chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee, which is in charge of shaping the state’s spending priorities every year.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Missouri state Rep. Rob Vescovo, R-Jefferson County.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes St. Louis Alderwoman Heather Navarro onto the program. Navarro recently took office as the alderwoman for the 28th Ward, a spot that became vacant after Lyda Krewson was elected mayor earlier this year. Navarro represents six neighborhoods, including the Central West End, Skinker DeBaliviere and Hi Pointe neighborhoods.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens won’t call a special session to coincide with next week’s veto session — a decision that may save state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal from expulsion. The bipartisan appetite to oust the University City Democrat over an Aug. 17 Facebook comment, in which she wished for President Donald Trump’s assassination, must now come from state lawmakers themselves.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies talk with state Rep. Doug Beck about the effort to repeal Missouri’s recently passed right-to-work law. The Affton Democrat has worked as a union pipefitter for more than 30 years. He was first elected in 2016 to represent a south St. Louis County-based district where voters favored the GOP nominee for president, Donald Trump. Beck is also a member of the Affton School Board.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann back to the program. The Republican has served as St. Charles County’ s top office holder since 2007, and is one of the region’s longest-serving officials. Previously, he was a circuit judge, state senator, private-practice attorney and public school teacher.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Reps. Lauren Arthur and Jon Carpenter onto the program. The two Kansas City Democrats represent portions of Clay County. Arthur was first elected in 2014, while Carpenter won his first race in 2012.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Missouri's Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on the program for the third time. The Republican statewide official was sworn into office in January. He’s in charge of overseeing Missouri’s elections, writing ballot summary language for initiative petitions, registering corporations and regulating financial advisers and brokers.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome St. Louis Alderwoman Pamela Boyd to the show for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome St. Louis County Councilman Pat Dolan to the program for the first time.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Sen. Andrew Koenig to the program. Originally published July 18, 2017.

On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Joshua Peters.

Franklin County Presiding Commissioner John Griesheimer joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies on the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast. Griesheimer has served as Franklin County’s top elected official since 2011. Beforethat, the Republican served for 18 years in the Missouri General Assembly. Born in St. Clair, Grieshimer was a car salesman. Along the way, he was elected to the Washington City Council and to the Franklin County Commission before winning a seat in the Missouri House in 1992.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Webber joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies for a candid episode of the Politically Speaking podcast.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking podcast team of Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies were on the road again Wednesday, this time to Picasso’s coffeehouse in the historic downtown of St. Charles. The two welcomed state Sens. Bob Onder and Bill Eigel, Republicans who represent much of St. Charles County.

St. Louis Alderman Megan Ellyia Green joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies for a second time on the  Politically Speaking podcast.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Gregg Keller for the second time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies shook things up, recording the show with state Rep. Bruce Franks on Wednesday in front of a live audience at Yaquis on Cherokee in St. Louis.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Tracy McCreery.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Deb Lavender to the program.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum chats with House Budget Committee Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes state Rep. Dean Plocher to the program for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann welcome Alderman Brandon Bosley to the program.

The St. Charles County Republican is serving his first year in the chamber, and represents the eastern and central parts of St. Charles County, which has been growing at a fast clip.

Former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt has a key message for everyone these days: Politics “is a substitute for violence,” and respect for all is crucial.

On this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann and Jenny Simeone welcome St. Louis Alderman Jeffrey Boyd to the program for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Rep. Travis Fitzwater to the program for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome back Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Alderman-elect John Collins-Muhammad for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Missouri state Sen. Jake Hummel to the show for the fourth time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome Rep. Holly Rehder for the first time.

Our latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast features St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, who’s making his first appearance since taking office more than two years ago.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Dan Guenther to the program for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jenny Simeone welcome state Rep. Jean Evans to the program.

The melee to get closer to becoming St. Louis mayor is mere hours away from its conclusion.

On this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann welcome former St. Louis Alderman Jimmie Matthews to the program.

On the this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome Alderman Lyda Krewson to the show for the second time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann welcome St. Louis Republican mayoral candidate Andrew Jones to the show for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann welcome back St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones to the show.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann welcome mayoral candidate Andy Karandzieff to the program.

On this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann welcome St. Louis School Board member Bill Haas to the program.

It’s an odd-numbered year after a presidential election. And you know what that means? It’s time for a rough and tumble race for St. Louis mayor. This isn’t any ordinary election. Because Mayor Francis Slay isn’t running for a fifth term, a big field of candidates have signed up to succeed him.

On this episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Jenny Simeone and Rachel Lippmann welcome Alderman Antonio French to show for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Sen. Ryan Silvey back to the program.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard to the show for the first time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum welcomes state Rep. Donna Baringer to the program.

Right after Greitens took the oath of office, Brian Ellison of Statehouse Blend Missouri and Jason Rosenbaum of Politically Speaking interviewed the leaders of the Missouri House. First, the two podcasters interviewed House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, and state Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome state Treasurer Clint Zweifel to the program.

It's Wesselsmania! On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome state Rep.-elect Fred Wessels to the program.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies are pleased to welcome Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder back to the show for the third time.

House Speaker Todd Richardson joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum for the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock, as he prepares to leave that post in a few weeks.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcome back state Rep. Michael Butler to the program for the second time.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Durrie Bouscaren welcome state Rep. Kirk Mathews to the program for the first time.