Politically Speaking

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.