Chillin' in the Statehouse

Happy New Year from the team at Chillin' in the Statehouse! The start of 2024 also brings the start of a new legislative session. But a new year and new session come with the same old political issues. The Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel plus the Associated Press' John Hanna preview the top issues to watch — which will feel quite similar to the top issues of the past year.

Welcome back to Chillin' in the Statehouse! We're back to a full team with the addition of Jack Harvel to The Topeka Capital-Journal's Statehouse team. He joins the CJ's Jason Alatidd and John Hanna of the Associated Press as they discuss the short-lived new license plate design. Read more about it here: https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2023/11/28/governor-laura-kelly-rescinds-new-kansas-...

It's Thanksgiving week, and Chillin' in the Statehouse has the podcast to help you pass any extra time during your holidays. Jason Alatidd of The Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press get in the fall spirit — which includes the newly mailed fall property tax bill — as they break down legislative proposals for property tax relief from House Republican and Democratic leaders.

It's rivalry week here at Chillin' in the Statehouse, as Jason Alatidd's Wildcats take on John Hanna's Jayhawks. Amid the Sunflower Showdown, advocates for more special education funding were in a showdown of their own with top Republican legislators over calling a task force meeting. It's one of many education topics that will be debated in the coming legislative session.

John Hanna brought the leftover Halloween candy, Jason Alatidd had coffee in a Christmas cup, Mother Nature brought the cold, and here is another episode of Chillin' in the Statehouse. Courts, courts and more courts are the topic of discussion today, spanning abortion laws, voter rights, IT security, difficulty getting documents and the IRS — plus the start of basketball season.

After a "Cruel Summer," fall is here! That means Chiefs football, mixed with Taylor Swift appearances. Will voters "Shake It Off" when lawmakers say "Don't Blame Me" for any "Bad Blood" from giving the "Anti-Hero" Legislative Compensation Commission a "Blank Space" in the checkbook for legislative pay raises of their "Wildest Dreams"? The Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd and the Associated P...

Chillin' in the Statehouse is back! For the first time since the departure of Andrew Bahl, the former host and producer of this award-winning podcast, Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal is joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press with updates on three major news stories from the past two months of Kansas government and politics. They discuss DCF and the Zoey Felix case, more Marion up...

Chillin' in the Statehouse is saying goodbye -- but only to Andrew Bahl of the Topeka Capital-Journal, who is departing Kansas. He reminisces about his three years in the state with Jason Alatidd of the CJ and John Hanna of the Associated Press, where they talk about the biggest news stories and trends in Kansas. But fear not! The podcast will continue to live on. Like what you hear? Subscribe on...

The temperatures in Topeka are scorching hot, meaning the Statehouse needs a healthy dose of chill. Andrew Bahl and Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press talk about the national sensation that is the police raid of the Marion County Record and bring you the latest on the ever-evolving situation. Like what you hear? Subscribe to Chillin' in the Statehous...

Barbie or Oppenheimer? Before you go off to watch the summer's hottest movie(s), Andrew Bahl and Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to talk about economic development. Jason talks us through us latest story on contractors at the Kansas Department of Commerce and what it means for the state's megaprojects. And the three look back on the anni...

The Chillin' gang finally has a podcast not about Senate Bill 180 -- Andrew Bahl and Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press talk about the latest developments facing the Kansas Highway Patrol. That includes a federal judge chastising the KHP's vehicle detention practices, as well as the dynamic facing Acting Superintendent Erik Smith. Like what you hear?...

The Statehouse has remained chill, despite the Kansas summer producing some decidedly un-chill storms in recent days. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to discuss the latest round of updates in the legal fight over SB 180 in both state and federal court. The trio also discuss some abortion-related updates, namely the Alternati...

While Kansans are still illegally shooting off fireworks, the real fireworks have been in the courthouse over Senate Bill 180, a law changing definitions of sex in state statute. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break it all down. The gang also focuses on the Kansas Department of Revenue's tax collections and what it means...

It is heating up outside but Andrew Bahl and Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press are chilling in the Statehouse. They talk about the bills now in effect, starting July 1 and then move into the latest legal drama surrounding Senate Bill 180. Like what you hear? Subscribe at Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

It has been a busy time in Kansas, and Andrew Bahl and Jason Alatidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break it all down. They focus their attention on a sweeping anti-transgender rights bill, SB 180, set to go into effect on July 1 -- and the legal battle that might ensure. The trio also update listeners on suspicious letters, including a white powd...

The Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd is back from his honeymoon with a new last name. His colleagues Andrew Bahl of the CJ and John Hanna of the Associated Press immediately haul him into the podcast studio to talk about Medicaid. It's been a busy week for the state's KanCare program, with the process heating up to select new third-party vendors to manage the health care benefits. The trio also dis...

It may be hot outside but it is chill in the podcast studio. Jason Tidd is away on his honeymoon but Andrew Bahl of the Topeka Capital-Journal is joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to dive into a major lawsuit from abortion providers and important context on what it means to the abortion debate in Kansas. Meanwhile, the pair dive into the change in leadership at the Kansas Highway Patrol...

Chillin' in the Statehouse is feeling celebratory, as they wish the Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Tidd well as he prepares to get married. Jason and Andrew Bahl of the Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break down Republicans backing off threats to sue over Gov. Laura Kelly's line-item veto of the school budget. Jason, meanwhile, discusses his trip to the National...

It has been a busy week for Gov. Laura Kelly's line item veto pen and Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are here to break it down. First they talk about Kelly's controversial handling of the state's education budget, before pivoting to her decision to line-item veto funding for a project supported by a maverick Democrat.  Like what you hear? Subscribe to Chillin' in the Stat...

This podcast may be chill but issues of government transparency certainly heat things up. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break down a recently rejected settlement to a major COVID-19-era lawsuit. They also talk about Gov. Laura Kelly's most recent round of vetoes and sing songs from Mulan. Like what you hear? Subscribe o...

Things are chiller in the Statehouse now -- which means Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press are perfectly conditioned to podcast. They break down a series of key court rulings on voting rights, as well as what the Legislature did and didn't pass on voting. Like what you hear? Subscribe to Chillin' in the Statehouse on Spotify, Apple Podca...

The 2023 legislative session is in the books and the chill gang is here to break it all down -- dodging a fire alarm to do so. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break down the final days of the session, including veto overrides and more. They also ponder what it means moving forward for Kansas politics and policy more broad...

It has been a busy week in the Statehouse, as Gov. Laura Kelly signed -- and vetoed -- a whole host of bills. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal are joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break it all down and get you up to speed on the key dynamics heading into the legislative session's final days. Like what you hear? Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google...

Chillin' in the Statehouse is so chill they are practically asleep -- oh wait, they are asleep because of the Legislature's long hours. Andrew Bahl and Jason Tidd of the Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press are (sleepily) breaking down the major news from the biggest week of the year. They focus on a veto override on a law banning transgender athletes in women's sports, ta...

The Kansas Supreme Court was once again in session on abortion and Andrew Bahl of the Topeka Capital-Journal is joined by John Hanna of the Associated Press to break it all down. The Legislature is also in session for its final week, so Andrew and John also look at the core issues left untouched, including abortion. Like what you hear? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Play.