Eye on the Issues

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Representative Tomi Strock (House District 6) to reflect on the key outcomes of the legislative session and the issues shaping conversations across the state. From efforts to rein in government spending to long-overdue school funding recalibration, Representative Strock shares her perspective on what lawmakers accomplished and where challenges...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center and Fraser Institute to explore the real impact of targeted economic development incentives. Drawing on years of research, Mitchell explains why corporate subsidies often fail to deliver the promised results—and in many cases may even reduce overall economic activity. The conversation breaks down the eco...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Eric Epstein, Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, an organization that has monitored nuclear facilities in Pennsylvania for decades. Eric brings more than 40 years of experience working on issues related to nuclear power plants, waste storage, regulatory oversight, and the long-term realities communities face when large energy facilities are...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sat down with Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray for a wide-ranging conversation on election integrity, business regulation, and the role of the Secretary of State’s office in shaping Wyoming’s future. Secretary Gray discusses the election-related bills from the recent legislative session that he believes would have made the biggest difference for Wyomin...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we’re joined by Emma Hamlin, a participant in the Wyoming Liberty Leaders internship program, to discuss her research report, Nuclear Development and the Future of Wyoming’s Public Lands. Emma, a senior at the University of Wyoming studying agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural economics, brings both academic training and firsthand agricultu...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we’re joined by Courtney Beene, a senior at the University of Wyoming and participant in the Wyoming Liberty Leaders internship program, to discuss her research report, Removing Barriers: A Case for Skills-Based Hiring in Wyoming. Courtney’s report examines how degree requirements across state and local government jobs can unintentionally limit Wyoming’s workf...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we take a deep dive into campaign finance in Wyoming with Steve Klein, author of the new report No One’s Buying Wyoming Elections: A Candid Look at a Decade of Campaign Finance Disclosure. After reviewing ten years of campaign finance reports covering more than 400 Wyoming legislative and statewide races, Klein challenges one of the most common political assum...

Wyoming State Representative J.R. Riggins joins us to talk about the upcoming budget session and his work on the House Revenue Committee. Riggins is back at the Legislature after heart surgery last year, and this is his first full budget session. Time is tight and decisions matter for Wyoming taxpayers. We talk about his bill to cut vehicle registration fees by extending depreciation schedules. Ri...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Jordan Davidson, Government Affairs Director for Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), to unpack major developments in federal marijuana policy — including President Trump’s recent executive action to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Jordan brings a rare combination of policy expertise and lived experience. After entering long-te...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Curtis Schube, Executive Director of the Council to Modernize Governance and co-author of a groundbreaking report from the National Center for Energy Analytics. His work takes a deep dive into an overlooked but increasingly urgent question: What happens when wind and solar facilities reach the end of their lifespan—and who pays for it? Curtis...

We’re celebrating a huge milestone—100 episodes of Eye on the Issues!  For this special edition, host Mike Garofalo sits down with our very own President and CEO, Mandy Ludtke, for an inside look at the Wyoming Liberty Group’s work and vision for the future. Since launching Eye on the Issues in 2023, we’ve covered everything from school choice and government transparency to energy policy and campa...

In this special episode, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder joins us to talk about the biggest issues facing education in our state. From major court battles over school funding and education choice to the state’s push for stronger career and technical training, Superintendent Degenfelder shares her perspective on where Wyoming is excelling and where more work is needed...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Jenny Schucker—founder of Academy of the Winds, a Montessori school in Lander—to unpack the fallout from the recent judicial halt on Wyoming’s Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Jenny shares how the ESA freeze has impacted her school’s enrollment and budget, and more importantly, the families left in limbo just weeks before the new school year...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we speak with Diane D’Arrigo of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS). This organization has worked with communities and policymakers on nuclear waste issues since the late 1970s. This conversation explores how radioactive waste is generated through nuclear power, the types of materials it leaves behind, and how these materials interact with the...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, recorded in mid-May, we sat down with Anna Erickson, a professor of nuclear and radiological engineering at Georgia Tech. As someone who teaches and supports nuclear energy, Prof. Erickson offers an informed perspective—but even she raises concerns about how nuclear projects are being handled, particularly regarding community trust and transparency. Her messag...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Mary Olson, founder of the Gender and Radiation Impact Project. With decades of experience in nuclear policy and radiation research, Mary offers a practical look at how radiation exposure affects the human body—and why understanding those risks is more important than ever as nuclear energy and waste storage debates continue. From routine react...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Dr. Allison Macfarlane, former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia. With decades of experience in nuclear oversight, Dr. Macfarlane brings a measured, practical perspective to the fast-moving conversations surrounding nuclear...

As Wyoming considers its role in the future of nuclear energy—including proposals around spent nuclear fuel storage—it’s essential to examine how other countries have approached the same challenge. In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we welcome Johan Swahn, former director of Sweden’s NGO Office for Nuclear Waste Review and longtime advisor on nuclear transparency and safety. With decades of exp...

Spent nuclear fuel from reactors is just one part of the nuclear fuel cycle—but what happens at the front end of the cycle? In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we look at uranium milling, a process that can leave enormous amounts of radioactive waste behind.  Our guest, Jeri Fry, co-founder of Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste, walks us through the history of uranium processing at the Cotter...

Shortly before the halfway point of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session, we caught up with Representative Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (HD 50) for a session update. As Chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, Rep. Rodriguez-Williams shared insights on how the session unfolded, highlighting key legislative victories and ongoing debates. With a conservative majority in the House, bills that previously...

In this compelling episode of Eye on the Issues, we delve into the urgent and unavoidable dangers of nuclear waste storage with Gary Headrick, founder of San Clemente Green. As Wyoming contemplates opening its doors to become a repository for nuclear waste, this conversation is a stark warning about the industry’s long-standing failures and unresolved issues. Gary shares his firsthand experience w...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we speak with Mary Beth Brangan, a longtime advocate and expert in the nuclear debate, about the dangers of nuclear waste storage and what she thinks Wyoming citizens and lawmakers should know before moving forward with any proposals. Mary Beth is the director and producer of "San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy," a documentary that examines...

Over the last several days, we've received calls and emails from people around Wyoming and beyond—citizens and lawmakers alike—who want a deeper understanding of nuclear power risks and, most importantly, what is spent nuclear fuel and what it has to do with small modular reactor manufacturing in regards to SF186. With projects like TerraPower in Kemmerer and our state's potential new SM...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Representative Martha Lawley of House District 27 to explore the critical legislative issues facing Wyoming as the state prepares for its next session. Representative Lawley, who also serves as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and is a member of the Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Committee, shares her thoughtful and pr...

In this episode of Eye on the Issues , we sit down with Wyoming Representative Jeremy Haroldson of House District 4 to discuss key legislative priorities and his vision for Wyoming's future. Recorded prior to the November 5, 2024, election, this interview offers a snapshot of the pressing issues facing the state and Representative Haroldson’s plans to address them as the legislative session a...