Grand Strand Politics

Send us Fan Mail The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 2 — Special Edition) A Rebroadcast of Big Talk with Paul Gable and Guest: Former Congressman John Jenrette In Part 2 of our John Bonsignor interview series, we present a special edition — a rebroadcast of Big Talk , featuring a memorable conversation with former South Carolina Congressman John Jenrette. This episode offers a rare window into the...

Send us Fan Mail The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 1) Big Talk, Politics, and The Grand Strand Opera Workshop In this first installment of our eight-part interview series, we sit down with a true pioneer of local media and civic life in the Grand Strand — John Bonsignor , longtime host of Big Talk and Talking Politics , and a voice that helped shape political conversation in Myrtle Beach for deca...

Send us Fan Mail In our final episode in this special series we will listen in as Mayor Hirsch talks about his wife of many years, Ethel Hirsch. Her many contributions to his successful life, and career, and the raising of 10 children.  The real keys to happy life are right here to be learned in this special story.  We will also listen , in its entirety, to the speech that inspired this special se...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, in our special series, looking at the career of former Mayor Robert Hirsch, we look back at his arrival in Myrtle Beach and his single term as Mayor. It was a term of extraordinary accomplishment, much of which may not be as well known by the public in general today.  Myrtle Beach today is the fastest growing region in America, a far cry from where it was in the e...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Edition within our special series I thought it was important to introduce you to three of the names you have heard or will hear in our series.  As a person in my 50s who has worked in or around politics my entire life these names are familiar to me.  That may not be the case for so many of our listeners who are either younger or not from South Carolina.  Strom Thur...

Send us Fan Mail As the War came to its end it brought about the confirmation that up to that point had been known but not confirmed. That the horrific genocide of a people had gone on throughout Europe. The Deathcamps that were discovered , one by one , by the Allied troops as they moved closer to Germany, from all directions, had practiced such organized, horrific, cruelty, that even these most...

Send us Fan Mail Operation Market Garden was an enormous effort led by General Montgomery that included 41,268 troops from Allied countries. It was designed to capture several bridges so that the Army could cross over into Germany and , with any luck, end the war by Christmas of 1944.  The overall effort failed because the German forces fought hard to defend the bridges and they had help from the...

Send us Fan Mail Operation Overlord, known to the world as D-Day, was the beginning of the end for the Nazi Regime of Adolf Hitler.  It was the start of the Allied march across the European Continent.  Bob Hirsch had not yet arrived in England in time to take part in the invasion.  However, a decade ago he sat down with Rod Gragg of Coastal Carolina University and participated in several interview...

Send us Fan Mail This is a quick announcement about the recent book release titled "The Blonde Bombshell: The Life of Robert J. Hirsch" available now on Amazon. We can highly recommend this book and we hope you will join us over the next few episodes as we look back at our documentary on the former Mayor of Myrtle Beach.  Robert Hirsch is an amazing man, still going strong at 102 years o...

Send us Fan Mail February 2026 on the Wallace Podcast Network — One Month. Three Podcasts. A Shared Journey Through History. This February, all three shows across the Wallace Podcast Network come together for a powerful month of storytelling that connects world history with hometown legacy. On Grand Strand Politics , we revisit our acclaimed January 2024 special series, “Robert Hirsch: Our Mayor.”...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this rebroadcast of our documentary series on the life and legacy of former Myrtle Beach Mayor Robert J. “Bob” Hirsch . This series originally explored the remarkable journey of a man whose life mirrored the story of the World War II generation — Americans who came of age during the Great Depression, answered the call to war, and returned home to help build the modern n...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Grand Strand Politics  — the show where we explore the stories that shape our community, our history, and the people who make a difference. I’m your host, Randal Wallace. Today we honor a man whose service to the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County runs deep — both historically and personally. Former Myrtle Beach City Councilman Wayne Gray has spent a lifetime in publ...

Send us Fan Mail Grand Strand Politics – Season Two, Episode 15 “Looking Back at North Myrtle Beach’s Mayor Marilyn Hatley” In this episode, we look back on the extraordinary 24-year mayoral career of Marilyn Hatley , the longest-serving mayor in the history of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and one of the most influential leaders the city has ever known. Mayor Hatley shepherded North Myrtle...

Send us Fan Mail Rebroadcast: A Tribute to Mayor John Rhodes (Five Years Later) This special rebroadcast revisits our original tribute to former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes , who passed away five years ago this month. The episode opens with a brief new reintroduction before presenting the original program as it first aired in Season One of Bridging the Political Gap —the show that has since evo...

Send us Fan Mail Coming Attractions & Housekeeping: What’s Ahead in Season Two of Grand Strand Politics In this special “housekeeping” episode, we roll out the roadmap for Season Two and preview the major stories and tributes you won’t want to miss. First, we look ahead to the Mark Kruea Era as he steps into office as Mayor of Myrtle Beach—what it means for the city, the council, and the direc...

Send us Fan Mail Season Two Premiere: The Mark Kruea Era Begins A new chapter in Myrtle Beach politics is officially underway. In the Season Two premiere of Grand Strand Politics , we break down the first City Council meeting of the Mark Kruea era and take an early look at what kind of leadership style the new mayor and council are bringing to City Hall. This episode dives into:  • The tone and pr...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a simple thank you for tuning in and joining our Grand Strand Politics Group.  Congratulations to Mayor Elect Mark Kruea, Councilman  Mike Lowder, Councilwoman Jackie Hatley, and returning councilman Phil Render, and also Congratulations to the new Mayor of North Myrtle Beach J Baldwin on their victories. Plus a congratulations to Marilyn Hatley for an extraordinar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we look back at the election of Mayor Elect Mark Kruea and Councilman Mike Lowder and then review the Myrtle Beach City Council Race. We share our own thoughts for the race and the recommendation of Mayor Elect Mark Kruea.  The 2025 Myrtle Beach City Council Run off will be held on November 18, this week, and it is between candidates Jackie Hatley, Phil Render and...

Send us Fan Mail Our podcast wishes to thank J Black Out and About for the use of his interviews with the various City Council and Mayoral candidates. This episode is with 6 of the council candidates that he interviewed. We earlier used the interview with Mark Kruea, a candidate for Mayor.  So, sit back and listen in as candidates Nick Vaugh, Kenya Hennigan, Terrance Butler, Myra Starnes, Johnnie...

Send us Fan Mail The 2025 Market Commons - Grand Dunes Debate at the Robert Reed Recreation Center featuring all five Mayoral Candidates:  Mayor Brenda Bethune Former Mayor Mark McBride Mark Kruea Daniel Aumen Eva Rigney  Hosted by Bob Jubak former anchorman with WBTW in Myrtle Beach/Florence

Send us Fan Mail This episode is the debate from the Robert Reed Center put together by the Market Commons Home Owners Association group and the Grand Dunes Sub Associations. All of the City Council Candidates appeared.  Former WBTW-13 News Anchor Bob Juback was the host of the event.  This is a very good and informative forum. 

Send us Fan Mail This is part B of the NAACP Candidates forum and this one features the Mayoral candidates. One candidate, incumbent Mayor Brenda Bethune did not appear. This debates features the other four candidates for Mayor : Mark Kruea, Mark McBride, Eve Rigney, and Daniel Aumen.  It is the first time we see some of the elbows get pointy in the election so far. Enjoy. 

Send us Fan Mail The Forest Dunes Homeowner Association every election cycle invites all the Myrtle Beach City Council and Mayoral candidates to come speak at their Association meeting. It is always a very interesting event. This one was no different. It was a chance to hear all of the candidates speak and tell about their plans for the future of the city of Myrtle Beach.  This episode you will he...

Send us Fan Mail Here is the NAACP forum for the candidates for the Myrtle Beach City Council. There was one candidate unable to be there Dr. Phil Render but all the others were in attendance. Enjoy this opportunity to learn the positions of the candidates for Myrtle Beach City Council in 2025. 

Send us Fan Mail This is the Myrtle Beach Municipal Meet and Greet from late September of 2025. It features all the candidates for Mayor of Myrtle Beach and most of the candidates for Myrtle Beach City Council. Our Host, Randal Wallace, a former Myrtle Beach City Councilman, also served as the MC for the event.  The candidates featured are Mayor Brenda Bethune, Daniel Aumen, Eve Rigney, Mark Kruea...