Politically Speaking

On this week's episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum takes a closer look at why Missouri Republicans keep going after voter-approved ballot initiatives. Rosenbaum talks with GOP political consultant David Barklage about the potential for consequences in 2026 for Missouri Republicans, particularly with a potential ballot item that would make it mu...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with MoHealthNet director Todd Richardson about the future of the health care program for the working poor, elderly and disabled. Rosenbaum also reflects on the legacy of former Missouri Rep. Bill Clay, arguably one of the most important Show Me State political figures in modern history.

Todd Richardson is hardly a stranger to high-stakes challenges. He became Speaker of the Missouri House abruptly in 2015 after his predecessor resigned amid a scandal. He also waded through the near-impeachment of Eric Greitens during his last year in elective office. And as Medicaid director, he’s dealt with a once-in-a-generation pandemic and the expansion of the health care program to include t...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Sarah Fentem joins host Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on the state's Medicaid program. Fentem spoke with Sen. Josh Hawley earlier this week about why he ended up voting for the massive budgetary package – even though it includes provisions that hurt states' abi...

Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune talks with St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the recent special session. Aune, whose district includes a part of Kansas City, speaks on why it was important for Missouri to have an offer to keep both the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from leaving the state. Aune also talks about Missouri House Democrats' chances in the 2026...

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck talks about the recent special session and expectations for when lawmakers return in 2026. Beck represents Missouri’s 1st Senate District, which takes in portions of unincorporated south St. Louis County and municipalities like Crestwood and Webster Groves. As Senate Minority Leader, he is the top Democrat in a chamber...

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is undergoing a major transition after lawmakers and Gov. Mike Kehoe reinstated a gubernatorial board that oversees the agency. But the changes for the police department go beyond the reimposition of the state board. Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office will now be in charge of defending the St. Louis Police Department in certain civil litigation cas...

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Marty Joe Murray talks with STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum about his first year in the Missouri General Assembly – and his thoughts on the recently completed special session. Murray represents Missouri’s 78th House District, which takes in parts of Downtown St. Louis, Old North St. Louis, Lafayette Square, and neighborhoods that encompass the Cher...

It didn’t take long for Dara Eskridge and Aaron Williams to spring into action after a deadly tornado ripped through parts of north St. Louis. Eskridge and Williams helped lead the 4TheVille Hub, which provided critical supplies and housing stabilization to people throughout north St. Louis. Both Eskridge and Williams have deep ties to the community: Eskridge is the CEO of InvestSTL, which helps f...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks to U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt about protests over Donald Trump's immigration enforcement methods – and so called Big Beautiful Bill. Rosenbaum also talks with Democratic Sen. Steven Roberts and House Speaker Jon Patterson about the just concluded special session. And he also discussed with STL...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum explores the excruciating waiting game for St. Louisans waiting for FEMA assistance to recover from this month's tornado. Rosenbaum also talked with Congressman Wesley Bell about how President Donald Trump hasn't signed off on disaster relief yet. And with a special session looming, Rosenbaum we...

Sen. Tracy McCreery joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to discuss the end of the 2025 Missouri Legislative Session and her thoughts on the upcoming special session.

7th Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier talks about negotiations over the Rams settlement dollars, her plans for her second term, and being the target of a PAC during her re-election campaign.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's talks with STLPR's Chad Davis about the deadly tornado that ripped through St. Louis and St. Louis County on Friday. It's placing more of a focus on how local, state and federal elected officials are planning to respond to what could be a long rebuilding process. Rosenbaum also talks with STLPR...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum explores how President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office affected Missouri, Illinois and the St. Louis region. Rosenbaum talks with ProPublica's Jeremy Kohler about former Missourian Ed Martin's controversial nomination as U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. And he also tal...

On a special edition of Politically Speaking, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers President and CEO Margot Riphagen about Missouri's place in the movement for abortion rights. Rosenbaum interviewed McGill Johnson and Riphagen after the two spoke at a Planned Parenthood Great Rivers fundraiser in Clayton.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis County, returns to the show to talk about his first impressions of the Missouri House. Hruza also talked about his capital gains tax cut bill, his legislation aimed at curbing anti-Semitic behavior at schools, and why he voted for a ballot item that could repeal constitutional protections for abortion rights.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with St. Louis Alderman Rasheen Aldridge about his expectations for Mayor Cara Spencer. Rosenbaum also talked with Missouri Children's Division director Sara Smith about her vision for the challenging agency, and the release of documents showing that child abuse investigat...

Joe Vollmer helped lead the board through the criminal conviction of three of its members, and oversaw the drawing of the map that cut its numbers from 28 to 14.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Betsy Fogle talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the Democratic view of the 2025 budgetary process. The Springfield Democrat was first elected to the Missouri House in 2020, and is the ranking Democratic member of the House Budget Committee. That gives her more insight, and arguably more power, into a...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg discuss this year's less robust state budgetary process. Rosenbaum also talks about how he's cut down on social media usage recently — and examines whether Donald Trump's return to the White House prompted people to tune in or tune out more. Texas State University professor Amb...

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, the two finalists to be St. Louis mayor face off in a heated joint appearance. STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann posed questions to St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and Alderwoman Cara Spencer on the future of the city — and some of its shorter term concerns.

Sen. Steven Roberts joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the 2025 Missouri Legislative Session, including a bill on its way to Gov. Mike Kehoe that places the St. Louis Police Department under a state-appointed board.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum explores the pros and cons of Missouri's legislative term limits. He talked with state Rep. Peggy McGaugh, who wants to allow someone to spend up to 16 years in the Missouri House or the Missouri Senate. And he also discussed term limits throughout the country with University of California-San D...

State Rep. Mark Boyko joins STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his journey to the Missouri House, his views on education policy, and the prospects for Democratic influence during the 2025 session.