The Right Side of the Rivers

In the wake of a tough election night for Republicans across Allegheny County and Pennsylvania, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer sit down with political analyst and former North Allegheny School Board President Bob Howard for a candid conversation on the results, the messaging, and what the numbers are starting to reveal. From low Republican turnout and partisan straight-ticket voting to the...

In this pivotal pre-election episode, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer are joined by Jason Richey, Chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County (RCAC), for a wide-ranging conversation on the Republican resurgence in Pittsburgh and beyond. Jason shares how the GOP has expanded from 50% to 98% local committee coverage in just months, the strategy behind forming regional committees l...

In this episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer sit down with two candidates who are running to restore fiscal responsibility and working-class representation to Allegheny County government: Len Iorio (District 12) and Michael Dell (District 8). Len shares his motivation for running against incumbent Bob Palmosina - the architect of the recent 36% county prop...

In this episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, guest co-host Eileen Cunningham sits in for Russell Dreyer as she’s joined by two Republican candidates for Allegheny County Council: show host Todd McCollum, running in District 13, and Patrick Provins, running in District 9. Both men bring decades of public service experience—Todd as a neighborhood advocate and committee chair, and Patrick as a U....

In this powerful episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dreyer are joined by Allegheny County Sheriff candidate Brian Weismantle—a military veteran, retired homicide detective, small business owner, and lifelong Pittsburgh resident. Brian shares his vision for the Sheriff's Office, emphasizing law enforcement integrity, the importance of restoring public safety, a...

Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer sit down with Tracy Larger, candidate for Pittsburgh City Council District 4. Tracy shares her personal story - from community involvement to becoming a judge of elections - and explains how public safety concerns and neighborhood change inspired her to launch a grassroots campaign centered on transparency, local voice, and commonsense leadership. The episode explor...

In the first-ever live episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer are joined by Greenfield resident and committee member Joe Pegher for a candid conversation about Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage, the tragic US Steel plant explosion in Clairton, and the future of steel in the Mon Valley. They discuss current challenges facing the city — including police staffin...

In this episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dryer welcome guest Eileen Cunningham - local activist, former county council candidate, and founder of One Vote PA. Together, they discuss the state of Pittsburgh’s city budget, the deteriorating vehicle fleet, and the ongoing need for transparency and fiscal responsibility in city government. Eileen shares her perso...

In this inaugural episode of The Right Side of the Rivers, hosts Todd McCollum and Russell Dreyer reflect on their shared journey in Pittsburgh politics, highlighting how grassroots involvement and local leadership can shape the future of the region. They discuss the current state of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County politics, the challenges posed by progressive policies, and why now is the time for...