Politically Speaking

When an 84-year-old white man shot 16-year-old African-American Ralph Yarl in Kansas City earlier this month, people around the state and country were outraged. And now, Andrew Lester is facing felony charges. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talked with Saint Louis University Law School professor Anders Walker about how Missouri’s castle doctrine and stand your ground laws likely won’t help Lester.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg on the latest episode of Politically Speaking to talk about a host of issues confronting his office and the state. That includes Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s rules restricting gender-affirming care for minors and adults.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, whose 13th District includes a portion of the Metro East, reflects on her first 100 days in office.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern talks to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about the state budgetary process — and how Missouri lawmakers should approach education policy. Nurrenbern represents Missouri’s 15th House District, which takes in a portion of Clay County. She was first elected in 2020 and then re-elected last year. The former teacher serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

Rep. Lane Roberts joins Politically Speaking for the first-time. The Joplin Republican speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his legislation that Republicans say will reduce crime in Missouri. Included in the bill is language allowing for the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to handle violent crime cases in jurisdictions that exceed a specified murder case rate.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, outgoing 14th Ward Alderwoman Carol Howard discusses raising aldermanic pay, what it might take to lift a residency requirement for city employees, and how the digital age changed everything about being an alderperson.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Annie Rice, the outgoing alderwoman of the 8th Ward, talks about setting up a charter commission, her political legacy, and what it was like to serve on the board.

Former Congressman Russ Carnahan was elected as Missouri Democratic Party chairman over the weekend. And the St. Louis Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about the challenges and opportunities for a party that's been in an electoral slump since 2012.

Republican-led states all over the country are passing bill restricting transgender rights, particularly the ability for minors to access health care procedures like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgeries. But Missouri may actually pass a less restrictive version of that idea, thanks to the fact that the Missouri Senate has a tradition of a strong filibuster. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Democratic Sen. Greg Razer of Kansas City about how the filibuster can reshape the debate over bills affecting transgender people.

State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about a multitude of issues during the 2023 legislative session. That includes bills that would curtail the purchase of farmland by some foreign corporations and efforts to extend Medicaid to postpartum mothers.

House Rep. David Tyson Smith makes his return on Politically Speaking. The Columbia Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the 2023 Legislative Session as it begins its third month. Smith sits on the House Elections and Elected Officials committee, meaning he has heard not only bills changing the election process but also numerous resolutions that would make it harder to amend Missouri's constitution.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is facing the fight of her political life after a man on house arrested seriously injured a 17-year-old girl. Republicans and Democrats are calling for her to resign, contending she has neglected her duties in office. Gardner has refused to step aside, adding that St. Louis' judges bare responsibility for what happened to Janae Edmondson. Attorney General Andrew Bailey subsequently filed what's known as a quo warranto motion aimed at ousting her from office. This is not unprecedented. Back in 2009, Joe Dandurand played a major role in then-Attorney General Chris Koster's efforts to remove Dent County Prosecutor Jessica Sparks from office. Dandurand also was a Cass County judge when the Missouri Supreme Court decided a landmark quo warranto case known as Fuchs v. Foote. Dandurand talked with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum what the quo warranto process entails and why Gardner's fate could be hugely significant to the legal profession.

State Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-Kirkwood, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about the contentious nature of the 2023 General Assembly session. Phifer represents portions of St. Louis County in the Missouri House. Prior to serving in the legislature, Phifer was a United Methodist pastor for more than 40 years.

State Rep. Phil Christofanelli is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked about his legislative priorities and key issues of the 2023 session. Christofanelli represents Missouri’s 104th House District, which takes in a portion of St. Charles County. He was first elected to his post in 2016, and will be unable to run again for the House after 2024 due to term limits. Christofanelli announced he’s running for a Missouri Senate seat that’s currently held by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, in 2024.

State Rep. Donna Baringer is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about legislation around St. Louis’ ability to fight crime. Baringer is a Democrat who represents Missouri’s 82nd District in the Missouri House. After redistricting, that district takes in a number of neighborhoods in southwest St. Louis.

Missouri Congressman Sam Graves Graves talked to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about his goals and expectations as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Tarkio Republican represents Missouri's 6th Congressional District.

Gov. Mike Parson won plaudits from an unlikely group of people: Missouri legislative Democrats. To break down why, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg look at some of the highlights of his 2023 speech — and what the GOP chief executive's legacy in office could be.

Richard Brown, Assistant House Minority Floor Leader, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Kansas City Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the priorities for House Democrats during the 2023 legislative session, which includes childcare, tax policies that support working families and gun control measures.

House Majority Leader Jon Patterson is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the start of the 2023 legislative session. Patterson is a Republican from Lee’s Summit who was recently elected as majority floor leader. He first won election to the 30th District House seat in 2018, and was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2022. His district includes a portion of Jackson County.

Missouri politics in 2022 featured a little bit of everything: High-stakes elections, nasty legislative fights and landmark court decisions. And all of the storylines that defined 2022 stoked enough contention and conflict to likely affect events in 2023 and beyond. So as we always do this time of year, the STLPR politics team counts down the stories that defined the last 12 months.