Politically Speaking

State Rep. Mark Matthiesen, R-O'Fallon, talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his journey back to the Missouri House, compensating people who have become sickened due to nuclear waste exposure, and how to tackle rising personal property tax bills effectively.

Rep. Peter Merideth joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss why the Missouri Legislature has yet to pass legislation on gun control in the almost year since the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Additionally, the St. Louis Democrat shares his opinions on this year's budget, the current examining of earnings and personal property taxes by a House committee and Republicans' effort to make it harder to amend Missouri's constitution.

State Sen. Tracy McCreery is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the St. Louis County Democrat spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about her first year in office. McCreery represents Missouri’s 24th District, which includes cities such as Kirkwood, Sunset Hills, Valley Park and Creve Coeur. Before getting elected to her post in 2022, McCreery served two stints in the Missouri House: The first was for roughly a year in 2012. The second was from 2015 to 2023.

State Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County, joins STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about veto session, a committee examining the earnings tax, and what to expect during the 2024 legislative session.

State Sen. Bill Eigel talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about his bid for governor — as well as how he'd approach a host of issues as Missouri's chief executive. The Weldon Spring Republican also discussed fallout from veto session.

St. Louis Alderman Rasheen Aldridge joins STLPR's Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his transition into aldermanic life. The 14th Ward Democrat previously served as a state representative for the 78th District House seat — and now has more opportunities to make a policy impact after departing from a chamber where Democrats are in the superminority.

Rep. Paula Brown makes her appearance as a guest on Politically Speaking for the first time. The Hazelwood Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss topics like the upcoming veto session, what education issues she expects to return in the upcoming session as well as the 2024 election.

Sen. Karla Eslinger makes her debut on Politically Speaking. The Wasola Republican joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss the upcoming veto session. Eslinger also spoke on education, foreign acquisition of farmland as well as the 2024 session and election.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features state Rep. Doug Clemens talking with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg on the public policy response to radioactive waste contamination. Clemens represents Missouri’s 72nd House District, which takes in portions of northwest St. Louis County. He was first elected to his post in 2018.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Melanie Stinnett discusses her entry into the Missouri General Assembly. The Springfield Republican represents Missouri’s 133rd District, which takes in portions of Greene County. She was elected in 2022 to succeed Curtis Trent, who vacated the seat to run for the state Senate.

Earlier this summer, a consortium of media agencies dropped a bombshell report: The federal government spent decades downplaying or ignoring the risks of radioactive waste in the St. Louis area. And while the issue has been prominent in places like north St. Louis County and St. Charles County for quite some time, the spotlight on the documents revealed in the media reports — and the work of activists who have sought to bring attention to it — sparked fresh calls for governmental action. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has been particularly outspoken on the issue. He managed to get an amendment attached to a critical national defense bill that could compensate people in St. Louis who became sick. Hawley spoke with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum about the unusual legislative trajectory of his proposal — and whether it can survive tough legislative headwidns.

State Sen. Andrew Koenig joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about his candidacy for state Treasurer. The Manchester Republican also spoke on why lawmakers need to try again at making the state's constitution harder to amend.

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon jumped back into the political fray. The longtime Democratic official is joining the political group "No Labels" as the director of the organization's Ballot Integrity Project. He said he joined the group that emphasizes centrist political views because he was upset that some Democratic groups are trying to block a potential presidential ticket from certain states. “It deeply, deeply troubled me that we were in a situation in which you had folks working against the public's ability to get things on the ballot,” Nixon said.

State Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Groves returns to Politically Speaking to talk about changes to Missouri's Children's Division, expectations for the 2024 legislative session and why she supports raising the threshold to amend the state's constitution.

State Rep. Michael Burton is the latest guest on “Politically Speaking,” where he spoke about his impressions of the 2023 legislative session. Burton is a Lakeshire Democrat who represents the state’s 92nd District. He was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022. His district, which takes in a slice of south St. Louis County, is split relatively evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

The Platte County Democrat talks with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about Gov. Mike Parson's budget vetoes, her expectations for the 2024 session — and why she's running for House Minority Leader.

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek will have competition next year as he seeks a full four-year term. House Budget Chairman Cody Smith said on an episode of Politically Speaking that he will run in the GOP primary for the statewide office. The Carthage Republican said his experience leading the committee that helps craft the state’s budget sets him up well to be treasurer.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann is not running for a sixth term in 2026. He sat down with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum to explain what's changed in Missouri politics since he started out in the late 1980s — and what needs to be done in the St. Louis region.

State Rep. Steve Butz joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about effort to clamp down on gun violence in the city of St. Louis. The Democrat from south St. Louis also discussed what to expect in the 2024 legislative session — and how his party is gearing up for a pivotal election cycle.

Mike Jones returns to Politically Speaking to talk about St. Louis Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s entrance into the U.S. Senate race — and the state of the St. Louis region’s politics. Jones numerous titles throughout the past few decades include service as a St. Louis alderman, a corporate executive, the head of the St. Louis housing authority and an adviser to a St. Louis mayor and a St. Louis County executive. He also served on the state Board of Education.