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Inside Kansas Statehouse politics with award-winning journalist Tim Carpenter

GateHouse Media

  • May 17, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • every other week NEW EPISODES
  • 28m AVG DURATION
  • 95 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Capitol Insider

Bob Beatty on U.S. Senate race and implications for November

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020 30:34


Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political science professor, says the packed Republican primary for U.S. Senate is forcing candidates to the right in hope of snagging an endorsement from President Donald Trump, which may be a risk for the GOP nominee in the November general election.

Labor secretary talks unemployment surge, boost in federal aid

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2020 30:35


Kansas Department of Labor secretary Delia Garcia says agency’s ability to handle unprecedented number of calls and claims has improved after deployment of IT SWAT team, additional help from Amazon call center, and hiring and training of staff members who understand 1970s computer system

Commerce secretary David Toland on economic impact of pandemic

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2020 28:32


Fanny Fang, Shana Bender discuss racist remarks amid pandemic

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 34:35


Fanny Fang, whose family runs Asian Market in Manhattan, and Shana Bender, an organizer for the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice, took a stand after Riley County Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez suggested threat of COVID-19 is low because there are no Chinese people in the community.

Mental health expert offers advice for COVID-19 anxiety

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2020 25:47


Chad Anderson, chief clinical officer for KVC Health Systems, offers advice for coping with the loneliness of being isolated at home.

Gov. Laura Kelly reflects on response to pandemic

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 26:13


By early March, it was obvious to Gov. Laura Kelly that a crisis was looming. She pulled together members of her administration to form the approach that guided a series of executive orders, leading up to the announcement Saturday — a day after this episode was recorded — that she was placing the entire state under orders to stay at home except when necessary.

Coronavirus coverage: 5 days inside a rapidly changing story

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2020 31:43


The Statehouse was swept up in the response to the spread of the coronavirus in Kansas. As Gov. Laura Kelly began issuing directives on school closures, foreclosures and evictions, some of her partisan rivals bristled. There were charges the governor had overreacted and panicked. This episode tracks conversation in political terms by looking at a five-day period, beginning with last Sunday, March 15.

Democrats expect higher turnout with primary changes

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 34:48


Vicki Hiatt, chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party, and Ben Meers, the party’s executive director, say the shift to mail-in balloting and ranked-choice voting for the state party’s May 2 presidential primary in Kansas will increase turnout.

Kansas kids make anti-vaping pitch

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2020 28:24


Garden City High School student Austin Morren and Mill Valley High School student Alyssa Canning discuss youth vaping and efforts to address it with Jordan Feuerborn, of Cancer Action Network, and Jordan Roberts, of Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.

Graduate students provide research insights

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 29:08


Students from six state universities in Kansas talk about their research projects during the 17th annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit at the Statehouse.

Ruiz, Woodard, Witt discuss discrimination issues

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 29:34


Equality Kansas executive director Thomas Witt, Rep. Susan Ruiz and Rep. Brandon Woodard say a bill requiring transgender children to compete in school sports according to gender at birth is discriminatory, repugnant and dangerous.

Schwab sounds off on election-related issues

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 29:40


Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab talks about the proposed constitutional amendment on abortion, implementation of a law aimed at allowing voters to use any polling location in their county, and legislation that would require the use of paper ballots.

Rachel Marsh, Christie Appelhanz see benefits in social service realignment

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 25:03


Rachel Marsh, of Saint Francis Ministries, and Christie Appelhanz, executive director of the Children's Alliance of Kansas, talk about the governor's plan to bring social services under a single umbrella and other issues impacting the state foster care system.

Wagle, Francisco parse abortion amendment

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020 21:36


Lawrence Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco and Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, discuss a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution regarding the right to abortion in Kansas. Wagle voted for the amendment, while Francisco voted against it. The Senate-passed resolution is pending before the House.

Clean energy advocates point to state's 'willy-nilly' approach

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2020 29:17


Dorothy Barnett, executive director of the Climate and Energy Project, and Zach Pistora, a lobbyist with the Kansas Sierra Club, talk about a study of utility rates in Kansas.

Political scientist: Biden could shock in Iowa

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2020 29:28


Bob Beatty, a Washburn University professor who has written profiles of presidential candidates in the Democratic field, talks about U.S. Sen. Joe Biden surpassing expectations and putting distance between himself and his chief rivals, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

Kansan of the Year: Pompeo's life 'certainly has changed' in three years

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2019 25:30


As America's top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is one of The Topeka Capital-Journal's selections for Kansan of the Year. Pompeo and several of his closest friends talk about his journey from West Point to the State Department.

Kansas Chamber, Tax Foundation unite for tax reform

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2019 29:03


Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber, joins the Tax Foundation's Katherine Loughead, Erica York and Michael Lucci for a discussion on comprehensive tax reform in Kansas. The organizations have produced a 150-page report with recommendations.

Native American stone carvings of Kansas come to life

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2019 27:57


Rex Buchanan, Josh Svaty and Burke Griggs collaborated to produce "Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills," a 224-page book recently published by University Press of Kansas. They talk about their project in this week's edition of Capitol Insider.

Teen Harvard grad talks political future, public education

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2019 23:17


Braxton Moral, the 17-year-old who graduated from Ulysses High School and Harvard University in May, says he enjoys being at Washburn University in Topeka. The aspiring politician wants to study law before making laws.

Scott Schwab wants to abandon costly Census adjustments

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2019 22:38


Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab supports a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution on Nov. 5 ballots that would discontinue adjustment of U.S. Census figures in all 105 counties to reflect residential preferences of college students and military personnel.

Bob Beatty: Klobuchar can break through for Dems

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2019 27:49


Washburn University political science professor Bob Beatty says U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, has potential to break through into the upper tier among Democratic presidential candidates despite poor polling numbers for her in Iowa. He said Klobuchar has a humorous campaign style that works well on the stump.

Investigative series explores foster care system, human trafficking

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 27:15


Peggy Lowe, of KCUR 89.3 in Kansas City, and Sherman Smith, of The Topeka Capital-Journal, talk about in-depth reporting about 13 girls who were placed in state custody, trafficked for sex and sent to prison. Thousands of children were added to the Kansas foster care system in the past eight years, leading to severe instability and a surge in runaways who were vulnerable to human trafficking.

John Wilson outlines idea for partial paid leave for family care

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2019 28:09


John Wilson, the incoming president of Kansas Action for Children, talks about embracing policies that would improve the lives of children from birth to five years of age, when they are developing skills that will define their behavior throughout school and later in life.

KASB official charts new approach for school threats

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2019 29:13


Randy Weseman, assistant executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards and a former school superintendent, said high-tech security equipment should be paired with development of a positive school climate that encourages gathering of information of student threats and evaluation of potential violence by a team trained in methods endorsed by the U.S. Secret Service.

Bryan Pruitt takes on Kris Kobach, Roger Marshall in U.S. Senate race

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2019 28:36


Republican Bryan Pruitt, a Wichita native and former conservative commentator in Washington, D.C., says former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach would lose a statewide election against a Democrat and that U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall isn't entitled to a promotion.

Anti-abortion activists fighting for constitutional amendment

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019 29:36


Kansans for Life executive director Mary Kay Culp and lobbyist Peter Northcott say they will do everything they can to pass a constitutional amendment following a decision by the Kansas Supreme Court that found the state's bill of rights "affords protection of the right of personal autonomy, which includes the ability to control one's own body."

A.G. Schmidt outlines vision for criminal justice reform

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2019 29:36


Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt places faith in the Criminal Justice Reform Commission's ability to break through philosophical, political and financial barriers to overhaul the system and improve public safety.

DCF secretary Laura Howard on welfare reform

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2019 28:25


Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, says new research would affirm a direct link between welfare reforms signed by Gov. Sam Brownback and a sustained rise in the number of Kansas children in foster care.

Education officials focused on individual student growth

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2019 29:23


Kathy Busch, chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Education, Jim Porter, a member of the state board from Fredonia, and Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education talk about the future of public education in Kansas.

Bob Beatty reflects on Inslee, Biden

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2019 29:35


Washburn University political science professor Bob Beatty, who is getting to know Democratic presidential hopefuls on the campaign trail in Iowa, talks about Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former Vice President Joe Biden, and assesses the performance of all candidates during recent debates.

Dems adopt ranked choice for presidential primary

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2019 27:09


Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt and executive director Ethan Corson talk about the change in primary format for the 2020 presidential selection process, which they hope will improve voter turnout.

Regents consider push for need-based aid

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2019 26:34


Blake Flanders, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Board of Regents, talks about a strategy to bolster enrollment, help students progress to graduation and support demand for an educated workforce.

Bob Beatty explores Democratic presidential hopefuls

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2019 29:29


Washburn University political science professor Bob Beatty is getting to know Democratic presidential hopefuls on the campaign trail in Iowa. So far, he has profiled Beto O'Rourke, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Tim Ryan.

Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt on 'bumps in the road'

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2019 29:33


Vicki Schmidt reflects on her first few months in statewide office after transition from policy-making position as state senator.

Kansas Chamber, AFP review legislative session

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2019 29:53


Kristi Brown and Eric Stafford, of the Kansas Chamber, and Jeff Glendening, of the Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity, reflect on tax plan vetoes, overall spending, health care policy and school funding.

Kimberly Svaty: 'It blows often and it blows hard here'

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2019 29:33


Kimberly Svaty, policy director for Advanced Power Alliance, and her husband, former state agriculture secretary Josh Svaty, address controversy about the proliferation of industrial wind farms and the value of so many developers harnessing a renewable energy source.

Strings attached to funding for corrections crisis

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2019 29:33


Roger Werholtz, interim secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections, says the agency is challenged by having too many inmates, too little space and limitations on resources.

Statehouse reporters find time for in-depth coverage

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2019 29:39


Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat who came to the Legislature in 2017 after 15 years as a reporter, editor and opinion writer for the Hutchinson News, joins The Topeka Capital-Journal's Tim Carpenter and the Kansas News Service's Jim McLean for discussion on the importance of political coverage and the difficulty of balancing reporting responsibilities.

Long shadow of Brown v. Board still reaches Kansas schools

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2019 18:39


Reporters for The Topeka Capital-Journal talk about a collection of stories that document the ongoing struggle of equality in public education.

Massive utility poles power discord in Wichita

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2019 20:15


Democratic state Rep. Gail Finney, Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson, Pastor William Vann and Helen Abdul-Raheem, who runs a child care facility, discuss their opposition to size, location and messaging involved with massive poles installed by Westar Energy, now known as Evergy.

Political scientists say time is running out for Kobach

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2019 29:40


Political science professors Bob Beatty, of Washburn University, and Patrick Miller, of the University of Kansas, provide insight into next year's U.S. Senate race and this year's legislative session.

Children's Cabinet strives to cast wide safety net

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 29:29


Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund, and Annie McKay, president of Kansas Action for Children, talk about the value of investing in early childhood education.

State auditors reveal failings of retail price scanners

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2019 29:37


Justin Stowe, lead auditor at the Legislature's nonpartisan Division of Post Audit, and Chris Clarke, deputy post auditor, talk about their nonpartisan research approach and findings.

Schwab settles in as secretary of state

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2019 29:37


Scott Schwab expresses more interest in nuts and bolts of managing the secretary of state's office than inspiring the political or legal battles punctuating Kris Kobach's tenure.

Interhab: Network of services across Kansas lengthens lives

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2019 29:08


Matt Fletcher, executive director of the advocacy group Interhab, talks about the rising demand for services to support Kansans with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Solar energy advocates displeased with KCC ruling

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 28:41


Matt Graham, who installed solar panels on his Wichita home, Andy Rondon, who works with Lawrence-based solar installer Good Energy Solutions, and Dorothy Barnett, with the Clean Energy Business Council and Climate and Energy Project, talk about a Kansas Corporation Commission decision to approve special fees on solar energy producers.

Evergy executive defends fee for solar panels

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 28:28


Evergy senior vice president Chuck Caisley says customers who install solar units should share in the responsibility for maintaining the electrical grid.

Women lawmakers prove themselves as they fight stereotypes

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2019 28:19


Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Rep. Susan Ruiz and Rep. Ponka-We Victors say women are viewed differently than their male colleagues in the Capitol. Women account for 14 members of the 40 member Senate, and 31 out of 125 in the House — just 27.3 percent overall.

Schmidt 'looking hard' at Senate race

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2019 29:28


Attorney General Derek Schmidt said an opportunity to serve in the U.S. Senate merits consideration. In the meantime, he is focused on the more than 1,000 duties of his current office.

New office shines light on rural Kansas

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2019 28:10


Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers talks about  the Office of Rural Prosperity, which intends to grapple with housing shortages, financially struggling hospitals and shuttered businesses on main street. Priorities include boosting access to broadband services, expanding manufacturing jobs and driving tourism.

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