Dakota Political Junkies

Follow Dakota Political Junkies
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

'Political Junkies' is a fan-favorite segment from SDPB's news and arts program, In the Moment.Join host Lori Walsh as she discusses the top political headlines with journalists, former legislators, and political scientists from around the state. Subscrib

SDPB


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 142 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Dakota Political Junkies with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Dakota Political Junkies

    Analysis: New report says state will need another prison in 10 years

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 30:55


    Former legislators Jean Hunhoff and Linda Duba unpack what they found unsurprising in the new prison report. Plus, a look at bureaucracy in the state. Do we need a DOGE?

    Analysis: A speech, a protest & an ICE 'raid' in Madison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 23:08


    Our Dakota Political Junkies discuss why Secretary Kristi Noem's commencement address at Dakota State University sparked protests. Plus, a "raid" on a Madison business.

    Analysis: Career-minded Republicans are navigate political 'minefield'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 21:11


    For Republicans thinking about re-election, our Dakota Political Junkies say they have to carefully weigh their words and actions in the current environment.

    West River land dispute attracts political muscle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 11:31


    The Dakota Scout's Jonathan Ellis breaks down his coverage of the dropped charges against the Maude family. He also discusses the crowded race for South Dakota's next governor.

    Analysis: Trump's executive actions & ratings for his first 100 days

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 18:39


    Our Dakota Political Junkies take a look at how Trump's actions have deviated from the presidential norm. They also explore what we can really glean from the latest polls.

    Analysis: SD's former governor remains in the media spotlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 23:20


    Secretary Kristi Noem appeared in several news headlines over the weekend. South Dakota Searchlight's Seth Tupper takes a look at how she works coverage in her favor.

    Analysis: Sen. John Thune as senate majority leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 38:39


    Jon Hunter and Michael Card, Ph.D., scrutinize Thune's performance as majority leader. They round up national headlines and stories about the South Dakota congressman.

    Analysis: Pierre property taxes proposal might not work for Sioux Falls

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 21:28


    Patrick Lalley says property taxes aren't the biggest concern for Sioux Falls residents. He shares who you should really call if you're dissatisfied with your tax bill.

    Analysis: Gov. Rhoden's homeowner property tax proposal

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 29:43


    Former legislators Linda Duba and Jean Hunhoff take a look at how Rhoden's proposals on property taxes and the prison fit into the budget.

    Analysis: Trump administration & judicial review

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 16:42


    Lisa Hager, Ph.D., and David Wiltse, Ph.D., discuss the challenges that Trump's executive actions are facing in the courts, especially in regards to education.

    Bob Mercer: 40 years of coverage at the Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 25:15


    Since 1985, journalist Bob Mercer has left his mark on 40 South Dakota legislative sessions. He discusses his time as a reporter and as a governor's press secretary.

    Analysis: 2025 legislative session & state government reset

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 19:46


    Kevin Woster and Brad "Murdoc" Jurgensen discuss the surprises and frustrations of South Dakota's 2025 legislative session, from the ingestion bill to government funding.

    Analysis: The 2025 legislative session in review

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 28:11


    Jon Hunter and Michael Card explore the impact of a contentious 2024 primary, the ongoing debate over direct democracy, and the role of legislative mentorship.

    Analysis: Governor spending & government transparency

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 14:08


    The Dakota Scout requested former Gov. Kristi Noem's state credit card records last year. Jonathan Ellis shares why and how the story has developed since.

    Analysis: When legislation impacts education

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 21:32


    South Dakota Searchlight's Seth Tupper unpacks his commentary on the politics behind the teacher shortage.

    Analysis: Open government and Gov. Rhoden's administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 18:23


    Our Junkies discuss what they expect from the new governor. Plus, do taxpayers have a right to know how governors spend their money? Even when it's on a credit card?

    Analysis: Appropriations committee changes come during a tight budget year

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 25:26


    Former state lawmakers Jean Hunhoff and Linda Duba bring their years on the appropriations committee to analyze what current legislators are up against.

    Analysis: President Trump seeks to refashion federal agencies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 22:52


    Our Dakota Political Junkies analyze how Trump wants to reshape the government and its implications for federal employees and state governments.

    An interview with the state's new lieutenant governor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 12:22


    Rep. Tony Venhuizen has been named Gov. Larry Rhoden's pick for second-in-command. He shares how he'll bring his conservative values to the office.

    Analysis: South Dakota hits reset with new governor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 20:24


    Gov. Larry Rhoden took the oath of office on Monday. Our Dakota Political Junkies explore how his administration could be different from Noem's.

    Charting Gov. Kristi Noem's political past & future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 14:46


    Seth Tupper of South Dakota Searchlight and Jonathan Ellis of The Dakota Scout share how they would sum up Gov. Kristi Noem's political rise.

    State of the State analysis: Jean Hunhoff & Linda Duba

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 17:14


    Two former state lawmakers provide their insights into what Gov. Kristi Noem said — and what data she didn't provide —during her State of the State address.

    State of the State analysis: Jon Hunter & Michael Card

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 19:29


    The State of the State felt like a farewell address from a governor on her way to Washington. Our Dakota Political Junkies take a closer look at Noem's latest top 10 list.

    South Dakotans' political influence in the next administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 18:38


    Sen. John Thune starts his new leadership position. Gov. Kristi Noem's confirmation hearing starts next week. And Rep. Dusty Johnson is a powerful voice in the House.

    Sen. Jean Hunhoff and Rep. Linda Duba discuss session

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 33:41


    Rep. Linda Duba and Sen. Jean Hunhoff step in as our Dakota Political Junkies to share what they're watching for in the state's next legislative session.

    How will Gov. Noem be remembered?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 24:29


    Our Dakota Political Junkies unpack the priorities that Noem laid out in her budget address. And we look at the legacy she leaves in her wake on her way to Washington.

    Analysis: Gov. Kristi Noem's budget address

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 30:18


    Noem stood before legislators on Tuesday and laid out her proposals for the next state budget. Our Dakota Political Junkies provide their analysis.

    Noem announces new anti-corruption measures; why now?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 14:41


    A gubernatorial press release lays out new training and oversight for state employees. Our Dakota Political Junkies explore the content and timing of the announcement.

    Sen. Thune's path to power & President-elect Trump's cabinet picks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 21:33


    Lisa Hager, Ph.D., and David Wiltse, Ph.D., discuss the latest national news about South Dakota's political leaders and what to expect next year in politics.

    After a decisive election, what's next for South Dakota politics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 16:15


    Our Dakota Political Junkie explores the political futures of a few of our most powerful state leaders, as well as the many ballot measures that failed last week.

    Election Day recap: Seth Tupper & Jonathan Ellis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 17:30


    Seth Tupper from South Dakota Searchlight and Jonathan Ellis from The Dakota Scout round up their Election Day reporting with us.

    Election Day recap: Lisa Hager & David Wiltse

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 13:31


    Former President Donald Trump is returning to the White House. Our Dakota Political Junkies analyze the 2024 polls, campaigns and presidential candidates.

    Election Day recap: Jon Hunter & Michael Card

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 29:10


    Jon Hunter and Michael Card, Ph.D., break down Tuesday's results, Election Day surprises and what happens next.

    Election Day 2024: The view from less than a week out

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 35:21


    Seth Tupper from South Dakota Searchlight and Brad "Murdoc" Jurgensen from the Dakota Town Hall podcast share the latest news leading up to the election

    Cannabis: A political history in South Dakota

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 21:22


    Jonathan Ellis and Tom Dempster unpack the history of marijuana in the state. Plus, the view from the press balcony and floor of U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson's funeral.

    Remembering U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson & the legacy of U.S. Sen. Karl Mundt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 16:52


    U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson passed away on Tuesday evening. We hear from Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Drey Samuelson. Plus, our Dakota Political Junkies look back on the legacy of Sen. Karl Mundt.

    A closer look at the race for South Dakota's U.S. House seat

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 15:17


    Our Dakota Political Junkies bring their analysis to the race between Sheryl Johnson, Democrat, and incumbent Rep. Dusty Johnson, Republican.

    Abortion in SD: A political history lesson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 10:42


    South Dakotans will vote on the abortion issue this November. Our Dakota Political Junkie looks at what voters and legislators have said about abortion in the past.

    National party conventions preview upcoming election season

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 26:22


    Our Dakota Political Junkies take us to the floors of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. We examine the differing tones and messages from these events.

    Analysis: Who can lead South Dakota through another financial scandal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 13:06


    In the wake of two recent South Dakota financial scandals, Rich Sattgast joined "In the Moment" to share how we got here. Our Junkies provide their commentary.

    Looking back at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s time in South Dakota

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 15:04


    In the 80s, police found heroin in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s luggage on a flight to Rapid City. Our Dakota Political Junkies re-examine his conviction.

    Exploring the Midwestern VP ticket that never was

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 15:44


    Gov. Kristi Noem was on Trump's VP shortlist before he eventually chose J.D. Vance. Our Junkies discuss what may have happened if two different Midwesterners were on the ballot.

    What's on the South Dakota ballot this election?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 24:30


    There are seven ballot questions before South Dakota voters this fall. From abortion to work requirements to marijuana, we explore the questions and their implications.

    Historical & political precedents for a wild news week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 15:22


    President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election this weekend. We ask our Junkies if there's a constitutional roadmap for what comes next.

    What we lost when Noem's government social media accounts went dark

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 14:24


    Our Dakota Political Junkies ask what happened to Gov. Kristi Noem's social media profiles. They discuss the political impacts of the unexplained deletion.

    How the Supreme Court is shaping the future of presidential immunity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 9:58


    We learn how the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity will impact our Dakota Political Junkie's syllabus this fall. Lisa Hager, Ph.D., is a professor at SDSU.

    Did the state do enough during the June flood?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 10:48


    Our Dakota Political Junkies analyze the state government's response during and after weekend flooding submerged parts of southeastern South Dakota.

    Changes & turnover in Gov. Kristi Noem's office

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 17:20


    Jonathan Ellis, co-founder of The Dakota Scout, discusses the latest staffing news in Gov. Kristi Noem's office. Plus, we talk about the new newspaper of record for Sioux Falls.

    Losses & lessons from a dramatic South Dakota primary

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 23:11


    Several incumbents lost their seats during Tuesday's primaries. Our Dakota Political Junkies look at what to expect in November and for the next legislative session.

    Paths to power & paths to the polls

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 11:37


    We take a look at women's paths to power as it applies to Gov. Kristi Noem's book. Plus, will polarization get people to the polls in November?

    From page to print: How The Scout investigated claims in 'No Going Back'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 13:07


    Local reporting at The Dakota Scout broke the story about Gov. Kristi Noem's implausible visit with Kim Jong Un. Jonathan Ellis shares the story behind the article.

    Claim Dakota Political Junkies

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel