Hancock and Kelley

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics:A migrant living illegally in St. Peters and driving without a license is accused of killing a St. Louis police officer. … The embattled chief of the St. Louis City Jail has been on leave for more than 10 days, but city officials won't say why or for how long. … Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris visits the U.S. southern border in Arizona. Does it help or hurt her campaign? … A new report on the July attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump paints a wretched picture of the U.S. Secret Service. … Our quote of the week is from the former superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, fired after just one year on the job.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Republican Secretary of State decertified Amendment 3 from the November ballot, but the Missouri Supreme Court later reinstated it. But did the court abide by state law? ...Casino owners are now pumping millions of dollars into a campaign to defeat Amendment 2 in November, a measure that would legalize sports betting in Missouri. ...Missouri Republicans in Congress sound the alarm about unreliable mail service from the USPS as mail-in absentee ballots are about to be sent out to voters. ...The Jefferson County Port Authority takes ownership of a port in Herculaneum that could eventually lead to revolutionary shipping container vessels ferrying cargo from the Panama Canal into the heart of Missouri with access to much of the nation's interior. ...The fallout continues from the Trump/Harris presidential debate. ...Former first lady Melania Trump says “there's more to the story” of the attempted assassination of her husband, the former president, with little information being released about the shooter's motive and the lack of security around Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania rally where he was shot two months ago. ...Our quote of the week was from the Anti-Defamation League regarding a graffiti mural depicting a Palestinian holding a grenade launcher in front of the word “GAZA.” It was painted on the flood wall south of the Gateway Arch during the “Paint Louis” graffiti event. ...Miami Dolphins star wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, is calling for a Miami-Dade police officer to be fired after the release of police bodycam video showing the officer taking Hill to the ground twice during a traffic stop as Hill was driving to the stadium for last week's game.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page faces an ethics probe for allegedly working a second job at St. Louis University Hospital, two years after voters approved a measure explicitly prohibiting secondary employment for the county executive. Page says it's a volunteer position, even though state records show Medicaid reimbursements for his services as an anesthesiologist. He says he's received none of that money. … St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock is removed from office under court order for trying to hire his stepdaughter as a legislative aide in violation of the state constitution. A judge later reinstated him. Hancock says the hire was never officially approved, she received no pay, and that he regrets the mistake. … Former U.S. Senator from Missouri John Danforth, a Republican, endorses third-party candidate Jared Young in the current U.S. Senate race over incumbent and fellow Republican Josh Hawley. … New SLU/YouGov polling shows a measure to reinstate abortion rights in Missouri has 52% support and 34% opposition. It also shows all Republican candidates for statewide office enjoy double digit leads. … Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic nominee for president, finally sits down for an interview and says though her positions on key policies have changed, her values have not. … Former President Donald Trump says he favors mandated insurance coverage for IVF but does not favor a ban on abortions after just 6 weeks. … A Cole County judge rules a proposal to allow a new casino on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks should go before voters on the November ballot. … Our quote of the week was from Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who lambasted what she called the “anti-Democratic Party” for its efforts to keep her off the Wisconsin ballot for November. A judge ruled she will indeed be on the ballot. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A jolly good show at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. How much of a bump will there be for Vice President Kamala Harris? And what does it tell us about the party's future in Missouri? …The road gets rockier for ballot measures on abortion rights and sports betting in Missouri. …A candidate for the U.S. Senate unveils what he calls "the United Seats of America." He says watching the Cardinals, side-by-side at Busch Stadium, could help Republicans and Democrats douse political hostility. …As the DNC wound down, former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance doubled down on the border crisis. Trump visited a border wall in Arizona as his running mate went to a border policy event in Georgia. …Robert Kennedy Jr. is no longer a presidential candidate and is now on Team Trump. So, what's in store for him? …And our quote of the week is from Governor Mike Parson, who says fellow Republican Jay Ashcroft's "hurt feelings" are hurting Missouri kids.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce made quite a spectacle of themselves arguing at the Missouri State Fair's Ham Breakfast. … The issue of restoring abortion rights has officially been certified by the Missouri Secretary of State to appear on ballots in November. The proposed constitutional amendment would enshrine abortion rights up to nearly six months of pregnancy. … The issue of legalized sports betting has officially been certified by the Missouri Secretary of State to appear on ballots in November. If it passes, the state will capture tens of millions of dollars in yearly revenue from gambling taxes. … Activist Keith Rose of St. Louis withdrew as an alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention in Chicago after being charged with felony property damage during a protest at the Ferguson Police Department. A responding officer later suffered a critical brain injury after knocked over by a different protester. … After three years of record inflation during her vice presidency Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris unveils a new economic plan featuring a ban on price-gouging, and $25,000 down payment assistance for first-time home buyers. However, even certain Democrat allies say that may do more harm than good. … Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has drawn heavy criticism, even from his supporters, for repeatedly rambling “off message” and straying from key issues during campaign events. … St. Louis Public Schools begins the new school year with a transportation crisis with no school bus service for nearly half of the district's students. Thousands of students will use using public transit, even cabs, to get school. …Our quote of the week was from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, as President Joe Biden officially designated the site of the 1908 race riots in Springfield as a national monument.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The panel discusses the fallout from Tuesday's Missouri Primary Election, most notably: St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush's threat-laden rant in defeat and the much different tone from the Republican governor's race. … St. Louis County Executive Sam Page lost big in the primaries, while Governor Mike Parson won big, even though the two men were not on the ballots. …Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, picks a running mate. …New police body-cam footage from the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last month, and news about a second assassination plot against him. … Our Quote of the Week is from a candidate for president who says he keeps “roadkill" in his freezer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Perhaps the biggest race nationally is in St. Louis, as Congresswoman Cori Bush could be the next member of the progressive Squad to lose her seat in the Democratic primary. ... There's also a big congressional race on the Republican side, as Bob Onder and Kurt Schaefer seek to represent Missouri's 3rd District, stretching from St. Charles to Columbia and beyond. ... We'll get into both the Republican and Democratic primaries in the race to succeed Missouri Governor Mike Parson. ...Attorney General Andrew Bailey is running against attorney Will Scharf, a member of Trump's legal team. Neither man has been elected to the office. Bailey was appointed to the post after his predecessor, Eric Schmitt, was elected to the U.S. Senate. While Scharf has worked for the Trump legal team, the former president has endorsed both candidates. Bailey leads in late polls but nearly 30% of voters are undecided. ...Our quote of the week comes from the former president himself, as Donald Trump appears to be hedging his bets in the Missouri governor's race. ...Plus, we'll have predictions from John and Michael, along with the weird and wacky of the campaign season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, July 28, 2024. Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics: ...Joe Biden's out and Kamala Harris is in at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is among the names on the shortlist to be Harris' running mate. ...The superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools goes on a spending spree and gets fired just a year after she was hired. ...More is coming to light about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, pointing to an inexplicable security failure at a Trump rally. ...A St. Louis Cardinals home run celebration gets blasted nationally as an homage to Donald Trump. ...Our Quote of the Week is from Republican vice-presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance. A three-year-old comment has resurfaced, causing problems for the former president and the GOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush and her chief rival in the upcoming Aug. 6 Democrat primary, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, clashed at an UMSL candidate's forum this past week. This weekend, Bush is doubling down on her credentials as a member of Congress's progressive-left “Squad,” by inviting Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts to campaign with her this weekend, as Bell opens up a commanding lead in fundraising and polls. … In an exclusive interview with FOX 2 News, Republican Missouri Governor Mike Parson reveals his endorsements for key races in the upcoming GOP primary. … The St. Louis City Public School Board halts new hiring and is reviewing recent hires by Supt. Dr. Keisha Scarlett, after Scarlett's most recent hire: a new, high-paid communications director who posted on social media that she would not be moving to St. Louis full time after taking the job. … A judge has halted St. Louis's guaranteed basic income program, supported by the city's mayor and aldermen. Opponents argued the program, which sends $500 monthly to more than 500 low-income families, violates laws against public money being given to private citizens. … It was an up week for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after he narrowly survived an assassination attempt and rolled through a boisterous Republican National convention, and another down week for President Joe Biden, who's tested positive for Covid and dealing with more than 30 members of Congress no calling on him to exit the presidential race. (Note: This segment was recorded before President Biden withdrew his candidacy.) … U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt of St. Louis County has grown into a very prominent role nationally in the Republican Party as a confidant of Donald Trump. Schmitt is said to be a potential Trump cabinet pick for U.S. Attorney General should Mr. Trump win election in November. … Our quote of the week was from the federal judge in Florida who just threw out what's thought to be the strongest criminal case against Donald Trump: the Florida classified documents case. …Even with historic budget surpluses in the billions of dollars, Parson has slashed $1 billion from the budget approved by the state legislature.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Violence and chaos reached a new low on the Fourth of July in Downtown St. Louis, with seven people shot or wounded by gunfire, property damage to downtown buildings, and rampant fighting using fireworks as weapons. Frightened visitors noted a glaring lack of police presence. As of this episode's recording, no arrests had been made. They have no information yet on arrests/citations for fireworks offenses. …The state of Missouri is pulling nearly 600 jobs out of downtown St. Louis and selling its two downtown office buildings, including the historic Wainwright Building. …Even with historic budget surpluses in the billions of dollars, Missouri Governor Mike Parson cut $1 billion from the state legislature's approved budget. …St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones endorsed Congresswoman Cori Bush in Bush's campaign for a third term. National pundits say Bush, a member of the so-called far left progressive “Squad,” is in danger of losing the August 6 primary to fellow progressive Democrat, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. …In his first interview since his awful debate performance, President Joe Biden says only the “Lord Almighty” can get him to drop his re-election bid, as more Democrats call for him to get out of the race. …Our quote of the week was from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who decried the recent 6-3 ruling that U.S. presidents are largely immune from criminal prosecution for official acts while in office. …Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is suing New York to get the partial gag order against former President Donald Trump lifted. Bailey faces a stiff challenge in another hot primary race. Trump attorney Will Scharf is looking to unseat Bailey, who was appointed to the position by Governor Parson, after former Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate. The primary is now 30 days away.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The end of The Squad” in Congress? Our quote of the week was from Congresswoman Cori Bush, after her Squad ally, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, lost his primary race. She is seen as vulnerable in her August primary race against St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. … There is landslide winner in the red-hot Republican primary race for Missouri governor, when it comes to PAC fundraising. A PAC for Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe has raised more than double the amount raised for PACs supporting Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Senator Bill Eigel combined. … Florissant State Rep. Gretchen Bangert has filed a federal complaint against fellow Democrat, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page. She says Page has repeatedly offered her a job in his administration to keep her from running against an ally of his in a County Council race. … Missouri Governor Mike Parson says he's working a plan to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals from leaving the state to play in new stadiums across the border in Kansas. … The impact of President Joe Biden's awful debate performance against former President Donald Trump – should the president end his campaign in favor of another Democrat candidate and who might that other candidate be? … The U.S. Supreme Court handed down multiple big rulings this past week with perhaps the biggest of all coming Monday: a decision on for President Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution for alleged election interference and his role in the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. … The owner of acclaimed St. Louis restaurant, Bulrush, closes his doors, citing hateful policies in Missouri against the LGBTQ community. …See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's big news about Missouri's Republican primary for governor, which is a little over six weeks away on August 6. Our exclusive, new statewide poll tracks Missouri candidates and issues, from the GOP governor's race to abortion access and sports betting. … Trash-ridden St. Louis looks to hire the homeless to help clean up the city. … Democrats say video clips of President Joe Biden wandering around and slurring his words are "cheap fakes." But are they? … Our quote of the week is from the U.S. Surgeon General, who says social media platforms should have warning labels just like cigarettes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick essentially put out an APB for Kim Gardner. After months of delays, the former St. Louis Circuit Attorney finally surfaced and met with Fitzpatrick. … No tickets for expired temp tags in St. Louis; how about a loan instead? … Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey goes to Washington to blast Trump prosecutor Alvin Bragg. … Our quote of the week is from the Supreme Court ruling upholding access to abortion medication, mifepristone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The showdown over President Joe Biden's sweeping student loan forgiveness plan took center stage in St. Louis federal court. Missouri and six other states are seeking an injunction to stop the plan from moving forward. The judge will issue his ruling within two weeks. ... There are calls for the resignation of long-time St. Louis tourism chief Kitty Ratcliffe, the president of Explore St. Louis, amid continued delays and cost overruns in the convention center expansion project. ... St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer officially launches her campaign for mayor. Her event drew a crowd four to five times larger than Mayor Tishaura Jones's re-election launch party weeks earlier. ... Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs a record $53 billion budget, with much of the increase funded a large tax increase on sports betting companies. Illinois continues to gain millions in tax revenue from Missouri bettors in the St. Louis area, who cross the river to place bets every day. ... President Joe Biden does an about face on U.S.-Mexico border policy, issuing an executive order to cap border crossings. ... President Biden's son, Hunter, is standing trial in federal court for allegedly lying about his illegal drug on a form he filled out to buy a handgun. ... Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski has the moment to remember during events in France commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, sharing a hug with a 99-year-old U.S. veteran. ... Our quote of the week from Dr. Anthony Fauci, appearing to walk back his advocacy of social distancing and masking policies during the COVID pandemic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The cost of St. Louis' income tax soars as the city loses big in court. … There is word that the city's aging school buildings may sink the school district. … Could fake signatures doom petition drives in Missouri to put everything from abortion rights to sports betting on the November ballot? … U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson reverses course on nuclear contamination from Coldwater Creek. … Former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies last week. What does it mean for the upcoming presidential race and the future of the country? … In our quote of the week, Pope Francis apologizes for using an Italian gay slur.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer announces she's running for mayor, setting up a rematch of the 2021 race, won by incumbent Tishaura Jones. … Mayor Jones lifts a hiring freeze she implemented over fears state lawmakers might do away with the city's 1% income tax. The legislative session just ended with the tax intact. … St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and County Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb hit a stalemate over the spending of $8 million in ARPA funds. The money will return to the federal government if Page doesn't release the funds before the end of the year. … Missouri Governor Mike Parson is at odds with Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Bailey, whom Parson appointed, is representing three lawmakers in a defamation suit. They are accused of wrongly implicating a Kansas City Chiefs fan as being one of the gunmen in the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade and rally. Parson says no state taxpayer dollars should be used in this case. … Former Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who was a critic of former President Trump on the campaign, now says she will vote him. Is she a potential Trump VP pick? Also, John and Michael talked about the latest developments in Mr. Trump's criminal trial in New York. … President Joe Biden pummels Mr. Trump over a video reposted on a Trump social media account. The post referred to a “unified Reich” if Donald Trump is elected president again in November. Mr. Biden calls those words the language of Hitler's Germany. … A St. Louis media institution, the “Riverfront Times” weekly newspaper, was shut down without warning, leaving St. Louis without a news source that had been around for 46 years. ... Our quote of the week comes from Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor regarding a therapy dog named Doug now working the cell blocks of the county jail. Doug helps ease tensions for jail staff and inmates alike. ... We all express our deep gratitude for those who have sacrificed all to protect our country on this Memorial Day weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With St. Louis losing population more quickly than almost any other city in America, Mayor Tishaura Jones says the city is in a renaissance and that she's running for a second term. ... Michael Cohen turns star of a “debacle” for the prosecution in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. ... President Joe Biden tells Trump, “make my day, pal” in calling for two debates. ... And our quote of the week is from Kansas City Chief's kicker Harrison Butker, who has kicked up a firestorm as a college commencement speaker with his thoughts on the roles of men and women.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Missouri's State Auditor held a news conference to call out Kim Gardner, the former St. Louis Circuit Attorney, for not complying with his audit of her office during her tenure. … St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis now plan to use a portion of the more than half-billion dollars from the Rams/NFL settlement on everyday needs like roads, sidewalks, and water mains. … St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones wants to create a taxpayer-funded loan fund to help people pay sales taxes, property taxes, and insurance premiums to properly license their vehicles. The city is plagued by people driving with no license plates or expired temp tags. … Governor Mike Parson lashes out at fellow Republicans in the legislature for repeating false claims that a Kansas City Chiefs fan was an illegal immigrant who opened fire during the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade and rally. … President Joe Biden pledged “ironclad” support for Israel in its war against the terror group Hamas, but now he is withholding thousands of U.S.-made weapons from Israel. … Former President Donald Trump was reined in by a judge for audibly cursing and shaking his head as porn star Stormy Daniels testified about having sex with Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump is on trial for allegedly disguising hush money payments to Daniels to benefit his 2016 presidential campaign. … Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a rising star in the GOP, removes a claim from her new book that she once met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. … Our quote of the week from St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III on the possibility of the team seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayers in the coming years for upkeep and upgrades at Busch Stadium.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progressive Democrats in St. Louis, like Aldermanic President Megan Green and Congresswoman Cori Bush, are railing against police crackdowns on pro-Palestinian tent-camp protests at colleges in St. Louis and across the United States, as Democrat New York Mayor Eric Adams takes a strong stance in support of police in ending protests that have resorted to vandalism, violence, and antisemitism. Should President Joe Biden stand more firmly with Adams or continue to lean toward Green and Bush? ... Fredbird and Louie were among the Missouri professional sports team mascots dropping off signatures in Jefferson City to put legalized sports betting on the Missouri ballot in November. Initiative petition drives will likely put the issues of minimum wage and abortion rights on the ballot as well. ... Democrats in the Illinois legislature use their supermajority to propose, pass, and sign into law a change in the rules for the election of state lawmakers within 24 hours. ... Former President Donald Trump gets fined for violating the gag order in his criminal trial in New York, but soars in polls, including our exclusive poll from Emerson College and The Hill, showing Trump leading President Biden in all seven so-called “swing states” likely to decide the 2024 presidential election. ... Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene may be wearing out her welcome among fellow Republicans as she pushes to remove Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in the week ahead. ... Our Quote of the Week was from legendary Mizzou men's basketball coach, Norm Stewart, who was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians at the state capitol.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Missouri Legislature defunds Planned Parenthood ahead of voters getting a chance to restore abortion rights in the state. … The issue of a state-appointed police board taking over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department just keeps rolling in Jefferson City. … The St. Louis Board of Aldermen is proposing a hike in the city's sales tax rate. … The city removes a refugee couple and their makeshift shelter from the sidewalk, where they'd been living in front of someone's house for more than three years. … Universities—including Washington University in St. Louis—continue to grapple with tent camps and protests against Israel's sustained bombing and ground campaign in Gaza in the months following a Hamas-led surprise attack in Israel last October. … Former President Donald Trump endures a week of damaging testimony in his New York trial and also argues for immunity before the U.S. Supreme Court. … President Joe Biden says he will debate the former president, but he's been saying a lot of things that may not be true.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hancock and Kelley on FOX 2 take on the top issues of the week. On the agenda:Illinois' biggest county in the St. Louis area no longer wants to be in the same state as Chicago.Disturbing surprises show up on the desks of members of the Missouri legislature: dessert ‘brownies' — along with a note saying they contain dog feces.Donald Trump's so-called “Hush-Money” trial has begun — is that worse for him or President Biden.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Wall Street Journal had an extremely unflattering front-page report about the demise of downtown St. Louis. ... First lady Jill Biden was in St. Louis to raise money for her husband's reelection bid. ... Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey files a lawsuit to stop the latest incarnation of President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. ... Iran attacks Israel with more than 300 drones and missiles. Israel claims its air defense system stopped 99% of those drones and missiles. ... Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden both try to address potentially the most damaging issues for their campaigns: abortion rights for Mr. Trump and inflation for Mr. Biden. ... U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces a new ATF rule that will effectively close the so-called gun show loophole by requiring more gun-sellers to run background checks on more gun buyers. ... Our Quote of the Week had to do with the death of O.J. Simpson and painful memories and emotions felt very close to home here in St. Louis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland taking note of violent crime in St. Louis and pledging to do something about it. ...The rise of the write-in candidates and the fall of right-wing school board candidates in Tuesday's local elections. ...We're keeping up with former President Donald Trump's courtroom battles and a big endorsement in a key Missouri congressional race. ...Israel admits fault for a bombing that killed World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, as a rift between President Joe Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gets wider. ... Democrats go all-in on the abortion issue for the November elections. Can it turn red states like Missouri and Florida blue? ... Is independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. fanning the flames of the January 6 Capitol riot? It's our quote of the week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Viral videos of violent, even deadly, after-school fights among teens in St. Louis County lead to calls for action from the state capital to the nation's capital. ... A new bipartisan bill in the Missouri legislature would ban marriage for those under the age of 18. Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds can marry someone who's also under 21 with parental consent. ... The City of St. Louis is leading an alarming population decline in the St. Louis region. Census estimates show the city has lost 20% of its population in the last 20 years—more than half of its population in the last 50 years. ... Riverfront Times founder and long-time Donnybrook panelist on KETC (PBS St. Louis) Ray Hartmann announces that he's running for Congress as a Democrat against six-term St. Louis County Congresswoman Ann Wagner. Special Counsel Robert Hur testified before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigation into President Biden's mishandling of classified documents, and Hur's assertion that the president comes off as a “well-meaning, elderly man” with a poor memory. ... A Georgia judge rules that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can stay on as prosecutor in the Donald Trump election interference case, but Nathan Wade, Willis's former lover, who she hired as special prosecutor in the case, must resign his position. ... Pop singer Olivia Rodrigo hands out free Plan B emergency contraception (aka “morning after” pills) at her concert at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. It drew international backlash, with her core audience being made up of young girls. Plan B will no longer be handed out at her concerts. ... Our Quote of the Week was from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who's proposing a national four-day week in the United States.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A call for retired cops to help St. Louis out of its reckless driving epidemic. ... Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a self-proclaimed "mega" Kansas City Chiefs fan, is receiving backlash after pardoning the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. The coach's son, Britt Reid, was drunk and speeding when he crashed into multiple cars on an Interstate 435 ramp near Arrowhead Stadium in 2021, which left 5-year-old Ariel Young with traumatic brain injury. Reid was sentenced to three years in prison in 2022. Parson commuted the rest of his sentence to house arrest after just 16 months. Republicans and Democrats are blasting the governor over this. He's offered deepest sympathy to Young's family but said Reid has already served more time than others convicted of similar offenses. ... Are Democrats fired up after President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address? Critics claim the speech was more appropriate for a campaign rally, with President Biden repeatedly blasting former President Donald Trump without ever naming him and instead referring to him as his predecessor. Though Biden struggled with words at times, he avoided any major gaffes, and displayed passion, wit, and stamina in the nearly 70-minute speech. ... Amid all of the accolades from Democrats for the president's State of the Union performance comes a challenge from Trump, to see how Biden holds up in a debate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A FOX 2 New interview with a St. Louis alderwoman about the city's reckless driving crisis is interrupted by blatant reckless driving: motorcyclists doing wheelies, running a red light, driving on the wrong side the road and circling cars waiting for the light to change. Alderwoman Cara Spencer is calling for booting the wheels of reckless drivers. The mayor and aldermanic president want to bring back red-light cameras, which would put citations in the mail for offenders, tickets offenders will likely be ignored, knowing they face no threat of jail time. ... Missouri Governor Mike Parson sends Missouri National Guardsmen and state highway patrol troopers to help with the border crisis in Texas, just as the crisis shifts to California. ... Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calls for nearly $900 million in tax hikes to help cover the cost of processing more than 35,000 migrants who've crossed the southern U.S. border and are now flooding the sanctuary city of Chicago. ... Republican Congressman Mike Bost, who represents a large portion of the St. Louis area in Illinois, agrees with President Joe Biden on something. He says Congress should be in session instead of taking a two-week winter break with pressing issues like the border crisis and military aid for Ukraine and Israel demanding action. ... Former President Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina in a landslide over former S.C. Governor Nikki Haley in her home state. Missouri Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is running for governor, creates a stir by saying military veterans should not get special treatment like discounts. "I don't think we ought to say if you're in the military, we'll give you this discount, but everybody else has to pay twice as much,” he said. “If it's good for veterans, it's good to do it for everyone." ...The Alabama Supreme Court rules that frozen embryos in fertility clinics are human children. ... Our Quote of the Week was from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who said Governor Parson's use of the word “thugs” to describe the suspects in the deadly mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade/rally was a racist dog whistle.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

St. Louis City's reckless driving crisis claims the lives of two visitors from Chicago after they attended a concert downtown. It comes a year of a teenage girl visiting from Tennessee lost her legs in a reckless driving crash. She was hit by a vehicle while walking downtown. Instead of addressing the glaring lack of enforcement of traffic laws, Mayor Tishaura Jones calls out the Board of Aldermen for stalling her plan for street safety improvements. ... Republicans and Democrats in the Missouri Legislature back Valentine's Law, which would enact mandatory prison time for those knowingly fleeing police in a vehicle. It is named for St. Louis County Police Detective Tony Valentine who was killed by a fleeing driver in 2021. ... Missouri Senate Democrats filibuster initiative petition reform at the state capitol. Reform measures aim to make it more difficult to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. ... Democrat St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush lashes out at Republicans for Missouri's lax gun laws in the wake of the mass shooting during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade and rally, even though Kansas City and St. Louis have laws making it illegal for juveniles to carry weapons. Twenty-two people were shot and a woman was killed in what authorities say was an exchange of gunfire among juveniles. ... President Biden blasts Russian President Vladmir Putin over the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. Navalny had been poisoned and jailed after leading protests against Putin and the Kremlin. President Biden also called out former President Donald Trump for saying he would not protect NATO allies from invasion by Putin and Russia if those allies fail to pay their fair share toward mutual defense. ... A New York judge levied a $364 million judgement against Donald Trump and his family's businesses in a civil business fraud trial. ... Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the witness stand and admitted hiring her lover as a special prosecutor in an election fraud case against Donald Trump. Attorneys for one of Mr. Trump's co-defendants are seeking to have Willis removed from the case and possibly the entire case thrown out of court. ... Our Quote of the Week was from Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore, as the team reports to Jupiter, Florida, for spring training.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The chief of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department heads to Jefferson City to fight a state takeover of his department. ...There's another viral video of another Missouri Republican breaking out a flamethrower. ...Both Republicans and Democrats lament our do-nothing Congress, from border security to aid for Israel and Ukraine to impeaching a cabinet secretary. ...In our quote of the week, a local congresswoman calls into question President Joe Biden's memory and also calls for his resignation. ...There's a new Democratic candidate for Congress from St. Louis. ...On this Super Bowl Sunday, St. Louis Aldermanic President Megan Green says the people have spoken: they want to spend NFL settlement money on city pay raises, among other things. ... Should Missouri and Illinois follow Michigan's lead in sending parents to prison for crimes their children commit? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Democrat St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice grand jury investigation of her massive spending on personal security. ... Missouri Governor Mike Parson heads to the southern U.S. border in Texas, saying Missouri has a role to play in the migrant crisis. ... Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey appears in St. Louis with former NCAAA swimmer Riley Gaines. Gaines is leading a national campaign against transgender athletes in women's sports. ... Missouri Senator Josh Hawley calls out Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg during a committee hearing on regulating social media companies. ... President Joe Biden orders air strikes in response to Iran-backed attacks on U.S. assets in the Middle East after one of the attacks killed three U.S. Army soldiers in Jordan and injured more than 40 others. The president has notably avoided air strikes on Iranian soil. ... The state election board in Illinois decides against removing former President Donald Trump's name from the state primary ballot. ... Republicans are taking issue with mega-singing star Taylor Swift and her romance with Kansas City Chief's star Travis Kelce. ... Our Quote the Week was from the late Jean Carnahan, former Missouri first lady and U.S. Senator, the first female senator in Missouri history. Carnahan died Tuesday at the age of 90.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Extreme infighting among Republicans in the Missouri Senate leads to senators being stripped of leadership positions and their preferred Capitol parking spots! One senator mockingly comes up with a resolution to allow senators to settle disputes by duel! …St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is pushing a small property tax increase to pay for a new or renovated St. Louis County headquarters building at a time when the county faces yearly budget deficits of nearly $40 million. …Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib comes to town to launch the reelection campaign of St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush. The two progressive Democrats are members of the so-called progressive Squad in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both women have received heavy criticism for their responses to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Tlaib has been censured by the House. …Missouri's U.S. Senators come out against a deal with the White House to strengthen security at the U.S. border. …Vice President Kamala Harris takes a more high-profile role in the reelection campaign of President Joe Biden as the two shift their focus to the abortion issue. …Former President Trump wins the New Hampshire Primary but is incensed with candidate Nikki Haley, who refuses to end her campaign after two small-state contests. Trump threatens to cut ties with anyone who donates to Haley's campaign. He also faces an $83.3 million defamation judgement in a case brought by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. She has already won a judgement against him for sexual abuse. …Former Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has a prominent role with the No Labels political organization, which is considering placing a centrist, bipartisan presidential ticket on the November 2024 ballot. …Our Quote of the Week regards the latest attempts to legalize sports gaming in Missouri.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics: …St. Louis County drops $90,000 on a new logo and branding as the county executive calls for tax hikes. …St. Louis City's highly-paid but rarely seen police chief issues a report card after his first year on the job. …Surviving Iowa: the first 2024 presidential election contest is now just hours away. Which candidates will be left in the Republican primary? …How can Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin be off work and in a hospital for days but not tell the president? Did Austin go AWOL? It's our quote of the week. …We'll also get into efforts to eliminate St. Louis' city income tax, Hunter Biden's surprise visit to Congress, and trouble for the district attorney who's prosecuting Donald Trump in Georgia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discussed the following topics: The City of St. Louis is reporting major drops in crime, but critics don't trust the numbers. … Missouri Governor Mike Parson issues an executive order banning foreign adversaries from owning Missouri farmland within 10 miles of military installations. Fellow Republicans say it's too little, too late. … There are growing calls for Governor Parson and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to take action against the owner of Northview Village nursing home in St. Louis. The home was closed with little warning and without full accounting for the 175 residents. One resident with schizophrenia has been living on the street since without his medication since Dec. 15. … Longtime Republican Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer makes a surprising announcement with his party clinging to a slim majority in the House of Representatives: he is not running for reelection. He represents Missouri's 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from Jefferson and St. Charles counties to Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks. … As the nation marks the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, President Biden makes the riots the top issue of his reelection campaign, jettisoning his focus on “Bidenomics.” … The U.S. Supreme Court will review the removal of former President Donald Trump from primary election ballots in Colorado. This comes as a new effort is launched to remove Mr. Trump from the primary ballot in Illinois. … Big names turn up on unsealed court documents in a lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned accomplice of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. … Our quote of the week was from St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, who undid a mask mandate for city employees just hours after it was issued. “Upon further review…” she said masking was recommended but no longer “mandated.” … Remember, if It's Sunday in St. Louis, it's Hancock and Kelley on FOX 2. We hope to see you next Sunday morning at 8:30.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy New Year's Eve and welcome to a special edition of Hancock and Kelley on FOX 2. Political analysts John Hancock and Michael Kelley discuss the following topics on this week's episode: ...Our 2023 political winners and losers, from St. Louis to Washington. ...We'll peer into the crystal ball for the big year ahead and the 2024 elections. ...John and Michael make their new year's resolutions; not for themselves, but for each other!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, Sunday, December 10, 2023. John Hancock, Republican consultant, on the right and Michael Kelley, Democratic consultant, on the left, took on the following topics:St. Louis enacts an open carry ‘trigger' law to take effect immediately if/when state lawmakers allow cities to enact certain gun control measures. The new city ordinance is inspired by Missouri's abortion ‘trigger' law that banned abortion when the United States Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. St. Louis may have an ally in Kansas City which has surpassed St. Louis by far in the number of homicides for 2023. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, says he will seek a full term in 2024, after restoring criminal prosecutions in the wake of the resignation of troubled former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley unleashes fury toward fellow Republicans after the House stripped aid to victims of radiation exposure from nuclear waste dating to World War II and the United States atomic weapons program. Our quote of the week was from Harvard University President Claudine Gay, as she and executives from other elite universities appeared before Congress to face criticism for their handling of a rise in antisemitism on their campuses. The University of Pennsylvania President, Liz Magill, resigned Saturday under mounting pressure from donors and alumni. President Biden makes a rare national address from the Oval Office, pushing for tens of billions of dollars in more aid for Ukraine as it fends off an ongoing invasion from Russia. President Biden's son, Hunter, has been indicted on nine counts of alleged federal tax crimes as Republicans move forward in the impeachment inquiry of the President. Former President Trump quips that if he's elected president again, he would act as a dictator, but only for one day, as Democrats warn of Mr. Trump's past threats of retribution against his political enemies. News Nation hosted the 4th Republican Presidential debate, which Donald Trump once again skipped. There were only 4 candidates on stage this time: who stepped up and who stepped back?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Republican Missouri state representative calls for a ban on Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war resettling in Missouri. …St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush stands with hunger strikers outside the White House in support of a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, as we learn that Israeli intelligence knew of detailed Hamas plans to attack Israel long before the October 7 terrorist strike. …Bush is not alone in facing a primary election challenge. Defeated Republican candidate for Illinois Governor Darren Bailey is now taking aim at five-term Republican Congressman Mike Bost, who represents the largest share of the St. Louis area in Illinois. … The former Workhouse jail in the City of St. Louis has become an eyesore and a public safety hazard just 1.5 years after being shut down by Mayor Tishaura Jones. She has trumpeted the closure as a hallmark of her first term. … Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis squared off against California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom in a debate on Fox News. …The U.S. House of Representatives expels Republican Congressman George Santos. …Our Quote of the Week was from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on the passing of former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to ever serve on the court. Hancock and Kelley also shared their thoughts on the passing of former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, Sunday, November 19, 2023. John Hancock, Republican consultant, on the right and Michael Kelley, Democratic consultant, on the left took on the following topics: A Republican U.S. Senator and the Teamsters President nearly come to blows during a Senate Committee Hearing. Our Quote of the Week from Republican candidate for Missouri Governor, State Sen. Bill Eigel, says outgoing GOP Governor, Mike Parson, is too soft on Democrats … The St. Charles County Council is considering a resolution in support of keeping illegal immigrants out of the county. Missouri Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, releases a scathing report on former St. Louis Circuit Attorney, Kim Gardner, and pushes the state to ban people who resign from office from running for that office again. GOP and Democrat congressional leaders stand holding hands raised high along with tens of the thousands of demonstrators in the nation's capital in support of Israel. Trending on Tik-Tok, young Americans sympathizing with Osama Bin Laden and his 20 year old “Letter to America” seeking to justify the mass murder of nearly 3,000 Americans by flying hijacked airplanes into buildings on September 11, 2001. President Biden tells a roomful of world economic leaders at the APEC summit in San Francisco that Democrat California Governor, Gavin Newsom, could probably take President Biden's job if Newsom so desires. GOP Presidential Candidate, Nikki Haley, is rising above the field of candidates hoping to challenge runway frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. Remember, if It's Sunday in St. Louis, it's Hancock and Kelley on Fox 2. We hope to see you next Sunday morning at 8:30See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, Sunday, November 5, 2023. John Hancock, a Republican consultant, on the right and Michael Kelley, a Democrat consultant, on the left, took on the following topics:Democrat St. Louis County Prosecutor, Wesley Bell, dropped his U.S. Senate bid to run in the House (1st Congressional St. Louis) against incumbent Democrat, St. Louis Congresswoman, Cori Bush. Her repeated accusations that Israel is guilty of genocide and ethnic cleansing in its response to the October 7th Hamas terror attacks are a key factor in his decision. He says fellow Democrats statewide have urged him to switch races. A deep dive on Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the U.S. and around the world, plus the rise of anti-Semitism from U.S. college campuses to a Russian airport. Missouri's Republican Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, who is running for governor, loses at the Missouri Court of Appeals in his effort to defeat a ballot issue on whether to legalize abortion by allegedly rigging the ballot with biased language. Lawless violence continues in St. Louis without a peep from Mayor Tishaura Jones or high paid Police Chief, Robert Tracy, whom she appointed 10 months ago. Soccer fans staying at a hotel near downtown's new gem, CityPark soccer stadium, had a bullet go through their 9th floor hotel room window and wall, with bullet fragments landing in their bed, after they watched City SC's first ever home playoff match. The police response was extremely slow with dispatchers citing a shortage of available officers at a peak time for visitors to downtown St. Louis. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden traveled to Maine to mourn the victims of the recent massacre there by an Army reservist with a history of mental illness. He legally possessed rifles designed to inflict mass casualties even though the Army banned him from handling weapons on duty. House Republicans, led by the new Speaker of the House, play political games with aid to Israel. They pass a $14.5 billion package by tie to cut in IRS funding. Efforts to keep Former President Donald Trump's name off election ballots in Colorado and Minnesota under the 14th Amendment move forward.Our quote of the week: Former Democrat candidate for President, Robert Kennedy, Jr.'s, switch to an independent run may take more votes away from Donald Trump than Joe Biden.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As St. Louis marks one year since a high school mass shooting, a mass shooting in Maine rocks America yet again. When will elected leaders do something to stop massacres of the innocent? ... Also on the show this week: ...There's a new push in St. Louis to take in migrants—potentially thousands—who've recently crossed the southern U.S. border. ... After three weeks of flailing and failure, Republicans finally picked a new Speaker of the House. ... St. Louis spends big money to secure a beloved downtown building, but then must unsecure it the next day. ... The fight over ballot language has Missouri voters considering legalizing abortion. ... Our quote of the week sees a judge hit former President Donald Trump with fines. Does that actually work in Trump's favor?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this show this week, we're taking a deep dive into the Hamas-Israeli war.President Joe Biden addressed the nation this past week, saying America stands with Israel. He's calling for more than $100 billion in aid for Israel in its war with Hamas and Ukraine in its war with the invading Russia and Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush has accused Israel of war crimes for its response to terror attacks.Also on the show this week:Congress is still without a House Speaker and the GOP is a complete mess. Can they fix things”?We have two big surprises in Missouri's two big elections in 2024: the races for governor and the U.S. Senate.The U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on Missouri's controversial gun law, the so-called Second Amendment Preservation Act.Our quote of the week is a single word from Sidney Powell, a former attorney for Donald Trump now turned witness for the prosecution against the former president.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. ... Republican consultant John Hancock and Democrat consultant Michael Kelley took on the following topics: ... Vice President Kamala Harris stopped in St. Louis and revved up Democrat supporters at the Democratic National Committee's fall meeting. Why do so many, including Democrats, consider her to be such a weak potential presidential candidate? ... St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones boots a homeless camp for the City Hall lawn as Aldermanic President Megan Green pushes for a homeless bill of rights to ban actions like the mayor took and allow unhoused persons to urinate and defecate in public. ... Calls grow louder for the mayor to fire the head of the troubled city jail. ... The proposed $3 billion makeover of the outdated St. Louis Lambert Airport takes a huge $331 million step forward. ... Eight Republicans side with House Democrats to oust Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy less than 10 months after he took the gavel. ... Hamas attacks Israel. Israel responds with overwhelming force. What is and should be the role of the United States? ... Former President Donald Trump erupts outside a New York courtroom during his civil trial for alleged business fraud. ...Our quote of the week was from President Biden in 2020, when he pledged “not another foot” of wall would be built at the U.S.-Mexico border while he was in the White House. His administration has just waived 26 federal laws to allow about 20 miles of additional wall in Texas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ST. LOUIS – It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley on Sunday, Sept. 24.Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics:A viral video with tens of millions of views around the world shows two Republican State Senators from St. Charles County using flamethrowers to burn cardboard boxes at a GOP fundraiser. Democrats are peddling a false claim that the senators were burning books. Parents in St. Charles County are calling for the removal of two sexually explicit books, including one titled “Bang Like a Porn Star,” from the public library's collection. The mayor of St. Louis wants to bring back red light cameras, eight years after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled they were unconstitutional. Greater St. Louis Inc. has launched a new effort to reverse St. Louis' population decline. Progressive Democrats think rent control laws may help. John and Michael say it all starts with public safety and addressing rampant lawlessness in the city. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is in the political crosshairs—not from Democrats but from members of his own party—as he tries to forestall a government shutdown at the end of this week. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits President Biden and congressional leaders in Washington, seeking billions of dollars in additional aid to fend Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer relaxes the Senate dress code to allow Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman to wear a hoodie on the Senate floor. Our quote of the week was from a sportsbook in Canada with a few surprising trends in betting odds for President of the United States in 2024: Democrat Gavin Newsom is moving up, along with former President Trump, while President Biden and Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are sliding.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. John Hancock, Republican consultant, and Michael Kelley, Democrat consultant, discussed the following topics: St. Louis County is encouraging a return to masking in crowded areas with COVID cases on the rise, as a new medical study shows there's no evidence masking slowed the pandemic. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci is walking back his past stances on the benefits of masking. A new poll shows Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, Lucas Kunce, narrowly trailing Republican incumbent Josh Hawley, 44%-43%. The poll was commissioned by the Kunce campaign but provided only positive background information about the two candidates prior to asking voters which man they would support. The City of St. Louis bucks up to extend the much-hyped Cure Violence program, which has failed to deliver the promised results. The program will run for a fourth year, with total cost over those four years nearing $10 million. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona pays a visit to St. Louis and says Missouri school districts going to a four-day school week are not meeting the needs of students or the nation's future. He seemed to sidestep the issue of parental involvement in school curriculum after uproar over issues like critical race theory and gender identity being taught in schools. New polling shows an overwhelming majority (77%) of voters think President Joe Biden cannot handle a second term, and 69% of Democrats in the poll feel Mr. Biden is too old. Famed Democrat strategist James Carville says he cannot deny the poll is alarming. At age 83, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces she's running for another term in Congress, extending her 36-year run as the Congresswoman representing San Francisco, California. President Biden's son, Hunter, will likely be indicted on a weapons charge before the end of the month by the same prosecutor who engineered the so-called sweetheart plea deal that would have let Biden off with a misdemeanor. A federal judge rejected that plea deal. Our quote of the week was from Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who says she's very interested in being Donald Trump's running mate in 2024. She endorsed Trump on Friday night. Remember, if It's Sunday in St. Louis, it's Hancock and Kelley on Fox 2. We hope to see you next Sunday morning at 8:30! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From cracking down on temp tag abuse to solving the 911 crisis, is St. Charles the anti-St. Louis—actually coming up with solutions to problems?Also on the show this week:One of President Joe Biden's aliases on emails sent while he was vice president could spell trouble. Former President Donald Trump is on a major legal losing streak. In our quote of the week, a top St. Louis restaurant disses Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Missouri Democrats agree to lower the voting age to 17 for the 2024 Democratic primary for people who will turn 18 before the November general election. Can they do that?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.More dysfunction at the St. Louis City Jail as inmates beat a guard and held him hostage. The jail commissioner says things have actually been going pretty well at the jail, even though FOX 2 has learned the death of a 32-year-old inmate just days before the hostage situation, is now under investigation.The City of St. Louis is paying almost $10,000 to a foreign business to facilitate an online platform to take suggestions from the public on how to spend the city's share (more than $250,000,000) of the NFL settlement over the Rams' return to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016.St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones proposes a ban on “military grade” AR and AK-style rapid-fire rifles, even though it's clear such bans violate state law.A new SLU/YouGov poll shows heavy support for Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary. It also shows broad opposition to transgender medications and medical procedures for minors and to trans athletes in youth sports. New Missouri laws taking effect this week are in line with those poll results. However, the same poll shows a majority is against banning books about transgender youth.Former President Trump had his first mugshot taken when he answered criminal charges for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results in Georgia. Mugshot coffee mugs and t-shirts are on sale, and millions of dollars are pouring into the Trump campaign.The winners and losers from the first Republican presidential debate.President Joe Biden missing the mark in Hawaii by comparing a minor fire at his home years ago to the plight of victims of the tragic fires in Maui, which killed at least 115 people and wiped out scores of homes and businesses, with hundreds of people still missing.Our quote of the week was from Russian President Vladmir Putin on the death of the leader of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin this week's episode by “hamming it up.” Candidates in the Missouri gubernatorial race and the U.S. Senate seat visited the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia to participate in a ham breakfast. Among the top issues facing the candidates is whether voters should decide on legalizing abortion on the November 2024 ballot.Also on the agenda this week:St. Louis officials need your input on how to spend the NFL settlement money and on how to reuse the former Workhouse prison. Would they dare use one to pay for the other?After more than a decade, the city cannot figure out what to do about a man and woman living in squalor on sidewalks in front of people's homes.Former President Donald Trump is indicted for the fourth time; this time in Georgia. Trump promised to reveal proof of election fraud at a news conference this coming week, but then changed his mind.There's a lot of hoopla surrounding Mizzou football. It's coming more from the state legislature than the practice field. The coach praised a new state law that makes it easier to pay athletes to play for the Tigers.Our Quote of the Week is from the St. Charles County Council addressing drag and dress codes at the library.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, for Aug. 13, 2023.John Hancock, a Republican consultant, on the right, and Michael Kelley, a Democrat consultant, on the left, took on the following topics:Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm's visit to St. Louis to break ground on a new plant to make components for electric vehicle batteries. She touted President Joe Biden's push to transition to 100% clean energy in America by 2035 as a key driver of the economy of the future. The ongoing woes of AB InBev in the wake of the Bud Light transgender promotional campaign and a new quote from Busch heir Billy Busch, who said his ancestors would be rolling in their graves over the issue. Residents in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood voted to tax themselves to pay for private security and neighborhood upkeep as the City of St. Louis continues to fail to provide adequate services for its residents, from policing to 911 dispatching. Ohio voters defeated a measure to require a 60% majority on ballot issues to amend the state constitution. This paves the way for a simple majority to ease abortion restrictions in November and may be a sign of what's ahead for Missouri, which is grappling with the exact same issues. The ongoing legal woes for former President Donald Trump and President Biden's son, Hunter: are their different standards being applied to protect Hunter Biden? The FBI shot and killed a man in Utah who was threatening to kill President Biden. The man had posted repeated threats against Democrats and prosecutors working on cases against former President Trump. Freedom 13 families—the families of those killed during the bloody U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan—say the Biden Administration is lying to them about what happened. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is ramping up its investigation. Our quote of the week was from Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who is showing off his new tattoo – his first!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted for the third time on federal conspiracy charges.Also on the agenda this week:A famous Cardinals fan known as the Rally Runner is accused of running amok during the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the St. Louis area last week to announce more than $27 million in funding to help Metro recover from last summer's flash flooding. This comes in addition to the more than $190 million federal grant announced in May to replace nearly 50 MetroLink train cars that have reached the end of their lifespan. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones heads to Kansas City as problems keep piling up at home. In our Quote of the Week, "the roof is on fire": the Missouri Democratic Party accused of stoking potential violence by quoting a once-popular song from the 1980s.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin with new pain emerging from a notorious 21-year-old murder case in St. Louis County. A federal judge had stayed the execution of Johnny Johnson until at least next month. Johnson was convicted of beating 6-year-old Casey Williamson to death. But an appeals court lifted the stay and the execution is back on for Tuesday.Also on the show this week:Congresswoman Cori Bush also wants to end solitary confinement for those in prison, no matter their crimes. Is Missouri's Republican Secretary of State seeking to sabotage efforts that would allow voters to decide the issue of abortion rights? After nearly 80 years, the U.S. Senate approved expansion of relief dollars for people in St. Louis exposed to nuclear contamination since our nation's rush to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. Also, there are new federal charges against former President Donald Trump. How much is too much when it comes to his legal troubles? President Joe Biden and the Justice Department take aim at a new "floating border wall" in Texas. In our Quote of the Week, members of Congress are told about the recovery of "non-human biologics" during a hearing on UFOs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin this week with a Missouri Supreme Court decision dealing a blow to Republican state Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Bailey is trying to keep Missouri voters from deciding whether abortion should be legal in the state. And an Illinois Supreme Court decision will set thousands of dangerous suspects in the St. Louis area and across the state.Also on the agenda this week:Is the ghost of former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner haunting St. Louis? There's a new top prosecutor, but violent crime suspects are still going free.New revelations about President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, lead to new talk of impeachment.It appears former President Donald Trump is in even deeper trouble with more legal defeats and most likely another federal indictment.Missouri singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow weighs in on the sudden “Small Town” country music hysteria. It's our Quote of the Week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for July 16, 2023.John Hancock, Republican strategist (on the right), and Michael Kelley, Democrat strategist (on the left) took on the following topics:The new push for expanded rest areas for truckers after a Greyhound bus crashed into 3 semis parked along the shoulder at the entrance to an overcrowded rest area near St. Louis, killing 3 and injuring 14.The City of St. Louis is being sued for 911 system failures by the family of a man who says he bled to death because they couldn't get anyone to answer 911 calls from him, his family, and bystanders. The city has failed to address a shortage of 911 dispatchers and an outdated call system for years.Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined Democrats, environmental activists, and those who've become ill with cancer and other illnesses in demanding that the U.S. Government establish a fund to help victims of exposure to nuclear waste in St. Louis – dating back nearly 80 years to World War II-era work on atomic weapons.Illinois conservatives rallied against the YMCA's transgender locker room policy after Abbigail Wheeler, 16, objected to transwomen sharing the YMCA women's locker room. She posted a sign reading “biological women only.” YMCA staff said that could be considered hate speech.At a NATO conference, President Biden pledged unwavering support for Ukraine in its defense against invasion from Russia. The president received a rousing reception in Lithuania. He also pumped the brakes on Ukraine's quest to join NATO.Inflation plummeted to just 3% in June. How does that impact President Biden's reelection chances? Is “Bidenomics” working?How in the world can you sneak cocaine into the White House lobby, leave it behind, and not get caught by the U.S. Secret Service?Our Quote of the Week: is the parole of convicted Manson Family killer Leslie Van Houten an argument for the death penalty?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.