Snollygoster

Follow Snollygoster
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Snollygoster takes an in-depth look at politics in Ohio. Each week we dig into the top political stories in Columbus and Ohio and explore national stories that impact the state by talking with politicians, reporters and other news-makers. (In case you're wondering, a "snollygoster" is a shrewd and u…

WOSU Public Media


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 262 EPISODES

    4.4 from 93 ratings Listeners of Snollygoster that love the show mention: political, state, mike, clear, hosts, great job, interesting, love, listening, happening in ohio, ohio politics.


    Ivy Insights

    The Snollygoster podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in Ohio politics. Hosted by Steve and Mike, this podcast offers a refreshing blend of cynicism, humor, and informative discussions. With their finger on the pulse of Ohio politics, Steve and Mike provide valuable insights and updates on current political affairs in the state. What sets this podcast apart is its ability to present diverse perspectives through interviews with guests from various backgrounds. The hosts also inject some fun into each episode by giving out awards at the end.

    One of the best aspects of The Snollygoster podcast is its ability to discuss politics without raising blood pressure. Steve and Mike have a knack for delivering political news in a way that keeps listeners engaged and entertained. Their occasional jokes not only provide comic relief but also help lower the intensity often associated with political discussions. Additionally, they consistently strive to present fair and balanced coverage, challenging their own biases and ensuring that multiple viewpoints are represented.

    Perhaps one minor downside of this podcast is that it focuses primarily on Ohio politics. While this makes it an excellent resource for anyone living in or concerned about Ohio, those outside the state may find some episodes less relevant or interesting. However, even non-Ohioans can still appreciate the show's dedication to examining local politics seriously while infusing appropriate doses of humor.

    In conclusion, The Snollygoster podcast is a top-notch political podcast that deserves widespread recognition. With its commitment to providing accurate information, hosting diverse guests, and incorporating humor into discussions, it stands out as one of the best political podcasts available today. Whether you are an Ohioan wanting to stay informed or someone interested in gaining insight into state-level politics, The Snollygoster will keep you entertained and well-informed.



    More podcasts from WOSU Public Media

    Search for episodes from Snollygoster with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Snollygoster

    Ohio lawmakers explore income tax cuts as property taxes rise

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 18:20


    Taxes have come to dominate the political debate in Washington, and they loom as a growing concern at the Ohio Statehouse.

    A shakeup in the Republican race for Ohio governor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 12:18


    Attorney General Dave Yost has dropped out of the campaign for governor. Yost said his steep climb to the nomination had become a vertical cliff. For now, Vivek Ramaswamy's path to the Republican nomination for governor looks clear.

    Majority of Ohioans anticipate negative impact from tariffs, poll reveals

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 17:45


    A panel of experts breaks down President Trump's falling approval numbers in polls and the uncertainty over tariffs.

    New poll shows decline in Trump approval among Ohio voters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 19:58


    A new poll shows Trump has a 47% approval rating while 48% disapprove—a statistical tie—but that number is down 7 points from February. The poll's co-director, Bowling Green State University political science professor Robert Alexander, joins the show.

    Public financing for professional sports facilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 20:23


    The Browns are looking to move to a new domed stadium in suburban Cleveland. And state lawmakers seem eager to help. The governor wants to tax sports betting companies and use the money to help the Browns and other teams. The Ohio House wants the state to borrow $600 million to just help the Browns. Kennesaw State University economics professor J.C. Bradbury joins the show.

    What will Sherrod do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 17:43


    Last week, former Sen. Sherrod Brown announced the formation of the Dignity of Work Institute. The goal, he says, is to help Democrats and Republicans better understand the lives of American workers. It also keeps him in the spotlight as he considers whether to run for office again.

    Is eliminating Ohio's income tax feasible?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 17:41


    If you're a politician who wants to get elected, promising tax cuts is a popular strategy. Republican candidates for governor are doing just that, floating the idea to eliminate Ohio's income tax.

    DOGE Ohio

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 21:49


    The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, could be coming to Ohio. We discuss what that might look like with a panel of political observers.

    DeWine calls for mandatory life skills lessons, phone-free schools in State of the State

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 15:32


    Gov. DeWine gave his State of the State address this week and said things are going pretty well. He called for mandatory basic skills lessons in school—things like basic finance and first aid—and wants to make students leave their phones at home. Ohio Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joins the show.

    Ramaswamy kicks off his campaign with Trump's endorsement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 17:59


    Vivek Ramaswamy officially launched his run for governor this week with several rallies. The wealthy entrepreneur, who burst on the scene in 2023 with his run for president, now wants to succeed Mike DeWine. Political strategist Terry Casey joins the show.

    The 2026 race for Ohio governor takes shape

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 17:59


    It's week two of the Jim Tressel era at the Ohio Statehouse and he has not set up a campaign website... yet. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy has filed preliminary paperwork to run for governor. He'll face Attorney General Dave Yost, who announced his candidacy last month.

    DeWine's unexpected play: Ex-Buckeye Coach Tressel to serve as Lt. Governor

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 26:58


    Mike DeWine did keep his Lt. Governor pick a secret until he and Jim Tressel walked before cameras on Monday morning. To the surprise of everyone, he announced the former OSU football coach and former Youngstown State University president was his nominee to be his right-hand office holder. Reporter David Skolnick of the Youngstown Vindicator joins the show.

    Ohio's response to President Trump's immigration round up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 22:26


    Our roundtable discussion covers President Trump's immigration round-up, the move to end capital punishment in Ohio, and a proposal to change Ohio's fairly new voter-approved law legalizing recreational marijuana.

    Trump reverses federal funding freeze after icy reception

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 20:33


    Advocacy groups believe Trump's rescinded federal funding freeze would have disrupted the Ohio budget process and jeopardized critical programs. Hannah Halbert, director of Policy Matters Ohio, joins the show.

    Husted heads to the US Senate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 14:29


    After months of speculation, Gov Mike DeWine announced that Jon Husted was his pick to be the next U.S. Senator from Ohio. Of course, Husted is replacing short-timer J.D. Vance, who job-hopped into the Vice Presidency.

    Senate appointment turns into political drama

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 20:21


    This DeWine appointment to the U.S. Senate has become a bit of a soap opera. Joining us to try to help us understand this is long-time Republican strategist Terry Casey.

    DeWine's decision to fill Vance's vacancy looms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 20:07


    Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton ended speculation and announced this week that she will indeed run for governor next year as a Democrat. Meanwhile, Gov. DeWine still has a big decision to make on who will fill JD Vance's seat in the U.S. Senate.

    The political rollercoaster that was 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 28:35


    In the 248 years of America's existence, there have been tumultuous years and 2024 is going to be right up there. Joining the show to relive the memories is long-time Statehouse reporter Darrel Rowland.

    Lame duck legislators work overtime before the end of the year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 20:05


    The legislative session between Election Day and the end of the legislative term is always a busy one. Maybe lawmakers are just like the rest of us and they procrastinate. Former State Representative Gene Krebs joins the show.

    After redistricting reform defeat, state senator calls for enlarging Ohio Legislature

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 23:30


    Voters last month soundly rejected a measure that would have appointed an independent, non-political commission to draw legislative and congressional lines. An Ohio lawmaker says there is an alternate solution: expand the size of the legislature. Joining us to discuss this proposal is State Sen. Bill Blessing.

    Statehouse Shuffle: Ohio Senate leader Huffman poised to take House speakership

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 18:01


    The House Republican caucus voted unanimously to nominate current Senate President Matt Huffman to be the next House Speaker. Joining us to discuss this shrewd move is Sarah Donaldson, Statehouse reporter for Ohio Public Radio.

    Trump picking a cabinet and DeWine picking a senator

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 27:53


    President-elect Donald Trump continues to build his cabinet. Gov. Mike DeWine continues to take calls from almost every Republican officeholder in the state, saying he or she wants Vice President-elect JD Vance's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Republican Strategist Terry Casey, Democratic Strategist Dale Butland, WOSU's talk show and podcast host Anna Staver and USA Today Ohio Network Reporter Laura Bischoff break it down.

    GOP dominates Ohio elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 22:36


    Donald Trump rolled to a swing state sweep. Bernie Moreno rode President Trump's coattails to Washington. Republicans swept all three contested seats on the Ohio Supreme Court. How did Democrats get it so wrong? David Stebenne, professor of Political History at Ohio State University joins the show.

    Polls show an extremely tight race for President

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 24:39


    If the polls are to be believed, the candidates for President are tied nationally, and in the seven swing states. Joining the show this week is Anna Staver, host of WOSU's "All Sides with Anna Staver."

    Candidates make their final pitch to voters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 29:34


    Just a dozen days remain, and the candidates for president are done with microtargeting by trying to appeal to narrow groups of voters. They are making their final pitches. Retired Ohio State University political science professor Paul Beck joins the show.

    Obama's pitch for African American support of Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 21:03


    A New York Times/Siena College poll last week showed Harris's support among Black voters was less than Joe Biden received in 2020. Joining the show to discuss this and other issues is Sam Gresham, a long-time political observer and activist who works with Common Cause Ohio.

    Latest Ohio poll finds Trump and Brown ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 27:29


    National polling firms and out-of-state universities don't survey Ohio voters as much as they did in the first 15 years of this century. But there are polls out there.

    A very Midwestern debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 19:05


    There were some sharp critiques, but a whole lot of passive aggressiveness and a fair amount of substance. Overall, the vice-presidential candidates spent most of their time targeting their opponents' running mates. WOSU's Anna Staver, host of the talk show and podcast All Sides with Anna Staver, joins the show.

    More platforms, more ads: Ohio's $400 million campaign budget

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 23:40


    Experts predict ad spending in Ohio will top $400 million. Nearly a half billion dollars will be spent to get you to vote for a U.S. Senator, decide a constitutional amendment, a member of Congress or a rapid bus line tax. Longtime political strategist Bob Clegg joins the show.

    Baseless accusations fuel fear and division in Springfield

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 23:17


    Another week of bomb threats has disturbed Springfield, Ohio. This all follows Sen. JD Vance's and former President Donald Trump's lies that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were stealing residents' pets and eating them. Longtime political reporter Darrel Rowland joins the show.

    State of Religion: Changing religious landscape in Ohio

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 7:59


    Evangelical protestants are the fastest growing religious tradition in Ohio. In part 4 of WOSU's State of Religions series, we look at the demographic shifts in Ohio's religious communities.

    State of Religion: Ohio lawmakers on faith and policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 8:01


    It's hard to fault lawmakers for letting religious beliefs guide decisions, but where is the line between following morals and degrading the separation of church and state? In part 3 of WOSU's State of Religion series, we hear from lawmakers about how their faith affects their work.

    State of Religion: Christian conservatism and its influence on Ohio legislation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 8:04


    All this week, WOSU is examining the intersection of religion and politics in Ohio. In Part 2 of WOSU's State of Religion series, we're examining how faith-aimed lobbying efforts shape policy in Ohio.

    State of Religion: Ohio's religious tapestry - the historical roots and cultural evolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 7:38


    Ohio's diverse religious history from early settlers to the present day has shaped the state's cultural fabric. In this four-part series, the WOSU News team explores religion in Ohio with reports examining how faith influences politics and policy in the state.

    Post-debate reflections: Fact-checking, policy and political theatre

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 24:31


    Mentions of crowd sizes and eating pets were just two moments from what was an incredible piece of political theater during the first and possibly only debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. We discuss the debate with Nate French, associate teaching professor at Wake Forest University and an expert in political communication.

    Nine weeks until Election Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 28:40


    Usually, Labor Day marks the start of the home stretch of a presidential campaign, but this campaign only began six weeks ago. Ohio State political science professor Wendy Smooth joins the show to discuss the upcoming election.

    Politics and a pint

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 36:00


    This week, we're doing something a little different. We'll be listening to WOSU's most recent Politics and a Pint event where three political reporters and host Mike Thompson sat in front of a large crowd at a local brewpub and talked about this chaotic political season.

    DeWine looks to Iowa for a better redistricting process

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 17:21


    Ohioans will vote in November on a plan to change the way the state draws its legislative districts. Some don't like the plan and think Iowa has a system worth replicating. WOSU reporter George Shillcock joins the show to discuss the Iowa way.

    Midwest influence: VP picks and the 2024 election

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 23:34


    Midwesterners have cornered the market on vice presidential candidates for the 2024 election. This week Vice President Kamala Harris named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz's selection follows former President Donald Trump naming Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Joining us to discuss the issue is another proud midwesterner and political expert, Ohio State University political scientist Paul Beck.

    How the new presidential race is playing out in Ohio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 20:00


    To get a handle on how this is playing out in Ohio, we talked to four veteran political observers: progressive activist Morgan Harper, Republican strategist Terry Casey, Ohio Public Radio reporter Jo Ingles and Cleveland.com reporter Andrew Tobias.

    Passing the torch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 20:14


    There is a new likely Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Former Ohio Democratic Chair David Pepper—a man who has been through candidate nomination processes, recruiting candidates and guiding them to Election Day—joins the show to discuss this tumultuous pivot for Democrats.

    JD Vance joins the Trump ticket

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 20:14


    Former President Donald Trump ended all speculation and named Ohio's junior U.S. Senator, JD Vance, as his running mate this week at the Republican National Convention. To understand why Trump may have made this pick, longtime Vance adviser Jai Chabria joins the show.

    Ohio minimum wage increase not on 2024 ballot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 18:16


    Voters will not get the chance to increase Ohio's minimum wage in this year's election. Supporters of an effort to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour have come up short in their attempt to get the proposed amendment on the ballot. Joining us to discuss the campaign is the president of One Fair Wage, Saru Jayaraman.

    Protecting the integrity of elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 22:02


    With the 2024 election just around the corner, the former president continues to warn of a rigged election months before ballots are cast. Fair election advocates are mobilizing to counter the false narrative. Democratic former Congressman Zack Space of the bi-partisan Democracy Defense Project joins the show.

    Debate prep

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 28:37


    Next week, Biden and Trump will meet again on the debate stage. CNN will host the first of two scheduled debates at its studios in Atlanta. Republican Strategist Terry Casey joins the show.

    New Ohio law tightens rules on issues, campaigns and foreign contributions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 22:07


    In order to extend the campaign filing deadline so President Biden's name would appear on the Ohio ballot, lawmakers insisted on another law banning foreign campaign contributions. Joining us now to discuss this law, its constitutionality, and possibly unintended—or maybe intended—consequences is Case Western Reserve University Law Professor Atiba Ellis.

    Claim Snollygoster

    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