Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Paul Hardest, WV BOE President, details the takeover of Hancock County Schools. He also discusses what aspects of the school aid formula he wants lawmakers to examine. Howard Monroe stops by. Chris Stirewalt weighs in on the news of the day. Brad McElhinny has an update from the Capitol. 

Del. Mike Pushkin outlines the Democrats' legislative agenda. Amelia Courts, from the Education Alliance, discusses school-business partnerships. Brad McElhinny and Hoppy Kercheval have an update from the Capitol and Del. JB Akers talks about data centers. 

WV Attorney General JB McCuskey discusses the Save Women's Sports Act and the case his office will make defending it at the US Supreme Court. Senator Eric Tarr discusses the lack of direction in the state senate. WV GOP Chair Josh Holestein talks about the decision to close the party's primary elections. Plus, Brad McElhinny stops by with an update at the Capitol ahead of the legislative session. 

Rob Cornelius, Republican Strategist, argues that the party should keep its primary election closed. Ryan Schmelz has an update from Capitol Hill. Chris Stirewalt stops by. Plus, STEAM RELEASE! 

WVU President Dr. Michael Benson introduces new provost Beverly Wendland. GOP Strategist Greg Thomas has polling data on closed primaries. Hoppy stops by. Joe Manchin weighs in on excluding independents from party primary elections. 

US Senator Shelley Moore Capito joins the show following a briefing on the operation in Venezuela. Amelia Knisely discusses the governor's plans to address the child welfare system. The dim financial picture for school systems across the state. P

Talking taxes... the governor is proposing further reductions to the personal income tax. Steven Allen Adams with Ogden Newspapers stops by to discuss. Later, Senator Eric Tarr weighs in. Oil man Jim Crews talks about petroleum in Venezuela. Dave Allen on the future of the Charleston Town Centre Mall. Del. Pat McGeehan untangles the mess that is Hancock County Schools' finances. 

Dave & TJ discuss the op to arrest Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro. Fairmont State's Robert Bolton talks about the legal questions. WV Senator Patricia Rucker, who was born in Venezuela, shares her reactions to the news. Also, WVU is competing for a major grant from the National Science Foundation and WV Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson has December numbers. 

Chris Lawrence remembers the 20th anniversary of the Sago Mine disaster. Hoppy Kercheval stops by. Ryan Schmelz gloats about his Ole Miss Rebels. Chris Stirewalt weighs in on a number of subjects. 

Recapping the top moments from 2025 with Brad McElhinny, Jared Halpern, Brad Howe and Jack Logar. Plus, what's going on with the squirrels at the state capitol? 

Jim Kaufman, WV Hospitals Association President, discusses the impact of the $199 million Rural Healthcare Transformation Fund award. Amelia Knisely, on loan of WV Watch talks about the top stories of 2025. US Senate Candidate Alex Gaaserud outlines his platform. Phil Cunningham, former track coach at Liberty High and a double amputee, talks about his career as an elite athlete and perseverance. 

Del. Evan Worrell discusses food dyes and a US District Judge's ruling regarding a bill approved last year. Radio veteran David Hoyt recounts how he became the first in the US to play "Country Roads" on the radio. Columnist Matt Lewis stops by to look back on 2025. Plus, your calls and texts. 

Brad McElhinny describes a makeshift tribute to WV National Guard soldiers who were shot in an attack in DC before Thanksgiving. Former Senate President Jeff Kessler remembers late Senator Larry Edgell. Metronews Sports' Daniel Woods recaps the top sports stories in 2025. Plus... the final STEAM RELEASE of 2025. 

Dave & TJ discuss their favorite Christmas movies, break down "Christmas Vacation," and get your input on best Christmas movies. Hollywood Reporter Kristyn Burt weighs in. Bridge Lambert, President of the WV Retailers Association, talks about the holiday shopping season. Steven Allen Adams, of Ogden Newspapers, and Brad McElhinny drop by to talk news and politics.

The guys talk about the president's executive order for expediting the reclassification of marijuana. Erin DuLullo of The Poisoning podcast and Taylor Richmond, WV Chair of the Libertarian Party, weigh in. 

Jeff Jenkins has an update on power outage numbers. Brad McElhinny discusses Senator Capito's thoughts on Venezuela military strikes. Mon County Republicans want the state party to reopen the primary election to independent voters. Chris Stirewalt stops by. And STEAM RELEASE!!!

Gov. Morrisey joins the show in the second hour. Reactions to President Trump's primetime address. State Senator Mike Oliverio stops by the studio. Hoppy provides commentary. 

Amelia Knisley, from WV Watch, breaks down the governor's proposal to bring foster kids placed outside the state back to WV. Fairmont State Political Science Professor Greg Noone discusses military operations in the Caribbean. State Senate Candidate John Williams joins the show. Plus, Chris Lawrence stops by to detail the low buck harvest. 

Brad McElhinny discusses Monday's interview with Shelley Moore Capito. Fox News' Tonya Powers has the latest on the Rob Reiner murder investigation. Erica Peterson, from Mountain State Spotlight, talks about her in-depth piece focused on the foster care system. Plus, Marshall VP Toney Stroud explains the IDEA District. Dave Allen stops by and is pessimistic about the future of media. 

Senator Shelley Moore Capito announces her re-election bid and discusses a number of topics. It's Bill of Rights Day and Beth White explains why the 7th Amendment is so consequentional. Tamaya Browder, with WV Center on Budget and Policy, offers her persepctive on Hope Scholarship funding. Plus, your calls and texgts. 

Dave & TJ discuss the Senate votes on ObamaCare subsidies with Fox News' Ryan Schmelz. Brad McElhinny offers the perspective of Senators Capito and Justice. Chris Stirewalt stops by. And STEAM RELEASE!!!

Former Senator & Governor Joe Manchin discusses how he would handle the deployment of National Guard troops in DC. Brad McElhinny stops by. Hoppy is worried about social media's influence on how news is consumed. Why did WV get mentioned in the 2025 Judicial Hellhole Report. 

Roger Hanshaw, House Speaker, discusses the GOP House Priorities for 2026. Jim Kauffman, President of the WV Hospital Association, discusses the challenges hospitals face in the coming year. PSC Chair Charlotte Lane on keeping coal-fired power plants open. Metronews Sports' Joe Brocato announces the 2025 Metronews Football Player of the Year. 

Larry Pack, WV Treasurer, runs down a comprehensive report on the Hope Scholarship. Dave Allen, co-host of Metronews Midday, talks about Monday's snow and rants about new, trendy names. Berkeley County Commissioner John Hardy explains the challenges of growth. Senate Finance Committee Chair Jason Barrett shares his thoughts on PEIA and the spousal surcharge. Plus, listener calls and texts. 

Dr. Matthew Christiansen talks about Hep B vaccines. Chris Miller discusses the impact of rolling back CAFE standards. More on the judge's ruling on the charter school system. Plus, Kyle Wiggs stops by to recap the HS Football Championships. 

Dave & TJ have more questions about asking questions. Ashley Horst with the Stubblefield Institute weighs in. WV AG JB McCuskey discusses the National Guard deployment to DC. Kanawha County Delegate JB Akers thinks changes are needed for the high school athlete transfer rule. Plus, a preview of the High School Football Championships. 

Dave & TJ discuss the art of asking the question and why asking questions is considered to be criticism. Leann Ray, of WV Watch, says the governor has fumbled the response to the DC shooting. New Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Tom Willis joins the show and Howard Monroe stops by. 

Gabriel Markle, Webster County High School Principal, shares his thoughts on the life of Sarah Beckstrom. Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson rolls out November numbers. Hoppy weighs in on the tragic shooting last week involving WV National Guard members. Plus, your texts. 

Steven Allen Adams, with Ogden Newspapers, reports on a possible Morrisey Tax Reform plan. Gov. Morrisey talks about the approval of the state's BEAD application and the possible tax plan. Chris Stirewalt stops by to talk politics. Chris Lawrence talks the start of deer season. Joe Brocato sets up the quarterfinal round of the HS Football Playoffs. 

Albert Wright, President & CEO of WVU Medicine, talks about expanding into southwestern PA. Amelia Knisley, from WV Watch, discusses her story about the 13,000 students who are homeless. Later, Cabell County Senator Mike Woelfel talks about how to address the students' needs. Plus, Hoppy stops by the studios. 

Dave & TJ discuss the vote in the House to release the Epstein files. Brad McElhinny explains how the WV delegation voted. Fox News' Jared Halpern has more reactions from DC. Also... more discuss on the state school aid formula. Roane County Superintendent Michelle Stellato discusses ways to tweak the formula. Also, Tamaya Browder, with the WV Center on Budget and Policy, offers insights on the formula. Additionally, AAA's Jim Garrity discusses holiday travel. 

Larry Pack, WV Treasurer, lays out his legislative priorities for 2026. Dave & TJ talk education, Hope Scholarship and visit with Milken Award Winning Teacher Brooke Bailey. The Mullens Elementary Teacher was surprised with the award during an assembly this morning. Mon County Del Geno Chiarelli shares his thoughts on the audit report into CPS. And Toyota WV President David Rosier details a new investment in the Buffalo plant. 

Jared Halpern, Fox News, talks about the president's reversal on the Epstein Files. New US Attorney for the Southern District Moore Capito joins the show. Tiffany Hoben with Cardinal Institute discusses the school aid formula and Joe Brocato recaps a busy weekend in sports.