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October 22nd, 2025
Rep. Robert Johnson III of Natchez, leader of Mississippi House Democrats, says the GOP leadership's push for "school choice" is out of touch with rank-and-file Mississippians, many Republican lawmakers and educators. He also makes an announcement about his plans for his own political future, often the subject of much speculation.
Legislators in Tallahassee are working to set up the agenda for the 2026 Legislative Session. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has been touring the state in his law enforcement roundtable meetings with local and state officers, supporting their work in the legislature and promote Gov. DeSantis' pro-law enforcement agenda. Plus building economic opportunities between Florida and Israel, ending the federal government's continuing resolution merry-go-round, and the state's role in disaster recovery.
Utah lawmakers are racing to redraw district maps after a judge tossed the current one; meanwhile, the Interim session has been underway. We get the latest from Speaker Mike Shultz and explore the broader fight over ballot initiatives and voter representation, and what's top of mind for the 2026 Legislative Session.
Mike Tagliavia Vermont State Rep- Orange-1, joins Anthony & Dan to talk about the up coming Legislative Session.
Assemblymember Damon Connolly joins the program to break down what was a historic legislative session. The legislature made major revisions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) with the stated purpose of helping to build more housing but some folks—like Assemblymember Damon Connolly—are concerned that the legislature may have gone too far and a "clean-up bill" is needed. Asm. Connolly shares his thoughts on how we balance environmental protection with the "Abundance agenda" sweeping Sacramento. The legislature is set to distribute billions of dollars from the state climate bond. What is coming for the North State that excites the Assemblymember? And we celebrate a win. Governor Newsom recently signed AB 263, legislation sought by the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and sponsored by Asm. Rogers, Connolly and Ramos. What responsibilities does a legislator have when representing sovereign tribal nations? Support the show
The fall sitting for the B.C. Legislature has begun, this time returning with four parties and two Independents. From the U.S. trade war to the proposed pipeline from Alberta, the B.C. government faces a multitude of issues on the agenda, while each of the parties face their own challenges, including caucus ejections and new leadership. Three former MLAs and a B.C. Conservative strategist will make up a panel discussing the provincial government's agenda. They are: former leader of the B.C. Green Party Sonia Furstenau, former B.C. United Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier, former B.C. NDP Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Katrina Chen, and B.C. Conservative strategist Allie Blades. Members of the BCGEU are rallying at the legislature as the labour dispute continues. CBC's Kathryn Marlow goes live in Victoria to break down the state of negotiations. And, Research Co. president Mario Canseco joins our second half of the show to discuss the fall session. He released a new poll detailing approval ratings for each of the B.C. parties. We ask viewers about how they think the parties should navigate the upcoming sitting and what the government needs to prioritize.
This week's SGV Connect features a pair of interviews by Damien Newton. Don't worry Chris fans, the next podcast has already been recorded and it has a pair conducted by Chris Greenspon. The first interview this week is with Felicial Friesema about the big changes that have occurred in September with Foothill Transit Coverage. Of course, the SGV's bus agency had to create new routes for the A-Line stations that opened in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona; but the transit agency also opened a new bus line, Line 295, to serve Cal Poly Pomona and Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. Sac). A transcript of that interview can be found below the podcast embed. Our second interview is a rebroadcast of last week's StreetSmart podcast from Streetsblog California. The episode features Transform CA's Zack Deutsch-Gross and we break down the recently concluded legislative session. To listen to that episode by itself, or for a transcript of the interview, click here. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays! Damien We're here with Felicia Friesema from Foothill Transit. There have been a few big changes since the last time we talked—outside of the regular route adjustments—especially with the… I was going to say Gold Line. Am I allowed to say “Gold Line” here? Felicia Friesema Not anymore, dude. It's the A Line. Damien When I'm with the Construction Authority, they still let me call it the Gold Line. Felicia Well, because “Gold Line” is still in their name. But yeah, it's the A Line now. Damien Fine. The new “A Line” stations opened, and you also launched a new bus route. Let's start there. What can you tell us about the 295? It opened last week. And while it serves a Gold Line—uh, A Line—station… I'm going to let people in on something Chris Greenspawn knows well: I mess this up in our ad copy at least once a month and we have to re-shoot it. Felicia (laughs) Damien So if you ever hear Chris say, “Why don't you read that ad copy, Damien?” It's usually because I've already messed it up. Anyway, you launched a new bus line serving an A Line station, but you opened it before the A Line station opened. Tell us about Route 295. Felicia Yes! Congratulations to us. I'm really happy about it. Line 295 is one of our shorter lines—it only serves three stops. It runs between San Dimas Station, Cal Poly Pomona at Temple, and the Mt. SAC Transit Center. Service is Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 20-minute intervals. We opened on the 15th to introduce people to the new line. We honestly didn't expect much ridership at first—and we were proved wrong very quickly. On the first day alone, we had over 200 rides. We weren't expecting that at all, which means we've got a lot of non–light rail-oriented riders on that line. Damien Just to be clear: you weren't expecting ridership on day one until the rail station opened, right? Felicia Correct—thank you for clarifying that, Damien. We weren't expecting ridership to really kick in until the A Line opened on the 19th. We started the service early to get a sense of traffic patterns, especially on Temple between Cal Poly and Mt. SAC. That area can get pretty hairy at certain times of day when school's in session. We wanted to see how the schedule would run. Little did we know it would become really useful to a lot of people right away. And then, of course, ridership picked up again when the Gold Line—see, I just did it— Damien (laughs) Felicia —when the A Line opened on Friday. Damien This line mostly serves the college campuses. You're expecting students, professors, and people accessing the campus from farther away. It's not quite a first-mile/last-mile connection—it's a bit longer than that—but it's both a rail connector and a local route now. Felicia Exactly. Cal Poly Pomona and Mt. SAC have long been commuter campuses. Cal Poly does have dorms, but a significant number of students drive or take transit from far away—some from downtown L.A., some from Fontana. Having a smooth, easy transit option is definitely a plus for them. Damien As my kids get older, we're starting to look at colleges for my son, who's a sophomore. We've heard: don't sleep on local schools. People undervalue them—especially if they're used to traveling for college. I live in West L.A. and have heard plenty about people commuting to Cal Poly Pomona. I'm not as familiar with Mt. SAC—my kids' interests don't line up with their specialties—but I've already noticed the rail connection. My kid (or I) would only have to transfer twice to get there by train instead of driving. Felicia Exactly. Damien The big transportation story in the San Gabriel Valley right now is the four new A Line stations that opened on Friday. Joe did a Streetsblog story about it. We're going to go out and ride it together soon. How does this impact what you do? It's not just providing connections to stations—you've probably got some bus lines that can be almost replaced by rail. I imagine it's a lot of work every time a new station opens. Felicia It is, but it's good work. When the A Line—then the Gold Line—first started opening in the San Gabriel Valley, we had one line across the Foothill corridor called the 187. We've since split that into the 187 and 188, with Azusa as the midpoint. We thought we'd lose significant ridership along that corridor when the A Line opened… And—see, I'm going back and forth, too. Damien Yeah, it's not easy. Felicia Gold Line for history's sake; A Line for now. Anyway, we found that while travel patterns changed, our ridership wasn't heavily impacted by the opening of the Gold/A Line. Splitting the 187 into two lines also improved schedule adherence. We learned some people needed to get into Pasadena and others into Claremont, so having a transfer in the middle made the line more efficient. We still watch the area very closely. That earlier experience became our blueprint for how service might be affected by these new stations. We're not anticipating major shifts, but we're keeping a close eye on it. We've also worked to get our service closer to the stations for first-mile/last-mile connectivity. For the most part, it's just another great way to make sure people are getting on transit. Damien There's a post on your website—we've been linking to it in the SGV Connect newsletter. It's literally foothilltransit.org/article/foothilltransit-and-metrorail. It shows all the connections to the various stations for people who want to access them. And your website always does a little extra—like highlighting local businesses around the stations. I always appreciate that. Felicia Yes. Damien So it's probably too early to see how 295 has been impacted by the station opening. Friday was a special day, then you had a weekend. We're recording this Monday the 22nd—the second weekday the line and station are both open. Any interesting early observations from the A Line stations and your transit service? Felicia Yes, actually. We're very excited about this and keeping track of where ridership is growing. Fridays are usually low ridership days—people take off early or make it a three-day weekend. But we had really solid ridership on the 295 out of San Dimas Station the first day the A Line was open. We expect that number to grow. We're partnering heavily with the schools and relying on a lot of word of mouth. We're also looking at how other lines are impacted. It's hard to tell exactly how much ridership is shifting because you can't always tell if a boarding is from the street or a transfer from the A Line. We're sending people out to make sure connections are smooth and to help riders with questions. These are still early days, but we're keeping close tabs. Damien I was talking to a friend over the weekend—he's in the industry—and he suggested I ask: Do you think these new stations will mean more overall ridership, or less on the bus lines? I always assumed people would ride the train instead of the bus. His hypothesis is that you'll more than make up for that with people who weren't riding transit at all but will now ride the train and need the bus for the last leg. Felicia I think in the short term, yes. With something like this, you have to take a long view. Our surveys consistently show: the more transit service is available and frequent, the more people ride—period. Any new transit service—more connectivity, more frequency, more access—is good for all transit. In the short term, there may be some shifts as travel patterns change. But long term, anything that makes transit more familiar, accessible, and easy to use is good across the board. Damien All right. Any closing thoughts, or anything I didn't ask that you think listeners should know? Felicia Just one thing about the La Verne Station. We've seen a lot of chatter about accessibility—specifically about having a stop closer to the station or buses going directly into the station. Unfortunately, they weren't able to make the adjustments needed for a proper bus turnaround. We were hoping they could. The Construction Authority is turning the project over to Metro, so it'll be in Metro's hands going forward. We'll partner with them to make it more accessible. For now, bus service will be across the street rather than directly in the station. Damien I did notice on the map that there's a new stop on the 197 significantly closer than the previous ones. Felicia Correct. Damien But the hope is you'll be able to go directly into the station in the medium-term future? Felicia Correct. We'll say the “hopeful” future. Damien Obviously it's not happening next month, but hopefully Metro can make that fix reasonably soon. Felicia We hope. We hope, we hope. But yes, we've adjusted the line as much as possible to make it more accessible. Damien All right. Thank you so much for your time. We usually do an end-of-year check-in around November or December—let's plan on that. Felicia Those are fun. Let's make it an AMA. Damien Oh, we could do that. That'd be fun. Felicia Yeah, let's do an AMA. I loved the last one we did. Damien I always like when people send me questions anonymously, even though you and I can almost immediately guess who sent them. Felicia For sure. We know you guys. We do. Damien Anyway, thank you so much for this. We'll check in again. I've gotten more interested in how bus and rail work together—after watching the last Gold Line extensions and even locally with the Expo (excuse me, E Line) here—how that impacted Big Blue Bus and Metro Bus service. I started as a bike guy, but this has become fascinating to me. Felicia Yes, come to the dark side, Damien.
California lawmakers wrap up the 2025 legislative session, sending hundreds of bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk. Also, the monthly storytelling showcase "In a Nutshell" returns to the Sofia with this month's theme, "Unreal Reality."
The special session that was supposed to funnel billions of dollars into the state’s roads and prevent hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation…well similar to a crumbling bridge, it fell apart. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the last week of politics in Salem. Democratic state lawmakers said they will be back later this month to pass a transportation package, because despite holding supermajorities in both chambers, the full package has not crossed the finish line.
TXOGA Talks is back for Part 2 of our Legislative Session recap! TXOGA President Todd Staples is joined by TXOGA Vice President & General Counsel Cory Pomeroy and TXOGA Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Tulsi Oberbeck for a discussion on oilfield theft, Texas business courts, and the booming liquefied natural gas industry.Tune in for a breakdown of key bills passed to address oilfield theft, including a DPS crime prevention unit and increased penalties, legislation supporting Texas's global leadership in LNG, refinements to Texas's business courts for quicker, more specialized resolution of commercial disputes, and incentives for research and development across Texas industries, including energy.There's so much to unpack, we couldn't fit everything into one episode! Be sure to listen to Part 1 released last month to learn more about produced water and well plugging efforts.
Last Friday, Oregon lawmakers convened in Salem for a special legislative session called by Gov. Tina Kotek to pass a transportation funding bill. The special session will now likely not end until later this month to allow Democrats to muster the necessary votes to pass the bill in the Oregon Senate. On Monday, the House passed a bill that would raise gas taxes by 6 cents per gallon, hike vehicle registration and titling fees, raise costs for drivers of EVs, and temporarily double a payroll tax that funds public transit. The bill contains many elements of one introduced earlier this year by Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, who is currently recovering from surgery and is seen as a critical vote for the passage of the new transportation funding bill to avert mass layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation and cuts in the agency’s services. That earlier bill failed during the regularly scheduled legislative session which ended in June. OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart joins us for the latest developments about the special legislative session and the political rifts that have emerged as it nears conclusion.
Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/08/27/colorado-special-session-what-happened/ A lot happened during the very tense, six-day special legislative session in Colorado that wrapped up last week. The Colorado Sun's Jesse Paul was on Purplish with Bente Birkeland of CPR News and Lucas Brady Woods of KUNC to break it all down. Purplish is a production of CPR News and the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. The Sun is a member of the alliance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
House Education Chairman Rob Roberson, on the heels of a first select committee hearing on school choice and other education policy, tells Mississippi Today that lawmakers should be open to discussions on school choice, consolidation or any other measures that might move the state's education system forward. "The only people who don't have school choice now are poor kids," Roberson said. He said such issues need to be detached from partisan politics and viewed with open minds.
TPPF's Derek Cohen and Jose Melendez catch up on the latest from the 89th Legislative Session and subsequent special sessions with Rep. Cole Hefner. They dive into the quorum break that put Texas in the national political spotlight before discussing policy issues like property tax reform, taxpayer-funded lobbying, housing affordability, and safeguarding Texas from foreign adversaries.00:53 – Hot Take: Jose Melendez on the Last Man Standing Ultramarathon04:12 – Rep. Cole Hefner: From Citizen to Chairman – His Journey to Public Service06:19 – Addressing Quorum Breaks: Stiffer Penalties and Legislative Challenges07:10 – Priorities for the Current Special Session08:59 – Property Taxes: Balancing State Relief and Local Government Accountability11:09 – Appraisal Reform: Ensuring Fairness and Predictability12:40 – Banning Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying15:04 – Housing Affordability: HB 840 and Revitalizing Downtown Texas17:56 – SB 17: Protecting Texas Land from Hostile Foreign Adversaries22:50 – TRACE Act and Protecting Texas Schools from Foreign Influence25:42 – Senate Bill 1362: Banning Red Flag Laws and Upholding Due Process30:16 – Transportation: Addressing CDL Standards and Interstate Challenges33:17 – Water Issues in Texas: Balancing Growth and Private Property Rights36:15 – Looking Ahead: Key Issues for the 90th Legislative Session41:14 – Survey Says: Addressing Voter Discontent with Government Responsiveness
Anthony "Tony" Micklus Vermont State Representative - Chittenden -Franklin 19, joins Anthony & Dan to talk about the up- coming Legislative Session.
As schools across the state are starting classes, students and parents may notice some changes this year, thanks to the legislature. StateImpact's Logan Layden and Beth Wallis discuss what's new for Oklahoma students this school year.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: First called special session of the 89th Texas Legislature ended this morning and the second called session began at Noon – still short of a quorum. Dems are expected to be in their chairs Monday but this morning these morons with no cards to play issued their demands: Gov. Abbott doesn't put redistricting on the call and the State of California must move forward on redistricting! What unearned hubris from this flailing bunch of people.Speaker Burrows, founder of the Burrowcrat Coalition, vows runaway Dems will be arrested if they try to sneak home over weekend.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.TEA release school ratings. Look up the score of your campus or district here. Abilene ISD school board asking for big tax increase to correct their bad spending and to make taxpayers pay for the district's failure.Oil and gas rig countfalls, again.Texas' labor market added 8,700 jobs in July says the Texas Workforce Commission; unemployment rate remains at 4%.Campaign related news: Emerson poll: Cornyn, Paxton in dead heat in Senate primary Incumbent GOP Senator [Cornyn] In Brutal Primary Battle In Hot Water Over Gun Control Stance Judge Dismisses 2 Counts Against US Rep. Cuellar of Texas, Moves Bribery Trial to Next Year National Border Patrol Council Endorses Aaron Reitz for Texas Attorney General Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
On this episode of IPA's What, Why & How podcast, Kate Gainer welcomes IPA lobbyist Kate Walton to recap the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session and the steps that led to the passage of IPA's PBM reform bill, SF 383, which was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds on June 11, 2025. **A lawsuit was filed in federal court against SF 383 on June 23, 2025. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking most of SF 383 from being enforced against the named plaintiffs. SF 383 remains enforceable for all fully insured health plans regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division, as well as any self-funded plans not named in the lawsuit. Stay tuned to IPA communications for legal updates regarding SF 383. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Kate Walton Iowa Pharmacy Association
This hour Greg reviews his day with Choose Life Alabama leaders before talking through a list of current events. This list begins with which ten of the most powerful and most protected figures in the federal government are being subpoenaed by The Federal House Oversight Committee. We are thinking that America is going to get a lesson in the 5th Amendment. We also highlight several laws that were passed in Alabama's 2025 Legislative Session that are now going into effect including a cell phone ban in public school classrooms.
Our weekly gathering happens while the final hearing on the Donald Trump-ordered redistricting of Texas for the sole purpose of protecting him from losing the GOP majority in the U.S. House next year - widely expected to happen without this kind of drastic measure - is even now ongoing at the Capitol. We sent Digital Associate Haley Smith into the fray to see what's what - she reports live from the scene, complete with interviews including Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder, whose hat choices in headwear lately are damn straight on point.As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act passed under President and Texas Democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson, Progress Texas invites YOU to help us shine a spotlight on the truth—from our coalition work introducing the Barbara Jordan Texas Voting Rights Act in the 89th Legislative Session, to a live podcast taping with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in Dallas on where voting rights stand today, to rapid response coverage of stop the steal rallies (attended by thousands and digitally brought to hundreds of thousands), to shaping the narrative in legacy media. Your donation is key to keeping us in this fight, and every penny helps - thank you. Join us here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/60th_vraThanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
(The Center Square) – Washington state is currently forecast to run out of money by 2027 and experience a fiscal deficit by 2028 despite the largest tax increase in state history this session, in addition to record revenue levels. While some elected and appointed state officials have highlighted the impacts of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Medicaid funding for the combined operating budget, one lawmaker says it's a distraction from how the state actually got to this point. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d42c06e9-639a-4690-902a-9c9470cd86c2.html
Washington could run out of money by 2027. While officials cite federal Medicaid cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Sen. Ron Muzzall argues unchecked state spending is the real culprit and warns the 2026 session “could be worse yet.” https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/fiscal-fallout-2026-legislative-session-could-be-worse-yet/ #WashingtonBudget #FiscalCrisis #Medicaid #OneBigBeautifulBill #StateSpending #TaxIncrease #LegislativeSession
The North Carolina General Assembly has gone home for the month of July, and perhaps – depending on some of the political machinations between House and Senate Republican leaders – the rest of the summer. But that doesn't mean there's a lot to point to in the way of major accomplishments. Not only have […]
07/11/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by State Senator from District 11 in Fargo, Tim Mathern. Joel and Senator Mathern talk about how the "big, beautiful bill" will impact North Dakota, and why we should have a special legislative session. They also take a call from a listener who shares his thoughts on medicare for all. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 9, 2025 - Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy breaks down a recent survey of New Yorkers, who weighed in on the end of the legislative session and their potential gubernatorial choices for 2026.
Join us on this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast as we host Texas State Representative Paul Dyson. From the Reese Avonley Homes Studio in Bryan, Texas. Dyson shares insights on legislative challenges, affordable housing issues across the state, the impact of unfunded mandates, and his firsthand experiences during his first legislative session. He also discusses plans for the future, including property tax relief and the impact fees bill. Don't miss this in-depth conversation packed with real talk about local policy and housing in Texas. The Think Brazos Podcast is a policy conversation platform produced by staff at Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity. As a 501c3, we do not make endorsements of any candidate or political party. Full disclaimer: https://thinkbrazos.org/about/#disclaimer You can support Think Brazos and B/CS Habitat for Humanity through their upcoming golf tournament. https://habitatbcs.org/tees-for-keys/ Love what we're doing? You can make a donation here. Follow Think Brazos https://facebook.com/thinkbrazos https://instagram.com/thinkbrazos https://x.com/thinkbrazos Learn more at https://thinkbrazos.org
This week on the podcast, Andy O’Brien from the Maine AFL-CIO provides an overview of the wins and losses for labor from the 2025 legislative session. Key wins included the rejection of $40 million in childcare cuts, continued funding for free school meals, improved retirement security for mental health workers, and expanding minimum wage to… The post Podcast: Breaking down Maine labor wins and losses in 2025 legislative session first appeared on Maine Beacon.
Join us for a comprehensive debrief of the 89th Texas Legislative Session with TXOGA President Todd Staples and former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dennis Bonnen. Staples and Bonnen discuss leadership priorities, the contested Speaker election, and go in-depth on major issues like education, fiscal and economic policy, electricity, water, wildfires, and bail reform, exploring their impact on Texans and the state's future.
July 2, 2025 - NEW Pride Agenda Executive Director Kei Williams reflects on what was included in the state budget and during the legislative session to support LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. We also talk about unfinished business for 2026.
In this episode of the State of Choice podcast, host Ed Tarnowski talks with Katherine Schulze, Nathan Sanders, and Aaron Gillham about all the exciting momentum across the states this legislative session. Of the eight states–Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming–that created or expanded choice programs in 2025, six now offer programs with universal eligibility, meaning any student may apply to participate. New Hampshire took it a step further by securing true universal education choice.
From the Williams Broadcasting Studio join John Williams and Patrick Woodcock for this weeks "Bottom Line"
The General Assembly wrapped up the 2025 legislative session Friday, June 20, at 1 in the morning. So, what happened? Host Edward Fitzpatrick talks with Globe Rhode Island's Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS, to break down the final decisions. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
(Jun 24, 2025) New York primaries are today; our Albany reporters break down this year's legislative session now that state lawmakers are on summer break; an event in Canton wants to show people how to fix their broken belongings; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue is in the studio to guide us through this month's night sky.
This week, we run an emergency episode to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott vetoing Texas THC ban and calling a special session. Will redistricting end up on the agenda?
The Maine Legislature wrapped up this year's session on Wednesday night. Here's what they got done and still have left to do.
How do Texas teachers grade the Texas Legislature's big education session? Listen to TribCast live from the Austin Central Library.
In this episode of ITR Live, the team reviews the final actions taken by Governor Kim Reynolds as the 2025 Iowa legislative session comes to a close. With the deadline for gubernatorial action now passed, the conversation highlights which bills received her signature, which didn't, and what it all means for Iowa taxpayers.Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson walk through key legislation signed into law—emphasizing wins for taxpayers, education freedom, and limited government. They also explore the strategic implications of a few notable vetoes or omissions, as Governor Reynolds continues to shape her policy legacy in Iowa.The episode takes a broader view of what the 2025 session accomplished, particularly in the context of Reynolds' past tax reform victories and the expectations that will follow in 2026. Chris and John close with speculation about what comes next—both for Iowa's fiscal priorities and the emerging 2026 election landscape.
In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks to Colorado State Senator Dylan Roberts. Roberts represents a swing district in the Western part of his state - including ski resort towns, mountain communities, and rural areas. Roberts discusses how he set priorities for this year's legislative session, including what it took to close a $1.2 billion dollar shortfall, as well as his work to pass two bipartisan housing bills to increase supply and bring down costs. He details what he hears from his constituents, as well as what Democrats often misunderstand about rural communities in his state, and emphasizes the need for mutual understanding across party lines. Tune in to learn about Dylan Roberts' Obama days and what inspired him to run for public office. IN THIS EPISODE: • [01:47] Welcoming Senator Dylan Roberts to the show. • [02:16] How Colorado's 2025 Legislative Session went and the overarching theme. • [05:44] The major housing concern and what his strategy is to tackle this. • [10:50] Senator Roberts shares advice for leaders wanting to get legislation passed. • [13:45] Why the housing problem is basically the same across all areas. • [16:58] What National Democrats misunderstand about rural areas in Colorado. • [19:58] Why he believes mutual understanding from all factions of parties is imperative. • [21:56] The biggest issues Senator Dylan sees coming up at town halls. • [26:52] How working with President Obama and his brother inspired him to get into politics.
In this episode of Smoke Filled Room, Mackenzie and Brad dive into the top five moments of the latest Texas legislative session. From the pivotal ESA bill vote to the unexpected Senate vs. House showdown over judicial pay raises, they cover the key turning points and surprise elements that defined this session. They also discuss the potential for a special session focusing on congressional redistricting and the ongoing scuffle with Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Plus, they share funny highlights like the infamous 'Gavel Gate' and Ms. T's rousing speech against pimpsListen to more Smoke Filled Room podcasts from our team wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review.
Texas lawmakers wasted no time this legislative session setting up a school voucher program, and eventually passed an $8.5 billion public school funding bill. And, lawmakers found new ways to impact the lives of LGBTQ-plus Texans. But some items are yet to be decided. Will Gov. Greg Abbott veto a bill banning virtually all consumable hemp in Texas? And will voters approve increases to homestead exemptions on property taxes and changes to the bail system? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by KUT's Blaise Gainey to get into it all. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 9th episode: Tecovas XOXO Downtown Austin Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Bryce Dole and Dirk VanderHart discussed the major things happening in Salem, as lawmakers race to a conclusion in the coming weeks. This episode was available live on OPB.org/livestream or on OPB's YouTube page. They discussed the transportation package, gun legislation, foster care bills, the budget, the overall tone of the session and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris discussed the Bears' continued pursuit of a new stadium and the challenges they face.
Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Monday to take part in a high-stakes special session. Gov. Mike Kehoe wants legislators to pass state relief for tornado victims, some unfinished capital improvement projects, and an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Missouri. Missouri State Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, discusses the upcoming session and how tensions from the regular session may shape what happens next.
In this week's episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk with politics reporter Jasper Scherer about education funding, the effort ban THC and how conservative priorities are sailing through the legislative session in Texas this year.
Dr. Dan Stock of Citizens' Coalition for Legislature Accountability joined the program to discuss the disastrous 2025 Legislative Session in Indiana. When it came to Governor Mike Braun, he didn't hold back. According to Stock, Braun suffers from "Psychosis of Tyranny" in which he is capable of ignoring facts other than the ones that help the position he wants and is capable of saying anything to the public. In the case of his failed property tax reform bill, "Psychosis of Tyranny" is causing Braun to be reviled by his base and damage that may not be reversable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Republicans have a super majority in the Indiana General Assembly, so they have no one to blame but themselves for their last-minute scramble to find more than $2 billion in savings during the final week of the Legislative Session. With just days to go, it looks like multiple tax increases are on the table to fill the budget gap. Which will put lawmakers in a bad spot, given the public backlash over a very unpopular property tax bill passed just over a week ago. What's next in a dramatic sprint to the finish? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on Statehouse Happenings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.