Politically Speaking

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with Missouri Sen. Ben Brown about why the state should eliminate the income tax. He also discussed Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley's views on taking over Greenland with WashU's Steven Smith. And at the end of the show, Rosenbaum spoke with future Missouri House Speaker Alex Riley about the 2026 legislative session.

St. Louis' 3rd Ward alderman joins host Rachel Lippmann to talk lessons learned, incentives and municipal consolidation.

Blaha will need to overcome a massive fundraising disadvantage to beat U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski for Illinois' 13th Congressional District, the seat that represents much of the Metro East.

Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, is facing something she didn’t have in her first reelection bid two years ago: a primary challenger. Dylan Blaha, a progressive and an Illinois National Guard member, is aiming to beat Budzinski in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, which includes part of the Metro East.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg preview the 2026 Missouri General Assembly session. Rosenbaum also talks with Department of Social Services director Jessica Bax about her first year on the job – and plan that could pay child abuse investigators more money.

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern returns to Politically Speaking to discuss the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Nurrenbern speaks to St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about a tougher budget process, what education policy she wants passed and her thoughts on the 2026 general election.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Missouri Lt. Gov. David Wasinger talked about his desire to see the Senate’s rules change, which provoked a backlash among GOP officials earlier this year. Wasinger said lengthy filibusters often feature long-winded soliloquies that aren’t germane to legislation at hand and result in dysfunction. Wasinger conceded that he doesn’t have the power to compel senators to change their rules. “I don't have a magic wand where I can just unilaterally say, ‘Here are what the rules are going to be,’” he said. “I just simply threw that out as a topic of discussion.”

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Politics Team counts down the top stories of 2025 in Missouri, Illinois and St. Louis politics. Let's just say... this year was definitely not boring.

Fifth Ward Alderman Matt Devoti says cumbersome contracting processes have been the biggest impediment to pushing relief to survivors of the May 16 tornado.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Sen. Lincoln Hough candidly discusses his 'topsy turvy' experience over the last 12 months. The Springfield Republican was ousted as Senate Appropriations Committee chairman ... and also voted against cutting off Democratic filibusters throughout the year.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum deconstructs an avalanche of Missouri redistricting news over the past week. He also spoke with state Rep. LaKeySha Bosley about why the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Voting Rights Act could provoke major changes to the traditionally African-American 1st Congressional District. And finally, Rosenbaum (who happens to be a Buffalo Grove, IL, native) talks with Capitol News Illinois' Brenden Moore about the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

Jami Cox Antwi won a special election in July to replace Mayor Cara Spencer as the alderwoman of the 8th Ward

The alderman from St. Louis's 9th Ward sat down with Rachel Lippmann to discuss development, restructuring city government and reducing the cost to run for office.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum break down the Dec. 1 arrival of sports betting in Missouri. Rosenbaum also talks with STLPR's Brian Munoz about the quo warranto trial of St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery. And he also discusses St. Louis County's budgetary woes with St. Louis County Public Health Director Kanika Cunningham.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Jaclyn Zimmermann talks with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum about her first year in office; her thoughts on the redistricting special session; and her expectations for the 2026 legislative session.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer about how the city is handling recovery efforts six months after the tornado. Rosenbaum also speaks with St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Days about the county's budget problems. And Rosenbaum explores which 2026 contests in Missouri could foretell a Democratic wave election – or continued national GOP dominance.

STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum talks with St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer about the recovery efforts around the May 16 tornado. This is an extended interview from Spencer's appearance on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

During a trip to Washington, D.C., St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt about the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, Tuesday's elections and much more. This conversation also was broadcasted on Friday's St. Louis on the Air.

It's Halloween, which happens to be St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum's favorite holiday. So on a spine-tingling episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Rosenbaum talks with STLPR's Sarah Kellogg on Missouri's most notable political curses. Rosenbaum also explains why the Missouri Republican effort to redraw the state's congressional districts is becoming a logistical nightmare. And, finally, Rosenbaum talks with former St. Louis County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway about the rising popularity of witchcraft.

The alderman of St. Louis' 14th Ward discusses tornado recovery, Paul McKee and his future political plans