Politically Speaking

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is facing the fight of her political life after a man on house arrested seriously injured a 17-year-old girl. Republicans and Democrats are calling for her to resign, contending she has neglected her duties in office. Gardner has refused to step aside, adding that St. Louis' judges bare responsibility for what happened to Janae Edmondson. Attorney General Andrew Bailey subsequently filed what's known as a quo warranto motion aimed at ousting her from office. This is not unprecedented. Back in 2009, Joe Dandurand played a major role in then-Attorney General Chris Koster's efforts to remove Dent County Prosecutor Jessica Sparks from office. Dandurand also was a Cass County judge when the Missouri Supreme Court decided a landmark quo warranto case known as Fuchs v. Foote. Dandurand talked with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum what the quo warranto process entails and why Gardner's fate could be hugely significant to the legal profession.

State Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-Kirkwood, joins St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg to talk about the contentious nature of the 2023 General Assembly session. Phifer represents portions of St. Louis County in the Missouri House. Prior to serving in the legislature, Phifer was a United Methodist pastor for more than 40 years.

State Rep. Phil Christofanelli is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked about his legislative priorities and key issues of the 2023 session. Christofanelli represents Missouri’s 104th House District, which takes in a portion of St. Charles County. He was first elected to his post in 2016, and will be unable to run again for the House after 2024 due to term limits. Christofanelli announced he’s running for a Missouri Senate seat that’s currently held by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, in 2024.

State Rep. Donna Baringer is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about legislation around St. Louis’ ability to fight crime. Baringer is a Democrat who represents Missouri’s 82nd District in the Missouri House. After redistricting, that district takes in a number of neighborhoods in southwest St. Louis.

Missouri Congressman Sam Graves Graves talked to St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about his goals and expectations as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Tarkio Republican represents Missouri's 6th Congressional District.

Gov. Mike Parson won plaudits from an unlikely group of people: Missouri legislative Democrats. To break down why, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg look at some of the highlights of his 2023 speech — and what the GOP chief executive's legacy in office could be.

Richard Brown, Assistant House Minority Floor Leader, is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Kansas City Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the priorities for House Democrats during the 2023 legislative session, which includes childcare, tax policies that support working families and gun control measures.

House Majority Leader Jon Patterson is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the start of the 2023 legislative session. Patterson is a Republican from Lee’s Summit who was recently elected as majority floor leader. He first won election to the 30th District House seat in 2018, and was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2022. His district includes a portion of Jackson County.

Missouri politics in 2022 featured a little bit of everything: High-stakes elections, nasty legislative fights and landmark court decisions. And all of the storylines that defined 2022 stoked enough contention and conflict to likely affect events in 2023 and beyond. So as we always do this time of year, the STLPR politics team counts down the stories that defined the last 12 months.

Sen. Doug Beck is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The south St. Louis County Democrat talked about what to expect in the 2023 session and some of his priority legislation. Beck represents the 1st Senate District, which takes in most of unincorporated south St. Louis County and municipalities like Webster Groves and Crestwood. He will be up for reelection for a second term in 2024.

After close to 50 years in public life, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is heading into retirement. He leaves behind a substantial political and policy legacy in Missouri — much of what the Republican attributes to working with Democrats on major issues. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talked with the two-term senator about the big takeaways from his life and career.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Sen. Denny Hoskins talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about an issue that’s bedeviled lawmakers over the past few years: Legalizing sports betting — and allowing for businesses to have video lottery terminals. Hoskins is a Republican from Warrensburg who was first elected to represent Missouri’s 21st Senatorial District in 2016. He was re-elected to his post in 2020.

Current Missouri House Representative and incoming State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss her legislative goals ahead of the 2023 state session. Other topics discussed include the possibility of a constitutional challenge to Missouri's abortion ban, the dynamics of the Missouri Senate and how Coleman feels Republicans fared this past election cycle.

State Rep. Marlene Terry is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Democrat from Bellefontaine Neighbors talked about her pathway to the Missouri House and her goals as chairwoman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

Rep. Emily Weber joins Politically Speaking as a first-time guest. The Kansas City Democrat joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to discuss House Democrats' success at picking up three new seats this past election. Weber also speaks on the work House Democrats are doing to build their party and what some of their priorities may be for the upcoming session.

St. Louis County Councilman-elect Dennis Hancock is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The Fenton Republican talked about his win in this month’s 3rd District County Council race and his expectations for when he takes office in 2023. Hancock will represent the council’s 3rd District, which includes municipalities like Fenton, Kirkwood, Valley Park and Manchester. He defeated Democrat Vicki Englund in what was the most competitive county council race of 2022. Hancock will succeed Tim Fitch, a Republican who chose not to run for another term after his residence was drawn out of the 3rd District.

Missouri Republicans won the two statewide races on the ballot yesterday. But calling the 2022 election cycle a disaster for Missouri Democrats would be a stretch — even though the party still has a lot of work to do to win statewide elections.

Congresswoman Ann Wagner is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her re-election campaign in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. Wagner has represented the 2nd District since 2013. The district changed after redistricting, and now contains parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren Counties — as well as all of Franklin County. For the past few years, Wagner has served on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She serves as the vice ranking members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — and she could gain influence if she wins re-election and the GOP takes control of the House.

On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, Megan Green, 15th Ward St. Louis alderwoman, talks about getting asked by the mayor to run for board president, setting a new tone at the board, and getting it ready to be a body of 14, rather than 28.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about Missouri’s new law that requires a government-issued photo ID to vote. Ashcroft also talked about his proposed rule on state library funding, which would include oversight of the material in libraries.