Kansas Reflector Podcast
By Kansas Reflector Podcast
Categories: News
The Kansas Reflector Podcast, hosted by the acclaimed staff of Kansas Reflector, transcends daily headlines, presenting weekly in-depth interviews with public officials and everyday Kansans offering insight into state politics and current events.
329 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- Kansas author Huascar Medina on surviving and thriving through uncertainty
Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone interviewed former Kansas state poet laureate Huascar Medina in September about his latest book, "Protest as Love Poem," and the challenges of living through this political and cultural age. Medina has also written opinion columns for Kansas…
- Bonus episode: Editors’ notes
The Kansas Reflector Podcast presents the audio version of the weekly video installment from editor-in-chief Sherman Smith and opinion editor Clay Wirestone , who discuss the top headlines from the past week. To watch the video recording of this episode, visit youtube.com/@kansasreflector. Find…
- What is a Kansas accent? Research reveals perceptions of Kansas speech
The way we speak is a culmination of our life experiences, according to Jeff Holliday, a linguist and professor at the University of Kansas. He and Lacey Wade, also a professor and linguist at KU, speak with Kansas Reflector reporter Anna Kaminski about their recent research on perceptions of…
- Long shot candidate connects with disaffected voters
Democratic U.S. House candidate Lauren Reinhold speaks with Kansas Reflector editor Sherman Smith about her campaign, affordability, immigration enforcement and her fondness for green bean soup. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected…
- A Kansas opinion editor’s take on why commentary matters
Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone spent years researching and writing about mid-century opinion writers in Kansas, culminating in a book, “Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters — Then and Now," which was released Sept. 29. In conversation with Kansas…
- Democratic candidate for Kansas governor addresses opponent’s record, ‘socialist’ label
Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter about her run for the state’s highest office. Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election, where she will face Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson, Holscher explains her position on…
- Why a Democrat running for Kansas insurance commissioner won't accept insurance money
Kansas Sen. Dinah Sykes, a Democrat from Lenexa, sees insurance everywhere. From healthcare to property to pets, the office of the state insurance commissioner, for which Sykes is running in November, intersects with many facets of life. In conversation with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan…
- Kansas Reflector staff recap rowdy state fair debates
Kansas Reflector staff covered the Kansas State Fair debates in early September to bring readers into the thick of the midterm election season's first debate. Senior reporter Tim Carpenter, who was a panelist at the debates, interviews editor-in-chief Sherman Smith and reporter Anna Kaminski about…
- Kansas Republican gubernatorial candidate reflects on political journey
Ty Masterson, Kansas' senate president and Republican gubernatorial candidate, discusses with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter his journey into politics. From the housing industry to local government to the highest ranking position in the state senate, Masterson says his experience…
- Kansas still has the death penalty. This former prison official wants it gone.
A group of former prison officials are the latest in a series of efforts to convince Kansas’ outgoing Democratic governor to commute all outstanding death sentences in the state. Roger Werholtz, a former Kansas corrections secretary, discusses how the death penalty in Kansas affects prison staff…
- Kansas pharmacist explains how patients are helped by state's new transparency law
A Kansas law aiming to increase transparency among pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen between pharmaceutical companies and local pharmacies — passed the state Legislature this year with bipartisan support. Will Anderson, owner of Orchards Drug in Lawrence, reconciles how the law has helped…
- Pair of Kansas lawmakers face blowback in their fight against data centers
Two Democratic state lawmakers praise the groundswell of grassroots opposition to hyper-scale data center construction in Kansas. Reps. Brooklynne Mosley of Lawrence and Alexis Simmons of Topeka in an interview with editor-in-chief Sherman Smith discuss the ramifications they've faced for clashing…
- End Citizens United president breaks down how federal campaign finance case could affect midterms
Tiffany Muller is the president of End Citizens United, the super PAC that advocates for campaign finance reform, and a former Topeka City Councilor. Decades in politics have informed her expertise in campaign finance, which she uses to dissect a campaign finance decision from the U.S. Supreme…
- Kansas political watcher makes November predictions, highlighting major U.S. Senate spending
Bob Beatty, a Washburn University professor and Kansas political watcher, predicts the U.S. Senate race in Kansas will be the No. 1 Senate race in the country come November. In conversation with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter the day after the Aug. 4 primary, he explains how…
- Kansas Reflector staff preview primary election day 2026
The Kansas Reflector staff discuss what to watch out for on primary day in Kansas, previewing key elections such as the Republican gubernatorial race and Democratic U.S. Senate race. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials…
- Can murals make us healthier?
That small-town postcard mural isn’t just a tourist attraction. Topeka artist Sarah Fizell discusses with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan Chilson the public health benefits of art that is accessible to everyone. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector…
- Army vet running for U.S. Senate isn't here to save the day
As one of 11 Democrats running for Kansas' open U.S. Senate seat in August, Noah Taylor has set himself apart with a no-filter approach to politics. He slips curse words into his promotional materials and offers blunt opinions on TikTok. In conversation with Kansas Reflector reporter Anna…
- Congressional candidate wants to build a better Democratic base in rural Kansas
Colin McRoberts is determined to build a better Kansas Democratic base as he runs for U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann's seat in the big 1st Congressional District. He discusses with senior reporter Tim Carpenter his specialty in negotiations, his favorite conspiracy theory and how he sees Trump…
- Democratic Kansas mayor running for governor to challenge presumptive Republican frontrunner
When Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog unexpectedly filed to run for governor hours before the filing deadline, he surprised the Kansas political world, prompting current Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to call his campaign "foolhardy." In conversation with Kansas Reflector's editor-in-chief, Sherman…
- Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly didn't want to run for a second term. She did it anyway.
With roughly six months left as governor, Laura Kelly reflects on how she entered the governor's office and speaks on how she hopes to leave it in an interview with senior reporter Tim Carpenter. She highlights what she views as major accomplishments, recounts how she beat tough gubernatorial…
- 'Proud progressive' takes on Ron Estes with grassroots campaign
Cole Epley is one of four Democrats challenging U.S. Rep. Ron Estes in August, but Epley has differentiated himself from his fellow Democratic candidates by leaning into Democratic socialism and unapologetically progressive ideals. Kansas Reflector's editor-in-chief Sherman Smith speaks with Epley…
- Galena residents seek environmental testing at southeast Kansas landfill
Residents in Galena, Kansas, are worried that noxious smells and a smoldering fire at the town's landfill are polluting the air and affecting their health. They are pushing for more testing to ensure the environment in their southeast Kansas town is safe.
- Kansas surgeon tailors U.S. Senate bid to future generations
Kevin Latz is one of 11 Kansas Democrats running to replace U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, and he said he is differentiating himself from the rest with his experience as a surgeon, physician and father. He said scientists are underrepresented in Congress, and his work making difficult decisions…
- Kansas politics round-up with Clay Wirestone and Sherman Smith
Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone and managing editor Sherman Smith break down the latest news in Kansas politics as election season heats up. They discuss the latest candidates, which races they're paying attention to and what Kansas Reflector has been covering in the lead-up to the…
- Kansas candidates attempt to appeal to voters in early campaign ads
Why was Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s name repeated four times in a ad from an outside group? Why did a Democratic candidate for Kansas governor begin her TV ad in a grocery store, and why did her primary opponent film his from his kitchen? Can a pastor translate his lifetime of public…
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