The Heartland POD

The Heartland Collective

About

American politics from a Heartland perspective. Always dedicated to the people doing the work and helping lift up voices across the often forgotten middle of the map, and highlight the "flyover" country stories that legacy media and coastal voices miss.

Hosts are Adam Sommer, a lawyer and family man; Rachel Parker, a writer and marketing expert; and Sean Diller, a political pro and father. All three are born in Missouri with various life experiences including Rachel's 20 years in L.A. before returning to St. Louis, and Sean's time spent moving from Missouri, to New Orleans, to New York, and a spot of time in Seattle before settling in Denver, while Adam has slowly moved from the east to west side of Missouri through his education. New shows MWF with special regional focuses on Friday shows.

NOTE: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE SPEAKER ONLY AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF ALL HOSTS ON OUR NETWORK. NO REPRESENTATION OF EMPLOYER IS MADE FROM ANY HOST ON ANY SHOW.

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704 episodes

The Moms Are Pissed... Moms For Missouri - March 27, 2024

Brianna from Moms For Missouri joins Adam for a chat about the activation of a very powerful interest group in politics: The MOMS. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

37m
Mar 27
Talkin' Politics, March 25, 2024: The GOP calls IVF “Morally Dubious”

TALKIN’ POLITICS Quick Hits __ ____ ____ ____ __ __ ______ ____ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 17m
Mar 25
Josh Hawley breaks with Trump on Jan 6 pardons - IA fertilizer spill causes longest fish kill in state history - MO town drops appeal after losing Sunshine lawsuit and more

A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including: Missouri’s new presidential primary; Iowa’s massive fertilizer spill; Hawley signals some break with Trump on Jan 6th; Missouri town paying big for open record violation; Texas immigration law seesaw; Sustainability in St. Louis; Turns out, young white republicans at turning point events MIGHT be a bit racist SOURCES - river front times, missouri independent, missouri democrats.org, nbc news, newsweek, and WOWT Ohama channel 6 news __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

21m
Mar 22
The Strategy Session with Frank O’Brien, Progressive Strategist

@TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

45m
Mar 20
Talkin' Politics, March 18, 2024 | MAGA takes over the RNC

SHOW NOTES TALKIN’ POLITICS Quick Hits __ __ ____ I believe We Had That… __ ____ __ ____ ______ ____ ______ __ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 32m
Mar 18
Lauren Boebert is butt-hurt at Ken Buck, Jay Ashcroft leading MO GOP primary, MO voters support abortion rights, IL Gov JB Pritzker pushes health insurance reforms and more

Lauren Boebert won't compete in special election to replace Rep. Ken Buck | MO voters favor abortion rights | Kansas GOP’s flat tax favors the wealthiest 20% | JB Pritzker wants to end prior authorizations in mental health | Texas right-wing billionaires get their way  ELECTION 2024 Missourians back initiative to restore abortion rights by small margin, new poll finds The St. Louis University/YouGov poll found many undecided voters as ballot campaign gathers signatures. The poll also found strong support for repealing the sales tax on food and sports wagering BY: RUDI KELLER - MARCH 13, 2024 6:00 AM https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/13/missourians-back-initiative-to-restore-abortion-rights-by-small-margin-new-poll-finds/ In June of 2022 The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established federal constitutional protections for abortion. Under current Missouri law, abortions are only allowed to save the life of the mother or when “a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.” This has made abortion virtually inaccessible in the state. Now, a group called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is collecting signatures to put abortion rights on the November ballot. They must gather at least 171,000 signatures from registered voters by early May. A new poll shows plurality of Missourians support restoring abortion rights as they existed under Roe v. Wade, but a large undecided group holds the key to victory.  The St. Louis University/YouGov Poll conducted in February found that 44% of those surveyed would vote for abortion rights after hearing the ballot language, while 37% were opposed. Almost one-fifth of voters, 19%, said they were unsure how they would vote. 71% of Democrats and 24% of Republicans support the proposal. If the measure makes the ballot, poll director Steven Rogers said there are enough undecided voters to sway the result.  A sports wagering initiative campaign is also underway and the poll found 60% of those surveyed back legal betting on professional sports. That poll surveyed 900 likely Missouri voters between Feb. 14 and Feb. 26, with a 3.74% margin of error. Along with the major initiatives, the poll included questions tracking attitudes toward President Joe Biden, Congress, major Missouri political figures and the General Assembly. The poll also questioned voters about their choices for governor and their views on the biggest issues confronting the state as well as current legislative debates like school choice. 37% of those surveyed said they approve of the job President Biden is doing, a rating similar to the findings in four previous surveys dating to July 2021.  Gov. Mike Parson, who will leave office at the end of the year due to term limits, has an approval rating of 52%, among the highest ever found by the poll. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican seeking re-election this year, has an approval rating of 50%. The race to succeed Parson is wide open, at least for the August primaries. Without named candidates, the poll found 52% of those surveyed will vote for the Republican candidate for governor while 38% selected the Democrat. When those who said they would vote Republican were asked which candidate they preferred, “not sure” was selected by almost half of those polled. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft had the largest number of committed voters, with 28%, followed by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe at 10% and state Sen. Bill Eigel at 8%. On the Democratic side, “not sure” was selected by 66% of respondents, with House Minority Leader Crystal Quade chosen by 21% and Springfield businessman Mike Hamra chosen by 4%. New Kansas flat tax proposal would mainly benefit state’s top 20% of earners BY: RACHEL MIPRO - MARCH 13, 2024 11:19 AM https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/13/new-kansas-flat-tax-proposal-would-mainly-benefit-states-top-20-of-earners-analysis-shows/ TOPEKA — A revamped flat tax plan touted by Kansas Senate lawmakers on Tuesday would cost the state nearly $650 million annually, give 40% of the benefits to the state’s wealthiest 20%, and reap billionaire Charles Koch a half-million dollar windfall, according to independent analysis. During the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation hearing, Republican lawmakers claimed the bill, Senate Bill 539, would address Kansans’ needs.  Committee Chair Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who requested the bill’s introduction said, “It is a product of listening to people and trying to come up with the best solution,” The state currently uses a graduated income tax rate: 3.1% for income under $15,000, 5.25% for income between $15,000 and $30,000 and 5.7% for income above $30,000. Couples filing together have those income amounts doubled. SB 539 would change income tax rates over six years, starting with a universal income tax rate of 5.7% in 2024, and reduced by .05% each year until 2029, which would set the rate at 5.45%. Under current law, the standard state deduction for income taxes is set at $3,500 for single filers and $8,000 for married couples filing jointly. The bill would set the deduction at $4,000 for single filers in 2024 and increase the standard deduction for all taxpayers by the cost-of-living adjustment published in the Internal Revenue Code beginning in tax year 2025. However, researchers estimate the top 20% of earners – those with annual incomes of over $315,000 – would see nearly 40% of the benefits. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan research organization that favors a progressive tax system, estimated the plan would cost the state nearly $650 million annually once fully implemented. A Kansas household making less than $55,000 a year would see $237 in benefits. Billionaire Charles Koch would receive an estimated annual $485,000 in tax breaks under the proposal. The bill would also cut the standard tax rate for banks from the current 2.25% rate to 1.94% in tax year 2024, and down to 1.63% in 2025. For savings and loan associations, taxes would be reduced from the current 2.25% rate to 1.93% in 2024 and down to 1.61% in 2025. Other provisions include eliminating the state’s 2% sales tax on groceries by July 1. Currently, the tax is set to end on Jan. 1, 2025. Earlier in the legislative session, a Republican-driven effort fast-tracked the 5.25% income tax plan that would have reduced tax collections by more than $300 million per year and primarily benefited the state’s top earners. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the proposal in late January, characterizing it as “reckless.”  Despite the GOP supermajority in the House and Senate, a veto override attempt failed in the House due to opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans who felt the proposal didn’t do enough for the state’s lower-income residents. Governor Kelly has said she will continue to veto “irresponsible flat tax proposals.” House panel opens hearings on Pritzker’s health insurance reforms Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Bill seeks to reduce denials of coverage, improve provider networks By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/house-panel-opens-hearings-on-pritzkers-health-insurance-reforms SPRINGFIELD – A panel of Illinois lawmakers began hearing testimony Wednesday on Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposals for sweeping changes in the state’s health insurance industry.  The changes, which Pritzker first unveiled in his State of the State address in February, would limit the ability of companies to deny claims or steer patients toward cheaper, and possibly less effective, treatments. They are contained in an amendment to House Bill 5395.  They include banning prior authorization requirements for people to receive in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility as well as all forms of so-called “step therapy” for prescription drug coverage. Step therapy refers to the practice of requiring a patient to try one or more cheaper, alternative medications before being allowed to access medications prescribed by their doctor. Other changes in the plan include requiring insurance companies to publicly post the types of treatments and therapies that do require prior authorization; requiring them to maintain accurate lists of the providers who are in their networks; and banning the sale in Illinois of short-term, limited duration insurance plans that don’t meet the minimum standards under the federal Affordable Care Act. Emily Miller, a senior advisor in Pritzker’s office, tried to assure the House Human Services Committee Wednesday that the administration was not waging war against the health insurance industry. “Insurance has a role to play, and I'm not here to demonize the insurance industry,” she said. “I am here, though, to say that it is time for consumers to have a say in how insurance companies are administering their health care plans. And we want to make sure that consumers are protected.” During the hearing, the committee heard personal stories from individual patients and their families, including some legislators, who spoke about their experiences having claims denied by their insurers.  Among them was state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, whose son was born with a rare heart malfunction that requires treatments for which he needs prior authorizations. He also had a daughter who died following a long battle with leukemia.  He said, “We had her stay four days in the hospital because we couldn't get a nausea medication that we knew worked after chemo (round) two. We couldn't get it authorized in chemo (round) three. Very frustrating. Four days in the hospital, and I'm not sure how that saves somebody money.” Dr. Mary Dobbins, a pediatrician and psychologist who is a past president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, testified about what she called a “mental health crisis” among children and youth in the United States. She said the crisis has been “artificially magnified by the requirements that tie up our clinical time.” She said “I've had multiple patients who destabilized because medicine they'd been doing well on was now denied, and the parents couldn't afford to pay for it out of pocket. The appropriate level of care is commonly denied.” The committee took no action Wednesday, but Chair Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, said the committee plans to hold more discussions and could vote as early as next week to advance the bill to the full House. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association. AMID WHITE SUPREMACIST SCANDAL, FAR-RIGHT BILLIONAIRE POWERBROKERS SEE HISTORIC ELECTION GAINS IN TEXAS All told, 11 of the 28 House candidates supported by Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks won their primaries outright, and another eight are headed to runoffs this May. BY ROBERT DOWNEN MARCH 8, 2024 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-defend-texas-liberty-election/ West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks entered the 2024 primary election cycle wounded. Their political network was in the middle of a scandal over its ties to white supremacists. Republicans were calling on each other to reject the billionaires’ campaign money. And their enemies believed they were vulnerable — one bad election day from losing their grip on the state. Instead, Dunn and Wilks emerged from Texas’ primaries last Tuesday perhaps stronger than ever — vanquishing old political foes, positioning their allies for a November takeover of the state Legislature, and leaving little doubt as to who is winning a vicious civil war to control the state party. In race after race, more moderate conservative incumbents were trounced by candidates backed by Dunn and Wilks. Their political network made good on its vows for vengeance against House Republicans who voted to impeach their key state ally, Attorney General Ken Paxton, advancing more firebrands who campaigned against bipartisanship and backed anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Tuesday’s election also paved the way for the likely passage of legislation that would allow taxpayer money to fund private and religious schools — a key policy goal for a movement that seeks to infuse more Christianity into public life. All told, 11 of the 28 House candidates supported by the two billionaires won their primaries outright, and another eight are headed to runoffs this May. And, in a sign of how much the state party has moved rightward, five of their candidates beat incumbents in rematches from 2022 or 2020 — with some House districts swinging by double-digits in their favor. Of the candidates they backed, they donated $75,000 or more to 11 of them — six who won, and four who went to runoffs. Among the triumphant on Tuesday was Mitch Little, aided by at least $153,000 in Dunn and Wilks cash, who defeated Rep. Kronda Thimesch in a campaign that focused on Little’s defense of Paxton from impeachment charges in the Senate trial last summer. Three days before he won, Little appeared at an event in Denton County with Paxton and, among others, Steve Bannon, the political operative who helped rally the far right behind then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. And another Dunn and Wilks candidate, David Covey, stunned the state by winning more votes than House Speaker Dade Phelan — the No. 1 target of the state’s far-right in part because of his role in the Paxton impeachment and refusal to ban Democrats from House leadership positions. Phelan now faces a runoff from Covey and the prospect of being the first Texas Speaker since 1972 to lose his primary. This election cycle, the billionaires’ targets also overlapped with Gov. Greg Abbott, who poured more than $6 million into his quest to rid the Texas House of Republicans who defied his calls for school voucher legislation last year.  Meanwhile, Paxton barnstormed the state as he sought retribution against incumbents who supported his impeachment. And, perhaps most importantly, former President Donald Trump was active in many contests — following the lead of Paxton and his other ally, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and offering late endorsements that bolstered right-wing candidates. We can’t wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas’ breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today. HERE’S HOW THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE KEN BUCK WILL WORK IN COLORADO Lauren Boebert indicates she will not compete in special election BY: SARA WILSON - MARCH 13, 2024 5:01 PM https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/03/13/special-election-to-replace-ken-buck-colorado/ Colorado voters in the 4th Congressional District will vote in two separate elections on June 25: the congressional primary for November’s general election, as well as a special election to immediately replace Republican Rep. Ken Buck, who announced on Tuesday that he is resigning and leaving Congress nine months ahead of schedule. It could add confusion to the a competitive and crowded race in Colorado’s Eastern Plains. Buck had already announced his intention to retire and not seek reelection this year, but he surprised the political world this week by announcing that he would leave Congress on March 22, versus sticking around until the end of his term. That sets off a seldom-used process to fill a congressional vacancy via special election that, according to a decision announced by Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday, will coincide with the June 25 congressional primary election. The winner of that special election will fill the remaining months of Buck’s term, but would still need to win the party’s nomination that day and then the general election in November to secure a full term in Congress. Each party will convene a special convention made up of party insiders to select one nominee for the special election. According to state statute, those special conventions need to happen within 20 days of the governor issuing a formal order for the special election, which hasn’t technically happened yet. The 4th District leans more Republican than any in the state, so whoever wins the special Republican nomination will likely go on to win the special election, and whoever wins the Republican primary will likely go on to win the general election. That opens up a couple possibilities: The district will be represented by the same person from June 25 onward because they win both elections, or the winner of the special election will hand the seat off to the winner of the general election — almost certainly the winner of the Republican primary — early next year. The state Democratic Party said on Tuesday night that it will hold its special convention no later than April 1. The convention will include the district’s central committee members and all the precinct organizers in the district. Ike McCorkle and John Padora have both signaled they will seek the Democratic special nomination. The state Republican Party has not yet made its special convention plans public and leaders did not reply to requests for comment Wednesday. That gathering will involve officers of the congressional district and the county chairmen in the district, according to party bylaws. The state party’s assembly, where delegates will pick candidates to appear on the primary ballot, is already set for April 5 in Pueblo. Nine Republicans were vying for the Republican nomination in the district before Buck’s early retirement announcement: current 3rd Congressional District Rep. Lauren Boebert, former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, state Reps. Mike Lynch and Richard Holtorf, conservative radio host Deborah Flora, former state lawmaker Ted Harvey, businessman Chris Phelen, businessman Peter Yu and Justin Schreiber. Those candidates can all put themselves forward to be considered for the special election nomination. Sonnenberg, Flora and Harvey have all indicated they will pursue the nomination. “This new vacancy doesn’t change my race, nor my commitment to proving to Republicans voters why I am the strongest conservative voice to serve them in Washington. I look forward to earning this nomination and getting to D.C. as soon as possible,” Sonnenberg wrote in a statement. Flora wrote in her own statement that the district can’t afford a “placeholder” between Buck’s retirement and the new term next year. Holtorf has not indicated if he will seek the special nomination, but he called Buck’s decision a “selfish move” that will “potentially create bias during the election cycle” in a statement Tuesday. Boebert, however, will not seek the special nomination. If she wins the special election, she would have to resign her current position representing the 3rd District, setting off a vacancy process in that district. “I will not further imperil the already very slim House Republican majority by resigning my current seat and will continue to deliver on my constituents’ priorities while also working hard to earn the votes of the people of Colorado’s 4th District who have made clear they are hungry for a real conservative,” she said in a statement. She called Buck’s announcement a “swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election.” With Buck’s resignation, the GOP’s majority in the U.S. House of Representatives will shrink to 218-213. The 4th District includes most of Douglas County and the Eastern Plains. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

14m
Mar 15
WARNING: Educational Materials w/ Heather Fleming of Missouri Equity Education Partnership | March 13, 2024

STL Post article about vouchers - read me first https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/expansion-of-school-vouchers-charters-on-tap-for-debate-in-missouri-senate/article_c0976038-dbe3-11ee-b39d-cfac2843deb4.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_stltoday All the Missouri Bills - nothing too crazy mostly vouchers expansion https://legiscan.com/MO/pending/house-elementary-secondary-education-committee/id/2228 https://www.heathersfleming.com/ https://www.missouriequity.com/ https://www.missouriequityaction.com/blog-3-1/legislative-update-31024 @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

46m
Mar 13
Katie Britt Creeps Out America | March 11, 2024

TALKIN’ POLITICS __ __ __ __ __ ____ __ __ ____ Last Call __ __ https://www.semafor.com/article/03/08/2024/how-project-2025-became-the-biden-campaigns-favorite-target @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 19m
Mar 11
Politics News Flyover for Friday March 8, 2024 - Biden's State of the Union, fake electors in WI, MO boarding school founder arrested and much more

A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including: State of the state of the union; Wisconsin fake electors foiled; Missouri water threatened; Alabama IVF protection law; Missouri private school horror; the ugly reality of school choice; Florida MAGA gator chomped; Iowa lawmakers funds to feed kids… wait sorry Iowa Lawmakers paying to arm teachers  SOURCES Missouri independent, the heartland collective, associated press, axios, nbc news, the Des Moines register __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

40m
Mar 08
Not So Super Tuesday; SCOTUS Disappoints; The Danger Of Obsession | The Heartland POD for March 6, 2024

TALKIN’ POLITICS SCOTUS Highly Predictable Let Down __ __ __ __ __ SUPER TUESDAY IS HAPPENING 16 States are voting, counting is happening as we record https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/politics/states-voting-super-tuesday-dg/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/03/politics/what-to-know-super-tuesday-what-matters/index.html @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 3m
Mar 06
Debasing Yourself For The Short List | March 4, 2024

On this episode of The Heartland POD, for Monday,March 4, 2024 - Missouri senators attack innocent manAlabama Supreme Court race draws major money; Missouri Gov parson plays favorites, again; Starbucks unionization ; Joe Manchin catches up to reality; Trumps immunity case ; 2024 election coverage era rolls on and Trump has a short list for VP. PLUS a last call preview    SHOW NOTES TALKIN’ POLITICS __ ____   __ __ ____ ____ __ __ __ __ __ ____ ____ I am begrudgingly including this AXE piece: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/opinions/biden-trump-michigan-primary-revealed-secret-axelrod/index.html LAST CALL I disagree to agree but I am not disagreeable  Esther Perel on Pivot https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-to-successful-professional-relationships/id1073226719?i=1000645985075 @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 34m
Mar 04
Politics and News Flyover for Friday March 1, 2024 - TX wildfires, CO orphan wells lawsuit, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, filing day in Missouri and more

Flyover Friday, March 1, 2024 A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including: Texas Is On Fire | Colorado Oil Wells Are Not So Well | Missouri Meat Packing Ponds Stink | Kansas legislators behave like bullies | Texas AG Making Lists Of Undesirables  SOURCES: The heartland collective, Missouri independent, Kansas Reflector, Colorado Sun, Associated Press, Advocate and journalist - Erin Reed’s blog, Erin In the Morning __ __ ____ ____ __ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

25m
Mar 01
"Collective Bargain" w/ Glenn Kage, Jr.

The Labor show for middle America. Glenn Kage, Jr. is back with a new episode of "Collective Bargain" with TJ Sandell, Business Agent for Pittsburg Plumbers Local 27 and President of the Great Lakes Building and Construction Trades Council @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

46m
Feb 27
Talkin' Politics - Feb. 26, 2024 | We're Not Trying To Win The Internet

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/trump-gop-extreme-maga-ivf-cpac-putin https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/23/josh-hawley-anti-abortion-arguments-embryo-ruling?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other   @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 23m
Feb 26
Politics News Flyover for Feb 23, 2024 - Texas Democrats battle in Congressional primaries - IL Gov Pritzker State of the State - plus KS and MO leg updates

The Heartland POD for Friday, February 23, 2024 A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including: Primary voting is underway in Texas | Kansas Medicaid expansion update | Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker lays out priorities as a progressive pragmatist | Missouri Democrats filibuster ballot candy | KS Gov Laura Kelly’s veto will stand   __ ____ BY SEJAL GOVINDARAO FEB. 21, 2024 WASHINGTON — In 2018, Rep. Colin Allred flipped Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, turning the Dallas-based district into a blue stronghold. Now, as the Democrat vies to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a crowded field of 10 Democrats is lining up to replace him. Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon, and State Rep. Julie Johnson, of Farmers Branch, are leading the field in the Democratic primary with their fundraising efforts, each amassing about a million dollars in campaign donations since their campaigns were registered at the beginning of last summer. Ideologically, Williams and Johnson are aligned. They both rank health care a top priority if elected, and have touted their ability to work across the aisle. Johnson, a trial lawyer in her third term in the state House rode the 2019 blue wave to unseat hardline conservative incumbent Matt Rinaldi, by 13 points. Rinaldi now chairs the state GOP. In her three terms, at least 40 of the bills Johnson has co-authored or joint-authored have been signed into law. As a Democrat in the Republican-dominated state Legislature, Johnson has played a lot of defense trying to kill bills she and other progressives deem harmful. Johnson, who is gay, said she and other members of the House’s LGBTQ caucus have had success in killing anti-LGBTQ bills by mastering the rules of procedure and “being better at the rules than the other side.” In 2019, she took down a House version of the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A bill” on a rule technicality. The bill was a response to a San Antonio airport kicking out the fast food restaurant over criticism of its religiously affiliated donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. It was revived in another bill and passed into law. If elected, Johnson would be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from a Southern state. She’s drawn notable endorsements from Beto O’Rourke, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, EMILY’s List, Equality PAC, and several labor unions. Matt Angle, director of Lone Star Project, a Texas group that works to boost Democrats, said Johnson is the frontrunner in the race, but Williams is a formidable challenger. “Make no mistake about it though,” Angle said. “Julie Johnson has a voter base within the district not only from her old district, but also just from years of being an active Democratic activist and a donor and really a couple of just outstanding terms in the legislature.” While he may be new to the Texas political arena, Williams is no stranger to the halls of Congress. Williams was a health policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy — who endorsed him — to help pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 – the farthest reaching gun safety legislation in decades. The legislation, crafted in the aftermath of the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo New York, allocated millions of dollars to expand mental health resources, strengthens background checks and tightens the boyfriend loophole. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was a lead negotiator on the bill with Murphy, and Williams worked closely with Cornyn’s office. In his role as a health policy advisor for Murphy, he worked across the aisle with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on mental health legislation. Williams also worked with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to pass federal health care legislation related to pandemic preparedness and reducing health care costs. Williams said his experience as a trauma surgeon — operating on victims of gun violence and women experiencing reproductive health emergencies — has fueled his priorities to fight for gun restrictions and increase access to abortions and other womens’ health. Williams added his perspective as a Black doctor seeing racial disparities in health care will resonate with the district’s diverse constituency, given that the district is now a majority-minority district with a 37% Hispanic or Latino population, 22% Black population and 8% Asian population. “They’re excited that there’s someone that looks like them that can represent them in Congress,” Williams said in an interview. As Allred opted to stay neutral in the race to succeed him – Williams said he had pursued his endorsement while Johnson said she had not – the tension between Johnson and Williams has been heating up. Williams has publicly criticized Johnson for a vote she took that would have made some changes and tweaks to the state’s Alternatives to Abortions program, which provides information about resources to women seeking the procedure. “I draw contrast between myself and Representative Johnson about how I am the better candidate,” Williams said. Johnson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, said Williams misrepresented the vote, which she said she cast to bring the already-funded program under the scope of the Health and Human Services Commission so it could be subject to public transparency. Her campaign published a fact-check on her website, likening Williams’ misrepresentation of her record to “Trumpian-style, false attacks.” Planned Parenthood was critical of the legislation. Johnson said women’s health is also a priority for her, and she stands by her record. “Texas leads the nation of uninsured folks, and in maternal mortality, and in infant mortality. Obviously, we're leading the nation in an attack on women's freedom for women's reproductive health, and I've been a champion of a lot of these issues,” she said. Other candidates vying for the open seat in the March 5 primary include businessman Raja Chaudhry, tech entrepreneur Alex Cornwallis, former Dallas City Councilman and real estate broker Kevin Felder and attorney Callie Butcher, who would be the first openly transgender member of Congress if elected. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, there will be a runoff in May. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in November but is likely to win given that the district is solidly blue. And, from Dallas we go to Houston where After bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yet Jackson Lee faces off against Amanda Edwards, her most formidable congressional opponent in three decades. https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/19/sheila-jackson-lee-amanda-edwards-democratic-primary-houston/ BY SEJAL GOVINDARAO FEB. 19, 2024 In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she’d come to hold for the next 30 years. This March, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, 42, is hoping to replicate that political upset as she faces off against Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 18. Jackson Lee, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has only drawn four primary challengers over her 14-term career, all of whom she defeated by landslide margins. She’s a household name in her Houston-based district, known for her frequent visibility at constituent graduations, funerals and baby showers. But last year she ran for Houston mayor against then-state Sen. John Whitmire. It was a bruising primary — unfamiliar territory for Jackson Lee — and her campaign was roiled with negative media after audio of her berating her congressional staffers was leaked. She ended up losing the race by 30 points and then immediately announced she was running for reelection to the U.S. House. Amanda Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee’s office, initially announced she was running for Houston mayor until the congresswoman threw her hat in the ring. At that point, Edwards pivoted — endorsing Jackson Lee as mayor and beginning her own bid for Congress. By the time Jackson Lee announced she was running for her House seat again, Edwards had already gained momentum. In the fourth quarter of last year, Edwards outraised the congresswoman 10 to 1 — $272,000 to Jackson Lee’s $23,000. Mark Jones, Baker Institute fellow in political science at Rice University said, “This could be the year that Congresswoman Jackson Lee loses. And given that as a safe, Democratic, seat whoever wins the primary will be headed to Washington in January of 2025” Jackson Lee holds a narrow lead in primary polls, while 16% of voters remain undecided.  Edwards, a native Houstonian, said her commitment to public service is propelled by her father’s battle with cancer when she was a teenager, where she learned firsthand about the cracks in the health care system and how “policy could be a matter of life and death.”  She served as an at-large Houston City Council member from 2016 to 2020, where she represented a constituency of more than 2 million people. In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including the Harris County Young Democrats, and the Harris County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races. The Harris County Young Democrats rescinded its endorsement of Jackson Lee in the mayoral race — citing a “zero tolerance policy” for staff abuse. Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy also factored into the committee’s decision to not endorse her. On the recording Jackson Lee berates a staffer for not having a document she was looking for and calls two of her staffers “Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin’ idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose.” He said endorsement committee members were still “quite upset” over the tape and it “wasn’t a good look” for Jackson Lee. The leaked tape fueled discourse about Jackson Lee’s reputation as an unkind boss on Capitol Hill – she regularly makes Washingtonian Magazine’s worst of Congress list and her office has high turnover rates. Polk added that voters felt abandoned by Jackson Lee, who jumped into the mayor’s race without endorsing someone to take her place, only to file for reelection a day after losing. Jackson Lee’s battle to retain her seat is made tougher by 2021 redistricting, because the 18th district now includes more young white professionals who do not have the same level of loyalty to her as longtime district residents. But despite any damage she may have incurred from her mayoral run, Jackson Lee remains a powerful political force in her district. County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is backing Jackson Lee, said he doesn’t know anyone in local politics with her “energy level,” and that Jackson Lee has secured meaningful federal grants for her district – most recently $20.5 million to Harris County Public Health Department’s Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot project. He also said she has a reputation for being a reliably progressive voice in Congress. Jackson Lee has a long list of powerful endorsements from House Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clarke. She’s backed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other members of Texas’ Washington delegation including Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio. Ellis said Jackson Lee may not be a strong fundraiser but she will benefit from her incumbency advantage. Linda Bell-Robinson, a Houston Democratic precinct chair, said she is fighting for Jackson Lee to retain her seat because seniority in Congress is important and Edwards would be learning the ropes as a freshman if elected. “We need fighters,” she said. “We don't need people trying to learn how to fight on the battlefield. We need people who are already fighting and know how to fight their fight. SEAN: Super interesting race. For my part, I don’t have any problem with members of Congress being extremely tough to work for. I have problems with lying, fraud, criminal activity, and squishy voting records.  Congresswoman Jackson Lee has 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and AFL-CIO. She has a 95% rating from League of Conservation Voters New estimate predicts Medicaid expansion would serve 152K at no cost to state A $509M federal incentive would help offset state cost for first eight years BY: SHERMAN SMITH - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 4:22 PM https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/ TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government. The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medicaid expansion for four years. Kansas is one of just 10 states that still haven’t expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400. Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400. Kelly’s proposal includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals. KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured. About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. Of the remaining 31.1% KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans. KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals.  The Kansas Sunflower Foundation on Thursday released findings from surveys that found 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans and 83% of small business owners support Medicaid expansion. Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, said in a news release that expanding Medicaid was about “investing in the well-being of our communities.” Baccus said “Our rural communities are often struggling to keep Main Street open and to continue to offer the necessary services to the surrounding agricultural enterprises. A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.” The findings are consistent with a Fort Hays State University poll that was released in October. With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatist Thursday, February 22, 2024 Governor’s spending plan advances progressive-backed policies in tight fiscal landscape By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/with-budget-proposal-and-fiery-address-pritzker-paints-himself-as-progressive-pragmatist SPRINGFIELD – In delivering his annual State of the State and budget address on Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker cast his administration as both progressive and pragmatic – a balance he’s worked to strike as his national profile has grown. Some elements of the governor’s proposed spending plan, like using $10 million in state funds to eliminate $1 billion worth of Illinoisans’ medical debt, are hardline progressive ideas. Others, including a goal to achieve “universal preschool” by 2027, fit in with a more traditional liberal platform. But Pritzker has also defined his success in traditional economic terms, putting particular stock into how New York City-based credit ratings agencies view Illinois’ finances, while also positioning Illinois as a hub for emerging technologies like electric vehicles and quantum computing.  As Illinois faces an influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border Pritzker has leaned into a leadership style that prioritizes progressive ideals while projecting an image of fiscal responsibility. As he outlined a proposal to add $182 Million toward the state’s migrant response, Gov. Pritzker said, “We didn’t ask for this manufactured crisis, But we must deal with it all the same.” “Children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been sent here in the dead of night, left far from our designated welcome centers, in freezing temperatures, wearing flip flops and T-shirts,” Pritzker said. “Think about that the next time a politician from Texas wants to lecture you about being a good Christian.” The governor was met with big applause from Democrats in laying out his proposed “Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act,” which would, in part, ban “prior authorization” requirements for mental health treatment. Pritzker characterized the practice of prior authorization as a way for insurance companies to deny the care that doctors have prescribed. Pritzker is also proposing spending $10 million in state funds to buy Illinoisans’ past-due medical debt that’s been sent to collections. Partnering with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt for pennies on the dollar on the same market that collections agencies purchase the rights to the debts, the governor said Illinois could “relieve nearly $1 billion in medical debt for the first cohort of 340,000 Illinoisans.” The governor spent time noting two key places he said Illinois fails its Black citizens:  maternal mortality and disproportionate rates of homelessness.  To combat Black maternal mortality rates, Pritzker proposed helping more community-based reproductive health centers to open, citing Illinois’ first freestanding nonprofit birthing center in Berwyn as a model. He said, “Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.”  Pritzker proposed spending an additional $50 million on the state’s “Home Illinois” program launched in 2021, in part to “attack the root causes of housing insecurity for Black Illinoisans.” He cited a statistic that Black people make up 61 percent of Illinois’ homeless population despite only being 14 percent of the state’s general population. Additionally, the governor proposed a $1 million pilot program for free diapers for low-income families, as well as a $5 million increased investment in an existing home visit program “for our most vulnerable families” with babies in their first year. His budget also includes $12 million to create a child tax credit for families with children under three with incomes below a certain threshold.  Among the successes Pritzker pointed to, perhaps the most salient is his claim that Illinois’ new “Smart Start” early childhood program – proposed last year in the governor’s second inaugural address – had exceeded its first-year goals. The program aimed to create 5,000 new preschool seats last year, but ended up creating 5,823, Pritzker said – a 15 percent overperformance.  “As a result, right now we have over 82,000 publicly-funded preschool classroom seats – the highest number in our state’s history. Staying on the Smart Start plan, we will achieve universal preschool by 2027.” Echoing his 2022 election-year call for a temporary pause on the state’s 1 percent tax on groceries, Pritzker on Wednesday proposed nixing the grocery tax altogether. He said “It’s one more regressive tax we just don’t need. If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families’ pockets, it’s the right thing to do.” Even while proposing a series of progressive expenditures, the governor also sought to cast himself as a pragmatist when it comes to state finances. The state has seen strong revenue performances in the past few years, But in November, the governor’s own economic forecasting office predicted a nearly $900 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1. “Our FY25 budget proposal makes some hard choices,” Pritzker said Wednesday. “I wish we had big surpluses to work with this year to take on every one of the very real challenges we face.” Illinois’ once-paltry “rainy day” fund now has $2 billion socked away, the governor noted, and the state has paid off high-interest debt during his five years in office. To mitigate Illinois’ previously projected deficit, Pritzker is proposing to more than double the tax rate paid by sportsbooks on profits – a change that would bring in an estimated $200 million annually. He also proposed extending an existing cap on operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes, which could help generate more than $500 million, the governor’s office claims. Another revenue generator proposed by the governor: raising $101 million by capping a sales tax credit retailers are allowed to claim. But business groups on Wednesday signaled they’d put up a fight.  In his first few months in office in 2019, Pritzker used his fresh political capital to muscle a $15 minimum wage ramp through the legislature – a long-fought-for progressive policy goal – followed closely by a trip to New York City to meet with executives at the influential big three credit ratings agencies. When Pritzker took office, Illinois’ credit ratings were hovering around “junk” status after a two-year budget impasse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. And though Illinois suffered a final credit downgrade in the early months of COVID, the state has since received nine upgrades. The governor on Wednesday held those upgrades in high regard, saying “My one line in the sand is that I will only sign a budget that is responsibly balanced and that does not diminish or derail the improving credit standing we have achieved for the last five years,” Andrew Adams contributed. __ ____ BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 5:15 PM       A Democratic filibuster that stretched more than 20 hours ended this week when Senate Republicans stripped provisions critics derided as “ballot candy” from a proposal to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions. Ballot candy refers to language designed to trick voters - into thinking the initiative is about ensuring only citizens vote, for instance - when that’s totally irrelevant to the question voters are deciding. By an 18-12 vote, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats forming the majority, language that stated non-citizens could not vote on constitutional amendments was removed, as were sections barring foreign governments and political parties from taking sides in Missouri ballot measures. The Senate then, by a voice vote, gave first-round approval to the bill that would require both a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state’s eight congressional districts to pass future constitutional amendments. The proposal would alter the way Missourians have approved constitutional changes since the first statewide vote on a constitution in 1846. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, a Democrat, said, “All we’re asking for is a fair fight. And the Republicans know if it’s a fair fight, they lose, which is why they have to pump it full of ballot candy and mislead voters.” Meanwhile, the House spent much of Tuesday morning debating legislation that would make changes to the signature gathering process for initiative petition campaigns. Among numerous provisions, the bill would require signatures be recorded using black or dark ink and that signature gatherers be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures. Its most sweeping provision grants new authority to the secretary of state and attorney general to review initiative and referendum petitions for compliance with the Missouri Constitution. The effort to make it harder to get on the ballot and harder to pass a constitutional amendment has been a GOP priority for several years. In the past two election cycles, voters have expanded Medicaid coverage and legalized recreational marijuana, circumventing the GOP majority that opposed both.  The push to raise the threshold on amendments proposed by initiative has taken on a new urgency for Republicans as abortion-rights supporters move ahead with a signature campaign to make this year’s ballot. The results on abortion amendments in other states has Missouri abortion foes anxious about whether they can defend the state’s almost total ban in a statewide election.  Voters in Ohio last year rejected an effort to increase the majority needed to pass constitutional amendments before voting 57% in favor of abortion rights. And in 2022, Kansas voters defeated an attempt to restrict abortion rights by a landslide vote. __ ____ Kansas House Republicans fail to override governor’s veto on massive tax reform bill BY: TIM CARPENTER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 12:41 PM       TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas House failed Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ‘s veto of a tax reform bill anchored by implementation of a single, flat state income tax rate of 5.25% in addition to elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and creation of a tax exemption for all Social Security income. The GOP holds supermajorities in the House and Senate, but there was skepticism that both chambers could muster two-thirds majorities necessary to rebuke Kelly given opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans to parts of the three-year, $1.6 billion tax cut favoring the state’s most wealthy.  Kelly said the decision of House members to sustain her veto was a win for working-class Kansans who would have seen “little relief under this irresponsible flat tax experiment.” The Legislature should move ahead with her proposal for reducing $1 billion in taxes over three years. The governor said “I urge legislators to work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth and maintains our solid fiscal foundation while benefitting all Kansans, not just those at the top,”. Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the cost of the tax reform bill could reach $600 million annually when fully implemented, and the plan didn’t do enough for the middle class in Kansas. He said a married couple earning $42,000 to $75,000 per year would only see an income tax reduction of about 75 cents. Rep. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott was among Republicans who opposed overriding Kelly’s veto. He said the flat tax would force the state’s working class to carry a larger burden of the state tax load. And the 2024 Legislature had sufficient time to develop an alternative that provided tax relief to all Kansans rather than just a select few. Good thinking! See it’s not just Democrats who think KS Gov Laura Kelly knows what she’s doing.  Welp, that’s it for me! From Denver I’m Sean Diller. Stories in today’s show appeared first in the Missouri Independent, Kansas Reflector, Texas Tribune, and Capitol News Illinois. Thanks for listening, see you next time.  @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

18m
Feb 23
The World Is On Fire

Adam Sommer takes a step back to talk about the long and heavy road we are all on as we enter yet another political cycle that feels like the most important of our lives. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

24m
Feb 21
The Delta, E3 - Re-Teaching Kids to Rebel

Kristina (Educational ASL Interpreter) and Nicholas (former teacher) reflect on how teaching their kids to rebel against authority has led to conflict and compromise. They walk the line between avoiding "because I said so" and enduring rebellious tantrums. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

18m
Feb 20
Public Rights Project: Harnessing Local Government For The Better

https://www.publicrightsproject.org/who-we-are @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

37m
Feb 19
News Flyover for Feb 16 2024 - MO GOP loses court fight to defund planned parenthood and much more

Friday News Roundup for Feb 16, 2024 Missouri Supreme Court again says state can’t deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood BY: ANNA SPOERRE - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 3:46 PM https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-supreme-court-again-says-state-cant-deny-medicaid-funds-to-planned-parenthood/ for the second time in four years, Missouri’s highest court rebuked lawmakers’s efforts to ban abortion providers and their affiliates from receiving Medicaid reimbursements. The legislature included a line in the 2022 state budget to spend $0 for any Medicaid-covered services if the provider also offers abortions or is affiliated with an abortion provider.  Abortion is illegal in Missouri. The two Planned Parenthood affiliates operating in the state – Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri – no longer provide abortions in Missouri, though their counterparts in Kansas and Illinois do. In a decision Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court once again ruled the legislature’s attempt to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget was unconstitutional.  The state’s Medicaid program, which serves low-income and disabled Missourians, has long banned funding for abortion, with limited exceptions. Medicaid has reimbursed Planned Parenthood in the past for reproductive health services that do not include abortion, including STI and cancer screenings, as well as contraceptives.  Planned Parenthood has said it hasn’t received any state funds for nearly two years as this legal fight played out in court, though the organization’s clinics continued to treat all patients, regardless of insurance. Advocates for Planned Parenthood have said cutting off Medicaid funding only hurts those most in need of care.  in a joint statement, Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, called the ongoing efforts to defund Planned Parenthood “cruel and irresponsible.” “Today, the Missouri Supreme Court again reaffirmed our patients’ right to access critical care like cancer screenings, birth control, annual exams, STI testing and treatment, and more at Planned Parenthood health centers. Over and over again, the courts have rejected politicians’ ongoing attempts to deprive patients of their health care by unconstitutionally kicking Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program. But the fight for patient access is far from over.” Kansas bill would require abortion seekers be asked for reasons before terminating pregnancy BY: ALLISON KITE - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 9:45 AM https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/15/kansas-bill-would-require-abortion-seekers-be-asked-for-reasons-before-terminating-pregnancy/ Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” pregnant women. A Kansas House committee heard Wednesday from anti-abortion groups — who argued collecting data on abortion patients would allow policymakers establish programs for those who are pregnant — and abortion-rights groups that questioned the motives behind the bill. The legislation, requested by a group called Kansans for Life, would require providers have patients rank their top reasons for seeking an abortion, such as financial difficulty, a threat to their health posed by pregnancy, or the pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. Providers would also have to collect demographic information, including age, race, marital status, state or country of residence, highest level of education, educational attainment, and whether the patient has reported domestic violence, has a safe place to live or received financial assistance from an organization that supports individuals during pregnancy. If a patient declined to answer why they sought the abortion, the provider would be required to record that. The bill would apply even to minors. Taylor Morton of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes said “Kansans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want politicians in their exam rooms,” referencing Kansas voters’ overwhelming rejection in August 2022 of an amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution. “All the legislation would do, is undermine the relationship between patients and health care providers.  There’s no reason for the state to demand and collect this deeply personal information from patients.” “Patients seeking literally any other form of necessary health care are not and would never be subjected to such intrusive and personal questioning, nor are pregnant people subjected to such questioning when they decide to carry a pregnancy to term.” Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, questioned how patients’ privacy could be protected if they reported being a victim of domestic violence or rape in a publicly released report. If a child seeks an abortion following a rape, she asked, and there aren’t many such incidents reported each year, could someone connect the dots and identify them? “If someone is the victim of that terrible crime as a child, they should be able to go on, week therapy and heal and live a full, adult life without having their privacy invaded because they were the victim of a crime,”  Amber Sellers, director of advocacy for Trust Women Foundation, argued the legislation would be unnecessarily burdensome. She said the right to an abortion required no more justification than the right to free speech. “These questions are confusing, and they’re stigmatizing. They lack relevance, and they’re medically unnecessary. They’re deeply invasive.” Ban on sale, transfer of ‘assault weapons’ back at Colorado Capitol BY: SARA WILSON - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 2:29 PM https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/ban-on-sale-transfer-of-assault-weapons-back-at-colorado-capitol/   Two progressive Denver Democrats are backing an effort to ban the purchase and transfer of semi-automatic weapons in Colorado, a second attempt after a similar bill died in committee last year. Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernández are the prime sponsors of House Bill 24-1292, which was introduced Tuesday. Epps also sponsored last year’s version. As introduced, the bill has 14 other House Democrats signed on as sponsors. the bill’s legislative declaration reads, “Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are disproportionately used in public mass shootings, and the reasons are both obvious and irrefutable. Assault weapons are uniquely lethal by design. They entail tactical features designed for warfare, refined to maximize killing large numbers of people quickly and efficiently,”  The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, transfer and purchase of many semi-automatic weapons. It would define “assault weapon” as a semi-automatic rifle that can accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following characteristics: a pistol grip, a folding or detachable stock to help conceal the weapon, a muzzle brake, a grenade launcher, a shroud on the barrel that lets the user hold it with their non-trigger hand and not get burned, or a threaded barrel. The bill includes a page and a half of specific examples of would-be banned weapons, including ​​AK-47s and all AKs, AR-15s and all ARs, and all Thompson rifles. It would also ban the sale and purchase of certain .50 caliber rifles, semi-automatic pistols and semi-automatic shotguns. Additionally, the bill would ban the possession of trigger activators that greatly increase the rate of fire. It includes exemptions for members of the military and police officers. Gun dealers who still have an inventory of the defined assault weapons by August could sell them to a non-Colorado resident if the transfer takes place out of state. People who already own these types of firearms would be allowed to keep them. Ten states and Washington, D.C., have some sort of assault weapon ban, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Virginia’s Democratic-controlled Legislature recently passed an assault weapons ban similar to the Colorado bill, but its future is uncertain as it lands on Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin’s desk. Suicide is on the rise in Ohio This article is about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. BY: ROB MOORE https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/02/15/suicide-is-on-the-rise-in-ohio/ Five Ohioans die of suicide every day. This is just one of the many data points released in a new publication by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Here are some of the top findings from the release. Suicide is a leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans. Over 1,400 Ohioans died from suicide in 2022, the most recent year we have data for. This makes suicide the fifth-leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans, after cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, and unintentional deaths like drug overdose and motor vehicle crashes. Suicide rates were highest in 2022 for working-age adults, higher than the rate for young adults, retirement-age adults, and children. Suicide was most common in Appalachian counties, with 15 of Ohio’s 22 counties with the highest suicide rates located in Appalachia. But Suicide is on the rise for nearly everyone. Since 2007, suicide rates have increased for men and women, white, Black, and Hispanic Ohioans, and Ohioans in every age group. The only major demographic group that has seen a flat suicide trend are Asian and Pacific Islander Ohioans. Risk factors for high school students are also becoming more common. Compared to 2019, female Ohio high school students were more likely in 2021 to feel sad or hopeless, seriously consider suicide, make a plan to commit suicide, or attempt suicide.  The increase in suicide rate is driven by firearms. Suicide deaths involving a firearm increased 60% from 2007 to 2022. This accounted for 75% of the total increase in suicides over that time period.  If you or someone you know needs help, call 988, the national suicide hotline. Michigan State University students ask lawmakers how they will prevent the next school shooting BY: ANNA LIZ NICHOLS - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 8:23 PM https://michiganadvance.com/2024/02/15/michigan-state-university-students-ask-lawmakers-how-they-will-prevent-the-next-school-shooting/ A year after the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three students on Michigan State University’s campus, students are still healing and trying to honor everything they lost on Feb. 13, 2023. And as the MSU, Northern Illinois University and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School communities deal with painful anniversaries of shootings at their schools this week, a mass shooting on Wednesday during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration injured more than 20 people, with one death confirmed as of Thursday. There have been 49 mass shootings in 2024 so far. A Michigan State student speaking at the Capitol steps said, “It’s everywhere. It’s all the time. We can’t escape it. No words can really describe what the past year has been like, but I can say that despite the anger, sadness, grief, confusion, and just trying to be a college student, we never stopped showing up. I’m proud of the tireless work of students who showed up right here at the Capitol a year ago, and every day since to demand change.” MSU student and gun violence prevention organizer Maya Manuel recalled meeting with lawmakers last year, including state Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), saying “I remember looking at you, directly in your eyes and saying that the next one is going to be on you. And you took that and you went to your colleagues and you pushed out those bills just two days later.” The new laws, written in response to the MSU shooting, require gun owners to safely store firearms from minors, implement universal background checks when purchasing a firearm, create extreme risk protection orders and expand prohibitions on firearm ownership for those convicted of crimes involving domestic violence. But more progress is needed to prevent gun violence in Michigan, Manuel said. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

10m
Feb 16
Rural Organizing Rethought with Paolo Cremidis of The Outrun Coalition

The Outrun Coalition @TheOutrunCo An organization dedicated to encouraging young and diverse people to run in their rural communities. #RunAsYouAre@TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

38m
Feb 14
Talkin' Politics - Feb. 12, 2024 | The GOP Face Plant Week That Was

SHOW NOTES TALKIN’ POLITICS __ __ __ ____ ____ ____ @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 19m
Feb 12
News Flyover for Feb 9, 2024 - School voucher scam update, MO GOP looks to change the rules, and more

Wisconsin Democrats look to boost local journalism | Missouri Republicans cobble stupid ideas together | School voucher boosters need some extra help with math | Key Attorney General races in the 2024 elections __ ____ Amid widespread layoffs in the journalism industry and ongoing concerns about newsroom closures and consolidations, Wisconsin Democrats are proposing some ways of boosting the local journalism industry.  A package of bills — coauthored by Reps. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) and Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) — would create a tax credit for people who subscribe to local newspapers, a fellowship program to get individuals into the field, and a Civic Information Consortium Board that would award grants to local news. Rep Anderson said “Local journalism is essential to our democracy. It keeps voters informed and engaged on the issues that matter most to their communities, and local reporters also play an important role in keeping officials accountable to their constituents. But local news is dying.”  “News deserts are disproportionately located in rural areas, low-income areas, and communities of color. The three bills in this package are designed to ensure that all Wisconsinites can access high quality, reliable local journalism.” The journalism fellowship program would be administered by the University of Wisconsin System. Under the program, a panel of UW journalism professors and industry experts would choose 25 fellows to match with participating newsrooms for a one-year fellowship.  Participants, who would be required to hold a two- or four-year degree in journalism, media, communications or a similar program, would receive a $40,000 salary. Another bill would create a nonrefundable tax credit as a way of encouraging people to subscribe to their local newspaper. When subscribing to a qualifying local newspaper, taxpayers could receive a tax credit equal to 50% of the amount paid to subscribe. The credit would be limited to a maximum of $250 in each taxable year. __ ____ As few as 1 in 5 voters could defeat initiative petitions under Missouri Senate proposal The legislation set for debate in the Senate would require a majority vote in 82 state House districts and a statewide majority to approve constitutional amendments    Called a concurrent majority, an analysis of voting patterns by The Independent shows that the change would make it possible for as few as 20% of voters to determine the outcome of statewide ballot measures. Tim Jones, state director of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, pushing the change, said “This to me is a very similar concept to the electoral college.” The proposal is taking on new urgency for GOP leaders because a proposal to overturn Missouri’s abortion ban could be on the ballot in November. Republicans see changing the rules as the only way to defeat it. Opponents claim the idea undermines majority rule, which has determined the outcome of constitutional questions in Missouri since 1846. Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Protect Majority Rule, which is raising money for a possible campaign against the amendment said, “Their goal is to make sure that even when an overwhelming majority of Missourians overall support a measure, rural voters can still defeat it,” Democrats in the Senate, who have been content to let the GOP civil war play out without interfering, are “vehemently” opposed to any effort to change the current simple majority to pass ballot measures __ ____ For GOP lawmakers who view public education as a quasi-socialist project, the gaping hole in state budgets left by subsidizing private school tuition is a feature, not a bug. In Arizona, taxpayers are now staring down a $400 million shortfall, with an even bigger bill coming due next year. How did the Grand Canyon State go from sitting on a huge cash reserve to facing a rising tide of red ink? Simple. Voucher proponents suggested that paying for private school tuition would cost taxpayers $65 million a year; but as it stands, the program is on track to cost roughly 15 times that. All told, Arizona taxpayers are likely to spend close to a billion dollars reimbursing the cost of tuition and luxury expenses—including ski resort passes, pianos, and theme park tickets—for families whose children were never enrolled in the public schools. It isn’t just Arizona’s problem. Over the past two years, multiple states have enacted universal or near-universal voucher programs that far exceed initial cost projections. In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds pushed an expansive voucher program that gives $7,500 to any Iowa family for private school tuition. But demand for the program among parents who already send their kids to private schools, most of which are religious, has far exceeded expectations. Now Iowans are on the hook for the tuition of 17,000 private school students—a bill that will total $345 million a year next year. The same story has unfolded in Ohio, Arkansas, West Virginia, and elsewhere. It wasn’t just the price tag that voucher proponents were deceptive about—it was also the projected beneficiaries of such programs. Advocates promoted vouchers as a benefit for poor students, students with disabilities, and students in struggling schools. Yet the reality has looked very different. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the vast majority of parents taking advantage of these tuition coupons are those who already send their kids to private schools.  __ ____ This year, there will be 17 elections for Secretary of State and Attorney General in states across the U.S., but only a few are on track to be competitive. Today we’ll talk about the Attorney General races in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. North Carolina: Open seat (Josh Stein, D, is running for governor) In a hot election cycle in North Carolina with lots of competitive races and open seats, the AG contest could prove unusually compelling. It has been over a century since the state elected a Republican to this office, although this race could be exceedingly close—just as the last few contests have been. The two frontrunners for the open AG seat are both sitting members of Congress: Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Jeff Jackson. Bishop is a favorite of the GOP’s conservative wing, having been a member of the House Freedom Caucus and a thorn in the side of former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Jackson—who joined the AG race after effectively being drawn out of his seat in re-districting last year—has attracted a national following for his posts on TikTok.  While Bishop appears to have a clear shot at the GOP nomination, Jackson must first win a March 5 primary against Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, and attorney and veteran Tim Dunn. Louis Jacobson at Sabato’s Crystal Ball says if Jackson and Bishop do meet in November, the race could go either way and is a true toss-up. In Pennsylvania’s AG election this year, Both party primaries are on track to be competitive. The Democrats have five credible candidates: former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, former top Philadelphia public defender Keir Bradford-Grey, veteran and state Rep. Jared Solomon, and Jack Stollsteimer, the district attorney in populous Delaware County near Philadelphia. The Republicans have two: York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, who has been endorsed by the state party, and veteran and state Rep. Craig Williams. In the Democratic primary, DePasquale, as the only candidate from western Pennsylvania, and Bradford-Grey, as the only Black candidate, may have an edge in a contest where as little as 21% of the vote could be enough to win the nomination. On the GOP side, Sunday should have a modest edge. The general election should be highly competitive, and it could swing depending on the dynamics on the rest of the ballot, including how the competitive races for president and Senate play out. There has been some ticket-splitting in Pennsylvania in recent presidential cycles, though. In 2016, as Republicans won the presidential and Senate races, Democrats won the contests for Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer. In 2020, as Joe Biden flipped the state, Republicans took back the Auditor and Treasurer posts. If you’re not registered to vote, get on it! To check your registration anywhere in the U.S., go to Vote.gov. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

8m
Feb 09
MAGA Mike Can't Count; Trump Lacks Immunity Even Though He Got Vaxxed; FDR "Denny" Roth Is Running For Congress In The MO8th

https://fdrii4mo.com/   @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

54m
Feb 07
The Delta, E2 - A Magic Cure for the Teacher Shortage

Kristina Linke (Ed. ASL Interpreter) & Nicholas Linke (Education Outreach & Research) suggest a magic solution to keep veteran and new educators in the classroom beyond 4-day school day. Growing the our classroom teacher and educational supports applicants may mean prioritizing their personal growth. Check out more at: www.glassroomhive.com@TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

28m
Feb 06
Talkin' Politics 2/5/24 | Senate Preview 2024; Taylor Swift Scares MAGA; Missouri GOP spitting into the wind

SHOW NOTES TALKIN’ POLITICS Nikki Haley was on SNL… she had several lines, and made fun of Trump directly.  Quick hit: Bipartisan tax bill passage - we had been following, another pleasant surprise and also another instance of the Biden Presidency being precisely what was promised which is an administration where bipartisan work can get done - also Biden won in South Carolina, which is not really news https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/31/house-child-tax-credit-business-tax-break-bill https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/31/house-child-tax-credit-business-tax-break-bill?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other __ ____ ____ __ ____ ____ __ ________ LAST CALL Zuck Gets Owned As Legislators Are Finally Upset About A Product That Kills Kids, But Not Guns  https://www.semafor.com/article/01/31/2024/lawmakers-grill-big-tech-ceos-over-online-child-safety @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 28m
Feb 05
Friday News Flyover - MAGA is losing it over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, UAW endorses Joe Biden, and more

MAGA Embraces Anti-Hero Era | Missouri Marijuana Money Rolls In | Biden is a Union man | Oklahoma teachers get paid but not on purpose | Colorado’s mining, maybe? | Kansas rules for driving children | Iowa state house members grow some spine | Missouri’s speaker losing more staff | Kentucky’s GOP Gets Blue Grass Stains From Falling Down   Missouri Marijuana Sales Bring Big Funding For Veterans Care https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-marijuana-revenue-will-mean-nearly-20-million-to-support-veterans-this-year/ Biden wins endorsement of United Auto Workers Biden was joined by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and other Michigan leaders at the UAW union hall in Warren in Macomb County to celebrate the union’s accomplishments in the last year and its endorsement of Biden’s reelection campaign. Biden told UAW members “Supporting you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. The single biggest reason why we have unions growing, the single biggest reason the economy is growing … because you are the best workers in the world.”  Michigan is expected to play a key role in the November general election, as Biden looks to win the state again.  This is the second time in recent months that Biden has come to Michigan to talk with UAW members. He became the first sitting U.S. president in modern history to visit a picket line in September during a historic strike against Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.  UAW President Shawn Fain announced the union’s endorsement of Biden’s campaign on Jan. 24 and drew a sharp comparison between Biden and GOP frontrunner former President Donald Trump. “Rarely as a union do you get so clear of a choice between two candidates. It’s not about who you like, it’s not about your party, it’s not about this b—–t about age. It’s not about anything but our best shot at taking back power for the working class.” In September, Trump also traveled to Michigan during the UAW strike, but he visited a non-union plant in Macomb County where he advised the UAW to endorse him for president. Trump said, “Shawn, endorse Trump and you can take a nice two-month vacation, come back, and you guys are going to be better than you ever were. The other way, you won’t have a vacation, Shawn. And in a short period of time, you’re not going to have a union. You’re not going to have jobs. You’re not going to have anything.” “Trump is a scab,” Fain said recently. “Donald Trump stands against everything the UAW stands for. When you go back to our core issues — Wages. Retirement. Health care. Time. That’s what this election is about,” Fain said. “Instead of talking trash about our union, Joe Biden stood with us.” By November, the UAW ratified new contracts with all three companies that included significant worker raises, an end to the tiered wage system and improvements to the automakers’ retirement benefits.  Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Biden is a “jobs president,”  “Under President Biden, we’ve seen 14 million jobs created, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs, which is more than any president in a single term Biden wrapped up his time at the union hall calling Whitmer “the best governor in the country” and Dingell a “fighter.” To the UAW Workers in Warren he said, “Thank you and the whole country owes you,” Biden said to the UAW workers in Warren. “You’re not only helping auto workers, you’re helping every worker in the world.” Oklahoma Teachers Likely To Keep Bonus Money https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/01/31/oklahoma-teachers-may-not-have-to-return-errant-bonuses-walters-says/ OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent Ryan Walters said Wednesday errant bonuses his administration paid to educators might not have to be clawed back. In a press conference he called to accuse reporters of lying about the situation, Walters said the Oklahoma State Department of Education is coordinating with the teachers who wrongly received signing bonuses to find another solution. He said that could include longer contractual commitments in exchange for keeping the money. “There is a path forward that does not require a payback from those teachers,” Walters said. But at least one affected teacher got no such promise, her attorney, Mark Hammons, said. Oklahoma County teacher Kristina Stadelman heard from the state agency in the past two days, informing her a Feb. 29 deadline for repayment no longer applied, Hammons said. But that included no guarantee she would never have to repay the bonus, he said, and that’s why she joined a lawsuit on Wednesday to challenge the demand. “They extended the time for the deadline and said they were looking into other possibilities,” Hammons said. “We don’t know what that means, and they didn’t explain that to her, but they certainly made no promise that she wouldn’t have to pay back all or any portion of that money.” Both of Hammons’ clients, Stadelman and Osage County teacher Kay Bojorquez, said they were awarded $50,000 bonuses in the fall from a teacher recruitment program Walters created last year.  Colorado’s New Coal Mine… Maybe https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/environmental-groups-epa-colorado-coal-mine/ Conservation groups are asking EPA to block permit for new coal mine in colorado Two conservation groups have formally petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to intervene in state air-quality regulators’ decision to issue an operating permit to Colorado’s largest remaining coal mine. Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division issued the permit to the West Elk Mine in Gunnison County in December, more than six months after a federal judge’s ruling https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/mining/pdfs/Colorado-court-order-remedy-West-Elk-mine-air-quality-permit-05022023.pdf that the agency had illegally delayed its decision on whether to approve or deny the permit, which a subsidiary of mine owner Arch Coal first applied for in 2020. But two of the groups involved in that litigation, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians, call the permit issued by the APCD a “free pass” that doesn’t do enough to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds, a class of hazardous air pollutants, or methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Iowa Lawmakers Keep Protections for Gender Identity In Law… after considering taking it away https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/01/31/iowa-house-lawmakers-reject-bill-to-remove-gender-identity-protections-from-iowa-civil-rights-law/ Protection of “gender identity” under the Iowa Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in areas like employment, housing, education or public accommodations. Under the proposal, a diagnosis of “gender dysphoria or any condition related to a gender identity disorder” would be classified a disability under Iowa Code – another protected class under the civil rights act. Aime Wichtendahl, a Hiawatha City Council member, criticized lawmakers for considering legislation that would make Iowa the first state in the country to remove civil rights protections for a group of citizens.   Missouri Speaker Plochs Another One Into The Bowl https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/embattled-missouri-house-speaker-dean-plocher-dismisses-another-top-staffer/ Embattled Mo House Speaker Dean Plocher has lost another staff member  https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/embattled-missouri-house-speaker-dean-plocher-dismisses-another-top-staffer/ Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher fired his legislative director Wednesday, the latest in a series of departures from his office as he continues to face an ethics investigation into allegations of unlawful conduct.  Erica Choinka had worked for the Missouri House since 2016, first as a legislative assistant and then as legislative director for former Speakers Elijah Haahr and Rob Vescovo. She continued to serve under Plocher until Wednesday, when she was fired.  Choinka declined to comment, and a spokesman for Plocher did not immediately respond to an email about the dismissal.  The staff shakeup follows the firing of Plocher’s chief of staff https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-house-speaker-dean-plocher-fires-his-chief-of-staff/ in October and the resignation of his chief legal counsel https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/embattled-missouri-house-speaker-loses-another-top-staffer/article_4e755e96-7e79-11ee-be59-e7cc951a222c.html in November. And it comes as an ethics inquiry into his alleged misconduct enters its fourth month.  The investigation was launched late last year after The Independent reported that Plocher on numerous occasions over the years illegally sought reimbursement https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/23/records-show-dean-plocher-charged-the-state-for-travel-already-paid-for-by-his-campaign/ from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.  In each instance, Plocher was required to sign a sworn statement declaring that the payments were made with “personal funds, for which I have not been reimbursed.” Finally… In another story out of Missouri, sorry, that’s Kansas, no wait, my bad from Iowa, oh, nope, that’s Oklahoma… wait, Indiana, or… was this Ohio? Ah, I see now - from Kentucky… Author: Teri Carter https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/02/01/gop-supermajority-silly-unserious-unconcerned-by-kentuckians-real-problems/ On Jan. 31, I began my day reading a story https://www.wkyt.com/2024/01/30/residents-without-running-water-2-weeks-are-catching-rain-buckets-bathe/ that opened with a stunning sentence. “Some residents of a county in Kentucky are going on two weeks without running water, forcing them to use public toilets and catch rainwater to bathe.” As I was reading this news, a 7:31 a.m. tweet https://twitter.com/callowayforky/status/1752670825008816306?s=46popped up from Rep. Josh Calloway. “Actually, what it means to be a good parent is to tell your children the truth. The truth is men are men, women are women, and neither can become the other. The truth is, they were not born in the wrong body, they are perfect just the way God made them. It is Evil to lie to children.” Yes, this is anecdotal, but it is also reflective of a maddening reality. We are one-third through the all-important budget session of our 2024 General Assembly, and the GOP supermajority in Frankfort is wasting their days focused on problems we do not have and, well, sex. Always sex. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

29m
Feb 02
Trump Is Counting On SCOTUS To Save Him, But He Shouldn't

Rachel and Adam dive into two of the major upcoming SCOTUS cases including the review of Trump's ballot access and the Chevron deference @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts Adam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post) Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)  Sean Diller  (no social) The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! “Change The Conversation” Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium  http://www.americanaquarium.com/

41m
Jan 31
Talkin' Politics | Jan. 29, 2024: The GOP Is Having Big Feelings

SHOW NOTES TALKIN’ POLITICS Welcome to Missouri where our GOP supermajority puts the FUN in dysfunction.  Quick Hit: Post case rape related pregnancies https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2024/01/texas-has-the-most-rape-related-pregnancies-of-any-state-with-total-abortion-ban.html https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/abortion-policy-tracker/?currentTimeframe=0&selectedDistributions=status-of-abortion&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2814274?guestAccessKey=e429b9a8-72ac-42ed-8dbc-599b0f509890&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=012424 __ ____ ____ __ __ ____ __ __ __ __________ GOP proposing a move that let’s them move past democracy as a party and just declare a winner, which is really super cool:  https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/25/politics/rnc-trump-presumptive-nominee-resolution/index.html @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

1h 24m
Jan 29
Friday News Flyover - Jan 26 2024 - Missouri GOP in-fighting could lead to duels - AZ GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake leaks a tape and much more

A flyover from this week's top heartland stories including: Missouri GOP in-fighting in full swing | In Iowa there’s something in the water… poop | Missouri Medicaid enrollees trapped in a nightmare | Kari Lake leaks a tape | CO House ditches Minority Leader Mike Lynch | Iowa anthem antics | Ted Cruz’s Democratic challenger in Texas | Missouri Senator Nick Schroer is a joke  SOURCES: The Heartland Collective, Colorado News Line, Missouri Independent, New York Times, Iowa Capitol Dispatch __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ____ Weekend plans? Welp that’s it for this week. Stories in today’s show can be accessed at the Heartland Collective, Colorado Newsline, Missouri Independent, New York Times, Iowa Capitol Dispatch @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

33m
Jan 26
Can Colin Allred beat Ted Cruz? Sean and Rachel unpack the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Texas

U.S. House Representative Colin Allred (D-Dallas) is the leading Democrat to take on Ted Cruz this November. Does the Democrat have any chance of unseating Lyin' Ted? Sean and Rachel look at election results from Democrats Beto O'Rourke and Joe Biden for recent clues.  @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and Threads Co-Hosts The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today! https://theheartlandcollective.com/ JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK! http://patreon.com/heartlandpod http://www.americanaquarium.com/

30m
Jan 24