Kansas Reflector Podcast

Ty Masterson, Kansas' senate president and Republican gubernatorial candidate, discusses with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter his journey into politics. From the housing industry to local government to the highest ranking position in the state senate, Masterson says his experience equips him to be Kansas' next governor. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted by Tim Carpenter and produced by Anna Kaminski.

A group of former prison officials are the latest in a series of efforts to convince Kansas’ outgoing Democratic governor to commute all outstanding death sentences in the state. Roger Werholtz, a former Kansas corrections secretary, discusses how the death penalty in Kansas affects prison staff, victims’ families and those wrongfully convicted. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted and produced by Anna Kaminski.

A Kansas law aiming to increase transparency among pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen between pharmaceutical companies and local pharmacies — passed the state Legislature this year with bipartisan support. Will Anderson, owner of Orchards Drug in Lawrence, reconciles how the law has helped make matters more predictable and fair but initially decreased revenues for pharmacists.   New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events.   This episode was hosted by Morgan Chilson and produced by Anna Kaminski.   Read more at kansasreflector.com

Two Democratic state lawmakers praise the groundswell of grassroots opposition to hyper-scale data center construction in Kansas. Reps. Brooklynne Mosley of Lawrence and Alexis Simmons of Topeka in an interview with editor-in-chief Sherman Smith discuss the ramifications they've faced for clashing with data center supporters and how Kansas leaders could legislate further protections or liberties for data centers. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted by Sherman Smith and produced by Anna Kaminski. Read more at kansasreflector.com.

Tiffany Muller is the president of End Citizens United, the super PAC that advocates for campaign finance reform, and a former Topeka City Councilor. Decades in politics have informed her expertise in campaign finance, which she uses to dissect a campaign finance decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. She tells reporter Anna Kaminski why she thinks the decision "flew under the radar" and how it has already begun to affect the midterm elections New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted and produced by Anna Kaminski. Read more at kansasreflector.com.

Bob Beatty, a Washburn University professor and Kansas political watcher, predicts the U.S. Senate race in Kansas will be the No. 1 Senate race in the country come November. In conversation with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter the day after the Aug. 4 primary, he explains how candidates won their races and what they need to do to secure November victories. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted by Tim Carpenter and produced by Anna Kaminski.

The Kansas Reflector staff discuss what to watch out for on primary day in Kansas, previewing key elections such as the Republican gubernatorial race and Democratic U.S. Senate race. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted by Clay Wirestone and produced by Anna Kaminski. Cover photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight.

That small-town postcard mural isn’t just a tourist attraction. Topeka artist Sarah Fizell discusses with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan Chilson the public health benefits of art that is accessible to everyone. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted by Morgan Chilson and produced by Anna Kaminski.

As one of 11 Democrats running for Kansas' open U.S. Senate seat in August, Noah Taylor has set himself apart with a no-filter approach to politics. He slips curse words into his promotional materials and offers blunt opinions on TikTok. In conversation with Kansas Reflector reporter Anna Kaminski, he said "people aren't looking for someone to come riding in on a white horse and save the day." Instead, he said he wants to "stand up, stand tall, and fight like hell with them." New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. This episode was hosted and produced by Anna Kaminski.

Colin McRoberts is determined to build a better Kansas Democratic base as he runs for U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann's seat in the big 1st Congressional District. He discusses with senior reporter Tim Carpenter his specialty in negotiations, his favorite conspiracy theory and how he sees Trump administration policies on research funding and international aid hurting Kansans. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe. This episode was hosted by Tim Carpenter and produced by Anna Kaminski.

When Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog unexpectedly filed to run for governor hours before the filing deadline, he surprised the Kansas political world, prompting current Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to call his campaign "foolhardy." In conversation with Kansas Reflector's editor-in-chief, Sherman Smith, Skoog criticizes Republican frontrunner Ty Masterson, advocates for Medicaid expansion and property tax relief and details his path to public service. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe. This episode was hosted by Sherman Smith and produced by Anna Kaminski.

With roughly six months left as governor, Laura Kelly reflects on how she entered the governor's office and speaks on how she hopes to leave it in an interview with senior reporter Tim Carpenter. She highlights what she views as major accomplishments, recounts how she beat tough gubernatorial opponents (twice), and articulates why she wanted to change to economic and social perception of Kansas. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe. This episode was hosted by Tim Carpenter and produced by Anna Kaminski.

Cole Epley is one of four Democrats challenging U.S. Rep. Ron Estes in August, but Epley has differentiated himself from his fellow Democratic candidates by leaning into Democratic socialism and unapologetically progressive ideals. Kansas Reflector's editor-in-chief Sherman Smith speaks with Epley about his political origins, his approach to fundraising outside the bounds of the traditional party and his views on key issues such as immigration and abortion. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of Kansas politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe.

Residents in Galena, Kansas, are worried that noxious smells and a smoldering fire at the town's landfill are polluting the air and affecting their health. They are pushing for more testing to ensure the environment in their southeast Kansas town is safe.

Kevin Latz is one of 11 Kansas Democrats running to replace U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, and he said he is differentiating himself from the rest with his experience as a surgeon, physician and father. He said scientists are underrepresented in Congress, and his work making difficult decisions, operating under pressure and treating everyone as a patient mirrors that of a lawmaker's. His policy priorities span generations, but he is particularly passionate about gun safety policy and ensuring kids are protected from social media. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of Kansas politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe.

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone and managing editor Sherman Smith break down the latest news in Kansas politics as election season heats up. They discuss the latest candidates, which races they're paying attention to and what Kansas Reflector has been covering in the lead-up to the Aug. 4 primary election. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of Kansas politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe.

Why was Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s name repeated four times in a ad from an outside group? Why did a Democratic candidate for Kansas governor begin her TV ad in a grocery store, and why did her primary opponent film his from his kitchen? Can a pastor translate his lifetime of public speaking experience to voters as he runs for U.S. Senate? Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, gives a play-by-play of Kansas politicians’ choices in their early campaign ads. He answers these questions and more with senior reporter Tim Carpenter in an interview woven with clips from a dozen campaign ads running ahead of the 2026 primary election. New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of Kansas politics and current events. Get the latest news from Kansas Reflector by signing up for our free newsletters at kansasreflector.com/subscribe.

Chris Carmichael is one of four Democratic candidates for Kansas' 4th congressional district.

Sandy Brown, president of the Kansas Abortion Fund, talks about her organization's evolving work. The small, all-volunteer, Lawrence-based nonprofit now pays for one-fourth of the abortions received by Kansas women and serves as a voice for women's reproductive rights. Despite the 2022 vote in Kansas to preserve the right to terminate a pregnancy, the Legislature continues to pass new restrictions, and another constitutional amendment vote this August could further jeopardize reproductive rights.

State Sen. Patrick Schmidt is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Kansas. But he has to make it through the Democratic primary field to face Sen. Roger Marshall, the incumbent Republican and Trump ally.