PODCAST · news
LaPolitics Report
by Hosted by Jeremy Alford
A podcast for people who love Louisiana politics, from www.LaPoliticsWeekly.com and www.LouisianaTracker.com
Episodes
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Ep. 82: The House Democratic Chair
(Reposted from April 6, 2026 due to technical error) As part of an ongoing series on the Louisiana Legislature's various chairs, episode 82 of the LaPolitics Report Podcast focuses on the head of the minority party's efforts in the lower chamber. House Democratic Caucus Chair Kyle Green discusses...
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Ep. 91: Gone fishin' (with CCA's Rad Trascher)
Welcome to the space where hunting and fishing intersect with politics — with our guide Rad Trascher, executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana. He showed up for the final episode of season 8 of the LaPolitics Report Podcast to discuss commercial versus recreational...
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Ep. 90: Session Postmortem (1979 vs. 2026)
Adam Knapp and Barry Erwin of Better Louisiana help guide this episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast from the heyday of hayride politics in the late 1970s to today's unpredictable landscape. How has the culture of the Capitol changed? Why was this year's legislative gathering the "session that...
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Ep. 89: The Investigative Reporters
In the latest episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, we're diving deep into the topic of investigative journalism, particularly as it applies to broadcast news. Featuring anchor Chris Nakamoto, the chief investigative journalist at WAFB-TV, and Avery Davidson, a former investigative producer,...
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Ep. 88: The Speaker Speaks
House Speaker Phillip DeVillier is the guest on this episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast. What are his political plans when this term ends? What's on tap for the 2027 regular session? More immediately, what's driving the ongoing regular session and could redistricting get in the way of the...
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Ep. 87: Lynnel & Kyle Ruckert
The power couple of Lynnel and Kyle Ruckert are featured in this episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast. Both are former chiefs of staff to high-ranking officials in Louisiana and Washington and are now sought-after consultants for campaigns and policy advocacy. They discuss their paths to...
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Ep. 86: Lobbyist Joe Mapes
Joe Mapes, the longtime lobbyist for Farm Bureau and many others, reflects on 50 years in government relations. Mapes shares his very first experience as a young man gathering votes for a tic sheet in 1976. And it didn’t go very well. Which state senator did he encounter? You’ll have to listen to...
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Ep. 85: Secretary of State Nancy Landry
Secretary of State Nancy Landry said in this episode she has decided to seek re-election next year — and hints at what might happen after one more term. Landry also discusses the new open primary system and how prepared election workers are for the change.
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Ep. 84: Chief of Staff Julie Emerson
In the latest LaPolitics Report Podcast, you'll learn how former Ways and Means Chair Julie Emerson didn't get hired by Gov. Jeff Landry, back when he was in Congress 15 years ago, before finally being selected this year as his current chief of staff. Emerson also talks about campaign songs and...
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Ep. 83: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser
In this latest episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser offers an alternative take on the Legislature's push to offer incentives to the aerospace tech industry. Nungesser also share his views on President Donald Trump, the state's new closed primary system (he doesn't...
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From the Archives: Roy Fletcher
Recorded in November 2016, this is Episode 9 featuring Baton Rouge media consultant Roy Fletcher, who talked about his very diverse body of work. From helping run John McCain’s presidential campaign to creating iconic images on TV for statewide elected officials, Fletcher has seen it all. This...
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From the Archives: Matt Block & Richard Carbo
Recorded in May 2017 for our second season, Episode 16 featured two of then-Gov. John Bel Edwards’ key aides: Matthew Block and Richard Carbo. Block discussed his job as the administration’s executive counsel. Carbo, Edwards’ communications director, touched on working with the press and shared...
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Ep. 82: The House Democratic Caucus Chair
An Ongoing Series on the Legislature's Chairs: As part of an ongoing series on the Louisiana Legislature's various chairs, episode 82 of the LaPolitics Report Podcast focuses on the head of the minority party's efforts in the lower chamber. House Democratic Caucus Chair Kyle Green discusses the...
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Ep. 81: Paul Sawyer
In the latest episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, we have a wide-ranging conversation with state Rep.-elect Paul Sawyer that eventually lands on English surnames, the characters created by Mark Twain and the writing prowess of late President Ulysses S. Grant. Somewhere in between, we hear...
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From the Archives: Clay Higgins
Recorded in April 2017 for the second season of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, this episode from the archives features Congressman Clay Higgins. This was back when Higgins was arguably the least-known member of Louisiana's congressional delegation, fresh off of an unexpected election victory. In...
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From the Archives: Lance Harris
Recorded in September 2016 for the first season of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, this episode from the archives features Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Member Lance Harris. Serving then as the state House GOP chair, Harris discussed legislative politics of the day and offered up…
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Ep. 80: Ways & Means Chair Tony Bacala
House Ways and Means Chair Tony Bacala opens up this eighth season of the LaPolitics Report podcast with an overview of the regular session, tales from a life in law enforcement and an explanation for why his committee is known as "Ways to be Mean." Plus, we kick off this 80th episode of the pod...
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Ep. 79: Davante Lewis
On this episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast, Davante Lewis talks about being the youngest member of the Public Service Commission and one of the highest ranking Democrats in Louisiana. How did he pull off a surprising win against a seasoned incumbent? What are the biggest challenges for an...
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Ep. 78: Mike Strain
Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain discusses his unique route to elected office, how the regular session treated his department and what his own political future might look like. For our regular dose of political history, we also hear from a former statewide elected office who used his…
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From the Archives: Former Sen. Fred Mills
On the LaPolitics Report Podcast microphone is former Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Mills. He'll keep you laughing in this episode that was recorded in October 2016 as he doles out lessons on marketing, medicine and Marcel Proust. The chairman also spent some time presenting a roadmap…
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From the Archives: Pollster Bernie Pinsonat
Baton Rouge pollster Bernie Pinsonat discusses the Independent Party and offers four tips for evaluating a poll in this episode that was recorded in January 2017. We also hear a little bit about Pinsonat’s background, his upbringing in Livonia and his time working for former U.S. Sen. J. Bennett...
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Ep. 77: Norman Morris
Louisiana Realtors CEO Norman Morris is the latest guest on the LaPolitics Report Podcast. From what path he followed into Capitol politics to how he discovered the power of associations, Morris offers a roadmap for anyone interested in government relations. With an eye to association management,...
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Ep. 76: John Couvillon
Republicans are roughly a year or less away from capturing a plurality in Louisiana's voter registration, pollster John Couvillon said in the latest episode of the LaPolitics Report Podcast. "The bigger picture, which is also worth communicating to you, is the Democratic plurality in voter...
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Ep. 75: Meg Casper Sunstrom
How does the Legislative Communications Office operate? What's up with the new studio inside the Capitol? Why were security protocols updated again for the regular session? For answers to all of these questions —and much more — Meg Casper Sunstrom, the chief communications officer for the…
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From the Archives: J.P. Morrell
Recorded in September 2016, from Episode 2 of our very first season, New Orleans Councilman (then-Rev and Fist Chair) J.P. Morrell sat down for a conversation that may have focused a little too much on comic books and tennis shoes. But that doesn’t come up until the end of the show. Before that,...
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From the Archives: Louis Reine
Recorded in March 2017, this episode (Episode 22 from Season 4) features Louisiana AFL-CIO president Louis Reine reflecting on his youth in Baton Rouge, from growing up in a small business to slowly making his way into the ranks of organized labor. He also offered an overview of what unions do,...
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Ep. 74: Will Green
In the first episode from Season 7, LABI President Will Green explains the quick pace of the ongoing regular session and what it means in terms of policy proposals to watch. Plus, a deep dive on the expected realignment of the state Transportation Department and the litany of insurance bills on...
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From the Archives: Ralph Abraham (2016)
Recorded in November 2016, this episode spotlighted then-Congressman Ralph Abraham (now the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health) discussing his life in a small town as both a physician and veterinarian. While it may sound sleepy, Abraham's travels have brought him everywhere from the...
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Ep. 73: Archie Chaisson III
Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III drops into the studio to explain the differences between a police jury form of government and home rule. Plus, everything you ever wanted to know about local politics but were too afraid to ask.
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Ep. 71: Preston Robinson & George Kennedy
In the second part of this series on consultants, the minds behind Robinson+Kennedy, political consultant Preston Robinson and media consultant George Kennedy, dive deep into the creative process. How do campaign ads come together? How do multi-member firms agree on things like messaging? They…
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Ep. 72: Rep. Neil Riser
This week's audio haul leads off with a special episode (appearing out of chronological order for your political needs) featuring State Rep. Neil Riser, the former chair of the Senate and Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee. Riser was asked to come on the LaPolitics Report podcast to discuss Gov.…
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Ep. 70: Mary-Patricia Wray
Appearing in episode No. 70, Mary-Patricia Wray of Top Drawer Strategies kicks off a two-part series on consultants.
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Ep. 69: Tim Temple
Will the recent storm on the East Coast impact our insurance market? Will there be a special session on insurance? Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple weighs in on all of it, and a lot more. Plus, we kick off this episode with one of Huey Long's most unforgettable speeches.
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Ep. 68: Meet the Heberts
How do married couples in politics make it all work? Rep. Troy Hebert and his wife, Kristie Hebert, the first woman chair of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association Board. Plus, we kick off this episode with words of marital wisdom from Louisiana's own odd power couple: James Carville and…
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From the Archives: Sally Nungesser (2017)
In this week's archived episode of the LaPolitics Report podcast, we take a deep dive into the beating heart of any successful political infrastructure: fundraising, the mother’s milk of elections. Recorded in May of 2017, this episode features Sally Nungesser of Nungesser Consulting. She has...
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Ep. 67: GOP Convention Basics with Mike Bayham
A fourth-time delegate to the Republican National Convention this week, state Rep. Mike Bayham is the guest for episode 67 of the LaPolitics Report podcast. While he's backing former President Donald Trump this go around, Bayham on three other occasions sought to back candidates who weren't the...
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Ep. 66: Garret Graves
Will Congressman Garret Graves, who is not seeking re-election this fall, run for the Public Service Commission? That question gets answered on the new episode of the LaPolitics Report podcast. Graves also discussed his first race for elected office against the late Gov. Edwin Washington Edwards,...
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From the Archives: Greg Hilburn (2016)
Recorded in September 2016, this LaPolitics Report podcast features a sometimes comical conversation with USA Today Network of Louisiana reporter Greg Hilburn about politics and family. There have been many changes to journalism since Hilburn first started as a scribe, covering sports at times…
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From the Archives: Melinda Deslatte (2016)
Recorded in November 2016, this interview with former Associated Press Capitol Bureau Chief Melinda Deslatte features a serious conversation about the evolution of political journalism in Louisiana and what the future might hold for her trade. Now with the Public Affairs Research Council…
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From the Archives: Butch Speer (2015)
Alfred "Butch" Speer, a member of the state Ethics Board and the former clerk of the House of Representatives, has survived constitutional conventions and more than one round of redistricting. He's also forgotten more about regular sessions than most of us will ever learn. Recorded in February...
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Ep. 65: Jason Hebert
This latest episode arrives in May 2024, the 10th anniversary of the passing of LaPolitics founder John Maginnis. In addition to writing a couple of valuable books on Louisiana politics, and creating the state's most popular trade publication for politicos, Maginnis produced a DVD set called "How...
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From the Archives: John Alario (2016)
This is it! The very first episode of the LaPolitics Report podcast, featuring John Alario, one of only three American politicians to have served as both a House speaker and Senate president in the same state Legislature. Recorded in August 2016, Alario opened up about what he considered then to…
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From the Archives: Taylor Barras (2016)
Recorded in October 2016 during season two of the LaPolitics Report podcast, this episode features Commissioner of Administration (and then-state House Speaker) Taylor Barras. He explained how he learned about politics in a grocery store, via the family business growing up, and told us what it…
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Ep. 64: Jeff Landry
Episode 64 features Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who focuses most of his interview on this year's proposed constitutional convention. He offers his take on the Senate's perceived opposition and answers a question about what role (if any) former President Donald Trump could play in a potential...
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From the Archives: Liz Mangham
Recorded in December 2016, this opening to the third season of the LaPolitics Report featured Liz Mangham, a founding member of Southern Strategy Group’s Louisiana office. She discussed the lobbying trade in the Bayou State, her paintings and what it was like working on Kathleen Blanco’s…
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From the Archives: Randy Haynie
Recorded in August 2016, this episode features Randy Haynie, a well-known lobbyist around the Capitol and the former president of the National Association of State Lobbyists. Haynie took us through the days when lobbyists weren't even required to register with the state, up through modern…
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Ep. 63: Cleo Fields
One of the most storied names in Louisiana politics — Cleo Fields — is the guest for Episode 63 of the LaPolitics Report podcast. A former and current member of the Louisiana Legislature's upper chamber, Fields is the chair of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee. That's the panel that...
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Ep. 62: Jason DeCuir
To followup on a series of tax-related episodes, we brought in Jason DeCuir, who formerly served as chief of staff, assistant secretary and executive counsel at the Louisiana Department of Revenue. DeCuir is the co-owner and partner of Advantous Consulting and the founding partner of Advantous…
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From the Archives: Francis Thompson
This April 2017 interview with Francis Thompson (then a state senator, now a representative again) was one of the longest we've recorded, and rightfully so. Thompson is Louisiana's longest serving lawmaker — and he has much to impart. In this unmissable episode, Thompson shares some terrific...
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Ep. 61: Rev & Fisc Chair Franklin Foil
Like every episode, No. 61 opens with an audio blast from the past in the form of a 1935 Universal Newsreel on a topic near and dear to Louisiana politics. After weighing in on our regular history feature, Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chairman Franklin Foil dives into a winding interview…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does LaPolitics Report have?
LaPolitics Report currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is LaPolitics Report about?
A podcast for people who love Louisiana politics, from www.LaPoliticsWeekly.com and www.LouisianaTracker.com
How often does LaPolitics Report release new episodes?
LaPolitics Report has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to LaPolitics Report?
You can listen to LaPolitics Report on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts LaPolitics Report?
LaPolitics Report is created and hosted by Hosted by Jeremy Alford.
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