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Snollygoster
New episodes every Thursday
Hosted by Mike Thompson

Snollygoster takes an in-depth look at politics in Ohio. Each week we dig into the top political stories in Columbus and Ohio and explore national stories that impact the state by talking with politicians, reporters and other news-makers. (In case you're wondering, a "snollygoster" is a shrewd and unprincipled politician.)

Listen to Snollygoster on the WOSU Public Media mobile app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Latest Episodes
  • The Power Grab - red with handshake and the Ohio Statehouse - WOSU Public Media and the NPR Network
    The Power Grab: An Unholy Alliance
    In this episode, we’ll explore how Larry Householder rounded up votes to become Ohio House Speaker. And, how he strong-armed opponents of the bill he promised to FirstEnergy, known as HB 6. We’ll see how FirstEnergy’s team reacted to a campaign to fight the bill and how the conspirators scrambled to keep it all together as federal investigators honed in.
  • Issue 1 supporters celebrate at a watch party.
    Ohio voters approve abortion rights and marijuana - what happens next?
    Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed ballot measures for abortion and reproductive rights, as well as the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. We take a look at the results and talk about where we go from here with Anna Staver, the host of WOSU's "All Sides with Anna Staver."
  • The Power Grab - red with handshake and the Ohio Statehouse - WOSU Public Media and the NPR Network
    The Power Grab: The Bank
    In the first episode of the WOSU podcast The Power Grab, we delve into the shocking arrest of Republican House Speaker Larry Householder and the federal racketeering charges against him.
  • The Power Grab - red with handshake and the Ohio Statehouse - WOSU Public Media and the NPR Network
    Introducing The Power Grab
    Starting Monday, November 6, WOSU's original podcast The Power Grab will take a tour of Ohio’s backrooms and listen in on clandestine FBI recordings of schemes by Larry Householder and FirstEnergy to wrangle power for corporate and personal profits.
  • Signs for and against a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights in Ohio.
    The final countdown to election day for Ohio's abortion question
    A look at the ramifications of Ohio abortion ballot measures with Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler with Election Day looming, and we get a sneak-peak at a new podcast about the Larry Householder bribery scandal.
  • cannabis marijuana weed pot
    A look at Maryland's vote to legalize marijuana
    Ohio voters will soon decide whether to whether to legalize recreational cannabis. Twenty-three states have already done so, with Maryland being the latest. Aaron Klein, a senior fellow in Economic Studies with the Brookings Institute, joins the show.
  • Voters line up at the Franklin County Board of Elections on Morse Road to vote early for the Aug. 8, 2023 special election.
    Unpacking the debate over parental rights in Ohio's Issue 1
    Voting has begun on Issue 1, the abortion rights amendment. Opponents argue that parents will lose the right to have a say if their child chooses an abortion. This week on Snollygoster, host Mike Thompson discusses the issue with Capital University law professor Dan Kobil and Dr. Courtney Kerestes, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health.
  • The state capitol building in Lansing Michigan.
    How a reproductive rights amendment passed in Michigan
    In this episode of Snollygoster, we look at the proposed abortion rights amendment and how it compares to Michigan's amendment from last year. Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Radio, discusses the dynamics and messaging of her state's successful abortion rights campaign.
  • Ohio Statehouse
    Ohio Redistricting Commission stumbles at first meeting
    Ohio's redistricting process restarted this week, but it was a false start. On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, host Mike Thompson discusses the ongoing distract map drama with Karen Kasler, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief.
  • Abortion issue will attract attention and money from across the county
    Abortion rights will be Issue 1 both on the ballot and in the minds of most voters going to the polls. On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, host Mike Thompson discusses the politics of abortion with long-time political reporter Ken Rudin, host of the Political Junkie podcast.
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