The Natural State of Politics: Recent Episodes
JR Davis
KNWA Today's JR Davis hosts this bi-weekly podcast, interviewing political figures and others relevant to the Northwest Arkansas political scene.
July 22, 2014 - Arkansas Land Commissioner and Republican John Thurston joined the Natural State of Politics today to discuss his re-election campaign and what his job entails.
June 13, 2014 - Former Congressman and Democratic Gubernatorial Mike Ross joined the Natural State of Politics today to discuss his newly announced Jobs First Economic plan, the campaign, prison problems, the private option heading into 2015 and recent polling.
June 10, 2014 - Today, Arkansas voters will head to the polls to decide the GOP nominee for attorney general between central Arkansas attorneys Leslie Rutledge and David Sterling. Not only is it the only statewide runoff on the ballot, but it's also the first ever statewide runoff between Republicans in the Natural State.
Both candidates joined the Natural State of Politics podcast this morning to talk about the race, each other and whether or not they would be willing support the other in November after an extremely heated primary.
June 4, 2014 - Former Congressman and current Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson joins the podcast today to talk about his campaign, his public safety initiative, the EPA's latest proposal and the newest attack launched his way.
June 3, 2014 - Congressman and Republican U.S. Senate challenger Tom Cotton joined the podcast today to talk about the EPA proposal, the latest on the VA scandal, his thoughts on the Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl situation and more.
May 29, 2014 - David Sterling is currently facing Leslie Rutledge in the June 10th Republican runoff for Attorney General, and he joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today as we head into early voting next week. He sets the record straight on the electric chair, discusses his qualifications and whether or not he thinks the office of attorney general should be a nonpartisan position, considering the responsibility of the state's attorney is to defend Arkansas law despite personal belief.
Sterling is an attorney from North Little Rock.
May 28, 2014 - Leslie Rutledge is currently facing David Sterling in the June 10th Republican runoff for Attorney General, and she joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss her campaign, her opponent, what makes her qualified for the office and whether her values will get in the way of the job. Rutledge is the former attorney for ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee and the Republican National Committee. She won Tuesday's primary but fell short of the needed 50 percent needed to win the nomination outright. She and Sterling were running against Jacksonville attorney Patricia Nation, who recently endorsed Rutledge.
Look for my interview with Sterling tomorrow.
May 1, 2014 - State Senator Bryan King (R-Green Forest), the lead sponsor of the the state's Voter ID law (now Act 595), joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the controversial law.
A recent decision by an Arkansas judge ruled the law unconstitutional under Article 3, Sections 1 and 2 of the Arkansas Constitution. King very much disagrees with the judge's take on the constitution. Hear why by clicking the link.
MOST RECENTLY: Earlier this week, the Arkansas Supreme Court granted a stay on the judge's ruling, meaning Act 595 will remain in place until the court rules on the issue. King believes that could come after primary elections.
April 24, 2014 - Dr. Jay Barth, Political Science Professor at Hendrix College, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the recent NYT/Kaiser poll which has Senator Mark Pryor (D) up 10 points over Congressman Tom Cotton (R) in Arkansas's U.S. Senate race.
Barth talks about the similarities to the recent Talk Business/Hendrix College poll that had Pryor up 3, and weighs in on what he thinks both candidates need to do to win in November.
April 22, 2014 - Former Little Rock businessman and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Curtis Coleman, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss Saturday's debate, his campaign, and more.
April 15, 2014 - Republican strategist and partner at Wickers Group Bryan Sanders joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the recent poll numbers in the Arkansas U.S. Senate race and the negative ads we continue to see from outside interest groups.
Sanders has worked on numerous state and national campaigns, including Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign for president. In 2011 Campaign and Elections named Bryan one of its "Rising Stars of American Politics," a distinction given to only 15 Republicans and 15 Democrats in the country each year.
Sanders and his wife, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and their daughter Scarlett, live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
April 8, 2014 - Colonel "Colonel" Conrad Reynolds, a Republican candidate for Arkansas's Second District Congressional seat, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss his campaign, his opponents (State Rep. Ann Clemmer and French Hill), a "French Poodle" controversy, an AR-15 giveaway and having his name officially changed to "Colonel".
This one is a "must-listen".
April 3, 2014 - The GOP outfiled Dems in Washington County this year, but does that mean the county is now red? That's the question I posed to Tyler Clark, chairman of the Washington County Democrats and Jim Reavis, former chairman of the Washington County Republicans.
March 25, 2014 - State Representative Fred Love (D-29) of Little Rock joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to recap the fiscal session, the recent speaker elections -- of which Love was the only Democrat to throw his hat in for, and Arkansas Democrats' chances for taking back the House in 2015.
Love served on the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee; the House Insurance and Commerce Committee; the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology; and the Joint Budget Committee as part of the 89th General Assembly.
March 20, 2014 - Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR2) joins 'The Natural State of Politics' again for an update his campaign, his impressive fundraising so far, and his would-be opponent -- Democrat John Burkhalter. I also asked the congressman if he believes there's such a thing as a "Conservative Democrat". His answer is worth listening to.
March 13, 2014 - Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, John Burkhalter, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' to talk about his campaign, his relationships with "the mikes", and the current lawsuit and allegations facing him from a former business partner.
March 11, 2014 - Former Republican Congressman Asa Hutchinson joins 'The Natural State of Politics' to talk about the campaign, his 2006 bid, his would-be Democratic opponent Mike Ross, and more.
March 7, 2014 - Former Republican governor Mike Huckabee joins 'The Natural State of Politics' for an exclusive interview while he was in Northwest Arkansas Thursday night. He talked about a possible 2016 presidential bid, the situation in Ukraine, Arkansas politics, Miley Cyrus (Yup), and more.
March 4, 2014 - State House Minority Leader Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville) joins 'The Natural State of Politics' once again for a "short but sweet" update on today's private option vote. Leding says he feels good about passage on the 5th try, and adds that the filing period had a lot to do with some GOP 'no' votes early on.
February 27, 2014 - University of Arkansas Journalism and Political Science Professor Hoyt Purvis joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to talk 2014 elections and what has surprised him so far.
February 25, 2014 - State House Speaker Davy Carter joins 'The Natural State of Politics' once again to recap the crazy week at the State Capitol, sending Capitol Police after a member, and the latest on the private option front. Carter tells it like it is regarding members votes. It's long but worth a listen!
February 20, 2014 - Former Congressman and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Ross joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss his campaign, tax cut proposal, recent polls, the private option and more.
February 18, 2014 - Arkansas Senate President Pro Tem joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the latest on the 'Private Option' vote in the Senate and his new responsibilities regarding the vacant Lt Gov's office.
February 13, 2014 - State Representative and House Minority Leader Greg Leding (D - 84) joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the very latest on the Private Option battle in Little Rock.
February 11, 2014 - Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR2) joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss his decision to run for Lieutenant Governor, his "retirement" from the U.S. House, the Private Option, 2014 Elections and More.
February 6, 2014 - Republican Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, Tom Cotton, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the debt ceiling, farm bill, and his campaign and opponent, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D).
February 4, 2014 - Rep. Davy Carter (R), speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, joins 'The Natural State of Politics' today to discuss the “private option” Medicaid expansion funding fight when the fiscal session begins Feb. 10.
January 30, 2014 - Senator Mark Pryor (D) joins 'The Natural State of Politics' podcast today to discuss his Senate race against Rep. Tom Cotton (R), his critical response to the president's State of the Union Address and the Farm Bill.