Ballot Battleground: Nevada - KRNV

Latest Episodes:

Why Nevada is refusing to hand over voter data with Sec. of State Cisco Aguilar Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

In August, Nevada government agencies were hit with a crippling ransomware attack. Thankfully, Nevada’s election infrastructure wasn’t affected.

But against that backdrop — and with concern over Nevadans’ personal information still fresh — the Department of Justice is now requesting driver’s license records and partial Social Security numbers for every registered voter in the state.

Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar joins this week to discuss how Nevada’s election systems held up during the cyberattack, why he won’t release voter data to the Trump administration and a first look at initiatives that could appear on Nevada’s 2026 ballot.

Nevada Secretary of State concerned about DOJ requests for voter data

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Mass deportations in Nevada: Both sides of the debate - part 2 Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

ICE arrests are surging in Nevada as the Trump administration moves forward with its mass deportation agenda promised in the campaign.

In this episode, we go beyond the headlines to hear from both sides of the immigration debate.

First, Athar Haseebullah of the ACLU of Nevada explains why his organization is fighting back against what it sees as government overreach.

Then, Bruce Parks, chair of the Washoe County Republican Party, makes the case for why he supports mass deportations.

Inside ICE arrests in Nevada — Part 1

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Inside ICE arrests in Nevada — Part 1 Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

President Trump’s second term has put mass deportations back at the center of U.S. politics — and Nevada offers a revealing look at what that means on the ground.

In part 1 of our two-part series, host Ben Margiott talks to reporter Kim Burrows, who witnessed several ICE arrests during an exclusive ridealong in May.

Then, we turn to The Nevada Independent’s Eric Neugeboren and Isabella Aldrete, who crunched the numbers to answer a pressing question: Who is ICE actually arresting in Nevada — violent criminals, or people whose only offense is crossing the border illegally? Analysis: ICE arrests are surging in Nevada — including of people with no criminal record

ICE arrests multiple people with alleged criminal pasts during northern Nevada operation

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From Reid to Sandoval: Nevada author Pat Hickey’s portraits of power Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

The Silver State is home to some of the most interesting characters - political and otherwise.

Former Assemblyman, journalist and columnist Pat Hickey recently released Here and Hereafter: Nevada Voices on Life and the Great Beyond.

The book includes inspiring, intimate portraits of power of some of the most famous, infamous and influential Nevadans of the 21st century. Host Ben Margiott interviews Hickey about his extended interviews with notable Nevadans like Harry Reid, Brian Sandoval, Mike Tyson, Barbara Cegavske and dozens more.

Buy the book here: https://pathickey.net/here-and-hereafter/

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Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto on Medicaid, tourism, the Epstein files and Gaza Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) is becoming a more prominent figure in the Democratic party as it tries to find the most effective way to push back against the second Trump administration.

The tension between working across the aisle to make progress and resisting took center stage last week during a dustup between Cortez Masto and fellow Democratic Sen. Cory Booker.

In an extended interview, host Ben Margiott asks Cortez Masto about that intraparty disagreement, Medicaid cuts, the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill, No Tax on Tips, Las Vegas tourism, the Epstein files, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and more.

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How will the 2026 elections be different in Nevada? With All Voting is Local’s Kerry Durmick Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

How will the 2026 elections be different because of the 2025 legislature?

After sweeping changes in the last 5 years, Nevada lawmakers didn't make any wholesale changes to how we vote.

But they did tweak certain laws regarding AI in campaign materials, sample ballot deadlines and language access.

Host Ben Margiott interviews Kerry Durmick, the Nevada state director of All Voting is Local, a nonpartisan voting rights advocacy group.

Ben and Kerry discuss what changed, what didn't and the controversial proposal that will be on your ballot in 2026.

Voter ID - a critical safeguard or unnecessary burden? Nevada voters could decide

Should recounts be automatic in close Nevada elections?

Drag Queen Devon. Death Smith. Veto Villain — nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now (pt. 1) with Beth Smith and Dr. Amy Pason

Nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now - how the Dignity Index ranks them (pt. 2) with Andre Wade and Dr. Amy Pason

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How will the One Big Beautiful Bill affect Nevada? A closer look at Medicaid and SNAP cuts Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump's signature economic package, the One Big Beautiful Bill, is now the law of the land. It extends the Trump tax cuts, ends the tax on tips and boosts border security spending, among other GOP priorities.

But it also makes drastic cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid and food assistance.

How will these cuts affect Nevadans? How will our community health centers and food banks be impacted?

This week, host Ben Margiott interviews Mandi Larsen, the chief development officer for Northern Nevada HOPES and Jocelyn Lantrip, the marketing director for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

'Very alarming:' 114k Nevadans could lose health care in Pres. Trump's 'beautiful bill' Proposed cuts to SNAP benefits set to burden local food banks Nevada congresswoman introduces bill to restore full gambling loss deductions ⁠Vote Ballot Battleground: Nevada for Best Local Podcast

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‘No Tax on Tips’ effort is gaining momentum in Congress. It’s great politics, but is it good policy? With Culinary Union Local 226 Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

It was a simple campaign promise to put money back in people's wallets during a Presidential election centered on the economy.

'No Tax on Tips' resonated with voters across the country but especially in Nevada, which has the highest percentage of tipped workers.

That campaign promise, first raised by President Donald Trump, has not fallen by the wayside. Multiple proposals are actively being debated in Congress.

Before it comes up for final consideration - we wanted to take a deep dive on ‘No Tax on Tips.’ How would it work? Who would it help? And would it be unfair to others?

This week, host Ben Margiott interviews two people with Culinary Union Local 226, the most influential union in the Silver State.

Ted Pappageorge, the union's Secretary-Treasurer and Sebastian Espinoza, a longtime union member and busser at Caesars Palace join for a 'No Tax on Tips' conversation.

It’s clear 'No Tax on Tips' is great politics - but will it be good policy?

Vote Ballot Battleground: Nevada for Best Local Podcast

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What happened in chaotic ending to Nevada legislature? Recapping the 2025 session with reporter Sophie Lincoln and analyst Fred Lokken Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Late nights, filibusters and political gamesmanship. The end of the 2025 session of the Nevada legislature had all the usual shenanigans we’ve come to expect as sine die approaches in Carson City.

On this episode of Ballot Battleground: Nevada, what happened? Which bills lived and died? And what does it all mean moving forward?

We’ll hone in on the final chaotic hours with KRNV/KRXI reporter Sophie Lincoln who was our boots on the ground for day 120. Plus, we examine the bigger picture (and what it could mean for 2026) with TMCC political science professor Fred Lokken.

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Education funding, film tax credits, nonpartisans and vetoes: The biggest questions as the Nevada legislature winds down with reporters Tabitha Mueller and Paul Boger May 28, 2025

Show notes

It is crunch time in Carson City — less than a week remains in the 83rd session of the Nevada legislature. Major policy proposals, big budget questions and the endgame are all still up in the air.

Will education get a funding increase this year? Is there room for state workers to get raises? What about tax credits for movie companies? Will Governor Lombardo’s major pieces of legislation make it through and how many bills will he veto?

This week, it's a reporter roundtable with two of the must plugged-in journalists in the building. Host Ben Margiott chats with Tabitha Mueller of The Nevada Independent and Paul Boger of Nevada Public Radio.

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