Deep Background

Latest Episodes:

From militia to sovereign citizens to alt-right May 03, 2017

Show notes

Militia, sovereign citizens, Freemen movements came before. Now the alt-right ascends, says Star reporter Judy L. Thomas in a podcast.

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Trump's first 100 days Apr 26, 2017

Show notes

Members of the Star’s editorial board, who’d argued for giving President Donald Trump, weigh in on his White House tenure as he nears 100 days in the Oval Office.

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Problems continue to plague the Jackson County Jail Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

Details of a death of a detainee at the Jackson County Jail have raised new questions about management of the facility — and whether taxpayers will soon need to consider expanding jail space. The Star's Mike Hendricks and Dave Helling of the Star's editorial board discuss the newest revelations, and plans to address the jail's problems, in the Deep Background podcast.

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Do ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘Mr. Robot,’ ‘The Circle’ channel our tech angst? Apr 12, 2017

Show notes

Worries about how technology changes our lives are creeping into our culture. Books, TVs and movies continue to reflect society’s love with, and nervousness about, how technology is changing the world. Three Star reporters discuss art’s themes on technology.

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Kansas City's beer scene has been brewing for years Apr 05, 2017

Show notes

Food and beverage writer Sarah Gish talks about IPAs, stouts and sours in summing up the vibrant Kansas City beer scene.

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Kansas City voters to look at tax hikes and pot rules Mar 29, 2017

Show notes

Kansas City voters will decide whether to spend $800 million in the coming decades to fix infrastructure, mitigate flooding, replace an animal shelter and comply with federal rules on disability accommodation. They'll also decide whether to eliminate potential jail sentences for municipal charges on marijuana possession.

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Missouri politics in the early days of the Greitens administration Mar 22, 2017

Show notes

Jason Hancock, Bryan Lowry, and Dave Helling dissect the first half of the Missouri legislative session and the first two months of Eric Greitens' term as governor.

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The crisis in South Sudan Mar 15, 2017

Show notes

The Kansas City Star's Melinda Hennenberger recently traveled to central Africa, and discusses the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis that is costing hundreds of thousands of lives. Dave Helling of the Star is part of the discussion.

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The Big 12 basketball tournament is here Mar 08, 2017

Show notes

Dave Helling, Blair Kerkhoff, and Steve Vockrodt of The Kansas City Star discuss the Big 12 men's basketball tournament in downtown Kansas City — why it's here, why it might stay here, and who might win.

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On firefighters, soot, cancer and the courts Mar 01, 2017

Show notes

Star reporter Mike Hendricks talks about his work documenting the high risk firefighters face from cancer and the uphill battle they and their beneficiaries must overcome to prove their jobs made them sick.

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