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

The book includes inspiring, intimate portraits of power of some of the most famous, infamous and influential Nevadans of the 21st century.

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

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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 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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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.

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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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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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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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It's mail time at Ballot Battleground: Nevada. This week, we're digging through the listener mailbag for the first time in 2025 with News 4 and Fox 11 morning show anchor Chris Murphy.

Ben and Chris answer questions ranging from public lands bills and no tax on tips to special sessions at the Nevada legislature and yes - the 2026 midterms.

Not to mention the GSR arena, jackpot thresholds and which Aces team is more likely to win the championship this season.

Do you have questions for our next mailbag? Send them to [email protected] and put Ballot Battleground: Nevada in the subject line.

Sen. Jacky Rosen on tariffs, deportations, voter ID and federal lands bills

Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei on tariffs, Signalgate, DOGE, immigration and more

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It's almost time to get down to brass tax in Carson City as we're a little over two-thirds of the way through the 83rd legislative session.

The massive list of bills has been whittled down somewhat, but perhaps more important than what legislation gets passed is passing a balanced budget.

With revenues lagging behind expectations, it seems Nevada may be in a budget crunch this session. How bad is it? How do both sides want to weather the storm?

This week, host Ben Margiott talks about the budget crunch with top state lawmakers from both parties — Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D) and Senate minority leader Robin Titus (R).

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Jacky Rosen is back in the U.S. Senate for a second term representing the Silver State - after she barely hung on to her seat amid the red wave.

Democrats are in the minority in both the Senate and House, but Senator Rosen says they’re finding their footing when it comes to pushing back on tariffs, deportations, DOGE and more.

This episode, host Ben Margiott sits down with Senator Rosen for an extended one-on-one conversation on all of that - not to mention her opinion of a new voter ID proposal, the criticism of her Washoe County lands bill and how her first job as a cocktail waitress on the Vegas Strip informs her work in Congress.

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