Hour 2 begins with a light discussion on unusual weather before diving into serious topics. Mary Katherine Martin of the Thomas Moore Society shares a victory over Kirkwood School District for airing an LGBTQ+ video without parental consent, emphasizing parents’ rights to opt out and assert religious freedom. Former Senator John Lamping critiques Republican hesitation on redistricting and filibuster strategies, while analyzing St. Louis County’s $81 million budget deficit and regional economic shifts. The hour closes with lighter “In Other News” stories: a man found in a Waymo trunk, Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year “slop,” Denny’s syrup-filled sneakers, and a Kentucky DoorDash driver jailed for pepper-spraying a customer’s food.