Stories From The States

The Trump administration proposed $12 billion in aid to farmers to help recover from temporary market disruptions and high production costs. 

However, the administration did not mention the effect of the tariffs that Trump put into place, which critics have said are responsible for decreased agricultural exports and hurting farmers’ bottom lines. 

While these one-time payments are expected to provide some relief, some farmers and economists want to see a long-term farm bill. 

In Episode 8, we’re handing the reins to our States Newsroom colleagues at the Kansas Reflector. Over in Topeka, the Kansas Reflector Podcast spoke with Jennifer Ifft, an extension specialist in agriculture policy at Kansas State University.

Ifft talked with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan Chilson about why long-term aid from the federal government is needed to support farmers.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Morgan Chilson from the Kansas Reflector. 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected].

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Photo: Cattle roam in a pasture near Killdeer in southwest North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

As childhood vaccination rates fall, several diseases once considered eradicated are back and spreading, most notably measles and whooping cough. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been vocal in changing vaccine recommendations for children, particularly calling for restrictions on COVID-19 and Hepatitis B vaccines. It’s all despite the CDC’s own data showing they are safe and effective. 

Some Democratic-led states are banding together to create their own health coalitions to combat reversal of the CDC’s decades-long recommendations and provide clear information to their constituents. While others, mostly Republican-led states, are trying to eliminate vaccine requirements for children.

In Episode 7, Oregon-based Dr. Lisa Reynolds shares how her state is reacting to the confusing and polarizing information from the CDC. Dr. Reynolds is also the Oregon State Senator for District 17.

Then, we’ll head over to Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo are pushing to end vaccine requirements for public schools and daycare. Christine Sexton, a senior reporter at the Florida Phoenix, will give us the rundown.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Photo of a single dose of the MMR vaccine. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

SNAP benefits are back, but the federal government is hinting at changes to the food-assistance program.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has called for the almost 42 million people who receive SNAP to reapply and has threatened to yank funding from Democratic-led states. 

Meanwhile, some food banks and food pantries are experiencing an increase in demand even after the government reopened in mid-November. Now, they’re bracing themselves. 

In Episode 6, we’re heading over to Arnold, Missouri to chat with Patrick McKelvey. He’s the executive director of Gateway Food Pantry.

Now, with upcoming SNAP work requirement changes because of the One Big Beautiful Bill, they’re worried the need will only increase.

And they anticipate other changes too. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has threatened to make additional bureaucratic changes to the federal food-assistance program. Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom’s D.C. Deputy Bureau Chief will help us understand what’s happening.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Click here for the full transcript.

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: The Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold, Missouri is still seeing an increased demand of need in their community, even after the government reopened in mid-November. (Photo courtesy of Patrick McKelvey)

If you’re standing along the beach in southeast Rhode Island, you might see some wind turbines out in the ocean. They are part of a major project meant to build up the renewable energy supplies in Rhode Island and Connecticut eventually powering 350,000 homes. 

The Revolution Wind project was about 80% completed when the Trump administration abruptly paused its construction. Although work has now resumed, one tradesman working on wind infrastructure projects is worried about the future of the industry. 

In Episode 5, we’re diving into one project that suffered a blow in Trump’s war on offshore wind as a renewable energy source. 

We’ll hear from Nancy Lavin from the Rhode Island Current about what led to the Revolution Wind project being suspended and the politics surrounding renewable energy efforts – who is lining up for and against these projects.

We’ll also chat with Nick Reynolds, a member of Local 195 of District Council 11, a local painters’ union, who worked on the project. 

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Christopher Shea from the Rhode Island Current. 

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: One of the installed Revolution Wind turbine sitting along the coast of Rhode Island is shown. (Photo courtesy of Ørsted)

This week we’re detouring from our regular programming exploring current events in the states and D.C. to revisit a collaboration delving into the most contentious yet successful wildlife restoration story in U.S. history – wolf reintroduction. 

We’re handing the reins to our colleagues at the Idaho Capital Sun and Boise State Public Radio. Earlier this year, they released a five-episode podcast series exploring how politics and science have collided while these wolves struggled to survive. 

Howl recently won Rode’s Creator of the Year award in podcasting.

In this episode of Howl, reporters Clark Corbin and Heath Druzin trek back 30 years to the beginnings of wolf reintroduction from the people who put the predators back on the Western landscape. 

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Special thanks to Boise State Public Radio and the Idaho Capital Sun.

To hear the full Howl series, head to https://idahocapitalsun.com/podcasts/howl-a-new-series-podcast-about-natures-greatest-comeback/.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Logo for “Howl” from a podcast collaboration from Boise State Public Radio and the Idaho Capital Sun. 

Many GOP-led states like Indiana are facing pressure from the president to redistrict. 

However, Utah’s redistricting fight was spearheaded by voters, who ultimately won.  

In Episode 3, Katie McKellar from the Utah News Dispatch will break down the state’s recent redistricting fight between anti-gerrymandering groups and the Utah Legislature. 

You’ll also meet Katharine Biele, one of the plaintiffs of the winning case. She’s the President of the League of Women Voters of Utah.

But is all this mid-decade redistricting normal? Brennan Center for Justice’s Kareem Crayton, who holds a doctorate in political science, will help us answer that. 

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching out for.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer.

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Across the country, many communities are seeing an increased presence of federal immigration agents. Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City have seen aggressive and sometimes violent tactics from ICE officers trying to apprehend people from the street and from their homes. 

In Episode 2, you’ll meet Ayman Soliman, a former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain. He was detained by ICE for 73 days, and now shares his experience.  

Soliman has been in the U.S. since 2014 fleeing persecution from the Egyptian government, where Ayman was detained and tortured for his work as a journalist. In 2018 he was granted asylum in the U.S. 

However, his asylum was revoked in June and he was asked to meet with ICE officials on July 9. At the check-in, Ayman was detained by ICE and sent to Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio. 

Although the Trump administration contends that ICE is focused on detaining and deporting hardened criminals, Ayman disagrees. 

“I don’t think these are the worst of the worst. This is just a statement that they made to convince the American public that these people deserve to be deported and to cover their racist reasons behind the deportation.” 

With increased ICE raids, many U.S. citizens also have been swept up and detained. You’ll hear from Washington, D.C., Bureau reporter Ariana Figueroa, who has reported about this development.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching out for.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Special thank you Marty Schladen from the Ohio Capital Journal.

Click here for the full transcript. 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.

Photo: Ayman Soliman, the former Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital whom federal authorities are trying to deport on what his lawyers are saying is a trumped-up basis. (Photo courtesy of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.)

The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” deeply slashed Medicaid funding. Almost $1 trillion will be cut from the program over the next ten years. But what does it look like for recipients now in 2025?  

In Episode 1, you’ll meet a current recipient, 26-year-old Emma Widmar from Racine, Wisconsin, who considers Medicaid a lifeline. 

"I simply would not be able to have a quality of life. I would potentially, you know, I could die. And I think people think that I'm being dramatic when I say that, but it's true." 

You’ll also hear from reporter Marty Schladen from the Ohio Capital Journal about reaction in Ohio, where some state politicians celebrated the decision. 

Then Evening Wrap newsletter author Daneille Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching out for.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Special thank you to Erik Gunn, Deputy Editor of the Wisconsin Examiner.

Click here for the full transcript. 

For more information on today’s episode visit, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stories-states. 

Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected].

Photo: Emma Widmar, shown with her dog Zander, has relied on Medicaid while managing complex health problems that she has had since she was 12. (Photo courtesy of Emma Widmar)  

The federal government is making drastic changes to public policy and pushing so many programs “back to the states”. 

It’s hard to know what it all means for you, your family and your community. 

Stories From The States will put into perspective how what’s going on around one side of the country could affect you on the other end.

Our first episode launches Friday, November 7th. 

States Newsroom is the largest nonprofit state-focused news organization in the country. At this pivotal moment in American democracy, our veteran journalists from all 50 states are reporting the consequences of government decision making.

Daily news especially in today’s time can get overwhelming. At times it’s hard to keep up how it all could impact you, your family and your community. 

To help with that, we’re launching Stories From the States. 

Here’s an exclusive sneak peek into an upcoming episode on the impacts of Medicaid funding cuts. 

Our first episode launches on Friday November 7th. 

States Newsroom is the largest nonprofit state-focused news organization in the country. At this pivotal moment in American democracy, our veteran journalists from all 50 states are reporting the consequences of government decision making.