St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer joins to discuss the 2025 tornado and ongoing recovery efforts, city service improvements, and public safety priorities. Topics include pothole repairs, recycling changes, winter storm response, tornado siren upgrades, 911 system challenges, and efforts to reduce gun violence.

The full show features former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams breaking down a severe flu season, vaccine effectiveness, weather myths, and public health skepticism. Sports conversation follows with Joe Roderick covering the Blues loss to the Sabres, the Cardinals offseason, NFL playoff contenders, and Mizzou’s Gator Bowl loss. Senior principal economist Molly Boesel of Cotality explains why high home prices, large down payments, rising interest rates, and low supply are reshaping homeownership and changing saving and spending behavior. The show also includes discussion of the Missouri Supreme Court removing Matthew Thornhil for inappropriate courtroom conduct, plus an interview with David Jacobson about his Neil Diamond tribute Neil Forever, the resurgence of tribute bands, and why live music continues to connect across generations.

Hour 3 opens with senior principal economist Molly Boesel of Cotality, who breaks down why giving up on homeownership can change how people save, spend, and invest. The discussion covers high home prices, large down payments, rising interest rates, low entry-level housing supply, high rents, and how today’s housing costs have outpaced income growth, especially for younger buyers. The hour also explores the psychological impact of believing homeownership is out of reach and why home equity remains a key wealth builder in the U.S.

The conversation then shifts to live music and tribute bands, including the renewed interest sparked by the film Song Sung Blue, followed by an interview with David Jacobson, creator and lead singer of Neil Forever. Jacobson talks about building a 14-piece Neil Diamond tribute, its family roots, audience response, connections to Parkinson’s charities, and why Neil Diamond’s music continues to resonate across generations.

David Jacobson, creator and lead singer of Neil Forever, joins the show to talk about bringing the Neil Diamond tribute experience to The Factory on January 9. Jacobson explains how growing interest from a Broadway show and the new film Song Sung Blue has introduced Neil Diamond’s music to new generations. He shares the origin of Neil Forever, the focus on authenticity with a full ensemble, the emotional response from audiences, and how the project has become a family effort. The conversation also touches on Neil Diamond’s legacy, Parkinson’s awareness through Drive Toward a Cure, and why live, feel good music continues to resonate post COVID.

Senior principal economist Molly Boesel of Cotality breaks down the current housing market, including high home prices, large down payment requirements, and why homeownership feels out of reach for many millennials and young adults. The discussion covers low housing supply, rising rents, competition from investors, and the lack of entry level housing options. Boesel also explains new research showing that when people give up on the idea of owning a home, it can change how they save, spend, work, and invest, with long term financial and behavioral consequences.

In Hour 2, former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams discusses how severe this flu season is, vaccine effectiveness, and why vaccination still matters. The hour also features sports talk with Joe Roderick, covering the Blues’ loss to the Sabres, the Cardinals offseason, and Mizzou’s Gator Bowl loss. The segment includes discussion of the Missouri Supreme Court’s removal of Matthew Thornhil for inappropriate courtroom conduct and political comments from the bench.

Joe Roderick, friend of KMOX and content and operations lead for STL Sports Central, joins the show to break down the Blues’ 4–2 loss to Buffalo, a quiet and uncertain Cardinals offseason, and Mizzou’s Gator Bowl loss. The conversation covers Nolan Arenado’s future, trade value for Brendan Donovan and Nolan Gorman, roster building philosophy, and comparisons to how the Blues handle tough trades. Joe also weighs in on a wide-open NFL playoff picture, the rise of the Chicago Bears, frustrations around the Blues’ season, and where SLU basketball stands heading into A-10 play.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams explains the current flu surge driven by Influenza A H3N2, why the flu vaccine still matters, and addresses common vaccine misconceptions. The discussion also touches on COVID, long COVID, and practical steps to reduce severe illness and protect public health.

In Hour 1 on KMOX, Chris Rongey and Amy Marxkors talk New Year’s Eve Eve, flu season, and Amy’s experience with flu C. The hour also includes the removal of a St. Charles County judge for political comments, discussion of the St. Louis Rams playoff chances, a debate over gift wrapping versus gift bags, a 104 year old WWII veteran playing the national anthem at a hockey game, and concern over the deportation case of Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval.

Chris and Amy are back with a wide-ranging show covering local news, national politics, sports, and plenty of everyday conversation. The day opens with John Hancock joining the first segment to talk extreme St. Louis weather swings, the St. Louis Battlehawks naming Ricky Proehl as head coach, and early reaction to the removal of former sheriff Alfred Montgomery ahead of a special election.

In Hour 2, former airline pilot and Patrick Arnzen, CEO of Thrust Flight, explains why many commercial pilots hide mental health struggles under current FAA rules, concerns about safety and honesty in the cockpit, and why single-pilot airline concepts remain far off. Matt Pauley then joins to discuss Battlehawks football, Rams nostalgia, life without an NFL team in St. Louis, and the emotional toll of being a football fan, before the hour wraps with a lighter discussion about who should be next to serve as St. Louis sheriff.

Hour 3 features Andrew Egger of The Bulwark breaking down U.S. strikes on ISIS targets in northwestern Nigeria, the fog of war and religious tensions there, and Donald Trump’s approach to ending the war in Ukraine, including concerns from Volodymyr Zelensky and Europe and the influence of Vladimir Putin. The show also dives into phone habits, morning routines, a spirited debate about brushing teeth in the shower and hot versus cold tap water, on-air studio mishaps, and sports talk ranging from the Chicago Bears and Luther Burden III’s breakout to the Kansas City Chiefs’ proposed publicly funded stadium in Kansas.