Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt have a few things in common, and not just their similar names. They’re both Republicans running for higher office next year — Schmitt for U.S. Senate, and Schmidt for governor of Kansas — and both have made it clear that they oppose some COVID-19 prevention measures.

The two men have gone to court to oppose mask mandates in schools, and recently signed onto lawsuits against the Biden administration challenging its vaccine requirements for health care workers and federal contractors.

Jim McLean, political correspondent for the Kansas News Service, and Steve Vockrodt, Investigative Editor for NPR's Midwest Newsroom, walk us through what these lawsuits mean and their potential impact on elections next year.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and edited by Gabe Rosenberg & Lisa Rodriguez

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