Deep Background
A news and politics podcast by the Kansas City Star's reporters, including in-depth commentary and analysis. It's a deeper look at news and issues in Kansas and Missouri.
1
As Christmas break approaches, what's working a...
Reporters Mara Rose Williams and Sarah Ritter join the podcast to talk classes and coronavirus.
32 min
2
Teenagers abused at Missouri religious reform s...
Are troubled students getting harsh treatment?
32 min
3
Republicans had a good election night in Kansas...
We break down the somewhat surprising results of the Nov. 3 election
30 min
4
How can voters fight their way out of the disin...
Social media is making things worse, not better.
32 min
5
How are Mike Parson, Barbara Bollier, others po...
What’s ahead in the final stretch of Election 2020? Jonathan Shorman and Bryan Lowry join Dave Helling.
25 min
6
Possible good news for KC's COVID recovery and ...
Star reporter Kevin Hardy talks about local economic indicators amid the pandemic.
27 min
7
WyCo Democrats’ Aaron Coleman problem and TIFs ...
Star reporter Steve Vockrodt joins today’s podcast.
25 min
8
Marshall versus Bollier, and RBG’s effect on th...
Reporter Bryan Lowry talks Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the race for Kansas’ open Senate seat.
34 min
9
Will Kansas City students be able to bridge the...
Schooling from home during the coronavirus is teaching families a lot of lessons
27 min
10
Patrick Mahomes, politics and fans in seats at ...
Blair Kerkhoff talks about the Chiefs' highly anticipated first game of 2020
31 min
11
What’s next for Kansas’ Schlitterbahn and Aaron...
A teen candidate is sticking in the race for Kansas House, despite his troubling past.
34 min
12
Mike Fannin takes us inside as coronavirus stri...
The 83-year-old mother of The Star's president and editor is still on oxygen
20 min
13
What does COVID-19 mean to Kansas City’s airpor...
Allison Kite joins s for today's Deep Background podcast.
24 min
14
Missouri, Kansas schools take uncertain steps t...
Nobody knows what the fall semester will be like in a COVID-19 world.
31 min
15
After second straight defeat, will Kris Kobach ...
Voters sent the former Kansas gubernatorial candidate a strong message.
36 min
16
Rep. Steve Watkins' felony charges and no middl...
Bryan Lowry joins the podcast to talk about the Kansas freshman House representative's alleged illegal voting.
29 min
17
Rural Missouri and Kansas deal with COVID-19 th...
Small towns approach the pandemic differently.
35 min
18
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, challenger Nicole Ga...
After his surprise Tucker Carlson appearance, what is Eric Greitens' endgame?
27 min
19
A Shawnee Mission principal's alleged misconduc...
Star reporter Sarah Ritter joins the Deep Background podcast to talk Johnson County news.
29 min
20
Do developers need subsidies for a luxury downt...
The City Council may be wary in this uncertain time.
24 min
21
How should Kansas City fund its police department?
Police relationships with their communities are under scrutiny
26 min
22
What did Kansas City and its police learn from ...
The Star's Katie Moore and Steve Vockrodt talk about these unprecedented past two weeks
31 min
23
Protests on the Country Club Plaza and all eyes...
Mara Rose Williams and Bryan Lowry talk race, protest and politics
39 min
24
The strangest Jefferson City legislative sessio...
The Star's capitol correspondent Crstal Thomas joins the podcast
26 min
25
As Kansas City starts a tentative reopening, do...
For some people, the whole coronavirus shutdown has been a huge overreaction
27 min