In hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show, Mark is joined by Bill King, Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, former Houston Chronicle editorial board member, and author of Unapologetically Moderate, to examine the political fallout from Texas' historic election night. King breaks down how voter pushback on immigration enforcement, housing affordability, and school vouchers contributed to major Republican losses—including Greg Abbott's gubernatorial defeat—while contrasting those results with local voters rejecting property-tax-funded bond measures. He also weighs in on whether congressional Democrats will move to abolish the Senate filibuster and how moderate lawmakers may shape federal policy moving forward. Mark is then joined by Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow and Director of Constitutional Studies at the Manhattan Institute and author of Lawless: The Miseducation of America's Elites, to examine the Supreme Court landscape following the midterm elections. Shapiro dismisses rumors of pre-inauguration retirements by Justices Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito, explores the historical challenges of judicial confirmations under divided government, and assesses the likelihood of Democrats attempting to pack the Supreme Court or abolish the Senate filibuster. He also breaks down high-profile cases from the new term, including climate change tort lawsuits against oil companies and religious discrimination challenges involving universal pre-K programs. In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. Mark is joined by Tim Graham, Executive Editor of the Media Research Center's NewsBusters, to dissect the mainstream media's celebratory coverage following the Democratic sweep in the midterm elections. Graham compares the networks' joyful tone to past election cycles, highlighting the stark contrast between their treatment of Democratic victories and Republican wins, as well as the double standard in how interviewers approach progressive candidates versus conservatives. The two also discuss historical parallels—including the midterms of 1974, 1994, and 2006—and analyze how economic strain, gas prices, and prolonged conflict in Iran drove voter backlash at the ballot box. Mark is joined by Dan Reardon, KMOX Golf Correspondent, to discuss the demise of LIV Golf following its sudden bankruptcy hearing in New Jersey. Reardon details the staggering financial losses—now estimated at upwards of $7 billion—and explains why a lack of roster depth and the departure of marquee names like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton doomed the breakaway league. He also examines the complex path back to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for former LIV players, the harsh reality of tour exemptions and reduced fields, and the severe financial blow dealt to the caddies left behind. In hour 3, Mark is joined by John Ziegler, co-host of The Death of Journalism podcast and former Mediaite senior columnist, to break down the latest election fallout from California and across the country. Ziegler discusses the defeat of California’s Proposition 40 "billionaire tax," analyzes Nithya Raman's victory over Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, and explains how progressive political branding has taken hold in major cities. He also offers an unsparing autopsy of the midterm elections, arguing that the Trump-led MAGA movement drives high Democratic turnout while failing to mobilize voters in non-presidential cycles, evaluates JD Vance's political path forward, and uses a college football analogy comparing Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump to examine the future of the Republican Party. Mark is later joined by Michael Grafman, author of KSHE 95's Shelley Grafman: The Architect of Classic Rock Radio, to discuss the life and impact of his father, Shelley Grafman, who helped pioneer the classic rock FM radio format. Grafman shares backstage stories and exclusive family archives highlighting Shelley’s humble management style and his instrumental role in breaking legendary acts like Rush, Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon, and Rod Stewart. He also touches on upcoming book signing events in the St. Louis area and how KSHE 95 helped shape the broader Midwest music scene. He wraps up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.
