Category: Ann Wagner

LH - Who is Number One?

9/23/2026

Grab your coffee, because Mark Bland and Jason Kull are back with a week's worth of things to be mad about. They start at the gas pump, where diesel is pushing $8 in California and the Iran war is taking the blame. Then it's on to Trump's rally joke about holding back FEMA money from flood-hit North Carolina ("I'm not sending it... just kidding"), which got the awkward silence it deserved. They play JD Vance warning of an economic crisis if we leave the war, and Marjorie Taylor Greene's viral rant about diesel prices, which is a sentence nobody expected to write. They also lay out why they think Netanyahu has had too much of Trump's ear, and give their take on the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore blowup: let the concerts just be concerts.
Then comes the question in the title. With Mark Carney in Brussels and Canada cozying up to the EU, have we lost our "number one" spot, starting with our own continent? Along the way they get into why Canada's health care makes our "best system in the world" line harder to sell, and some Missouri roasting of Rep. Ann Wagner and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins over their loyalty to Trump. In the middle there's a break for a very real story about Rutgers researchers who built a 3D-printed toilet for mosquitoes, and yes, it's for science. They wrap with a midterm pep talk and a reminder that every episode, old and new, lives at markbland.net.

Download: traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_55_-_So_whos_number_one.mp3

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17 - The Standard

12/15/2025

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In this engaging episode of The Left Hook, host Mark Bland welcomes Fred Wellman, a retired Army veteran, host of the On Democracy Pod, and Democratic candidate challenging longtime Republican Rep. Ann Wagner for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District seat. Wellman, a West Point graduate, Ranger, and helicopter pilot with four combat tours—including Desert Storm and Iraq—shares what drove him to run: frustration with Republican policies that hurt working families, like cuts to healthcare and SNAP, juxtaposed against billionaire excess. He recounts personal stories, including helping his bartender son access Medicaid under the ACA, and contrasts that with GOP rhetoric dismissing young workers as "lazy."

Wellman criticizes Wagner for never holding a town hall in 13 years, refusing constituent engagement, and enabling unchecked executive overreach, vowing to represent all district residents regardless of party.The conversation turns deeply personal as Wellman opens up about the heavy toll of military service—losing two soldiers in Desert Storm, his interpreter beheaded in Iraq, and profound PTSD treated through years of therapy. He reflects on survivor's guilt, the moral weight of ordering troops into harm's way, and how these experiences shape his view that leaders must take war seriously.

Bland and Wellman discuss broader issues like generational wealth decline, skyrocketing housing and energy costs, abortion rights ignored despite Missouri voters passing Amendment 3, and the need for investment in education, healthcare, and veterans rather than endless cuts. Fred positions his campaign as service-driven, promising accessibility and focus on affordability for the next generation.

Listeners can learn more at wellmanformo.com.

Download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_17_-_The_Standard.mp3

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578 - Holiday Hijinks

11/30/2023

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John Kiehne, congressional candidate, joins us for this after Thanksgiving episode.

First up, it seems that Mark Bland and Jason Kull keep discussing this run up to Trump in 2024. And to do that effectively, they need State house candidate Jenna Roberson to join them and bring a womans touch to so much Trump mansplaining. And in this case Trump is explaining that he has the bigliest and bestliest rallies and everyone should care about it. Trump keeps stating the lawyers and judges of America are wrong for charging him for doing illegal things and crimes that others go to jail for.

Next up joins John Kiehne. John is running for congress against Ann Wagner in the St. Louis area. To get the seat in the heavily Red State, John has to get the word out about his policies and politics. John joins to explain that he has a background in Music and tell the guys a littel about his past. Then John sits in for the Hot Seat where people get to know a little better about him and what two foods when put together are just amazing deliciousness in your mouth! Finally, John and crew discuss his policies and politics regarding womens rights and abortions plus much, much more.

finally the Second week of the Biggest Jerks in TV/Movie history are being run down and this week has some heavyweights that could end up winning the entire tournament. Then again there are a few people that haven't been put into the game yet. Who will reign supreme and who is the biggest jerk of all time...we will all find out!

Download: traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theqnow/Episode_578_-_Holiday_Hijinks.mp3

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LH - Who is Number One?

17 - The Standard

578 - Holiday Hijinks

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