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This Week in Missouri Politics Mid-Week Update: Scott Faughn and GOP campaign superbrain Jonathan Ratliff with U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer; congressman’s thoughts on “crazies who throw rocks” (1:15); decision to retire (2:05); how social media has increased visibility into congressional “shenanigans” (4:20); Ratliff on GOP primaries’ “obnoxious” statements from candidates using “a blowtorch or flamethrower” (6:50); Luetkemeyer on top accomplishments (7:35); last year’s banking crisis (11:30); desire for replacement to be “a legislator and not a rock-thrower” (12:30); among state senators, “a few of them would be good, and a couple of them wouldn’t” (14:00); “I’m going to stay out of this race” (15:55); estimate of $3-5 million to win primary (16:15); “cousin Tony” Luetkemeyer anecdote (16:30); Faughn on St. Charles County’s Prius-driving Starbucks-sipping ectomorphs (17:40); why living in the district is important (19:40); Ratliff on district boundaries and why GOP candidate should be from mid-Missouri (20:45); Luetkemeyer says people don’t care about Missouri Farm Bureau, NFIB or Chamber of Commerce endorsements (24:45); why national Freedom Caucus members are “self-centered Libertarian anarchists” (26:45); pendulum swinging away from Freedom Caucus (30:00); Trump and Biden (31:45); financial scandals involving Biden (35:55); China, Taiwan, and Americans in China being held captive (38:15); favorite spots to visit in 3rd District (43:30); Ratliff on “the cancer” of Freedom Caucuses in D.C. and Missouri (48:00); Ratliff says Luetkemeyer will end up endorsing a primary candidate (51:30); Ratliff backing a candidate from mid-Missouri (52:40)

Politico: Inside Congress newsletter: Mary Elizabeth Coleman rakes in $100k in first two days of federal fundraising

Washington Missourian: U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner announces 2024 election campaign

KC Star: Hawley says he will be ‘shocked’ if Supreme Court doesn’t overturn Trump disqualification (avoid KC Star paywall by reading free syndicated version on Yahoo! News here)

SNL: Missouri politicians angle to remove Biden from 2024 ballot

Fox News: Video: Jay Ashcroft response to Democrats pushing to remove Trump from ballot and his experience being the latest swatting victim

P-D: ‘I will not back down,’ Jay Ashcroft vows after blowback to comments on Biden (avoid stltoday paywall by reading Combest-archived version here)

Instagram reel (20 seconds): Staind’s “It’s Been Awhile” featuring Jay & John Ashcroft

Instagram reel (26 seconds): Aaliyah’s “Try Again” featuring Jay Ashcroft (before and after sleep)

BJShow.co: Brad (Hildebrand) & John (Combest) Show on 104.5 FM (Franklin/St. Charles/Warren Counties): Tuesday morning segments: Who thought it was a good idea to put Jay Ashcroft on CNN? (Segment A); A bad day coming next week for lazy #moleg and statewide candidates (Segment A); Cori Bush and #ReparationsNOW (Segment B); Can we put self-sufficient St. Charles County on its own island? (Segment C)

P-D: Judge rejects Jay Ashcroft’s bid to dismiss high-profile lawsuit against his office

Missouri Independent: State representative shunned by Democrats launches campaign for Missouri governor

Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen: Rep. Tony Lovasco (R-O’Fallon) on throwing Biden and Trump off state ballots (1:28:45); why January 6 was not an insurrection (1:30:05); expectations for 2024 Missouri legislative session (1:33:00); 3rd Congressional District GOP candidates (1:33:30); legislative priorities, including library board elections (1:35:45); reaction to Bill Eigel’s interview with Austin (1:37:30); whether gays should be allowed to adopt (1:41:30); IVF and designer babies (1:44:30); more

BJShow.co: Brad (Hildebrand) & John (Combest) Show on 104.5 FM (Franklin/St. Charles/Warren Counties): Wednesday morning segments: Jay Ashcroft’s TV redemption, Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s fundraising, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jonathan Ratliff on This Week in Missouri Politics (Segment A); the one part of Jay’s swatting story that doesn’t make sense (Segment A); how to handle deranged creepy social media trolls and the CHRIS model (Segment B); grown men talking about going to MMA practice (Segment C); the time Stone Cold Steve Austin called John at John’s parents’ house (Segment C)

KC Star: Missouri man who carried loaded gun onto Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 gets probation (avoid KC Star paywall by reading free syndicated version on Yahoo! News here)

JCNT: Veteran suicide bill among earliest to receive public hearing

St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri House Republican again introduces bill allowing guns on public transportation

JCNT: Missouri House Republican lawmakers voice opposition to death penalty

Missouri Independent: Group of Republican lawmakers raise concerns about Missouri death penalty

JCNT: Bills would alter Missouri’s school board candidate filing process

JCNT: Missouri lawmakers consider place-bound cosmetology bill

Southeast Missourian: Sen. Brian Williams (D-St. Louis) to speak at SEMO’s annual MLK Celebration Dinner

P-D editorial: Missouri’s lifetime food-stamp ban for drug felons is cruel and counterproductive; Republicans should heed Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s “nod to common sense, good governance and plain old compassion” (avoid stltoday paywall by reading Combest-archived version here)

Missouri Independent’s Allison Kite: Man who grew up near Coldwater Creek details his health maladies, says federal payout would help ease pain

P-D letter: University City sexagenarian suggests Missouri’s ‘Freedom Caucus’ are modern-day Nazis (avoid stltoday paywall by reading Combest-archived version here)

Washington Missourian letter: Villa Ridge octogenarian says REAL ID requirements at local Dept. of Revenue office are “a slap in the face”

Amazon.com: John Combest: Stalking, Harassment, Internet Trolling: A Guide to Recovering and Rebuilding After Online Attacks – available in paperback and Amazon Kindle

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