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2.5K to 15K🎙 ~2x weekly·77 episodes·Last published 6d ago - Monthly Reach
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2.8K to 17K
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On the show
Recent episodes
Wes Duncan’s case for Washoe DA: Crime, charging decisions and nepotism
May 6, 2026
30m 34s
Inside the poll: Early numbers show dead heat in Nevada governor's race with Noble Predictive Insights
Apr 29, 2026
31m 14s
Mail time! Answering your biggest Nevada primary election questions with Chris Murphy
Apr 15, 2026
32m 46s
Should ‘late-arriving’ mail ballots count? How SCOTUS case could affect Nevada
Apr 1, 2026
35m 52s
Could Nevada’s deep red CD2 actually flip blue? Talking top candidates with UNR political science professor Jeremy Gelman
Mar 19, 2026
35m 05s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/6/26 | Wes Duncan’s case for Washoe DA: Crime, charging decisions and nepotism | For the first time in Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks’ political career, he has a challenger — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. On this week’s Ballot Battleground: Nevada, host Ben Margiott begins a two-part deep dive into the Republican primary that will decide who serves as the county’s top prosecutor. First up: Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan, who makes his case to unseat Hicks, pointing to concerns about charging policies, his claims that crime is rising, and accusations of nepotism involving Hicks’ wife. Next week, we’ll bring you our full conversation with incumbent DA Chris Hicks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 30m 34s | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | Inside the poll: Early numbers show dead heat in Nevada governor's race with Noble Predictive Insights | Nevada’s 2026 governor’s race is already shaping up to be a nail-biter. A new poll shows Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo essentially tied with the likely frontrunner, Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. Of course, a sizable share of undecided voters will be the deciding factor in the general election. On this episode of Ballot Battleground: Nevada, host Ben Margiott goes inside the numbers with Mike Noble, founder and CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, to break down what this early polling tells us—and what it doesn’t. Plus, a look at key down-ballot races and where voters stand on major ballot questions, including abortion rights and voter ID. NVGOV: Lombardo Keeps Pace with Ford as Undecideds Hold the Balance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 31m 14s | ||||||
| 4/15/26 | Mail time! Answering your biggest Nevada primary election questions with Chris Murphy | There are less than 60 days until primary election day 2026, and Ballot Battleground: Nevada is shifting into full-on election mode. This episode, we're diving into the mailbag to answer listeners' burning questions about the primary with News 4 Reno/Fox 11 morning show anchor Chris Murphy. Can you vote in both partisan primaries? Why do we need new ballot marking devices? Why haven't we interviewed candidates yet? And why isn't Election Day on the weekend? Host Ben Margiott and Murphy answer all those questions and more on an all-new show. Why Americans vote on a Tuesday in November Proposed amendment to restore full gambling loss deduction falls short in Congress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 32m 46s | ||||||
| 4/1/26 | Should ‘late-arriving’ mail ballots count? How SCOTUS case could affect Nevada | In Nevada, elections are often decided by razor-thin margins — and a small batch of ballots can make all the difference. In 2022, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto won by fewer than 8,000 votes, overtaking Republican Adam Laxalt days after Election Night as mail ballots continued to be counted, including some that arrived after Election Day. Now, that narrow window is at the center of a major U.S. Supreme Court case that could reshape how ballots are counted in Nevada and beyond. This week, we hear both sides of the debate: Democratic election attorney Bradley Schrager explains why he thinks Nevada’s system works, and RNC Election Integrity Communications Director Ally Triolo outlines why Republicans are challenging it. Note: This episode was recorded before President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that aims to create a national list of verified eligible voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 35m 52s | ||||||
| 3/19/26 | Could Nevada’s deep red CD2 actually flip blue? Talking top candidates with UNR political science professor Jeremy Gelman | The field is set. 27 candidates — the most ever by far — filed to run for Nevada’s 2nd congressional district after the sudden retirement announcement from Republican Rep. Mark Amodei. With no incumbent running and a potentially bluer national landscape, some political insiders believe a Democrat could flip the seat for the first time ever. Is that a reality? Who are the top contenders on both sides? This week on the Ballot Battleground: Nevada podcast, host Ben Margiott speaks with UNR political science professor Jeremy Gelman about the partisan makeup of CD2, its deep red history, the possibility of a flip and the type of candidate who might have a realistic shot. Full list of candidates for Nevada's Congressional District 2, other key races Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 35m 05s | ||||||
| 3/4/26 |  Ballot printers, voter ID and the future of voting in Nevada with election chief Cisco Aguilar | Candidate filing has begun, mock elections are happening and officials are testing new ballot marking devices — the 2026 midterm election cycle is officially here. This week on the Ballot Battleground: Nevada podcast, host Ben Margiott interviews Nevada's elections chief, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. Ben and Sec. Aguilar discuss Nevada's new ballot marking devices, voter ID proposals at the state and federal level, whether Election Day should be a holiday, how Nevadans could vote in the future and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 28m 12s | ||||||
| 2/18/26 | The making of Harry Reid’s machine — and the wide-open CD2 race with Jon Ralston | Harry Reid was the most powerful politician Nevada has ever produced — and the machine he built still shapes state politics today. This week on Ballot Battleground: Nevada, The Nevada Independent CEO and veteran journalist Jon Ralston joins host Ben Margiott to discuss his new book, The Game Changer, and what it reveals about Reid’s rise from Searchlight to Senate Majority Leader — and how he rewrote the political playbook for Democrats. Then we turn to the present: the wide-open race for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District following Rep. Mark Amodei’s surprise retirement. Who’s in, who’s out, who could jump in — and do Democrats actually have a shot at flipping CD2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 27m 55s | ||||||
| 2/4/26 | Why Nevada wants to be 1st in 2028 — Artie Blanco on Nevada's case to lead the Presidential nominating calendar | Nevada has already climbed the Presidential primary calendar, establishing itself in the slate of early states that vote prior to Super Tuesday. But now Democratic party leaders want to move up to first in the nation, with the Nevada Dems officially submitting their bid to the DNC last month. Why is Nevada deserving of the coveted top spot? In the first episode of season 3 of Ballot Battleground: Nevada, host Ben Margiott speaks to DNC Vice Chair Artie Blanco about Nevada’s bid to become the first Democratic presidential contest in 2028. We unpack how the DNC sets the calendar, why Nevada’s diversity and battleground status matter, and what lessons were learned from the 2024 primary shake-up. Plus, what a “Nevada first” calendar could mean for voters, campaigns, and national policy priorities. WATCH Ballot Battleground: Nevada on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 33m 14s | ||||||
| 1/28/26 | Ballot Battleground: Nevada Season 3 Trailer | Ballot Battleground: Nevada is back for Season 3. 2026 is an election year — and here in Nevada, the stakes are high. From Congressional races and a crucial Governor’s race to state and local contests and major ballot questions, we’re covering it all. I’m Ben Margiott, a reporter at News 4 Reno and Fox 11, and I'm passionate about breaking down Nevada politics to make it more accessible, more digestible, and more relevant for voters across our critical battleground state. Season 3 kicks off February 4, with new episodes every other Wednesday to start — and weekly episodes as Election Day approaches. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And new this season, you can watch full episodes on YouTube on the News 4 Reno page. Subscribe, follow, and get ready for the 2026 election season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 2m 15s | ||||||
| 11/21/25 | Dramatic Nevada special session ends with film tax failure, crime bill passage — with reporters Paul Boger, Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren | After 7 days, Nevada lawmakers adjourned the state’s 36th special legislative session sine die late Wednesday. The week was packed with unexpected surprises, important policy debates, long lulls in the action and criticism about the lack of transparency. From a rare procedural move that nearly derailed film tax credits on day 1 to lawmakers adding their own bill to the agenda for the first time ever, it was a dramatic special session - which could have major implications for 2026. This episode, host Ben Margiott breaks down everything that happened — floor debates, committee hearings, and behind-the-scenes negotiations — with the reporters who were there every day: Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren of The Nevada Independent and Paul Boger of KNPR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 53m 07s | ||||||
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| 11/12/25 | Washoe County election chief Andrew McDonald on turnover, voter rolls and … paper ballots? | In the 2026 midterms, Washoe County will — once again — have someone new running its elections. Andrew McDonald is the county’s new registrar of voters — the 4th person to hold that job since 2022. But McDonald says he’s in it for the long haul and he's got some big goals: moving the registrar’s office to a bigger location, continuing to clean up the voter rolls, and bringing in new voting machines that leave a paper record for every ballot cast in person. In Nevada election quirk, high card draw breaks tie in rural Washoe County trustee contest RGJ: Election security: Pilot program will focus on voter rolls | Clara Andriola Critic of Washoe election integrity turns to praise with new voter roll challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 31m 24s | ||||||
| 10/29/25 | Taxes, John Doe, special session cost and cereal: Answering your listener questions with Chris Murphy | It's mail time at Ballot Battleground: Nevada. This week, we're digging through the listener mailbag once again with News 4 and Fox 11 morning show anchor Chris Murphy. Host Ben Margiott and Chris answer questions ranging from tax reform and John Doe's identity to open primaries and the cost of a special legislative session. Do you have questions for our next mailbag? Send them to bjmargiott@sbgtv.com and put Ballot Battleground: Nevada in the subject line. Does Nevada need property tax reform? Legislative push renewed amid budget shortfalls Bonus episode: Rep. Mark Amodei on the federal government shutdown Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei on tariffs, Signalgate, DOGE, immigration and moreHow much will Lombardo's special session of Nevada Legislature cost? Here's what we found Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 30m 32s | ||||||
| 10/15/25 | Should Nevada reel in Hollywood? Film tax credits to be discussed in special session | Legislators will be headed back to Carson City this fall for another special session of the Nevada legislature — the sixth since 2020. Governor Joe Lombardo announced he wants them to finish some 'unfinished business' in the next few months. So when exactly will that be? What still needs to get done? And why have there been so many special sessions lately? One of the biggest issues likely to come up is whether Nevada should offer new tax credits to attract the film industry to Las Vegas, so we figured we'd bring in two southern Nevada journalists. Host Ben Margiott chats with McKenna Ross, politics and government reporter with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Steve Sebelius, senior political reporter with KTNV Channel 13. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 31m 22s | ||||||
| 10/10/25 | Bonus episode: Rep. Mark Amodei on the federal government shutdown | It's day 10 of the federal government shutdown and it seems Congress is no closer to an agreement to reopen the government. Amid the partisan standoff, we got the chance to sit down with Northern Nevada's representative in the U.S. House, Republican Mark Amodei. In this bonus episode, we asked Amodei why he opposes extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, whether he supports the effort to ensure military members are paid and whether he would call out GOP leaders for continuing to use talking points about illegal immigrants deemed 'highly misleading.' GOP misleads with claim that Democrats shut down to give health care to 'illegal immigrants' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 15m 14s | ||||||
| 10/1/25 |  Why Nevada is refusing to hand over voter data with Sec. of State Cisco Aguilar | In August, Nevada government agencies were hit with a crippling ransomware attack. Thankfully, Nevada’s election infrastructure wasn’t affected. But against that backdrop — and with concern over Nevadans’ personal information still fresh — the Department of Justice is now requesting driver’s license records and partial Social Security numbers for every registered voter in the state. Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar joins this week to discuss how Nevada’s election systems held up during the cyberattack, why he won’t release voter data to the Trump administration and a first look at initiatives that could appear on Nevada’s 2026 ballot. Nevada Secretary of State concerned about DOJ requests for voter data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 23m 44s | ||||||
| 9/17/25 | Mass deportations in Nevada: Both sides of the debate - part 2 | ICE arrests are surging in Nevada as the Trump administration moves forward with its mass deportation agenda promised in the campaign. In this episode, we go beyond the headlines to hear from both sides of the immigration debate. First, Athar Haseebullah of the ACLU of Nevada explains why his organization is fighting back against what it sees as government overreach. Then, Bruce Parks, chair of the Washoe County Republican Party, makes the case for why he supports mass deportations. Inside ICE arrests in Nevada — Part 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 40m 02s | ||||||
| 9/3/25 | Inside ICE arrests in Nevada — Part 1 | President Trump’s second term has put mass deportations back at the center of U.S. politics — and Nevada offers a revealing look at what that means on the ground. In part 1 of our two-part series, host Ben Margiott talks to reporter Kim Burrows, who witnessed several ICE arrests during an exclusive ridealong in May. Then, we turn to The Nevada Independent’s Eric Neugeboren and Isabella Aldrete, who crunched the numbers to answer a pressing question: Who is ICE actually arresting in Nevada — violent criminals, or people whose only offense is crossing the border illegally? Analysis: ICE arrests are surging in Nevada — including of people with no criminal record ICE arrests multiple people with alleged criminal pasts during northern Nevada operation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 33m 40s | ||||||
| 8/20/25 | From Reid to Sandoval: Nevada author Pat Hickey’s portraits of power | The Silver State is home to some of the most interesting characters - political and otherwise. Former Assemblyman, journalist and columnist Pat Hickey recently released Here and Hereafter: Nevada Voices on Life and the Great Beyond. The book includes inspiring, intimate portraits of power of some of the most famous, infamous and influential Nevadans of the 21st century. Host Ben Margiott interviews Hickey about his extended interviews with notable Nevadans like Harry Reid, Brian Sandoval, Mike Tyson, Barbara Cegavske and dozens more. Buy the book here: https://pathickey.net/here-and-hereafter/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 27m 44s | ||||||
| 8/7/25 |  Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto on Medicaid, tourism, the Epstein files and Gaza | Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) is becoming a more prominent figure in the Democratic party as it tries to find the most effective way to push back against the second Trump administration. The tension between working across the aisle to make progress and resisting took center stage last week during a dustup between Cortez Masto and fellow Democratic Sen. Cory Booker. In an extended interview, host Ben Margiott asks Cortez Masto about that intraparty disagreement, Medicaid cuts, the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill, No Tax on Tips, Las Vegas tourism, the Epstein files, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 36m 16s | ||||||
| 7/23/25 | How will the 2026 elections be different in Nevada? With All Voting is Local’s Kerry Durmick | How will the 2026 elections be different because of the 2025 legislature? After sweeping changes in the last 5 years, Nevada lawmakers didn't make any wholesale changes to how we vote. But they did tweak certain laws regarding AI in campaign materials, sample ballot deadlines and language access. Host Ben Margiott interviews Kerry Durmick, the Nevada state director of All Voting is Local, a nonpartisan voting rights advocacy group. Ben and Kerry discuss what changed, what didn't and the controversial proposal that will be on your ballot in 2026. Voter ID - a critical safeguard or unnecessary burden? Nevada voters could decide Should recounts be automatic in close Nevada elections? Drag Queen Devon. Death Smith. Veto Villain — nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now (pt. 1) with Beth Smith and Dr. Amy Pason Nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now - how the Dignity Index ranks them (pt. 2) with Andre Wade and Dr. Amy Pason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 27m 36s | ||||||
| 7/9/25 | How will the One Big Beautiful Bill affect Nevada? A closer look at Medicaid and SNAP cuts | President Donald Trump's signature economic package, the One Big Beautiful Bill, is now the law of the land. It extends the Trump tax cuts, ends the tax on tips and boosts border security spending, among other GOP priorities. But it also makes drastic cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid and food assistance. How will these cuts affect Nevadans? How will our community health centers and food banks be impacted? This week, host Ben Margiott interviews Mandi Larsen, the chief development officer for Northern Nevada HOPES and Jocelyn Lantrip, the marketing director for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. 'Very alarming:' 114k Nevadans could lose health care in Pres. Trump's 'beautiful bill' Proposed cuts to SNAP benefits set to burden local food banks Nevada congresswoman introduces bill to restore full gambling loss deductions Vote Ballot Battleground: Nevada for Best Local Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 33m 13s | ||||||
| 6/25/25 | ‘No Tax on Tips’ effort is gaining momentum in Congress. It’s great politics, but is it good policy? With Culinary Union Local 226 | It was a simple campaign promise to put money back in people's wallets during a Presidential election centered on the economy. 'No Tax on Tips' resonated with voters across the country but especially in Nevada, which has the highest percentage of tipped workers. That campaign promise, first raised by President Donald Trump, has not fallen by the wayside. Multiple proposals are actively being debated in Congress. Before it comes up for final consideration - we wanted to take a deep dive on ‘No Tax on Tips.’ How would it work? Who would it help? And would it be unfair to others? This week, host Ben Margiott interviews two people with Culinary Union Local 226, the most influential union in the Silver State. Ted Pappageorge, the union's Secretary-Treasurer and Sebastian Espinoza, a longtime union member and busser at Caesars Palace join for a 'No Tax on Tips' conversation. It’s clear 'No Tax on Tips' is great politics - but will it be good policy? Vote Ballot Battleground: Nevada for Best Local Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 31m 35s | ||||||
| 6/11/25 | What happened in chaotic ending to Nevada legislature? Recapping the 2025 session with reporter Sophie Lincoln and analyst Fred Lokken | Late nights, filibusters and political gamesmanship. The end of the 2025 session of the Nevada legislature had all the usual shenanigans we’ve come to expect as sine die approaches in Carson City. On this episode of Ballot Battleground: Nevada, what happened? Which bills lived and died? And what does it all mean moving forward? We’ll hone in on the final chaotic hours with KRNV/KRXI reporter Sophie Lincoln who was our boots on the ground for day 120. Plus, we examine the bigger picture (and what it could mean for 2026) with TMCC political science professor Fred Lokken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 28m 05s | ||||||
| 5/28/25 | Education funding, film tax credits, nonpartisans and vetoes: The biggest questions as the Nevada legislature winds down with reporters Tabitha Mueller and Paul Boger | It is crunch time in Carson City — less than a week remains in the 83rd session of the Nevada legislature. Major policy proposals, big budget questions and the endgame are all still up in the air. Will education get a funding increase this year? Is there room for state workers to get raises? What about tax credits for movie companies? Will Governor Lombardo’s major pieces of legislation make it through and how many bills will he veto? This week, it's a reporter roundtable with two of the must plugged-in journalists in the building. Host Ben Margiott chats with Tabitha Mueller of The Nevada Independent and Paul Boger of Nevada Public Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 29m 18s | ||||||
| 5/14/25 | Mail time! Answering listener questions on public lands, no tax on tips, GSR arena and 2026 midterms with Chris Murphy | It's mail time at Ballot Battleground: Nevada. This week, we're digging through the listener mailbag for the first time in 2025 with News 4 and Fox 11 morning show anchor Chris Murphy. Ben and Chris answer questions ranging from public lands bills and no tax on tips to special sessions at the Nevada legislature and yes - the 2026 midterms. Not to mention the GSR arena, jackpot thresholds and which Aces team is more likely to win the championship this season. Do you have questions for our next mailbag? Send them to bjmargiott@sbgtv.com and put Ballot Battleground: Nevada in the subject line. Sen. Jacky Rosen on tariffs, deportations, voter ID and federal lands bills Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei on tariffs, Signalgate, DOGE, immigration and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 34m 14s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.