Bourbon in The Back Room
An inside look at politics with Senators Sheheen and Lourie. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the important, fun, and sometimes weird world of South Carolina Politics. Learn how the laws that impact your life every day get made and find a unique perspective on connections around the state!
Episodes
117 episodes
The Morning After - National, State, and Local Elections with Guest, Maayan Schechter
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, journalist extraordinaire, Maayan Schechter to discuss the landmark elections occurring at local, State, and national levels in the United States. Hear insider takes on the national elections, who ...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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42:54
Race in Politics with Guest, Professor Bobby Donaldson
Vincent and Joel sit down with our guest, Professor Bobby Donaldson, director of USC’s Center for Civil Rights History, to take a deep dive into the impact of race, ethnicity, and history on today’s political scene. Learn about politic...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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1:25:28
Election Updates, School Vouchers, and Potential Legislation - with Special Co-Host Mary Green
Joel sits down with Mary Green, reporter for WIS, WCSC, WHNS, WMBF, WTOC, WRDW, and WBTV. Joel and Mary break down various upcoming State and National elections, including the hotly contested Bauer-Finlay and Ott-Guerry races. Then,...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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1:02:20
South Carolina Department of Corrections and SC's Low Recidivism Rate - Guest, Director of SCDC, Bryan Stirling
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, SCDC Director Bryan Stirling, and discuss the status of SCDC, Bryan's interesting background as an attorney, declining crime rates, how we got the LOWEST recidivism rate in the country, SC plans for improve...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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1:04:18
The Carolinas - Heated Political Races and Statewide Updates - With Guest N.C. Representative Zack Hawkins
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, North Carolina House member, Zack Hawkins to discuss southern politics, N.C.'s changing political dynamics, and the heated battle for N.C.'s Governor seat. Hear about both states' public schools, funding, h...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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49:25
Valerie Bauerlein, Southern Dynasties and the Murdaugh Murders
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Valerie Bauerlein, national reporter for the WSJ, and talk about her career in journalism and her beginnings in South Carolina political reporting. They do a deep dive into her new book, The D...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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1:15:44
S.C. in National Politics and Landmark Changes in the U.S. - Guest, Political Insider Antjuan Seawright
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Antjuan Seawright and discuss national politics, the state of Washington D.C., how S.C. is still involved on a national scale, and so much more! Hear an insiders take on cell phones in classrooms, the death...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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53:16
S.C.'s Shift from Democrat to Republican and How All Politics is National - with Guest, Speaker David H. Wilkins
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Speaker of the House, Ambassador, and all-around statesman David H. Wilkins and discuss integrity in politics, the Speaker Wilkin's background, history in politics, growing up in Greenville, becoming the am...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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1:00:43
Why to Run for Office, Improving South Carolina, and the State's Money Troubles - With Guest, Republican Senator Larry Grooms
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Senator Larry Grooms, and discuss his family and background in business, the most recent updates on LOFTISgate, magistrate judge qualifications, how state funds get allocated, and the argument for school ch...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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1:08:02
Runoff Elections and Close Races - With Guest, Senate Candidate Jeffrey Graham
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Senate Candidate Jeffrey Graham who just won his runoff by less than 30 votes! They discuss the recent primaries, close races, how to win elections in South Carolina, the freedom caucus, losing Katrin...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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54:24
ELECTION RESULTS! - From Congress to the Statehouse - With Guest Russell Ott
Vincent and Joel recap the election results from the South Carolina Primaries. They discuss the races spanning from national offices to local House races, how elections work in South Carolina, who is winning, and who will require a run-off to d...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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49:16
Political Integrity, the Freedom Caucus, and Republican Leadership - with Republican Representative Micah Caskey
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Representative Micah Caskey and discuss the republican party, changes in politics, the "grifters" and "fraudsters" of SC politics, state agencies, funding our institutions, the ignition interlock bill, open...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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55:09
LIVE! SINE DIE 2024 - With Guest Host Bakari Sellers - Legislators Come Down for a Drink
Sine Die and the end of session create a fervor of activity at the State's Capital! Vincent and Guest Host, Bakari Sellers, sit down and have a few drinks at Bourbon on Main Street across from the Capitol Building. As Senators and Representativ...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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1:01:04
How S.C. Spends Your Money, Upcoming Legislation, and How the Capital is Changing - With Guest Mayor Bob Coble
LIVE! From the Columbia Palmetto Club with the leadership columbia class of 2024, Joel hosts legendary Mayor of Columbia Bob Coble. They discuss commitment to public education, taxes, the inner workings of the SC budget, “Loftis-Gate” ...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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53:52
LIVE! Increasing Women's Leadership and Running for Office - With Guest Republican Senator Sandy Senn
Joel sits down LIVE at the Women in Leadership Conference with guest, Senator Sandy Senn to talk about the latest moves in South Carolina politics and government. They discuss “Loftis-Gate” and the recently found 1.8 billion dollars, why Treasu...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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54:49
Republican Leadership, Building Coalitions, and Government that Works - with Speaker of the House Murrell Smith
Vincent sits down with guest, Speaker of the House Murrell Smith to talk about leading South Carolina’s Republican Party and tell stories about Joel. They discuss property tax reform, Midlands’ Senate races, “Loftis-Gate,” and the reemergence o...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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1:02:46
Conservation, Finding Billions of Dollars, and the Future of Infrastructure in SC - With Republican Senator Stephen Goldfinch
There is ALOT happening in South Carolina government and politics! Where did the mystery 1.8 billion dollars come from? What's Constitutional Carry? How is S.C. faring in National Politics? What is the Yankee Tax?Vincent and Joel sit do...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:00:56
100 EPISODES - Forging a New Path and the Legislative Process - with Guest Senator Tameika Isaac Devine
Vincent and Joel reminisce about some of their favorite episodes and talk about having guests ranging from Meet the Press's Chuck Todd to Mark Sanford and the famous "mother's day episode". The Senators review the impact of the Podcast on...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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56:16
Structuring Judicial Reform, Liquor Liability, and Pints & Politics Podcast - with Representative Heath Sessions
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, recently elected, representative Heath Sessions, and discuss the state of the State, S.C.’s impact on national politics, childhood health, Certificates of Need, Representative Sessions’ family, background, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:01:10
LIVE! Upcoming Bills and National Politics - At the South Carolina Association of REALTORS meeting - Guest Senator Luke Rankin
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Luke Rankin, and discuss the new bills before the House and Senate, gun reform and concealed carry permits, liquor sales, Republican Primary in South Carolin...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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46:00
Election Reform, Judicial Reform, and Primary Season - With Representative Brandon Newton
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest Representative Brandon Newton, elected in 2017 at age 22 as the youngest State Representative in the country. They discuss election reform, judicial reform, income tax cuts, infrastructure, increasing teache...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:00:19
NEW YEAR NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION - With Guest Representative Spencer Wetmore
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest Representative Spencer Wetmore, elected in special election in 2020, and rising star in the South Carolina Public Service. They talk about the upcoming legislative session, judicial reform, Medical Marijuana...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:03:29
WILL FOLKS - FITSNews - Election Season and 2023 YEAR END RECAP
Vincent and Joel sit down with FITS News founder Will Folks to talk through the hottest political topics, judicial reform, updates on the Murdaugh trial, the flipped dynamic on Abortion policy, the state of national politics, the Presidential E...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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56:37
The Freedom Caucus, Divisions within the Republican Party, and Breaking Political Ranks - With Representative Adam Morgan
Vincent and Joel sit down with leader of the SC Freedom Caucus and Congressional Candidate, Adam Morgan. They discuss his background, composing Christian music, being elected with his brother, starting the Freedom Caucus, breaking rank, t...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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1:17:10
Governor David Beasley - Political Stories and The State of World Hunger
Vincent and Joel sit down with esteemed Governer of South Carolina, David Beasley. They discuss his start in the House of Representatives as a fresh faced college student, his run ins and mentorship with Sol Blatt, the basis for switching parti...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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59:34