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PODCAST

The Light Switch

Louisiana Illuminator

The Light Switch podcast from the Louisiana Illuminator brings you an earful weekly on Louisiana politics.

news politics

All Episodes

25:45

Black educators, Katrina + 20

The Light Switch ·

2025/08/22

New Orleans' beleaguered public school system was imploded after Hurricane Katrina. The decision came at the cost of cultural capital from thousands of Black educators — all dismissed. Where do Black teachers and administrators fit in the new New Orleans public education landscape? We'll hear from someone working on that answer.

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26:25

Healing nature

The Light Switch ·

2025/08/15

Catch-and-release isn’t without risks for certain fish. We'll learn what's being done to improve their odds of survival. The news isn't so good for other injured wildlife species in Louisiana, where officials want to limit which ones can be rescued and rehabilitated. Also, we look at the Trump administration's latest rollbacks for clean air standards.

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26:10

Inside Louisiana ICE centers

The Light Switch ·

2025/08/08

A group of civil rights advocates recently toured three Louisiana detention centers where immigration authorities are detaining thousands of people the federal government believes are in the U.S. illegally. Kerry Kennedy with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization was part of that tour and shares what she saw – and her thoughts on the corporations that benefit from Trump policy.

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24:00

Campus trends, FEMA fears

The Light Switch ·

2025/08/01

We'll share how Gov. Landry is giving the old college try to end what he considers “woke” college curricula. There could also be changes coming on campus for those lucrative name, image and likeness deals for student athletes. Plus, we're moving into peak hurricane season with a big question about what federal disaster response might look like under the Trump administration. One state isn’t happy about the answer they received.

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22:26

Slavery on trial

The Light Switch ·

2025/07/25

Activist groups in the River Parishes are suing a company that wants to build a manufacturing facility on a former plantation, where descendants of slaves say their ancestors are buried. We'll look at the rather novel legal strategy they're using to argue their case.

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24:45

D.C acts, Louisiana reacts

The Light Switch ·

2025/07/18

President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" contains endless provisions that impact state government. This week's episode looks at the potential fallout for Medicaid and the lifeline it provides for rural hospitals in Louisiana. We'll also look into the latest Trump administration moves on broadband internet access. Plus, we'll hear from the state that inspired Gov. Landry to take on prescription drug middlemen.

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21:50

Anguish over asylum

The Light Switch ·

2025/07/11

A Russian couple is seeking asylum in America over fears they could face punishment in their home country for their anti-Putin views. They took all the proper steps to enter the U.S., yet they were separated and placed in ICE detention when they appeared for their immigration appointment. More than a year later, they remain apart – with one of them held in Louisiana facing probable deportation.

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16:00

Introducing: Gulf States Gumbo "The Gulf South’s...

The Light Switch ·

2025/07/04

The Light Switch team is off for the Fourth of July holiday, but we are sharing an episode of the Gulf States Gumbo from our friends at the Gulf States Newsroom. We'll be back next week!Editor’s Note: This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence that may be upsetting for some listeners. Public health reporter Drew Hawkins takes over this week’s episode to focus on a single story — the Gulf South’s shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners, better known as SANEs. Over the last

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19:50

Gulf of concerns

The Light Switch ·

2025/06/27

There's still uncertainty over just how the federal government will respond should a major hurricane impact Louisiana this year. Also unclear now is what role Washington will play – if any – in helping reduce the size of the annual "dead zone" in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Plus, we'll look at efforts in one state to remove a reference to slavery in its constitution.

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25:00

Sporting Chances

The Light Switch ·

2025/06/20

Politics is a spectator sport in Louisiana, so it only makes sense that we talk about actual sports. Specifically, we'll examine how proposals dealing with taxes on sports betting and tax breaks for name, image and likeness (NIL) deals fared in this year's legislative session. We'll also hear from LSU's new interim LSU president, and we take a wide-angle view at the changes being forced on Planned Parenthood.

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31:25

Red Alert

The Light Switch ·

2025/06/13

The rust-colored dust that covers everything in and around the Atalco Alumina refinery in Gramercy is clear evidence that neighbors of the facility are forced to cope with its noxious output. But what's gone virtually unnoticed by the public is the escape of toxic sludge from the huge waste pits on the refinery site – for months. Illuminator reporter Wes Muller shares findings from his latest investigative series.

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28:10

Tough pills to swallow

The Light Switch ·

2025/06/06

We've got the latest developments on the Louisiana law that treats reproductive health medication as controlled dangerous substances. Also, there's a rising business trend of investment groups buying care facilities for the disabled and elderly. Learn why regulators are concerned. Plus, Alabama is paying a lot of settlements to incarcerated people who've sued for being abused while behind bars. But guess who's making even more money?

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26:44

Foster care in focus

The Light Switch ·

2025/05/30

Louisiana counts more than 4,000 children in the foster care system and not quite 2,000 foster homes. Right away, you can see the math doesn’t work. We gain perspective from those involved in Louisiana’s foster care system to see if and how the gaps can be filled.

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26:08

A smatter of ethics

The Light Switch ·

2025/05/23

Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing for dramatic changes to ethics laws in Louisiana, a state not exactly known for its pristine political reputation. Senior reporter Julie O'Donoghue has been covering this story from the get-go and brings us up to speed on the proposals. She also talks with the leader of the state's top good government watchdog group about his concerns over the legislation. Finally, we'll check in on how Indiana is dealing with new U.S. naturalization policies.

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28:25

Kratom Collision Course

The Light Switch ·

2025/05/16

Louisiana lawmakers are deciding whether to ban or regulate kratom. Its proponents say the herbal substance has helped them conquer anxiety, depression and opioid addiction. Its detractors say kratom is just as dangerous as the drugs it purports to replace. Host Greg LaRose shares stories from people on both sides of the debate.

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20:33

Wading through the science and politics of wetlands

The Light Switch ·

2025/05/08

This week’s edition of The Light Switch dives into the debate over Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands. Host Greg LaRose explores the topic with reporter Elise Plunk, who literally has stepped into the latest research on coastal restoration. She also spoke with a leading expert in the field of wetlands restoration science about the future of the state’s fragile coast. And in this week’s News from the States segment, we look at the Rhode Island road kill menu.

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21:30

The good and the bad of the Angola Prison Rodeo

The Light Switch ·

2025/05/02

This week on The Light Switch from the Louisiana Illuminator, host Greg LaRose talks to reporter Piper Hutchinson, who recently attended the Angola Prison Rodeo. She shares details on the educational aspects behind the event – as well as what participants think about the negative views outsiders have of the rodeo. Piper also talked with a former Angola inmate who's now helping others prepare for life outside of prison.

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29:19

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple on...

The Light Switch ·

2025/04/25

This week on The Light Switch form the Louisiana Illuminator, host Greg LaRose talks to reporter Wesley Mulller about efforts to ban an app for high-end restaurant reservations trading. Wesley then caught up with Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple to discuss his efforts to lower insurances costs and why he and the Governor aren't seeing eye to eye. We then conclude with this week's News from the States which brings us to Florida for a viral story regarding a US citizen who was held

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25:05

Louisiana public universities face challenging fiscal...

The Light Switch ·

2025/04/18

This week on The Light Switch form the Louisiana Illuminator, host Greg LaRose talks to reporter Piper Hutchinson about the challenging fiscal times Louisiana public universities are facing, Piper then talks to Rick Gallot president of the University of Louisiana system. We conclude with this week's News from the States which brings us to Idaho for a very specific new public indecency law, Greg chats with Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel about what the laws bans.

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23:00

Welcome to The Light Switch

The Light Switch ·

2025/04/11

Welcome to The Light Switch, a weekly podcast covering Louisiana politics from the Louisiana Illuminator. What better way to kick off our podcast then on the eve of the Louisiana legislative session. Host Greg LaRose will chat about the upcoming session with reporter Julie O'Donoghue followed by an interview she had with the President of the Louisiana Senate Cameron Henry, and we'll finish up with a look at where else measles cases are popping up outside of Texas.

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40 results

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