For this week’s Truth and Consequences podcast I decided I wanted to know more about what makes West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin tick. So I reached out to the dean of West Virginia radio broadcasters, Hoppy Kercheval, who is an opinion columnist and the host of MetroNews Talk Line, a statewide radio show in West Virginia.
Hoppy and I discussed a number of topics, including how West Virginia became one of the reddest states in America, how Joe Manchin keeps winning, as a Democrat in a ruby red state, and why he remains a Democrat. We also touched on his love of deal-making, his short attention span, his self-appointed distance from the national Democratic Party, his skills as a retail politician, his affinity for the Senate filibuster, the likelihood that he will change his mind about scrapping it, and his support not just for the coal industry but also investments in alternative energy. It was a fascinating discussion so please give it a listen!
The Truth and Consequences Podcast: Getting To Know Senator Joe Manchin with West Virginia Political Talk Show Host Hoppy Kercheval