Collateral Damage

Tony Messenger, columnist from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, joins DJ in studio to talk about his recent move within the paper, and developing a voice among his readers. He also discusses how the NGA is not as “sexy” as the stadium, but has a bigger potential for growth in the region, the area’s failed river policy as it pertains to recent flooding, and his optimistic outlook on the future of journalism.

Globalization is no longer a vague concept on the horizon. It's here. As St. Louis copes with the global market, its effect on racial equity is the topic of a discussion at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Central Library, Downtown, at 13th and Olive streets. John Robertson of Employment Connection and John Posey of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments discuss the effects of globalization on racial disparity in St. Louis. 

Todd Swanstrom, the Des Lee Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration at UMSL, describes how private and public institutions continue to oppress the poor through predatory lending, predatory policing and an oppressive court system. Swanstrom contends that North County suburban lives are increasingly brittle and difficult, but those lives could improve through stronger and better government. 

Photographer, Writer, Blogger, and Musician Toby Weiss joins DJ Wilson for a review of 2015, looking back in angst not in anger at their likes and dislikes of 2015 in politics, media, urban affairs, and culture.   Toby's blog B.E.L.T. Built Environment in Laymen's Terms, recently marked a 10th anniversary with B.E.L.T.  

Journalist and longtime Collateral Damage guest Byron Kerman returns to break down quotes by and about everyone from Willie Nelson to Noam Chomsky. 

Susan Sneed, community organizer with Metropolitan Congregations United, comes by the KDHX studio to talk with DJ about MCU’s efforts in faith based community action. She discusses St. Louis public officials who have, and have not, responded to MCU’s invitations to their public meetings, and how this organization of churches and congregations aim to to do more than simply fill food pantries.

Regular panelist on Donnybrook and original co-host of Collateral Damage, Alvin Reid, drops in studio to talk with DJ Wilson about the failed downtown music festival, the intersection of activism and football at Mizzou, and issues with the Ferguson Commission. Reid talks bluntly about race, and calls the Ferguson Report “Vanilla” and wishes it had been more “Rocky Road,” inferring it needed more substance and defined goals.

Kevin Killeen drops by the KDHX studio to talk about his new novel, “Snow Globes and Hand Grenades.” Dealing with youth and live munitions, Killeen paints a reminiscent portrait of Catholic school with the cunning young character, Mimi Maloney. He also has the chance to talk about telling unique stories at KMOX, ranging from a destructive Grateful Dead fan, to our own host assisting a stranger’s birth in a car.

Virvus Jones, former Comptroller of the City of St. Louis, visits Collateral Damage to talk about Donald Trump feeding American fears, the mistakes leading up to Timothy Wolfe’s resignation from Mizzou, and how the stadium deal could have changing conditions once the team comes to the table.

Longtime St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce visits to discuss the roots of crime, why she became a prosecutor, and her 20+ years working for the Circuit Attorney's Office.

Nick Pistor, City Hall reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, talks with DJ about stadium financing, what's being done about crime in St. Louis, and the state of journalism in 2015.

Broadcaster Hank Thompson returns to the show to share unfiltered thoughts on racial disparities in St. Louis, education, the EBT system, who is and isn't stepping up in local government, and more.

C.D. Stelzer and Alison Carrick join DJ Wilson in studio to discuss their documentary, “The First Secret City.” This film takes a look at St. Louis' role in the production of uranium decades ago, and how this history has a continuing impact on our community.  “The First Secret City” will be screening at the Tivoli on November 15, and you can view the trailer on Vimeo.

Jeff Rainford, Francis Slay's former chief of staff, discusses his next move after leaving the mayor's office, and the debate surrounding funding the new stadium.

Julia Ho and Deborah Castillo from Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) discuss their direct action efforts, the power behind the police, and how their organization draws attention to and works to change systematic racism in the region.

What are the roots of problems like stagnant teacher salaries, underfunded public school budgets, and low test scores? Elisa Crouch, reporter for the Post Dispatch, discusses the state of education in Saint Louis, and what roadblocks are holding the public school system back.

Recently in St. Charles, a black woman and her teenage sons moved into a predominantly white neighborhood, and were faced with their new neighbors calling the police about there being “people that don’t belong” on their block. Doug Moore discusses investigating injustices like this as the Diversity and Demographics reporter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

  Mary Rocchio and Medora Kealy discuss East West Gateway’s strategic assessment of the St. Louis Region, a analysis that takes a look at how we rank against the rest of the country in fields like crime, health, and education. 

St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jason Rosenbaum recently covered the minimum wage hike in the city, disputes over stadium funding, Ferguson and its aftermath, and state and local politics. He's also the host of KWMU's Politically Speaking pod cast. 

Virvus Jones, fromer city comptroller, returns to the show to analyze St. Louis' "triage development strategies", the need for government safety nets, and the current proposals to raise minimum wage.