The Founders Show

The Founders Show

A look at Louisiana politics from Chaplain Hy McEnery and Christopher Tidmore

Episodes

Orleans Parish Sheriff Candidates Forum

September 3, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher host the candidates for New Orleans Criminal Sheriff on this week’s edition of the Founders Show. Incumbent Susan Hutson, former NOPD member Robert "Bob" Murray, former Judge Julian Parker, 2nd District Constable Edwin Mark Shorty Jr., and former NOPD interim superintendent Michelle Woodfork join us. We asked the questions what they would do if elected Sheriff, how they would deal with the aftermath of the recent...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Laughter through Tears: 20th Anniversary of Katrina Artistically Remembered

August 25, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher look back to the seminal moment of 21st Century New Orleans history. We remember Armand St. Martin’s subsequent yearly efforts to “artistically remember” the storm, often with humor. We play his song “Contraflow”, which lampooned many of the bureaucratic screw ups of the time. In particular, in the ballad, Armand asks the question which every New Orleanian asks about this time of year, “Where’s Nash when we need ...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Looming Impacts of Louisiana Population Loss & Hunter Drops Out Of NOLA Mayor's Race

August 11, 2025 • 54 mins
Live from Canada, Christopher joints Hy from the middle of the St. Lawrence River, traveling down the waterways of historic “New France”.  He talks about visiting the original home of Charles LeMoyne and how Montreal was the parent of New Orleans.
We also talk about the looming loss of a congressional seat, and the fact that the loss of population is not only causing that possibility, but our real economic problems.  In 2024, just o...
Mark as Played
Transcript

The Future of Education - in North Louisiana?

August 4, 2025 • 54 mins
This week on the Founders Show, Hy and Christopher take a deep dive into the future of education.
Several Louisiana school districts have been experimenting with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program.  Pass the BAC exam, and virtually any university on the planet will throw open its doors. Currently, 5800 schools worldwide use IB’s curriculum.
For the first time in history, a school is being created—in Monroe—with the IB progr...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Bill Cassidy's Latest Challenger

July 25, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher spend the second half of the Founders Show talking about the entrance of Eric Skrmetta into the US Senate race on Friday, July 25. Qualifying is actually in December for a closed primary in April 2026, so his primary election occurs less than nine months from today.
The Louisiana Public Service Commissioner, who represents a district the size of a congressional seat, cuts into US Sen. Bill Cassidy’s support in the...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Rescission Bill Blues at Public TV & Radio, NOLA Mayor Fundraising

July 18, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher discuss fundraising in the Mayor’s race and the rising danger of inflation later in the program, but our main issue are the cuts in the PBS budget.

WWOZ management called in all of its senior staff and stakeholders for strategy session to deal with the danger of the recession bill on Wednesday, July 17, when it became clear that Donald Trump’s $9 Billion cut in the foreign aid public media budgets would pass the U...
Mark as Played
Transcript

If Only Nixon Could Go To China, Could Only Trump Bring Amnesty To Illegal Immigrants?

July 11, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher begin the show with a spirited dive into New Orleans’s bohemian past where the funerary tradition is honored by a drink comprised of absence, gin, and vermouth. Chronicling this history, author Sue Strachan joins us on the Founders Show, talking about her new book The Obituary Cocktail, and it’s premier at the Garden District Book Shop on Friday, July 18. More information at gardendistrictbookshop.com

We then ask ...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Royce Duplessis' Late Entry Into NOLA Mayor's Race

July 8, 2025 • 54 mins
The Founders Show comes to you from Colonial Williamsburg this week as Hy and Christopher discuss the importance of the 4th of July as the show begins They go on to examine the “Big Beautiful Bill”, its impacts, benefits like a $1000 deduction for nonprofits (even if you claim the standard deduction), and the likelihood that a Louisiana legislative special session will be called to make up for the loss of Medicaid dollars. Could yo...
Mark as Played
Transcript

OMB: NOLA Metro Area No Longer "Major" / Medicare Advantage Saved / City Council Candidate Jon Johnson

June 30, 2025 • 53 mins
We kick off the show talking about the fact that New Orleans is no longer a major city - at least according to the federal government. We keep into that theme in our conversation with former New Orleans Councilman and state Senator Jon Johnson. He’s running for Council District E, and we ask the question as a convicted felon, can he win? Johnson believes he can.

We then talk about the big beautiful Bill, which reached its first hurd...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Departing MISO / MAGA vs. Trump on Iran

June 20, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher are joined for the second half of The Founders Show by Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who has launched an inquiry into why the blackouts were ordered with just nine minutes notice by a little known federal regulatory group one month ago.
MISO is more than a soup, but Skrmetta believes that Louisiana and her electric utilities would be better off working with other southeastern states for a new intersta...
Mark as Played
Transcript

The U.S. / Canada Relationship: Past, Present & Future

June 17, 2025 • 54 mins
The Founders Show comes to you live from the Thousand Islands on the Canadian-US border, from the deck of the famed Canadian Empress riverboat.

We’ve been sailing down the St. Lawrence Seaway, and that triggered our kick off topic for this week’s show. The U.S. / Canadian relationship has been in the news quite a bit over the last year. North of the border, voters have resented the “51st state” comments, so much so that Canada re-el...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Famed Jazz & Folk Musician David Amram

May 23, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher are joined by Curtis Robinson of the Hunter-Gatherers podcast to interview the legendary David Amram. At 94 years young, the famed jazz and folk musician has played with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Leonard Bernstein. He invented jazz poetry with Jack Kerouac in Greenwich Village.  And Amram explains why New Orleans is the most American city.
Mark as Played
Transcript

Washington Insider Curtis Robinson Talks Budget, DC Politics

May 19, 2025 • 54 mins
Curtis Robinson joins Hy and Christopher to talk about the chances to pass the current budget in Congress and the state of politics in Washington DC.  He also mentions a little bit about Hunter S Thompson and Gonzofest 11 while he is at it.

Robinson is a veteran newspaper, editor, Washington-based columnist, and member of the National Press Club. He ranks as the consummate Washington insider, and based on what he has heard, he think...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Gonzofest at The Rink

May 14, 2025 • 54 mins
May 15-18 will see Gonzofest 2025 at The Rink, 2727 Prytania. It's a celebration of the life and work of Hunter S. Thompson.

Hy & Christopher are joined by two of the organizers, Curtis Robinson and Kent Fielding. Christopher and Curtis actually produce a podcast on Hunter S. Thompson - Hunter-Gatherers - which they exerpt on this week's radio show.

Join us on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Gonzofest is free! More information is a...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Louisiana Legislative Session Latest & French Quarter Trash Pickup Fight

May 6, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher take on the legislative session, discussing Gov. Jeff Landry losing influence as the deficit picture changes and several pieces of legislation under consideration.

We also spent some time looking at the trash situation in the French Quarter, and a proposed legislative solution. This is Christopher‘s editorial on the subject:

Trash Bill: the first step at empowering neighborhoods

It’s curious that Mayor LaToya Cantre...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Hospital Price Transparency, Port Battle, Orleans Parish Sheriff Millage Renewal

April 25, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher kick off with an interview with hospital activist Beth Pence. She reveals that only six Louisiana hospitals have been transparent with their pricing and cost for procedures, despite the law passed by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy which mandates hospitals must provide the pricing “openly and transparently”. We discuss how hard this byzantine economic burden places on so many families.

We then move to talking about our mai...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Start of Louisiana Legislative Session & Is VAT The Answer To Tariffs & Deficits?

April 19, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher begin this week’s program talking about the 2025 legislative session.  We kick off ruminating about over the Port of New Orleans seeking to build a container terminal in St. Bernard Parish—an issue coming up in the State House Transportation Committee on Wednesday.  The concept is deeply unpopular amongst the residemts of Violet and Chalmette, but Port Nola officials are undaunted.  The catch is that Plaquemine P...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Trump Tariff Impacts, Why UNO Needs Investment and A Visit From The Marquis de Lafayette

April 11, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher start the show by celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to New Orleans on his 1825 Farewell Tour. We are joined by General Lafayette himself (as well as his alter ego, Mark Schneider) and the President of the American Friends of Lafayette, Chuck Schwam.

We then talked to Trump tariffs and the potential deal to open 10% trade with 75 countries, and Christopher says the words you...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Trump Tariff Impact

April 7, 2025 • 54 mins
Hy and Christopher begin by talking about the impact of the Trump tariffs, and end the show highlighting the festivities this week celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to New Orleans.  Many of the events are free and open to the public, and Christopher will actually be playing then-Governor Henry Johnson on Thursday, April 10 at Chalmette Battlefield. More info at afl-louisiana.com

Most of today...
Mark as Played
Transcript

IB, Taxes, Love Lost & An “Elixir of Love”

March 29, 2025 • 54 mins
Louisiana public schools have made major advances in reading and math, yet still lag behind other states in educational achievement.  Could the International Baccalaureate (IB) program service as the solution?

Seven Louisiana schools, including the French Quarter-bound Lycée Francais use the IB, but the internationally-recognized,  integrated educational system has a significantly small presence in Pelican State. Robert Kelty, the N...
Mark as Played
Transcript

Popular Podcasts

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.