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
129 episodes
LIVE! with the Leadership Columbia Class of 2025 - Guest Harry Lightsey III, SC Secretary of Commerce
Vincent and Joel sit down LIVE with SC Secretary of Commerce, Harry Lightsey III, before the Leadership Columbia class of 2025 in the Palmetto Club. Hear the famous segment "Bourbon Briefs" where the senators recap the most recent events in the...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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57:08
Making a Difference and Listening to Constituents - with Representative Nathan Ballentine (R)
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Representative Nathan Ballentine, to talk about updates on the legislative session, his years of public service, how he got into politics, and his extraordinary flag football expertise. Hear what vot...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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1:00:53
The Sane vs the Insane - with Guest Representative Justin Bamberg
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Representative Justin Bamberg, from Bamberg County, to discuss representing a small county, Justin's background and family, his practice as an attorney, becoming a civil rights lawyer, the unfortunate shift...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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1:03:16
Education and Public Works - With Guest Representative Shannon Erickson and Andrew Wylam
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Shannon Erickson, chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, and discuss education in SC, early childhood care, key issues in public safety, autism care, and so much more! Hear about SC’s p...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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1:00:36
Tax Reform, Economic Development, and Celebrating the Revolutionary War - with Representative Brandon Newton AND CEO of SC250, Molly Fortune
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Molly Fortune, to discuss celebrating SC's role in winning the revolutionary war! They then speak with Representative, Brandon Newton, to discuss raising teacher pay, serving on Ways and Means committee, ta...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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1:02:42
LIVE! From the SC Realtor Association's Annual Conference - with Guest, Speaker Pro Tempore, Tommy Pope
For the Third Year in a row Vincent and Joel host the podcast from the SC Realtor's Association Annual Conference with Guest, Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, and discuss what REALLY happened to the mysterious 1.8 billion, controversial&nb...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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1:05:21
Chuck Todd - Local Reporting, After Meet the Press, and the Modern Age of Politics
Joel sits down with guest, Chuck Todd, to discuss all things political reporting. They talk about combatting the rise of antisemitism in the US, effective reporting, aftermath of meet the press, how Chuck got started in politics, the benefits a...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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1:10:47
Loss of Political Civility and the Importance of Lawyer Legislators - with Guest Representative Todd Rutherford
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Representative J. Todd Rutherford, to discuss Gambling in South Carolina, sports betting, funding state programs, dram shop liability, the fate of the missing 1.8 billion, and how the Freedom Caucus h...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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1:11:46
SC’s Budget and Your Taxes in 2025 - Guest, Ways and Means Chairman, Representative Bruce Bannister
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Chairman Bruce Bannister, to discuss South Carolina's 40 Billion Dollar Budget, what South Carolina does with your tax dollars, how we became one of the most rapidly growing States, and so much more! Hear p...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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1:00:01
2024 YEAR END RECAP - WILL FOLKS - FITSNews
Vincent and Joel sit down with Will Folks and have an in-depth and substantive discussion about the tumultuous and turbulent year of 2024. They give a touching homage to Senator Kay Patterson and Congressman John Spratt, discuss the ch...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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1:08:41
Rural Politics, Business, and Life After Politics - With Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Lieutenant Governor and State Senator, Andre Bauer. They discuss his substantial background in politics, how working hard in politics can pay off, what is required to succeed in Rural Politics, and so much ...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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1:03:28
Senator Nikki Setzler - Forty-Eight Years of S.C. Politics
Happy Thanksgiving! Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Senator Nikki Setzler to discuss how he became a 48-year veteran of the State Senate and the longest serving Senator in the Nation. They discuss South Carolina politics, policy, h...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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1:02:10
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