The Scouting Lounge

The Dakota Scout
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

The Scouting Lounge is a weekly podcast from The Dakota Scout, where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers. Blending sharp insight with dry humor, the show offers a refreshingly human take on the headlines — plus a peek into the newsroom as Sneve and Ellis wrestle with the challenges of fair reporting in a polarized world. From the state Capitol to backstage passes, The Scouting Lounge is where South Dakota’s biggest stories meet its most honest voices. No scripts. No spin. Just real talk.

  1. 1d ago

    The Trump drag | Democracy, populism & ruling South Dakota | A viral confrontation | Is he a liberal? | 50%+1's two edges | Caring for neighbors | Oct. 3, 2026 - Brian Bengs, Ned Horstad, Elizabeth Schenkel

    SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING, FIRST BANK & TRUST, JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS On this episode of The Scouting Lounge, Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis sit down with three South Dakota voices at the center of the state’s political debates. Elizabeth Schenkel, exte...

    The Trump drag | Democracy, populism & ruling South Dakota | A viral confrontation | Is he a liberal? | 50%+1's two edges | Caring for neighbors | Oct. 3, 2026 - Brian Bengs, Ned Horstad, Elizabeth Schenkel

  2. Sep 27

    Election integrity | About Monea's endorsement | The auditors' admiral? | The political spark | Sept. 26, 2026 Heather Baxter

    SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING, FIRST BANK & TRUST, JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS The GOP nominee for South Dakota Secretary of State is Heather Baxter, an outgoing state lawmaker from the Black Hills. She discusses what it'll take to find integrity in the electi...

    Election integrity | About Monea's endorsement | The auditors' admiral? | The political spark | Sept. 26, 2026 Heather Baxter

  3. Sep 19

    Heavy reading | Energy ethics | DWIs spike | Asking the right PUC questions | World exploration & getting eaten | Asking for chains? | Sept 19, 2026 Don Haggar

    SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING, FIRST BANK & TRUST, JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS The GOP nominee for South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is Don Haggar, a former lawmaker and director with Americans for Prosperity, talks about the irony in running to be a re...

    Heavy reading | Energy ethics | DWIs spike | Asking the right PUC questions | World exploration & getting eaten | Asking for chains? | Sept 19, 2026 Don Haggar

  4. Sep 12

    Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

    SPONSORS Beal Distributing, First Bank & Trust, Juna Sleep Systems Legendary Democratic lawmaker Frank Kloucek returns to the Lounge, this time as a candidate for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.Reporter Todd Epp, a regular contributor to ...

    Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

  5. Sep 5

    English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

    SPONSORED BY FIRST BANK & TRUST, BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS Sioux Falls City Councilor James Oppenheimer makes his debut visit to the Scouting Lounge studio and discusses AI, data centers, Flock cameras, soccer and keeping a positive attitu...

    English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

  6. Aug 29

    Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalism's future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

    SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING, JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & FIRST BANK & TRUST Benjamin Nesselhuf, a former South Dakota lawmaker and state Democratic Party leader, talks about the legal cannabis industry and the regulatory climate governing his dispensaries ...

    Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalism's future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

  7. Aug 22

    Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

    DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S SCOUTING LOUNGE? Downloaded hundreds of times since both free and paid subscribers of The Dakota Scout received it in their inboxes seven days ago, there’s still time to catch up. Hit the link below to listen to “Asking hard qu...

    Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

  8. Aug 15

    Asking hard questions | Connecting dots | Clinging to leadership | Flock camera hype | Surveying Smithfield | Surviving a fire | Hiring the right person

    DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S SCOUTING LOUNGE? Downloaded hundreds of times since both free and paid subscribers of The Dakota Scout received it in their inboxes seven days ago, there’s still time to catch up. Hit the link below to listen to “ Visiting Wrig...

    Asking hard questions | Connecting dots | Clinging to leadership | Flock camera hype | Surveying Smithfield | Surviving a fire | Hiring the right person
See All (215)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Scouting Lounge is a weekly podcast from The Dakota Scout, where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers. Blending sharp insight with dry humor, the show offers a refreshingly human take on the headlines — plus a peek into the newsroom as Sneve and Ellis wrestle with the challenges of fair reporting in a polarized world. From the state Capitol to backstage passes, The Scouting Lounge is where South Dakota’s biggest stories meet its most honest voices. No scripts. No spin. Just real talk.

Information

  • Creator
    The Dakota Scout
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    215
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Dakota Scout
  • Show Website
    The Scouting Lounge

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