Reporter and host Meghan O’Brien works with other South Dakota Searchlight journalists to take listeners inside politics and policy in The Mount Rushmore State, including the annual legislative session.

In the fourth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan chronicles the fate of South Dakota legislative bills dealing with<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/05/state-house-rejects-liability-protections-for-unapproved-covid-therapies/"> alternative COVID-19 treatments</a>, a <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/04/data-center-tax-break-proposal-fails-in-south-dakota-legislative-committee/">50-year sales tax break</a> for data centers, <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/02/bills-to-loosen-gun-restrictions-fail-in-sd-committee-after-on-target-questions-from-lawmaker/">guns</a> at colleges and schools, and lab-grown meat. Also, Republicans <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/phil-jensen/">suspend</a> one of their own for remarks about Democrats and God, and Gov. Larry Rhoden talks about that time he forgot his twin’s birthday.

In the fourth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan chronicles the fate of South Dakota legislative bills dealing with alternative COVID-19 treatments, a 50-year sales tax break for data centers, guns at colleges and schools, and lab-grown meat. Also, Republicans suspend one of their own for remarks about Democrats and God, and Gov. Larry Rhoden talks about that time he forgot his twin’s birthday.

The lawmaker who takes ivermectin, a Republican rift over data centers, and more from legislative week 4

In this week’s episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan recaps criticisms of “woke” grant funding that derailed a pretrial program, a resolution asking South Dakotans to pray for the state, and a proposal to limit the liability utilities face for wildfires. Meanwhile, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem continues to appear in national headlines, and her successor continues to back her actions. Searchlight Reporter Makenzie Huber explains a series of stories examining the impact, barriers and concerns regarding efforts to build data centers in the state.

In this week’s episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan recaps criticisms of “woke” grant funding that derailed a pretrial program, a resolution asking South Dakotans to pray for the state, and a proposal to limit the liability utilities face for wildfires. Meanwhile, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem continues to appear in national headlines, and her successor continues to back her actions. Searchlight Reporter Makenzie Huber explains a series of stories examining the impact, barriers and concerns regarding efforts to build data centers in the state.

‘Woke’ money, wildfires and more from the Legislature’s third week; plus: ‘The Data Center Divide'

This week in the Legislature, lawmakers discussed hemp and kratom regulation, an ethics bill based on South Dakota Searchlight reporting and an eminent domain issue that could end up on the ballot in November. A committee meeting was interrupted by a disagreement about seating arrangements. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a bill to increase the punishment for threats or acts of violence that disrupt religious services. And an old hydroelectric plant in Spearfish Canyon could become a new museum for visitors to the area.

This week in the Legislature, lawmakers discussed hemp and kratom regulation, an ethics bill based on South Dakota Searchlight reporting and an eminent domain issue that could end up on the ballot in November. A committee meeting was interrupted by a disagreement about seating arrangements. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a bill to increase the punishment for threats or acts of violence that disrupt religious services. And an old hydroelectric plant in Spearfish Canyon could become a new museum for visitors to the area.

God, ice cream and tea: Legislature’s second week brings hemp debate, committee kerfuffle and more

In the first episode of Searchlight Report, <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a> audio reporter Meghan O’Brien dives deeper on the first moves made in the 2026 legislative session, on issues including property rights, medication abortions, the state’s controversial Future Fund and an ethics bill inspired by Searchlight reporting. Meghan also shares archival audio from Don Barnett, who died recently at age 83. Barnett is the former mayor who guided Rapid City’s recovery from a 1972 flood that killed 238 people.

In the first episode of Searchlight Report, South Dakota Searchlight audio reporter Meghan O’Brien dives deeper on the first moves made in the 2026 legislative session, on issues including property rights, medication abortions, the state’s controversial Future Fund and an ethics bill inspired by Searchlight reporting. Meghan also shares archival audio from Don Barnett, who died recently at age 83. Barnett is the former mayor who guided Rapid City’s recovery from a 1972 flood that killed 238 people.