COLOMBIA, SC (AP) – National policy news may be more likely to steal the spotlight and focus, but two former “recovering” South Carolina senators want to bring South Carolina’s attention back to their governments state and local – by podcast.
On Monday, former Democratic senators Joel Lourie and Vincent Sheheen will release their new political podcast, “Bourbon In The Back Room”, which will focus on local and state government news and policy with a touch of national issues.
The first episode? Medical marijuana, with state senator Tom Davis, whose mission is to get legislation passed this session.
“The state government is the one that most affects our citizens, but with an obsessive focus on national politics, most people don’t know what’s really going on,” said Sheden, of Camden. “Joel and I plan to dive deep into our podcast that will shed light on the fun, madness and seriousness of what is going on in the South Carolina government.”
The idea of launching a podcast started a few weeks ago, said Lourie, when Sheheen informed him about a whole new project.
“He said, ‘I have an idea, a project that you and I should be working on. But it is not a money maker, ”said Columbia’s Lourie.
But Lourie said he was sold out quickly, with no chance to stop talking about politics with his former Senate tablemate.
“Politics is a huge fascination for people in South Carolina, and we have many excellent political stories,” said Lourie. “Podcasts allow us to go deeper, and Vincent and I have been co-workers for 12 years, friends for 15, and we know each other’s movements. We support each other in politics and in life. Our personalities appear. He’s very annoying, and I bring some humor to the conversation. “
The two struggled at first with the name, wanting to keep it from becoming “too serious,” said Lourie.
They ended up opting for “Bourbon In The Back Room”, an ode to people’s perception that lawmakers close deals in a hidden room full of smoke, drinking bourbon and cigars. In addition to the transparent plexiglass that will separate them due to COVID-19, there will be bourbon.
Although both are out of politics now, Lourie and Sheheen never left.
Lourie served in the SC House from 1999-2004, and in the Senate serving parts of Richland and Kershaw Counties from 2005-2016.
He now runs his own health insurance consulting group, Lourie Life and Health.
Sheheen also served in the 2001-2003 House, also winning a Senate seat, where she served in parts of Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties from 2004 until last year. Sheheen, a lawyer, lost her seat in November to Republican Senator Penry Gustafson, one of three Republicans who opposed Senate Democrats, giving the Republican Party 30 seats in the chamber.
Davis, a Beaufort Republican, told The State on Thursday that he was happy to see Lourie and Sheheen go back to politics.
“What I like about Vincent and Joel is that they are willing to listen to the other side because, ultimately, what we want to do here is to try to improve the lives of South Carolinaians,” said Davis. “These two guys are very smart problem solvers. They are not for red team or blue team. It’s about how everyone wins. There is not much public awareness of collegiality in the legislature. “
Like Davis, Lourie said he hopes to invite a variety of guests, from lawmakers to other notable officials and reporters.
“We want to make it informative and fun. Some of the people may open up to us in a little different way because we were colleagues, ”said Lourie. “Plus, free shots of Vincent’s bourbon.”
The podcast will be available on all major platforms where podcasts are found.