Civic Outlaws

Gallup reports that 89% of Americans now believe corruption is widespread in government—the highest level in the poll’s history.

On today’s Civic Outlaws, Samuel Trapp moves beyond the poll and looks at what public corruption and government overreach actually look like in practice. The show covers the federal allegations against Missouri House candidate Thomas Christopher Ross, Catherine Hanaway’s effort to remove Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston, the Philip LeVota bribery case in Jackson County, and a caller’s questions about the Missouri Supreme Court, initiative petitions and Hanaway’s spending of taxpayer funds on an abortion-related public service announcement.

Samuel also gives an update on Flock, MOLAG, upcoming litigation and efforts to rewrite Missouri’s unclear gaming laws.

Civic Outlaws — government power deserves scrutiny.

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Samuel Trapp follows the nationwide revolt against Flock license-plate surveillance, from Missouri cancellations and Josh Hawley’s inquiry to officers accused of tracking romantic partners. He then examines former officer Marcellis Blackwell’s guilty plea, the death of foster teen Korbin Papadopoulos, IRS property-seizure failures, federal-law-enforcement abuse claims, Camden County accountability disputes, and a proposed Lake-area utility-fee increase that could push a standard connection above $17,000.

Civic Outlaws returns to Malad, Idaho, where homeowners are questioning a Local Improvement District that could leave some residents owing thousands of dollars for sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Samuel talks with Virginia and Mattie about federal transportation grants, public-records requests, notice requirements, special benefits, project accounting, and the unanswered question at the center of the dispute: exactly what are homeowners being asked to pay for, and why?

Civic Outlaws examines what happens when government power outruns evidence, neutral procedure, public records, and meaningful review. Samuel Trapp connects Missouri licensing enforcement and MOLAG’s Cole County lawsuit with Flock camera surveillance, the effort to remove Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston, federal findings involving sexual abuse in California women’s prisons, correctional-officer convictions and guilty pleas, and troubling records practices inside a Washington licensing tribunal. The program’s central demand is straightforward: accusations are not judgments, authority is not proof, and every official action should leave an auditable record. Fridays, 7:00–8:30 a.m. Central at damradio.com/live.

On today’s Civic Outlaws, Samuel Trapp examines Missouri’s VLT enforcement fight through the lens of Sunshine Law requests, ATC delays, search warrant applications, and MOLAG’s compliance-and-communication initiative. The episode focuses on whether counties, sheriffs, and agencies have actual warrant-based evidence before threatening businesses over video lottery terminals and gray-market devices. Samuel also discusses ATC’s massive cost estimates, claims of lengthy review times, liquor-license pressure, Catherine Hanaway’s enforcement posture, and the broader problem of government using process to avoid accountability.

Civic Outlaws and MOLAG have launched a statewide examination of Missouri’s electronic-gaming enforcement system. Samuel Trapp explains approximately 700 communications sent to legislators, counties, cities, sheriffs and media organizations seeking written policies, warrant applications and records of coordination with the Attorney General, DPS and ATC.

Are local governments independently applying Missouri law—or following unwritten directions from Jefferson City?

The program also examines Catherine Hanaway’s “vice squad” rhetoric, public-record delays, qualified immunity, police militarization, AI-assisted civic investigations and the difference between political positions and constituent interests.

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Samuel Trapp sits down with Missouri State Senate District 6 candidate Ike Skelton for a wide-ranging discussion of government power, constitutional limits and political accountability. They examine Skelton’s Flock-camera prosecution, qualified immunity, surveillance databases, data centers, Senate transparency and local control. The conversation also turns to MOLAG’s lawsuit, Missouri’s anti-deference statute, Catherine Hanaway’s campaign against video gaming machines, casino influence, free-market regulation and the need to follow the money behind government enforcement. Skelton also outlines his legislative priorities and grassroots campaign.

Samuel Trapp widens the Civic Outlaws lens beyond the MOLAG lawsuit to ask three basic questions: Who has the authority, what process is provided, and what evidence exists beyond a government press release? The program examines Missouri’s inconsistent treatment of gaming machines, Catherine Hanaway’s effort to remove the elected Ray County prosecutor, a $5.89 million police-shooting settlement in Independence, and a St. Louis Sunshine Law ruling. The common thread is government power exercised before the public receives clear facts, equal treatment, or meaningful accountability.