Kansas Reflector Podcast

Army vet running for U.S. Senate isn't here to save the day

Kansas Reflector Podcast

Show Notes

As one of 11 Democrats running for Kansas' open U.S. Senate seat in August, Noah Taylor has set himself apart with a no-filter approach to politics. He slips curse words into his promotional materials and offers blunt opinions on TikTok.

In conversation with Kansas Reflector reporter Anna Kaminski, he said "people aren't looking for someone to come riding in on a white horse and save the day." Instead, he said he wants to "stand up, stand tall, and fight like hell with them."

New episodes of the Kansas Reflector Podcast drop on Mondays. Kansas Reflector staff interview elected officials, politicians, researchers, experts and everyday Kansans who are in the thick of state politics and current events.

This episode was hosted and produced by Anna Kaminski.

More from Kansas Reflector Podcast

Oct 19, 2026

Democratic U.S. House candidate Lauren Reinhold speaks with Kansas Reflector editor Sherman Smith about her campaign, affordability, immigration enforcement and her fondness for green bean soup.

Oct 12, 2026

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone spent years researching and writing about mid-century opinion writers in Kansas, culminating in a book, “Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters — Then and Now," which was released Sept. 29.

Oct 5, 2026

Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter about her run for the state’s highest office. Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election, where she will face Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson, Holscher explains her position on Medicaid expansion, legalizing cannabis and why she ultimately voted against the Chiefs stadium deal.

Sep 28, 2026

Kansas Sen. Dinah Sykes, a Democrat from Lenexa, sees insurance everywhere. From healthcare to property to pets, the office of the state insurance commissioner, for which Sykes is running in November, intersects with many facets of life. In conversation with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan Chilson, Sykes details her political career and why she has pledged during her campaign to reject money from insurance companies or their political action committees.

Sep 21, 2026

Kansas Reflector staff covered the Kansas State Fair debates in early September to bring readers into the thick of the midterm election season's first debate. Senior reporter Tim Carpenter, who was a panelist at the debates, interviews editor-in-chief Sherman Smith and reporter Anna Kaminski about their coverage.

See all episodes →