John Burroughs senior Gabe Fleisher has been tapped to host a new KWMU (STL’s NPR affiliate) podcast, “Wake Up To Politics.” In each brief episode, Fleisher and an expert will deconstruct various political processes and systems behind the news. The hope is to provide a foundation for listeners to better understand complicated issues like gerrymandering, right in time for the Iowa caucuses.

Last month Fleisher, 18, was named as one of 2019’s Forward 50, chosen because he is “an American Jewish individual who influenced, intrigued and inspired us.” The son of Central Reform Congregation Rabbi Randy Fleisher and his wife, Amy, Gabe has had an interest in politics and history since he was a child. In third grade, he started his daily newsletter “Wake Up To Politics” and sent it to his mom. His following grew from there to reach 50,000 subscribers across the country and globe. 

The first podcast will be released on Jan. 24, with new episodes released biweekly. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and listen now to the trailer at stlpr.org/wakeup.