John Thune: podcast appearances and interviews

John Randolph Thune is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota. He has held this position since 2005 and is a member of the Republican Party. Thune has held the role of Senate majority leader since 2025 and also serves as the Senate Republican leader. Born in Pierre, South Dakota, on January 7, 1961, Thune is a graduate of Biola University and the University of South Dakota. His political career began with his election to Congress in 1996, representing South Dakota's at-large congressional district. He was reelected in 1998 and 2000. In 2002, Thune ran for the U.S. Senate but narrowly lost to incumbent senator Tim Johnson. He ran again in 2004 and defeated Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle in that election. Thune was reelected to the Senate in 2010, 2016, and 2022. Throughout his Senate tenure, Thune has held several leadership roles, including serving as the Republican chief deputy whip from 2007 to 2009, chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2009 to 2012, and Senate Republican Conference chair from 2012 to 2019. He also served as majority whip from 2019 to 2021 and minority whip from 2021 to 2025.