# Delving into American Conservatism: Past, Present, and Future American conservatism is steeped in rich history, often interwoven with discussions of economic policies, income tax, and the impacts of presidential decisions on the economy. A prime focus of American conservatism today is the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum in West Branch, Iowa, a place of much interest to scholars, historians, and political analysts alike. Named after the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Ho...
Sep 15, 2023•32 min
The annual Iowa-Iowa State football game has become a magnet for political figures, especially so in the lead-up to the Iowa Caucuses. From mingling in the crowds to conversations under the tents at the tailgates, this event was crawling with Republican presidential candidiates including President Donald Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Governor Doug Bergum. Last Saturday, Iowa was the center of the political universe. We also take a disconcerting look at near total agreement b...
Sep 12, 2023•16 min
## Toward a More Efficient Government The recent efforts to streamline Iowa's government drew much attention during the podcast. The Governor's reorganization initiative is part of a broader attempt to refashion government into a lean, efficient machinery. A significant part of this initiative is aimed at reducing the number of boards and commissions. Some of them may seem relatively obscure, from the Capital Planning Commission to the Elevator Safety Board. Nonetheless, their existence indicate...
Sep 08, 2023•30 min
# The Influence and Impact of Federalism Federalism, since its inception in the United States Constitution, has created a system where states reserve the right to govern specific facets pertinent to their residents. Working akin to a machine with its many components, each state, with its distinct demographics and needs, plays a vital part. Admittedly, the boundaries between the responsibilities of the state and federal government may have blurred over the years. However, the key principle remain...
Sep 05, 2023•20 min
# Presidential Politics, Debates and Modern Challenges A key subject discussed on many platforms is presidential politics. With debates becoming more fiery and the field of potential candidates growing more diverse, navigating these waters can prove tricky. The nature of these debates might seem like returning to the Reagan era for some, but we are actually dealing with new issues that require a different sort of conservatism. The growing popularity of the America First agenda has been particula...
Aug 25, 2023•24 min
# The Iowa Poll: A Political Weather Vane One of the most significant elements of the political landscape in Iowa is the Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll. Viewed as historically reliable and enjoying good independent ratings, it offers insightful glimpses into the likely scenario during caucuses. *Donald Trump* leads the poll with 42% of likely caucus-goers' votes, followed by *Ron DeSantis*, who commands 19%. It is worth noting that candidate preferences remain fluid; the Iowa caucuses are too f...
Aug 22, 2023•25 min
## *Political Chess Moves: Indictments and Elections* The world of politics is rife with strategies that often parallel chess moves. One such strategic maneuver is the recent wave of indictments against former President Donald Trump. This move potentially poses multi-faceted implications - from stirring controversy to indirectly impacting rankings on straw polls. The intertwining dynamics of such indictments tend to impact public sentiment and could significantly sway the outcomes of subsequent ...
Aug 18, 2023•33 min
Iowa's Political Shift: A Deep Dive into Changing Political Landscapes The Iowa State Fair sits at the center of the political universe, with Republican Presidential candidates each making their obligatory appearance. The past weekend had Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis both there at the same time. The New York Times recently published an article drawing attention to the Democrats' predicaments in Iowa. The article, based on interviews with a number of Iowa Democrats, reveals a general sense of di...
Aug 15, 2023•26 min
In essence, the Iowa State Fair embodies the spirit and vibrancy of the state itself. Being an annual event of such magnitude and diversity, the fair reveals the depth and breadth of everything that Iowa has to offer. It conveys a sense of unity and togetherness, enabling in-state and out-of-state visitors to connect and share experiences. The Iowa State Fair also doubles as a hub of political activity, in particular the Republican presidential caucus campaign. The event witnesses an influx of p...
Aug 11, 2023•20 min
The Hendrickson Library development took another step closer to reality - the arrival of boxes filled with an impressive 650 books! These books, forming part of the core collection, will find their home on newly sourced bookshelves. While being a significant fraction of the overall collection, a portion of it remains protected. The Hendrickson Library will not be just about the study of conservatism; it will effectively study Hendrickson conservatism. This will not only represent the intellectua...
Aug 08, 2023•29 min
Part 2 of our special episode on United States trade policy.
Aug 02, 2023•21 min
Part 1 of our special episode on US trade policy.
Aug 01, 2023•21 min
The focus of today's episode: The tax policy revolution taking root in Iowa. Witness the transition from a time-worn progressive tax structure to fairer flat tax regime that promises to rewrite economic rules and principles across the nation. In this episode we discuss whether the recent series of tax reforms in Iowa represent the greatest and most significant income tax cuts in our nation's history. On a story that ITR Foundation has been tracking for the last year, the federal government has f...
Jul 27, 2023•22 min
In an unsettling revelation from a recent Axios Des Moines report, about two-thirds of Americans aged over 55 are considering delaying their retirement or are unsure when they will be able to retire. Even more concerning, 20% of Americans over this age bracket believe they will never retire. This reflects the growing financial insecurity and economic challenges American citizens face in their golden years. The report also highlights the retirement income scenario in Iowa and how it differs from ...
Jul 25, 2023•22 min
In European soccer leagues, teams finishing at the bottom of the standings are "relegated" to the next level down in the minor leagues. Far too often, taxpayers are relegated when their tax dollars are gifted to private developers. This episode covers a story in the Des Moines Register about additional public funding for the proposed downtown Des Moines Soccer Stadium. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2023/07/17/krause-group-seeks-more-public-funding-for-des-moines-soccer-s...
Jul 18, 2023•28 min
ITR Live is back with another rapid reaction episode following former President Donald Trump attacking Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on staying neutral in the Iowa caucuses. Is there any point to this outburst from Trump, and what could he hope to gain from directing fire at our state's popular Governor? Will this ultimately blow over like so many times before?
Jul 11, 2023•21 min
This episode of the ITR Live Podcast is a stirring examination of trending issues with Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson. Join us as we dive headfirst into John's imminent induction into the densely packed, fast-paced world of Twitter. Driven by his eagle-eyed attention for Tucker Carlson's monologues, and a small twist by Twitter's changed policy, he prepares himself for an exciting journey into this platform. Then, we pivot attention to the giant leap in applications for Education Savings Acc...
Jul 07, 2023•30 min
Get ready for a whirlwind tour of the Iowa political landscape in this episode of ITR Live. We take you behind the scenes of Studio 130, more than just a broadcasting haven, a hub of intellectually stimulating discourse on contemporary currents. Join Chris Hagenow, John Hendrickson, and Chris Ingstad as they present you with a well-rounded analysis of recent events, cut from hours' worth of diligent process. Open up a world beyond bare facts and sound bites. Having seen her rise from relative ob...
Jul 06, 2023•26 min
The Biden Administration has chosen to go on offense with a messaging campaign around "Bidenomics," touting the President's record on managing the nation's economy. What exactly is Bidenomics? Apart from driving our economy into a recession and exploding the nation debt, what will history have to say about the President's economic policies? In Iowa, the Iowa Business Council released its Q2 Economic Outlook Survey. The leaders of Iowa's largest employers say that despite the national headwinds, ...
Jun 30, 2023•31 min
ITR is the voice of the taxpayer at the Capitol when spending decisions are made with your tax dollars. These spending decisions are not just in appropriations for programs and services, but also in offering generous tax credits and exemptions to specific interests. ITR Live takes a fresh look at some of the lucrative tax credits offered to Iowa businesses. Are these credits really necessary? Do these credits help the average Iowa taxpayer? ITR Live also revisits the scare tactics used by local ...
Jun 27, 2023•23 min
While the world was watching and waiting for news on the missing Ocean's Gate Titanic expedition, you might have missed some interesting news on Hunter Biden's ongoing legal trouble. Why is there not more attention being paid to the Biden family's alleged relationship with Chinese Communist Party espionage operations? Equally interesting is John's look Iowa's budget leadership compared to other blue states. Will Iowa continue to lead the nation in tax reform? Read more: https://itrfoundation.org...
Jun 23, 2023•23 min
John and Chris are safe and sound in ITR Live's Studio 130, thankful that they are not lost at sea trapped in a metal tube 13,000 feet below the ocean surface with only 3 days worth of oxygen. Instead, they take a trip through what happening in the news. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he doesn't want to fight on social issues, but instead wants to focus on the federal debt and poverty. What does that really mean? A huge scandal in Warren County where the Republican Board of Supervisors appo...
Jun 20, 2023•24 min
ITR Live has a new regular series: John Hendrickson's spotlight on conservative issues. In this inaugural episode, John showcases new pieces for his political memorabilia collection, including a signed copy of the platform from Pat Buchanan's 1996 Presidential campaign. Several planks made Buchanan unique in that race such as "America First" and "Economic Nationalism." Did those ideas originate with Pat Buchanan, and if not, where did they come from? Is the concept of economic nationalism someth...
Jun 16, 2023•20 min
John and Chris have an update on the Trump indictment, is this fair, and where do we go from here? John also brings his long-awaited look at the remarkable difference between Iowa and his native state of Minnesota. Iowa is following the red-state model, and has been dubbed at times the "Florida of the North." Minnesota on the other hand had become what John calls "Cold California" with a track record of liberal policies that rival any other blue state in the country. You can read John's article ...
Jun 14, 2023•28 min
Former President Donald Trump had been indicted on federal charges surrounding the handing of classified documents. Does this first ever action toward a former President help or hurt Trump, and what does it mean for the future of our politics in this country? The crew has strong feelings about the use of the police power of the state to selectively attack political opponents. However, if the evidence of these crimes truly merits this unprecedented action, then the Department of Justice owes it t...
Jun 09, 2023•22 min
“Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely ... I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.” - General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Forces, June 6th, 1944 This episode of ITR Live not only remembers the greatest amphibious i...
Jun 06, 2023•34 min
State Representative Bill Gustoff (R-Polk) is our in-studio guest on this episode of ITR Live. Rep. Gustoff is serving his first term in the Iowa House, representing Altoona, Saylor Township and a small part of Ankeny. Bill is a longtime friend and law partner of our host, ITR President Chris Hagenow, and shares his experiences after his first year at the Capitol and also what he's looking forward to in the future. Rep. Gustoff and John Hendrickson each attended a Presidential campaign event thi...
Jun 02, 2023•22 min
After a much-too-long holiday weekend hiatus, Chris, John and Chris are back in Studio 130 to talk about the deal on raising the federal debt ceiling. The guys talk about how they might vote as members of Congress, and have some back and forth on whether or not this is a good deal for conservatives or taxpayers in general. The reality is that the problem is so dire and the fiscal hole is so deep, that this bill probably won't have any meaningful impact on the future of the country. At some point...
May 31, 2023•25 min
One of ITR's Five Principles of Sound Tax Policy states that Iowa’s tax code should be fair and not favor one group of taxpayers at the expense of another. But, this principle does not mean taxpayers should not take advantage of every opportunity to reduce their tax bill. The property tax reform legislation recently signed by Governor Reynolds will directly cut tax bills for seniors and veterans. Below are details of who qualifies and what they need to do: https://itrfoundation.org/seniors-dont-...
May 23, 2023•25 min
The "Gold Standard" of Iowa political podcasts is live from Studio 130 for another action-packed fun-filled episode. The big issue we examine today is "What did John see last night on the KCCI news?" Should Iowa students be recognized for their achievement, and do merit-based rewards matter? We also learn that construction of the Des Moines Buccaneers' new home is delayed despite being fueled by tens of millions of dollars in public tax incentives. What cautionary tale should be learned? Because...
May 19, 2023•21 min
