In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and Policy Director John Hendrickson dive into key developments shaping Iowa’s governance and tax policies. The discussion kicks off with the appointment of Iowa’s new Lieutenant Governor, Senator Chris Cournoyer. Known for her work on state realignment and efficiency, her appointment reflects a commitment to streamlining government operations and ensuring readiness for leadership transitions. Next, the hosts break down the December Revenue Estimat...
Dec 16, 2024•27 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson dive into the pressing topics shaping Iowa’s future. Broadcasting from the newly equipped Hendrickson Library, the discussion highlights the upcoming legislative session and its implications for property taxes, local government spending, and economic growth. With a focus on ensuring government accountability and efficiency, the conversation reinforces ITR’s commitment to putting taxpayers first. The episode starts with a sharp ...
Dec 10, 2024•36 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson dive into critical discussions about local and state government spending, upcoming legislative priorities, and broader national political issues. Government Spending and Transparency: The conversation explores both state and local government spending practices, with particular attention to property tax reform. John highlights the benefits of capping property tax increases at 2% annually, a reform inspired by similar measures in...
Dec 03, 2024•31 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and regular guest John Hendrickson welcome Amity Shlaes, a distinguished historian and leading expert on economic history. The conversation delves into the enduring significance of Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding, exploring their relevance in today’s political and economic landscape. Shlaes highlights the fiscal conservatism that defined their administrations, emphasizing the importance of limited government, balanced budgets, and eco...
Nov 18, 2024•27 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and guest John Hendrickson provide an in-depth analysis of Iowa’s political landscape following the recent elections. They begin by discussing leadership elections in the Iowa House and Senate, emphasizing the re-election of key conservative leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver. The episode highlights the significance of maintaining a strong conservative caucus, as Iowa continues to lead on policies such as tax reform and limited ...
Nov 13, 2024•34 min
In this episode of the ITR Live Podcast, host Chris Hagenow welcomes Sarah Curry to the show. Chris and Sarah delve into the recent November bond elections, a significant event under new legislation requiring bond measures to appear on November ballots. They discuss how this change has led to higher voter turnout and greater scrutiny of these critical financial decisions. With 48 bond measures on ballots across Iowa, the elections saw mixed results: only 20 proposals secured the 60% supermajorit...
Nov 08, 2024•41 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson take a deep dive into the 2024 general election results in Iowa. The conversation kicks off with reflections on the tense yet hopeful atmosphere of election night, providing listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at the ITR Election Night War Room. They explore surprising outcomes and analyze the broader implications for the Republican Party, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s decisive victory in Iowa. The duo examines the shi...
Nov 07, 2024•47 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson dive into the political landscape shaping Iowa’s upcoming elections. They explore recent polling data that presents a complex picture of voter sentiment, with particular attention to the surprising results from the Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll showing Kamala Harris in the lead. The hosts discuss the accuracy and reliability of modern polling, which has faced challenges with changing voter behavior and response rates. They undersc...
Nov 04, 2024•34 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow is joined by Tom Sands and John Hendrickson to explore the far-reaching impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and its connection to Iowa’s tax policies. They dive into the significance of tax cuts for economic growth, focusing on how federal and state tax reforms shape Iowa’s business climate and overall prosperity. The episode highlights the importance of reducing taxes for small businesses and corporations to stimulate investment and job creation....
Oct 25, 2024•39 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson dive into several key issues affecting Iowa taxpayers and government policies. They begin by discussing updates from the Hendrickson Library and insights from Iowa’s Revenue Estimating Conference, highlighting Iowa’s strong fiscal foundation despite recent revenue declines. They emphasize the importance of Iowa’s tax cuts, which are designed to return over-collected funds to taxpayers and ensure that the state’s surplus continues to...
Oct 23, 2024•33 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow is joined by guest Sarah Curry to discuss Iowa’s upcoming bond elections, with a special focus on ‘repeat offenders’—local governments that continuously propose bond measures despite previous failures. The pair explore several case studies, highlighting how these proposals impact taxpayers and why voter engagement is essential in holding local officials accountable. They emphasize the importance of transparency in local government spending and the ...
Oct 18, 2024•24 min
In this episode of ITR Live, we welcome Dr. Ernie Goss, an expert on economics in the Midwest, to discuss the complex current economic conditions. Dr. Goss explores the disconnect between macroeconomic indicators and individual experiences, particularly in the context of manufacturing and agriculture. He highlights key challenges such as rising inflation, a recession in key sectors, and the job losses affecting the region. Additionally, the conversation touches on the Federal Reserve’s role and ...
Oct 17, 2024•45 min
In this episode of ITR Live, hosts Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss various topics including new updates to the ITR Live Studio at the Hendrickson Center for the Preservation of Western Civilization. Shocking news as Iowa Democrats finally get fact-checked by the mainstream media, even though it came from a network TV station in Omaha. Legislative Democrats decided to make up their on facts on public school closures to win cheap political points on Educational Savings Accounts heading ...
Oct 15, 2024•35 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the latest ITR Foundation poll results, key issues affecting voter sentiment in Iowa, and the implications of the upcoming election. They analyze the role of abortion in legislative races, proposed tax amendments, and the significance of a property tax cap. The conversation also includes reflections on the recent vice presidential debate, highlighting the performances of candidates and their impact on the political land...
Oct 02, 2024•47 min
In this episode of ITR Live, host Chris Hagenow and guest Sarah Curry delve into the intricacies of local government elections in Iowa, focusing on the challenges of accessing election information, the impact of voter turnout on election outcomes, and the importance of community engagement in local governance. They discuss recent election results, the complexities of bond elections and property taxes, and the need for better prioritization of emergency management funding. The conversation emphas...
Sep 24, 2024•31 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the recent changes in Iowa's political landscape, including the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg and the implications for future elections. They delve into the tactics used by political operatives to influence elections, particularly focusing on a controversial article about so called "dirty tricks" aimed at undermining Republican candidates. The conversation also covers upcoming key races in Iowa, highlighting ...
Sep 20, 2024•26 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the recent changes in Iowa's political landscape, including the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg and the implications for future elections. They delve into the tactics used by political operatives to influence elections, particularly focusing on a controversial article about so called "dirty tricks" aimed at undermining Republican candidates. The conversation also covers upcoming key races in Iowa, highlighting ...
Sep 20, 2024•26 min
In this episode of ITR Live, hosts Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the transition to a new studio, analyze the recent presidential debate between Trump and Harris, and delve into the fiscal policies proposed by Kamala Harris. The conversation highlights concerns over future governance and the implications of Harris' policies on the American economy. The episode wraps up with reflections on the importance of controlling government spending and the need for informed discussions on local...
Sep 13, 2024•30 min
Tim Walz is a flyover state Bernie Sanders, and the demands of government are exceeding the ability to pay for them. The excessive taxation is killing the economy. Local governments in Iowa are spending too much and need to limit their spending. Democrats are trying to appeal to voters by messaging the need for property tax relief, but the problem is their excessive spending. The Harris-Walz ticket is not moderate, despite attempts to portray them as such. They have a radical agenda and want to ...
Aug 30, 2024•39 min
In this episode, Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson discuss the current state of the presidential race and the importance of focusing on key issues such as inflation, immigration, and foreign policy. They also highlight the growing national debt and its impact on the economy and individual Americans. The conversation touches on the need for tax reform, particularly in relation to property taxes, and the potential lessons that can be learned from the tax reform debate in Nebraska. They also menti...
Aug 14, 2024•34 min
John Hendrickson returns to Studio 130 for this episode of the ITR Live Podcast. John is fired up and ready to celebrate President Herbert Hoover's 150th birthday. Chris quickly moved the conversation which started about 1920's Presidents forward 100 years to talk about Democrat Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz's record as Governor of Minnesota. Governor Walz has proudly led one of the most left wing radical policy shifts in the nation. Chris and John take a closer look at recent history in Mi...
Aug 07, 2024•29 min
Iowa’s Tax-Free Weekend: If you have kids in Iowa, you probably know that Iowa’s tax-free weekend always begins the first Friday in August. For 2024, the shopping holiday will start at midnight on Friday, August 2, and run through Saturday, August 3. Businesses in Iowa are required to participate if they are open during these days. Chris and Sarah examine the merits of Iowa’s sales tax-free weekend. Economists and public finance scholars generally agree that a well-structured sales tax should ex...
Jul 26, 2024•32 min
John Hendrickson returns to the ITR Live Podcast to give his thoughts on an eventful week in American history. John delves into the significance of JD Vance being selected as the Vice Presidential nominee and what this means for the America First movement. He provides a historical perspective on trade policy and the trend towards less foreign intervention within the movement. John discusses how JD Vance’s nomination aligns with the broader goals of the America First movement, particularly focusi...
Jul 19, 2024•28 min
In this episode of ITR Live, we present insights from the latest edition of the ITR Foundation poll. In our poll, Donald Trump has widened his lead over Joe Biden from 9% in our February poll, to 12% in this edition. The top concerns for Iowa voters are fiscal matters along with immigration. We explore further key policy proposals: A constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to raise taxes, another to constitutionally guarantee a flat tax. Finally, we take a look at the overwhelming sup...
Jul 15, 2024•23 min
In this episode of ITR Live, we take a look at the upcoming ITR Foundation poll, which will be the first look at the Presidential match-up in Iowa post-presidential debate. We discuss how the polls not only predict election outcomes but also highlight Iowans' preferences for conservative fiscal policies. We also examine the ongoing dissatisfaction with property tax increases and the growing conversation around capping property tax growth at 2% annually. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of these ...
Jul 08, 2024•26 min
On this episode of the Hendrickson Group (formerly ITR Live), Chris Hagenow and Chris Ingstad take a look at additional data from the recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. According to these results, inflation is the biggest issue on the minds of Iowa voters, and they have no confidence left in Joe Biden to address the problem. One of the biggest drivers of inflation is the huge increase in deficit spending at the federal level, exemplified by the monstrosity that was the American Rescu...
Jun 25, 2024•27 min
The Des Moines Register recently released their latest Iowa Poll, with a shocking result in the Presidential race. In this new poll, Donald Trump leads President Biden by a whopping 18 percentage points in Iowa. That is a margin over double what Trump won Iowa by just four years ago. Alan Ostergren from the Kirkwood institute is in Studio 130 to discuss these new numbers and much more. One big question: What do these poll numbers mean for downballot races in Iowa? Chris and Alan look at several ...
Jun 18, 2024•44 min
In this episode of ITR Live, John and Chris take a look at the recent US News and World Report ranking on "Best Cities to Live" which once again include two cities in Iowa: Des Moines and Davenport. We take a look at what drives these rankings, and why progressives want to blame conservative lawmakers for Des Moines' modest three spot drop in the ranking. We further look at recent comments by President Biden in which he apologizes for American to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Is this ...
Jun 12, 2024•24 min
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris and John take a look at the results from the June 4th primary elections in Iowa. At both the congressional level and state legislative level, there were closely-watched races that will have important implications not only for the general election, but looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session. In the U.S. House of Representatives races in Iowa, Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the HD-1 Republican Primary with 56% of the vote, while Lanon Baccam won the HD-3 Dem...
Jun 05, 2024•31 min
In this episode of ITR Live, we take a look at recent election results in Texas, and their implication for school choice reforms not only in the Lone Star State, but across the country. We think bring the conversation back to Iowa politics, with our state's primary elections coming up on Tuesday, June 4th. Although there is no statewide primary, there are still several races we are tracking. Looking ahead to the general election in November, Democrats appear to have settled on a strategy to defl...
May 29, 2024•31 min
