Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa politics stories from the week, starting with Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster, Ann Selzer. They also talked about how the Iowans voted on last-minute efforts to keep the federal government open and a Social Security bill, which divided the Iowa delegation in an unusual way. Other topics discussed: Iowa's prospects for keeping four Congressional districts, the first human case of bird flu announced...
Dec 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 206
Iowa finally has a new lieutenant governor. Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks talk about Chris Cournoyer's background and work in the Iowa Senate, what was and wasn't surprising about Governor Kim Reynolds' choice, political reaction to the new LG, and what the pick signals about the 2026 governor's race. Other topics covered: Reynolds backs using the National Guard to assist with deportations, pathogenic avian influenza detected in five Iowa counties, state revenue projected to drop, state official...
Dec 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 205
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the intense pressure campaign U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is facing from MAGA Republicans. Joshua Smith has announced plans to run against Ernst in the 2026 GOP primary, and conservative influencers have floated other possible challengers. Also covered: comments from other Iowa politicians about Trump's picks, fewer women elected to the Iowa legislature in 2024, more fallout from the Secretary of State's efforts to find "non-citizen" voters, and an award for Gov...
Dec 10, 2024•30 min•Ep. 204
Iowa's elections were certified on December 2, and Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the shift to Donald Trump, GOP gains in early voting, final results from the last races to be recounted, and the seven Iowa legislators elected in districts that voted the other way for president. Other topics discussed: counties with the highest and lowest turnout, dozens of ballots rejected, new leadership on some Iowa Senate committees, Senator Chuck Grassley on Trump's picks for FBI director and secretar...
Dec 03, 2024•29 min•Ep. 203
It's two recounts down and two to go in Iowa's very close 2024 elections. Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the state of play and how Republicans expanded their Iowa Senate majority to 35-15. Other topics covered: newsworthy changes to Iowa House committees, a new Iowa Senate Democratic leader, Senator Joni Ernst's bet on the Trump administration's DOGE effort, Matt Whitaker's nomination as U.S. ambassador to NATO, reaction to possible mass deportations, the USDA rejecting two waiver request...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 202
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the four Iowa elections that are headed for recounts, how Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst will approach Donald Trump's controversial cabinet picks, and unsuccessful bids by Ernst and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for GOP leadership roles in the new Congress. Other topics discussed: challenged ballots in some counties, Ann Selzer's decision to stop polling elections, and Laura's reporting on Democratic losses in Iowa's mid-sized cities, which were solid blu...
Nov 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 201
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks explore many aspects of the latest red wave in Iowa, starting with Donald Trump's biggest win yet and the warning signs for Democrats. Also covered: what went wrong with Selzer's final Iowa Poll for the Des Moines Register, how Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn survived strong challenges in the first and third Congressional districts, future prospects for Rep. Ashley Hinson and Senator Joni Ernst, and notable results from the state legislative races—inclu...
Nov 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 200
Six of the last eight general elections have been Republican landslides in Iowa. Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks recap the November 5 results: how Donald Trump improved on his past performance, the outcome in all four Congressional races, and the GOP gains in the Iowa House and Senate. Other topics covered: Iowa's new constitutional amendments, judicial retention votes, and what Senator Chuck Grassley plans to prioritize as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Nov 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 199
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks were on the air live from 10:00 pm to 10:30 pm Central to talk about the Iowa results so far. They will record another live show at noon Central on Wednesday, November 6. It's already clear that Donald Trump carried Iowa by a large margin, and Republicans will have net gains of Iowa House and Senate seats.
Nov 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 198
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Ann Selzer's final Iowa Poll for the Des Moines Register, which shocked the political world. Other topics covered: a federal court ruling allowing the state to proceed with a last-minute effort to find non-citizens on the voter rolls, an update on Iowa's early vote numbers, recent news from the four Congressional campaigns, and Iowa House and Senate races to watch on November 5. Laura and Spencer will record two bonus episodes this week: a live show on elect...
Nov 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 197
Laura Belin and Dr. Bob Leonard discuss the Iowa Secretary of State's last-minute directive telling county auditors to challenge ballots from "self-reported" non-citizens. (Some people on the secret list are in fact naturalized citizens.) Meanwhile, the ACLU of Iowa warned about mass challenges to voter registrations in some counties. Other topics covered include early voting numbers, the only debate between the first Congressional district contenders, a Republican candidate who didn't follow hi...
Oct 29, 2024•30 min•Ep. 196
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss findings from the investigation into the deadly mass shooting at Perry High School in January. Other topics covered: early voting numbers so far, Congressional candidate fundraising, news from the toss-up races in Iowa's first and third districts, details on the Davenport residence of Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the second Congressional district debate, how Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May has decided big cases, projections of declining stat...
Oct 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 195
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the options and requirements for voting before election day, and how both major parties are pushing early GOTV. Other topics covered: a debate, a poll, and new TV ads in Iowa's two toss-up Congressional races; attorney ratings for judges up for retention on the November ballot; a challenge to federal nursing home staffing requirements; Iowa Supreme Court arguments in a CO2 pipeline case; how school vouchers are affecting public and private schools; and for Ind...
Oct 15, 2024•30 min•Ep. 194
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dive into the state of play in Iowa's four U.S. House races: two toss-ups (the first and third Congressional districts), and two considered safe for Republicans (the second and fourth districts). They also share their VP debate takeaways and discuss Governor Kim Reynolds' search for a new lieutenant governor, recent trade mission to India, and opposition to legalizing marijuana. Other topics covered: Laura asked State Auditor Rob Sand about his timeline for announci...
Oct 08, 2024•30 min•Ep. 193
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the races in Iowa's first and third Congressional districts and Laura's exclusive reporting on how U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has used official resources to boost her re-election prospects. Also covered: an Iowa National Guard deployment to North Carolina, Rep. Randy Feenstra's vote against funding the government, Sen. Chuck Grassley's comments on the Secret Service, approval ratings for Iowa's governor, auditor, and attorney general, appeals court a...
Oct 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 192
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed new Iowa Poll findings on abortion, immigration, and the presidential and VP candidates. One of the co-chairs of Nikki Haley's Iowa caucus campaign became the first prominent Iowa Republican to endorse Kamala Harris. Other topics covered include: news from the competitive U.S. House races, concerns about slow mail delivery affecting Iowa voters, Iowa's senators opposing a bill to protect IVF, Laura's investigative reporting related to State Treasurer Roby ...
Sep 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 191
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the second apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and the first published Iowa Poll measuring support for Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Other topics covered: an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on Libertarians running for Congress, a shady effort to recruit pro-Trump candidates to split the vote in battleground U.S. House races, more questions about where U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks lives, proposed constituti...
Sep 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 190
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg's surprising departure, the latest news on three Libertarian candidates' fight to get back on the ballot, and the Iowa GOP's planned early voting push. Also covered: Democratic groups are making a play for Iowa's first Congressional district, grants for new charter schools, State Auditor Rob Sand's recent town hall in Knoxville, a county attorney withholding the incident report on the mass shooting at Perry High School, and mor...
Sep 10, 2024•30 min•Ep. 189
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss what Iowans need to know (and need to bring with them) if they plan to vote early or on election day. Republicans on a state panel voted three Libertarian Congressional candidates off the ballot, setting up a court challenge on a tight timeline. Other topics covered: a seventh presidential candidate appeared on the Iowa ballot; a conservative Republican stood by his endorsement of Democrat Ryan Melton in IA-04; an independent candidate qualified for the ball...
Sep 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 188
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Democratic National Convention highlights and news with an Iowa angle, including the delegate who voted "present" instead of for Kamala Harris, and the OB/GYN who joined a panel discussion about abortion and rural health care. Other topics covered: the Republican who endorsed the Democratic candidate in IA-04, campaign developments in IA-03, more state legislative races to watch, a new state child care portal, and a South Dakota court ruling that could affec...
Aug 27, 2024•30 min•Ep. 187
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the end of a legal challenge to Iowa's near-total abortion ban, and Governor Kim Reynolds picking a fight with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over federal funds for feeding kids over the summer. Other topics discussed include the presidential tickets that will appear on Iowa's ballot, a new state policy on wheelchair repairs, Democratic spending on tv ads in two of Iowa's Congressional districts, the record number of LGBTQ people running for the Iowa leg...
Aug 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 186
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa reaction to Vice President Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Other topics discussed: recent developments in federal lawsuits challenging two state laws, tv ads for candidates in Iowa's first and third Congressional districts, Republican efforts to knock Libertarian candidates off the ballot, state waivers for hazardous work for teens, resources available to trans kids, Olympic athletes with Iowa ties, and J.D. Scholt...
Aug 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 185
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the week in Iowa politics, starting with the the Harris/Trump race in Iowa and weekend fundraisers for Attorney General Brenna Bird and U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson. They also caught up on some Congressional action this summer and Senator Chuck Grassley's latest comments on Secret Service failures. Other topics covered include a Libertarian who may run for U.S. Senate in 2026, Olympic athletes with Iowa connections, GOP comments on the Olympic boxing cont...
Aug 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 184
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa's top political news stories. They began with the near-total abortion ban now being enforced: details on the law's restrictions and vague exceptions, and how it will affect pregnant Iowans and health care providers. Other topics discussed include political reaction to the abortion ban, remarks by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and State Auditor Rob Sand at a big Democratic fundraiser, Libertarian candidates filing in three Iowa Congressional districts, th...
Jul 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 183
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to President Joe Biden's decision to stand down as the Democratic nominee and the possible impact on down-ballot races. Other topics discussed: Attorney General Brenna Bird's prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention, how a rift with team Trump could affect Senator Joni Ernst's future prospects, strong Democratic fundraising in two Iowa Congressional races, and the legal state...
Jul 23, 2024•30 min•Ep. 182
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Also covered: Iowa GOP state chair Jeff Kaufmann formally nominated Trump at the Republican National Convention, two of Iowa's RNC delegates dissented from the platform plank on abortion, two Iowa Democrats called for Joe Biden to step aside as the presidential nominee, details on the state's comprehensive flood recovery eff...
Jul 16, 2024•30 min•Ep. 181
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the abrupt departure of Iowa Senate Commerce Committee chair Waylon Brown, weeks after his hard-fought primary win. Other topics covered include a new leadership role for U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a recap of some state laws that took effect this month, an update on flood cleanup in northwest Iowa, and State Representative J.D. Scholten stepping back on the mound.
Jul 09, 2024•30 min•Ep. 180
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart dig into the Iowa Supreme Court's most important ruling of the year and the fallout from the decision, which will allow the state to enforce a near-total abortion ban. Other topics covered include the Iowa Utilities Board's approval of a proposed carbon pipeline, the state's flood response, reaction to the first Joe Biden/Donald Trump debate, and Governor Kim Reynolds going to bat for small businesses fined for child labor violations.
Jul 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 179
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks lead with the state's response to massive flooding across northwest Iowa, in some areas surpassing 1993 levels. Other topics discussed: Attorney General Brenna Bird launches a cold case unit and joins another legal effort to help Donald Trump, beverage makers file federal lawsuit over Iowa law on hemp consumables, a national Democratic group targets seven Iowa House and Senate races, and notable findings from the latest Iowa Poll by Selzer & Co for the Des Moine...
Jun 25, 2024•30 min•Ep. 178
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks start with news from the federal courts related to Iowa's Texas-like immigration law and last year's school book ban and "don't say gay/trans" teaching restrictions. Other topics discussed include a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll on the presidential race, Libertarian candidates running in three of Iowa's Congressional districts, and surprising comments from U.S. Senator Joni Ernst about Donald Trump's stance toward Ukraine.
Jun 18, 2024•30 min•Ep. 177
