Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the end of the federal government shutdown: when SNAP benefits resumed in Iowa, whether the Iowans in Congress have been paid lately, Laura's reporting on the Iowa earmarks in the federal funding bill, where things stand on health insurance premium subsidies, and a last-minute provision that could force most consumable hemp products off the market. They discussed news from Iowa's U.S. House races: Mariannette Miller-Meeks' GOP challenger and recent town hall in IA-01, a new independent candidate in IA-02, and a poll showing incumbent Zach Nunn losing to two Democrats in IA-03. Other topics covered: Chris Jones as a possible candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture, the first week of Randy Feenstra's statewide tour, the future president of Iowa State University, and a third lawsuit filed by an Iowa educator fired over a social media post about Charlie Kirk.