Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the Fox News "undercover" video that sparked an investigation into the University of Iowa's DEI practices, a spat between President Trump and Senator Chuck Grassley, some partisan Senate confirmation votes, and Senator Joni Ernst opposing a ban on individual stock trading by members of Congress. Other topics covered: a forum featuring three Republicans running for governor (but not Randy Feenstra), more candidates likely to run for governor or U.S. Senate, a sporting event disrupted by Iowa's dirty water, a new Iowa House majority leader, early enforcement of Iowa's new hands-free driving law, corporate lobbying for a pesticide immunity bill, a new job for a former GOP legislator, and the one-year anniversary of the state's near-total abortion ban.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Washington, DC: the Trump administration's retreat on freezing K-12 education funds, U.S. House turmoil over the Epstein files, and work that may cut into the Senate's long summer break. They discussed two new Congressional candidates in IA-04 and one in IA-02; Senate campaign news related to Joni Ernst, Zach Wahls, Josh Turek, and Nathan Sage; gubernatorial campaign news related to Randy Feenstra, Brad Sherman, CO2 pipeline politics, Rob Sand, and Julie Stauch. Other topics covered: the first ad for the Iowa Senate district 1 special election, Governor Kim Reynolds' low approval rating, and Laura's deep dive on why Iowa finally enacted an anti-SLAPP law.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Congress: the bill cutting $9 billion in spending, the potential impact on Iowa public radio and television, frozen federal education funds, Senator Chuck Grassley's handling of the Emil Bove nomination, Grassley's work to help Grinnell College avoid a tax hike, and House votes on the Jeffrey Epstein files, with comments from Representative Ashley Hinson. Other topics covered: new Congressional candidates Kathy Dolter (D, IA-02) and Kyle Larsen (R, IA-04), Kevin Virgil ruling out a second campaign in IA-04, and second quarter fundraising for all of Iowa's candidates for U.S. Senate and House. Finally, they discussed Iowa AG Brenna Bird dropping a lawsuit against the Winneshiek County sheriff.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Zach Nunn's bizarre trial balloon, followed by his retreat after speaking to President Donald Trump. They also discussed speculation about Joni Ernst's future plans, Ashley Hinson as a possible Senate candidate, GOP primary challenger Jim Carlin's first digital ad, a slew of endorsements for Randy Feenstra for governor, Mike Bousselot's hint about the governor's race, a prominent Republican's warning about Rob Sand, two Democrats launching campaigns for Congress and two more considering it, and each party's nominee for a special Iowa Senate election coming up in Sioux City.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered that monumental budget reconciliation bill from many angles, with a focus on the Iowa impact and role in Iowa's 2026 campaigns: taxes and the federal debt, Medicaid cuts and rural health care, defunding Planned Parenthood, cuts to food assistance, clean energy tax credits, more money for immigration enforcement, and new caps on student loans. They also discussed President Donald Trump's big rally in Des Moines and notable comments from speakers, Republican Matt Windschitl confirming he'll run for Congress, and Brenna Bird confirming she won't run for governor. Finally, Laura shared the latest news on Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster, Ann Selzer.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa angles on the big budget reconciliation bill, including how cuts to food assistance could cost the state tens of millions of dollars, and concerns Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn expressed over Senate language on Medicaid. Campaign stories covered include the death of an Iowa state senator and the coming special election to replace him, new Republicans running for Congress and state auditor, a Democrat ending his campaign in IA-02, a digital ad for Senate candidate Zach Wahls, and Rob Sand's first town halls as a candidate for governor. Laura previewed Donald Trump's appearance in Des Moines (his first in Iowa since the 2024 caucuses). Finally, they discussed how three major U.S. Supreme Court decisions could affect Iowans.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to U.S. strikes against Iran, Christina Bohannan's campaign launch in Iowa's first Congressional district, and Ryan Melton leaving the race in the fourth district. They noted the Iowa House effort to call a special legislative session. Next, several stories related to immigration policy: the Trump administration's flip-flop on ICE raids, Attorney General Brenna Bird's stance on National Guard deployments, and where things stand on the state's lawsuit over a county sheriff's Facebook post. They covered several Iowa angles on the "big, beautiful bill" now pending in the U.S. Senate. Finally, they marked Pride Month by discussing five stories affecting LGBTQ Iowans.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa angles on the horrific political shootings in Minnesota. They discussed Governor Kim Reynolds' unsurprising veto of an eminent domain bill and its aftermath, her surprising veto of a bill the legislature had approved unanimously, and notable bills signed related to pharmacy benefit managers, gender-affirming care, funding for Iowa's 911 system, and public schools. Other topics covered: Zach Wahls' Senate campaign launch, speculation about Senator Joni Ernst's plans, Laura's reporting on the difficult electoral math facing Iowa Democrats, Rob Sand's planned town halls, Donald Trump's military parade, "No Kings" rallies around Iowa, and Nathan Sage on deploying Marines to protests in Los Angeles.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the governor's race, where Republican Eddie Andrews and Democrat Julie Stauch launched campaigns and Democratic front-runner Rob Sand highlighted the statewide economy and a small town's water problems. They covered the U.S. Senate race from several angles: a campaign manager and a GOP challenger for Joni Ernst, another Democrat looking seriously at the race, and warning signs for Ernst in a new poll. Other topics covered: woman who prompted Ernst's infamous town hall comment now running for the legislature, Iowa losing its seat on a powerful DNC committee, the state's DOGE task force looking at county consolidation, and two of Governor Kim Reynolds' recent bill signings.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the Iowa political event that became a major national news story: Senator Joni Ernst's reminder that "we all are going to die." Democrats pounced and J.D. Scholten moved up the announcement date for his own Senate campaign. Other topics covered: GOP talking points on Medicaid cuts, news from the first Congressional district and governor's campaigns, a Democratic candidate in a battleground Iowa House district, a state senator's Parkinson's diagnosis, several new bills signed into law, and two politically salient federal court rulings.