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.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review the week in Iowa politics, starting with the latest news from the 2026 campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate, and the Democrat who's running for secretary of state. They covered the Iowa impact of the Republican budget reconciliation bill from many angles: cuts to food assistance and Medicaid, access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, energy tax credits, family planning services, and higher education funding. They also reviewed seven new bills Governor Kim Reynolds signed, some bills that didn't make it over the finish line, and the Iowa House debut of State Representative Angel Ramirez. Finally, they touched on an important Iowa Supreme Court ruling with roots in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks recapped an extremely busy week in Iowa politics, starting with Randy Feenstra's moves toward running for governor, a hint about Brenna Bird's ambitions, monster fundraising and a high-profile endorsement for Rob Sand, and the GOP legislator who may run for Feenstra's seat in Congress. They spent much of the show on the closing days of the Iowa legislature's 2025 session: what happened with the state budget, a wild Iowa Senate debate on eminent domain, wins and losses for Governor Kim Reynolds, and a deal (finally!) on spending Iowa's opioid settlement funds. They also discussed a federal court ruling that partially blocked the state from enforcing restrictions on addressing gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks had loads of 2026 campaign news to discuss. Rob Sand (D) launched his campaign for governor, Randy Feenstra (R) took the first step toward running for governor, Jennifer Konfrst (D) launched her campaign for Congress in the third district, her primary rival Sarah Trone Garriott (D) launched her first digital ad, Ryan Melton (D) is running for Congress in the fourth district, Nate Willems (D) is running for attorney general, and Chris Cournoyer (R) is running for state auditor. Other topics covered: Sand warns of the state's "fiscal time bomb," the USDA approved Governor Kim Reynolds' summer food pilot program, legislative maneuvering over the state budget and eminent domain, and a new leader for Iowa House Democrats.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with campaign news: State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott was the first Democrat to announce in Iowa's third Congressional district, two Republicans ruled out the 2026 governor's race, and the outcome of an Iowa House special election. Other topics covered: Republican drama over the state budget and eminent domain hanging up the legislative session; Bayer's efforts to revive the pesticide immunity bill; new state laws on cell phones in schools, National Guard scholarships, nuisance actions, birth centers, and "accessory dwelling units"; and the House Government Oversight Committee grilling State Auditor Rob Sand and seeking confidential information from a nonprofit advocacy group.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks begin with the legal battle brewing over the Iowa governor's ability to shield documents from public view. On the same day, the governor's office sued the Des Moines Register, and the ACLU of Iowa sued the governor's office. In both cases, the governor claims records can be withheld because of "executive privilege." Other topics covered include an update on a lawsuit Iowa joined last year related to disability protections, new candidate filings for governor and state auditor, town hall meetings featuring Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Ashley Hinson, and comments from Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst about Russia and Ukraine. They closed with news from the state legislature: a new law on charter school board members, why work on the state budget is behind schedule, the resurrection of a "dead" bill, and final approval for measures related to open records, frivolous lawsuits, and the judicial branch.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks started with news from the 2026 campaign trail: GOP State Senator Mike Bousselot is exploring a gubernatorial campaign, Democrat Nathan Sage is running for U.S. Senate, and Kevin Techau and Travis Terrell are running for U.S. House. They also discussed what makes a credible candidate for federal or statewide office, and 1Q fundraising by Iowa's members of Congress. Other topics covered: tough votes coming for the Congressional delegation, another tense town hall for Senator Chuck Grassley, Governor Kim Reynolds seeking a waiver for Medicaid work requirements, notable bills signed into law, and legislative action on the "Baby Olivia" bill, a new required exam for high school students, constitutional amendments on taxes and child testimony, and open records.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the biggest Iowa political news stories, starting with fallout from Governor Kim Reynolds' announcement that she won't seek a third term: potential Republican and Democratic candidates, impact on the next elections for governor and down-ballot offices, and reasons for Reynolds' relatively low approval rating. Meanwhile, Democrats plan to target Iowa's second Congressional district and have nominated a candidate for an upcoming special Iowa House election. Laura and Spencer also discussed the Iowa legislature's work on school funding, other education policies, election laws, cancer, property taxes, the minimum age to carry handguns, and a revealing Iowa Senate debate on human remains.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed Iowa reaction to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and their likely impact on the state's agriculture sector. The U.S. Senate confirmed Matt Whitaker to the most senior role an Iowan has received in the second Trump administration. Also covered: more Democrats considering a 2026 bid for U.S. Senate, why Bernie Sanders' campaign has a staffer on the ground in Iowa, a special election coming for an Iowa House seat, the Iowa ties of Wisconsin's newest Supreme Court justice, the first meeting of Governor Kim Reynolds' DOGE task force, and news from the legislature related to hands-free driving, school funding, immunity for pesticide manufacturers, eminent domain and CO2 pipelines, judicial nominations, and more.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the week's top Iowa politics stories, starting with U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher blocking enforcement of Iowa's school book ban. Other topics covered include Attorney General Brenna Bird's unprecedented lawsuit against a county sheriff, reaction from Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to "Signalgate," and Democratic State Senator Zach Wahls as a potential challenger to Ernst in 2026. They also discussed Iowa legislative work in many areas: property tax reform, immunity for pesticide manufacturers, hands-free driving, the governor's energy bill (the Trump administration opposes one part of it), paid parental leave, Medicaid work requirements, restrictions on eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, school chaplains, and severe penalties for those who cause another person's death from fentanyl.