Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dug into last week's drama in the Republican primary for governor: Eddie Andrews surviving a challenge to his nominating papers and pointing the finger at rival candidate Adam Steen. Laura explained a state panel's decisions on other candidates facing challenges, and lessons learned from Iowa's 2026 ballot access problems. Other topics covered: the latest round of No Kings protests, Joe Mitchell's unconventional talking points, an outside group spending big for Josh Turek, a new endorsement for Christina Bohannan, another health care story with political resonance, how the Iowans in Congress voted on DHS funding, and Senator Chuck Grassley's take on President Trump celebrating Robert Mueller's death. Finally, they discussed last week's biggest Iowa legislature story: final passage (following a hiccup) of a temporary tax increase on health insurance providers.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with candidates at risk of getting knocked off the primary ballot: Democrat Xavier Carrigan in IA-03, Republican candidate for governor Eddie Andrews, and GOP State Senator Mike Bousselot. They covered the latest taxpayer-funded radio ads from Mariannette Miller-Meeks, other campaign news from the first, second, and third Congressional districts, and recent endorsements in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the GOP race for governor. The second half of the show focused on news from the state legislature: a proposed tax on health insurance companies, transparency and public access in the House and Senate, and where things stand after the second funnel on property tax reform, eminent domain, legislation to restrict the next governor's powers, and several "tough on crime" bills.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent half the show reviewing which Republicans and Democrats will be and won't be on the June 2 primary ballot for state and federal offices. Other topics covered: Donald Trump's PAC using a photo from the recent dignified transfer for a fundraising email, health care as an issue in Iowa's third Congressional district, the latest state revenue projections, early findings from state-funded research on Iowa's high cancer rate, and legislative happenings related to health policies, public assistance programs, and abortion.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news related to the war against Iran: two Iowa soldiers killed and returned to U.S. soil, the Iowa delegation's votes and comments about the president's war powers, Governor Kim Reynolds' comments about the military campaign, and the Iowa National Guard stating that commanders do not speak in religious terms about military operations. In 2026 campaign news: Zach Nunn announced and postponed a fundraiser with Pete Hegseth, Randy Feenstra placed a huge ad buy, Feenstra and Rob Sand filed nominating papers, with Sand's campaign setting an Iowa record. The second half of the program focused on legislative news: health updates on two state senators, Iowa Senate subcommittees on property taxes, the House and Senate passing more bills targeting transgender Iowans, a House bill repealing affirmative action programs and bias training for police, the latest news on the House Republican crime package, and the demise of the "Charlie Kirk bill."

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the Trump administration's new military campaign in Iran and Iowa angles from last week's State of the Union address. They discussed several aspects of a big state government story: Governor Kim Reynolds has been traveling on an Iowa State Patrol airplane purchased with pandemic relief funds. Other topics covered: filing period begins for state and federal candidates, the DCCC backing candidates in the first and third districts, health care news that could be important in those Congressional races, Randy Feenstra's contributions from PACs connected to China-linked companies, and Iowa legislative action on bills related to higher education, the governor's powers, and firearms.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump's tariffs. The rest of the show focused on news from the legislature, including details on the House and Senate Republican agreement on K-12 school funding. They discussed a group of bills designed to limit the next governor's power and following the legislature's first "funnel" deadline, they covered some notable bills that are still alive (as well as a few that didn't advance) related to education, libraries, vaccines, health care, immigration, crime and courts, agriculture, the environment, energy policy, local government powers, and automated license plate readers.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dove into the shake-up in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate after Nathan Sage ended his campaign and endorsed Josh Turek. They discussed what Turek and Zach Wahls have in common, some well-known supporters of each candidate, the contrasts they will draw as they appeal to Democratic voters, a new poll hinting at a talking point for Wahls, and a separate poll testing each Democrat against likely GOP nominee Ashley Hinson. Then they discussed Randy Feenstra's taxpayer-funded political ads and the Iowans in Congress voting to uphold Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada. The second half of the show focused on legislative news: school funding proposals, controversial bills related to Charlie Kirk, school dress codes, libraries, and abortion restrictions, and bills on elected officials' safety and renewable energy projects.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from the 2026 campaign trail: big endorsements for Chris McGowan in the fourth Congressional district, Matt Windschitl dropping his IA-04 campaign, Adam Steen banking on social conservatives in the governor's race, a weak showing for Randy Feenstra at the GOP off-year caucuses, and the DNC clearing Iowa Democrats to compete for an early slot in 2028. They covered some news from Congress: federal government funding and Senator Chuck Grassley's connection to FBI changes under Kash Patel. Most of the show focused on news from the Iowa legislature: proposed restrictions on abortion medications and local civil rights ordinances, a trio of "tough on crime" bills from House Republicans, the Senate GOP school funding plan, controversial measures advanced from the House Education Committee, and a House bill to strike all code references to affirmative action or "minority" grants.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news about the partial government shutdown and the status of federal budget negotiations. They covered Donald Trump's latest Iowa rally, including notable remarks by the president and which members of Congress were (and were not) invited to speak. Other topics covered: a debate featuring four of the five Republican candidates for governor (you can guess who was the no-show), a poll testing messages about the Democrats running for governor, a new candidate for state treasurer, a new endorsement for Ashley Hinson, why the off-year precinct caucuses matter, and year-end fundraising by the Iowans running for U.S. House and Senate. Finally, they discussed the latest news from the Iowa legislature on property taxes and eminent domain. 

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to another tragedy in Minneapolis. Next, they covered breaking news from the 2026 campaign trail, as three Iowans ended their Congressional campaigns on the same day. One of them, Taylor Wettach, is now running for state auditor. Christina Bohannan announced a new stance on health care reform, and State Senator Catelin Drey revealed her cancer diagnosis. Laura and Spencer also covered many Iowa legislative stories: a House Republican property tax plan, a House floor vote on eminent domain, a very different Senate GOP plan on eminent domain, a House Democratic clean water package, subcommittee action on over-the-counter ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, more teaching restrictions on LGBTQ topics, and a possible smoking ban for casinos. Finally, they discussed the new Iowa Legislative Black and Brown Caucus and highlights from the fundraising reports for some Democratic and Republican candidates for governor. (More to come on candidate fundraising next week.)