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.

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.