Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks share their favorite Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes and discuss lots of news from a busy week in Iowa politics, starting with Iowa angles on President Donald Trump's return to the White House. They dug into the many policies Governor Kim Reynolds is asking Iowa legislators to enact this year, some items on her wish list that didn't make it into her big speech, and what the Iowa Judicial Branch and Iowa National Guard want lawmakers to pass. Other topics covered: State Senator Mike Bousselot wants Iowa to buy the souther tier of Minnesota counties, Senator Joni Ernst backs secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth, Representative Zach Nunn wants strings attached to California disaster aid, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks joins the DOGE caucus, Ernst creates an Inspector General caucus, and Senator Chuck Grassley's role in publicizing bribery allegations that former FBI informant now admits to making up.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the start of the Iowa legislature's 2025 session from many angles: what happened on the opening day, highlights from remarks by majority and minority leaders, two new committees created in the Iowa House, important dates for the legislature's work, some key issues lawmakers may tackle, how Iowans can follow what's going on at the statehouse, the changing demographics of the Iowa House and Senate, and diversity among the members (including the first transgender lawmaker). Also covered: the end of a legal challenge to some voting restrictions enacted in 2021, and the latest news on Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the biggest Iowa politics stories of the week, starting with the first actions of the new Congress. Other topics covered: candidates set for the Iowa Senate district 35 special election, a GOP rival's ad with a vulgar message about Senator Joni Ernst, Iowa Democratic Party state chair Rita Hart winning another term and outlining her plans, recent comments from Iowa GOP state chair Jeff Kaufmann, the state passing on the USDA's summer food assistance program for kids, Governor Kim Reynolds leaving the student position vacant on the Iowa Board of Regents, and Donald Trump "viceroy" Mike Davis stepping down from a University of Iowa alumni advisory board.

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss President Jimmy Carter's legacy and how his 1976 campaign changed the Iowa caucuses. Other topics covered: former Governor Tom Vilsack's impending return to Iowa, President Biden's veto of a bill that would have added a permanent federal judge in Iowa, U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra's priorities for the next Congress, a possible spike in Iowans' health insurance premiums after 2025, a rise in homelessness and the city of Des Moines' controversial anti-camping ordinance, the long-term warming trend in Des Moines, and a Democratic candidate for an Iowa Senate special election. Laura and Dennis wrapped up the show with their thoughts about the biggest stories from the Iowa legislature's 2024 session, the most and least surprising Iowa politics news of the year, and their top takeaways from the 2024 elections.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa politics stories from the week, starting with Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster, Ann Selzer. They also talked about how the Iowans voted on last-minute efforts to keep the federal government open and a Social Security bill, which divided the Iowa delegation in an unusual way. Other topics discussed: Iowa's prospects for keeping four Congressional districts, the first human case of bird flu announced, a date for the special election to replace Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, a controversy over a state audit of the Judicial Branch, oral arguments at the Iowa Supreme Court related to the state's English-only law, and how the judicial branch has changed juvenile justice policies to address racial disparities.

Iowa finally has a new lieutenant governor. Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks talk about Chris Cournoyer's background and work in the Iowa Senate, what was and wasn't surprising about Governor Kim Reynolds' choice, political reaction to the new LG, and what the pick signals about the 2026 governor's race. Other topics covered: Reynolds backs using the National Guard to assist with deportations, pathogenic avian influenza detected in five Iowa counties, state revenue projected to drop, state officials cancel planned Satanic event at the capitol, Attorney General Brenna Bird comments on a state constitutional amendment and January 6 pardons, an FBI informant admits he fabricated claims Senator Chuck Grassley publicized, Iowa Supreme Court issues important ruling on wage discrimination, and the legacy of longtime U.S. Representative Jim Leach, who passed away last week.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the intense pressure campaign U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is facing from MAGA Republicans. Joshua Smith has announced plans to run against Ernst in the 2026 GOP primary, and conservative influencers have floated other possible challengers. Also covered: comments from other Iowa politicians about Trump's picks, fewer women elected to the Iowa legislature in 2024, more fallout from the Secretary of State's efforts to find "non-citizen" voters, and an award for Governor Kim Reynolds. 

Iowa's elections were certified on December 2, and Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the shift to Donald Trump, GOP gains in early voting, final results from the last races to be recounted, and the seven Iowa legislators elected in districts that voted the other way for president. Other topics discussed: counties with the highest and lowest turnout, dozens of ballots rejected, new leadership on some Iowa Senate committees, Senator Chuck Grassley on Trump's picks for FBI director and secretary of agriculture, Senator Joni Ernst floats spending cuts, and Governor Kim Reynolds names a former legislator (whom she helped defeat) as a District Court judge.

It's two recounts down and two to go in Iowa's very close 2024 elections. Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the state of play and how Republicans expanded their Iowa Senate majority to 35-15. Other topics covered: newsworthy changes to Iowa House committees, a new Iowa Senate Democratic leader, Senator Joni Ernst's bet on the Trump administration's DOGE effort, Matt Whitaker's nomination as U.S. ambassador to NATO, reaction to possible mass deportations, the USDA rejecting two waiver requests from Iowa, and a big drop in abortions performed shortly after Iowa's near-total ban took effect.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the four Iowa elections that are headed for recounts, how Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst will approach Donald Trump's controversial cabinet picks, and unsuccessful bids by Ernst and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for GOP leadership roles in the new Congress. Other topics discussed: challenged ballots in some counties, Ann Selzer's decision to stop polling elections, and Laura's reporting on Democratic losses in Iowa's mid-sized cities, which were solid blue territory for decades.