Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks focused this week on the wide-ranging new Iowa law targeting transgender and nonbinary people. They discussed the key provisions, including some that have received little attention in other reporting. Laura described the atmosphere at the capitol, the House and Senate debates, last-minute maneuvering to secure House Republican support, the handful of Republicans who opposed removing gender identity protections from the civil rights code, when the law will take effect, and some oddities surrounding the way it was fast-tracked. She previewed the legal arguments each side will raise when the law is challenged in court. Other topics covered: a few bills advancing in the state legislature, the budget blueprint approved by Iowans in the U.S. House, and the official launch of a Republican primary challenger's Congressional campaign.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the biggest news in Iowa politics, starting with an omnibus transgender discrimination bill that is on a fast track: what's in the bill, how it compares to earlier proposals, why Republicans are pushing this now, and what happens next. They also discussed bills moving forward related to abortion, higher education, legal immunity for pesticide manufacturers, and law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Other topics covered: conflict between State Auditor Rob Sand and Governor Kim Reynolds after state agencies blocked auditors from reviewing school voucher expenses, Reynolds' response to her potential primary challenger, Bernie Sanders visiting Iowa City, and Iowa impacts from federal layoffs and funding cuts.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks start with 2026 election news: who is newly declared candidate Brad Sherman, and what are his chances in a Republican primary against Governor Kim Reynolds? Other topics covered: the candidates running in an Iowa House special election and legislative action related to school funding, other education policies, a pro-Israel resolution, hands-free driving, CO2 pipelines, frivolous lawsuits, and ticket bots. Laura and Spencer also dug into the Texas-based lawsuit the state of Iowa joined, which seeks to declare a longstanding federal anti-discrimination law unconstitutional and unenforceable. Finally, they discussed the recent federal court hearing on Iowa's 2023 law that included a K-12 school book ban and "don't say gay/trans" provisions for grades K-6.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the week in Iowa politics, starting with Governor Kim Reynolds creating a new "Iowa DOGE" task force and testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Committee about government reorganization. Other topics covered: Iowa angles on Trump administration policies, cabinet appointees, and NIH grants, an Iowa House special election coming soon, a Republican primary challenger for U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, two Iowa politicians joining Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster, a casino (probably) coming to Cedar Rapids, and legislative action on bills related to education, CO2 pipelines, immunity for pesticide manufacturers, cancer, and vaccinations.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover top stories from the week in Iowa politics, starting with Democrat Mike Zimmer's shocking victory in a state Senate district that just voted for Donald Trump by 21 points. They also covered the unexpected passing of State Representative Martin Graber and legislative action on many bills affecting higher education, K-12 schools, criminal justice, health care, protection against frivolous lawsuits, and transparency in government. Other topics covered: a possible effort to revoke transgender Iowans' civil rights protections, Senator Joni Ernst's public support for Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, and comments from members of Congress about President Trump's actions to freeze federal spending and fire inspectors general. Finally, an update on increased private school enrollment since Iowa adopted a school voucher program.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the the week in Iowa politics, starting with an appeals court ruling that kept a state immigration law blocked. They discussed Iowa angles on Trump administration news: Senate confirmations, inspector general firings, and January 6 pardons. Other topics covered: big fundraising numbers from the likely 2026 Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, a possible GOP primary challenger to Kim Reynolds, and a look at more than 15 bills moving forward in the Iowa House or Senate. Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court closed the door on a long-running lawsuit involving former U.S. Representative Steve King.

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.