This week, we discuss Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ fiery return to in-person town halls, Randy Feenstra’s campaign launch for governor, how Iowa Democrats messaged on health care access in the final days of the shutdown, a recount in Davenport under Iowa’s new recount laws, and a ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court in the Davenport building collapse case.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Deputy Des Moines Bureau Chief Tom Barton. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnist Todd Dorman.

Read stories featured in this episode:

Booing, heckling and walkouts mark Miller-Meeks’ town hall in Keosauqua: https://www.thegazette.com/federal-government/booing-heckling-and-walkouts-mark-miller-meeks-town-hall-in-keosauqua/

Feenstra sets sights on Rob Sand at Sioux Center tour launch for governor: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/feenstra-sets-sights-on-rob-sand-at-sioux-center-tour-launch-for-governor/

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidates urge party to hold the line on health care subsidies: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/iowa-democratic-u-s-senate-candidates-urge-party-to-hold-the-line-on-health-care-subsidies/

Scott County to recount Davenport City Council 7th Ward race:https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_939af492-dca0-4291-b326-590b42fe81ff.html

Iowa Supreme Court rules Davenport employees can be sued after 2023 building collapse: https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/iowa-supreme-court-rules-davenport-employees-can-be-sued-after-2023-building-collapse/

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

Get daily Iowa politics updates by signing up for the free On Iowa Politics Newsletter.

Comments: [email protected], [email protected]

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered with opportunities to discuss the latest headlines.

This Pints & Politics event was held on November 6, 2025, at The Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The host was Gazette Executive Editor Zack Kucharski. Guests included Ron Corbett, vice president of economic development at Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, who helped guide a Believe in CR Schools campaign, which advocated for people to vote “yes” for the bond, and Cedar Rapids school board President Cindy Garlock.

Panelists for the second part of the program included deputy Des Moines Bureau editor - Tom Barton, insights and opinion editor - Todd Dorman and former Gazette opinion writer - Adam B Sullivan.  

During Pints & Politics, attendees submit questions and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and guests! This beloved event and lively conversation invite attendees to learn more about the issues impacting their community.

The presenting sponsor is the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors.

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On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we’ll follow up on what happened in Iowa’s local elections, there’s a new Republican candidate for governor, and we’ll analyze this week’s national off-year election results and what they mean for 2026 in Iowa.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read stories featured in this episode:

Democrats dominate as economic woes take a toll on Trump’s GOP: https://apnews.com/article/virginia-new-jersey-trump-election-democrat-republican-fad109893cfd4be5b49a5bb1b0138d8d

Zach Lahn joins crowded Republican field for governor with ‘Iowa First’ message: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/zach-lahn-joins-crowded-republican-field-for-governor-with-iowa-first-message/

Here's all of our Davenport, Bettendorf city election preview coverage: https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/collection_f77e4ae0-1a6a-4fa1-8448-07940483354e.html

The Sioux City Journal’s Election Day 2025 Blog: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/article_ae320ab0-b305-4d5b-bfab-7d70e4f5b533.html

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

This week on the podcast, we discuss Randy Feenstra finally making his gubernatorial campaign official; we explore readers’ questions about how elections officials catch fraudulent voting; and we look ahead to next week’s local elections. 

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read stories featured in this episode: 

Rep. Randy Feenstra formally launches bid for governor: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/article_b22a8bb3-96d1-4c55-956f-117c97d02694.html

Feenstra launches campaign for Iowa governor, pledging to ‘take Iowa to new heights’: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/feenstra-launches-campaign-for-iowa-governor-pledging-to-take-iowa-to-new-heights/

Quad City Elections: https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/

Western Iowa Elections: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/

Curious Iowa: What do election officials do to prevent or catch fraudulent votes?: https://www.thegazette.com/curious-iowa/curious-iowa-what-do-election-officials-do-to-prevent-or-catch-fraudulent-votes/

Marion man charged with election misconduct: https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/marion-man-charged-with-election-misconduct/

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

Comments: [email protected], [email protected]

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the On Iowa Politics podcast, we talk about the No Kings rallies in Iowa, Rob Sand’s 100th town hall, and Iowa’s DOGE report.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read stories featured in this episode:

2:45 ‘I can’t stand it anymore’: Sioux City No Kings Rally brings out protestors of all kinds: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/article_bcc8195e-08f7-4fa9-b4a9-1effc6bb3aa3.html

12:17 ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump bring a street party vibe to cities nationwide: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/no-kings-protests-against-trump-bring-a-street-party-vibe-to-cities-nationwide/

20:50 Hinson’s fundraising extends her dominance in Iowa Republicans’ U.S. Senate primary: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/hinsons-fundraising-extends-her-dominance-in-iowa-republicans-u-s-senate-primary/

20:53 Iowa's 2026 congressional race heats up with millions raised, crowded fields: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/iowas-2026-congressional-races-heat-up-with-millions-raised-crowded-fields/

21:08 Norris ends Senate campaign citing need to focus on addressing Des Moines superintendent ‘crisis’: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/norris-ends-senate-campaign-citing-need-to-focus-on-addressing-des-moines-superintendent-crisis/

21:12 Rod Blum ends comeback bid for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/rod-blum-ends-comeback-bid-for-iowas-2nd-congressional-district-seat/

21:49 Iowa Governor candidate Rob Sand ends statewide tour with reform message: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/iowa-governor-candidate-rob-sand-ends-statewide-tour-with-reform-message/

28:00 Here’s what recommendations are in the newly unveiled Iowa DOGE Task Force’s report: https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_1529cd3e-a497-4de0-b4ec-72c961c833bb.html

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

Comments: [email protected], [email protected]

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered, with opportunities to zone in on the latest headlines.

Attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and guests! This beloved event and lively conversation invite attendees to learn more about the issues impacting their community.

The presenting sponsor is the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy sat down with Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 for the first of a series of 1:1 interviews with political and government leaders in Iowa.

This episode was produced by Bailey Cichon.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we’ll discuss the Des Moines Superintendent situation, the federal government shutdown, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks talking town halls. And stick with us to the bitter end, folks, because we have a big programming announcement to share.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read the stories talked about in this episode:

First From the Jail: Former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts no longer being held in Woodbury County Jail

Opinion: Ian Roberts destroyed more than his career

Iowa state Sen. Claire Celsi of West Des Moines dies at 59

In Davenport, protesters, physicians urge Congress to extend ACA tax credits, reverse Medicaid cuts

Miller-Meeks defends skipping town halls, says Democrats want drama

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

Comments: [email protected], [email protected]

This week, we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to listen in on the "Medicaid and Hospitals" session from the 2025 Iowa Ideas conference hosted by The Gazette. 

Iowa hospitals are in a period of "uncertainty" as changes to Medicaid enacted as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill take effect. Is a fund allocating billions to some rural hospital losses easing concerns? What does this mean for the state’s rural providers? We’ll unpack the changes in Medicaid and what it means for Iowa’s hospitals and providers and how those changes might impact you. 

Iowa Ideas is a free virtual conference put on by The Gazette annually. Together, Iowans explore and share perspectives on the issues impacting the state. Watch replays from the 2025 conference at www.iowaideas.com.

This episode was hosted by Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. The Iowa Ideas session was moderated by Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton. Gazette social video producer Bailey Cichon produced this episode.

This week on the podcast, there’s a new agenda-setting leader in the Iowa Senate, and the 2nd District Republican primary field grew.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

Comments: [email protected], [email protected]