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, we’ll cover the second legislative funnel deadline, but we also have big news on the 2026 campaign trail with candidate signatures and everyone’s favorite On Iowa Politics podcast topic: endorsements!

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.

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

Read articles mentioned in this episode:

4:58 Iowa Ombudsman: Scott County Jail allowed woman to bang head against cell wall for hours https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_d217be28-d56b-4d5d-b12a-66666f81877e.html

9:18 Family Leader endorses Adam Steen for Iowa governor in GOP primary https://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/campaign-almanac-family-leader-endorses-adam-steen-for-iowa-governor-in-gop-primary/article_63311a94-0b5e-4724-9670-56e6683849fc.html

Branstad: I’m endorsing Randy Feenstra for governor https://www.thegazette.com/opinion/guest-columnists/branstad-i-m-endorsing-randy-feenstra-for-governor/article_7173b910-7ccf-4dbc-a3fd-658e3c0e2bc0.html

21:44 Stauch fails to qualify for gubernatorial election ballot, clearing Sand’s path to Democratic nomination https://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/stauch-fails-to-qualify-for-gubernatorial-election-ballot-clearing-sand-s-path-to-democratic-nomination/article_7123f925-e4e5-4e0a-8920-fb7913d53495.html

26:56 Bills limiting Iowa governor’s authority survive session deadlinehttps://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/bills-limiting-iowa-governor-s-authority-survive-session-deadline/article_e284e6ae-5a11-4c0a-8af3-3286e92ef9fb.html