Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with campaign news: State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott was the first Democrat to announce in Iowa's third Congressional district, two Republicans ruled out the 2026 governor's race, and the outcome of an Iowa House special election. Other topics covered: Republican drama over the state budget and eminent domain hanging up the legislative session; Bayer's efforts to revive the pesticide immunity bill; new state laws on cell phones in schools, National Guard scholarships, nuisance actions, birth centers, and "accessory dwelling units"; and the House Government Oversight Committee grilling State Auditor Rob Sand and seeking confidential information from a nonprofit advocacy group.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks begin with the legal battle brewing over the Iowa governor's ability to shield documents from public view. On the same day, the governor's office sued the Des Moines Register, and the ACLU of Iowa sued the governor's office. In both cases, the governor claims records can be withheld because of "executive privilege." Other topics covered include an update on a lawsuit Iowa joined last year related to disability protections, new candidate filings for governor and state auditor, town hall meetings featuring Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Ashley Hinson, and comments from Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst about Russia and Ukraine. They closed with news from the state legislature: a new law on charter school board members, why work on the state budget is behind schedule, the resurrection of a "dead" bill, and final approval for measures related to open records, frivolous lawsuits, and the judicial branch.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks started with news from the 2026 campaign trail: GOP State Senator Mike Bousselot is exploring a gubernatorial campaign, Democrat Nathan Sage is running for U.S. Senate, and Kevin Techau and Travis Terrell are running for U.S. House. They also discussed what makes a credible candidate for federal or statewide office, and 1Q fundraising by Iowa's members of Congress. Other topics covered: tough votes coming for the Congressional delegation, another tense town hall for Senator Chuck Grassley, Governor Kim Reynolds seeking a waiver for Medicaid work requirements, notable bills signed into law, and legislative action on the "Baby Olivia" bill, a new required exam for high school students, constitutional amendments on taxes and child testimony, and open records.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the biggest Iowa political news stories, starting with fallout from Governor Kim Reynolds' announcement that she won't seek a third term: potential Republican and Democratic candidates, impact on the next elections for governor and down-ballot offices, and reasons for Reynolds' relatively low approval rating. Meanwhile, Democrats plan to target Iowa's second Congressional district and have nominated a candidate for an upcoming special Iowa House election. Laura and Spencer also discussed the Iowa legislature's work on school funding, other education policies, election laws, cancer, property taxes, the minimum age to carry handguns, and a revealing Iowa Senate debate on human remains.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed Iowa reaction to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and their likely impact on the state's agriculture sector. The U.S. Senate confirmed Matt Whitaker to the most senior role an Iowan has received in the second Trump administration. Also covered: more Democrats considering a 2026 bid for U.S. Senate, why Bernie Sanders' campaign has a staffer on the ground in Iowa, a special election coming for an Iowa House seat, the Iowa ties of Wisconsin's newest Supreme Court justice, the first meeting of Governor Kim Reynolds' DOGE task force, and news from the legislature related to hands-free driving, school funding, immunity for pesticide manufacturers, eminent domain and CO2 pipelines, judicial nominations, and more.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the week's top Iowa politics stories, starting with U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher blocking enforcement of Iowa's school book ban. Other topics covered include Attorney General Brenna Bird's unprecedented lawsuit against a county sheriff, reaction from Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to "Signalgate," and Democratic State Senator Zach Wahls as a potential challenger to Ernst in 2026. They also discussed Iowa legislative work in many areas: property tax reform, immunity for pesticide manufacturers, hands-free driving, the governor's energy bill (the Trump administration opposes one part of it), paid parental leave, Medicaid work requirements, restrictions on eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, school chaplains, and severe penalties for those who cause another person's death from fentanyl.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks begin with Iowa angles on Trump administration news: Governor Kim Reynolds cheered the order dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Senator Chuck Grassley dealt with angry crowds at his town halls, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stuck close to the president, Attorney General Brenna Bird backed efforts to deport alleged gang members, and Trump's DOJ dropped a legal challenge to an Iowa immigration law. Other topics covered: Iowa legislative action on numerous bills related to education and DEI, supervisor elections in Democratic-leaning counties, a ban on "smuggling," a last-minute hit on apprenticeship programs, a failed effort to force a Senate floor debate on eminent domain, and a House Republican authorizing the distribution of an extremist Christian pamphlet.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review the week in Iowa politics, starting with the three Democrats taking a serious look at running for Congress in the third district, where GOP incumbent Zach Nunn is seen as vulnerable. Other topics covered: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's "town hall" in that targeted district, a special election for an Iowa House seat, the legislature's failure to approve K-12 school funding levels, declining state revenues due to tax cuts, some legislative action related to health and the courts, the passing of a former Republican lawmaker who was passionately pro-choice, signs of Iowa's political realignment at the county level, and more Iowa fallout from federal funding cuts or freezes.