Laura Belin, author of the blog Bleeding Heartland, updates you on developments in Iowa government, hosted by KHOI’s newsman Dennis Hart. An in-depth look at each week’s legislative actions, the governor, public agencies, and important events, as lawmakers act on matters that affect you and your family.
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with some reminders about how to vote early in Iowa, beginning on October 14. They covered two new Iowa polls, the first debates between candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, the latest reporting on a $540,000 loan to the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, the second debate between the candidates in Iowa's second Congressional districts, ratings changes for three U.S. House races, joint "Iowa Press" appearances by the candidates for secretary of agriculture and attorney general, and the disturbing prosecution of Joey Norris, a prominent Democrat charged with a felony over good-faith efforts to count ballots correctly in November 2024.
6 Oct 2026
Special session, NYT/Siena poll, first IA-02 and IA-04 debates
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half the program on different angles related to last week's special Iowa legislative session. Lawmakers approved economic incentives for a proposed steel mill (after some drama in the Senate) and took no action on an ethics complaint against a House Republican. They also discussed the latest NYT/Siena poll of Iowa's races for U.S. Senate and House. Other topics covered: the latest court filing related to Derek Wulf's farm, Rob Sand's final town halls, a poll commissioned by the independent candidate in Iowa's first Congressional district, the first televised debates in the second and fourth districts, and why there's no scheduled debate in the third district.
29 Sept 2026
Steel mill politics, Trump v Selzer, Bernie for Chris Jones
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with breaking news: a proposed $15 billion investment in a steel mill in southeast Iowa, political reaction to the idea, and a possible special legislative session to pass big tax incentives. They dug into the District Court ruling on Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its former pollster Ann Selzer, and the latest on the criminal investigation related to Derek Wulf, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. Other topics covered: Chuck Grassley's concerns about a Democratic governor, several stories related to the U.S. Senate race, a big endorsement for secretary of agriculture candidate Chris Jones, a poll of the secretary of state race, and TV ads for Michael Bridgford, the independent candidate in Iowa's first Congressional district.
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YouTube
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Engagement
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