Norris joins Senate field, Iowa DOGE touches third rail, Grassley on Trump
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Iowa's U.S. Senate race: Jackie Norris became the fourth Democrat in the field, and Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona came to boost Iowa Dems. Other topics covered: a third Democrat running in Iowa's third Congressional district, Rob Sand's latest comments on Iowa's water quality problems, the Iowa DOGE task force's proposals to change the state's main public pension system and establish merit pay for teachers, a separate proposal to privatize health care in Iowa prisons, federal funding cuts for healthy food access and education, new USDA investments in rural development, Senator Chuck Grassley's hold on some Treasury Department nominees, Grassley's silence about President Donald Trump's purge of inspectors general, and his latest comments about the dust-up with Trump over Judiciary Committee "blue slips."
Creators and Guests
Host
Laura Belin
Laura Belin has been called “probably the hardest-working — and perhaps the best — political reporter in the state” and “one of the best investigative reporters in the state.”
Host
Spencer Dirks
Spencer Dirks is a lifelong Iowan and has been the program director at KNIA/KRLS Radio in Knoxville for 15+ years. He also co-hosts a podcast called Iowa Revolution with Dr. Robert Leonard.
