Divisions among Iowans in Congress, legislative campaign news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the tragedy in Syria, where two Iowa National Guard members were killed and three wounded in an ambush over the weekend. As the deadline to enroll in the Affordable Care Act was closing, they covered rising premiums for Iowans who buy through the ACA exchange, votes on competing U.S. Senate plans, the different health care positions staked out by Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, and a rare 2-2 split in Iowa's U.S. House delegation on a collective bargaining bill. Other topics covered: Miller-Meeks registering to vote outside her district, the Iowa House district 7 special election, the start of early voting in Iowa Senate district 16, other Iowa Senate and House races to watch for 2026, Randy Feenstra skipping another forum, a big labor endorsement for Rob Sand, news in the IA-02 GOP primary, the state's latest revenue projections, and a prestigious award for former Governor Terry Branstad.
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.
