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.”
Appears in 39 Episodes
More Iowa Poll findings, Haley co-chair backs Harris, Scholten jersey at Cooperstown
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed new Iowa Poll findings on abortion, immigration, and the presidential and VP candidates. One of the co-chairs of Nikki Haley's ...
A surprising Iowa Poll; Congressional campaign intrigue
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the second apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and the first published Iowa Poll measuring suppo...
Exit Adam Gregg, Iowa election news, and a Rob Sand town hall
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg's surprising departure, the latest news on three Libertarian candidates' fight to get back on the ...
Early voting preview, Iowa Libertarians fight for ballot access, AEAs losing staff
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss what Iowans need to know (and need to bring with them) if they plan to vote early or on election day. Republicans on a state pane...
Iowa angles at the DNC, latest Congressional and legislative campaign news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Democratic National Convention highlights and news with an Iowa angle, including the delegate who voted "present" instead of for ...
Abortion case ends, summer food fight begins; news on Iowa Congressional races, LGBTQ candidates
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the end of a legal challenge to Iowa's near-total abortion ban, and Governor Kim Reynolds picking a fight with the U.S. Departmen...
Enter Tim Walz, school book bans, and campaign ads on Iowa airwaves
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa reaction to Vice President Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Other topics discussed: re...
News from Congress, a potential Senate candidate, and Iowa angles on the Olympics
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the week in Iowa politics, starting with the the Harris/Trump race in Iowa and weekend fundraisers for Attorney General Brenna Bird...
Adapting to Iowa's abortion ban, Beshear rallies Dems, Libertarians file
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa's top political news stories. They began with the near-total abortion ban now being enforced: details on the law's restriction...
From Biden to Harris; Bird, Reynolds, and Ernst at the RNC
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to President Joe Biden's decision to stand down as the Democ...
Iowans at the RNC, state flood response, and a Rob Sand town hall
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Pennsyl...
Surprise Iowa Senate resignation, new role for Iowan in Congress
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the abrupt departure of Iowa Senate Commerce Committee chair Waylon Brown, weeks after his hard-fought primary win. Other topics ...
All about the Iowa Supreme Court's abortion ruling
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart dig into the Iowa Supreme Court's most important ruling of the year and the fallout from the decision, which will allow the state to enforc...
Major floods, another new state law challenged, targeted Iowa legislative races
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks lead with the state's response to massive flooding across northwest Iowa, in some areas surpassing 1993 levels. Other topics discussed: A...
Immigration law blocked; new Iowa poll and Congressional candidates
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks start with news from the federal courts related to Iowa's Texas-like immigration law and last year's school book ban and "don't say gay/t...
Sizing up the Iowa primary results; state defends immigration law in court
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the noteworthy results from Iowa's June 4 primary elections and what they mean for November's races for Congress and the Iowa leg...
Iowa pols react to Trump conviction; previewing June 4 primaries
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the Iowa political reaction to former President Donald Trump's conviction in New York City and preview more than a dozen notewort...
Many bill signings and one veto; more on Iowa AG's trip to NYC
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Governor Kim Reynolds' final bill signings for 2024 and the one bill she vetoed. Other topics covered include: new funding for ch...
New federal lawsuits, plus Iowa laws of special importance to mothers
Laura Belin and George A. Clark discuss the two lawsuits filed to block Iowa's new immigration law, as well as the multi-state lawsuit the state joined to challenge th...
Feds to sue Iowa, more new laws, and state loses out on big grant
Laura Belin and Mike Murphy discuss a role reversal, as the federal government is poised to sue Iowa over a new immigration law. (Attorney General Brenna Bird has join...
Legislative wrap-up and a look at Iowa Congressional races
Laura Belin talks with Mike Murphy about some policies added to budget bills in the final days of the Iowa legislature's 2024 session, as well as notable bills that di...
Farewell to the Iowa legislature's 2024 session—and to Dennis Hart
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart cover last week's happenings in the Iowa legislature, which adjourned for the year at 4:23 am on Saturday, April 20. They also discuss high...
Iowa Supreme Court hears abortion case; legislature enters home stretch
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss the Iowa Supreme Court's oral arguments on whether to allow the state to enforce a near-total abortion ban. The rest of the show fo...
Abortion rules, an AEA "oversight," and lots of legislative action
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss another busy week in the Iowa legislature, as the 2024 session moves into its final weeks. Topics discussed include administrative ...
Final AEA chapter and more Iowa legislative action
No fake April Fool's stories here: Laura Belin and Dennis Hart deliver real news from the Iowa statehouse, marked by final action to overhaul Area Education Agencies a...
AEA drama intensifies in the Iowa legislature
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart dig in on the biggest political story from last week: the state Senate and House passing competing versions of bills to overhaul Iowa's Are...
Second funnel week extravaganza
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss some breaking news—the Iowa Senate approved a plan to overhaul Area Education Agencies—and that bill's prospects in the Iowa House....
A trio of rare events in the Iowa legislature
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart review the week in Iowa politics, including three very rare occurrences in the state legislature: one bill failed to gain a majority on the...
Lots of education bills, plus other Iowa legislative news
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss another busy week in the legislature, including a half-dozen education-related bills approved in the Iowa House and other controver...
Iowa lawmakers act on gender balance, school funding, and more
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss important bills approved by either the Iowa House or Senate during the first week of floor debate in both chambers. Other topics co...