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 128 Episodes
Iowa state candidate fundraising, 2nd GOP debate
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began this Memorial Day episode by remembering four Iowans who died in military service in the Middle East over the past year. They spent...
Lots of news about Iowa's U.S. Senate race
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of the show on news from the campaign for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat: the second (and last) televised debate between Z...
Wahls/Turek debate, new campaign ads and polls
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent most of this show on 2026 campaign news, starting with what Iowans need to cast early ballots for the June 2 primary and the first ...
Legislature wraps, property taxes, GOP debate, new polls
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the marathon finish to the Iowa legislature's 2026 session: the all-nighter at the capitol, culminating in the final agreement...
New ads; lawmakers work on budget, taxes, nominees, cancer
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with ad buys and air time reservations in Iowa's U.S. House races, new ads for Republican candidates Adam Steen and Zach Lahn, Stev...
Governor's race news, 1Q fundraising, abortion bill returns
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from the Republican primary for governor: Randy Feenstra's latest ad and internal poll; a recycled endorsement; Feenstra ...
New poll, candidates spar in governor & Senate races
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent most of the show on news from Iowa's 2026 campaigns: a poll shows Iowa as "competitive terrain," a forecaster calls the governor's ...
Battleground race updates, green light for school book ban
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with a big GOP investment in Iowa's U.S. Senate race, a look at other battleground races, worrying poll numbers for one Congression...
Iowa GOP drama, No Kings, 2026 campaign news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dug into last week's drama in the Republican primary for governor: Eddie Andrews surviving a challenge to his nominating papers and point...
2026 campaign news, health insurance tax, second funnel
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with candidates at risk of getting knocked off the primary ballot: Democrat Xavier Carrigan in IA-03, Republican candidate for gove...
Iowa candidate filings; legislative work on health care
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent half the show reviewing which Republicans and Democrats will be and won't be on the June 2 primary ballot for state and federal off...
Iowa angles on Iran war; governor's race and legislative news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news related to the war against Iran: two Iowa soldiers killed and returned to U.S. soil, the Iowa delegation's votes and comm...
Iran strikes, governor using state plane, campaign news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the Trump administration's new military campaign in Iran and Iowa angles from last week's State of ...
So much funnel week news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump's tariffs. The rest of the show focused on ...
Sizing up Wahls vs. Turek after Democratic primary shake-up
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dove into the shake-up in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate after Nathan Sage ended his campaign and endorsed Josh Turek. They discusse...
Notable 2026 endorsements and legislative happenings
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from the 2026 campaign trail: big endorsements for Chris McGowan in the fourth Congressional district, Matt Windschitl dr...
Trump in Iowa, GOP gubernatorial debate, 4Q fundraising
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news about the partial government shutdown and the status of federal budget negotiations. They covered Donald Trump's latest I...
Three campaigns end, one begins, and lots of legislative news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to another tragedy in Minneapolis. Next, they covered breaking news from the 2026 campaign trail, as t...
Governor's speech, other officials' wish lists, two Dems running for Ag Sec
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks each shared a favorite quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., then got right to it, discussing key points from Governor Kim Reynold...
Below-the-radar news from Congress; Iowa legislature's opening day
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Congress: Zach Nunn votes to extend health insurance subsidies, Mariannette Miller-Meeks votes to override Trump's v...