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 126 Episodes
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...
Senate race TV ad, special election takeaways, Iowa legislative preview
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the U.S. attack in Venezuela and whether this could become a 2026 campaign issue. On the campaign f...
Looking back on Iowa politics in 2025
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with some news from the Republican primary campaign for governor and a quick preview of the December 30 special election in Iowa Se...
Congress wraps for 2025, governor flips on summer food aid
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart cover the week in Iowa politics, starting with the latest news about the Iowa National Guard members recently killed or wounded in Syria. T...
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 th...
IA-02 in play, Miller-Meeks ads, Iowa Supreme Court win for Sand
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered a wide range of stories, starting with what last week's special U.S. House election in Tennessee could mean for Iowa's second Con...
Another Feenstra no-show, pro-Sand TV ad, special election previews
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review a (surprisingly not slow) week in Iowa politics. They discussed a forum featuring every GOP candidate for governor except the fron...
News from Congress and lots of 2026 campaign maneuvers
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Iowa's delegation in Congress: the Epstein files votes, Zach Nunn on health care reform, Mariannette Miller-Meeks on...
Iowa angles on funding bill, new candidates, poll shows Nunn in trouble
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the end of the federal government shutdown: when SNAP benefits resumed in Iowa, whether the Iowans in Congress have been paid ...
Dems against Schumer, local election takeaways, Lahn for governor
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news related to the imminent end of the federal government shutdown and resumption of SNAP benefit payments. Two Democratic ca...
SNAP and shutdown news, Feenstra for governor, pro-Bird ad and more
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news related to the federal government shutdown: federal food assistance (SNAP benefits) delayed, responses from Governor Kim ...
News on the Iowa governor's race, and more
Laura Belin and original co-host Dennis Hart were together for the 250th edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week." They began with Iowa's 2026 governor's race: Democrat Rob Sa...
Norris out, 3Q fundraising, No Kings, state revenues falling
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart (filling in for Spencer Dirks) began with the end of Jackie Norris' campaign for U.S. Senate, and a review of third-quarter fundraising for...