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KHOI's Capitol Week

Laura Belin, Spencer Dirks

Laura Belin, author of the blog Bleeding Heartland, updates you on developments in Iowa government, hosted by KHOI’s newsman Dennis Hart. An in-depth look at each week’s legislative actions, the governor, public agencies, and important events, as lawmakers act on matters that affect you and your family.

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21 episodes
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Avg 29 min
English

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S1 · E294
Tuesday · 29 min
More Iowa State Fair politics, new campaign ads
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the slew of senior Trump administration officials who came to support Republican candidates during the Iowa State Fair, questions about Pete Hegseth's campaign appearance for Zach Nunn, and the president's short-term decision on beef imports. They covered several stories related to the races for governor and U.S. Senate, including new ads on both sides, a few news items from the Congressional campaigns, and finished with state fair controversies and speeches by candidates for state treasurer, state auditor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
S1 · E293
August 18 · 29 min
Politics at the Iowa State Fair
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the DNC calendar and how it may impact Iowa Democrats, as well as the latest news about Libertarian candidates for Congress and lieutenant governor. They spent most of the show on political speeches from the Iowa State Fair: Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, all three candidates for U.S. Senate, and most of the candidates in Iowa's four U.S. House races. They finished the show with speeches by candidates for secretary of state and secretary of agriculture.
S1 · E292
August 11 · 29 min
Emerson poll, new ads, data centers and health care in the campaigns
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the latest news about Libertarian efforts to field candidates for governor and Congress. They covered several findings from the Emerson College/Nexstar Media poll of the races for governor and Senate, the latest wrangling over televised debates and a preview of candidate appearances at the Iowa State Fair. Other news from the campaign trail included a new Rob Sand ad, Zach Lahn's latest public events, Sand and Lahn on data centers, Zach Wahls' latest political project, the role of health care in various races, new ads for Christina Bohannan and Sarah Trone Garriott, and GOP attacks on Democrats who are pastors. They ended the show with some news from Congress: including political angles on the stalled Farm Bill.
S1 · E291
August 4 · 29 min
Election-related court cases, legislative targets, another school book ban challenge
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks started with three court rulings related to Libertarian candidates for governor or Congress, and a new Republican suit to revive a restriction on absentee ballots. They covered several stories related to Iowa's U.S. Senate and governor's races—including GOP nominee Zach Lahn mixing it up with Laura on a social media platform. Other topics covered: a poll of Iowa's first Congressional district, Democratic groups targeting the second Congressional district and more than a dozen state House or Senate seats, Chris Jones' plan to get more local food in Iowa schools, campaign ads about a proposed constitutional amendment, and take three on a lawsuit from publishers and authors challenging restrictions on school library books.
S1 · E290
July 28 · 29 min
2026 state and federal campaign news; DNC's Iowa snub
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the latest governor's race news: policy ideas, wrangling over debates, Zach Lahn's change message, a new TV ad, and the first public comments from lieutenant governor candidate Derek Wulf about his financial problems. They covered news from the Senate race, including Ted Cruz stumping for Ashley Hinson and Republican concerns about turnout. Other topics covered: a new talking point for Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn's starring role in a viral video, news about the secretary of agriculture and secretary of state races, the latest court hearings for Libertarians trying to get back on the ballot, and a DNC committee leaving Iowa out of the early window in the 2028 presidential nominating process.
S1 · E289
July 21 · 29 min
GOP candidate pitches, Derek Wulf finances, 2Q fundraising
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Republican speeches to the Family Leadership Summit: Ashley Hinson, Zach Lahn, Mike Johnson, and more. They discussed Laura's exclusive reporting on the litigation facing GOP nominee for lieutenant governor Derek Wulf and unanswered questions about how he is repaying his debts. They also covered highlights from the latest round of fundraising reports for Iowa's state and federal candidates, including yet another record-breaking haul for Rob Sand. Finally, Senator Chuck Grassley vouched for Todd Blanche, and Laura rememberd the late State Senator Julian Garrett as a "model of persistence."
S1 · E288
July 14 · 29 min
Candidate pitches and news from Iowa courts
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the big Iowa Democratic and Republican fundraisers that happened over the weekend, covering remarks by Pete Buttigieg and all of the Democrats running for federal or statewide offices, as well as the main political speeches from the GOP event. The also discussed the latest developments in several Iowa court cases: a "debtor's exam" hearing for Derek Wulf, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor; three cases related to Libertarian candidates seeking to appear on the November ballot; and President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime former pollster, Ann Selzer.
S1 · E287
July 7 · 29 min
Conflicting polls, Iowa angles on SCOTUS rulings, new state laws
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with two independent polls that paint a different picture of Iowa's races for governor and U.S. Senate. They discussed Zach Lahn's first public event since the primary election, two TV ads for Rob Sand's campaign, several stories about GOP Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, post-primary changes in voter registration, two stories related to Libertarian candidates, and news from the campaigns for secretary of agriculture and attorney general. Other topics covered: Iowa angles on several major U.S. Supreme Court rulings, and a few news state laws that took effect on July 1.
S1 · E286
June 30 · 29 min
Lots of news from the campaign trail, Congress, and courts
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review another busy week in Iowa politics, starting with the Libertarian candidates for governor and lieutenant governor challenging the decision to exclude them from the ballot, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s phone calls urging Iowa Libertarians to end their Congressional campaigns. They also discussed a GOP firm's new poll of Iowa's statewide races, messaging from the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor and attorney general, and some important votes by the Iowans in Congress. Other topics covered: the renewed controversy over Governor Kim Reynolds' use of COVID relief funds to pay staff salaries, a federal court ruling related to Iowa's new restrictions on food people can by with SNAP benefits, and an Iowa Supreme Court ruling about a former domestic abuser's gun rights.
S1 · E285
June 23 · 29 min
Senate poll, governor's race news, abortion in the 2026 campaigns
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Iowa's U.S. Senate race: a poll showing a small lead for Josh Turek, a conservative group already spending for Ashley Hinson, and trouble on Hinson's right flank. Next, several governor's race updates: "Rob-publicans," Rob Sand town halls, Zach Lahn on his residency and the "uniparty," TV ads from both sides, and developments related to Derek Wulf, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. On the anniversary of important court rulings about abortion, they covered the possible impact of abortion in Iowa's 2026 campaigns. Other topics covered: Iowa's best bellwether county, a ratings change for IA-02, Zach Nunn's first TV ad in IA-03, and the state auditor's report on Iowa's school voucher program.
S1 · E284
June 16 · 29 min
Derek Wulf controversies, Libertarians challenged
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of this show covering the governor's race, including several angles related to Republican nominee Zach Lahn choosing Derek Wulf to be his running mate, such as Wulf's support for pesticide immunity legislation, some legal and financial difficulties related to his farm, and controversy related to his voter registration. Other topics covered: President Trump backing away from his Randy Feenstra endorsement, challenges to three Libertarians running for governor or Congress, allegations that Republicans pressured the Libertarians to drop out, the Iowa Democratic Party's state convention, and Republican criticism of the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
S1 · E283
June 9 · 29 min
Governor's race, Senate poll, lawmakers defeated in primaries
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered many developments in the governor's race, including Rob Sand's lieutenant governor pick, first general election rally, and first negative ad about his GOP opponent, Zach Lahn. They also reviewed some of the reasons Lahn won (and Randy Feenstra lost) the GOP primary for governor. Other topics covered: the first post-primary poll of Iowa's U.S. Senate race, Ashley Hinson's first negative ad about Josh Turek, news from the second Congressional district campaign, and notable results from primaries in Iowa's legislative races. Finally, they covered some of Governor Kim Reynolds' final bill signings.
S1 · E282
June 3 · 30 min
Analyzing the Iowa primary election results
Laura Belin and Mike Murphy walked through results from Iowa's June 2 primary elections, spending the most time on the governor's race, where there was a photo finish for Republicans. They talked about what went wrong for front-runner Randy Feenstra as well as the early general election arguments for Zach Lahn and Rob Sand. Other topics covered: the Democratic and Republican primary results for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, last minute filings by four Libertarian candidates, and the surprisingly close GOP primary for state auditor.
S1 · E281
June 2 · 29 min
Previewing Iowa's primary elections
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent this entire episode on Iowa's upcoming state and federal primary elections, taking place on June 2. They began with the latest developments in the five-way Republican race for governor: polling, high-profile endorsements, and closing arguments for each candidate. They also surveyed the two-way Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, competitive races in Iowa's four U.S. House districts, and the GOP primary for state auditor.
S1 · E280
May 26 · 29 min
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 most of the show on 2026 campaign news: the latest fundraising numbers for Iowa's candidates for governor and other statewide offices, the second debate for GOP candidates for governor, new endorsements and TV ads, and updates from the Senate Democratic primary. Finally, they covered stories related to the Iowa delegation in Congress and the new state "MAHA" law, which Governor Reynolds signed last week.
S1 · E279
May 18 · 30 min
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 Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, a new endorsement for Turek, new ads backing Turek, Wahls, and Republican front-runner Ashley Hinson, and outside spending on the race. They also covered the televised debate featuring the three Democrats running in Iowa's second Congressional district, Republican candidate Joe Mitchell picking a fight with some powerful members of his own party, Governor Kim Reynolds signing a major property tax overhaul, and another new state law inspired by Charlie Kirk.
S1 · E278
May 12 · 29 min
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 televised debate between Senate contenders Josh Turek and Zach Wahls. They covered notable endorsements, campaign visits, polls, and ads for Turek, Wahls, and several candidates running in Iowa's U.S. House races, an independent who is on track to qualify for the ballot, and news related to the campaigns for attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer. Finally, they discussed two stories related to Senator Chuck Grassley and the long-running effort to enact stronger penalties for animal torture.
S1 · E277
May 5 · 29 min
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 on property tax reform. They covered key parts of that bill and divisions among House and Senate Republicans—and among Democratic lawmakers—on the issue. The legislature adjourned without any action on eminent domain, but Republicans passed a bill limiting the governor's powers, new restrictions on abortion medications, a proposed constitutional amendment on taxes, and more funding for pediatric cancer research and water quality investments. News from Congress: the end of a partial federal government shutdown and what did (and didn't) make it into the House-approved Farm Bill. Finally, they discussed the first (and last) televised debate for Republicans running for governor, a GOP-commissioned poll of Iowa's third Congressional district, and a Democratic poll of the second Congressional district.
S1 · E276
April 28 · 29 min
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, Steve King endorsing Lahn, how the GOP candidates covered the weekend's four district conventions, and why the district convention delegates could be important. News from Congress: Chuck Grassley recovering from surgery, a planned briefing on Secret Service protocols, Iowans' votes on war powers, Grassley's preference to fill a Supreme Court vacancy (should one arise), and Joni Ernst paying tribute to the fired U.S. Army chief of staff. They ended with news from the legislature: state budget negotiations, property tax reform differences, photos of House pages stuffing campaign mailers for a Republican lawmaker, Senate Democrats taking down two of the governor's nominees, and several bills related to Iowa's high cancer rates.
S1 · E275
April 21 · 29 min
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 and Zach Lahn declining a debate; Adam Steen's comments on debates, school vouchers, and Sharia law; and Steve King's take on the race. They discussed Rob Sand's new ad, canvassing strategy, and plan to legalize cannabis and THC beverages. Other campaign news: Josh Turek's first TV ad, Iowa donations from Eric Swalwell's PAC, first quarter fundraising for U.S. House and Senate candidates, Mariannette Miller-Meeks renting an apartment from Pharma lobbyists, IA-01 independent candidate Michael Bridgford, and Libertarians' plans for this year's races. Finally, they covered renewed efforts to restrict medication abortions and the latest statistics on Iowa abortions in 2025.

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