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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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32 episodes
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Avg 30 min
English

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S1 · E305
Wednesday · 59 min
First take on Iowa's 2026 election results
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent a full hour talking about Iowa's state and federal election results, going in depth on the big Democratic victories: Rob Sand for governor, Josh Turek for Senate, flipping three of the four U.S. House districts, defeating the Republican attorney general, and keeping the state auditor's office in Democratic hands. They also discussed the Democratic gains in the state legislature, including some surprising wins.
S1 · E304
Tuesday · 29 min
Trump and RFK in Iowa, candidates' closing messages
In this final pre-election episode, Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed the latest early vote numbers, what Iowans need to bring to vote on election day, and the U.S. Department of Justice plans to send monitors to Iowa. They covered notable remarks from President Donald Trump's rally in Dubuque and a MAHA rally for Zach Lahn featuring Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Other topics covered: the last televised debates, closing messages from the candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, super PAC spending to boost the Libertarian Senate candidate, and closing messages from the races for first and third Congressional districts and Iowa attorney general.
S1 · E303
October 27 · 29 min
Early vote numbers, Trump in Sioux City, more campaign news
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with an update on Iowa's early voting numbers, then discussed Donald Trump's rally in Sioux City from several angles, with highlights from remarks by the president, Zach Lahn, Ashley Hinson, Joe Mitchell, and Brenna Bird. During the second half of the show, they covered news from the governor's race (a New York Times scoop, a misleading campaign ad, more legal woes for Derek Wulf), Josh Turek's closing TV ads for the U.S. Senate race, and news from Iowa's first Congressional district (the only debate between Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Christina Bohannan, and a Democratic-funded mailer targeting independent candidate Michael Bridgford).
S1 · E302
October 20 · 29 min
IA-01 triage, more debates, 3Q fundraising
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with somber news about the First Gentleman's cancer recurrence and a tragedy in Rob Sand's family. They discussed fundraising, advertising, and debate news from Iowa's four U.S. House races, starting with some GOP super PACs pulling out of IA-01. Other topics covered: the second debates between Iowa's candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, the first ad highlighting legal problems of the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, and highlights from the latest fundraising reports for Iowa's statewide candidates.
S1 · E301
October 13 · 29 min
Debates, Wulf's mystery loan, election worker's criminal trial
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with some reminders about how to vote early in Iowa, beginning on October 14. They covered two new Iowa polls, the first debates between candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, the latest reporting on a $540,000 loan to the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, the second debate between the candidates in Iowa's second Congressional districts, ratings changes for three U.S. House races, joint "Iowa Press" appearances by the candidates for secretary of agriculture and attorney general, and the disturbing prosecution of Joey Norris, a prominent Democrat charged with a felony over good-faith efforts to count ballots correctly in November 2024.
S1 · E300
October 6 · 29 min
Special session, NYT/Siena poll, first IA-02 and IA-04 debates
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half the program on different angles related to last week's special Iowa legislative session. Lawmakers approved economic incentives for a proposed steel mill (after some drama in the Senate) and took no action on an ethics complaint against a House Republican. They also discussed the latest NYT/Siena poll of Iowa's races for U.S. Senate and House. Other topics covered: the latest court filing related to Derek Wulf's farm, Rob Sand's final town halls, a poll commissioned by the independent candidate in Iowa's first Congressional district, the first televised debates in the second and fourth districts, and why there's no scheduled debate in the third district.
S1 · E299
September 29 · 29 min
Steel mill politics, Trump v Selzer, Bernie for Chris Jones
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with breaking news: a proposed $15 billion investment in a steel mill in southeast Iowa, political reaction to the idea, and a possible special legislative session to pass big tax incentives. They dug into the District Court ruling on Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its former pollster Ann Selzer, and the latest on the criminal investigation related to Derek Wulf, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. Other topics covered: Chuck Grassley's concerns about a Democratic governor, several stories related to the U.S. Senate race, a big endorsement for secretary of agriculture candidate Chris Jones, a poll of the secretary of state race, and TV ads for Michael Bridgford, the independent candidate in Iowa's first Congressional district.
S1 · E298
September 22 · 29 min
Vance in Iowa, new poll, shifting stances on Iran war
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with candidate remarks at two large Republican events: a rally featuring Vice President JD Vance and the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's fall dinner. They discussed a new poll commissioned by Iowans for Tax Relief, which asked about the races for attorney general and secretary of agriculture as well as governor and Senate. Other topics covered: new ads in the governor's race, members of Congress changing their stance on the war in Iran, the latest news related to voting by mail, and Democrats expanding the legislative map by targeting two more Iowa Senate races.
S1 · E297
September 15 · 29 min
RNC, Cy-Hawk politics, news from the races for Senate and governor
Laura Belin and Bob Leonard (filling in for Spencer Dirks) began with news from the RNC's midterm convention and political happenings related to the Cy-Hawk football game. Next, they covered Iowa's U.S. Senate race (the latest polls, advertising, and policy proposals) and several developments in the governor's race: the latest Rob Sand commercials, money pouring in from the Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association, Democrats highlighting the legal woes of the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, and a surprising non-endorsement from an influential lobby group. Other topics covered: an ethics complaint stemming from Pete Hegseth's campaign event with Zach Nunn, and a biofuels company threatening to sue the Democratic candidate for attorney general.
S1 · E296
September 8 · 29 min
Derek Wulf's finances; another new Iowa poll
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of this episode discussing newly reported information regarding the financial and legal entanglements of Derek Wulf, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, along with potential political impact and questions that remain unanswered. Other topics covered: key findings from the latest Emerson College/Nexstar Media poll of Iowa's races for governor and U.S. Senate, the political landscape in Iowa's four U.S. House races, and ethics complaints filed against two Republican state lawmakers.
S1 · E295
September 1 · 29 min
New Iowa poll; tight races for attorney general and Ag sec
Laura Belin and Dennis Hart (filling in for Spencer Dirks) analyzed Suffolk University's latest Iowa poll findings on the races for governor, U.S. Senate, and a proposed constitutional amendment. Next they covered the latest loss in court for Libertarians and big Republican and Democratic campaign rallies in Polk County. Other topics covered: television ads for both candidates in the attorney general race, the top arguments for each side and an internal poll in the Iowa secretary of agriculture race, and a state legislator appealing his recent conviction for not having a baby properly restrained while driving.
S1 · E294
August 25 · 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.

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