Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

State Rep, Josh Turek, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Iowa, talks about how he would address high prices, managing trade with China, the war in Iran, bringing back manufacturing, AI, corruption, his choice of committees should he win and his major legislative priorities.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Republican incumbent from Iowa's 1st congressional district, talks about ways to lower costs, tariffs, bringing back manufacturing jobs, corruption, the Farm Bill, AI and much more. She closes with her favorite musical performers -- different choices depending on what's facing her that day.

Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa's 1st district, talks about high costs for housing, health care, food and gas and how she would address them, tariff policy, the Farm Bill, corruption, AI, and the rural vote and ends with her favorite Johnny Cash song.

Evan Barker talks about her book, Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative that traces her rise from working class roots to consulting on major Democratic campaigns. Her initial enthusiasm during the Obama era turns into disappointment and disillusionment as the party turns away from its working class roots to focus on cultural issues. She addresses all this as well as her vote in the 2...

Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for Iowa Governor, talks about schools, the rising cancer rate in the state, government accountability & reform, data centers, economic growth, overcoming political polarization and much more.

TJ Stiles, Pulitzer Prize winner, discusses his book Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America. It's a fascinating account of Custer's life in the military, politics and family. Stiles talks about the many contradictions of Custer as they take place in a rapidly changing United States.

New York Times best selling author AJ Baime talks about his book, The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World. He discusses Truman's unlikely rise to the presidency, detailed looks at the day FDR died and Truman's first day as president, and the many events taking place early in his presidency including the fall of Berlin, the founding of the UN, victory at...

State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-16) talks about his role as lead negotiator for the state in keeping the Bears in Illinois, the latest on the talks, his diverse background and how it shapes his approach to key issues, the partisan divide in the nation and ideological divide in the Democratic party, actions taken by the legislature to address cost of living concerns, data centers and much more. Buckner,...

Jeff Bloodworth, professor of American history at Gannon University, talks about his book, Losing the Center: The Decline of American Liberalism 1968-1992. The book examines the downfall of Democrats along ideological, racial, and class lines. Published in 2013, the book was prescient in seeing the rise of Trump and realignment of the two parties along class lines.

Zach Lahn, Republican candidate for Iowa Governor, talks about his reasons for seeking office for the first time, cost of living concerns, education, jobs, water quality, agriculture, taking on big corporations, data centers and much more.

Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, talks about the reasons for his candidacy, how he would address the skyrocketing cost of living, ethics reform, an Illinois DOGE, property tax reform, jobs and much more. He also discusses his decision to live in Chicago to help bridge the partisan and rural-urban divide.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-57) talks about the 2026 legislative session including property tax reform, criminal justice reform, water quality, education funding, health care and much more.

Josh Kraushaar, editor in chief of Jewish Insider and Fox News Radio political analyst, talks about the impacts of the Ukraine and Iran wars on American politics, the fissures produced in both parties, the rise of anti-Semitism and hostility towards Israel in the Democratic party, reasons for the rise of anti-semitism among young people/Gen Z voters, and the role of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker talks about his reelection campaign, the recently concluded legislative session, the state budget, downstate economy, cost of living issues, data centers and more.

Dennis Crawford talks about the book he co-authored with Laura Crawford that looks at Robert Kennedy's victory in the 1968 Nebraska Democratic primary. He unearths new information about the campaign as well as the ability of RFK to connect with rural and working class voters in the state. Robert Kennedy: The Road Not Taken.

Greg Schultz traces his rise from working class Ohio to running a presidential campaign. He shares some insights on running a successful presidential campaign, memories from Iowa and Illinois, Democrats' struggles with working class voters and much more.

Jerry Nowicki, editor in chief of Capitol News Illinois, talks about the recently concluded Illinois legislative session, what was accomplished and what was not. He'll discuss the Bears stadium, budget, tax increases, spending priorities, efforts to regulate AI centers and a look at the Fall campaign.

Erin Murphy, Des Moines Bureau Chief for The Gazette, analyses the Iowa primary election results from Tuesday. He'll look at the US Senate and gubernatorial primaries, examine other key results, describe the messages that voters sent, and take a peak at the Fall elections where all national eyes will be back on Iowa.

Randy Feenstra, Republican candidate for Iowa Governor and 4th District US Congressman, talks about key issues including tax reform, health care, education, economic growth, agriculture, keeping young people in the state, carbon pipelines, immigration, and China relations. He also discusses his reasons for running, background and experience, top three priorities, most significant endorsements, and...

Josh Turek, Iowa US Senate candidate and State Rep. from Council Bluffs, talks about the reasons for his candidacy, key issues, his appeal to working class voters, the endorsement of his campaign by former Senator Tom Harkin, and much more.

Zach Wahls, Democratic candidate for the US Senate and Iowa State Senator, talks about his motivations for running, economic issues, such as price increases, trade, manufacturing, reviving small towns and rural Iowa, as well as how he sees the primary as a microcosm of national party divisions and how the party can win back working class voters, especially in Obama-Trump counties along the Mississ...

Chris Stein, senior politics reporter for Guardian US, talks about the upcoming midterm elections, the stake involved, impact of mid-decade gerrymandering by both parties, the role of President Trump, and a look at key races in Iowa and Ohio that may determine the outcome.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-65), Assistant Minority Leader, reports from Springfield as the legislature winds down its session. He discusses the mega-projects bill that includes the Bears stadium, property tax relief, the budget, gerrymandering, energy, ethics reform and Republican hopes to gain power in Illinois.

Liaquat Ahamed talks about his book Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World. He reveals history through biography--the lives of four central bankers whose decisions precipitated the Great Depression and led to World War II. Key topics include the gold standard, financial "bubbles," the role of tariffs (Smoot-Hawley Act), lessons for today, and Ahamed's new book coming out soon that is a...

Fred Burton, a former State Department special agent and New York Times best-selling author, talks about the book he co-authored with Samuel Katz called Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America. He discusses Iran's role in terrorist bombings, kidnappings and killings of Americans after the Iranian revolution, the life, abduction and death of CIA Station C...