River to River

The world of environmentalists seems to include only those on the left, but conservation has a bipartisan history. There are conservatives working today to conserve natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change. This is the subject of a new documentary, 'The Conservatives,' which features Ray Gaesser, an Iowa agricultural leader who died in September. On this episode, Ben Kieffer ta...

Trash volumes increased by over 10% at Linn County's landfill in the last fiscal year, which is largely attributed to the data center projects underway. On this episode, we discuss the increase with IPR's Gavin McGough. We also talk with Mae McDonough of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business about how this issue influenced them to update their Data Center Decision Tool, released earlie...

After Tuesday's gubernatorial and congressional losses, Republicans' hold on Iowa has been severely shaken. On this episode, Ben Kieffer talks with long-time Republican strategist Eric Woolson about what went wrong and where the GOP should go from here. He also reviews Tuesday's results with IPR's Tom Barton, discusses a new setback for the University of Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom with...

Iowa Democrats had a big night Tuesday. On this episode, we discuss what happened in our neighboring states in the midterm elections. We hear from Makenzie Huber of South Dakota Searchlight, Rich Kremer of Wisconsin Public Radio, Jason Rosenbaum of St. Louis Public Radio, Peter Cox of Minnesota Public Radio, Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media, and Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois.

Democrats had a big night nationally and in Iowa this midterm election, flipping the governor's office, a U.S. Senate seat and three U.S. House seats. On this Politics Day episode, experts Megan Goldberg and Dave Peterson join us to discuss these wins and others around the country, and how this will shape Congress and the next two years of President Donald Trump's administration.

Mailers and ads are using social pressure to get out the vote by reminding people that friends and neighbors can look up whether they voted. On this episode, Ben Kieffer speaks with Tom Lopach, CEO of the Voter Participation Center, about why they've taken this approach. Drake political scientist Adrien Halliez shares the origins of this strategy and why these organizations tend to be connected to...

On this Newsbuzz episode, we discuss election security and the election safeguards that are in place in Iowa. We also talk about where the secretary of agriculture, secretary of state and attorney general races stand, Iowa's Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force and more.

Most independent music venues struggle to stay afloat. On this episode, we talk with Tobi Parks, owner of Des Moines music venue xBk. She tells us why so little of live performance royalty money reaches the artists who deserve it, and how she’s working to change that with her newest startup Tour Tech. Also in this episode, this upcoming election is the first that no woman is running for governor o...

On this politics day edition of River to River, UNI’s Evan Renfro and ISU’s Kelly Shaw discuss the elections in Israel, the final days before the U.S. midterm election and more.

Political scientist Jayme Renfro of the University of Northern Iowa joins the show to discuss her new book, "From Fear to Resilience: Managing Political Stress in a Polarized America."

On this episode, we talk with historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a leading expert on fascism, authoritarianism and threats to democracy. She teaches history at New York University and is the author of 'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.' She describes how strongmen from Silvio Berlusconi to Vladimir Putin have adapted Mussolini’s playbook — propaganda, corruption, violence, and a carefully staged image o...

Ben Kieffer speaks with guests about headlines from this week, including Medicare plan cancellations, updates on the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa, and more.

Violent crime in America has fallen dramatically since the 1990s. On this episode, we find out why. First, we hear from Amber Sheppard, who went from prison to helping others rebuild their lives. Then, we talk with University of Iowa researchers Jason Robey and Mark Berg about theories behind the great crime decline. We also hear from Polk County Sgt. Brittany Worrall about the launch of a new inm...

On this episode, analysis of the sole 1st District debate between Republican Rep. Miller-Meeks and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannon held this week from Kelly Winfrey of Iowa State University and Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa. We also discuss President Trump's upcoming Sioux City rally and $8 billion plan to cover farm losses, actor Martin Sheen's plea in Des Moines to revive USAI...

A conversation with 2026 World Food Prize Laureate Huub Lelieveld. Lelieveld is a Dutch food scientist who was awarded the World Food Prize for helping prevent millions of cases of foodborne illness. He has been recognized for marshaling a movement across 113 countries to deliver the scientific evidence for modern food safety regulations, legislation and standards that safeguard the world’s food s...

On today's episode, a conversation with Rep. Ashley Hinson, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. But first, we talk with Harvest Academy’s Derek Johnson about the legacy of Walter Lauridsen Jr., who died Oct. 15 after being struck by a vehicle. Lauridsen was the brother-in-law of auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. He is being rem...

Eight states, including Iowa, are suing OpenAI. On this Newsbuzz episode, we talk with William Morris of the 'Des Moines Register' about that lawsuit. IPR's Tom Barton joins us to discuss Trump's plans for Iowa rallies before the midterms. We also talk with IPR's Eliza Billingham about an Iowa City woman who was deported to a country she’s never lived in. We talk with Courtney Crowder of the 'Des...

Republicans and Democrats aren't the only choices on Iowa ballots. On this episode, we check in with third party and independent candidates. We talk with Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Thomas Laehn as well as three U.S. House candidates — Libertarian Rick Stewart and independent Dave Bushaw in the 2nd District, and independent Michael Bridgford in the 1st District. We discuss what it means...

Twenty days before Election Day, campaigns are making their closing arguments. On this Politics Day episode, we get analysis from Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College.

On this episode, we discuss religious freedom ahead of the Iowa Religious Freedom Day symposium at Iowa State University. The symposium will explore religious freedom through the lens of constitutional law.

As early voting begins this week for the November midterm election, we continue our candidate interviews with State Rep. Lindsay James, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. James is facing Republican candidate Joe Mitchell for the open House seat. But first, what would a world without cows look like? We talk with journalists and filmmakers Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitwo...

On this Newsbuzz episode, we talk with Brianne Pfannenstiel of the 'Des Moines Register' about the midterms as the start of early voting is days away. We also learn about the price Iowa is paying for a $15 billion steel mill, discuss what people can and can't do about data centers, and hear about why families of Iowa soldiers killed in a drone strike are seeking answers.

On this episode, a conversation with the Republican nominee for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District Joe Mitchell. Mitchell is facing Democratic candidate Lindsay James in the general election. We discuss affordability, the war in Iran, the trade war, how to restore faith in Congress along with other issues. But first, should it take a legislative supermajority to raise your taxes? This November, Iow...

Election Day is less than a month away, and early voting starts in just a week. On this Politics Day episode, we get analysis from political scientists Megan Goldberg of Cornell College and Evan Renfro of the University of Northern Iowa. They discuss the recent debate between gubernatorial candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand, the Iran War, the Supreme Court's new term and more.

On this episode, the science of menopause and the aging brain. Women are more vulnerable to strokes, yet they're historically underreported and underdiagnosed. On this episode, the science of menopause and the aging brain. First, University of Iowa neurologist Dr. Hannah Roeder shares how stroke risk in women nearly doubles in the decade after menopause, and the gender disparities of stroke cases,...