Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

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...

Daniel Bullen discusses his book, Daniel Shays's Honorable Rebellion: An American Story. He talks about how this 'rebellion' was misrepresented, the economic conditions that led to the protests by small farmers in western Massachusetts, profiles of Daniel Shays and his fellow protesters, the roles of Founders George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, the similarities and differences with the Whisk...

Jon Ralston talks about his book, Games Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight. We discuss Reid's upbringing into poverty in small town Nevada, his rise in politics, relationship with the casino industry, connection with Howard Hughes, investigations of him by the FBI, his rebuilding of the Nevada Democratic party, and the evolution of his political views, inclu...

Michael Tackett, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for the Associated Press and former Chicago Tribune political reporter, talks about his book, The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party. We discuss his rise in politics, understanding power and how to use it, mastering the rules of the Senate, the importance of fundraising, the filibuster, the Tr...

Patrick Pfingsten, author of The Illinoize political newsletter, radio host, and TV commentator, talks about the results of the Illinois primary election, including national impacts, statewide outcomes and analysis of a key local Republican race in the QC region.

Dillan Vancil, Republican Candidate for Congress in Illinois' 17th District, talks about why he's running, his background and experience, key issues facing voters in the district, and why he's the better candidate to face incumbent Eric Sorenson.

Jared Abbott, director of the Center for Working Class Politics, talks about the realignment of working class voters to the Republicans and Trump, how Democrats can win them back, the importance of proper messaging and language, the tie between economic and cultural issues, and presidential candidates with the most appeal to working class voters.

Brian Reisinger, author of Land Rich, Cash Poor, talks about the US ag economy, the impact of tariffs and globalization, bailout funding, foreign purchases of US land, impact of immigration restrictions, the latest on the Farm Bill, fewer heirs taking over farms, and the political impact of the slumping farm economy in this year's midterm elections.