KHOI's Capitol Week

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Democratic National Convention highlights and news with an Iowa angle, including the delegate who voted "present" instead of for Kamala Harris, and the OB/GYN who joined a panel discussion about abortion and rural health care. Other topics covered: the Republican who endorsed the Democratic candidate in IA-04, campaign developments in IA-03, more state legisla...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the end of a legal challenge to Iowa's near-total abortion ban, and Governor Kim Reynolds picking a fight with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over federal funds for feeding kids over the summer. Other topics discussed include the presidential tickets that will appear on Iowa's ballot, a new state policy on wheelchair repairs, Democratic spending on tv ads...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa reaction to Vice President Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Other topics discussed: recent developments in federal lawsuits challenging two state laws, tv ads for candidates in Iowa's first and third Congressional districts, Republican efforts to knock Libertarian candidates off the ballot, state waivers for hazardous...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the week in Iowa politics, starting with the the Harris/Trump race in Iowa and weekend fundraisers for Attorney General Brenna Bird and U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson. They also caught up on some Congressional action this summer and Senator Chuck Grassley's latest comments on Secret Service failures. Other topics covered include a Libertarian who may run for...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover Iowa's top political news stories. They began with the near-total abortion ban now being enforced: details on the law's restrictions and vague exceptions, and how it will affect pregnant Iowans and health care providers. Other topics discussed include political reaction to the abortion ban, remarks by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and State Auditor Rob Sand at...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to President Joe Biden's decision to stand down as the Democratic nominee and the possible impact on down-ballot races. Other topics discussed: Attorney General Brenna Bird's prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention, how a rift with team Trump could affect Senator Joni Ernst's...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the top Iowa political stories from the week, starting with reaction to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Also covered: Iowa GOP state chair Jeff Kaufmann formally nominated Trump at the Republican National Convention, two of Iowa's RNC delegates dissented from the platform plank on abortion, two Iowa Democrats called for Joe Bide...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the abrupt departure of Iowa Senate Commerce Committee chair Waylon Brown, weeks after his hard-fought primary win. Other topics covered include a new leadership role for U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a recap of some state laws that took effect this month, an update on flood cleanup in northwest Iowa, and State Representative J.D. Scholten step...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart dig into the Iowa Supreme Court's most important ruling of the year and the fallout from the decision, which will allow the state to enforce a near-total abortion ban. Other topics covered include the Iowa Utilities Board's approval of a proposed carbon pipeline, the state's flood response, reaction to the first Joe Biden/Donald Trump debate, and Governor Kim Reynolds g...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks lead with the state's response to massive flooding across northwest Iowa, in some areas surpassing 1993 levels. Other topics discussed: Attorney General Brenna Bird launches a cold case unit and joins another legal effort to help Donald Trump, beverage makers file federal lawsuit over Iowa law on hemp consumables, a national Democratic group targets seven Iowa House a...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks start with news from the federal courts related to Iowa's Texas-like immigration law and last year's school book ban and "don't say gay/trans" teaching restrictions. Other topics discussed include a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll on the presidential race, Libertarian candidates running in three of Iowa's Congressional districts, and surprising comments from U.S. Se...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the noteworthy results from Iowa's June 4 primary elections and what they mean for November's races for Congress and the Iowa legislature. Other topics discussed include the candidate who has a good chance of becoming Iowa's first transgender state lawmaker, and a federal court hearing on two lawsuits challenging a new immigration law, which makes "illegal re-...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the Iowa political reaction to former President Donald Trump's conviction in New York City and preview more than a dozen noteworthy Republican or Democratic races ahead of the June 4 primary. Other topics covered include Attorney General Brenna Bird's reversal on reimbursing sexual assault victims for emergency contraception costs, and state policy on summer m...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss Governor Kim Reynolds' final bill signings for 2024 and the one bill she vetoed. Other topics covered include: new funding for charter schools and projects to combat the opioid epidemic, new information on Attorney General Brenna Bird's trip to attend Donald Trump's criminal trial, new research on how Iowa's school voucher policy affected private school tuitio...

Laura Belin and George A. Clark discuss the two lawsuits filed to block Iowa's new immigration law, as well as the multi-state lawsuit the state joined to challenge the Biden administration's latest Title IX rule. Other topics covered include Attorney General Brenna Bird's surprise appearance at Donald Trump's criminal trial, new state laws that particularly affect mothers, and good news/bad news...

Laura Belin and Mike Murphy discuss a role reversal, as the federal government is poised to sue Iowa over a new immigration law. (Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined numerous multi-state lawsuits challenging Biden administration policies.) Other topics covered include important bills Governor Kim Reynolds signed last week, Iowa's unsuccessful bid for a major federal grant, and a state Supreme...

Laura Belin talks with Mike Murphy about some policies added to budget bills in the final days of the Iowa legislature's 2024 session, as well as notable bills that didn't make it to the governor's desk. (Some may return next year.) Other topics covered include a look at fundraising in Iowa's four U.S. House races, and environmental groups petitioning the U.S. EPA to step in to protect Iowans' dri...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart cover last week's happenings in the Iowa legislature, which adjourned for the year at 4:23 am on Saturday, April 20. They also discuss highlights from the 2024 legislative session and the latest news on a federal lawsuit over one of last year's major education laws. Finally, Laura and Dennis reminisce about their three-plus years working together, as Dennis steps back f...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss the Iowa Supreme Court's oral arguments on whether to allow the state to enforce a near-total abortion ban. The rest of the show focuses on legislative news: the state House or Senate gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment and bills on traffic cameras, arming school staff, food labeling, and more. Laura and Dennis also talked about some impor...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss another busy week in the Iowa legislature, as the 2024 session moves into its final weeks. Topics discussed include administrative rules linked to Iowa's near-total abortion ban (which is still blocked by court order), House Republicans hoping to revisit funding for Area Education Agencies, and bills approved on hemp consumables, food labeling, immunity for pest...

No fake April Fool's stories here: Laura Belin and Dennis Hart deliver real news from the Iowa statehouse, marked by final action to overhaul Area Education Agencies and movement for proposals on eminent domain, a constitutional amendment on taxes, Gadsden flag license plates, and more. Also in the mix: a rare House Oversight Committee meeting, and State Auditor Rob Sand spars with Attorney Genera...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart dig in on the biggest political story from last week: the state Senate and House passing competing versions of bills to overhaul Iowa's Area Education Agencies. The changes could impact tens of thousands of children, and the controversy has generated massive public interest. Laura and Dennis also discussed other notable legislative news, findings from the Iowa Poll for...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss some breaking news—the Iowa Senate approved a plan to overhaul Area Education Agencies—and that bill's prospects in the Iowa House. They spent most of the program sorting through the fallout from last week's "funnel" deadline for bills not related to taxes or spending. Which important proposals remain alive? Which ones appear to be out of contention? And what th...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart review the week in Iowa politics, including three very rare occurrences in the state legislature: one bill failed to gain a majority on the House floor, another was pulled in the middle of House debate, and a third (this one high-profile) was pulled from the Senate calendar with no explanation. Other topics covered include a slew of bills that did gain approval in the H...

Laura Belin and Dennis Hart discuss another busy week in the legislature, including a half-dozen education-related bills approved in the Iowa House and other controversial measures passed mostly along party lines. Other topics discussed: the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Donald Trump's ballot access, an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision related to Iowa's ban on school mask mandates, and U....