KHOI's Capitol Week

Apr 14 2025 70 ep. 30 mins 11
KHOI's Capitol Week Podcast artwork

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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Fallout from a Kim Reynolds bombshell, Dems target IA-02

Apr 14 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the biggest Iowa political news stories, starting with fallout from Governor Kim Reynolds' announcement that she won't seek a third term: potential Republican and Democratic candidates, impact on the next elections for governor and down-ballot offices, and reasons for Reynolds' relatively low approval rating. Meanwhile, Democrats plan to target I

Tariffs, trial balloons, and the Iowa legislature's second funnel week

Apr 07 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed Iowa reaction to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and their likely impact on the state's agriculture sector. The U.S. Senate confirmed Matt Whitaker to the most senior role an Iowan has received in the second Trump administration. Also covered: more Democrats considering a 2026 bid for U.S. Senate, why Bernie Sanders' campaign has a

School book ban blocked, Iowa sheriff sued, Wahls vs. Ernst?

Mar 31 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the week's top Iowa politics stories, starting with U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher blocking enforcement of Iowa's school book ban. Other topics covered include Attorney General Brenna Bird's unprecedented lawsuit against a county sheriff, reaction from Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to "Signalgate," and Democratic State Senato

Reynolds, Bird cheer Trump policies; Lawmakers take on education and DEI

Mar 24 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks begin with Iowa angles on Trump administration news: Governor Kim Reynolds cheered the order dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Senator Chuck Grassley dealt with angry crowds at his town halls, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stuck close to the president, Attorney General Brenna Bird backed efforts to deport alleged gang members, and Trump's D

Dems weigh Congressional campaigns, Walz in Iowa, news from the statehouse

Mar 17 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review the week in Iowa politics, starting with the three Democrats taking a serious look at running for Congress in the third district, where GOP incumbent Zach Nunn is seen as vulnerable. Other topics covered: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's "town hall" in that targeted district, a special election for an Iowa House seat, the legislature's failure to a

Funnel week surprises, bills still moving, a ProPublica exclusive on Joni Ernst

Mar 10 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover an exceptionally busy week in the Iowa legislature ahead of the first "funnel" deadline. They discussed new bills that popped up last week (not all of them advanced), and notable bills that are "alive" and "dead" in the areas of K-12 education, higher education, public libraries, energy policy, state government, health care, crime and courts, and

Digging deep on Iowa's new transgender discrimination law

Mar 03 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks focused this week on the wide-ranging new Iowa law targeting transgender and nonbinary people. They discussed the key provisions, including some that have received little attention in other reporting. Laura described the atmosphere at the capitol, the House and Senate debates, last-minute maneuvering to secure House Republican support, the handful of R

All about the trans discrimination bill; Sand & Reynolds spar on auditing voucher funds

Feb 24 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the biggest news in Iowa politics, starting with an omnibus transgender discrimination bill that is on a fast track: what's in the bill, how it compares to earlier proposals, why Republicans are pushing this now, and what happens next. They also discussed bills moving forward related to abortion, higher education, legal immunity for pesticide m

Sherman declares for governor; Iowa challenges anti-discrimination law

Feb 17 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks start with 2026 election news: who is newly declared candidate Brad Sherman, and what are his chances in a Republican primary against Governor Kim Reynolds? Other topics covered: the candidates running in an Iowa House special election and legislative action related to school funding, other education policies, a pro-Israel resolution, hands-free drivin

Iowa DOGE, a GOP challenger for Miller-Meeks, and lots of legislative action

Feb 10 2025 29 mins  
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discuss the week in Iowa politics, starting with Governor Kim Reynolds creating a new "Iowa DOGE" task force and testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Committee about government reorganization. Other topics covered: Iowa angles on Trump administration policies, cabinet appointees, and NIH grants, an Iowa House special election coming soon, a Repub