On Iowa Politics Podcast

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, the IPERS CEO talks about those DOGE recommendations, the Satanic Temple’s display at the Iowa Capitol is back in the news, and Randy Feenstra addresses his lack of attendance at mult...

Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy sat down with Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 for the second in a series of 1:1 interviews with political and government leaders in Iowa. 

This episode was produced by Bailey Cichon.

Comments: erin.murphy@thegazette.com, bailey.cichon@thegazette.com 

This week on the podcast we discuss Gov. Reynolds talking property taxes, THC drink limits in the government funding bill, a potential Democratic candidate for state ag secretary, and the Iowa delegation’s votes on the Epstein files.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affe...

This week, we discuss Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ fiery return to in-person town halls, Randy Feenstra’s campaign launch for governor, how Iowa Democrats messaged on health care access in the final days of the shutdown, a recount in Davenport under Iowa’s new recount laws, and a ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court in the Davenport building collapse case.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Deputy Des Moines Bureau Chief Tom Barton. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journa...

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered with opportunities to discuss the latest headlines.

This Pints & Politics event was held on November 6, 2025, at The Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The host was Gazette Executive Editor Zack Kucharski. Guests included Ron Corbett, vice president of economic development at Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, who helped guide a Believe in CR Schools campaign, which advocated for people to vote “yes” for the bond, and Cedar Rapids school boar...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we’ll follow up on what happened in Iowa’s local elections, there’s a new Republican candidate for governor, and we’ll analyze this week’s national off-year election results and what the...

This week on the podcast, we discuss Randy Feenstra finally making his gubernatorial campaign official; we explore readers’ questions about how elections officials catch fraudulent voting; and we look ahead to next week’s local elections. 

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read stories featured in this episode: 

Rep. R...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the On Iowa Politics podcast, we talk about the No Kings rallies in Iowa, Rob Sand’s 100th town hall, and Iowa’s DOGE report.

This episode was hosted by the Gazett...

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered, with opportunities to zone in on the latest headlines.

Attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and guests! This beloved event and lively conversation invite attendees to learn more about the issues impacting their community.

The presenting sponsor is the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy sat down with Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 for the first of a series of 1:1 interviews with political and government leaders in Iowa.

This episode was produced by Bailey Cichon.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we’ll discuss the Des Moines Superintendent situation, the federal government shutdown, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks talking town halls. And stick with us to the bitter end, folks, because we have a big...

This week, we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to listen in on the "Medicaid and Hospitals" session from the 2025 Iowa Ideas conference hosted by The Gazette. 

Iowa hospitals are in a period of "uncertainty" as changes to Medicaid enacted as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill take effect. Is a fund allocating billions to some rural hospital losses easing concerns? What does this mean for the state’s rural providers? We’ll unpack the changes in Medicaid and what it means for Iowa’s hospitals and providers and how those changes might impact yo...

This week on the podcast, there’s a new agenda-setting leader in the Iowa Senate, and the 2nd District Republican primary field grew.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin...

This week on the podcast, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver’s resignation in the Iowa Legislature, Iowa DOGE’s final public meeting, and much more Iowa news in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.<...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy hosted this episode. It features Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of th...

This week on the podcast, how does Joni Ernst’s decision to not seek reelection impact Iowa’s 2026 elections?

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee De...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, just how special were those special election results, the Quad Cities felt the Bern, Ashley Hinson’s fundraiser, and Iowa Democrats going rogue.

This episode was hosted by the Gaze...

This podcast is from the Pints & Politics podcast, which took place on August 21, 2025. The first segment was Gazette Executive Editor Zack Kucharski interviewing Iowa State Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.

Zack Kucharski was also the moderator for the last part of the program, which included Todd Dorman, columnist and editorial writer; Althea Cole, opinion content editor; and Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

Welcome to the Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, episode of On Iowa Politics. This week on the podcast, we’ll talk about candidates entering and exiting races and last weekend’s story about the new approach some Iowa Democrats are us...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, potential changes to IPERS is once again in the news, two more Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, and how Democratic candidates are talking to voters thus far this cycle.

...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, Chuck Grassley catches bipartisan heat on judicial nominations, Iowa Republicans take on Rob Sand, and the messaging battle over the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” continues.

This episode was hosted by the...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the Friday, July 25, 2025 edition of the podcast, we have more Congressional candidates jumping into the fray, and we discuss the Rescissions Act of 2025.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Mo...

Welcome to the Friday, July 18, 2025, episode of On Iowa Politics. This week on the podcast, more on the deportation of an Eastern Iowa man, what happened at the Family Leader’s annual event, and another batch of new Congressional candidates.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we took the Fourth of July holiday off, but the Iowa political news cycle did not. Let's get caught up!

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bu...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

Welcome to the Friday, June 27, 2025, episode of On Iowa Politics. This week on the podcast, Donald Trump returns to Iowa, Rob Sand is going on tour, and a Western Iowa Republican primary field grows.

St...

The Gazette's Pints & Politics was recorded at The Olympic Southside Theater in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, June 19, 2025, with special guest Mike Draper, RAYGUN Founder/Owner.

Moderator: Zack Kucharski

Panel: The Gazette’s Todd Dorman, Althea Cole, and Tom Barton

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered, with opportunities to delve into the latest headlines.

Attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and gu...

This week on the podcast, a familiar Democrat enters the Iowa-1 race while a familiar Democrat exists the Iowa-4 race, and we cover the Iowa connections to last weekend's shooting in Minnesota. 

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Gazette columnist Althea Cole, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times.

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon. 

On Iowa Po...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, the field of U.S. Senate candidates in Iowa continues to grow, and the backlash to and fallout from Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of pipeline and property rights legislation.

This...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, the Iowa DOGE Task Force pitches fewer counties. Plus, we have two more candidates for governor, — one from each political side, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, and a statehouse cand...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, all of our discussion blocks tie together, and it’s all about that big, beautiful bill, legislation passed by U.S. House Republicans that includes tax and immigration policy, health care spen...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we have a slate of candidate announcements to talk through for state and federal offices.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It fe...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast: the 2025 legislative session ends, plus candidates emerge for 2026 races.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Ma...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we hit the 110-day mark of the legislative session, eminent domain, and potential job cuts at the Rock Island Arsenal.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bu...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast: Rep. Ashley Hinson’s town hall, immigration enforcement on Iowa’s college campuses, and more potential gubernatorial candidate talk.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief...

This week on the podcast, we cover a couple of topics as we pretend nothing else is anywhere near as important as Gov. Kim Reynolds's announcement that she’s not running for re-election next year.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

Th...

Pints and Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and across all party lines. It covers national, state, and local issues and offers opportunities to discuss the latest headlines.

Attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite reporters, columnists, and guests!

This event at The Olympic Southside Theater in Cedar Rapids included The Gazette's Todd Dorman, Althea Cole, and Tom Barton with special guest Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell. Gazette Executive Editor Zack Kucharski was the host.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is coming to Iowa. Plus, a bill to make catfish noodling legal in Iowa advances.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bu...

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, legislative forums in Eastern Iowa and the second funnel week at the Iowa Capitol. 

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee...

This week on the podcast, Chuck Grassley’s post-election town hall and his thoughts on Signalgate, a couple of interesting legislative forums in Western Iowa and an Iowa Sheriff’s Facebook post has caused quite the kerfuffle.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.

This week on the podcast, we remember Jack Kibbie, a former Iowa legislator who served as Iowa Senate President. Plus, we talk through a drama-rich county party leadership election and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s return to I...