Iowa Business Report

On the Iowa Business Report weekend edition:

*  Positive resiliency is the headline from the new economic outlook survey of Iowa Business Council members; IBC President Joe Murphy shares details

*  A preview of Tuesday's Iowa Manufacturing Conference

* In our business profile, we'll reintroduce you to Jamie Rich, president and CEO of Wendler Incorporated, now headquartered in Cedar Rapids

The Iowa Business Report is presented by the Iowa Business Council, online at iowabusinesscouncil.org. Additional support comes from the Iowa Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov/protectyourbusiness and ibat.iowa.gov.

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
October 09, 2026     

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-New Hartford) on relief for farmers fighting the high cost of diesel at harvest time. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
October 08, 2026     

National financial journalist Dennis Kneale on the impact of the Federal Reserve on the nation's economy. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
October 07, 2026    

Iowa Business Council president Joe Murphy on the positive resiliency IBC members indicated in the group's new quarterly economic outlook survey released this week. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
October 06, 2026       

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mike Naig on this week's Choose Iowa "fall crawl" agritourism event. 

E.J Antoni, Chief Economist for the Institute for Economic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, on the broad economic impact of the Mesabi Metallics steel plant proposed for southeast Iowa. 

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
October 05, 2026      

Phil Kerpen of American Commitment on the overall strength of the U.S. economy. 

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
October 02, 2026     

Iowa-based political consultant Morgan Bonwell on using AI to create a new revenue stream for her business. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
October 01, 2026       

Economist E.J. Antoni on the broader benefits of the proposed mega-steel plant to be built in southeast Iowa. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
September 30, 2026      

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who was at the White House Monday when a $15B steel plant was announced, set to be built in Lee County, Iowa. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
September 29, 2026    

Michael Lucci of the non-profit group State Armor on the U.S. blocking Chinese attempts to monopolize distribution of rare earth magnets used in tech devices. 

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
September 28, 2026        

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on the CEOs of large AI companies warning of the dangers of their products. 

On the Iowa Business Report weekend edition:

*  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mike Naig on the agritourism aspects of the Choose Iowa program

*  U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-New Hartford) on expectations from the Trump/Xi meeting

* In our business profile, we'll introduce you to Mike Mallaro on Waterloo-based VGM Group, which has been an ESOP since 2008

The Iowa Business Report is presented by the Iowa Business Council, online at iowabusinesscouncil.org. Additional support comes from the Iowa Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov/protectyourbusiness and ibat.iowa.gov.

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
September 25, 2026       

Mike Mallaro on the growth of the VGM group of companies after becoming employee-owned through ESOP conversion. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
September 24, 2026      

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-New Hartford) on what he'd like to see come out of this week's meeting between U.S. President Trump and China President XI, particularly with regard to Iowa's ag economy. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
September 23, 2026     

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on private equity firms now entering the realm of college NIL payments to athletes. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
September 22, 2026    

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mike Naig on the prospects for a federal farm bill being passed, now that it has moved to the full Senate for debate. 

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
September 21, 2026      

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on the reasons for last week's rate hike by the Federal Reserve. 

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
September 18, 2026           

Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA03) on passage in the U.S. House of the GUARD Act to give local law enforcement more tools to combat financial fraud. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
September 17, 2026           

USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden on the importance of more federal dollars coming to Iowa for agribusiness-related projects. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
September 16, 2026          

Iowa State University president David Cook on the role its extension and outreach department, and research generally, plays in the economic development of our state. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
September 15, 2026         

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on SEC proposals to reduce corporate reporting of financial data to twice yearly instead of quarterly. 

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
September 14, 2026        

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird on a lawsuit her office joined against Amazon, claiming unfair advertising practices that adversely impacted Iowa businesses selling on the platform. 

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
September 11, 2026       

Economist Dr. John Lott on the economy and how the Administration could have handled one taxation issue better. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
September 10, 2026      

Sarah Hermanson of One Above HR of Manchester on her upcoming seminar series, called CONNECT. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
September 09, 2026     

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on the surprising monthly federal jobs report released last Friday. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
September 08, 2026      

Tyler Martinez of the National Taxpayers Union on how contrary court opinions have affected the legality of home-based distilling.

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
September 07, 2026     

Mark Mix of the National Right to Work Committee on labor unions and right-to-work provisions in Iowa and other states. 

On the Iowa Business Report weekend edition:

*  Mark Mix of the National Right to Work Committee assesses labor in the U.S.

*  Financial journalist Jordan Goodman breaks down the better-than-expected federal jobs report

* In our business profile, we'll introduce you to Chris Diebel, operating partner for the downtown Des Moines restaurant Bubba

The Iowa Business Report is presented by the Iowa Business Council, online at iowabusinesscouncil.org. Additional support comes from the Iowa Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov/protectyourbusiness and ibat.iowa.gov.

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
September 04, 2026    

Bridget Johnson of The Oakwood Inn near Okoboji on why their gourmet breakfast offerings wound up being nominated for a regional hospitality award. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
September 03, 2026     

Chris Diebel, managing partner of Bubba, a downtown Des Moines restaurant marking ten years in business. 

Iowa Business Report Wednesday Edition
September 02, 2026    

Heather Kriener of the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services on financial literacy tips for those going off to college. 

Iowa Business Report Tuesday Edition
September 01, 2026     

Mike Schreurs of Cancer Screen Iowa on the role businesses can play in encouraging employees to proactively monitor their health. 

Iowa Business Report Monday Edition
August 31, 2026      

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on the continued impact of data centers on the U.S. economy. 

On the Iowa Business Report weekend edition:

*  Heather Kriener, financial literacy director with the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, discusses educating students on financial literacy

*  The 2026 Iowa State Fair set a record for economic impact in the state

* In our business profile, we'll introduce you to Bridget Johnson, who with husband Bill, owns and operates the Oakwood Inn in Okoboji

The Iowa Business Report is presented by the Iowa Business Council, online at iowabusinesscouncil.org. Additional support comes from the Iowa Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov/protectyourbusiness.

Iowa Business Report Friday Edition
August 28, 2026     

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mike Naig on efforts to bolster Iowa's beef production. 

Iowa Business Report Thursday Edition
August 27, 2026    

National financial journalist Jordan Goodman on Facebook/Meta facing additional legal challenges tied to harm their products pose to children.