Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review another busy week in Iowa politics, starting with the Libertarian candidates for governor and lieutenant governor challenging the decision to exclude them from the ballot, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s phone calls urging Iowa Libertarians to end their Congressional campaigns. They also discussed a GOP firm's new poll of Iowa's statewide races, messaging from the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor and attorney general, and some important votes by the Iowans in Congress. Other topics covered: the renewed controversy over Governor Kim Reynolds' use of COVID relief funds to pay staff salaries, a federal court ruling related to Iowa's new restrictions on food people can by with SNAP benefits, and an Iowa Supreme Court ruling about a former domestic abuser's gun rights.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from Iowa's U.S. Senate race: a poll showing a small lead for Josh Turek, a conservative group already spending for Ashley Hinson, and trouble on Hinson's right flank. Next, several governor's race updates: "Rob-publicans," Rob Sand town halls, Zach Lahn on his residency and the "uniparty," TV ads from both sides, and developments related to Derek Wulf, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. On the anniversary of important court rulings about abortion, they covered the possible impact of abortion in Iowa's 2026 campaigns. Other topics covered: Iowa's best bellwether county, a ratings change for IA-02, Zach Nunn's first TV ad in IA-03, and the state auditor's report on Iowa's school voucher program.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of this show covering the governor's race, including several angles related to Republican nominee Zach Lahn choosing Derek Wulf to be his running mate, such as Wulf's support for pesticide immunity legislation, some legal and financial difficulties related to his farm, and controversy related to his voter registration. Other topics covered: President Trump backing away from his Randy Feenstra endorsement, challenges to three Libertarians running for governor or Congress, allegations that Republicans pressured the Libertarians to drop out, the Iowa Democratic Party's state convention, and Republican criticism of the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered many developments in the governor's race, including Rob Sand's lieutenant governor pick, first general election rally, and first negative ad about his GOP opponent, Zach Lahn. They also reviewed some of the reasons Lahn won (and Randy Feenstra lost) the GOP primary for governor. Other topics covered: the first post-primary poll of Iowa's U.S. Senate race, Ashley Hinson's first negative ad about Josh Turek, news from the second Congressional district campaign, and notable results from primaries in Iowa's legislative races. Finally, they covered some of Governor Kim Reynolds' final bill signings.

Laura Belin and Mike Murphy walked through results from Iowa's June 2 primary elections, spending the most time on the governor's race, where there was a photo finish for Republicans. They talked about what went wrong for front-runner Randy Feenstra as well as the early general election arguments for Zach Lahn and Rob Sand. Other topics covered: the Democratic and Republican primary results for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, last minute filings by four Libertarian candidates, and the surprisingly close GOP primary for state auditor.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent this entire episode on Iowa's upcoming state and federal primary elections, taking place on June 2. They began with the latest developments in the five-way Republican race for governor: polling, high-profile endorsements, and closing arguments for each candidate. They also surveyed the two-way Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, competitive races in Iowa's four U.S. House districts, and the GOP primary for state auditor.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began this Memorial Day episode by remembering four Iowans who died in military service in the Middle East over the past year. They spent most of the show on 2026 campaign news: the latest fundraising numbers for Iowa's candidates for governor and other statewide offices, the second debate for GOP candidates for governor, new endorsements and TV ads, and updates from the Senate Democratic primary. Finally, they covered stories related to the Iowa delegation in Congress and the new state "MAHA" law, which Governor Reynolds signed last week.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of the show on news from the campaign for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat: the second (and last) televised debate between Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, a new endorsement for Turek, new ads backing Turek, Wahls, and Republican front-runner Ashley Hinson, and outside spending on the race. They also covered the televised debate featuring the three Democrats running in Iowa's second Congressional district, Republican candidate Joe Mitchell picking a fight with some powerful members of his own party, Governor Kim Reynolds signing a major property tax overhaul, and another new state law inspired by Charlie Kirk.