Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson is a political podcast discussing current issues we face as a country featuring interviews with senators, congressman, governors, and other political elite. Robin A. Johnson is a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant. He is an expert on government reform issues and has consulted with numerous local governments on consolidation/merger, public-private partnerships and full-cost accounting of public services. Robin has also helped candidates win elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, state legislature, judiciary and local government.
New Book Offers Definitive, Balanced Biography of Ronald Reagan
Max Boot, author of Reagan: His Life and Legend, discusses Reagan'sstrengths and shortcomings in this book including how his upbringing inour listening area shaped his life and career.
10/25/2024 • 29 minutes
New Book Explores the 'Pride Paradox' That Turned Descendants of
FDR Democrats into Trump Republicans
Arlie Russell Hochschild talks about her new book, Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right
10/19/2024 • 29 minutes
McGraw on the Farm Bill: Food Security is National Security
Judge Joe McGraw, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois' 17th District, talks about border security, jobs and the American Dream, US-China relations, abortion, ethics reform, the Farm Bill and much more.
10/11/2024 • 29 minutes
Bohannan: "Getting Farm Bill Passed Is Job One"
Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa's 1st congressional district, talks about the economy, immigration, trade, education, abortion, debt and much more.
10/4/2024 • 29 minutes
Miller-Meeks: “National Debt is a National Security Threat”
Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Republican from Iowa’s 1st District, talks about inflation, border security, national debt, the Farm Bill, abortion, veteran’s issues, China, and much more.
9/27/2024 • 29 minutes
In the Face of Growing ‘Greenlash,’ Author Discusses Political Strategies and Outcomes of Clean Energy Transition
Alez Gazmararian, co-author of Uncertain Future: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse, talks about the politics of the decline of coal.
9/17/2024 • 29 minutes
Rubashkin of Inside Elections: Expect a Close Presidential Race With the Winner Decided in Seven Battleground States
Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor of Inside Elections, a nonpartisan political newsletter, talks about the 2024 presidential election, key issues and voter groups that will decide the election, and the battle for control of the US House including a focus on two local races in Iowa and Illinois.
9/12/2024 • 29 minutes
State Rep. Gregg Johnson Touts First-term Accomplishments
Illinois State Representative Gregg Johnson (D-72) from Rock Island County discusses his first term in Springfield, economic development, infrastructure, schools, mental health issues and ‘turning down the heat’ of our partisan divide.
9/6/2024 • 29 minutes
Labor Day Special: A New Book on Work With History, Culture, Poetry, and Quotes by Adam Smith, Karl Marx and…Homer Simpson?!
Labor Day Special: A New Book on Work With History, Culture, Poetry, and Quotes by Adam Smith, Karl Marx and…Homer Simpson?!
8/29/2024 • 29 minutes
Book Explores Devastating Impact of Meat Industry Consolidation on Rural America
Chris Leonard, former agribusiness reporter for the Associated Press, discusses his book, The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America’s Food Business.
8/23/2024 • 29 minutes
New Upjohn Research Showing Which Economic Development Strategies Work Best
Tim Bartik, senior economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, talks about distressed communities, employment trends in Rock Island and Scott Counties
8/16/2024 • 29 minutes
A Previous, Overlooked Period of American History Featuring War, Violence, Repression That Threatened US Democracy
Author Adam Hochschild discusses his book American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis.
8/9/2024 • 29 minutes
A Lot of People Get Mad at Me, But Not Many Tell Me I’m Wrong
Chris Jones, author of The Swine Republic: Struggles With the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality,”
8/2/2024 • 29 minutes
New Book Provides Important Insights on Key Group That Could Decide November Elections: Latino Voters
Mike Madrid, a political consultant who has worked for both political parties and co-founded the Lincoln Project, discusses his book, The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy.
7/26/2024 • 29 minutes
New Report Captures Economic Renewal in Left Behind Counties, But Challenges Remain
Kenan Fikri, Director of Research for the Economic Innovation Group, talks about a new report, “Economic Renaissance or Fleeting Recovery? Left-Behind Counties See Boom in Jobs and Businesses Amid Widening Divides.”
7/19/2024 • 29 minutes
Sen. Cournoyer on the State of Iowa Schools
State Sen. Chris Cournoyer, Vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee, (R-35) talks about K-12 school issues
7/12/2024 • 29 minutes
How Washington Really Works….It’s Worse Than You Think
Brody Mullins, co-author of The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government, talks about the development of the modern lobbying industry
7/2/2024 • 29 minutes
State Senator Mike Halpin: Two Biggest Benefits of Budget Are K-12 School Funding and Child Tax Credit
State Senator Mike Halpin (D) from the 36th District discusses the Illinois legislative session
6/28/2024 • 29 minutes
Sen. Jochum Take on Iowa Legislative Session: “More Cruel Towards Children Who Are Different, the Poor, the Middle Class”
Sen. Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) discusses the recently concluded Iowa legislative session.
6/22/2024 • 29 minutes
Downstate Highlights of Illinois Legislative Session Include More School and Infrastructure Funding
Patrick Pfingsten, author of The Illinoize political newsletter, discusses the recently concluded legislative session highlights and Republican prospects in the 2024 elections.
6/14/2024 • 29 minutes
New Look at Saddam Hussein, the US Invasion of Iraq, and the Avoidable Errors That Led To It
Steve Coll talks about his new book, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, The CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq
6/7/2024 • 29 minutes
Steve Scully: Challenge for Today’s Voters in Polarized Politics is to “Understand What the Other Side is All About”
Steve is host of The Briefing on the POTUS Channel, Senior VP at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former host for 30 years at C-SPAN.
5/31/2024 • 29 minutes
Taylor Collins: 90th General Assembly “Continued Conservative Reform Begun in 2017”
Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis) discusses the recently completed session of the Iowa legislature and addresses some of its key accomplishments.
5/24/2024 • 29 minutes
Nobel-winning Economist Joseph Stiglitz New Book Offers A New Vision on Economic and Political Freedom
Joseph Stiglitz talks about his new book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society
5/17/2024 • 29 minutes
The Origins of Populists and Populism
Labor historian Steve Babson, author of Forgotten Populists: When Farmers Turned Left to Save Democracy.
5/10/2024 • 29 minutes
War for the Soul of American Christianity
Tim Alberta discusses his book The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
5/3/2024 • 30 minutes, 20 seconds
American Democracy on the Brink? It’s Happened Before
Jon Grinspan talks about his book, Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy 1865-1915
4/26/2024 • 29 minutes
Luke Russert Book Explores Grief, Self-discovery and Purpose
Luke Russert, host and creative director of “MSNBC Live”, discusses his book Look For Me There: Grieving my Father, Finding Myself.
4/19/2024 • 30 minutes, 46 seconds
How to Address the Surge of Disinformation in Political Campaigns
Sasha Issenberg, author of The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age.
4/12/2024 • 29 minutes
Pelosi Chief of Staff on Her First Tenure as Speaker and the Challenges of Governing
John Lawrence discusses his book, Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership, 2005-2010.
4/5/2024 • 29 minutes
The Making of an Iconic Jazz Album Through the Lives of Three Famed Musicians
Author James Kaplan talks about his new book, 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool.
3/27/2024 • 34 minutes, 47 seconds
New Book Dispels Myths About Rural Voters
Daniel Shea and Nicholas Jacobs talk about their new book, The Rural Voter, The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America.
3/22/2024 • 29 minutes
New Book Examines A 1990 GOP Primary in Illinois That Became National Proxy on Abortion and Factored in Bush v Gore
Patrick Wohl, author of Down Ballot: How A Local Campaign Became A National Referendum on Abortion, talks about this historic race, abortion politics, the key players, how state legislative campaigns are run, the role of ‘dimpled chads’ in the outcome locally and in the 2000 presidential race in Florida, why local elections are so important, and much more.
3/15/2024 • 29 minutes
New Look at a Crime Spree in the Heartland That Changed America and Shaped Our Culture
Harry MacLean, author of Starkweather, The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America, discusses the 1958 murders that shocked the nation, drew national attention, and was an inspiration for the movie Natural Born Killers, Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, a 1973, Martin Sheen movie, Badlands, and mention in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire.
3/9/2024 • 29 minutes
Rust Belt Unions Blues: Why Working-class Voters Are Turning Away From the Democratic Party
Rust Belt Unions Blues: Why Working-class Voters Are Turning Away From the Democratic Party
3/1/2024 • 29 minutes
Congressman Krishnamoorthi on US-China Relations
Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi talks about his role as Ranking Member on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
2/23/2024 • 29 minutes
Former GOP Congressman Addresses Our Political Divide: How Did We Get Here? How Do We Get Out?
Former Republican Congressman Scott Klug from Wisconsin talks about hyper partisanship in the US.
2/16/2024 • 29 minutes
Pulitzer-Prize Winner David Leonhardt's New Book on The American Dream
David Leonhardt, Pulitzer-prize winning essayist for the New York Times, discusses his new book, Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream.
2/9/2024 • 31 minutes, 34 seconds
Author, Consultant Patrick Ruffini: Demographic Trends Pointing to GOP Multiracial, Working Class Majority
Patrick Ruffini, Republican pollster and co-founder of Echelon Insights, talks about his new book, Party of the People Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP, including the causes of working class voters shifting to the Republicans, key insights into the educational divide, the interplay of culture, class and race, and much more.
2/2/2024 • 29 minutes
Top Illinois Stories of 2023 and 2024: Migrant Crisis, Budget, and Corruption.
Jerry Nowicki, Editor-in-Chief of Capitol News Illinois, discusses the top five headlines of 2023 and predicts the top stories of 2024.
1/26/2024 • 29 minutes
Trump Iowa Win Likely Secures Nomination in Normal Year; But It’s Not A Normal Year
Chris Larimer, Political Science Professor at Northern Iowa University, analyzes the Iowa Caucus results.
1/19/2024 • 29 minutes
Haley Offers Herself as “New Generational Leader Who Leaves the Baggage and Negativity Behind”
Nikki Haley, Republican presidential candidate, former Ambassador to the UN and former South Carolina Governor, talks about Ukraine, Gaza, border security, restoring our manufacturing base, China, whether to ban TikTok and much more.
1/12/2024 • 29 minutes
DeSantis: “I’m The Only Candidate With A Record of Delivering on 100% of His Promises”
Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, talks about his record in Florida, the Middle East, China, ethanol, and bringing manufacturing jobs back.
1/5/2024 • 29 minutes
Erin Murphy’s Top 2023 and 2024 Political Headlines
Erin Murphy, Des Moines bureau chief for The Gazette, lists his top five Iowa political/governmental headlines from 2023 and uses his crystal ball to project the top five stories for 2024.
12/29/2023 • 29 minutes
New Book Explores Charlie Chaplin Rise and Fall
Scott Eyman, author of book Charlie Chaplin v America: When Art, Sex and Politics Collided, talks about Chaplin’s impact on the American film industry.
12/21/2023 • 29 minutes
Ukraine, Middle East Conflicts Face Pivotal Months
Veteran foreign affairs and Pentagon correspondent Tom Squitieri talks about the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East war, the hold on Pentagon nominations, US and European readiness and much more.
12/15/2023 • 29 minutes
Congressman Eric Sorensen Discusses His First Year in Office
US Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-17) looks back on his first year in Congress and talks about bipartisanship, the economy, climate, AI and much more.
12/8/2023 • 29 minutes
Author Challenges Commonly-Held Views About Rural America
Steven Conn questions the idea of a single rural America that is “left behind” or in crisis and instead says there are many rural Americas and they have been shaped by the same forces that impacted the rest of the country. His book, The Lies of the Land: Seeing Rural America for What It Is—And Isn’t also challenges the notion that rural America values capture the “real America” and why rural areas supported Donald Trump.
12/1/2023 • 29 minutes
New Book Explores Bipartisan Leaders in the US Senate During Tumultuous Times
Marc Johnson, author of Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate, talks about two senators, one from each party, who put aside partisan interests and worked together to pass historic legislation in the 1960s. It’s a timely story of true leadership that our current elected officials would benefit from examining.
11/25/2023 • 29 minutes
Hillbilly Highway: Exploring the Migration Patterns of the White Working Class
Max Fraser, author of Hillbilly Highway: The Transappalachian Migration and The Making of a White Working Class, discusses the differences with other parts of the white, working class, misperceptions of this overlooked group, the role of country music, their political impact and much more.
11/16/2023 • 29 minutes
Veteran’s Day 2023: Hope and Optimism from the Leading Iraq/Afghanistan Vets Organization Chief
Allison Jaslow, CEO of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) talks about key issues facing our nation’s veterans, including the need for better leadership, the Afghanistan withdrawal, impact of the hold on US Military nomination in the Senate, the VA and veterans health care, and much more.
11/10/2023 • 29 minutes
New Book Explores Lack of Trust in American Leaders and Institutions
Gerry Baker, author of American Breakdown: Why We No Longer Trust Our Leaders and Institutions and How We Can Rebuild Confidence and former editor-in-chief at the Wall Street Journal, talks about growing distrust in government, big business, media and medicine, the widening gap between elites who control these institutions and the public, solutions to rebuild confidence and much more.
11/3/2023 • 29 minutes
Social Media is the Gateway Drug to Hate
Josh Kraushaar, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Insider, author of Sunday Sneak at Axios, and FOX News Radio political analyst, talks about the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, the upcoming invasion of Gaza, the possibility of a wider Middle East War, rising anti-Semitism in the US and around the world, and much more.
10/27/2023 • 29 minutes
The Facts About Proposed Carbon Dioxide Pipelines in Iowa
Jared Strong, senior reporter for Iowa Capital Dispatch, provides a primer on the three proposed carbon dioxide pipelines in Iowa, the process for approval, risks and benefits, uncommon alliances among those in favor and opposed, and much more.
10/21/2023 • 29 minutes
David Kochel on ’24 Iowa GOP Caucuses: “Momentum Matters More Than Mechanics”
Veteran Iowa Republican consultant David Kochel, talks about the leading candidates, roles of momentum and organization, impact of the Hamas terrorist attacks, a possible endorsement by Gov. Reynolds and much more.
10/14/2023 • 29 minutes
James Bennet Discusses a Tumultuous Week During a Tumultuous Presidential Election Campaign
James Bennet, Senior Editor for The Economist magazine and author of the Lexington column, talks about the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Republican presidential primary, the legacies of Dianne Feinstein and Robert Kennedy and how they relate to today’s politics, and much more.
10/7/2023 • 29 minutes
The State of American Labor 2023
Steve Greenhouse, long-time labor reporter for the New York Times and author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present and Future of American Labor, discusses the impact of Covid on the American working class, the UAW-Big Three auto strike, challenges with organizing electric vehicles and other emerging clean-energy industries, union issues at Starbucks and much more.
9/30/2023 • 29 minutes
A 70s Story That Offers Wisdom on Friendships With Lessons for Today
Joe Svoboda, author of Brothers, Bears, and Beers: A Memoir of Friendships, Adventures and Mishaps, talks about the lasting bonds of friendship from a small college and fraternity, the ability to overcome differences to build solid friendships, and other lessons applicable to these times of social isolation and division.
9/23/2023 • 29 minutes
Sen. Chris Murphy Addresses “Growing Spiritual Crisis’ in the US
Sen. Chris Murphy, (D-CT) talks about the forces fueling our partisan divide, the coming political realignment that will shake up American politics, fraud committed by economic elites on the working class, and much more.
9/16/2023 • 29 minutes
Meisel: Mapes Trial Offers Rare Window into How Illinois Government Operates
Hannah Meisel, government and politics reporter for Capitol News Illinois, discusses the recent trial of top Madigan aide Tim Mapes, what the outcome means for Madigan’s upcoming trial, and why the legal proceedings are important for the state and residents.
9/9/2023 • 29 minutes
Illinois Auditor General Mautino: “State’s Financial Picture is Improving”
Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General, talks about his office’s roles and responsibilities, the state’s financial condition, audits of the Quincy and LaSalle VA homes, audit of IDES Covid funds overpayment of more than $5 billion, and much more.
9/2/2023 • 29 minutes
Brookings Tony Pipa: Unprecedented Opportunities for Rural Revitalization From Recent Federal Legislation
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution and Reimagining Rural policy initiative, talks about opportunities for rural revitalization from the Infrastructure Bill, CHIPS Act, and Inflation Reduction Act and possibilities from the upcoming Farm Bill.
8/26/2023 • 29 minutes
Veteran Chicago Journalist Rick Kogan Joins Heartland Politics for Lively Discussion
Rick Kogan, host of “After Hours With Rick Kogan” on WGN and Chicago Tribune columnist, talks about the Chicago cultural scene, the Mob, the state of journalism, the urban-rural disconnect, and what it means to be a “newspaperman.”
8/19/2023 • 29 minutes
New Book Challenges Conventional Wisdom on 1968 Presidential Race
Luke Nichter, author of The Year That Broke Politics: Collusion and Chaos in the Presidential Election of 1968, talks about new sources that provide further understanding of the pivotal race including the LBJ-Nixon relationship, the important background role of the Rev. Billy Graham in nurturing that relationship, the myth of Nixon’s Southern Strategy, the real reason for Humphrey’s fall comeback, and why George Wallace is “the most misunderstood politician in history.”
8/12/2023 • 29 minutes
Thom Serafin: “What Happens Next Year in the Iowa Caucuses is More Important Than Ever”
Thom Serafin, a veteran, Chicago-based public affairs and communications consultant and TV analyst, discusses the latest Trump indictments, the impact on the 2024 presidential race, Democrats’ messaging challenges on the economy, and what it might take to break the partisan divide.
8/5/2023 • 33 minutes, 4 seconds
Kathie Obradovich’s Key Insights Into the 2024 Iowa Caucuses
Kathie Obradovich, editor of the Iowa Capital Dispatch, discusses the latest from the campaign trail on the leading Republican candidates as well as the role of Governor Kim Reynolds.
7/29/2023 • 29 minutes
Pulitzer-Prize Winner James Risen on His Latest Book Exploring Intelligence Abuses and the Senator Who Exposed Them
James Risen, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former New York Times journalist, talks about his new book, The Last Honest Man: The CIA, The FBI, The Mafia, The Kennedys—And One Senator’s Fight to Save Democracy. Risen discusses the Church Committee, headed by Idaho Senator Frank Church, which exposed shocking abuses by the intelligence community involving assassinations of foreign leaders, hit men, the Mob, illegal surveillance of American citizens, and the mysterious deaths of three committee witnesses.
7/22/2023 • 30 minutes, 43 seconds
Mallach: Quad Cities “Hanging in There” in Face of Global Challenges
Alan Mallach, author of Smaller Cities in a Shrinking World: Learning to Thrive Without Growth, discusses the impact of population shrinkage on cities, global challenges for shrinking cities, and ideas and examples of how shrinking cities can thrive. He localizes the issue by including the Quad Cities in his remarks.
7/15/2023 • 31 minutes, 2 seconds
Pulitzer-prize winner Joseph Ellis on His New Book and the Legacies of the American Revolution
Joseph Ellis talks about his latest book, The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents: 1773-1783, our “greatest political generation,” the good fortune involved in several key events, myths of the revolution that he dispels, the great debate over government that remains with us to this day, and much more.
7/8/2023 • 29 minutes
Edsall: Debate Over Freedom is Central to the 2024 Election
Thomas Edsall, New York Times columnist and author, discusses a recent column “When Their Idea of Liberty is Your Idea of Death,” the partisan divide over the meaning of freedom, and the intersection of class, economics and culture in today’s politics.
7/1/2023 • 29 minutes
GOP Leader McCombie Grades the Illinois Legislative Session
Tony McCombie, House Republican Leader, reflects on the recently completed session including the budget, schools, economy, two ‘Only-in-Illinois’ stories, her grade for the legislative process and much more.
6/24/2023 • 30 minutes, 15 seconds
THE MAKING OF ‘NEBRASKA’ WAS CENTRAL TO THE MAKING OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Warren Zanes, author of Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, talks about what led to the creation of this uniquely different work of Springsteen’s, the unlikely story of how the record was recorded and produced, the political and economic landscape of the US in the early 1980s, and much more. The book is about much more than just a record—it’s an important tale of individual perseverance and a star’s impact on American culture.
6/17/2023 • 29 minutes
BRIDGEBUILDERS CONCEPT CAN HELP IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT
Bill Eggers, co-author of Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems, talks about leaders who collaborate with partners inside and outside of government to get things done. It’s an important work for officials at all levels of government.
6/10/2023 • 29 minutes
McCuskey Provides Primer on Illinois Legislative Inspector General’s Office
Mike McCuskey, the Illinois Legislative Inspector General and former federal and state judge, talks the background of the office, its powers and jurisdiction, process for filing complaints, reporting, and much more.
6/3/2023 • 29 minutes
New Book Ties New Deal to Arsenal of Democracy and WWII Victory
Craig Nelson, author of V is For Victory: Franklin Roosevelt’s American Revolution and the Triumph of World War II, talks about the miraculous production that fueled the Allied victory, FDR’s leadership, unsung heroes of the effort like Edsel Ford and Iowan Harry Hopkins, a local angle involving the Rock Island Arsenal, and much more.
5/27/2023 • 29 minutes
Great American Generations are Known for their Sacrifices: It’s Time for our Generation to Step Up
Ryan Binkley, Republican candidate for President, talks about his reasons for running, his background, bringing the country together, immigration, the economy, schools and more.
5/20/2023 • 29 minutes
THE ECONOMIST’S JON FASMAN LISTS FIVE INTERNATIONAL STORIES YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
Jon Fasman, reporter for The Economist who served as co-host of the magazine’s The Intelligence podcast for the past year, provides a rundown of the top stories from around that globe that will impact the US. Most are aware of one big story he details but the others may surprise you.
5/13/2023 • 29 minutes
The RFK Primary Win in Indiana 55 Years Ago and What It Means Today
Ray Boomhower, author of Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary, talks about the campaign in that tumultuous period of US history, the key players, “The Speech” after MLK’s assassination, Kennedy’s pursuit of Wallace/backlash voters, the outcome, and it’s long-term legacy.
5/6/2023 • 29 minutes
Doug Burns: Gov. Reynolds is "Most Consequential Governor in History”
Douglas Burns, former owner of the Carroll Times Herald and fourth generation Iowa journalist, talks about the economic and political state of rural Iowa, the causes of Iowa’s political turnaround, the 2024 presidential race and the prospects of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for a place on the national Republican ticket.
4/29/2023 • 29 minutes
The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood
Sam Wasson, author of The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, talks about his book which is much more than a detailed look at the making of a movie. He explores the broader political and cultural trends that impacted Hollywood and the nation.
4/22/2023 • 29 minutes
Ruy Teixiera: “Cultural Radicalism” Hurting the Democratic Party with Working Class Voters
Ruy Teixiera, co-founder of the Liberal Patriot newsletter and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, talks about the Democratic Party’s problems with working class voters, Republicans as the new working class party, the intersection between class and culture, and much more.
4/15/2023 • 34 minutes, 7 seconds
The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey: “Republican presidential nomination playing the way Trump wants it to”
Elaine Godfrey, political reporter for The Atlantic and southeast Iowa native, talks about the 2024 Republican presidential campaign, her experience at Trump’s Waco rally, the Trump-DeSantis relationship, and much more.
4/8/2023 • 29 minutes
New Town-Gown Synergies: Innovative Ways Colleges Can be Economic Drivers in Small Towns
James Fallows, former White House speechwriter and co-author most recently of Our Towns, talks about ways colleges can play vital roles in reviving communities. This is especially critical in our rural areas. He urges a need to see colleges as places that can solve complex problems by engaging in their communities.
4/1/2023 • 29 minutes
New Cowie Book: Without Strong Federal Enforcement Power, Freedom’s Promise Remains Empty
Jefferson Cowie, author of Freedom’s Dominion, talks about the differing perspectives of freedom throughout American history, from Thomas Jefferson to George Wallace, and how freedom was used to legitimize slavery, restrict voting rights, and defend lynching.
3/25/2023 • 29 minutes, 41 seconds
HUTCHINSON: REPUBLICANS NEED A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO CAN APPEAL TO INDEPENDENTS, SUBURBS
Former Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson, who is considering a 2024 White House bid, talks about his background, the budget deficit, border security, energy, schools, trade and much more.
3/18/2023 • 29 minutes
Reason Foundation VP: ‘Micro Schools’ Offer Rural Schools A Viable Alternative in School Choice Plans
Adrian Moore, Vice-President of the Reason Foundation, talks about school choice trends across the nation, how marijuana decriminalization is going, the anti-monopoly issue, and, as a Florida native, his take on Gov. Ron DeSantis.
3/11/2023 • 29 minutes
Iowa GOP Chair: “Trump Made the Republicans A Blue Collar Party”
Jeff Kaufman, Iowa Republican Party Chair, talks about the impact of Donald Trump on the Republican Party, when and why the state turned from purple to red, political change in the Mississippi River counties, and much more.
3/4/2023 • 29 minutes
Rita Hart Lays Out Agenda as New Iowa Democratic Party Chair
Rita Hart, the new Iowa Democratic Party Chair, talks about why voters have turned away from the party, her plans to win them back, targeting rural and factory-town areas, and the latest on the Iowa caucuses.
2/25/2023 • 28 minutes, 2 seconds
Economist Midwest Correspondent: “As Polarized as America Seems on TV, You Don’t Find That at the Local Level”
Daniel Knowles, Midwest Correspondent for The Economist magazine, talks about the multiple identities of the Midwest, the declining relationship between the farm and rural economy, the chances of a manufacturing revival in the region, America’s resilience, and his new book called Carmageddon.
2/18/2023 • 28 minutes, 59 seconds
Axios’ Josh Kraushaar: Surprised at State of the Union’s Lack of Emphasis on Foreign Policy
Josh Kraushaar, senior political correspondent for Axios, talks about President Biden’s State of the Union speech, the breakdown of decorum, Biden’s efforts to attract working class voters, the state of the presidential race in both parties and much more.
2/11/2023 • 28 minutes, 59 seconds
THE GAZETTE’S ERIN MURPHY ON IOWA’S PRIVATE SCHOOLS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Erin Murphy, state government and politics reporter for The Gazette, talks about the current legislative session in Des Moines, explores the Governor’s school choice program, the presidential caucuses, new state Dem Chair and any stirrings among GOP presidential candidates in the state.
2/4/2023 • 28 minutes
SAFE-T Changes “More a Tweak Than an Overhaul”
Brenden Moore, state government and politics reporter for Lee Enterprises, talks about the controversial criminal justice reform bill, the assault weapons ban, the abortion omnibus bill, and the outlook for the upcoming state legislative session.
1/28/2023 • 29 minutes
Author John Sides Explains What Really Happened in the 2020 Election
John Sides, a Political Science Professor at Vanderbilt and co-author of Bitter End: The 2020 Presidential Campaign and the Challenge to American Democracy, talks about key findings in the book, our ‘calcified’ democracy, and offers further insights into the American electorate.
1/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 13 seconds
MAGGIE HABERMAN ON HEARTLAND POLITICS: AUTHOR WHO KNOWS TRUMP BEST DISCUSSES HER BOOK THAT’S BEEN CALLED THE ‘ONE TRUMP FEARS MOST’
Maggie Haberman has followed Donald Trump more closely over his career than most other journalists. She talks about her book, Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America, and focuses on his rise in New York City and development of the persona he carried into the White House.
1/14/2023 • 28 minutes, 1 second
From the Coal House to the White House: The Story of Fiona Hill’s Rise and Why It’s Relevant to the Heartland
While Fiona Hill is best known as a star witness in the impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, her book. There is Nothing For You Here, offers some striking similarities between her upbringing in working class, northeastern England, the American Midwest, and the heartland of Russia. She cautions about the threat of populism from economic stagnation in these regions but also offers some ways to create more opportunity.
1/7/2023 • 29 minutes
New FDR Book is an Inspiring Tale of Human Perseverance
Jonathan Darman, author of Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President, discusses the transformation of FDR in response to facing a life-threatening illness and how it shaped his character and outlook as he rose to the presidency. The book includes some politics but is more a tale of overcoming adversity that appeals to the human spirit in all of us.
12/17/2022 • 29 minutes
Simon Rosenberg: American Voters Midterm Message is “Stay the Course”
Simon Rosenberg, Founder of the New Democrat Network and New Policy Institute in Washington, DC, shares his analysis on the midterms and what he was seeing that made him confident of Democrats outperforming expectations, unlike most of the media and pundits who predicted a Red Wave.
12/10/2022 • 31 minutes, 55 seconds
How We Can Break Out Of Hyperpartisan Politics
Diane Hessan, author of Our Common Ground: Insights From Four Years of Listening to American Voters, discusses how most voters have much more in common than we think, including on hot-button issues like immigration, guns and abortion. Included in our discussion is practical advice for how people can avoid bickering and reach a better understanding of each other.
12/3/2022 • 29 minutes
KAY HENDERSON: RED WAVE MIDTERMS IN IOWA
Kay Henderson, director of Radio Iowa and host of Iowa Press, analyzes the midterms in Iowa from the US Senate down to the state legislative level. She also discusses the political shift from blue to red in Mississippi River counties and factory towns, the prognosis for the Iowa presidential caucuses and much more.
11/26/2022 • 28 minutes, 6 seconds
RUBASHKIN: “POTENTIAL FOR AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CRAZINESS IN AN EVENLY DIVIDED (HOUSE) CHAMBER”
Jacob Rubashkin, reporter and analyst for Inside Elections, looks back at the 202o midterms and what happened and why, examines the results locally in Illinois and Iowa, election surprises, candidates who won against the grain, and much more.
11/19/2022 • 29 minutes, 32 seconds
PEARSON: BLUE, NOT RED, WAVE SWEEPS THROUGH ILLINOIS MIDTERMS
Rick Pearson, political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, analyzes the midterm election results in Illinois, including federal and state offices, the Supreme Court, and Worker’s Rights Amendment, as well as policy implications for the future and speculation surrounding Gov. Pritzker’s presidential ambitions.
