Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the the week in Iowa politics, starting with an appeals court ruling that kept a state immigration law blocked. They discussed Iowa angles on Trump administration news: Senate confirmations, inspector general firings, and January 6 pardons. Other topics covered: big fundraising numbers from the likely 2026 Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, a possible GOP primary challenger to Kim Reynolds, and a look at more than 15 bills moving forward in the Iowa House or Senate. Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court closed the door on a long-running lawsuit involving former U.S. Representative Steve King.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks share their favorite Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes and discuss lots of news from a busy week in Iowa politics, starting with Iowa angles on President Donald Trump's return to the White House. They dug into the many policies Governor Kim Reynolds is asking Iowa legislators to enact this year, some items on her wish list that didn't make it into her big speech, and what the Iowa Judicial Branch and Iowa National Guard want lawmakers to pass. Other topics covered: State Senator Mike Bousselot wants Iowa to buy the souther tier of Minnesota counties, Senator Joni Ernst backs secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth, Representative Zach Nunn wants strings attached to California disaster aid, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks joins the DOGE caucus, Ernst creates an Inspector General caucus, and Senator Chuck Grassley's role in publicizing bribery allegations that former FBI informant now admits to making up.

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks cover the start of the Iowa legislature's 2025 session from many angles: what happened on the opening day, highlights from remarks by majority and minority leaders, two new committees created in the Iowa House, important dates for the legislature's work, some key issues lawmakers may tackle, how Iowans can follow what's going on at the statehouse, the changing demographics of the Iowa House and Senate, and diversity among the members (including the first transgender lawmaker). Also covered: the end of a legal challenge to some voting restrictions enacted in 2021, and the latest news on Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its longtime pollster.