Unpacking controversial bills at the Iowa Capitol

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 discuss multiple pieces of controversial legislation at the Iowa Capitol, federal immigration enforcement, and a bill to lure the Chicago Bears to Iowa. This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman. Read the articles mentioned in this episode: FIRST FROM THE JOURNAL: Sioux City Rep. J.D. Scholten not seeking reelection Bill advanced by Iowa lawmakers would require in-person doctor visits for medication abortion Transgender Iowans protest GOP bills UI student accused of ‘trying to assault’ lawmaker as she was escorted out of DEI hearing: Opinion: Reynolds can’t stop kicking trans Iowans Could Iowa become Chicago Bears’ next home? Bill aims to lure NFL team This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

You can listen to Unpacking controversial bills at the Iowa Capitol online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Unpacking controversial bills at the Iowa Capitol is an episode from On Iowa Politics Podcast by On Iowa Politics Podcast.

This episode is 52:18 long.

This episode was published on Feb 13, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from On Iowa Politics Podcast when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.