Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson: Recent Episodes
Robin Johnson
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.
Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa's 1st congressional district, talks about the economy, immigration, trade, education, abortion, debt and much more.
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.
Alez Gazmararian, co-author of Uncertain Future: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse, talks about the politics of the decline of coal.
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.
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.
Labor Day Special: A New Book on Work With History, Culture, Poetry, and Quotes by Adam Smith, Karl Marx and…Homer Simpson?!
Chris Leonard, former agribusiness reporter for the Associated Press, discusses his book, The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America’s Food Business.
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
Author Adam Hochschild discusses his book American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis.
Chris Jones, author of The Swine Republic: Struggles With the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality,”
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.
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.”
State Sen. Chris Cournoyer, Vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee, (R-35) talks about K-12 school issues
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
State Senator Mike Halpin (D) from the 36th District discusses the Illinois legislative session
Patrick Pfingsten, author of The Illinoize political newsletter, discusses the recently concluded legislative session highlights and Republican prospects in the 2024 elections.
Steve Coll talks about his new book, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, The CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq
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.
Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis) discusses the recently completed session of the Iowa legislature and addresses some of its key accomplishments.
Joseph Stiglitz talks about his new book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society
Labor historian Steve Babson, author of Forgotten Populists: When Farmers Turned Left to Save Democracy.
Tim Alberta discusses his book The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
Jon Grinspan talks about his book, Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy 1865-1915
Luke Russert, host and creative director of “MSNBC Live”, discusses his book Look For Me There: Grieving my Father, Finding Myself.
Sasha Issenberg, author of The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age.
John Lawrence discusses his book, Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership, 2005-2010.
Author James Kaplan talks about his new book, 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool.
Daniel Shea and Nicholas Jacobs talk about their new book, The Rural Voter, The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America.
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.
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.
Rust Belt Unions Blues: Why Working-class Voters Are Turning Away From the Democratic Party
Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi talks about his role as Ranking Member on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Former Republican Congressman Scott Klug from Wisconsin talks about hyper partisanship in the US.
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.
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.
Jerry Nowicki, Editor-in-Chief of Capitol News Illinois, discusses the top five headlines of 2023 and predicts the top stories of 2024.
Chris Larimer, Political Science Professor at Northern Iowa University, analyzes the Iowa Caucus results.
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.
Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, talks about his record in Florida, the Middle East, China, ethanol, and bringing manufacturing jobs back.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ryan Binkley, Republican candidate for President, talks about his reasons for running, his background, bringing the country together, immigration, the economy, schools and more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
IA Governor Kim Reynolds discusses her major accomplishments in jobs, crime, taxes, schools and workforce development and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg follows with his work in rural development and criminal justice reform.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shares his thoughts on the major accomplishments of his first term, the state’s economy, business climate, education and much more.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza talks about state finances and goes ‘full-nerd’ to discuss details of the state’s financial situation.
Gregg, Johnson, Democratic candidate for the Illinois General Assembly in the 72nd district, which includes the Quad Cities, talked about his vision for the economy, health care, education, crime and much more.
Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks discussing her campaign for reelection in Iowa’s 2nd District and key issues involving the economy, inflation, the Federal Reserve, trade and more.
Mike Thoms: Frustration With State Roadblocks to Economic Development Led to Candidacy for State Senate.
36th District State Senate candidate Mike Halpin talks about the state budget, manufacturing, schools, taxes, crime, abortion and much more.
Jacob Rubashkin, reporter and analyst for Inside Elections, a nonpartisan newsletter, looks at the nationwide battle for control of Congress, and focuses in on key local races for Congress on both sides of the river, as well as Iowa and Illinois campaigns for Governor and the US Senate.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand makes the case for his reelection to a second term by highlighting his accomplishments and agenda for a second term.
Dave Hage and Paul Klauda, former Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporters and authors of No Retreat, No Surrender: Labor’s War at Hormel, look back at the strike that divided not only the company against workers, but also stoked divisions in the union and community. They also discuss the strike’s continuing legacy to this day.
Paul Begala, former top advisor to Bill Clinton, CNN commentator and Georgetown Professor, talks about the upcoming midterm elections, divisions in both parties, the role of the Midwest and working class voters, and which key races to watch.
Dan Brady, Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Illinois, talks about his priorities for the office, texting and driving, election fairness and security, driver’s education, local library development, and much more.
Deidre DeJear, Democratic candidate for Iowa Governor, talks about her candidacy including her views on schools, workforce development, the economy, small business growth, health care, rural revitalization, and much more.
David Paul Kuhn, author of The Neglected Voter: White Men and the Democratic Dilemma, talks about the ‘white male gap,’ how Democratic problems with White men are spreading to African-American and Hispanic men, how male voters are misunderstood by leaders of The Left, why they are necessary to winning elections, and much more.
Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird also discusses her support for law enforcement, vow to protect against federal overreach, modernizing the AG’s office, supporting crime victims and much more.
Patrick Pfingsten, author of the Daily Illinoize newsletter, analyzes the Pritzker-Bailey race and also looks back at the failed Richard Irwin campaign and how he would have approached it.
Legendary Democratic consultant James Carville provides his colorful thoughts on the political landscape, midterm elections, the Democrats male voter problem, and some very strong opinions on the far left of the Democratic Party.
Shia Kapos, author of the Illinois Politico daily newsletter, reviews the Illinois primary results, looks ahead to the fall general election, and assesses the impact of recent Supreme Court rulings and the Highland Park tragedy on Illinois politics.
Dan Glickman, former Congressman, US Secretary of Agriculture and Chair of the Motion Pictures Association of America, talks about his recent book Laughing at Myself: My Education in Congress, on the Farm and at the Movies. Among his insights are the value of experience in local government for those serving in Washington, the importance of bipartisanship, how campaigns went wrong and maintaining a sense of humor.
Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, State Sen. Darren Bailey discusses his reasons for running, crime, schools, jobs, taxes and much more.
Scott Kennedy with the center for Strategic and International Studies discusses their recent report, Estimating Chinese Industrial Policy Spending in Comparative Perspective, important research into how China’s targeted investments in its economy far exceed other countries, the consequences, and what the US can do in response.
Erin Murphy, Des Moines bureau chief for The Gazette, looks at the Mike Franken big win for the Democratic nomination to face Chuck Grassley, GOP primary battles with incumbents toppled, turnout and the impact of Iowa’s new election law, the forecast for November’s election and whether the Iowa caucuses will hang on for another presidential cycle.
Much is known about Robert Kennedy’s life prior to his brother’s assassination and the 1968 presidential campaign but less on the important period in between. On this weekend commemorating RFK’s death, John Bohrer, author of The Revolution of Robert Kennedy: From Power to Protest After JFK, talks about how RFK emerged from his brother’s shadow, won a US Senate seat, and set the stage for a campaign that still has many wondering “What if….?”
Glenn Hurst, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Iowa, talks about why he’s running, economic issues, health care, climate, the partisan divide, globalization and much more.
In part two of my interview with Ray Long, he continues the discussion of his book, The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer, including the former Speaker’s political skills, ideology (or lack of one), lessons for today’s Democrats, and his legacy to the state.
In the first of a two-part interview, Ray Long, veteran political reporter for the Chicago Tribune and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer, discusses some highlights form his book, including Madigan’s rise to power, when ‘time stood still’ on the House floor, ‘Operation Cobra,’ and the ComEd scandal.
Michael Stewart Foley, author of Citizen Cash, The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash, reveals the answer along with Johnny Cash’s continuing relevance as an American cultural icon. He talks about his book, the issues that concerned Cash, his political beliefs, and much more.
Businessman Gary Rabine talks about his reasons for running, views on taxes, the economy, budget, schools, crime, and which other Governors across the country he would use for guidance.
Wells King, research director at American Compass, discusses two recent articles he authored on the bipartisan mishandling of globalization and the decline of NASCAR. There are parallels between them and King talks about the need for a fresh perspective on both.
Matt Rosenberg, author of What’s Next Chicago?: Notes of a Pissed-off Native Son, talks abut his book, his return to Chicago, what he sees as failed progressive governance in neighborhoods, crime, schools and corruption, and what should be done about it.
Michael Franken, Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Iowa, talks about the reasons for his candidacy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, US-China relations, globalization, inflation, Build Back Better, and how to overcome our partisan divide.
Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-CA) talks about his book, Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us, bridging the geographical and urban-rural divides, a 21st Century Jobs Agenda, ‘Democratic Capitalism,’ increasing manufacturing, and much more.
Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan talks about what he’ll do about corruption in Illinois, the economy, taxes, crime, population loss, and agriculture.
Dwight Chapin talks about his new book The President’s Man, The Memoirs of Nixon’s Trusted Aide, including Nixon’s trips to China and the Soviet Union, his domestic accomplishments, a military spying ring in the White House, Vietnam and anti-war protests, and Watergate. Chapin has an interesting story to tell about Watergate based on new information and his perspective from inside the White House.
Paul Schimpf, Republican candidate for Governor in Illinois, discusses his proposed Parents Bill of Rights, the state’s fiscal and economic conditions, the crime reform bill, political reform and much more.
Titus Bond, President of Remington Research Group, a Republican polling firm, talks about the political climate heading into the 2022 midterms, lessons learned from the VA Gov race where he helped the winner Glenn Youngkin, the impacts of Trump and Ukraine on the elections, and some interesting thoughts on the changing nature of political campaigns.
David Paul Kuhn, author of Hardhat Riot: Nixon, New York City, and the Dawn of the White Working-Class Revolution, talks about his book that centers on a riot in May 1970 in downtown NYC pitting college students against construction workers. Kuhn discusses the continuing legacy of the riot including the move of the working class towards Republicans and away from their traditional base in the Democratic Party.
John Miller, co-director of Moundsville, discusses his film about a small town in West Virginia, the town’s familiar story of factory closures and economic decline but also stories of renewal that provide hope for smaller towns throughout the Heartland.
Chris Leonard talks about his new book, The Lord’s of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy, how the Fed contributed to worsening income inequality, incentivized excessive risk taking, created asset bubbles and overstepped its original mission. An excellent account of an opaque institution at the heart of our economic lives.
Michael Sandel, professor of Philosophy at Harvard University, discusses his book The Tyranny of Merit, rethinking success and failure in the age of globalization, credentialism as “the last acceptable prejudice,” the dignity of work, and the enormous divide between those with college degrees and those without. He also takes aim at common political messaging themes that divide rather than unite.
Angus Deaton, co-author of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism and 2015 Nobel Prize winner, discusses his book, updates deaths of despair during the pandemic, weaknesses in our health care system, Democrats’ struggles with working class voters and much more.
Washington Post Chief Correspondent Dan Balz discusses major governmental and political issues including US democracy, the filibuster, Roe V Wade, election reform, the economy, the 2022 elections and much more.
Frank Luntz, who pioneered opinion research techniques and messaging, talks about the state of our politics and takes aim at both parties for the partisan divide and failure to reach out, even talk, to the other side.
Kris Maher, author of Desperate: An Epic Battle for Clean Water and Justice in Appalachia and a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, talks about the complexities, personalities and mixed outcome of a classic battle between small communities and a coal company. He discusses the area’s history, including the Hatfields and McCoys and Matewan Massacre, the legal process, local culture and much more.
Author Reg Ankrom discusses the first two books of his three-part biography of Stephen Douglas. He talks about the major influences that shaped him, his diverse governmental career prior to running for Congress, his ability to produce compromise, views on slavery and the controversial issue of whether he owned slaves.
Veteran political writer James Lynch from the Cedar Rapids Gazette looks back at the top five issues from 2021 and looks ahead to major stories likely to emerge in 2022.
Veteran journalist and reporter Scott Reeder takes a look back at the top political stories from the current year and looks ahead to what will we’ll be talking about politically in the new year.
Author Sam Quinones discusses his latest book, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, and how seeds of hope are sprouting up across the land through innovative programs that are repairing people and communities. The key is reconnecting people at the local level and moving away from isolation.
Josh Kraushaar, national political columnist for the National Journal, talks about the election results from earlier this month and looks ahead to the 2022 midterms. He’ll discuss what made newly elected VA Governor Glenn Youngkin a ‘political unicorn,’ Democratic messaging struggles, the internal challenges facing both parties, analysis on trends in urban, suburban and rural areas, and much more.
Veteran Democratic consultant Hal Malchow, who did pioneering work on data analytics and micro targeting, suggests a different way for Democrats to reach out to voters and offers his take on the 2021 elections.
Farah Stockman, editorial board member of the New York Times and Pulitzer Prize winner, talks about her new book American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears. She follows the lives of three people from the Heartland who are thrown out of work after a factory shuts down to go overseas. But her personal journey described in the book is just as interesting as she reassesses her views on globalization, the importance of factories, the working class, and blue collar support for Trump.
Evan Osnos, staff writer for the New Yorker, talks about his new book, Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury, that captures his thoughts on America after a decade living overseas. It bookends two key dates, September 11 and January 6, to explore the roots of our current political tensions through the stories of individuals in three places he lived in.
Elaine Godfrey, a Burlington-area native and staff writer for the Atlantic, talks about her recent article on the decline of the Burlington Hawk Eye and it’s meaning for the community and how it furthers the nationalization of politics.
Adam Tooze, author and professor at Columbia University, talks about his recent book, Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy, including lessons learned, supply chain disruptions, the role of China, inequality, health care, the partisan divide in the US and much more.
State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), head of the state Republican campaign committee, talks about Madigan. Trump, redistricting, the crime bill, the state budget and much more.
Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs talks about his college and retirement savings plans, programs to help the disabled and farmers, the status of the American Dream and his advocacy for downstate and rural Democrats.
Author Scott Eyman’s book is a tonic in these days of politics dividing the nation on almost every topic. He takes us to a time when two Hollywood stars maintained their long-term friendship in spite of differences that came between them including actions of their children during the Vietnam War. A very useful lesson for our times.
The former reporter and NBC News anchor shares a very personal battle with cancer based on his book A Lucky Life Interrupted. Brokaw also talks about his Midwestern upbringing and how it shaped his life and career.
Marc C. Johnson discusses his new book, Tuesday Night Massacre on how four US Senate elections in 1980 laid the groundwork for the ‘radicalization of the Republican Party. One of these races occurred in Iowa when Chuck Grassley defeated incumbent John Culver after a dry run for new conservative methods defeated incumbent Dick Clark two years earlier. Johnson’s book argues that new tactics developed by outside groups in these races led to the current polarization in today’s politics.
Bruce Springsteen’s life, music and impact on America was celebrated in a book called Long Walk Home that was published to celebrate his 70th birthday. Jefferson Cowie discusses his essay on ‘The Boss,’ Springsteen’s impact on today’s polarized society, his take on American identity and much more.
Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance ranks right up there with the JFK assassination on unsolved mysteries and conspiracy theories. Jack Goldsmith, stepson of Hoffa’s right hand man, Chuckie O’Brien, talks about his book that debunks many myths, including Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman, and offers his take on what really happened.
Craig Whitlock, investigative reporter for the Washington Post, discusses his new book, Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War, which is based on thousands of interviews and direct source materials from those involved at the top levels of our government and military and those at the ground level. Whitlock discusses mission creep, nation building, the distraction of the Iraq War, the disconnect between what the public was told by leaders from both parties and the military and what was actually happening on the ground, and much more.
On the 60th anniversary of that fateful day, Lawrence Lehmer talks about his book that chronicles the grueling nature of the bus rides on two-lane roads in the dead of winter, Iowa’s major role in the tour, and decisions that led to the crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, and Holly’s impact on American music and culture.
Dale Maharidge talks about his book, Bringing Mulligan Home, and his mission to locate the remains of his dad’s friend that takes him to Okinawa and on a very personal journey familiar to those of us with relatives who served in combat.
Bill C. Malone, author of Country Music USA and advisor to Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on country music, provides the answer and talks about the appeal of country music, its roots, impact on our culture and more.
Bill Medley, half of the famous Righteous Brothers, shares how his music spanned five decades in popularity, its impact on American society and other stories from his autobiography, The Time of My Life.
Bob Mann, author of Backrooms and Bayous: My Life in Louisiana Politics, takes you inside the halls of power in Washington and Louisiana, through his career transitions in journalism, politics and academics, experiences with legendary Louisiana political figures, and provides important advice for young people entering politics including the ability to ‘say no’ to people in power.
Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, the best account of the opioid epidemic, talks about his book and the perfect storm that led to this scourge that became a leading issue in the 2016 presidential campaign.
I was fortunate enough to land JD Vance as a guest just before his popularity skyrocketed and led to a movie by Ron Howard and his current candidacy for the US Senate in Ohio. He discusses his book and applies a more even-handed approach to the politics of the white, working class based on his early, hardscrabble life in Appalachian Ohio and Kentucky.
Iowa-born John Wayne went on to become one of Hollywood’s most famous actors but was also involved in most post-World War II political controversies from the Red Scare to Vietnam. Author Scott Eyman discusses the Duke’s political life including his visceral reaction to ‘High Noon’ and the Wayne classic movie that he brought about in response.
While best known for his closeness to JFK, the ‘Chairman of the Board’ was involved with politics throughout most of his remarkable singing career. Hear biographer James Kaplan discuss Sinatra’s political metamorphosis along with his impact on American culture and, of course, his essential songs.
Bob Bruno, Director of the Labor Education Program and Professor at the University of Illinois, discusses the positive and negative impacts of Covid on American workers, the state of unions, a possible resurgence of domestic manufacturing, globalization’s role in the labor market, and much more.
Congresswoman Marriannette Miller-Meeks (IA-2) discusses the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, homeland security, the budget bill, infrastructure, election reform and much more.
Paul Glastris, editor in chief of Washington Monthly, assesses the first months of the Biden administration, calls for more antitrust regulation, and highlights several emerging leaders from both parties to watch for, including one who’s local.
Author Marshall Terrill discusses his new book Steve McQueen: In His Own Words, including McQueen’s legacy, films that best capture his persona and why he still matters.
Alec Macgillis, author of Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-click America, discusses key themes form his book including regional inequality, economic concentration, the decline of Main Street and the decline of manufacturing jobs as seen through the emergence of Amazon as a dominant player in the US economy. The impact of the tech economy also created fissures in both political parties that are still playing out.
Brenden Moore, state government reporter for Lee Enterprises, talks about key accomplishments of the Illinois legislature including passage of the budget, allocating federal Covid relief dollars and passing anew legislative map.
State Senator Neil Anderson (R-36) shares his thoughts on the recently concluded legislative session and ‘bad policy’ that results from one party having too much power. He also talks about the budget, economic climate, criminal justice reform, FOID card repeal, ethics and more.
State Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) shares his thoughts on the 2021 Illinois General Assembly session and addresses the state’s fiscal standing, the clean energy bill, criminal justice reform, the economic outlook and the new state Democratic legislative leadership.
Pulitzer-prize winning author TJ Stiles talks about his book, Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, including how the outlaw was able to shape his image and legacy, the Civil War’s impact on Missouri, the role of Iowa in James’ banditry, and the lasting effects of the Civil War that still shape our lives and culture.
As we celebrate July 4th, author Ted Widmer talks about President-elect Lincoln’s dependence on our founding principles to keep the union together from his recent book, Lincoln on the Verge, Thirteen Days to Washington. Widmer takes us inside Lincoln’s train ride to assume the presidency and offers a colorful look at the nation from stops along the way.
Author Edward-Isaac Dovere, lead political correspondent for the Atlantic magazine, talks about his book Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ Campaigns to Defeat Trump including the “twists of fate” that led to Biden’s nomination, Obama’s inadvertent role in creating what followed, the continuing battle between progressive and moderate elements of the party, and much more.
Kathie Obradovich, Editor of the Iowa Capital Dispatch, assesses the Iowa legislative session and covers Covid, workforce development, tax cuts, charter schools, election reform, policing issues and more.
Iowa Democratic House Leader Todd Prichard (D-Charles City) provides his take on the recently concluded legislative session and addresses school funding, election reform, the economy and more.
Paul Embery, a British trade union activist, Labour Party member, and author of “Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class,” provides a perspective from across the pond that includes lessons for American politics.
Paul Embery, a British trade union activist, Labour Party member, and author of “Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class,” provides a perspective from across the pond that includes lessons for American politics.
Paul Embery, a British trade union activist, Labour Party member, and author of “Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class,” provides a perspective from across the pond that includes lessons for American politics.
Democratic pollster Brian Stryker, a partner with ALG Research, talks about the Quad Cities’ profile as a blue collar suburban area, voter behavior regarding the economy versus culture, rural voters, and challenges facing the polling industry that were addressed in a recent report.
Robert Blizzard, a partner with Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, shares results from focus groups involving suburban voters similar to those in Scott and Rock Island Counties that could lead to problems for Democrats in the midterm elections.
Aaron Renn, a leading urban analyst focused on the Midwest, talks about the region’s economic emergence from the Covid pandemic, competing Red and Blue state strategies for growth, and whether globalization will remain a force or be reduced as a result of the pandemic. He also outlines what city leaders should prioritize to lay the groundwork for growth.
Brian Alexander, author of The Hospital: Life, Death and Dollars in a Small American Town, talks about the larger themes explored in the book and how they affect us all. From health care to the economy to culture and politics, he weaves into his book a story of America in the 2000s.
Find out on the next Heartland Politics podcast when Larry Bartels, co author of Democracy for Realists, explains voter behavior and the implication for our democracy. He also applies his findings to the Donald Trump era.
How can Democrats compete in rural areas? Kal Munis, co-author of a Niskanen Center report, Gone Country: Why Democrats Need to Play in Rural America, and How They Can Do It Again , discusses how Democrats can win in rural areas and why it’s important for our country that both parties do better in adverse geographic territory.
What are the implications of the shift from manufacturing to health care jobs in the US?
Peter Slevin, a contributing writer with The New Yorker magazine, talks about his recent reporting from Iowa and the Carolinas on the future of the Republican Party. He discusses his conversations with Iowa Republican voters and the toxicity of the Democratic brand at the GOP grassroots level.
Is Iowa going the way of Nebraska politically? Ross Benes, author of Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became A Republican Stronghold, discusses his book and the forces that shaped Nebraska’s turn into a solid Red State.
Bill Ruthhart, Rock Island native and Chicago Tribune political reporter, talks about the fall of former House Speaker Mike Madigan and the demise of the Chicago Machine and what it all means for residents of Downstate Illinois.
Jessica Bruder discusses her book, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-first Century and her trek from research to living and working with ‘workampers’—a growing subgroup of downwardly mobile older Americans. A story of both uplift and struggle.
Madeleine Doubek, executive director of CHANGE Illinois, provides an update on the push for Fair Maps in Illinois and the chances for success with new legislative leadership. She also discusses other reform proposals, including nonpartisan blanket primaries, ethics reform and abuse of succession practices.
Terry Teachout, drama critic of the Wall Street Journal, talks about his book Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong. He describes Armstrong’s significant impact on American culture, his upbringing, Chicago and Harlem years, criticisms of his style, and, of course, the songs he’ll be most remembered for.
Paul Kendrick will discuss his latest book, Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Win the 1960 Election, that he co-authored with his father, Stephen Kendrick. While JFK’s call to Coretta Scott King is well-known, the authors reveal little-known details of the behind-the-scene effort that led to the call and the enormous political consequences.
Dale Maharidge, Pulitzer Prize winner, author, journalist and academic, talks about his latest book F**cked at Birth: Recalibrating the American Dream for the 2020s. He tells the story of the title of the book and its relation to his cross country drive that explores our nation increasing class divide.
Michael Lind talks about his latest book, The New Class War: Saving Democracy From the Managerial Elite. He shows how the decline of trade unions, churches and grassroots political parties disempowered the working class and offers ideas on how Western democracies can include working class majorities in politics, the economy and culture to overcome class warfare.
Rick Perlstein, author of an epic series of books tracing the rise of the modern American conservative movement, talks about his latest book, Reaganland, as well as the linkage of Trumpism to that era, changes in news coverage during the 1970s (hint: Roone Arledge), the impact of culture (movies and TV) on politics and the role of race relations on politics since the 60s.
Nathan Kalmoe, Associate Professor of Political Communication at LSU, talks about his recent book With Ballots and Bullets: Partisanship and Violence in the American Civil War and its very relevant applications to the current political landscape. He also challenges some long-held myths about the war and especially Lincoln’s reelection in 1864.
Governor Kim Reynolds talks about her Condition of the State speech delivered this week. She discusses her major initiatives on schools, health care, broadband, workforce training, licensing reform and criminal justice.
Jon Fasman, US Digital Editor and former Washington correspondent for The Economist magazine, talks about the Capitol riots, police response, the 25th Amendment, hateful slogans and flags used by rioters, the fallout among Republicans, and the global response. He also provides analysis on the Georgia Senate elections and the rising spread of misinformation and its impact on democracy.
Libby Meyer, Federal Reporter for Iowa Starting Line, talks about the contested Iowa 2nd congressional district race and the autopsy report on the 2020 Iowa caucuses, two major stories bookending a strange and unpredictable year in Iowa politics.
Scott Eyman talks about his latest book, Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise, and how the Hollywood star’s tragic upbringing shaped his career and life. The discussion includes Grant’s death in Davenport in 1986 as well as his rise to stardom, top performances and other topics.
Jerry Seib, Washington Editor of the Wall Street Journal and author of the Capital Journal column, talks about this new book, We Should Have Seen It Coming: From Reagan to Trump—A Front-row Seat to a Political Revolution. Topics include the early signs of change in the GOP, cultural and economic cracks that emerged, and how the party moves forward.
John Barry, author of The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, discusses his landmark book and lessons for dealing with the current coronavirus pandemic. He also discusses the individuals involved during that time, from scientists to business leaders to elected officials, and how their efforts aided or held back addressing the pandemic.
Ross DeVol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward, a new ‘think and do’ think tank devoted to improving economic performance in the middle of the country, talks about how former factory towns and rural areas can revitalize their economies. He also discusses how to promote small business retention and growth, entrepreneurialism, globalization and tech.
Josh Kraushaar, political reporter for the National Journal and host of the Against the Grain podcast, talks about the 2020 election, Trump’s legacy, realignment, polling, white working class voters and the role of the news media.
Dante Chinni, a political writer for the Wall Street Journal and NBC News contributor, analyzes the 2020 election results including the differences among American suburbs and Latino voters as well as challenges facing both parties moving forward. Chinni also directs the American Communities Project at George Washington University.
Amanda Vinicky, WTTW Chicago Tonight correspondent and former political reporter for NPR Illinois and the Illinois public radio network, talks about the 2020 election results in Illinois and the impact on state government in 2021. She provides analysis on the Fair Tax Amendment, Justice Kilbride retention, the role of Speaker Madigan and much more.
Erin Murphy, Des Moines Bureau Chief for Lee Enterprises, talks about the election results in Iowa from the presidential race down to the state legislature. He His analysis includes a discussion of polls, strategy, demographic trends and whether Iowa remains a battleground state or is more firmly red (Republican).
Miles Coleman, writer and editor with the Crystal Ball produced by the University of Virginia Center for Politics, talks about the Center's predictions for the presidential race and control of the US Senate and US House. He also suggests some key early indicators to watch for how the election will go, including for Iowa.
Kathie Obradovich, editor of the Iowa Capital Dispatch, provides an overview and analysis of all the key races in Iowa, from the presidency to the state legislature. Obradovich has 30+ years experience reporting on politics and government in Iowa including as a political reporter for the Quad City Times and political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register.
Jon Shields, co-author of Trump’s Democrats (along with Stephanie Muravchik), talks about his book’s focus on white, working class voters who switched from voting for Barack Obama to Donald Trump. He provides insights into their reasons, why they are still vital for the Democratic coalition and whether they will come back to Biden.
Former Illinois Governor George Ryan talks about his recent book, Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped The Death Penalty in Illinois, and the journey that led him from being a pro-capital punishment conservative to leading the charge to stop the death penalty in Illinois and across the nation.
Tim Alberta, chief political correspondent for Politico Magazine, discusses his book American Carnage: On The Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump, the 2020 election and the political landscape moving forward. He shows how Trump “is not the creator of this era of national disruption....but, rather is its most manifest consequence.”
Ashley Hinson, candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 1st congressional district and current Iowa State Representative from the 67th District, discusses the reasons for her candidacy, Covid, economic revitalization in rural areas, US-China relations, infrastructure, heath care and much more.
Jim Tankersley, economics reporter with the New York Times, talk about his recent book, The Riches of This Land , and how the strongest middle class in American history was torn apart and how to get it back. His writing focuses on the struggles of the middle class and failure of politicians to addresses them.
US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) talks coronavirus recovery packages, civil unrest, economic recovery, antitrust concerns with Big Ag and big tech companies, the Barrett nomination, election process and security and Democratic challenges with working class voters. He also lays out why he’s seeking a 5th term in the US Senate.
Rick Pearson , chief political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, talks about the US Senate race in Illinois, Justice Kilbride’s retention, Fair Tax Amendment, and the federal investigation into corruption involving ComEd that touches on Speaker Madigan’s political operation.
Colin Woodard, author of Union: The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood , talks about his latest book that “examines how a myth of national unity, purpose and identity was created and fought over in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.” The story is told through five individuals, some of whom are familiar but some being more obscure. He also discusses how the confrontations over American identity and nationhood continue to this day. Woodard also authored the New York Times bestselling American Nations .
Mark Curran, Republican candidate for the US Senate in Illinois, discusses the reasons for his candidacy as well as his views on the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and civil unrest. He also provides his views on the Barrett nomination norms on Supreme Court appointments in the final years of presidential terms.
Democratic congressional candidate, former State Senator Rita Hart , running in the open seat 2nd District, talks about the federal response to the Covid pandemic, how to boost the rural economy, the US approach to trade and China, and health care. She also offers her committee preferences if elected and her first legislative priority.
Tim Carney discusses his book, Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse, and why many Trump voters view the American Dream as dead, the economic and cultural divide that separates America, and why we should be more worried about churches closing than factories closing. This book adds to the ongoing analysis of the 2016 election outcome and its meaning for America.
Iowa State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-41) is running for the open 2nd congressional seat which includes Scott County. She discusses the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic, the need for further Covid recovery assistance, relations with China and health care.
Theresa Greenfield, Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Iowa, discusses additional Covid relief funding, trade, relations with China, the ag economy and much more. She also talks about how Democrats can appeal to working class voters especially in the critical river counties in eastern Iowa that voted for Obama twice in 2008 and 2012 and then Trump in 2016.
Michael Kruse, Senior Staff Writer for POLITICO and POLITICO magazine, discusses his focus on ‘Trumpology’ including the president’s recent “rhetorical evolution” and ability to “tell history his way.” He also talks about the 2020 presidential race, whether there are still undecided voters, and the key voting demographic that will likely decide the race.
Joe Klein, former TIME columnist, author and political commentator, talks about the 2020 election, historical comparisons and the impact of civil unrest as the campaign heads into the post-Labor Day final stretch. He also discusses the continuing relevance of Woody Guthrie to American labor, culture and music on the 40 th anniversary of the publication of his biography Woody Guthrie: A Life.