On Iowa Politics Podcast: First Funnel Week of 2026 Edition

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 we’re of course going to talk about Funnel Week in the Iowa Legislature, but we also have a few tales to share from the campaign trail in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary.

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, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnist Althea Cole.

Read the articles mentioned in this episode:

Adam Steen hopes to ride momentum of Vander Plaats endorsement in Iowa governor's race

‘Tough on crime’ agenda makes it through first Iowa Legislature deadline

Iowa Republicans drop near-total abortion ban proposals

All statehouse coverage

This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon.

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Comments: erin.murphy@thegazette.com