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PODCAST

River to River

Iowa Public Radio

River to River is a conversation about the news with an Iowa perspective. Together we dig into the story behind the headlines - we talk with newsmakers and a diverse range of experts to find out how the news affects you. We take on challenging topics, explore issues from all sides, and foster conversation and understanding

news politics

All Episodes

47:58

A veteran diplomat speaks on the impact of USAID...

River to River ·

2026/01/23

What happens when America steps back from the world stage? This hour, the view from a veteran diplomat. Uzra Zeya, the head of the organization Human Rights First and a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, watched last year as USAID was dismantled. Zeya, who joined River to River during a visit to Des Moines, argues that championing human rights is a vital strategic move for U.S. security.

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48:05

Two Democrats seek to captivate Iowans' attention in...

River to River ·

2026/01/22

A discussion on the contested primary race for Iowa agriculture secretary and more on this Politics Day episode with political scientists Megan Goldberg and Jim McCormick.

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47:59

Nearly 50 years ago, Kamyar Enshayan left a very...

River to River ·

2026/01/21

Kamyar Enshayan remembers the Iran he grew up in as vibrant, musical and secular. He left in 1978, not long before the Islamic Revolution, and never returned. In this episode, Enshayan shares his views on today's mass protests and the government's violent response. But first, Iowa State English professors Jenny Aune and Jo Mackiewicz share their research, which raises questions about how we may be attributing human qualities to artificial intelligence through language.

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48:04

As NASA’s Artemis II nears launch, a retired...

River to River ·

2026/01/17

NASA’s Artemis II mission is nearing launch, and an Iowa State University professor and retired astronaut knows exactly what that moment feels like. Also on this Newsbuzz edition, we break down a busy first week at the Iowa Statehouse as Republican lawmakers roll out an ambitious — and contentious — legislative agenda. We’ll also take a closer look at why Iowa’s controversial school library book ban is back in federal court and what a new wave of billion-dollar natural disasters means for insurance

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47:28

UI scholars developing AI system to monitor physical...

River to River ·

2026/01/16

University of Iowa scholars are developing an AI system that monitors behavior to detect physical violence as it happens. (This episode was originally produced Nov. 4, 2025.)

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48:08

Reynolds eyes property tax reform, stricter penalties...

River to River ·

2026/01/15

During what may be her last Condition of the State, Gov. Kim Reynolds said our government needs to be reminded that "money doesn't grow on trees" as she eyes limits to municipal revenue growth. House Minority Leader Rep. Brian Meyer countered after her speech that Iowa is in a "fiscal death spiral" due to previous tax cuts. On this Politics Day edition of River to River, political analysts Dave Peterson and Jonathan Hassid help us dissect Iowa Republicans' legislative agenda, a growing number of

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48:06

Big questions still unanswered about medical cannabis...

River to River ·

2026/01/14

New developments at the federal level have raised more questions than they've answered when it comes to cannabis and its use for treating various medical conditions. We talk with a reporter covering the cannabis industry as well as two medical researchers about what we do and don't know about the future of cannabis for medical use.

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48:02

Legislative leaders eye property taxes, crime this...

River to River ·

2026/01/13

On the first day of the 2026 Legislative Session, we hear from Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, House Speaker Pat Grassley, Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner and House Minority Leader Rep. Brian Meyer. The legislative leaders share their priorities, including property taxes, crime and eminent domain.

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47:37

Iowa becomes first state to receive federal education...

River to River ·

2026/01/10

Iowa leads the nation with a federal education funding waiver — what does it mean for classrooms and students? We also explore farmers’ struggles, Iowa’s ties to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and other headlines from the week.

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48:06

Iowa least traffic deaths hit a century record low in...

River to River ·

2026/01/09

For years the Iowa State Patrol has set a goal of keeping traffic deaths below 300. In 2025, they not only met that goal, but had the smallest number since 1925 with 259 deaths. On this episode we discuss some of the factors that have led to this decrease, including the hands-free driving law that took effect in July with full enforcement beginning this January. We also learn about Alive at 25, a safety initiative aimed at improving driver behavior among the state's youngest drivers. Lastly, an

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48:00

U.S. forces capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela

River to River ·

2026/01/08

Recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela has ignited debate across the country, not only over the action against Maduro, but more broadly over the President Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Political scientists Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University and Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa join the program to analyze the international fallout of Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Later in the hour, discussion on how the White House rewrites the history of Jan. 6, 2021 and Tim Walz decision

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47:58

AI makes surveillance cameras more powerful — what...

River to River ·

2026/01/07

Surveillance cameras are spreading across Iowa and artificial intelligence makes them far more powerful. IPR's James Kelley shares his investigation into the controversial Flock cameras installed in dozens of Iowa communities. Later in the hour, legal scholar Megan Graham shares what rights citizens have in the AI area. (This episode was produced in October 2025.)

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48:04

The processes and people of the Iowa Legislature...

River to River ·

2026/01/06

The Iowa Legislature gavels in for the 2026 session next week. On today's episode we take a closer look at the processes and people at the statehouse, starting with IPR reporters Katarina Sostaric and Isabella Luu to share their insights on reporting from the capitol. Then we talk about what's changed about the legislature over the decades with former state lawmaker Andy McKean and how Iowans can effectively get involved during the session with lobbyist Dustin Miller. Also, we talk with journalist

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48:05

More of Iowans' personal data is now available to...

River to River ·

2026/01/03

An interview with Lee Rood of the Des Moines Register about the state's agreements with the Department of Homeland Security that took effect this January, and with IPR's Rachel Cramer on new restrictions on SNAP food purchases, and more.

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47:29

Iowa Democrats stave off Republican supermajority

River to River ·

2026/01/01

Democrat Renee Hardman became the first Black woman to be elected to the Iowa Senate after winning a special election in the Des Moines area to replace the late Sen. Claire Celsi. Republicans saw the district as an opportunity to regain their supermajority, but Hardman had a decisive win in the historically blue district. On this politics day edition of 'River to River,' political experts Megan Goldberg and Rachel Caufield dissect this election, as well as reflect on the biggest political moments of

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48:01

A look back at the biggest stories of 2025

River to River ·

2025/12/31

IPR's journalists rehash their most consequential moments of the last year — from raucous town halls to the arrest of Des Moines schools' superintendent. Assistant news director Grant Gerlock and reporters Katarina Sostaric, Natalie Krebs, James Kelley and Rachel Cramer bring us back through the biggest stories of 2025 and share what they'll be watching in the year to come.

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47:58

An Iowan was appointed to FEMA's advisory council. A...

River to River ·

2025/12/30

Diogenes Ayala was named Iowa's Emergency Manager of the Year in 2022 for his response to a Madison County tornado that left six residents dead. In December 2024, Ayala was appointed to serve on the National Advisory Council for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but a few weeks later the entire council was dismissed by the Department of Homeland Security. Ayala discusses this brief appointment and what the future holds for FEMA. Then, Iowa Flood Center Director Larry Weber joins to discuss

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47:32

Iowa schools making slow progress testing for radon

River to River ·

2025/12/27

Iowa has some of the highest radon levels in the nation. By July of 2027, every public school building in Iowa must have tested for naturally occurring, cancer-causing radon gas. They're also required to post the results of that testing on their websites. With two years to go, fewer than half of school districts have met that requirement. We look at why many schools aren’t testing for radon — and how the Iowa Department of Education has responded to an investigation by 'The Midwest Newsroom.' (This

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48:05

The future of social security benefits

River to River ·

2025/12/23

What are the real solutions for the program you've paid into your entire life? Social Security's trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2033, which would trigger automatic benefit cuts unless Congress acts. Democrat Martin O’Malley, Former Social Security Commissioner, and Marc Goldwein from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget discuss the outlook of the program.

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47:27

Iowans are making efforts to improve water quality...

River to River ·

2025/12/20

Iowans share how they are trying to reduce pollutants in waterways on this archive episode.

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