Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

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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. Robin A. Johnson is a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant. He is an expert on government reform issues and has consulted with numerous local governments on consolidation/merger, public-private partnerships and full-cost accounting of public services. Robin has also helped candidates win elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, state legislature, judiciary and local government.

Robin Johnson


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 266 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

    The Rise of Pope Leo XIV and His Role in the Culture Wars

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 29:00


    00000197-2287-d449-add7-e7d705ee0000https://www.wvik.org/podcast/heartland-politics-with-robin-johnson/2025-05-30/the-rise-of-pope-leo-xiv-and-his-role-in-the-culture-warsThe Rise of Pope Leo XIV and His Role in the Culture Wars

    Comprehensive Look at the Red Scare and Its Resonance in Today's Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 29:00


    Clay Risen, author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America, discusses key elements of this era--The Hollywood 10, censorship of books and movies, those affected, including actor Sterling Hayden and Robert Oppenheimer--as well as the national landscape that provoked the conspirator style of politics, unsung heroes, and much more.

    Acclaimed Broadcaster Lon Helton Talks Country Music--"The Music of America"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 29:00


    Lon Helton, host of Country Countdown USA, Country Music Hall of Famemember and 12-time winner of the CMA National Broadcast Personality ofthe Year, talks about country music's impact on American culture, hiscareer, memorable interviews, and some of the misconceptions aboutcountry music.

    Key to Labour Comeback in Britain and Adice for US Democrats: Listen to Working Class Voters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 29:00


    Patrick Maguire, political columnist for The Times and co-author of Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer, talks about the comebackof the Labour party from historic lows, the role of "The Irishman" in researching and analyzing working class voters, the rise of Keir Starmer, results from Starmer's landslide victory, advice for Democrats looking to bounce back and much more.

    Lessons From Across the Pond on How Democrats Can Recover?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 29:00


    Deborah Mattinson, British opinion research expert and author of two books on the Labour Party, talks about how the Labour Party rebounded after election losses, its challenges with "Red Wall" voters who aresimilar to the Midwest electorate, including the QC region, lessons for Democrats, and much more.

    John Mellencamp: Music That Explores the Complexities and Contractions of Human Life "Looking Out My Window"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 29:00


    David Masciotra, author of Mellencamp: American Troubadour, talks abouthow Mellencamp's roots in southern Indiana influenced his music, hissongs that most influenced American culture, the impact of his family onsome of his most famous hits, his politics ("blue guy in a red state")but how his music also challenges the left's disconnect from ordinarypeople, and more.

    Erin Murphy: Governor Reynolds Surprise Decision Upends Iowa Political Landscape

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 29:00


    Erin Murphy, Des Moines Bureau Chief for The Gazette, talks about Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds decision not to seek reelection, her future and legacy, the possible nominees from both parties, possible Democratic resurgence in 2025 special elections, and Sen. Chuck Grassley's seat which is up in 2028.

    Porter: Trump Tariff Policy Creates Leverage to Accomplish Other Administration Priorities

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 29:00


    Richard Porter, a former Republican National Committee member fromIllinois, discusses President Trump's tariff policy, its connection toother administration economic initiatives, national securityimplications, the national conditions that led to the tariffs, and muchmore.

    Generational "Revolution" Coming on Capitol Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 29:00


    Abby Livingston, congressional correspondent for Puck News, talks about the Democrats' Identity Crisis, the Trump agenda, the GOP firewall in Congress, impacts of DOGE and tariffs, AOC, Texas politics, and much more.

    Democratic Focus on Cultural Issues Instead of the Economy Led to Shift of Key Voting Groups and Defeat in '24

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 29:00


    Democratic Focus on Cultural Issues Instead of the Economy Led toShift of Key Voting Groups and Defeat in '24

    H.W. Brands' New Book Offers an Objective and Timely Look at the Debate on 'America First' and Our Role in the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 29:00


    H.W. Brands, noted historian and author of more than 30 books, talks about his newest work, America First: Roosevelt Vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War.

    Iowa Ag Secretary Naig Talks Key Issues as Farmers Gear Up for Planting Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 29:00


    Iowa Ag Secretary Naig Talks Key Issues as Farmers Gear Up for Planting Season

    What Makes Illinois So Corrupt?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 29:00


    Rick Pearson, chief political correspondent for the Chicago Tribune,discusses the Trib's recent nine-part series on corruption in Illinoisgovernment and politics.

    Democratic State Senator Mike Zimmer's Success and Agenda

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 29:00


    Democratic State Senator Mike Zimmer, newly elected from Iowa's 35th District, which includes Clinton and parts of Jackson and Scott Counties, discusses his campaign that attracted national attention, the keys to his success in a district where Trump won with 61%, lessons for national Democrats, and his agenda in Des Moines.

    The Madigan Guilty Verdict: What Happened and What Does it Mean for Illinois Government and Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 29:00


    Ray Long, investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune, discusses the historic corruption trial of former House Speaker and Democratic Party Chair Michael Madigan.

    Author Describes Battles Against CAFOs and Big Ag in Rural Minnesota

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 29:00


    Sonja Trom Eayrs discusses her book Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America, a story of her family farm's fight against factory farms that changed agriculture and small townsthroughout the US.

    A Look at a Little-Known Spy Who Played a Major Role in the Cold War Era

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 29:00


    Who was James Jesus Angleton? Why is he important to understanding America in the Cold War era?

    Midwestern Roots A Key to Johnny Carson's Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 29:00


    Mike Thomas, co-author with the late Bill Zehme of a new biography of Johnny Carson called Carson the Magnificent.

    Gripping Account of the David v Goliath Legal Battle to Help Family Farmers in the 80s

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 29:00


    Sarah Vogel discusses her recent book The Farmer's Lawyer: The North Dakota Nine and the Fight to Save the Family Farm.

    Bottom-up, Flexible Approach Needed for Revitalizing Left Behind Areas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 29:00


    Paul Collier, renowned development economist and author of Left Behind:A New Economics for Neglected Places

    How Democrats Lost the Working Class

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 29:00


    Jonathan Weisman, an economics and labor policy reporter for the NewYork Times, discusses a recent article he wrote on how the slippage ofworking class support for Democrats predated Trump

    America's Agricultural Crisis as Told Through the History of One Midwestern Farm

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2025 29:00


    Brian Reisinger talks about his book, Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer.

    Ruth Harkin's New Path Opens Window to Husband's Political Life But Also Her Remarkable Career

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 29:00


    Ruth Harkin discusses her new book, When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories

    Were the Placid 1990s The Beginning of our Political and Cultural Discord?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 29:00


    John Ganz discusses his book, When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s

    Back to the Future: How the Constitution Can Help Repair Our Partisan Divide

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 29:00


    Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural and constitutional studies atthe American Enterprise Institute and former domestic policy advisor toPresident George W. Bush, discusses his new book, American Covenant: Howthe Constitution Unified Our Nation--And Could Again.

    New Bio Chronicles Rise of Glenn Poshard from Deep Poverty in southern Illinois to Congress and SIU President

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 29:00


    Glenn Poshard discusses his book, Son of Southern Illinois: GlennPoshard's Life in Politics and Education

    Meet the Independent Candidate for US Senate in Nebraska Who Almost Pulled Off the Upset of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 29:00


    Dan Osborn, a local union president, mechanic, and Navy veteran, talks about the strike that launched his populist campaign against corporate greed and government corruption, his platform that straddled the two major parties, his appeal and working class and rural voters, and his new PAC designed to elect working class candidates.

    New Book on Mayor Daley Offers Timely Lessons on Making Government Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 29:00


    Forrest Claypool, discusses his new book, The Daley Show: Inside theTransformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley

    Partisan Divide Reflects Decades of Loss in Working Class USA

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 29:00


    Michael Kruse, senior staff writer at Politico, talks about a recent article he wrote focusing on how politics severed a relationship between two brothers

    Trump Margin of Popular Vote Win and GOP Inroads in Blue States Are Major 2024 Surprises

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 29:00


    Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor of Inside Elections, analyzes the 2024election results for president, the US Senate and US House, reasons forthe outcomes, demographic and regional breakouts and more.

    Cong. Eric Sorensen On His Most Memorable First Term Accomplishment and Why He Should be Re-Elected

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 29:00


    Congressman Eric Sorensen, representing Illinois' 17 district, talksabout his major accomplishments in the House of Representatives, hisdiscussions with area farmers on the climate issue, the Farm Bill, andmore.

    New Book Offers Definitive, Balanced Biography of Ronald Reagan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 29:00


    Max Boot, author of Reagan: His Life and Legend, discusses Reagan'sstrengths and shortcomings in this book including how his upbringing inour listening area shaped his life and career.

    New Book Explores the 'Pride Paradox' That Turned Descendants of FDR Democrats into Trump Republicans

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 29:00


    Arlie Russell Hochschild talks about her new book, Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right

    McGraw on the Farm Bill: Food Security is National Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 29:00


    Judge Joe McGraw, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois' 17th District, talks about border security, jobs and the American Dream, US-China relations, abortion, ethics reform, the Farm Bill and much more.

    Bohannan: "Getting Farm Bill Passed Is Job One"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 29:00


    Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa's 1st congressional district, talks about the economy, immigration, trade, education, abortion, debt and much more.

    Miller-Meeks: “National Debt is a National Security Threat”

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 29:00


    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.

    In the Face of Growing ‘Greenlash,' Author Discusses Political Strategies and Outcomes of Clean Energy Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 29:00


    Alez Gazmararian, co-author of Uncertain Future: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse, talks about the politics of the decline of coal.

    Rubashkin of Inside Elections: Expect a Close Presidential Race With the Winner Decided in Seven Battleground States

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 29:00


    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.

    State Rep. Gregg Johnson Touts First-term Accomplishments

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 29:00


    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?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 29:00


    Labor Day Special: A New Book on Work With History, Culture, Poetry, and Quotes by Adam Smith, Karl Marx and…Homer Simpson?!

    Book Explores Devastating Impact of Meat Industry Consolidation on Rural America

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 29:00


    Chris Leonard, former agribusiness reporter for the Associated Press, discusses his book, The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business.

    New Upjohn Research Showing Which Economic Development Strategies Work Best

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 29:00


    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

    A Previous, Overlooked Period of American History Featuring War, Violence, Repression That Threatened US Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 29:00


    Author Adam Hochschild discusses his book American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis.

    A Lot of People Get Mad at Me, But Not Many Tell Me I'm Wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 29:00


    Chris Jones, author of The Swine Republic: Struggles With the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality,”

    New Book Provides Important Insights on Key Group That Could Decide November Elections: Latino Voters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 29:00


    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.

    New Report Captures Economic Renewal in Left Behind Counties, But Challenges Remain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 29:00


    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.”

    Sen. Cournoyer on the State of Iowa Schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 29:00


    State Sen. Chris Cournoyer, Vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee, (R-35) talks about K-12 school issues

    How Washington Really Works….It's Worse Than You Think

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 29:00


    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: Two Biggest Benefits of Budget Are K-12 School Funding and Child Tax Credit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 29:00


    State Senator Mike Halpin (D) from the 36th District discusses the Illinois legislative session

    Sen. Jochum Take on Iowa Legislative Session: “More Cruel Towards Children Who Are Different, the Poor, the Middle Class”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 29:00


    Sen. Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) discusses the recently concluded Iowa legislative session.

    Downstate Highlights of Illinois Legislative Session Include More School and Infrastructure Funding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 29:00


    Patrick Pfingsten, author of The Illinoize political newsletter, discusses the recently concluded legislative session highlights and Republican prospects in the 2024 elections.

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