Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) discusses the recently concludedlegislative session

State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluff's 20th District, talks about the recently concluded legislative session in Iowa and his concerns about Medicaid cuts in Washington.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-57) discusses accomplishments from the recently completed session, including tax reform, cutting government waste and restricting cell phone usage in schools and cars, and talks about ongoing property tax reform efforts.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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 toShift of Key Voting Groups and Defeat in '24

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

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, 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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