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’ll cover 2026 candidates filing their required nomination signatures, legislation limiting the governor’s authority, and the Iowa Legislature vs. cancer.

This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

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

Read the articles mentioned in this episode:

Bills to limit Iowa governor’s authority seen by Democrats as preemptive strike ahead of 2026 election: https://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/bills-to-limit-iowa-governor-s-authority-seen-by-democrats-as-preemptive-strike-ahead-of/article_5bdabd5d-398e-4d2a-ab4d-18b3ed1f355a.html

Iowa has some of nation's highest cancer rates. Here's what lawmakers are doing to address them: https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_48384b88-11b4-4beb-ba38-1eb08995ca43.html

Ashley Hinson, Zach Wahls file for Iowa U.S. Senate primary race: https://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/hinson-and-wahls-enter-the-iowa-2026-senate-primary-race/article_1b64ac18-7ca7-4513-a412-34a1a46913c6.html

Josh Turek files for Iowa U.S. Senate primary, invokes Tom Harkin: https://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/josh-turek-aims-to-continue-harkins-populist-legacy/article_b35e242d-1883-4bea-9106-90a4ef6f98e2.html