This week, we look back at the year that was. And what a year it was.

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 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 columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

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

Read the articles mentioned in this episode:

U.S. Army identifies Iowa Guard soldiers killed in Syria: https://www.thegazette.com/federal-government/u-s-army-identifies-iowa-guard-soldiers-killed-in-syria/

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces she will not seek a third term: https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-gov-kim-reynolds-announces-she-will-not-seek-a-third-term/

Iowa’s Ernst makes it official, will not seek re-election to third U.S. Senate term: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/iowas-ernst-makes-it-official-will-not-seek-re-election-to-third-u-s-senate-term/

Reynolds declares ‘Lutheran Services in Iowa Day’ as layoffs, federal interference imperil organization: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_1287af14-fec6-11ef-9ae9-cb0f2001986f.html

Sioux City refugee family starting over, again, after apartment fire: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_1287af14-fec6-11ef-9ae9-cb0f2001986f.html

Indictment says Des Moines superintendent falsely claimed to be U.S. citizen: https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/indictment-says-des-moines-superintendent-falsely-claimed-to-be-u-s-citizen/

Recount unlikely in C.R. schools’ narrowly failed bond referendum: https://www.thegazette.com/k/recount-unlikely-in-c-r-schools-narrowly-failed-bond-referendum/

Opinion: Tawana Grover has to go: https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/tawana-grover-has-to-go/ This Iowa county made the biggest swing to Republican in the last 12 years.

Here’s what voters there said is the reason: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/this-iowa-county-made-the-biggest-swing-to-republican-in-the-last-12-years-heres-what-voters-there/

‘Trump is speaking our language,’ says resident of Eastern Iowa county that has turned to Republican support in recent years: https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_d9529045-bf05-486e-b26d-70a5ccd2164e.html

Democratic politician says economics helped drive this northern Iowa county toward Trump: https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_890ddbab-406f-4423-bc26-f18edf396990.html

Iowa becomes first state to remove civil rights protections:https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-becomes-first-state-to-remove-civil-rights-protections/

After a decade of defeats, some Iowa Democrats changing the way they talk to voters: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/after-a-decade-of-defeats-some-iowa-democrats-are-changing-the-way-they-talk-to-voters/

Property rights, pipeline debate heating up among Iowa Senate Republicans: https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/property-rights-pipeline-debate-heating-up-among-iowa-senate-republicans/

What federal funding do local governments in the Iowa Quad-Cities rely on?: https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_7c41c612-e006-11ef-8993-b77217ebe163.html

Union leaders: Jobs will be cut at the Rock Island Arsenal: https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_43cb2d85-5c3e-4729-a9c0-8b816f82d102.html

Comments: erin.murphy@thegazette.com, bailey.cichon@thegazette.com