2026 campaign news and Iowa angles on the "big, beautiful bill"

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks review the week in Iowa politics, starting with the latest news from the 2026 campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate, and the Democrat who's running for secretary of state. They covered the Iowa impact of the Republican budget reconciliation bill from many angles: cuts to food assistance and Medicaid, access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, energy tax credits, family planning services, and higher education funding. They also reviewed seven new bills Governor Kim Reynolds signed, some bills that didn't make it over the finish line, and the Iowa House debut of State Representative Angel Ramirez. Finally, they touched on an important Iowa Supreme Court ruling with roots in the COVID-19 pandemic.