2026 campaign news, health insurance tax, second funnel

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with candidates at risk of getting knocked off the primary ballot: Democrat Xavier Carrigan in IA-03, Republican candidate for governor Eddie Andrews, and GOP State Senator Mike Bousselot. They covered the latest taxpayer-funded radio ads from Mariannette Miller-Meeks, other campaign news from the first, second, and third Congressional districts, and recent endorsements in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the GOP race for governor. The second half of the show focused on news from the state legislature: a proposed tax on health insurance companies, transparency and public access in the House and Senate, and where things stand after the second funnel on property tax reform, eminent domain, legislation to restrict the next governor's powers, and several "tough on crime" bills.