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River to River is a conversation about the news with an Iowa perspective. Together we dig into the story behind the headlines - we talk with newsmakers and a diverse range of experts to find out how the news affects you. We take on challenging topics, explore issues from all sides, and foster conversation and understanding
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Mark Liebovich's This Town was a number one New York Times bestseller. He shares insights from his latest book, which came out this month.
An LGBTQ advocate explains how recent reporting on Monkeypox parallels mishandlings of the AIDS epidemic. Then, a University of Iowa astronomer describes what people have been seeing in the mesmerizing Webb Telescope photos released by NASA this week.
In the headlines this week, two Des Moines police officers are suing a city council member and five others in relation to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protest. Also, a third carbon capture pipeline is planned for Iowa.
It took a young scientist from Iowa to settle the long-standing question about the origin of gold and other heavy elements in the universe.
Iowa House Republicans recently passed what they call a "tough on crime" package. The package is made up of three bills — a "three strikes" sentencing law, new rules for how judges set bail and a public dashboard tracking what happens inside Iowa's courtrooms. Iowa House Republicans say this legislation will crack down on crime and make Iowans safer. Opponents argue the bills could overcrowd state prisons and burden taxpayers. On this episode, lawmakers and a defense attorney discuss the package and its potential impact.
On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, a conversation with Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute about this week's developments on the United States and Israel's war with Iran which has included the deaths of six U.S. service members, including two Iowans. Also, IPR reporter James Kelley discusses Google’s change of plans for a proposed data center in Linn County, Robin Opsahl of Iowa Capital Dispatch gives an update on this week's activity at the statehouse and Studio One’s Nick Brunner shares this week’s new music picks.
For years, the Iowa State Patrol has set a goal of keeping traffic deaths below 300. In 2025, they not only met that goal, but had the fewest fatalities since 1925 at 259. We discuss some of the factors that have led to this decrease, including the hands-free driving law that took effect July 2025, with full enforcement beginning in January. We also learn about Alive at 25, a safety initiative launched by the Iowa Department of Transportation last fall to improve driving behavior among the state's youngest drivers. (This show was originally produced Jan. 8, 2026.)
An Iowa soldier killed. A war in its fifth day. This episode, analysis of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran — and Congressional moves to check the president. Political scientists Jim McCormick and Kelly Shaw join the program to discuss these developments.
Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal joins Ben Kieffer for a wide-ranging conversation on the U.S. economy and Ryssdal's career. (This episode was originally produced in November 2025.)
Active bills at the Iowa Statehouse involving public libraries and public assistance programs are the focus of this Legislative Monday episode. First, Sam Helmick, shares their perspective on proposals that would impact public libraries as president of the American Library Association. Then, Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny and Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, share their differing perspectives on library bills. Then, Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, and Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, discuss proposed changes to SNAP and WIC. We also hear from Paige Chickering, vice chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition.
University of Iowa surgeon Dr. Ramy El-Diwany performed the first robotic living donor nephrectomy, which will lead to more precise surgeries and quicker recovery for kidney donors. UIHC hopes this will mean more living kidney donations. On this News Buzz edition, Ben Kieffer speaks with Dr. El-Diwany, but first, we get a legislative update from Statehouse reporter Katarina Sostaric, Clark Kauffman shares a recent First Amendment case in Newton, and we meet one of the Coralville residents who organized against the city's recently rescinded AI-camera contract.
One of the New York Times' 10 best books of 2025, Angel Down is a World War I story told as one continuous sentence, which vividly portrays the horrors of that conflict. Author Daniel Kraus is no stranger to horror. Growing up in Fairfield, he would watch horror movies like Night of the Living Dead and episodes of The Twilight Zone as a five year old with his mom. Kraus joins this episode to talk about his horror and Iowa roots, Angel Down, which is development for a film adaptation, and his 2023 novel Whalefall, whose film adaptation is to be released later this fall.
On this Politics Day, political experts analyze President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address and national Democrats' decision to pay special attention to two Iowa Congressional races.
A new study says Iowa’s bet on renewable energy is paying off. The Director of Policy and Research at the Common Sense Institute shares their new research on the economic impact of renewable energy in Iowa. We also explore obstacles to wind power projects in Iowa and what that all means for Iowa’s future, as a pioneer in wind energy. Then we remember Billie Ray, the beloved former first lady of Iowa, who died last week at age 97.
The Statehouse funneled down bills being considered last week with their first major deadline. Reporters Erin Murphy, Katarina Sostaric and Robin Opsahl share the bills that are still alive — from expanding a ban on LGBTQ+ topics in schools to limiting the governor's power — and those that died.
On this Newsbuzz edition, host Ben Kieffer speaks with guess and journalists from around Iowa about the news of the week, including the first funnel deadline at the Statehouse, how Iowa libraries became political lightning rods, the risks of lead in hunting, funding of the 988 crisis line and more.
A report published this week by Investigate Midwest dives into the connection between pesticide use and rising cases of cancer for those in farming communities nationwide. Editor in Chief Ben Felder details the findings, and we hear from two Iowans that recently fought cancer who are featured in the article. Later in the episode, Luther College junior Mansur Kasali led a student initiative focused on making the federal budget and national debt a matter of shared civic responsibility, rather than abstract politics.
A look at the top political stories of the week, including library and abortion bills in Iowa, the primary race for Senate and the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Political scientists Karen Kedrowski and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University offer their analysis on the recent headlines.
The International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. will feature the art of visual deception in its new exhibit, "Camouflage: Designed to Deceive." We hear about the new exhibit from the vice president of exhibits and collections, Katheryn Keane. Then, University of Northern Iowa camouflage expert Roy Behrens, who wrote the introduction to the exhibit, joins the program. Then, Isabel Muzzio grew up during a violent time in Argentina, but found that years later, some from her community viewed those events much differently. Today, she studies how memories are altered and joins the show to talk about how our politics impact our memories.
Legislatures are in session across the Midwest. Journalists covering statehouses in six states — Nebraska, Wisconsin and Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota — discuss many hot button issues in these states, including voter initiative battles, opposition to energy-hungry data centers, abortion access, property taxes, eminent domain and more.
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