On Iowa Politics Podcast host Erin Murphy sat down with former Iowa Governor and former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad on Thursday, April 2, 2026 to talk about current events and reflect on Branstad's legacy as the longest serving Governor in U.S. history.

Watch the interview on video at: https://youtu.be/SoZFkIKQ-AA

1:19 Iowa Award

3:11 Republican Primary for Governor, Branstad's Endorsement of Randy Feenstra

9:18 Branstad's reaction to Eddie Andrews calling for Adam Steen to drop out of gubernatorial race

17:15 Branstad on Ashley Hinson

17:45 Branstad on Joe Mitchell

18:17 Branstad on Mariannette Miller-Meeks

19:24 Iowa Caucuses

21:30 Branstad's time as U.S. Ambassador to China

35:48 Reflecting on Branstad's time as Iowa Governor

This episode was produced by Bailey Cichon.

This week, drama and policy drops in the gubernatorial campaign, Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in the Quad Cities, a Western Iowa tie to the Epstein files, and a terrific feature story on two Iowa women’s very different ties to the Iran War. And if that all isn’t enough, make sure you stick around until the end of the episode to hear about our next On Iowa Politics Podcast interview guest.

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 and produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read articles mentioned in this episode:

2:37 Eddie Andrews calls on Adam Steen to drop campaign for Iowa governor

https://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/state/eddie-andrews-calls-on-adam-steen-to-drop-campaign-for-iowa-governor/article_92586fcd-3a60-4341-b73b-a012fcfeb65c.html

6:44 Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand floats age and term limits, changes to primaries

https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_4f5f5c28-ccc0-40a8-b980-9980b769d00c.html

14:24 Running against Sand is no day at the beach for GOP

https://www.thegazette.com/opinion/columnists/running-against-sand-is-no-day-at-the-beach-for-gop/article_eb13b3b0-4566-4492-8546-0b9d21a47820.html

21:18 Grassley, in Eldridge, says leaders should 'under-promise and over-deliver' on Iran war

https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_0249db78-5f97-42b2-a937-85c004a45738.html

26:58 Epstein files reveal new details of Ted Waitt's past relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell

https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/article_f2c47a31-5b71-45dc-aa81-781096aad19a.html

33:24 Two Iowa women highlight stakes in Iran

https://www.thegazette.com/news/national/two-iowa-women-highlight-stakes-in-iran/article_02401d9a-97fb-41cc-8852-c6de9afca983.html

38:17 Stay tuned for our next On Iowa Politics podcast interview episode featuring ...

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 the second legislative funnel deadline, but we also have big news on the 2026 campaign trail with candidate signatures and everyone’s favorite On Iowa Politics podcast topic: endorsements!

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, 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 articles mentioned in this episode:

4:58 Iowa Ombudsman: Scott County Jail allowed woman to bang head against cell wall for hours https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_d217be28-d56b-4d5d-b12a-66666f81877e.html

9:18 Family Leader endorses Adam Steen for Iowa governor in GOP primary https://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/campaign-almanac-family-leader-endorses-adam-steen-for-iowa-governor-in-gop-primary/article_63311a94-0b5e-4724-9670-56e6683849fc.html

Branstad: I’m endorsing Randy Feenstra for governor https://www.thegazette.com/opinion/guest-columnists/branstad-i-m-endorsing-randy-feenstra-for-governor/article_7173b910-7ccf-4dbc-a3fd-658e3c0e2bc0.html

21:44 Stauch fails to qualify for gubernatorial election ballot, clearing Sand’s path to Democratic nomination https://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/stauch-fails-to-qualify-for-gubernatorial-election-ballot-clearing-sand-s-path-to-democratic-nomination/article_7123f925-e4e5-4e0a-8920-fb7913d53495.html

26:56 Bills limiting Iowa governor’s authority survive session deadlinehttps://www.thegazette.com/news/politics/bills-limiting-iowa-governor-s-authority-survive-session-deadline/article_e284e6ae-5a11-4c0a-8af3-3286e92ef9fb.html

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, a state panel determines Eddie Andrews’ primary ballot fate, a statehouse proposal creates unusual political opponents, and the latest on a court case involving the state auditor’s office and the City of Davenport.

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, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnist Althea Cole.

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

Read the articles mentioned in this episode:

2:39 State panel puts Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews on ballot https://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/state-panel-puts-iowa-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-eddie-andrews-on-ballot/article_2848cc63-0837-487f-b092-6b391ef110b6.html

14:20 Lahn vows to fight agriculture input consolidation, brain drain if elected Iowa governor https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_260c12cc-58cb-4b10-9c98-a5a9120bcbc9.html

24:14 Fourth Congressional District candidate Dave Dawson continues 36 county tour https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/article_97586fc4-01cf-4836-a907-038bcf84b422.html

28:12 Temporary tax hike to fill Iowa Medicaid gap heads to governor’s desk https://www.thegazette.com/news/state/temporary-tax-hike-to-fill-iowa-medicaid-gap-heads-to-governor-s-desk/article_a580013e-9ff5-493b-a2c2-0795b11f21f3.html

37:19 Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments in case between Davenport and state auditor https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_6a72dd44-f85f-4827-8470-0f5628a6b8f4.html

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

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 on the podcast: Gov. Kim Reynolds’ private plane, republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Feenstra’s ad buy and developments in property tax legislation at the Iowa Capitol.This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, 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:

2:33 'A sobering reminder that our freedom is not free': Reynolds offers condolences to families of Iowa soldiers killed in Kuwait

https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_78ef53ac-082d-4c34-a069-8123d78393ce.html

3:21 Kim Reynolds clearly has earned her wings

https://www.thegazette.com/opinion/kim-reynolds-clearly-has-earned-her-wings/article_1e5a4c72-ea6b-5a1d-bb54-1dd8508f9458.html

15:50 Feenstra campaign touts '7-figure ad buy' highlighting hiswork with Trump

https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_4058ccee-5505-4e93-b51d-1b4da2a56e26.html

20:57 First public hearing held on one of many bills designed toaddress Iowans' property taxes

https://www.thegazette.com/news/first-public-hearing-held-on-one-of-many-bills-designed-to-address-iowans-property-taxes/article_d56c3479-2703-55f3-a57b-1ecbbb94631e.html

25:36 ‘It is a total overhaul’: Key Iowa Senate lawmaker adamanton passing property tax relief in 2026

https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_8edb3dd2-94ed-4d90-8a1d-96a3cff362e3.html

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 on the podcast: Iowa’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary, more cancer in the Iowa Legislature, and our team’s State of the Union reaction.

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, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.

Read the articles mentioned in this episode:

Former candidate Sage endorses Turek, criticizes Wahls in Iowa Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary

https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/former-candidate-sage-endorses-turek-criticizes-wahls-in-iowa-democrats-u-s-senate-primary/

Outside influence, division grows in Iowa U.S. Senate primary

https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/campaign-almanac-iowa-u-s-senate-primary-heats-up-as-gop-poll-and-democratic-divisions-collide/

Sioux City state Sen. Catelin Drey says she has no signs of cancer after surgery

https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_0aa3e119-eb92-4810-b321-90238d06f319.html

Iowa state Sen. Dave Rowley announces tonsil cancer diagnosis

https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/article_5f40bc2f-0eae-4dbc-8d4d-d4df682c4138.html

Iowa state Senate OKs use of SAVE to verify immigration statuses for public assistance, voter registration

https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_f5f75baa-0fc6-41b1-b846-27744c8a1ac2.html

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

Pints & Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette and special guests from across the state and party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered, with opportunities to zone in on the latest headlines. Attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and guests! This beloved event and lively conversation invite attendees to learn more about the issues impacting their community.

This event was recorded on February 18, 2026, at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. The Gazette and Presenting Sponsor, the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors, brought this event as part of our year-long series. Panelists include Gazette columnist Todd Dorman, regional editor Zack Kucharski, and special guest Adam B Sullivan. Sullivan is a former columnist and editorial writer at The Gazette, and the author of 'At Liberty,' a column discussing libertarian solutions to issues facing Iowans. The Gazette's Elena Stark moderated the session. The Gazette's Publisher, Rick Green, introduced himself and his love of, and history in, politics.