Not Quite Quorum - Laura Bergus and Oliver Weilein

Latest Episodes:

Why Couldn't We Create Public Libraries Today? Aug 28, 2026

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Laura Bergus and Oliver Weilein discuss the upcoming city council meeting, including the proposal to add three new police officers.

Is the Jail Our Highest Priority? Aug 26, 2026

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Laura and Nick Bergus discuss Johnson County's request to build a larger, new jail, highlighting what the expected $125M total spend WON'T include.

What Makes the Ped Mall Safe? Aug 23, 2026

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Oliver and Laura discuss the current proposal to hire more police, which was presented as the only answer to "Ped Mall Safety" at a city council work session. There are proven, in-progress alternatives that are cheaper and less likely to negatively impact our Black and brown neighbors. Let's try those first!

How Does Dialectical Materialism Inform Local Choices? Aug 15, 2026

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Iowa City city council members Oliver Weilein and Laura Bergus discuss local politics. This week's episode includes critique of the Coralville mayor's choice to temporarily remove public comment from the city council agenda, and then Oliver takes a brief, deep dive into leftist politics, generally.

What's a More Honest Take? Aug 10, 2026

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Nick and Laura Bergus discuss the Johnson County Board of Supervisors' decision to place the question of borrowing $94.5M on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and how "do nothing" or "this much bigger jail" is not an honest framing of the question for voters.

How Can We Invest in Community, Not Incarceration? Aug 07, 2026

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Laura Bergus and Oliver Weilein discuss many cool housing-related initiatives from the most recent city council work session, and reflect on the Board of Supervisors' decision to ask voters to approve borrowing nearly $125Million (when you include the interest) for a new jail.

How Much Does $94.5Million Really Cost? Aug 02, 2026

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Laura Bergus and Nick Bergus discuss the proposed Johnson County Jail, recapping the Board of Supervisors' discussion of borrowing $94.5M, which would be Johnson County's biggest debt ever.

How Awesome is Nora? Jul 31, 2026

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Oliver Weilein and Laura Bergus discuss the upcoming city council work session and formal meeting, featuring the work of the City of Iowa City's Harvard fellow, Nora Cahill.

What's Good Public Engagement Look Like? Jul 25, 2026

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Nick Bergus and Laura Bergus discuss the discourse about public discussion--about the proposed Johnson County jail, of course.

Should We Fear the Dictatorship of the Proletariat? Jul 24, 2026

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Oliver and Laura discuss right-wing fear-mongering around the DSA and how now is a terrible time for local leaders to silence dissent.