River to River

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Chinese writer-director shares perspectives on Iowa City campus life Sep 19, 2026

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Data centers are driving up Iowa's power demand. On this Newsbuzz episode, whether to build more wind and solar or invest in new gas and coal plants. First, we talk with Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines about how Iowa's new 2% property tax growth cap is forcing cities to weigh cuts to police and fire budgets, and Iowa's state climatologist Justin Glisan joins us with an update on September's record precipitation. We talk with higher education reporter Vanessa Miller about a new $5 million investment to speed up cancer treatments, and Emma Stapleton Thornell shares how this year's Iowa Climate Statement describes a "fork in the road" when it comes to electricity generation. We also hear from Hong Kong filmmaker and playwright Jun Li, who is a resident of this year's International Writing Program. Then, IPR’s Lucius Pham grooves us into the weekend.

Political analyst William Kristol on American democracy, modern conservativism Sep 18, 2026

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He spent decades building the modern Republican Party, but has since left the party behind. On this episode, a conversation Bill Kristol at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City. Kristol has been a fixture of conservative politics for 40 years — chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle, founder of 'The Weekly Standard.' He's now editor-at-large of The Bulwark,'= a media outlet and podcast network he helped build as a landing spot for Republicans who've separated from President Donald Trump. We discuss his work defending America’s liberal democratic principles, the future of American conservatism and more.

DHS Secretary Mullin calls Democrats communists at Miller-Meeks fundraiser Sep 17, 2026

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President Donald Trump said AI's biggest safety warnings are a conspiracy — even as Iowa towns pass moratoriums on the data centers powering it. On this Politics Day episode, we explore the president's clash with his own tech allies over AI safety. Political scientists Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College join us with their analysis. We also discuss the latest election polls and Iowa's Senate and Governor races, SCOTUS blocking Trump's mail-in voting rule and more.

A look at Iowa's environment during the nation's founding Sep 16, 2026

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Our nation is 250 years old — but 250 years ago, Iowa was a world apart. On this episode, an ecologist takes us back to a yesteryear’s landscape of endless tallgrass prairie, bison, elk and whooping cranes, and explains why Iowa is now the most ecologically altered state in the nation. A historian discusses the Indigenous nations living here in 1776 and why the American Revolution mattered enormously to people who may not have even known it was happening. And the tribal historic preservation officer of the Meskwaki Nation joins the program to discuss on her people's presence in Iowa. (This episode was originally produced June 18, 2026.)

A therapist's journey with Alzheimer's Sep 15, 2026

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More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. On this episode, a look at what the disease feels like from the inside. Volker is a retired professor and former president of the American Family Therapy Academy who spent decades building couple and family therapy programs at the University of Iowa and Purdue University. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2025, though symptoms first appeared in 2022. Edie, his wife, joins the conversation as his primary caregiver. (This show was originally produced Nov. 24, 2026.)

Former Iowa governor recounts 9/11 attacks and response on 25th anniversary Sep 12, 2026

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A quarter of a century later, we're still living with the world September 11th made. On the 25th anniversary of the attacks, we talk with Tom Vilsack, who was Iowa’s governor during the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history. He remembers where he was and how he chose to respond. Then, we talk with Mark Listes of Pendulum Intelligence on the AI-fueled disinformation war reshaping elections and public trust, and what it means for us ahead of the midterms. We also meet Amber Essau, an International Writing Program resident from New Zealand. Then, Studio One's Cece Mitchell grooves us into the weekend.

Political strategist David Axelrod on partisanship, midterms and more Sep 11, 2026

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On this episode, highlights from a wide-ranging conversation with David Axelrod at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City earlier this year. Axelrod has been one of the most influential voices in American politics for four decades — he helped build the Obama coalition, he has watched the Democratic Party lose its way with working people, and he's not pulling punches about what comes next. This event, recorded live on April 28, 2026, was part of the Levitt Lecture series presented by Hancher Auditorium and the University of Iowa College of Law. (This episode was originally produced on April 30, 2026)

Iowa GOP pushes back on 90-day plan to waive tariffs on foreign beef imports Sep 10, 2026

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Canada retaliates with new tariffs — and Iowa is named a deliberate target. On this Politics Day episode, we get analysis from political scientists Jim McCormick and Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University. With just over 50 days until the election, we look at how the trade war is shaping our state's most competitive races. Republicans hold their first-ever midterm convention starting Wednesday in Dallas — and some Iowa Republicans are staying home. We also discuss a new rule on mail-in voting heading to the Supreme Court for the third time and more.

Iowa native reflects on his 9/11 volunteer experience 25 years later Sep 09, 2026

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On this episode, we talk with Iowa native and retired Green Beret John Paluska. He recounts the day he watched from his dorm roof in New York City as the second tower collapsed, his days of working at Ground Zero, his military career it inspired and the years-long effort to bring his Afghan Special Forces counterpart to safety. Then, University of Iowa historian Colin Gordon joins us to look at how 9/11 reshaped domestic spending and priorities over the last 25 years.

Gov. Reynolds calls for total ban of kratom Sep 05, 2026

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Kratom is often found at gas stations and convenience stores and is marketed as a natural supplement for pain and anxiety. Gov. Kim Reynolds is calling for a total ban of the product and other synthetic varieties, alleging dozens of kratom-related deaths in Iowa since 2024. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with the 'Iowa Capital Dispatch's' Clark Kauffman about this call to ban kratom. Also, the 'Des Moines Register's' Brianne Pfannenstiel shares how candidates are approaching water quality this session, a registered nurse who found a side hustle fighting poison ivy and columnist Rekha Basu shares the impact of Gloria Steinem. Finally, our International Writing Program series returns with Mexican writer Juan Carlos Reyes and Studio One's Erin Fuller grooves us into the weekend.

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