Deciding Iowa

Deciding Iowa Deciding Iowa is a video blog tackling the tough political and people-focused issues shaping our state.

Through honest conversations and deep dives into policy, we explore what’s at stake and where Iowa goes from here.

06/15/2026

🎬 Deciding Iowa: Behind the Scenes

What happens before a finished episode?

Missed cues.
Laughing fits.
Tongue-tied moments.
The times we completely lose our train of thought and have to start over.

We're not professional broadcasters. We're a scientist and a physician who care deeply about Iowa and spend our volunteer time trying to understand complex issues and share what we're learning with others.

We're also parents, neighbors, community members, and occasionally people who can't get through a sentence without cracking up. 😄

Since the legislature is out of session, we thought we'd share a few behind-the-scenes moments this week and let you see the lighter side of Deciding Iowa.

Tonight's blooper: ⬇️

Because sometimes the best part of filming isn't what makes the final cut.

05/15/2026

Another legislative session is over.
Another season of Deciding Iowa comes to a close.

This year we talked about:
💧 Water quality
🏥 Healthcare and Medicaid
📚 Public education
💰 Taxes and state budgets
🌾 Landowner rights
🏛️ Government accountability
…and the long-term future of Iowa.

No matter where you fall politically, one thing matters most:

Be an educated voter.

Pay attention.
Ask questions.
Read beyond headlines.
Watch what is funded, what is cut, and what priorities move forward.
Understand how decisions made at the Capitol impact your family, your schools, your healthcare, your taxes, your community, and your future.

Democracy works best when people stay informed and engaged, not just during election season, but all year long.

Thank you to everyone who watched, shared, challenged ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and cared enough to stay involved.

Iowa’s future will not be decided by silence or apathy.
It will be shaped by informed people willing to participate.

🗳️ Vote.
📖 Stay informed.
🤝 Stay engaged.

Be well, Iowa.

05/14/2026

One final conversation before we sign off for the legislative season.

Tomorrow, May 14, we release the final episode of Deciding Iowa.

This season we tackled some of Iowa’s biggest questions:
💧 Water quality
🏥 Healthcare
📚 Public education
💰 Taxes and budgets
🌾 Landowner rights
🏛️ Government accountability

Some conversations were frustrating.
Some were hopeful.
All of them mattered.

Our closing episode is a reminder that regardless of party, the future of Iowa depends on informed, engaged voters who are paying attention to what happens under the Golden Dome.

Because policy decisions don’t stay at the Capitol.
They show up in our schools, hospitals, communities, farms, roads, and wallets.

Full episode drops tomorrow, May 14.
Be informed. Be engaged. Be part of the conversation.

05/14/2026

One of the biggest moments from our final episode?

A conversation about power, trust, and who gets to decide Iowa’s future.

This legislative session, lawmakers advanced efforts to limit the powers of future governors — raising bigger questions about balance, accountability, and whether politics is becoming more about control than collaboration.

No matter your party affiliation, these conversations matter.

Because democracy depends on informed voters paying attention not just to campaign slogans… but to the structure of government itself.

🎥 Tomorrow, May 14, we release the final episode of Deciding Iowa for the legislative season.

Watch. Think critically. Ask questions. Vote informed.

05/09/2026

Property taxes.
School funding.
Local services.
State deficits.
Corporate taxes.
Rent.
Healthcare.

This episode of Deciding Iowa tackles one of the biggest and most personal issues of the 2026 legislative session.

Lawmakers say the new property tax package will provide relief for Iowans. But where does that money come from? And what could the long-term impacts be for schools, cities, counties, infrastructure, renters, and the future state budget?

In Episode 31, we break down:
➡️ What actually passed
➡️ Why both parties supported parts of it
➡️ What concerns remain
➡️ And why this issue is far more complicated than a campaign slogan

Whether you support the bill, oppose it, or are still trying to understand it, this conversation matters because these decisions affect every Iowa community.

🎥 Watch Episode 31 now: Property Tax

As always, we encourage you to stay informed, ask questions, and engage with your elected officials.

05/08/2026

“Property tax relief” sounds simple.

But when you dig deeper…
the questions get harder.

What happens to:
➡️ Public schools?
➡️ Local services?
➡️ Infrastructure?
➡️ Healthcare funding?
➡️ Renters?

In Episode 31 of Deciding Iowa, we unpack one of the most complicated and emotional issues of the session and why this debate literally hits home for Iowans.

🎥 Short clip tonight.
📺 Full episode Saturday.

Because these decisions don’t stay at the Capitol.
They show up in our communities.

05/07/2026

Tonight’s clip from Deciding Iowa tackles one of the most personal issues of the legislative session: property taxes.

This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet.
It’s about:
🏠 Homes
🏫 Schools
🚑 Services
💧 Infrastructure
💵 Rent
…and what happens when the math gets harder.

In Episode 31, we break down what lawmakers passed, what it could mean for Iowa communities, and why this debate became so intense.

🎥 Watch tonight’s short clip.
Full episode drops Saturday.

05/06/2026

We’re back. And Iowa’s legislature left us with a lot to talk about.

🎓 Expanded charter school funding
🏠 Concerns about homeschool oversight
🌽 No movement on eminent domain reform
🎗️ Pediatric cancer research funding approved
☢️ New radon mitigation requirements for homes

In Episode 30 of Deciding Iowa, Shawn and Emily break down the wins, the worries, and the policies shaping Iowa’s future.

No shouting. No spin. Just real conversation about what happened under the Golden Dome.

🎥 Watch “We’re Back: Quick Hits” and decide for yourself.

04/18/2026

A lot just moved at the Iowa Capitol… but what does it actually mean?

In today’s Deciding Iowa, we break down a few key bills that just passed:

➡️ More time for legislative planning (60 days vs. 45)
➡️ Counties restricted from issuing ID cards
➡️ New 5-year rule reviews for state agencies
➡️ Faster infrastructure upgrades for water & utilities

Some aim for efficiency.
Some raise real questions.
All have impact.

This is just a snapshot of what’s happening right now under the golden dome.

🎥 Watch the latest episode and decide for yourself.

Because policy isn’t just process…
it shapes how Iowa works—for all of us.

04/15/2026

When access gets tighter…voices matter more.

In Episode 28 of Deciding Iowa, we take a closer look at House File 2563, a bill that could:
➡️ Restrict telehealth access for early pregnancy care
➡️ Create additional barriers for rural and working Iowans
➡️ Shift how healthcare is accessed across the state

This is a personal healthcare right between a patient and her doctor, and one that deserves attention. Limiting options in our amazing rural areas should not be the Iowa way.

📞 Now is the time to reach out to your legislator and make your voice heard: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

🎥 Watch Repro Restrictions
👉 Get informed. Stay engaged. Decide for yourself.

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