River to River is a conversation about the news — from an Iowa perspective. Together, we dig into the story behind the headlines, talking with newsmakers and experts to find out how the news affects you.
Ben Kieffer hosts this national award-winning program, which takes on challenging topics, explores issues from all sides, frames community problems, and fosters conversation and understanding. On Mondays during the legislative session, hear conversations with lawmakers and those impacted by actions at the statehouse. Wednesdays bring in political analysts from around the state to help you dissect the week in politics. And Fridays, we buzz through the week’s biggest news stories.
River to River is produced by Caitlin Troutman, Danielle Gehr and Samantha McIntosh , and our digital producer is Natalie Dunlap. Our executive producer is Katherine Perkins. Our theme music is by The River Monks.
Call into the live show weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. at 866-780-9100 or email the show's hosts and producers at rivertoriver@iowapublicradio.org. If you miss the show, download the podcast to listen at any time.
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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.)
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.