River to River
Weekdays @ noon on News & Studio One (FM) | Weekdays @ noon and 8 p.m. on News (Online & AM)
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.
Latest Episodes
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Iowa is caught in the middle of an escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada. On this Newsbuzz edition, we talk about what that means for Iowa’s economy, and your wallet. First, we learn about Iowa's new property tax law, then discuss the economic impacts the trade war will have in Iowa. We also discuss the two Iowa clergy members are running for Congress, visa rules on Iowa college campuses and we hear about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early literacy skill building program in Iowa. Then, we groove into the weekend. -
This November, Iowans will decide whether it should take two-thirds of the legislature — not a simple majority — to raise the state income tax. Guests explain what yes and no votes really mean. Then we meet an Iowa teenager who is building an award-winning, low-cost prosthetic hand.
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Canada is Iowa's number one export market — and the trade war with our biggest customer just escalated. Political scientists Evan Renfro of UNI and Karen Kedrowski of ISU offer analysis on these tariffs, the new sanctions campaign against Iran, Iowa's toss-up Senate race, the Supreme Court's ruling on mail-in voting and more.
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Companies are voluntarily phasing out the use of so called 'forever chemicals,' or PFAS, used in food packaging. On this episode, experts discuss what the phase out will look like and what consumers need to know. Host Ben Kieffer is joined by Lydia Jahl from the Green Science Policy Institute in Berkley. Later in the hour, Mark Early, Keith Vorst, and Katie Updegraff of the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium at Iowa State University also join the program. (This episode was originally produced Aug. 5, 2024.)
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On this episode, we talk with both of Iowa's major political party chairs. First, Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart, then Iowa Republican Party chair Jeff Kaufmann. We discuss the open governor and Senate races and key Congressional and statehouse races in the November 3 midterm election, plus where the 2028 presidential caucuses stand.
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The Democratic National Convention has finalized its 2028 presidential primary calendar, and Iowa is not in the early voting contest. On this Newsbuzz edition, Meghan McKinney sits in for Ben Kieffer. First, we hear from Iowans who competed in a weed identification contest at the state fair. Then, we talk with professor Megan Goldberg of Cornell College about the competition in the Iowa governor and Senate races. Daniel Wheaton of the Midwest Newsroom joins us to talk about childcare costs for Iowa families and we hear from IPR's Eliza Billingham about a new crisis aversion program coming to Scott County. Then, we hear about the new Studio One schedule from program director Nick Brunner, and he grooves us into the weekend.
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An exhibit at the International Spy Museum explores the use of camouflage in war, espionage and how it relates to surveillance and deep fakes today. We hear about the exhibit from the vice president of exhibits and collections, Katheryn Keane. Then, University of Northern Iowa camouflage expert Roy Behrens wrote the introduction to the exhibit and joins the show. Later in the program, a conversation with Isabela Muzzio about how politics impact our memories. (This show was originally produced Feb. 17, 2026.)
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Are America’s divides truly political — or is something else at work? In his book 'Nations Apart: How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America,' historian and New York Times bestselling author Colin Woodard argues that today’s polarization can’t be explained by Democrat/Republican or urban/rural divides. Instead, he traces these conflicts back to regional worldviews rooted in the nation’s earliest settlement patterns. (This show was originally produced Nov. 25, 2025.)
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More than half of rural counties in Iowa are legal deserts. So, what happens when you need a lawyer but there isn't one? Sociologist David Peters and aspiring rural lawyer Emma Bartling join the program to talk about their research into rural deserts and the ways states are trying to incentivize lawyers to practice in rural areas. Then, University of Iowa legal expert Brian Farrell discusses how access to justice doesn't necessarily correlate with the number of attorneys in a community. Later in the program, Iowa State researchers are developing an app that can predict unsafe indoor temperatures. (This show was originally produced Nov. 11, 2025.)
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On this episode we listen to highlights from a conversation with political scientist Jeffrey Winters of Northwestern University. His book, 'The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracy,' examines the failure of democracy to address wealth inequality, why it's by design. This conversation was recorded at The Englert Theatre, presented by the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council. (This episode was originally produced May 19, 2026.)