© 2025 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Republicans tout successful session, Democrats say they pushed a 'culture war'

Ways To Subscribe
River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

A massive government reorganization, a ban on youth gender-affirming care, changes to child labor laws. Iowa Republicans are celebrating these measures and more with the end of the 2023 legislative session. Democrats say laws passed at the Republican-controlled Statehouse will harm Iowans.

River to River host Ben Kieffer is joined by journalists who lived and breathed this legislative session — Katarina Sostaric of Iowa Public Radio, Stephen Gruber-Miller of the Des Moines Register and Kathie Obradovich of the Iowa Capital Dispatch. They discuss the measures that did and didn't pass and their impacts.

Guests:

  • Katarina Sostaric, state government reporter, Iowa Public Radio
  • Stephen Gruber-Miller, Statehouse reporter, Des Moines Register
  • Kathie Obradovich, editor-in-chief, Iowa Captial Dispatch.
Ben Kieffer is the host of "River to River." Since 2007, Kieffer has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Kieffer has a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa.
Dani Gehr is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. Since 2022, Gehr has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.