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

Electoral college isn't a popularity contest

Ways To Subscribe
River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

If the founding fathers were here today, they would see a very different political landscape than they might have anticipated.

On this episode of River to River, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources dispatches wildland firefighters annually to help fire management efforts across the western United States. Iowa DNR forester Joe Herring became certified in firefighting about 20 years ago, but it wasn't until this summer that took time off from his day job to respond to wildfires out west. Herring shares his recent experiences in Wyoming with host Ben Kieffer.

Later in the hour, Ben explores why our founding fathers created the Electoral College to elect presidents instead of relying on the popular vote. Presidential historian Tim Walch and former professor of political science at the University of Iowa Cary Covington, examine the historical rationale behind the Electoral College and efforts to change its influence.

A portion of this episode was originally produced February 6, 2018.

Guests:

  • Joe Herring, District 3 forester, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Tim Walch, historian and director emeritus, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
  • Cary Covington, former professor of political science, University of Iowa
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Madeleine Willis is IPR's Production Assistant supporting the talk shows and The Sunny Side Project. Willis has experience in audio production, reporting, writing and editing stories and conversations. She's reported and produced conversations on womanhood, sports, and good news from across Iowa. Willis will receive her bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in May 2025.