The Pentagon launched a formal review of women in ground-combat positions. On this archive episode, what lead to this review and how could it impact the United States Armed Forces? Amy Rutenberg, an ISU historian, summarizes the long arc of women's service in the U.S. Military. Then, guests offer competing perspectives on combat effectiveness and standards. (This episode was originally produced in January 2026.)
Madeleine Charis King
/
Iowa Public Radio
-
Political scientists Megan Goldberg and Dave Peterson break down the latest state and national debates — from DHS funding and ICE reform to Iowa lawmakers’ efforts to advance a bill restricting abortion pills. -
The Pentagon recently launched a formal review of women in ground-combat positions. On today's episode, what lead to this review, and how could it impact the United States Armed Forces? Amy Rutenberg, an ISU historian, summarizes the long arc of women's service in the U.S. Military. Then, guests offer competing perspectives on combat effectiveness and standards.
-
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest battleground in the ongoing debate over an Iowa law that bans books with sexual content from school libraries and restricts lessons that relate to gender identity and sexual orientation.
-
The City of Coralville passed a resolution affirming its protections for the LGBTQ community. It’s the second city to do so after state lawmakers removed gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act earlier this year. -
-
On this encore episode, the gender gap in health care diagnosis, outcomes and research.
-
On this encore edition of Talk of Iowa, a look at how girls have been able to catch up to boys on measures of success and why boys, especially boys of color, experience more discipline.
-
For decades, a political gap has been growing between men and women, with Generation Z having the largest political divide.
-
Gender identity is no longer part of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The change is part of a sweeping law that also defines a person’s sex by what was assigned at birth. As transgender and nonbinary Iowans navigate the uncertainties, hope is still found in community.
