Podcast di Robin Johnson

Washington Post Chief Correspondent Dan Balz discusses major governmental and political issues including US democracy, the filibuster, Roe V Wade, election reform, the economy, the 2022 elections and much more.Di Robin Johnson

Frank Luntz, who pioneered opinion research techniques and messaging, talks about the state of our politics and takes aim at both parties for the partisan divide and failure to reach out, even talk, to the other side.Di Robin Johnson

Kris Maher, author of Desperate: An Epic Battle for Clean Water and Justice in Appalachia and a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, talks about the complexities, personalities and mixed outcome of a classic battle between small communities and a coal company. He discusses the area’s history, including the Hatfields and McCoys and Matewan Massacre…

Author Reg Ankrom discusses the first two books of his three-part biography of Stephen Douglas. He talks about the major influences that shaped him, his diverse governmental career prior to running for Congress, his ability to produce compromise, views on slavery and the controversial issue of whether he owned slaves.…

Veteran political writer James Lynch from the Cedar Rapids Gazette looks back at the top five issues from 2021 and looks ahead to major stories likely to emerge in 2022.Di Robin Johnson

Veteran journalist and reporter Scott Reeder takes a look back at the top political stories from the current year and looks ahead to what will we’ll be talking about politically in the new year.Di Robin Johnson

Author Sam Quinones discusses his latest book, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, and how seeds of hope are sprouting up across the land through innovative programs that are repairing people and communities. The key is reconnecting people at the local level and moving away from isolation.…

Josh Kraushaar, national political columnist for the National Journal, talks about the election results from earlier this month and looks ahead to the 2022 midterms. He’ll discuss what made newly elected VA Governor Glenn Youngkin a ‘political unicorn,’ Democratic messaging struggles, the internal challenges facing both parties, analysis on trends …

Veteran Democratic consultant Hal Malchow, who did pioneering work on data analytics and micro targeting, suggests a different way for Democrats to reach out to voters and offers his take on the 2021 elections.Di Robin Johnson

Farah Stockman, editorial board member of the New York Times and Pulitzer Prize winner, talks about her new book American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears. She follows the lives of three people from the Heartland who are thrown out of work after a factory shuts down to go overseas. But her personal journey described in the book is …

Evan Osnos, staff writer for the New Yorker, talks about his new book, Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury, that captures his thoughts on America after a decade living overseas. It bookends two key dates, September 11 and January 6, to explore the roots of our current political tensions through the stories of individuals in three places he lived…

Elaine Godfrey, a Burlington-area native and staff writer for the Atlantic, talks about her recent article on the decline of the Burlington Hawk Eye and it’s meaning for the community and how it furthers the nationalization of politics.Di Robin Johnson

Adam Tooze, author and professor at Columbia University, talks about his recent book, Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy, including lessons learned, supply chain disruptions, the role of China, inequality, health care, the partisan divide in the US and much more.Di Robin Johnson

State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), head of the state Republican campaign committee, talks about Madigan. Trump, redistricting, the crime bill, the state budget and much more.Di Robin Johnson

Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs talks about his college and retirement savings plans, programs to help the disabled and farmers, the status of the American Dream and his advocacy for downstate and rural Democrats.

Author Scott Eyman’s book is a tonic in these days of politics dividing the nation on almost every topic. He takes us to a time when two Hollywood stars maintained their long-term friendship in spite of differences that came between them including actions of their children during the Vietnam War. A very useful lesson for our times.…

The former reporter and NBC News anchor shares a very personal battle with cancer based on his book A Lucky Life Interrupted. Brokaw also talks about his Midwestern upbringing and how it shaped his life and career.Di Robin Johnson

Marc C. Johnson discusses his new book, Tuesday Night Massacre on how four US Senate elections in 1980 laid the groundwork for the ‘radicalization of the Republican Party. One of these races occurred in Iowa when Chuck Grassley defeated incumbent John Culver after a dry run for new conservative methods defeated incumbent Dick Clark two years earlie…

Bruce Springsteen’s life, music and impact on America was celebrated in a book called Long Walk Home that was published to celebrate his 70th birthday. Jefferson Cowie discusses his essay on ‘The Boss,’ Springsteen’s impact on today’s polarized society, his take on American identity and much more.Di Robin Johnson

Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance ranks right up there with the JFK assassination on unsolved mysteries and conspiracy theories. Jack Goldsmith, stepson of Hoffa’s right hand man, Chuckie O’Brien, talks about his book that debunks many myths, including Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman, and offers his take on what really happened.…

Craig Whitlock, investigative reporter for the Washington Post, discusses his new book, Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War, which is based on thousands of interviews and direct source materials from those involved at the top levels of our government and military and those at the ground level. Whitlock discusses mission creep, nation bu…

On the 60th anniversary of that fateful day, Lawrence Lehmer talks about his book that chronicles the grueling nature of the bus rides on two-lane roads in the dead of winter, Iowa’s major role in the tour, and decisions that led to the crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, and Holly’s impact on American music…

Dale Maharidge talks about his book, Bringing Mulligan Home, and his mission to locate the remains of his dad’s friend that takes him to Okinawa and on a very personal journey familiar to those of us with relatives who served in combat.Di Robin Johnson

Bill C. Malone, author of Country Music USA and advisor to Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on country music, provides the answer and talks about the appeal of country music, its roots, impact on our culture and more.

Bill Medley, half of the famous Righteous Brothers, shares how his music spanned five decades in popularity, its impact on American society and other stories from his autobiography, The Time of My Life.Di Robin Johnson

Bob Mann, author of Backrooms and Bayous: My Life in Louisiana Politics, takes you inside the halls of power in Washington and Louisiana, through his career transitions in journalism, politics and academics, experiences with legendary Louisiana political figures, and provides important advice for young people entering politics including the ability…

Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, the best account of the opioid epidemic, talks about his book and the perfect storm that led to this scourge that became a leading issue in the 2016 presidential campaign.Di Robin Johnson

I was fortunate enough to land JD Vance as a guest just before his popularity skyrocketed and led to a movie by Ron Howard and his current candidacy for the US Senate in Ohio. He discusses his book and applies a more even-handed approach to the politics of the white, working class based on his early, hardscrabble life in Appalachian Ohio and Kentuc…

Iowa-born John Wayne went on to become one of Hollywood’s most famous actors but was also involved in most post-World War II political controversies from the Red Scare to Vietnam. Author Scott Eyman discusses the Duke’s political life including his visceral reaction to ‘High Noon’ and the Wayne classic movie that he brought about in response.…

While best known for his closeness to JFK, the ‘Chairman of the Board’ was involved with politics throughout most of his remarkable singing career. Hear biographer James Kaplan discuss Sinatra’s political metamorphosis along with his impact on American culture and, of course, his essential songs.Di Robin Johnson

Bob Bruno, Director of the Labor Education Program and Professor at the University of Illinois, discusses the positive and negative impacts of Covid on American workers, the state of unions, a possible resurgence of domestic manufacturing, globalization’s role in the labor market, and much more.Di Robin Johnson

Congresswoman Marriannette Miller-Meeks (IA-2) discusses the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, homeland security, the budget bill, infrastructure, election reform and much more.Di Robin Johnson

Paul Glastris, editor in chief of Washington Monthly, assesses the first months of the Biden administration, calls for more antitrust regulation, and highlights several emerging leaders from both parties to watch for, including one who’s local.Di Robin Johnson

Author Marshall Terrill discusses his new book Steve McQueen: In His Own Words, including McQueen’s legacy, films that best capture his persona and why he still matters.Di Robin Johnson

Alec Macgillis, author of Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-click America, discusses key themes form his book including regional inequality, economic concentration, the decline of Main Street and the decline of manufacturing jobs as seen through the emergence of Amazon as a dominant player in the US economy. The impact of the tech economy also…

Brenden Moore, state government reporter for Lee Enterprises, talks about key accomplishments of the Illinois legislature including passage of the budget, allocating federal Covid relief dollars and passing anew legislative map.Di Robin Johnson

State Senator Neil Anderson (R-36) shares his thoughts on the recently concluded legislative session and ‘bad policy’ that results from one party having too much power. He also talks about the budget, economic climate, criminal justice reform, FOID card repeal, ethics and more.

State Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) shares his thoughts on the 2021 Illinois General Assembly session and addresses the state’s fiscal standing, the clean energy bill, criminal justice reform, the economic outlook and the new state Democratic legislative leadership.Di Robin Johnson

Pulitzer-prize winning author TJ Stiles talks about his book, Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, including how the outlaw was able to shape his image and legacy, the Civil War’s impact on Missouri, the role of Iowa in James’ banditry, and the lasting effects of the Civil War that still shape our lives and culture.…

As we celebrate July 4th, author Ted Widmer talks about President-elect Lincoln’s dependence on our founding principles to keep the union together from his recent book, Lincoln on the Verge, Thirteen Days to Washington. Widmer takes us inside Lincoln’s train ride to assume the presidency and offers a colorful look at the nation from stops along the…

Author Edward-Isaac Dovere, lead political correspondent for the Atlantic magazine, talks about his book Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ Campaigns to Defeat Trump including the “twists of fate” that led to Biden’s nomination, Obama’s inadvertent role in creating what followed, the continuing battle between progressive and moderate elemen…

Kathie Obradovich, Editor of the Iowa Capital Dispatch, assesses the Iowa legislative session and covers Covid, workforce development, tax cuts, charter schools, election reform, policing issues and more.Di Robin Johnson

Iowa Democratic House Leader Todd Prichard (D-Charles City) provides his take on the recently concluded legislative session and addresses school funding, election reform, the economy and more.

Paul Embery, a British trade union activist, Labour Party member, and author of “Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class,” provides a perspective from across the pond that includes lessons for American politics.Di Robin Johnson

Paul Embery, a British trade union activist, Labour Party member, and author of “Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class,” provides a perspective from across the pond that includes lessons for American politics.Di Robin Johnson

Di Robin Johnson

Democratic pollster Brian Stryker, a partner with ALG Research, talks about the Quad Cities’ profile as a blue collar suburban area, voter behavior regarding the economy versus culture, rural voters, and challenges facing the polling industry that were addressed in a recent report.Di Robin Johnson

Robert Blizzard, a partner with Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, shares results from focus groups involving suburban voters similar to those in Scott and Rock Island Counties that could lead to problems for Democrats in the midterm elections.Di Robin Johnson

Aaron Renn, a leading urban analyst focused on the Midwest, talks about the region’s economic emergence from the Covid pandemic, competing Red and Blue state strategies for growth, and whether globalization will remain a force or be reduced as a result of the pandemic. He also outlines what city leaders should prioritize to lay the groundwork for g…