River to River

Dow Chemical’s so-called “Agent Orange Corn” is being criticized by some in the agriculture community but is being praised by others as weed resistance plagues farmers. Corn producers fret about a possible decline in corn prices in a record planting year, and beef producers are concerned about affects of the controversy regarding “lean finely textured beef.” This hour we talk with Rob Swoboda, the editor of Wallace’s Farmer, Dan Piller of the Des Moines Register and Iowa Public Radio correspondent Clay Masters about issues facing Iowa’s agriculture industry. 

Iowa lawmakers have adjourned for the year… and now they’ll be hitting the campaign trail armed with accomplishments.  Host Joyce Russell talks with legislative leaders, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Assistant Majority Leader in the House Steven Lukan, about what they’ll highlight in legislative races.  Then, statehouse reporters, James Lynch of the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Jason Clayworth of the Des Moines Register, offer their takes on what did and did NOT get done.

Mother’s day is this weekend.  StoryCorps founder David Isay’s book, “Mom” is based on interviews from around the country -- people talking to, and about, their mothers.  Host Ben Kieffer talks with Isay.  And, he takes a look at the marketing of mom.  Many companies run ads around mother's day aimed at moms, and seeking to attach positive memories to their products.  How successful are their efforts?

Join host Ben Kieffer as he talks with Tom Schrier of Iowa State University about his work studying how new attractions influence attendance rates at amusement parks.  Then, on July 9, 2011, Joe Gantner of Cedar Rapids set-off on a 100-mile training ride for RAGBRAI. About four miles into the trip his heart stopped and he lost consciousness.  Ben talks with Joe Gatner about the remarkable story of how he survived the ordeal and is now preparing for this year’s bicycle ride across Iowa. RAGBRAI director T.J. Juskiewicz will also join us to share training and safety tips in advance of this year’s ride in July.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls Syria one of the “most serious and gravest concerns of the international community.”  Greece still hasn’t formed a government, which has caused a slump on Wall Street.  Host Ben Kieffer talks with Jim McCormick, Chair of Political Science at Iowa State University and David Skidmore, Professor of Politics and International Relations at Drake University about these stories.  They also discuss an honor for former Iowa Supreme Court Justices and the Obama administration's evolving stance on same sex marriage.

At a time in our politics when every debate seems to be dominated by rancor and partisanship… retiring Representative Kurt Swaim of Bloomfield got up on the floor of the Iowa House last month and proclaimed his love for his colleagues, their staffs and the political system.  Host Ben Kieffer talks with Rep. Swaim and Representative Lance Horbach as they prepare to leave lawmaking behind.  He also speaks to Mike Glover, who recently retired as Senior Legislative and Political Correspondent for the Associated Press in Des Moines, about his long career covering Iowa politics.   

Not long ago, the word 'app' was unfamiliar to many. Today, many of us would be lost without our favorite mobile software applications. We'll examine a class at the University of Iowa focused on building computer apps. Among Ben's guests- UI Computer Science Professors Ted Herman and Jim Cremer.

Pakistan went on high alert this week over fears militants would launch revenge attacks on the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s killing. The anniversary caps a devastating year for the country as it’s alliances with the west remain strained. We'll get an update on the U.S.-Pakistan relationship with Aakif Ahmad of the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Initiative who visits Iowa next week to talk about relations with Pakistan. Later, a conversation with author Ken Ballen whose book Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals features interviews with more than one hundred extremist throughout the Muslim world.

Approval ratings for Congress are holding steady in the teens, but as bad as you think partisanship is – the authors of a new book say “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks.”  Host Jonathan Ahl talks with some of Iowa’s former Congressmen to get their impressions of partisanship today, as compared to when they were serving in office.  What’s your solution for getting our dysfunctional Congress back on track?

In a program that originally aired last May, we host a conversation about cyber civility. With a rapidly advancing technological society, we investigate how technology plays a roll in communication. In light of a controversial email sent from University of Iowa Professor Ellen Lewin, we take a look at how people are communicating digitally and how their digital communication differs from how they would communicate face to face. Is there a need for more digital discourse? How can we learn to be civil in a realm of anonymity? Should we? This hour we are joined by Andrea Weckerle, the Founder and President of CiviliNation.org and Warren Blumfeld of Iowa State University.

History offers the benefit of hindsight. But New York Times Bestselling author Erik Larson tries to transport readers back in time, before the outcome of events was known.  In his latest book, In the Garden of Beasts he takes us to pre-war Berlin with the family of the first U.S. Ambassador to Nazi Germany, William E. Dodd.  Host Ben Kieffer talks with him about narrative non-fiction in advance of a visit to Des Moines.  And Statehouse Correspondent Joyce Russell tells us how close Iowa lawmakers may be to adjournment.

How are canines aiding in crime fighting efforts? We'll find out when Ben talks to Officer Cordell Miller of the Des Moines Police Department. Miller's German Sheppard Bello tracked down a crime suspect that would have escaped if not for Bello's crime fighting abilities. Later, a conversation with Denise O'Brien from Atlantic, Iowa. She's just returned from a year-long mission in Afghanistan working on a reconstruction team with Afghan farmers.  

Iowa City native Zach Wahls skyrocketed to celebrity after a video of his speech before the Iowa Legislature became the top political youtube video of 2011. Now he’s written a book called My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family that looks at growing up with two lesbian mothers. Ben talks with Zach about the book and his newfound celebrity, which includes an appearance this week on Late Night with David Letterman.

President Obama makes another stop in our fair swing state of Iowa.  Mitt Romney pivots toward the general election... campaigning with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, as the Veepstakes heat up.  And the trial of John Edwards on federal campaign finance charges in North Carolina.  Host Ben Kieffer talks with analysts Tim Hagle of the University of Iowa and Dennis Goldford of Drake University about these and other issues in our weekly political discussion.