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What A Week

What A Week

By Progress Iowa

James Simmons from Progress Iowa break down the big headlines of the week in Iowa and national politics and talks with leaders from around the state about issues Iowans care about.

Text JOIN to 515-417-3320 for text message updates from Progress Iowa.

Have a question or want to hear a certain issue addressed on the podcast? Email us at press@progressiowa.org.

What a Week is part of the Potluck Media network. Learn more at potluck.fm
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The Significance of Black Lives Matter Pt. 2 - Discussion

What A WeekFeb 28, 2022

00:00
55:47
The Significance of Black Lives Matter Pt. 2 - Discussion

The Significance of Black Lives Matter Pt. 2 - Discussion

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, on this special, two-part edition to discuss "The Significance of Black Lives Matter" Forum hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Women and Gender Studies program. The forum featured Dr. Reverend Belinda Creighton Smith, a professor at UNI a Pastor of Faith Temple American Baptist Church, as well as Joyce Levingston, who sits on the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University.

This episode is part 2 of the two part series, and is the interview discussions James had with Dr. Rev. Creighton-Smith and Joyce Levingston in the weeks following the forum.

Feb 28, 202255:47
The Significance of Black Lives Matter Pt. 1 - Forum

The Significance of Black Lives Matter Pt. 1 - Forum

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, on this special, two-part edition to discuss "The Significance of Black Lives Matter" Forum hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Women and Gender Studies program. The forum featured Dr. Reverend Belinda Creighton Smith, a professor at UNI a Pastor of Faith Temple American Baptist Church, as well as Joyce Levingston, who sits on the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University.

This episode is part 1 of the two part series, and is the audio recording of the forum held on February 7, 2022.

Feb 27, 202257:08
Tax Plans Explained with Senator Pam Jochum

Tax Plans Explained with Senator Pam Jochum

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, to break down this week's news and hear from a tax expert to help us make sense of all the tax plans coming from the Iowa Capital. Later in the episode, James speaks with former President of the Iowa Senate and Ranking Member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Democratic Senator from Dubuque, Pam Jochum.

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Theme Song: "What a Week"
Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons
Produced by Lily Noel

Feb 06, 202239:11
Democratic Leader, Senator Zach Wahls

Democratic Leader, Senator Zach Wahls

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, to break down this week's news and to hear from Iowa Senator and Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, who joins us to discuss workers' issues in the state of Iowa.

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Theme Song: "What a Week"
Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons
Produced by Lily Noel

Jan 30, 202226:60
Roe v Wade 49th Anniversary

Roe v Wade 49th Anniversary

January 22nd, 2022 is the 49th Anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion access nationally. Host James Simmons speaks with Iowa House Ranking Member on the Human Resources committee, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, and Jamie Burch Elliott, who is the Director of Public Affairs for North Central Planned Parenthood.

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Theme Song: "What a Week"
Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons
Produced by Lily Noel

Jan 23, 202234:23
House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst

Join James Simmons, Progress Iowa's new Deputy Press Secretary, and Iowa House Representative and Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst in discussing Governor Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State Address, the Democrats' response, and what to look out for during the Iowa 2022 Legislative Session.

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Theme Song: "What a Week"
Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons
Produced by Lily Noel

Jan 16, 202226:26
Meet the Team Edition

Meet the Team Edition

Join James Simmons, Progress Iowa's new Deputy Press Secretary, and meet the new Progress Iowa team! 

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Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel

Jan 09, 202248:12
Roe on the Ropes

Roe on the Ropes

Matt and Ivy discuss the Supreme Court challenge to Roe v Wade, Iowa's increasing COVID numbers, the latest school shooting that our leaders refuse to do anything about, and Iowa's big windfall in money for clean water as a result of the infrastructure bill.

Dec 04, 202116:04
Building it Back Again

Building it Back Again

Matt and Ivy discuss the rollercoaster of a week with the highs of the Build Back Better Act passing the House and the John Deere UAW strike ending and the lows of the gut punch verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

Nov 22, 202114:06
Build it Back!

Build it Back!

Kim Reynolds is taking credit for popular bills she opposed, the John Deere strike goes on after a second attempt on a contract is rejected by workers, COVID vaccines are coming for kids as young as 5, municipal and school board elections were a mixed bag here in Iowa, Chuck Grassley votes against expanding voting rights (again!), and ABBA's back!

Nov 06, 202115:43
Oh Deere.
Oct 16, 202114:03
Give it up, Chuck!

Give it up, Chuck!

Matt and Ivy discuss the news that Iowa's own Chuck Grassley wants an 8th term in the US Senate. Gross.

They also discuss the wailing and thrashing of the right at school board meetings around keeping kids as safe as possible during COVID, Governor Reynolds wants her mask mandate ban back as COVID cases reach a new record high, Iowa's first potential redistricting map, the Dear Evan Hansen movie and more!

Sep 25, 202118:04
Everyone Needs a Labor Union

Everyone Needs a Labor Union

Matt spent the week at the yearly Iowa Federation of Labor conference and got to speak with elected officials and Iowans who fight for the rights of all workers, unionized and not, every day.

We hear from Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, RuralVote.org Executive Director JD Scholten, IFL AFL-CIO Political Director Al Womble, and Western Iowa Labor Federation Field Coordinator Jen Pellant.

Aug 30, 202118:47
Back to School
Aug 21, 202123:06
Deep Fried COVID

Deep Fried COVID

The 2021 Iowa State Fair kicks off and it's not just the deep fried butter that could be hazardous to your health. Spoiler: It's COVID. There's COVID at the Fair.

Matt and Ivy also talk about the census data that shows most of Iowa's counties are shrinking in both population and diversity, the second child tax credit checks that are hitting mailboxes now (thank you, Cindy Axne!), the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees, and more!

Aug 14, 202117:32
Delta, Delta, Delta.

Delta, Delta, Delta.

The "Delta variant" of COVID-19 runs rampant across Iowa and Kim Reynolds' blames immigrants and tries to restrict abortion rights, the most on-brand thing for her we can think of.

Matt and Ivy also discuss the latest Olympic wins, President Biden's nudge to governors who won't do their jobs, the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and the new eviction moratorium put in place by Biden.

Also, did anyone actually qualify for their Field of Dreams game ticket??

Aug 07, 202119:00
The Supreme Stakes

The Supreme Stakes

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa Public Affairs Director Jaime Burch Elliot joins Matt and Ivy to talk about the Supreme Stakes, a series of events hosted by Progress Iowa, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, and the Iowa Interfaith Alliance to educate Iowans about the attacks on our reproductive rights.

We also talk about the Olympics (Go Team USA!), Jeff Bezos's phallic ride to space, and producer Greg's snarky tweets getting fact-checked by the Daily Iowan.

Jul 24, 202134:37
Please, Think of the Children!

Please, Think of the Children!

Matt and Ivy (and Greg) are back in the Progress Iowa studio after 15 months of social distancing and boy, does it feel good. Almost as good as hundreds of thousands of Iowa families receiving $300 in tax relief every month in an historic initiative to cut childhood poverty. Thank you to Cindy Axne and Cindy Axne only.

We also discuss what we briefly heard from the Family Leader Summit where former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were scheduled to speak, Governor Reynolds putting politics before refugee children AND our public safety, and Ivy tells the old guys in the room who Olivia Rodrigo is.

Jul 17, 202125:26
Time's Up for Chuck

Time's Up for Chuck

Matt and Ivy discuss the Des Moines Register poll that said over 60% of Iowans want someone other than Chuck Grassley in the Senate, the new anti-protest bill that would have made they themselves criminals, the tragic fire that destroyed a memorial to Black youth and investigation around that fire, and our Senators' votes and outright lies on SR1, the For the People Act.

Jun 26, 202121:15
Petty Unemployment Politics
Jun 12, 202137:20
Happy Pride Month!

Happy Pride Month!

Matt and Ivy talk Pride Month and Progress Iowa's LGBTQ+ Media Guide, Kim Reynolds unwillingness to do any more than the bare minimum when it comes to promoting vaccinations, the wide ranging effects COVID relief had on Americans, the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, and more.

Jun 05, 202115:58
No One Likes A Bragger + Edward-Isaac Dovere

No One Likes A Bragger + Edward-Isaac Dovere

Governor Reynolds goes back on Fox to brag/lie about Iowa's COVID recovery, the post legislative session landscape, and Matt is joined by staff writer for The Atlantic Edward-Isaac Dovere to talk about his new book "Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump."

May 29, 202156:00
This is the End

This is the End

The 2021 legislative session is finally over and Matt and Ivy (and special guest little Joey Sinovic) have thoughts on that, Iowa's sputtering economy, and the 20th Shrekiversary.

May 22, 202117:45
The Bully in Chief ft. Sen. Zach Wahls

The Bully in Chief ft. Sen. Zach Wahls

Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) joins Matt to discuss the bombshell leaked audio of a right-wing think tank admitting to writing the voter suppression law that Iowa Republicans rammed through the legislator, possibly in violation of Iowa law, as well as Governor Reynolds putting the bully in bully pulpit and more.
May 15, 202137:55
Get Vaccinated, Iowa!

Get Vaccinated, Iowa!

Matt and Ivy discuss President Biden's address to Congress, Iowa's supply/demand issue with COVID vaccines, Governor Reynolds's bizarre admission that she sent $93 million back to the federal government instead of using it for contact tracing, Rudy Giuliani's early morning visit from the FBI, and more!

May 01, 202122:28
13 Years Old.

13 Years Old.

It's been a rough week for anyone who cares about justice and equality and our hearts go out to the families of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and the eight victims of the mass shooting in Indianapolis: Matthew Alexander, Samaria Blackwell, Amarjeet Johal, Jaswinder Kaur, Jaswinder Singh, Amarjit Sekhon, Karli Smith, and John Weisert.

Apr 17, 202126:20
Kim Reynolds is Our Problem

Kim Reynolds is Our Problem

Matt and Ivy discuss Governor Reynolds's "not my problem" moment when discussing immigrants, the press conference from AFSCME around workplace safety and the murders of corrections workers at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, the anti-abortion amendment that passed the legislature and more.

Apr 11, 202122:26
Flush it down the funnel
Apr 03, 202141:06
The Extreme 16
Mar 27, 202157:50
Stop the Madness!

Stop the Madness!

On March 24, 2020 the first of more than 5,600 Iowans passed away due to COVID-19. Progress Iowa honors those who we've lost with the Iowa COVID Memorial website.

Matt and Ivy also discuss this year's "Extreme 16" bracket where you can vote on the worst of the worst bills introduced in this year's legislative session, the polls suggesting Iowans do not want either Governor Reynolds or Senator Grassley to run again, our (finally!) increasing vaccine numbers, 

Mar 21, 202124:34
Help is on the way!
Mar 13, 202118:20
Down the Funnel We Go!

Down the Funnel We Go!

It's Funnel Week! Bills that have not passed a subcommittee in the Iowa legislature are almost surely dead. Unless they're not. Matt and Ivy discuss the big bills that made it through, the COVID relief package coming out of Washington and the political theater that Republicans are engaging in, and Chuck Grassley "both sides-ing" the January 6th terrorist attack on the US Capitol.

Mar 06, 202117:54
Slash and Burn
Feb 27, 202137:22
Republicans Don't Want You To Vote

Republicans Don't Want You To Vote

Matt and Ivy talk about Kim Reynolds's latest retreat in the fight against COVID, the voter suppression bill that election attorney Mark Elias calls "the worst anti-voting bill" in the country and other disasters coming out of the state house. IT'S NOT GREAT, PEOPLE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THIS MAD.

Feb 20, 202124:41
Race to the Bottom

Race to the Bottom

Ivy and Matt talk about Governor Reynolds's bizarre fundraising pitches around her COVID response and literally auctioning her time off to the highest bidder, the once again inadequate school funding bill, the legislature's race to the bottom on transgender rights, and give their hot take on the impeachment trial in Washington.

Text JOIN to 515-417-3320 to receive updates from Progress Iowa.

Feb 13, 202118:47
Don't Tread on My Jeans

Don't Tread on My Jeans

Ivy and Matt discuss Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell's "Denim Demonstration", the racial profiling bill that isn't, (finally) some COVID relief from Washington, favorite Super Bowl foods, and more!

Text JOIN to 515-417-3320 for text message updates from Progress Iowa.

Feb 06, 202119:26
It's Burn It All Down Week

It's Burn It All Down Week

Matt and Ivy discuss the horrible bills moving through the Iowa Legislature and Governor Reynolds's refusal to take responsibility for our state's response to the pandemic which has also been horrible.

Jan 30, 202114:52
A Light at the End of the Tunnel

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Matt and Ivy react to the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President, the historic inauguration of Kamala Harris as the 49th Vice President, and the progressive agenda that will begin restoring our nation.

They also discuss the "disappointing but not surprising" agenda coming out of the Iowa legislature.

And of course, the Bernie memes.

Jan 23, 202116:55
How Low Can We Go?

How Low Can We Go?

Matt and Ivy discuss Governor Reynolds's Condition of the State address and agenda, the death penalty bill that passed a subcommittee vote despite almost unanimous public comment opposing it, the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and State Senator Zach Whiting's gross comparison of the attack on the capitol with civil rights marches.

Then Matt speaks with Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls about his new job, COVID protocols at the Capitol (or lack thereof), and how Democrats are going to help Iowans out of this mess.

Jan 16, 202142:16
Treason, Terror, and a Silver Lining
Jan 09, 202142:05
The 8th Annual Progress Iowa Holiday Party!
Dec 22, 202018:37
Kim Reynolds's White Flag of Surrender
Dec 05, 202015:28
Secretary Dolly Parton?
Nov 27, 202025:30
Iowa needs a mask mandate

Iowa needs a mask mandate

Matt and Ivy talk about the ups and downs of last week's election, the COVID crisis that just keeps getting worse, and the complete lack of leadership from the Governor's office.

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay apart.

Nov 14, 202033:53
Health care is on the ballot. VOTE.
Nov 02, 202026:04
Close the Boyfriend Loophole!

Close the Boyfriend Loophole!

Matt and Ivy discuss the final presidential debate, the Senate Judicial Committee's vote on Amy Coney Barrett, the 545 migrant children still separated from their parents, and Kim Reynolds's CARES Act spending spree.

We also hear a message to Sen. Joni Ernst from Lilly Steil, a young woman who became an activist against domestic violence after her sister Roseanna was shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend.

Call Sens Ernst & Grassley -- NO Supreme Court vote until the people have spoken
  • Ernst: (202) 224-3254
  • Grassley: (202) 224 - 3744
Oct 24, 202023:29
Donald and Kim. Two Beans in a Pod.
Oct 17, 202031:10
Talking About Talkers Talking
Oct 10, 202033:27
A hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck
Oct 03, 202027:57
Losing a Legend
Sep 26, 202016:48