ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

ITR Live is published by Iowans for Tax Relief, bringing you insights on Iowa politics, conservative tax policy, government accountability, and the fight for limited government. Hosted by Chris Hagenow, each episode features sharp commentary, behind-the-scenes analysis from the Iowa Capitol, and an occasional laugh—always with the taxpayer in mind. Whether we’re breaking down the latest legislation, tracking local government spending, or exploring how policies impact your wallet, ITR Live keeps you informed and engaged. Subscribe for honest conversations about conservative politics in Iowa.

ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy is a news podcast hosted by Iowans for Tax Relief, with 269 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Iowans for Tax Relief hosts ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy, a news show with 269 episodes published.

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  ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

  More Taxes, More Government: The Left's Playbook for Iowa This Fall

  Aug 7, 202632 min

  Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library for a wide-ranging episode — and opposition to the constitutional amendment is starting to emerge, which means it's time to sharpen the arguments. Chris leads with the amendment, because voices on the left are now claiming that protecting income taxes from a simple majority vote will somehow cause other taxes to go up. Chris and John take that argument apart piece by piece, drawing on Iowa's own recent history to show why the premise doesn't hold. The real lesson: every time someone argues Iowa will inevitably need to raise more revenue, they're making the case for why this protection needs to be in the Constitution. From there, the conversation turns to local government and the ongoing fallout from the property tax reform law. The city of Dubuque's complaint about a $200 million drop in taxable value gets a close reading. Bond elections are on the horizon in Johnson County and Urbandale, both for law enforcement facilities. The episode closes with a look at the Sand-Muhlbauer ticket's "local control" messaging tour and what it actually means: they want local governments to be able to keep raising property taxes. 0:00 Welcome & headset chaos1:57 Trivia4:34 Amendment one: opposition is emerging6:00 The "other taxes will go up" argument9:48 Distrust of government13:41 Dubuque and the property tax bill backlash15:10 The inflation argument18:57 Bond elections24:28 Sand-Muhlbauer "local control" tour29:43 John's immigration debate with Vance Ginn30:58 John's Herbert Hoover Library visit & sign off

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  ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

  ITR Foundation Local Government Symposium Debrief

  Jul 30, 202631 min

  Chris Hagenow welcomes ITR Foundation Research Director Sarah Curry back to the studio. The occasion: a debrief on ITR Foundation's second annual Local Government Symposium, and it sounds like it was the best one yet. Sarah and Chris walk through what the symposium is and why it exists — local elected officials don't have the same depth of resources available to state legislators, and too often the information they do receive comes filtered through national associations with agendas that don't match Iowa. ITR Foundation is trying to fill that gap with practical, Iowa-focused content for the city council members, county supervisors, and school board members who are running local government on a part-time basis while holding down jobs and raising families. The conversation covers the day's major themes: what the proper function of a city actually is (police, fire, roads — not homeless task forces or economic development grants), why the free market allocates resources better than government, and what local officials should take from the property tax reform law that is now on the books — namely, that relitigating it is a waste of time and energy. The symposium also featured sessions on communicating with constituents, local endorsements, open meetings law, and a school board track that introduced benchmarking — why comparing Waterloo to Sioux City makes more sense than comparing Waterloo to Waukee. Before and after the symposium discussion, Chris makes sure listeners know about the amendment one campaign. Vote yes. MakeTaxHikesHarder.com. 0:12 Welcome & Sarah Curry returns 1:14 Amendment one reminder — and Sarah goes on record 2:13 What is the Local Government Symposium? 3:33 Why local officials need a different kind of resource 9:13 Free market vs. government in service delivery 10:04 UBI and scope creep: what cities shouldn't be doing 12:31 Property tax reform: stop relitigating, start implementing 13:38 Communications and constituent outreach 16:00 Local endorsements — more powerful than you think 19:27 Open meetings law and legal guardrails 22:15 School board breakout: benchmarking districts correctly 25:06 Chris's legislative update: property tax law is settled 30:08 What's next for ITR Foundation's local government work 30:45 Sign off & vote yes

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  ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

  Vote Yes: The Campaign to Protect Iowa Taxpayers Is Official

  Jul 24, 202627 min

  Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library — John rolls in with a red solo cup of cream soda, and the energy is right. This one's worth tuning in for. The big news: ITR officially launched its campaign yesterday. The website is live at MakeTaxHikesHarder.com. The mission is straightforward — make sure Iowans know the constitutional amendment is on the ballot this fall, and know to vote yes. Chris walks through what the amendment does and why it matters. From there, New Jersey's admission that over 6,000 noncitizens were added to its voter rolls — and 400 of them voted — gives Chris and John an opportunity to revisit the election integrity debate. Governor Reynolds was asked about it at the same press conference where she signaled support for the amendment, and her answer hits the right notes. The episode closes with two Chicago Tribune editorials on tax policy that John flagged — both making the case that Illinois is falling behind its neighbors on property tax and income tax reform, and that spending is the root of the problem. When the Tribune editorial board starts sounding like ITR, something might actually be changing. 0:13 Red solo cup 2:31 Campaign launch: MakeTaxHikesHarder.com 3:08 What the amendment does 5:59 16 states already have this — including blue ones 7:48 Washington state: what happens without it 9:39 History: this was on the ballot in 1999 10:14 What the amendment doesn't do 11:35 Public support 12:16 Two things Iowans need to know before November 14:41 Iowa's decade of income tax progress 15:08 New Jersey: 6,000 noncitizens on the voter rolls 17:11 The case for voter roll integrity 18:05 Chris's University of Iowa panel story 20:07 Chicago Tribune on property taxes and Illinois 22:13 Tribune on income taxes: Iowa as the model 26:03 Sign off & vote yes

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  ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

  Faith, Patriotism, and the Fight Over Iowa's Ballot

  Jul 9, 202636 min

  Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library — Dr. Pepper Zero firmly in hand — for a wide-ranging episode covering American patriotism, election integrity, faith in politics, and Iowa voter registration trends. The episode opens with a reflection on America's 250th birthday. Chris wanted more. The fireworks, the parades, the national moment — it didn't feel commensurate with what 250 years of the greatest experiment in self-government deserves. John connects the muted celebration to decades of failure to teach American history, and the two discuss why the left's framework for America — defined by grievance rather than gratitude — is increasingly out of step with how the rest of the world sees this country. From there, a Des Moines Register story catches their attention: a coalition of faith leaders warning that voting integrity laws are "the moral issue of our time." Chris and John take that claim seriously — and find it wanting. The conversation gets at something deeper than any specific piece of legislation: when social justice becomes the gospel, what happens to the actual gospel? The back half covers Iowa's new voter registration numbers — Democrats and Republicans both added voters coming out of the primaries, while independents declined — and what that tells us about Rob Sand's argument for a jungle primary. Spoiler: it doesn't hold up. The episode closes with a clear distinction between what conservatives mean when they talk about election law versus what the left is actually proposing, and a reminder to flip your ballot over this fall and vote yes on the constitutional amendment. 0:10 Welcome 1:09 Trivia 3:16 Smithsonian: correcting the American history narrative 5:23 Fourth of July rhetoric from the left 9:10 America at 250 16:48 Faith leaders and voting rights 18:35 The Save Act and voter ID 22:21 When social justice becomes the gospel 26:53 Iowa voter registration numbers 28:39 Sand's jungle primary argument falls apart 30:45 Election law reform vs. what the left actually wants 34:07 Reform vs. revolution 35:06 Candidates on taxes — next episode 35:32 Vote yes & sign off

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  ITR Live: Iowa Politics and Conservative Policy

  New ITR Foundation Poll: Iowa's Races, Issues, and a Big Amendment Number

  Jun 26, 202635 min

  Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library for a special episode: the first public look at the ITR Foundation's June 2026 general election poll. These are, as far as Chris knows, the first published numbers of the cycle on Iowa's major statewide races — and the results are worth paying attention to. The poll covers the generic ballot, issue priorities, candidate matchups in all three major statewide races, and — most importantly for ITR — the constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds legislative supermajority to raise income taxes. Chris and John walk through what the numbers say, what they mean, and what they don't. The headline from the amendment question: 74% of Iowans support it — higher than in any previous poll — including 72% of independents and 60% of Democrats. Chris makes the case that whatever the margin of error, whatever the exact sample, the underlying message is unambiguous: Iowans want protection from future tax increases, and they want it written into the constitution. Tune in for the full breakdown of the governor's race numbers (closer than most Republicans assume), the Senate and AG matchups, and what the issue priority data says about the environment heading into November.0:14 Welcome & housekeeping1:46 Trivia: Coolidge answer & new Civil War question3:25 Iowa Dept. of Revenue income tax report4:55 About the ITR Foundation poll & Cygnal methodology9:17 Right track / wrong track & generic ballot10:55 Top voter issues: economy, taxes, immigration14:35 US Senate: Hinson vs. Turek15:27 Governor: Lahn vs. Sand15:47 Attorney General: Bird vs. Williams17:00 Sand's name ID advantage — and its limits20:38 The constitutional amendment explained22:13 74% support — breaking down the numbers24:00 Why the amendment resonates across party lines28:25 ESA / school choice numbers31:45 What it all means heading into November34:31 Sign off

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