Iowa’s GDP dropped 6.1% in Q1 2025—worse than almost every state. Farmers lost their biggest customer. John Deere laid off hundreds. Meatpacking plants can’t find workers.
These are Iowa jobs, Iowa families, Iowa businesses.
We broke down what’s actually happening—and why it matters heading into 2026.
WATCH: Iowa Senate candidate wants to give Iowans a ‘lift up, not a handout’
The government shutdown is holding up food assistance. Health care subsidies threaten to make the Affordable Care Act unaffordable for many Iowans....
WATCH: Iowa DOGE recommends changes to public employee pensions
Iowa's DOGE task force recommended changes to the public employee pension system.
WATCH: Renee Hardman, West Des Moines city councilwoman, running for Iowa Senate
Renee Hardman of West Des Moines is a Democrat running in the December special election to fill a state Senate seat. The vacancy was left following...
WATCH: Civics 101: What is an oligarchy?
If democracy is really backsliding, what takes its place? In this week's Civics 101 series, written by COURIER Newsroom's Ryan Pitkin and voiced by...
WATCH: Wage theft thrives in an era of mass deportation
It's no secret that many industries lean on undocumented workers to meet their needs. In an era of mass deportations, wage theft is still occurring...
WATCH: Government shutdown threatens SNAP and affordable healthcare
If the government shutdown continues through Nov. 1, millions of Americans will lose SNAP benefits and access to affordable healthcare.
