Caucus Land

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Caucus Land

The famed first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are back. But things are different this time around. In 2024, the power dynamic in Iowa politics has completely shifted. The Democrats have essentially packed up and left. And the Republicans are taking the national stage alone to see what caucusgoers decide with an indicted former president dominating the candidate pack.The new season of Caucus Land looks at the Iowa caucuses through this lens to understand how we got here and why the mission of keeping Iowa first in the presidential race is so important to the state parties.This season of Caucus Land is a collaboration between Iowa Public Radio and the Midwest Newsroom.

  1. 19/12/2023

    The perspective that is lost

    Traditional Iowa news outlets are shrinking and have fewer resources to cover the Iowa caucuses. The remaining Republican presidential candidates make their case in the final weeks as misinformation blurs what potential caucusgoers know to be true.

    24 min

  2. 06/12/2023

    A tradition in name only

    Presidential candidates have been rewarded in the Iowa caucuses for spending a lot of time traveling the state and meeting with voters. That strategy doesn’t seem to be working for those running against former President Donald Trump in 2024. A runaway victory for the former president could mark a major shift for campaigns and could spell even more trouble for the future of the Iowa caucuses.

    23 min

  3. 22/11/2023

    Iowa’s march to the right

    Former President Donald Trump’s first campaign for president was unlike anything Iowa caucus goers had experienced before. Many voters clung to his right-wing populist message and still support him as he runs for the White House a third time. His election in 2016 marked a clear shift in Iowa’s politics that’s still very present today.

    24 min

  4. 15/11/2023

    Losing first-in-the-nation

    Everything seemed to go well during the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses… until it came time to record the results. There was no momentum for any candidates on caucus night because of a faulty smartphone app. President Joe Biden had a poor showing and signaled the DNC to move Iowa back in the calendar ending the state’s coveted long held first-in-the-nation position.

    26 min
  5. Introducing Caucus Land ‘24

    08/11/2023

    Introducing Caucus Land ‘24

    Caucus Land returns for a limited-run second season. Our first of four episodes debuts Nov. 15. Here's a preview of Caucus Land ‘24.

    2 min
  6. Caucus Meltdown

    06/02/2020

    Caucus Meltdown

    The 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses devolved into chaos when the system for reporting results failed. Technical issues, human error and reporting inaccuracies delayed the outcome for days, and the repercussions are still playing out. On the twentieth episode of Caucus Land, we take a look at the app that broke the caucuses and how Iowa Democrats are responding.

    22 min
  7. Caucus Curtain Call

    31/01/2020

    Caucus Curtain Call

    What started as the largest and most diverse crop of Democratic presidential candidates in history has been cut down substantially ahead of the February 3rd Iowa caucuses. But it’s not just Iowa that’s winnowed the field. On the nineteenth episode of Caucus Land, we’ll talk about how we got here and what it could mean for the future of the Iowa caucuses.

    20 min
  8. What To Expect When You're Expecting To Caucus

    23/01/2020

    What To Expect When You're Expecting To Caucus

    Every four years, people have to basically relearn how the Iowa Democratic caucuses work. This year, a slate of new rules means caucus night could get even more confusing, and campaigns will have more ways than ever to spin the results out of Iowa. On the eighteenth episode of Caucus Land, we’ll break down what actually happens on February 3rd. Plus, conversations with two candidates: former Vice President Joe Biden and billionaire Tom Steyer.

    31 min
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About

The famed first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are back. But things are different this time around. In 2024, the power dynamic in Iowa politics has completely shifted. The Democrats have essentially packed up and left. And the Republicans are taking the national stage alone to see what caucusgoers decide with an indicted former president dominating the candidate pack.The new season of Caucus Land looks at the Iowa caucuses through this lens to understand how we got here and why the mission of keeping Iowa first in the presidential race is so important to the state parties.This season of Caucus Land is a collaboration between Iowa Public Radio and the Midwest Newsroom.

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