Robin Johnson
Host of Heartland PoliticsRobin A. Johnson is a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant. He is an expert on government reform issues and has consulted with numerous local governments on consolidation/merger, public-private partnerships and full-cost accounting of public services. Robin has also helped candidates win elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, state legislature, judiciary and local government. Robin served as a consultant to the Office of Statewide Performance Review in the Illinois Governor’s Office and is former director of the Illinois Center for Competitive Government, a partnership between the Illinois Comptroller’s Office and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. Prior to that, he was Director of the Local Government Affairs Division of the Illinois Comptroller’s Office. Robin served on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) in 1999-2000.
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Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, State Sen. Darren Bailey discusses his reasons for running, crime, schools, jobs, taxes and much more. -
GovernmentScott Kennedy with the center for Strategic and International Studies discusses their recent report, Estimating Chinese Industrial Policy Spending in Comparative Perspective, important research into how China’s targeted investments in its economy far exceed other countries, the consequences, and what the US can do in response.
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Erin Murphy, Des Moines bureau chief for The Gazette, looks at the Mike Franken big win for the Democratic nomination to face Chuck Grassley, GOP primary battles with incumbents toppled, turnout and the impact of Iowa’s new election law, the forecast for November’s election and whether the Iowa caucuses will hang on for another presidential cycle.
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Much is known about Robert Kennedy’s life prior to his brother’s assassination and the 1968 presidential campaign but less on the important period in between. On this weekend commemorating RFK’s death, John Bohrer, author of The Revolution of Robert Kennedy: From Power to Protest After JFK, talks about how RFK emerged from his brother’s shadow, won a US Senate seat, and set the stage for a campaign that still has many wondering “What if….?”
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Glenn Hurst, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Iowa, talks about why he’s running, economic issues, health care, climate, the partisan divide, globalization and much more.
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GovernmentIn part two of my interview with Ray Long, he continues the discussion of his book, The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer, including the former Speaker’s political skills, ideology (or lack of one), lessons for today’s Democrats, and his legacy to the state.
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GovernmentIn the first of a two-part interview, Ray Long, veteran political reporter for the Chicago Tribune and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer, discusses some highlights form his book, including Madigan’s rise to power, when ‘time stood still’ on the House floor, ‘Operation Cobra,’ and the ComEd scandal.
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Michael Stewart Foley, author of Citizen Cash, The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash, reveals the answer along with Johnny Cash’s continuing relevance as an American cultural icon. He talks about his book, the issues that concerned Cash, his political beliefs, and much more.
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Campaigns & ElectionsBusinessman Gary Rabine talks about his reasons for running, views on taxes, the economy, budget, schools, crime, and which other Governors across the country he would use for guidance.
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Wells King, research director at American Compass, discusses two recent articles he authored on the bipartisan mishandling of globalization and the decline of NASCAR. There are parallels between them and King talks about the need for a fresh perspective on both.
