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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Marc Dunkelman talks about his new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress--And How to Bring it Back. -
Rahm Emanuel, former Member of Congress, Chicago Mayor, and Ambassador to Japan who also served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, talks about how to revitalize the Democratic party, whether the party is still a 'big tent' party, NAFTA and free trade agreements, education and whether the Iowa caucuses should again lead off the presidential nominating process. -
Joan Williams discusses her new book, Outclassed: How The Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back. We discuss topics from her book including messaging suggestions, masculinity challenges, how the language of those with college degrees pushes away working class voters, and much more. -
Eminent Historian Harold Holzer's Inspirational Message for July 4th -
State Senator Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) discusses the recently concluded Illinois legislative session, his vote against the budget, education, economic issues, district accomplishments, mental health, the budget process, tariffs and what the national Democratic party needs to do to improve its image. -
State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) discusses the recently concludedlegislative session -
State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluff's 20th District, talks about the recently concluded legislative session in Iowa and his concerns about Medicaid cuts in Washington. -
Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-57) discusses accomplishments from the recently completed session, including tax reform, cutting government waste and restricting cell phone usage in schools and cars, and talks about ongoing property tax reform efforts. -
Clay Risen, author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America, discusses key elements of this era--The Hollywood 10, censorship of books and movies, those affected, including actor Sterling Hayden and Robert Oppenheimer--as well as the national landscape that provoked the conspirator style of politics, unsung heroes, and much more. -
Lon Helton, host of Country Countdown USA, Country Music Hall of Famemember and 12-time winner of the CMA National Broadcast Personality ofthe Year, talks about country music's impact on American culture, hiscareer, memorable interviews, and some of the misconceptions aboutcountry music.
