EP 92 - Iowa at a Crossroads: Bridging the Divide with Senator Jesse Green & Rep. Henry Stone
Sun Feb 01 2026
In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, I sit downwith Senator Jesse Green and State Representative Henry Stone to discuss the issues shaping Iowa’s future — and the growing need to bridge divides withinthe Iowa Legislature.
We cover the real tension between the Iowa House and Senate, the fallout from last session’s eminent domain battle, and why property taxes remain the number one concern I heard while knocking thousands of doors acrossthe state. From public health governance and vaccine legislation to education reform, school choice, and fiscal responsibility, this episode takes listeners inside the legislative process with honesty and depth.
This episode is sponsored by Gorilla Covers
👉https://basementwindowwellcover.com/
The conversation also moves beyond policy into leadership,faith, and character — including how personal journeys, military service, shared values, and experiences abroad (including Israel) shape how these leaders approach public service, democracy, and difficult decisions.
This episode is for anyone who wants a clearer understandingof where Iowa is headed — politically, culturally, and spiritually — and what it will take to govern well in a divided moment.
Chapters
00:00 Opening Remarks and Session Overview
04:59 Property Tax Challenges and Solutions
09:54 Eminent Domain and Pipeline Issues
15:10 Legislative Dynamics and Internal Politics
20:03 Child Protection and Education Initiatives
24:47 Health and Vaccine Legislation
30:11 Public Health Governance and Future Directions
33:11 Faith as a Guiding Principle in Politics
39:40 Personal Journeys: From Military to Politics
43:34 Diverse Backgrounds, Common Faith
48:44 The Impact of Faith on Political Decisions
50:51 Insights from a Trip to Israel
55:27 Support for Israel: A Political Perspective
01:02:43 The Spiritual Element of Democracy
01:03:43 Understanding the Context of Conflict
01:06:29 The Iowa Governor’s Race Dynamics
01:09:43 Authenticity and Competence in Leadership
01:12:03 The Importance of Republican Governance
01:14:44 Budget Surplus and Fiscal Responsibility
01:17:10 Teacher Pay and Education Funding
01:20:49 Innovations in Education and School Choice
01:27:11 Integrity in Politics and Governance
01:30:04 The Power of Language in Politics
❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOW
If you value conversations like this and want to helpsupport independent, long-form dialogue, you can support the show on Patreonbelow:
👉https://www.patreon.com/OliverBardwell
More
In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, I sit downwith Senator Jesse Green and State Representative Henry Stone to discuss the issues shaping Iowa’s future — and the growing need to bridge divides withinthe Iowa Legislature. We cover the real tension between the Iowa House and Senate, the fallout from last session’s eminent domain battle, and why property taxes remain the number one concern I heard while knocking thousands of doors acrossthe state. From public health governance and vaccine legislation to education reform, school choice, and fiscal responsibility, this episode takes listeners inside the legislative process with honesty and depth. This episode is sponsored by Gorilla Covers 👉https://basementwindowwellcover.com/ The conversation also moves beyond policy into leadership,faith, and character — including how personal journeys, military service, shared values, and experiences abroad (including Israel) shape how these leaders approach public service, democracy, and difficult decisions. This episode is for anyone who wants a clearer understandingof where Iowa is headed — politically, culturally, and spiritually — and what it will take to govern well in a divided moment. Chapters 00:00 Opening Remarks and Session Overview 04:59 Property Tax Challenges and Solutions 09:54 Eminent Domain and Pipeline Issues 15:10 Legislative Dynamics and Internal Politics 20:03 Child Protection and Education Initiatives 24:47 Health and Vaccine Legislation 30:11 Public Health Governance and Future Directions 33:11 Faith as a Guiding Principle in Politics 39:40 Personal Journeys: From Military to Politics 43:34 Diverse Backgrounds, Common Faith 48:44 The Impact of Faith on Political Decisions 50:51 Insights from a Trip to Israel 55:27 Support for Israel: A Political Perspective 01:02:43 The Spiritual Element of Democracy 01:03:43 Understanding the Context of Conflict 01:06:29 The Iowa Governor’s Race Dynamics 01:09:43 Authenticity and Competence in Leadership 01:12:03 The Importance of Republican Governance 01:14:44 Budget Surplus and Fiscal Responsibility 01:17:10 Teacher Pay and Education Funding 01:20:49 Innovations in Education and School Choice 01:27:11 Integrity in Politics and Governance 01:30:04 The Power of Language in Politics ❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOW If you value conversations like this and want to helpsupport independent, long-form dialogue, you can support the show on Patreonbelow: 👉https://www.patreon.com/OliverBardwell