Why Democrats think they can win back Iowa from Trump
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 3 June 2026
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Could Democrats flip Iowa from the Republicans? It’s a state Trump has won three times and Republicans have dominated for more than a decade. The last senate race the Democrats won there was Barack Obama’s victory in 2008, before he went on to win the presidential nomination. But now, overnight primary results from Iowa are leaving Democrats feeling optimistic.
Justin, Sarah and Anthony break down the key races, including a well-funded, gun-owning Democratic gubernatorial candidate who is appealing to voters across party lines, versus a Republican outsider who won without Trump’s endorsement. Does this signal an end to Trump’s winning streak when it comes to picking Republican candidates? Democrats are also hoping to flip the senate, with a paralympian gold medallist who was backed by Chuck Schumer and the party establishment. We analyse how important Iowa is for the Democrats to win, and for Republicans to keep hold of.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Purvee Pattni. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
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| 0:27.9 | Hello, it's Justin and you're about to hear. |
| 0:30.5 | AmeriCast, we are delighted to have you with us. |
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| 0:36.3 | That way you'll never miss an episode. |
| 0:38.2 | Now, on with today. |
| 0:44.0 | Today we're asking whether Democrats could actually win in Iowa, a red state that Donald Trump's Republicans have been dominating for more than the last decade. But there's real |
| 0:48.7 | optimism among Democrats after last night's primaries for both the Senate and the governor's race. |
| 0:54.4 | They've got a wealthy pro-hunting candidate for Governor who's facing a Republican pick, who's not the one that Donald Trump endorse, and then look at the Senate. |
| 1:02.9 | You've got a Democrat who's a Paralympian backed by the whole establishment wing of the party. |
| 1:08.2 | So, are Democrats right to get their hopes up about Iowa? Welcome to |
| 1:12.0 | AmeriCast. Americaast from BBC News. You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, |
| 1:21.8 | it reminds me of money. We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. |
| 1:27.6 | This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it. |
| 1:31.0 | This guy has Trump-arrangement syndrome. |
| 1:33.2 | I have four words for you. Turn the volume up. |
| 1:41.9 | Hello, it's Sarah in the BBC's Washington Bureau. And it's Anthony right here with Sarah in Washington, D.C. And it's just in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England. And I should say before we start, it is just coming up to 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday in London. And that matters, of course, particularly this time round, because we're going to be talking about election results that are not necessarily fully in, but I think we can be pretty confident about what we're saying all the same. |
| 2:06.3 | And what we're saying, guys, is just fascinating, isn't it? |
... |
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