Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture.

Why Did Iowa Republicans Snub The Trump-Backed Candidate?

June 05, 2026 50:15 9.85 MB ( 59.07 MB less) Downloads: 0

Iowa Republicans picked Zach Lahn over the Trump-backed Randy Feenstra in the gubernatorial primary. Lahn’s a farmer who spoke about the pain of high fertilizer prices and cancer caused by pesticides, earning him support from the MAHA. Was this some rebuke of Trump, or just voters looking for the right person to make their lives better? 

Critics say ICE detainees face horrific conditions. Trump won over a lot of voters arguing that tough immigration policies were needed to keep the country safe. Does what’s unfolding at these detention centers cross a line? 

Plus, the President’s short-lived Anti-Weaponization Fund seems to be dead, and one listener asks when AI political ads cross a line. 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: