The halls of the Capitol have grown quiet. The gavel has sounded. It took until 4:30 in the morning on a Saturday, but the 2024 Iowa legislative session has adjourned.So which bills passed? Which fell short? And how did The FAMiLY Leader do on the bills that matter most to family and biblical values?Veteran lobbyists Chuck Hurley and Danny Carroll join the podcast to break it down, including announcing the "final score" in baseball terms!

Iowa first passed its Heartbeat Law - protecting children in the womb from the moment their heartbeats can be detected - back in 2018. But to this day, that law still has not gone into effect.Why can't Iowa find a way to protect preborn children?Well, just last week, a major abortion case was heard before the justices of the Iowa State Supreme Court, signaling a breakthrough may be coming soon.The FAMiLY Leader's Drew Zahn and former State Supreme Court Clerk Ryan Benn break down where Iowa's abortion law currently stands, why it's "stuck," and why YOUR prayers are urgently needed for a key decision that might just change everything.

TFL's Director of Policy Ryan Benn joins the podcast today to talk about an exclusive event with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a HUGE win for religious liberty, two MORE pro-life wins for women and babies, and an urgent prayer request for one of the biggest Iowa Supreme Court cases of our lifetimes.Listen today for one of the most significant and good news podcasts of the year!

Shocking truth: Tens of thousands of children suffer slavery and even death each and every year in Iowa - but the good news is, there's something YOU can do about it!In today's episode, TFL's Capitol Connection urges you to contact your legislator about a bill that has already been demonstrated to protect thousands of children - as young as 8 or 10 years old - from being snared and enslaved by the pornography industry. And in a rare, double alert, we're asking you to contact your legislator about a separate bill that could save thousands more from the death in the abortion industry!ALSO in today's episode: TFL's Greg Baker breaks down how TFL is having an impact around the country, even in states considered to be "deep blue":

By the time the November election rolls around, months and years of work have been poured into the people and the names you see on the ballot. Sometimes, the real work of winning an election happens long before the first votes are even cast!In this special episode, The FAMiLY Leader's Capitol Connection peels back the curtain to show how TFL impacts elections long before most voters are even paying attention!Allow us to introduce you to new TFL team member Josiah Oleson, a key player impacting elections in the state of Iowa and beyond.

The Iowa Legislature's "Second Funnel" deadline has come and gone, the day when we learn which bills are dead for the year and which survive to possibly be debated and signed into law.And this year, a last-minute push saw the pro-life "Baby Olivia" bill survive by the skin of its teeth! In fact, 13 TFL priorities have also survived the deadline, including other pro-life measures designed to help mothers in need and protect children online. Capitol insider Chuck Hurley joins the podcast to break down what still has a chance to be passed this year.

"If we're ever going to address the physical issues facing our communities, we have to address the spiritual realm." - Greg Baker, director of The FAMiLY Leader's Church Ambassador NetworkGreg Baker joins Drew and Chuck this week for a special, in-depth look at the gospel-centric ministry of The FAMiLY Leader in government.Discover how TFL is breaking down walls and building strategic partnerships to bless people in our communities struggling with poverty, addiction, broken families, and more!

The FAMiLY Leader's Chuck Hurley has been fighting for this day for 13 years - and today, he's "raising the roof" to celebrate!Join Chuck and Drew and discover why James Madison is celebrating in his grave today over the restoration of our "first liberty," a fundamental right that was undermined over 30 years ago, but now is being restored to the citizens of Iowa.

A top pro-life priority has hit a roadblock this session, and The FAMiLY Leader is inviting YOU to join us in prayer to see this bill passed!While only about 15% of all Americans support the extreme position of legal, elective abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy ... in a recent state referendum, over 80% of young Ohioans voted in favor of killing preborn children right up to their birthday!How can the young generation be so extreme on killing children? It's simple: They aren't being told the truth.In Iowa, TFL is looking to change that ... but the "Baby Olivia" bill is being met with resistance.Learn more about "Baby Olivia," religious liberty, protecting children online, and catch some good news from around the country in this week's episode!

Today's jam-packed episode includes three big topics:1. An eye-witness account of the loud, profane, and potentially illegal protests that descended upon the Iowa Capitol over gender issues.2. A breakdown of which bills have survived the 'first funnel' winnowing process and which have fallen by the wayside.3. The work TFL's Church Ambassador Network is doing to give legislators on-the-ground understanding of issues impacting rural Iowans and the pastors who are providing tangible solutions.Buckle up for a fast and fascinating episode!

It's "First Funnel" week at the Iowa Capitol, where thousands of proposed bills go to die every year.TFL's Drew Zahn and Gandalf the Grey - or, Chuck Hurley, as he's known to friends and family - explain why this looming deadline is so large and what key bills and priorities will survive to be considered this legislative session.Tune in for more on religious liberty, right of conscience for doctors and nurses, gender and identity issues, and more. Which bills shall live, which shall die, and what does this all have to do with Lord of the Rings?

TFL's Ryan Benn joins the podcast this week to discuss an ugly scene at the Iowa Capitol, as he tried to enter a subcommittee meeting to testify at the request of a legislator ... only to be blocked at the door by an angry mob!PLUS: TFL Church Ambassador Network Deputy Director Denise Bubeck shares how pastors are making a difference in the policy arena, as they serve as legislator's eyes and ears in the real world, bringing real-life experience to the table to counter some of the fables brought by "the parade of horrors" in policy debates.

The attention of the news world left Iowa after the Caucuses ended, but in truth, perhaps the most significant week in the state is what comes next, as the Iowa Legislature discusses, debates, and listens to lobbyists on the local bills that are going to impact Iowans the most!And in this critical week, The FAMiLY Leader was there.TFL's Drew Zahn and Chuck Hurley explain the flurry of bills where TFL was called on to testify for biblical values in an environment that is anything but godly.PLUS: For pastors who are considering partnering with TFL's Church Ambassador Network, just what does it look like to come to the Capitol for the first time? TFL's Noah Meyers gives you just the facts, so you know what you're getting into!

You've likely heard this nonsense before: "Pro-lifers only care about the baby until it's born!"Well, first of all, she's not an "it" - she's a baby. And second, TFL demonstrates in the FIRST week of this year's legislative session that pro-lifers are among the hardest workers at caring for babies AND mothers!PLUS: TFL brings you a NEW tool for keeping track of the legislation you care about most - AND the Church Ambassador Network's Léo Lazarini explains how pastors are making the Capitol into "an open door for ministry."

ALL-NEW FORMAT! - The FAMiLY Leader's Capitol Connection adds new segment, new guest, and new focus.In this episode, TFL's Capitol veteran, Chuck Hurley, gives insider analysis on Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State Address and the legislative priorities it spells out for the coming session of the Iowa Legislature.And introducing ... TFL's Greg Baker of the Church Ambassador Network joins us, as the Capitol Connection podcast adds a new focus on not just the policy work, but also the spiritual work that is having a major impact on the Capitol and on our communities.Listen now, and discover there's more to the ministry at the Capitol than meets the eye!

Iowa stands unique in its first-in-the-nation place in picking the president, as candidates travel the state for months, giving everyday people the chance the meet and greet some of the nation's most powerful.And TFL's Chuck Hurley stand unique among even Iowans, having been behind the scenes with these candidates for more than two decades.In this episode, TFL's Ryan Benn puts Chuck Hurley on the hot seat, asking for the anecdotes - both poignant and hilarious - that Chuck has gathered over the years, working to help pick the president in one of the country's most influential states.

In a more fun-filled episode of TFL's Capitol Connection, TFL's Chuck Hurley leads a discussion of the biggest pieces of legislation that passed this session, as well as a few anecdotes that you won't hear anywhere else!Listen in, as the team looks back at 2023 and looks ahead to what's coming the rest of this year ...

On May 4, literally during the National Day of Prayer event at the Iowa Capitol, the 2023 Iowa Legislative Session officially came to a close.TFL's Capitol Team members Chuck Hurley, Danny Carroll, and Ryan Benn break down some of the session's biggest moments, including some "seismic" shifts for the better in how Iowa does education!Also, click here to watch the National Day of Prayer at the Iowa Capitol Rotunda: https://thefamilyleader.com/video-national-day-of-prayer-at-iowa-capitol/

This week's episode welcomes Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference Tom Chapman to the podcast. Chapman has 17 years of experience at the Iowa Capitol and has been a cornerstone of Iowa's unique and revolutionary alliance on pro-life issues, The Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders.Chapman joins TFL's Chuck Hurley, Ryan Benn, and Rebekah Oleson to discuss the current battle for life in Iowa and how The Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders is changing the way the battle is fought ... and won.

A huge, legal victory for Iowa parents this week! In this podcast, The FAMiLY Leader's Chief Legal Counsel Chuck Hurley explains why encoding parental rights in education as a "fundamental right" is such a big deal, and TFL's Capitol Team breaks down how passing the Governor's sweeping education bill impacts sexually explicit materials in Iowa schools, K-6 indoctrination in sexual orientation and gender identity, and more.