Influence of Tom Harkin and the ADA

Interview Only w/ Josh Turek - Why Democrats Struggle…And Can Still Win In Iowa

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Iowa Democratic senate candidate and four-time Paralympian and gold medalist Josh Turek for a deeply personal and politically sharp conversation. Josh shares his remarkable journey—from being born with spina bifida caused by his father’s exposure to Agent Orange, to discovering wheelchair basketball as a pathway to college, to becoming one of the winningest athletes in Paralympic history. He opens up about the emotional challenge of leaving the sport he loved and what ultimately pushed him toward public service. Together, Chuck and Josh explore how the ADA reshaped life for disabled Americans, why adaptive and women’s sports remain undervalued, and how equal access—not guaranteed equal outcomes—remains the core civil rights debate for the disability community.

The conversation widens into an unvarnished look at rural politics, Iowa’s sharp rightward turn, and the policies reshaping life in small towns. Josh breaks down why Medicaid denials have exploded, how school choice is quietly devastating rural school districts, and why tariffs—when used chaotically—are crushing family farms. He tackles complex cultural issues such as religion’s decline, the trans sports debate, and why Democrats shouldn’t cede Christianity or populism to the right. They also cover climate messaging, the stakes for U.S. policy in Israel and Ukraine, and whether Congress should step in to regulate collegiate athletics. With insights on Iowa’s political future, the 2026 Democratic opportunity, and even some NBA talk (yes—Jokić and Jordan both make an appearance), Josh Turek offers one of the most candid, wide-ranging conversations you’ll hear about the Midwest, disability rights, and the future of American politics.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Josh Turek joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:30 Josh’s journey as a gold medal winning Paralympian 

02:45 Josh’s fathers exposure to agent orange caused his spina bifida

04:30 Wheelchair basketball was his pathway to college

05:45 What do we not value adaptive & female sports in America?

08:00 How hard was it to walk away from basketball?

09:45 What inspired the decision to go into politics?

11:00 There was a 1000% increase in Medicaid denials in Iowa

12:30 The ADA made things better, still a long ways to go

13:45 The ADA gave disabled Americans an onramp to society

16:30 The debate over equal access vs. equal outcome

17:15 Who is the Turek/Trump voter?

19:45 The difficulty of breaking through as a Democrat in rural America

21:45 Iowa has shifted rightward, but could shift back to swing state status

25:00 The right candidate with the right message can win red Iowa counties

27:15 School choice sounds great, but is a huge problem for rural America

28:45 Rural schools are struggling and closing under school choice policies

30:15 There are no standards for private schools spending tax dollars

33:00 Not all tariffs are bad, but Trump’s tariff regime is chaotic

34:00 Tariffs are crushing family farms

35:00 What’s the plan to keep people in Iowa and reverse brain drain?

37:45 How has the decline in religious participation affected Iowa?

39:00 Pushing back against the narrative that Democrats can’t be Christian

39:30 What’s fair to the trans community when it comes to organized sports?

40:45 Politicians shouldn’t be involved in the trans sports conversation

41:30 Why have many Democrats turned to socialism over capitalism?

42:30 We need regulated capitalism and a progressive tax structure

43:15 We are living in a country of have’s and have nots

44:45 Addressing climate change without scaring voters about the economy

46:15 What’s your position on Israel?

47:15 The U.S. should stand in solidarity with Ukraine & aid them

48:15 Does Congress need to get involved in regulating collegiate sports?

51:30 We need more genuine populists in congress to push back against oligarchs

53:15 Nikola Jokic is Josh’s favorite basketball player to watch

54:45 Michael Jordan is the GOAT

55:45 Historic opportunity for Democrats in Iowa in ‘26

57:00 Democrats focused too much on identity in Iowa

59:30 Public schools will be a huge issue for Iowa voters

01:01:15 If Democrats can’t win Iowa in this environment, it could take a generation

01:05:30 There are three great candidates for the Iowa Democratic senate seat

01:06:30 Primaries sharpen candidates and improve party registration

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