Iowa plays a big role in presidential politics because of its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Even by that standard, though, the Hawkeye State this time feels busier, more significant.

There are more than 20 Democrats running for president, and unlike in previous years, no one is writing the state off. There are also several competitive congressional races here. That means a very busy Iowa State Fair, because all these politicians want to meet voters, make their case at The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox, flip pork chops at the pork tent and eat.

Our first podcast from Iowa was a day in the life; we hope it gave you a sense of what it was like to be here. For this episode, we’re delving deeper into the political theater here. We talk to David Redlawsk, who chairs the University of Delaware’s political science and international relations department. A former Iowa resident himself and a political psychologist and expert on voter behavior, he moved here to spend his ENTIRE sabbatical in the state.

When we talked to him at the fair, he explained just what it is about Iowa that makes it the center of the political universe.

Show Notes:

• The Iowa State Fair: A day in the deep-fried life
• Former Iowa governor: Take rural voters seriously
• ‘Embrace it and take it all in’: Former Rep. David Young on the Iowa State Fair
• Watch: Steve King calls principles ‘timeless’
• New calls for Rep. Steve King to resign in wake of graphic comment about rape and incest
• Tom Harkin makes rare appearance with 2020 contender
• Candidates, calories and cows: What really happens at the Iowa State Fair
• Photos from the Iowa Wing Ding
• Loebsack backed Obama over Clinton in 2007, but unsure about 2020 field
• With Iowa State Fair ahead, 2020 Democrats pitch to rural America
• The Iowa State Fair: Our proactive primer on politics, pork and public officials