From The Daily Iowan Newsroom to the Hill, The Cloakroom breaks down national politics from Iowa. In this episode, Daily Iowan politics reporter Julia Shanahan discusses how Iowans such as Jesse Lutgen, a Type 1 diabetic who died after rationing his insulin, are struggling to afford their prescriptions. Lawmakers in Congress seek to address rising prices, but Iowans in Washington say it’s a long uphill road.

Since recording this podcast, a bill passed the Iowa Legislature unanimously that expands emergency access to medications such as insulin. That bill was inspired by Lutgen’s story.