In the 1980's, conservatism was on the rise in America, and Democrats were fighting over how best to respond. While the party struggled nationally, here in the Midwest progressives made a populist case that resonated with voters — urban and rural, Black and white.

All this is the subject of a new book by historian Cory Haala: “When Democrats Won the Heartland: Progressive Populism in the Age of Reagan, 1978–1992.”