Zachary Oren Smith

this is our guy…

I’d like to thank @lyz.bsky.social & @zacharyos.bsky.social for gifting us, in their podcast, the phrase “seasoning their chicken with thoughts and prayers”

US bombs are dropping on Iran. And we couldn’t afford those ACA subsidies.

01-13-26 - A long day at the Capitol. Condition of the State, eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines, and property taxes. Follow @iowastartingline for more.

a cartoon mouse in a diaper is sitting on a blue stool and holding a towel that says dunce . ALT: a cartoon mouse in a diaper is sitting on a blue stool and holding a towel that says dunce .

I thought I was spiking the ball.

does the moth not yearn for the flame

First the corn sweats. Then it comes for you in every gas station parking lot.

Some people want to watch the world burn… and for my next cold open… maybe that’s a good thing???

The woke mob came for me. My takes are on life support. clinging to life.

WHITVER TO RETIRE - Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, will not run for reelection. He said he’ll continue to see as Leader until Senate Republicans meet to select a new leader in the “near future.”

Here’s the full release:

In response to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags at half-staff immediately until Sunday in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s flag order.

UPDATE: It’s private now.

Congressman Nunn to Stop in Jefferson Tomorrow Iowa’s Third Congressional District Representative will be in Jefferson tomorrow.  Congressman Zach Nunn says following a visit with elected officials in Greene County and with some of the local…

NUNN TOWN HALL - IA-03 US Rep. Zach Nunn to hold a town hall at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Jefferson. This after calling them a “taxpayer-funded protest event."

It’s being held at Gravitate Coworking (204 E State St, Jefferson, IA 50129)
www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2025/09/04/c...

Truly

DVIP+RVAP LEADERSHIP CHANGE - DVIP & RVAP have chosen Alta Medea and Delaney Dixon to lead the organization that serves those impacted by domestic and sexual violence for Cedar, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa, Johnson, Lee, Van Buren, and Washington counties.

HINSON 4 SENATE - Republican US Rep. Ashley Hinson to run for US Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat. Ernst announced today that she would not run for reelection.

👀👀👀

ERNST TO RETIRE - Today, US SEN. Joni Ernst announced she will not run for reelection in 2026. Full video from twitter:

*got my races swapped in an earlier tweet. Deleted and reposted with correction.

Source pointed out Iowa rarely has an open US Senate seat. This would be the third in the last half century, providing retirement report is true:

🗳️2026 - ???
🗳️2014 - Tom Harkin retires. Ernst wins. (D➡️R)
🗳️1974 - Harold Hughes retires. Culver* wins. (D➡️D)

Iowa Senate special election results (ZOS X Laura Belin) A recording from Laura Belin and Zachary Oren Smith's live video

What a way to start the day! @zacharyos.bsky.social and I spoke to the woman of the hour, State Senator-elect Catelin Drey, and Iowa Senate Dem leader @janice4iowa.bsky.social about how they pulled off a big win in a Trump+11 district.
laurabelin.substack.com/p/iowa-senat...

Honestly a withering way to get started… 🙃🙃🙃

LIVE SOON: IA Senate Special Election Results (ZOS X Laura Belin) Starting Aug 27 at 9:00 AM EDT

We're getting started in 15. Join me and Bleeding Heartland's Laura Belin to talk about last night's special election results... with special guest...

Senator-elect Catelin Drey. Toss some bags with us at 8 a.m. open.substack.com/live-stream/...

ISL shoutout!

💜💜💜

There’s literally not another two people that I want to hear from right now about this special election:
- Catelin Drey, the winning Democrat
- AND Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland.

Join me tomorrow at 8 a.m. CT to walk through what happened tonight. open.substack.com/live-stream/...?

Jackson Street is where folks are at tonight for those in Sioux City. (I’m in the clubhouse at the X’s game).

That's 8 a.m. Central time, Wednesday, August 27.

I may be too much of an optimist but I am so happy every time I see dems overperforming (v 2024) in these Iowa special elections. It gives me real hope that we can turn the ship around in Iowa and nationally.