BIG, BEAUTIFUL IMPACT - MercyOne's Ottumwa clinic closure left thousands of patients without a provider — a direct result of Medicaid cuts in the Big, Beautiful Bill that every Iowa Republican voted for.
03-14-26 - update on Iowa’s budget cliff. Nonpartisan estimate has us spending more than we are raising in taxes.
A new report reveals horrors at America’s largest ICE detention camp. Guards allegedly ran a betting pool on which detainee would die by su*cide. Five years ago, Tyson managers in Waterloo did something similar. This is what unchecked power looks like.
Boo this man. he dreams of a better world.
03-07-26 - Re: to my story on a dumb bill that would require driver’s license tests to be done in English.
The Iowa Legislature is moving a bill that would ban driver’s license tests in Spanish — and any language other than English. There’s zero evidence Spanish speakers are worse drivers. But there is evidence this will push people to drive uninsured.
03-05-26 - This week, two Iowans have been named by the Pentagon as casualties in the Trump Administration’s conflict with Iran.
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.
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.
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)
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… 🙃🙃🙃
