Donna Buell

"The Peace President." [Cartoon by Benjamin Slyngstad]

EPA reverses long-standing climate change finding, stripping its own ability to regulate emissions The agency announced it is repealing its 2009 conclusion that greenhouse gases warm the Earth and endanger human health and well-being.

There are so many fucked up things with the current administration that it's hard to focus on one but this recent move is basically a death sentence for the planet. I've been involved with more boots on the ground actions over the years than I can count and this really bums me out.

Annotating the Judge’s Decision in the Case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE (Gift Article) Our critic annotates the barbed wordplay of a decision challenging the Trump administration’s theory of executive power.

Here’s a useful reminder of what our federal courts SHOULD be doing to uphold our constitutional traditions:

It’s 2026 in the United States of America and Congress is arguing over whether federal law enforcement, who have killed multiple people this month, should unmask themselves and be identifiable as a condition for funding. That’s insane.

MINNESOTA — Mom goes outside to warm up her car, ICE grabs her: "Please, my car kids are all alone in the house!”

So nothing has changed and Homan was just to put a new face on the cruelty, got it

(H/T longtimehistory)

Two former presidents felt compelled to comment publicly

Reporter: You received a letter from AG Pam Bondi making several demands….

Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those

A masked ICE officials with a 5 year old child

This guy went to work today, put a mask on, kidnapped a 5 year old child, and then used him as bait so both he and his father could be sent behind bars

The irony of ICE detaining and disappearing the original Americans should stop everyone cold.

As a Lakota proverb says, when you discover you’re riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. This system isn’t broken. It’s dead.

Jennings: Let's not get our knickers in a twist here

McGowan: Why are you talking like that? It's insane. Your attitude is just horrifying…

You can listen to tonight's Iowa politics radio show right now on any podcast platform or smart speaker: "KHOI's Capitol Week"
Tomorrow I'll send the audio file & a detailed written recap (for those who would rather read than listen) on my free email newsletter: laurabelin.substack.com

There is no room for silencing dissenters Randy Evans: Too many people stand up for First Amendment freedoms only for those who think, speak, or act in line with their own views.

Randy Evans: Too many people stand up for First Amendment freedoms only for those who think, speak, or act in conformity with their own views.

www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/23/t...

Why do this?

Divisions among Iowans in Congress, legislative campaign news Dec. 15 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"

It was another action-packed episode of “KHOI’s Capitol Week”!

I always share a written recap as well as the audio, because many of my subscribers would rather read than listen.

Thanks, as always, to @spencerdirks.bsky.social for keeping things moving.
laurabelin.substack.com/p/divisions-...

Why is he talking about himself in the third person?

Miller-Meeks touts praise from Trump in taxpayer-funded ads Laura Belin: Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is spending part of her Congressional office budget on ads about the "great job" she's doing.

Who's up early?
My exclusive reporting on your tax dollars at work, funding social media and radio ads promoting #IA01's Mariannette Miller-Meeks and the "great job" Donald Trump thinks she's doing:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/07/m...

What nonsense. Calm yourself.

Asked whether Mr. Trump fell asleep, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement that the president was "listening attentively and running the entire" meeting. She cited Mr. Trump's response during a question and answer segment at the end of the meeting, when he delivered a tirade against Somali immigrants.

NYT: Is the President tired?

Ms. Leavitt: Would a weary President be able to deliver a racist rant like that one?

Except it’s usually not the guy who is supposed to be running the meetings that’s sleeping.

Unfortunately, my house was the target of a pipe bomb threat on Saturday evening. This is a result of the D.C. political pundits for redistricting. Thanks to the Oldenburg Town Marshall, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the ISP, all is okay!

A new post by a Republican state Senator in Indiana, saying she will "not cave" on redistricting as she shares that she was just the target of a pipe bomb threat to due "DC political pundits."

The culture war is the greatest gift to billionaires. We used to care about the 1% while we were the 99%. And now we’re nothing more than tribes hating on each other. Maybe you could focus too rather than taking the lazy route of blaming all the white people?

When asked on Air Force One if there was anything "incriminating" in the Epstein emails, Trump pointed a finger at the female reporter's face and said “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”

Threatening us. Again.

This is an excellent idea!!!

Canada says “elbows up.” I say for America, “cameras out.” Film every last one of these brutal criminals. We will need the evidence for their trials.

We don’t need the Heritage Foundation’s opinion on nuclear testing. They should go read a Bible instead and try to figure out why their master plan is to starve children and take away health care from the elderly.

Does anyone stop and think about how idiotic and embarrassing it is that we’re the United States of America, and we have an entire government that spends the whole day trolling, posting, and documenting evidence that will definitely be used at a future trial?