Jon Christy

Report ranks Iowa as state with the worst economy On Monday, WalletHub released a report ranking Iowa as the state with the worst economy.

lowa is second to last in economic growth, 48th in personal income growth, and middle of the pack for public education, but number one in the country for cancer growth, and now, the worst economy in the nation. These are not first-place rankings to be proud of.

www.kcrg.com/app/2025/06/...

Everyone’s Favorite Travel Writer Says Trump Is Borrowing From the “Fascist Autocrat’s Playbook” In a wide-ranging interview, Rick Steves sounds off on Trump’s assault on public media and the disturbing historical echoes of the current administration: “Every time I read the news, I think, Well, t...

“One takeaway from my travels is if a society wants to be safe—and that’s a reasonable need for an electorate—you’re not going to be safe by building walls,” @ricksteves.bsky.social tells VF's Eric Lutz.

Dave Matthews Band...Grey Street, Grace is Gone, Idea of You.

Public broadcasters like PBS, NPR aid democracy | Rick Steves Op-Ed As our president aims to defund PBS and NPR, I’m reminded why, for more than 30 years, I’ve shared thoughtful programming with public broadcasters.

As Trump sets his sights on defunding @pbs.org and @npr.org, @ricksteves.bsky.social reminds us just how important public broadcasting is to all of us. Read:
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/rick...

Republican Senator Murkowski on threat of Trump retaliation: 'We are all afraid' Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski disclosed this week that the threat of political retaliation from President Donald Trump is real enough to make her anxious about speaking out about his tariffs, executive orders and cuts to federal agencies.

Wanted: Courageous Leaders

www.reuters.com/world/us/rep...

Introducing: The David Frum Show The Atlantic is launching a new weekly show, hosted by staff writer David Frum.

www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/arc...

IHSAA Basketball Tournament To ISU, Hilton Coliseum In 2027 - Iowa State University Athletics BOONE, Iowa – A century after playing championships inside State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa State University (ISU) enter

HUGE annoucement for the Ames community and Iowa State, cyclones.com/news/2025/3/...

Opinion | You Cannot Run a Country This Way Trump’s foreign policy philosophy is not “containment” or “engagement,” but “smash and grab.”

Words so true...

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/o...

At Least Now We Know the Truth The truth is ugly, but it’s necessary to face it.

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Opinion | Is Putin Playing Trump or Is Trump Playing Us? For the next four years, at least, the America we knew is over.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...

Opinion | Trump’s Bargain With Putin Is ‘Shameful’ Turning our back on Ukraine would only weaken America.

"No dominant power has ever received as much voluntary assistance as the United States does from its allies . . . It’s really shocking that President Trump is squandering the good will that American idealism and policy have bought for our country over the past 80 years."

A day of shame.

bsky.app/profile/stev...

A reminder: Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine right now, just by ordering his soldiers to go home. No need for treaties or negotiations.

Pining for the Patriarchy A scorched-earth campaign to keep it intact

Uh-huh!

open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...

New PRRI Survey: A Reality Check on the Reach of White Christian Nationalism in Seven Charts White Christian Nationalism is Neither the Best of Us, Nor the Majority of Us

Robert P. Jones, and the folks at PRRI, are excellent at summarizing complex data in an understandable and visually appealing format...kudos!

open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Lutherans Hammer Against Misinformation by Michael Flynn & Elon Musk We might need to update that famous saying by German Lutheran theologian Martin Niemöller. First they came for the Episcopalians … then they came for the Catholics … then they came for the Lutherans.

Final sentence, "May the words and witness of those like Bishops Budde and Eaton inspire more resistance."

open.substack.com/pub/publicwi...

Opinion | Trump and Stupidity I define stupidity as ignoring the question: What would happen next? By that definition, the Trump administration has produced volleys of it.

The Six Principles of Stupidity www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/o...

Republican state attorneys pressure Costco to drop diversity policies Nineteen Republican attorneys general have called on Costco Wholesale to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, citing concerns about discrimination and legal risks.

Proud Costco member/shopper!

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Evangelicals Made a Bad Trade Hitching the evangelical wagon to Donald Trump has meant unhitching it from the life and teachings of Jesus.

This article captures my thoughts exactly:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Christian nationalism threatens both religious freedom and democracy. By working together in local communities, we can counter this harmful ideology and protect religious freedom for all.

Get involved today!
🔗👉https://secure.everyaction.com/ANcY8YMwC0KNOCNzicGrNg2

YouTube video by Washington National Cathedral 1.21.25 Homily by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde

Today, the gospel of Christ was spoken as John the Baptist spoke to Herod. Today, the Right Rev. Marian Edgar Budde looked into the face of a president and spoke to truth with the courage of a gladiator who defied an emperor. May we all find a portion of her courage.

youtu.be/xwwaEuDeqM8?...