Iowa's delegation silent, Bezos bombs, voting in Iowa, Debates, and a Grateful Dead legend dies
...food, tipping, poetry, and a few laughs
New Subscribers: You will receive a roundup of columns posted by members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative most Sunday mornings. This is a compilation of commentary produced by many of the 60 writers who are members of this group. We have come together, as independent, professional journalists and authors, to link writers to readers who share an interest in this state. We make our content free, however about 10% of our readers become paid subscribers, which keeps this new media effort going. Thank you. Paid subscribers are invited to a monthly Zooom call with columnist members and readers on the last Friday of the month, and are also invited to a real time holiday party in December. This is a token of our appreciation for sustaining the experiment.
National Politics….State Politics….Around Iowa…Education….Media…Sport….Dining and Entertainment…Humor….Poetry….News for Paid Subscribers
National Politics
Fascist is Just One Feature Trump has made abundantly clear that he would give himself full power as President to supersede the justice system and Constitution and retaliate against opponents.
asks: What don't his supporters get about what America could become?Donald Trump weaving to “YMCA” with Kristi Noem is enough to make your aorta seize up,
writes. “Give me liberty or a quick heart attack.”Admiral Michael Franken will be
’s podcast guest this coming Monday. What does he have to say about what military leaders are revealing about Donald Trump? Her subscribers will receive a link to the Zoom call., in Washington, DC, writes that “Somebody’s got to say it: Iowa’s congressional delegation is showing pure cowardice in the wake of Trump’s recent fanboy comments about Hitler.This week
writes that it is Us against the Oligarchs.This is the column that will end friendships: Finney takes a stand on abortion.
Iowa Politics
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative political analysts are recording a weekly podcast to discuss national and local races between now and the election. Be sure to check out Iowa Down Ballot this week, moderated by
and featuring , , , and Kathie Obrodovich with Iowa Capital Dispatch.In this week's column
explores why she's masquerading as a Republican this year, and wonders whether she runs the risk of having doors slammed shut on her trunk! at Along the Mississippi tells us why we should all be cautious about Paul Pate’s claims about non-citizens voting in Iowa. wants to know if Iowa leaders will prioritize finding out why the state's cancer rate keeps increasing while other states go down. Dave also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his role in the debate for one of the closest watched congressional races in the country.
On "KHOI's Capitol Week,"
and Spencer Dirks discussed the investigative findings on the Perry school shooting, lots of Iowa campaign news, and the latest on two lawsuits challenging the state's school book bans and "don't say gay or trans" law. profiled eleven Iowa Senate races to watch in 2024 and concluded that Republicans have a decent chance of expanding their already large majority. writes: Most people don't need to keep their partisan political views private, but some certainly should. shares lessons learned and enduring benefits from a campaign experience he had fifty years ago, with positive take-aways from decades of political involvement winning by a landslide.Dana James, owner of Black Iowa News, spotted pick up trucks with particularly offensive Trump flags on Des Moines streets.
Around Iowa
During an early morning photoshoot at the Union County Historic Village,
discovers pieces of herself at every stop. In a visit meant to capture a quilt, she instead finds herself benched under its weight, stitching together fragments of her past in a quiet, steadfast journey of healing - her own “heartwork.”
In Winterset, during this year's recent Covered Bridge Festival,
welcomes an old friend and teaches him the blanket stitch. ventures to the town his bootlegger grandfather was once banished from and finds an old newsroom friend and fellow citizens are banding together on an ambitious history project. Folks in Dunkerton are creating a history village and raised more than $330,000 so far for restoration work. wrote about the parallels between her writing and running practices.Iowa Boy
says when you're on the Grinnell College campus, there are so many good columns topics that they "seem to jump out and threaten to tackle you." Today, he shares one of his favorites -- about the great but almost-forgotten Grinnell alumnus and noted writer James Norman Hall.'s short Halloween grab bag plays trick-or-treat with maps (click if you dare).In the Iowa Mercury Douglas Burns writes about fellow Iowa Writers' Collaborative Nik Heftman's documentary. "The Negro Artist" will be shown at numerous theaters and locations around the Des Moines metro area in coming months. It's also showing at 7 p.m., Dec. 11 at Film Scene in Iowa City. For showtimes in Iowa and across the nation please visit The Seven Times website — https://www.the7times.com/
Dr. Rebecca Shaw, Mary Riche, and Mazie Stilwell talk about what is going on with women in Iowa now that Iowa’s restrictive abortion ban is in place. Listen to Julie Gammack’s Potluck podcast to find out.
is coming to Des Moines for the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative holiday party for paid subscribers, and hopes to see you there.Education
What are vouchers doing to Iowa schools? Read
.Media
makes a plea to angry readers who want to cancel subscriptions to The Washington Post and/or The LA Times -- to resist the urge to try and send a message to billionaire owners and instead side with reporters and (big picture) democracy. Plus, what it means to be a culture reporter during these times -- covering everything from trends in the automotive industry and competitive sailing to politics, parenting and innovation.Journalism hasn’t been perfect during this campaign but
on Media says reporters have largely done their job well.Dave also has a column about the Washington Post’s owner stopping the endorsement of Kamala Harris.
There have been some changes and challenges for
in Sioux City. Good and Bad. She has an update for followers about her absence.’s column is shifting gears and we are happily along for the ride.Even in paradise, climate change is on meteorologist
’s mind. His thoughtful posts most weeks are well worth reading and supporting.Food and Dining
Two from
this week:"Who sets tipping norms? Customers do. That means the more you tip where you haven’t ever had to tip before, the more it will become expected of everyone to do so."
This nugget is from Wini Moranville's most recent column, "Great Finds and Candid Thoughts on the Dining Scene."
Sports
Jane Burns offers a bit of women’s sports history with two posts this week. First, she talks to Iowa basketball legend Molly (Bolin) Kazmer, who is among the founders of a nonprofit working to raise awareness of the pro leagues, and teams like the Iowa Cornets, that came before the WNBA. And in volleyball, Northern Iowa has never let its status as a mid-major keep it from being the most successful women’s team in the state. The Panthers are marking their 50thseason and had a big Homecoming gathering over the weekend where generations of players and coaches came together to celebrate.
Entertainment and Travel
How do you get artists as diverse as Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews and Mary J. Blige on the same stage? You induct them into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, that's how.
shares his view from Cleveland, Ohio.In this edition of The Five and Dime,
writes about the passing of longtime Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh.Humor
try to not talk about you know who.
The season of Fall, pens Vicki Minor,
columnist from Madison County.Poetry
shares her poem "One Full Moon in October," which was just featured in The Twin Bill's World Series issue. Some of you may recognize the poem from a post last fall but she is pleased that it was accepted for publication in this literary journal dedicated to baseball just as the Series starts. She adds: "Go Yankees!"
Save the Date for a Holiday Party! Friday, December 13, 2024, 5-8 p.m.
The Iowa Writers Collaborative will host a party at the Harkin Institute on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The event will include appetizers and a short program. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of your favorite writers and visit the state-of-the-art home of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement.
Please become a paid subscriber to any of our columns, including this one, and RSVP here. A donation will be accepted at the door for spouses or guests. If you’re traveling, see hotel information on the RSVP form.
Details:
When: 5-8 p.m. Dec. 13, 2024.
Where: Harkin Institute, 2800 University Ave., Des Moines.
What: Appetizers, a short program, and great conversation.
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roster
Please explore the columns by members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Below is our current roster: Your support is vital. Pick five, if you can, and become a paid subscriber.