TWO big things - Breaking News - Stacey Walker joins the Iowa Writers' Collaborative + columns that were missed in today's roundup
...here's a bonus edition...and will we get the Substack orange badge?
Perks for Paid Subscribers….Events…Column Roundup…Roster by Region
We are adding a new member, whose personal and professional expertise will bring his lived experience to the offerings within the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
Please welcome former Linn County Board of Supervisors member,
and his column, Dispatch: Revolution, onto our roster of recommended writers.
Stacey Walker: Returning to the Iowa That Led the Nation
Iowa has always been home. It’s the place where I was born and raised. Though I no longer live there, the people, places, and politics of the state shaped me in ways that remain foundational.
That’s why I’m so grateful to join the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Writing has always been a tool for movement-building—an opportunity to reflect, analyze, and spark conversation. It's a way to tell the stories, shape the narrative, and bear witness. Through this space, I’ll weigh in from time to time on the political issues shaping Iowa, connecting them to the broader progressive movement. For those interested in a deeper dive into power, politics, and movement-building, I also write at Dispatch: Revolution—a project in its early stages that I hope will grow into a space for critical analysis and meaningful dialogue.
Now back to Iowa. We used to be one of the top states in the country for education. We elected leaders who, regardless of party, enjoyed broad support because they prioritized the well-being of all Iowans—figures like Robert Ray, early Branstad and early Grassely, and of course, the two Toms: Harkin and Vilsack. We were a state that expanded rights, not restricted them—one of the first in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage, an early leader in civil rights, and a place where the promise of democracy felt tangible.
That is no longer the case. What happened? How did we go from a national leader to a cautionary tale? That’s a question I’ll explore in future posts—not just to diagnose the decline, but to understand what it will take to get Iowa back on track.
My hope is that my work here becomes more than just a reflection on what’s been lost. I want it to be a conversation about what comes next. Iowa still has the potential to lead the country again, but it will take deliberate effort, movement-building, and a recommitment to the values that once set us apart. I look forward to digging into these questions, engaging in dialogue, and working toward a future where Iowa reclaims its place as a leader in progress.
It’s a privilege to be here among so many thoughtful voices. I’ll do my best to share work that adds to the conversation and lives up to the skill of this community and the former (and future) values of our state.
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Potluck, hosted by Libby Slappey. Photos by Julie Gammack
Behind the Scenes of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup
As the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative has grown, AI (artificial intelligence) has become an essential tool in organizing the data of writer names, column blurbs, and links presented in a readable text format in the roundup format.
That said, ChatGPT is imperfect—it consistently drops names no matter how explicit the commands.
This Sunday’s Roundup missed too many excellent columns to let it slide, or save for Wednesday’s Flipside edition, so here’s your Bonus Sunday Roundup.
Our mission is to bring you information and commentary you won’t find elsewhere. This past week, protests erupted across the state. Maybe you caught a few seconds of coverage—but probably not. Newsrooms everywhere are short-staffed, and there simply aren’t enough reporters to cover the deluge of bills raining down on Iowans.
That’s where we step in. And that includes you.
Children are watching our leaders. Who are their role models? Who will they choose to emulate as they grow up? What kind of character will they develop?
Identifying problems is the first step toward solving them. That’s why 80+ independent writers have joined forces within the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative—to uncover the stories behind the headlines and the truths that powerful people want to keep hidden.
When you know what’s happening behind the curtain and in the backrooms, you can make your voice heard.
We stand for what we tolerate.
Column Roundup
New columnist, Lynn Hicks had another column that was not included in the first roundup: Oscar-nominated film features the voice of a survivor searching for justice: Experience the raw power of victim impact statements in Death by Numbers, an Oscar-nominated documentary short that brings Samantha Fuentes’ harrowing journey from trauma to justice into the spotlight—just one of three Best Documentary Short nominees this year that tackle the complexities of the criminal justice system. Learn more
Iowa’s political landscape continues to shift as legislators push forward controversial policies affecting education, LGBTQ+ rights, and public institutions. From the latest attack on public libraries to the scrutiny over education savings accounts, our writers break down the pressing issues shaping the state. Meanwhile, a powerful story of resistance against antisemitism in Sioux City, firsthand reflections from a queer Iowan navigating hostile legislation, and an exploration of truancy laws offer deeper insight into the intersections of policy and daily life. On the national front, a call to stay hopeful amidst turmoil reminds us of the importance of perseverance.
And for a moment of respite, tune into the latest Iowa CoffeeCast for a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road with Jason Walsmith of The Nadas.
Iowa Politics
Ed Tibbetts – Iowa's book banners are writing a new chapter. Now, they're targeting public libraries.
Read moreHanah Breckbill – As a queer Iowan, the latest from the Iowa legislature hits hard.
Read moreRandy Evans – There should be no room for debate over whether use of tax money for education savings accounts, known as private school vouchers, should be subject to unfettered scrutiny by the state auditor’s office.
Read moreIowa Capital Dispatch — a hard-hitting, investigative news team covering the legislature and higher education. Read more
Public Affairs
Arnold Garson – The little-known story of a Sioux City family that risked its livelihood to fight antisemitism.
Read more
Law and Justice
Lynn Hicks – Lessons from Truancy Court: More parents are getting charged under Iowa's chronic absenteeism law.
Read more
National Politics
Nicole Baart – Are you feeling weary? Encouragement to continue doing good.
Read more
Music
Maxwell Schaefer – On Iowa CoffeeCast, Jason Walsmith of The Nadas shares stories about life on the road and the struggles of independent musicians.
Read moreMilestone Subscriber Update
At the risk of sounding like an inauthentic email fundraising blast, we are only two subscriptions short of making the goal of 1000 paid subscribers to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. This is a much ballyhooed accomplishment in the realm of Substack.
If you believe in what we are doing, there are many ways you can help. Tell your friends about the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Bring one of our members into your next club or church meeting to speak, or play music. Brush up your writing skills and start sending letters to the editor.
And/or, if you have the means, become a paid subscriber to as many of our individual columnists as you can afford. Unlike traditional media - which we support - our writers post most of their writing ad-free, and at no charge. Not everyone can afford to pay to be informed. Our business model is not to serve advertisers, but to serve you. And if about 10% of our readers support us through paid subscriptions, the supplementary income helps.
The co-founder of Substack told a group of us last week that we are the only state that has created a collaborative model like this, and he believes we offer a model for the future. Fingers crossed.
Perks for Paid Subscribers
Perks for our paid subscriber community (we need you, we thank you)
Lovilia: We will have regional events for paid subscribers! Save the dates of June 29th to hear the Weary Ramblers play in concert at
Beth Hoffman’s farm (see below).
Winterset: Join fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members for a special two-day gathering in picturesque Madison County, hosted by
Marianne Fons, Debra Engle, and Vicki Minor. With local exploration, and an exclusive screening of the documentary, ‘Storm Lake.’ followed by a Q&A with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Art Cullen, featured in the film. It’s a weekend you won’t want to miss—mark your calendars for July 25-26, 2025!
Watch this space for an RSVP form and announcements of more events.
Your home office: On the last Friday of each month, the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members invite our paid subscribers to join us for an informal Office Lounge conversation via Zoom. It is hosted by
Robert Leonard, and we usually have 10-15 of our writers in attendance. It’s your turn to tell us what you’re thinking about.
Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Office Lounge for paid subscribers. It’s held on the last Friday of the month at noon, except for November and December. I hope to see you there on March 28.
Re: geographic classification. I would argue that Boone County is not in Eastern Iowa and Oelwein is not Southern Iowa.