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National Politics… Iowa Politics…..Around Iowa…..Food & Entertainment….Weather and Environment…Sports…Car Culture & News….Books & Arts…..Humor…..Poetry…Roster
December 8, 2024
This week's roundup from the Iowa Writers' Collaborative brings an eclectic mix of voices exploring politics and culture to food, sports, and humor. Our columnists uncover stories of presidential pardons, farm bills, and grassroots election struggles. Around Iowa, we meet inspiring individuals and discover local traditions. Check out culinary gems, a milestone season for Iowa State football, and surprising volleyball dominance in northwest Iowa.
From the confluence of ice age geology and modern water challenges to the latest in car culture and arts, this issue offers something for everyone. You'll find stories of resilience, reflections on education, and humor to lighten the season.
National Politics
writes: Everything you should know about presidential pardons, including a fascinating story about President Lincoln's use of a pardon for his sister-in-law and the story of an Iowan who benefited from President Trump's power to pardon.In her column this week,
writes that the marriage of convenience, commonly known as the farm and food bill, is threatened and why it matters.The 2024 election clearly produced a Trump victory, but if words still mean anything—and it's vital that they do—we cannot take seriously claims about a Trump "landslide" and "mandate." Read
in his column “Talking Politics.”In his column “Barry Piatt on Politics: Behind the Curtain,”
writes from Washington, DC, that Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) early reactions to Donald Trump’s nominations for Attorney General and FBI Director have been both alarming and disappointing. Piatt shares several questions Grassley needs to answer.Despite talking about bringing jobs back home, cold economics shows how difficult that will be.
explores the issue through the prism of the now-closed shirt factory in Garland, N.C., where Brooks Brothers shirts were made for generations. People talk about wanting products to be Made in the USA, but most Americans prefer cheap goods.Congressional Republicans, including Joni Ernst, are targeting federal employees, but
in “Along the Mississippi” writes that their latest telework claims aren't remotely true.Joni Ernst is trying to convince people she's a budget hawk. But it's not true, as
explains at “Along the Mississippi.” The debt and spending soared after Ernst got to the US Senate, even as she's tried to divert our attention with gimmicks.
Iowa Politics
@Laura Belin takes a deeper dive into the analysis of Iowa legislative races. Only seven Iowa legislators were re-elected this year in districts that favored the other party's presidential candidate. Belin looked under the hood to see what was going on in those races.
and Spencer Dirks discussed Iowa election takeaways, reactions to Donald Trump's controversial nominees, a surprising judicial appointment by Governor Kim Reynolds, and more on "KHOI's Capitol Week."Hear from the winner of a close recount who fought an 11th-hour move by the state to obstruct some new citizens from voting. Cornhole Champions host
speaks with state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott about the grind of Election 2024. Throw the bags, sip a few, and chat with Zach and Iowa Starting Line's community editor, Amie Rivers.Are you better off than you were four years ago?
realized he was wrong about how people would answer that question.For more daily coverage of the Iowa government, turn to Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Around Iowa
loves smoking — the smell, the taste, the bad breath. The threat of immediate pain forced him to stand down after 55 years. reflects on her days as a substitute teacher, from the beginning of her career to now.This week on Piecemaker,
muses over the Satanic Temple of Iowa’s presence at the Iowa State Capitol, reflecting on First Amendment rights, religious freedom, who gets a seat at the table in public spaces, and why it matters.We have two columns by Sarah Scull this week. Check out her thoughts on quilt competition.
Our other IWC quilter, Marianne Fons, invites folks to Winterset (Quiltropolis) for her town’s annual Christmas Tour of Homes, which includes her own digs.
December 6, Sinterklaas Day. That doesn't mean much if you're not Dutch, and it never meant much to me until I had children and started reflecting on what that meant. Things rarely, if ever, mean just one thing, though. Read
’s Nuts and Bolts column for the story.Brittny Tschetter pulled herself up by her Army bootstraps and is now a business professor at William Penn University in Oskaloosa and an advocate for women veterans. She recently placed highly in a national competition in Orlando, FL. Oh, and she's a professional dog trainer, too. Meet the 10-year Army veteran in
's new "View from the Cedar Valley" column.
Middle school teacher
says Gov. Reynold's proposed classroom cellphone ban addresses symptoms, not the root of troubles for our children's learning.
Ty tied the knot a year ago and married his best friend. Read
and subscribe to his “Ty Takes” column to receive his ongoing wit and wisdom. has a guest column this week by Shirley Neary, “Call Me Paper Girl,” lamenting the demise of print publications.
Food & Entertainment
found a prime example of "Careful Casual" food—great for a Tuesday night dinner.
Cars Culture and News
Two exclusives: Everyone associated with Stellantis—hourly workers, salaried workers, suppliers, union leaders, car dealers, investors—has pleaded for someone to do something. Then, the CEO quit. Here's why. Days later, execs at Stellantis called meetings with Jeep + Ram dealers to get things back on track. They revealed challenges not discussed publicly until now.
has these exclusive stories.Weather and Environment
offers compelling data in a readable format to spell out how climate change is real. He writes that it is a virtual certainty that the annual temperature for 2024 will be another milestone. He also sees “some” hope. writes about the confluence of ice age geology and modern-day water pollution in “Well, drained.”California is interested in increasing ethanol in its gasoline supply.
reports on how this could impact the Midwest.In response to an AgArts residency, Taylor Brorby reflects on his stay on a diversified farm in the Driftless area of Iowa. There, he fished in a trout stream and wrote a novel that draws on threads from Rolvaag to Borlaug.
’s Emerging Voices.
Sports
Iowa State has a 10-win football season for the first time in history.
looks at the century-plus-long journey to this milestone in "Iowa State Counts to 10."
Just in - Arizona State sinks Iowa State in Big 12 title game at "the Death Star." Read
’s column.
From
: Black Friday must feel more like Groundhog Day for long-suffering Nebraska Cornhuskers fans as the Iowa Hawkeyes yet again walked them off with a game-winning kick in a frigid Kinnick Stadium. It’s a tradition we Hawkeye fans have come to treasure!Punches and pepper spray. That's what you get when flags are planted on a college football rival's midfield. But what can be done to discourage this ugly, unsportsmanlike behavior? asked
.Books and Arts
LA film producer Nik Heftman heard Iowa City poet Caleb Rainey speak a powerful poem at an Iowa writers' retreat and caught echoes from his own growing-up experiences. Then Caleb landed in Nik's hotel room after getting locked out of his own. Two years later comes "The Negro Poet," Heftman's moving new film about Caleb's life and work.
has the story.
Reading with Rachelle is becoming a must-read/must-listen-to feature here in the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. On Ep. 6 of the “Reading with Rachelle” podcast, Rachelle Chase sits down with Dr. Leslie Schwalm, Professor Emeritus of history and gender, women’s, and sexuality studies at the University of Iowa, to discuss her book, "Medicine, Science and Making Race in Civil War America."
Media
on Media has some tips on how to keep up with the news without going bonkers.Humor
It’s the official beginning of the festive season, writes
’s Vicki MinorPoetry
shares a poem in response to the shocking news of the shooting of US Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Letters From Iowans
What’s on your mind? We want to hear from you. Please submit an essay to be included in the roundup. This column is edited by
. Please use this form to submit your piece.
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