From the Statehouse to the Streets: What Iowa Writers Covered This Week
...Trump's assault on the Fed chair, MLK, business in Greenland, and a tough of humor
This week’s Iowa Writers’ Collaborative coverage reflects the intensity of the moment — from the opening days of the Iowa Legislature to national political reverberations, cultural shifts, and on-the-ground reporting beyond Iowa’s borders. Dave Price, Laura Belin, Rekha Basu, Ed Tibbetts, Cheryl Tevis, and Todd Dorman all trained their focus on the Iowa Statehouse, offering readers everything from sharp analysis of the governor’s agenda and behind-the-scenes protest dynamics to a sober assessment of what lawmakers are saying — and what they’re not. The conversation continued on the Iowa Down Ballot Podcast, where Price joined Kathie Obradovich and Belin to unpack the first weeks of the 2026 session and the issues likely to dominate it.
Beyond the legislature, the Collaborative featured strong reporting and commentary from across the region and the nation. Kitty Sheehan’s on-the-ground reporting from Minneapolis captured a pivotal moment for democracy, while Barry Piatt delivered important political analysis explaining why U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn’s race was reclassified as a toss-up — and why the reason has been hiding in plain sight. In media and culture, Arnold Garson reflected on the end of Dilbertand its creator, marking the close of an era that once defined American workplace humor.
This week also featured a wide range of other voices and subjects — from business and leadership lessons, poetry, humor, sports, education, and the environment, to deeply human stories about immigration, justice, and community. And finally, a special shout-out to Phoebe Wall Howard, whose prolific reporting this week underscores exactly why sustained journalism matters. Across multiple deeply reported pieces — spanning labor rights, free speech, courtrooms, community response, and even American road culture — Howard demonstrates how persistence, depth, and follow-through remain essential to accountability. In a moment when attention is fragmented and news cycles move fast, her work reminds us that telling the whole story still matters.
Iowa Politics
Dave Price
Dave Price shares why what happened before the annual Condition of the State Address was so unusual on one night, plus why he was inspired as he interviewed Sharon Krause on a different day.
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Dave Price
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds laid out what she wants to happen in 2026. The Iowa Down Ballot Podcast with Kathie Obradovich, Laura Belin, and Dave Price looks at what the governor wants to do and what happened behind the scenes when protesters showed up.
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Cheryl Tevis
In her column, Cheryl Tevis searches for the root of all evil, and finds it in our political language.
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Ed Tibbetts
Never mind what Gov. Kim Reynolds told the Iowa Legislature last week. Ed Tibbetts delivers the real Condition of the State.
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Rekha Basu
As Republican lawmakers push to lower property taxes, a Democratic senator offers a win-win solution that would do so without further stressing local services or the state budget: End vouchers.
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Laura Belin
On KHOI’s Capitol Week, Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered below-the-radar stories about the Iowans in Congress and lots of news from the Iowa Legislature’s opening day.
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Laura Belin
Laura Belin went a little viral this week after the governor’s press secretary closed a door in her face. Lots of people had questions about the incident. She answered them here.
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Todd Dorman
ICE can apparently assault us, douse us in pepper spray and even kill us for any reason they can come up with, no matter how dishonest. Thanks to gutless politicians, they won’t be held accountable.
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Robert Leonard
In this short clip, Bob Leonard tacks gubernatorial candidate down in one of his limited public appearances. Watch now.
National Politics
Nicole Baart
Nicole Baart explores why so many choose not to see what’s happening in Minnesota and offers some ways to help.
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Kitty Sheehan
Saturday in Minneapolis brought a victory for democracy.
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Barry Piatt
Barry Piatt writes that there is a reason U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn’s re-election chances were just downgraded to a toss up—and that reason has been hiding in plain sight.
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Phoebe Wall Howard
Americans in support of free speech and releasing the Epstein Files flood GoFundMe after a Ford factory worker is suspended for shouting two words at President Trump.
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Phoebe Wall Howard
A factory worker shouts “pedophile protector” at President Trump and gets suspended from his job. After supporters raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, he urges them to support others.
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Art Cullen
What a grump. Art Cullen finds it hard to stay in good humor when dawn breaks to a police state.
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Dave Busiek
As we approach the first year of Trump’s presidency, Dave Busiek on Media asks if you’re better off than you were a year ago.
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Dan Henderson
At Turning Point USA’s Americafest, JD Vance declared white Americans no longer need to apologize. Dan Henderson breaks down the deceptive psychological strategy behind the rhetoric.
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Letters from Iowans (Gordie Felger)
An Iowa woman was jailed and nearly deported despite having tribal identification, the result of a so-called clerical mix-up.
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Michael Judge
When it comes to Trump’s assault on Fed Chair Jerome Powell or anyone else who stands in his way, Michael Judge says: remember your Shakespeare.
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Dennis Goldford
Should healthcare be a market good or a right of citizenship? Dennis Goldford examines Trump’s proposal through that lens.
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Media
Arnold Garson
Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip: a sad ending for both, and a personal remembrance. Arnold Garson reflects on the cultural impact of Dilbert, its creator, and what its unraveling says about power, work, and media in America.
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Law and Justice
Phoebe Wall Howard
In court, a judge rebukes defense tactics in a child sexual assault case, calling allegations against her “lying” and designed to pressure her to quit.
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Ken Chester
For the first time, Californians can demand that data brokers permanently delete their personal information. Ken Chester explains what this means nationwide.
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Lyle Muller
Renee Good’s death shows how Donald Trump’s government will twist personal stories into political weapons—even in death.
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Mental Health
Nicole Baart
The first 18 days of 2026 have been intense to say the least. Nicole Baart shares a story and offers a moment of peace for anyone who needs to breathe.
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Business
Rick Jost
Trump’s lust for Greenland aroused the ire of the real Lego Land: Denmark.
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Suzanna de Baca
In her Leadership Outside the Box column, Suzanna de Baca shares lessons about growth, mistakes, and mourning—learned from her dog, Tango.
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Hola Iowa
Entrepreneurship runs in these sisters’ blood as they meet needs and build businesses across Central Iowa.
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Arts and Culture
Phoebe Wall Howard
Why nearly a dozen classic cars drove across America on Route 66 in mid-January.
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Kyle Munson
Kyle Munson turns our attention to a different kind of oil glut: physical media left behind by generations of music and movie fans.
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Julie Gammack and Deb Engle
Attention women over 40: If you’ve entertained the notion of writing a novel, Julie and Deb held a fun, joint video to announce a new alliance between Story Summit and the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. Read and watch more
Poetry
Suzanna de Baca
Suzanna de Baca shares a new poem, “What Gets Left Behind,” reflecting on items lost in cold winter days.
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Weather and Environment
Larry Stone
Larry Stone pays tribute to his friend Paul Johnson with a review of a new book of Johnson’s collected conservation writings.
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Humor
Daniel P. Finney
FINNEY’S 5: Signs a Finney’s 5 isn’t going well. To be fair, most of them don’t.
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Daniel P. Finney
FINNEY’S 5: Shockingly personal messages in Chinese fortune cookies. The cookie always knows.
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Daniel P. Finney
America is in an ant mill death spiral. What a roadkill squirrel, a mouse, and 30 years taught Finney about inspiration.
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Daniel P. Finney
Let’s bring back visiting. In praise of open doors, long conversations, and the people who made time.
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Around Iowa
Chuck Offenburger
As we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Iowa native Chuck Offenburger reflects on his personal connection.
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Art Cullen
Art Cullen narrates a series of rural Iowa documentaries. Episode two examines Iowa’s alarming cancer rate.
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Sports
Mike Hlas
Mark Carlson came to Cedar Rapids 26 years ago and built a junior hockey legacy that never existed there before.
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Diversity in the Heartland
Robert Leonard
Immigrant farmers are strengthening Iowa’s economy and food systems. Bob Leonard tells one of their stories.
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World Affairs
Rick Morain
President Trump’s threat to take over Greenland is way over the line.
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Pat Kinney
While current American leadership is at odds with its NATO allies over Greenland, Pat Kinney shows how global politics can become deeply personal. A Dutch soldier’s quiet act of kindness—maintaining the grave of a U.S. soldier from Waterloo killed in World War II—becomes a powerful reminder of shared history, sacrifice, and enduring bonds.
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Podcast
Dave Price
The Iowa Down Ballot Podcast previews the issues likely to dominate the opening weeks of the 2026 Iowa legislative session.
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