Iowa in Turmoil: Scandals, Pay Hikes, and Political Showdowns
...meet a new member, read about Iowa business, and enjoy a touch of poetry
We are thrilled to announce that Abena Sankofa Imhotep is joining the Iowa Writers' Collaborative! As a storyteller and cultural truth-teller, Abena brings a voice that is as poetic and insightful.
As an author and speaker, Abena has dedicated her work to uplifting Black stories, preserving history, and challenging erasure. Her writing doesn’t just inform—it ignites whether she’s chronicling people's resilience, illuminating the intersection of art and activism, or reminding us that history lives in the present.
Her latest work, We’re Still Here, is a revival of Let Me Tell You…, a project that traces Black narratives from Iowa to the world. Through her storytelling, Abena ensures that voices long silenced are amplified, honored, and, above all, never forgotten.
Welcome Abena Sankofa Imhotep
We’re Still Here—A powerful revival of Let Me Tell You traces Black stories from Iowa to the world, naming truths, honoring resilience, and refusing to be erased.
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Chaos in the Capitol: Iowa's Most Explosive Political Stories This Week!
From eye-popping pay raises for Governor Kim Reynolds to the University of Iowa scrubbing its websites of DEI content, this week’s political headlines are packed with controversy. Trump loyalists flex their influence in the Iowa GOP while Democrats gear up for a fierce congressional battle. Plus, Nazi sympathizers show up at the Iowa Capitol (yes, really), and Iowa farmers face a financial gut punch from a Trump-era funding freeze.
More.
Funnel Week Frenzy: Iowa lawmakers scramble to push their pet projects forward—who wins, who loses, and what sneaky deals are being made?
Joni Ernst’s Big Problem: ProPublica drops an exclusive bombshell about Iowa’s senior senator—what’s she hiding?
Trump and the Nazis: A far-right extremist fired for white supremacy... and then quietly rehired. What’s going on?
Eggs, Economics, and Outrage: Why your breakfast just got more expensive, and why Iowa’s leaders are shrugging.
The Media Meltdown: Iowa newspapers are vanishing—how many are left, and what does it mean for democracy?
John Muir vs. Trump? A long-dead environmentalist debates the administration in a bizarre thought experiment.
Letters from the Frontlines: Reports from a writer contemplating a life in Mexico, a photographer capturing Iowa’s soul, and a poet turning policy into verse.
The gold dome of the Iowa Capital
Iowa Politics
Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch
On the latest Iowa Down Ballot podcast, Zachary Oren Smith (filling in for Dave Price), Kathie Obradovich, and Laura Belin discussed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's rally in Des Moines, the Democrats who may run for Congress in Iowa's third district, a possible spending deal in Congress, and the Iowa legislature needing to tap into reserves to cover state budget spending.
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Laura Belin
Laura Belin explored the ways U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks is pandering to President Donald Trump and MAGA sensibilities as she faces a GOP primary challenger.
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Ed Tibbetts
A $100,000 raise for Kim Reynolds? Ed Tibbetts at Along the Mississippi weighs in on the Iowa Republicans’ pay raise plan. Also, Joni Ernst did someone right—sort of.
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Todd Dorman
The University of Iowa’s webpages are getting a good scrubbing and a refreshing coat of whitewash. This scrubbing is aimed at making sure the university’s websites say nothing about diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Laura Belin & Spencer Dirks
Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered "funnel week" surprises and lots of other news from the state legislature on "KHOI's Capitol Week." They also discussed a new job for Brad Zaun, the late great Jack Kibbie, and ProPublica's exclusive reporting about Senator Joni Ernst.
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Robert Leonard
Spencer Dirks and Robert Leonard hosted another edition of the Iowa Revolution podcast: Episode 86: Do Kim and the Legislators Need a Raise? Trump Fires a Guy for Being a White Supremacist and Rehires Him. Top 5 Names of Guys You Can't Trust.
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Robert Leonard
Bob Leonard interviewed two Nazis at the Iowa Capitol and wrote: Pro-Trump Nazis at the Iowa Capitol Protesting the existence of non-Aryan peoples and the LGBTQ+ community...
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Robert Leonard
Bob Leonard went to the Marion County Democratic Caucus and wrote "There's 'A Madman in the House,' by Knoll Buddy, and the Marion County, Iowa Democrats held their odd-year caucus on Saturday..."
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Kali White VanBaale
Kali White VanBaale writes a mental healthcare legislative update "Of Course It's About Lack of Beds" on two critical bills that advanced to the Senate for her column Minding the Gaps.
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Zachary Oren Smith
Iowa farmers and school cafeterias are left on the hook after the Trump administration freezes $7 million in USDA funding. On this special edition of podcast Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with the group that used to handle that money. Also Zach and Amie Rivers take on the bills that survived Iowa's recent "funnel" deadline.
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Zachary Oren Smith
On this special edition of podcast Cornhole Champions, Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses Waterloo Schools' withdrawal from a Black literacy event due to Trump's anti-DEI directives. Her 1619 Freedom School is hosting a replacement event with free books for families. Hannah-Jones emphasizes the importance of affirming children's identities amid significant racial achievement gaps.
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National Politics
Dave Price
What could Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's visit to Des Moines accomplish for a party that decided not to get into a D.C. budget standoff? Dave Price offers some thoughts and insight following his scoop this week with three Democrats looking to challenge Republican Congressman Zach Nunn in next year's election.
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Cheryl Tevis
Cheryl Tevis tackles the "fowl" topic of high egg prices and our leaders' responses to continuing bird flu outbreaks in her column this week.
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Art Cullen
Iowa farmers are planting into a seedbed of chaos engendered by President Trump, Art Cullen says.
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Joan Zwagerman
The firing of the National Archivist was awful and unnecessary. The person named to fill in is horrendous.
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Dave Busiek
It’s not your fault. It’s his. Dave Busiek on Media says reading the news these days is like living in a house of mirrors.
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Dennis Goldford – You have every right in the world to get Covid, measles, etc., but you do NOT have a right to give it to me. A powerful take on individual freedoms, public health, and the balance of rights in a society still grappling with pandemic realities.
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Julie Gammack
From near disasters at sea to the unpredictable tides of the economy, this tale of hard-won nautical wisdom reveals why reading the warning signs—on the water and in business—can mean the difference between sinking and survival.
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Kurtis Meyer
Kurt Meyer took on a challenge this week: moderating a debate (conversation?) between John Muir and the Trump administration. This task was somewhat difficult since Muir had been dead for 110 years.
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Weather and Environment
Chris Gloninger
Iowa’s environmental policies are at a crossroads. From underfunded conservation programs to the increasing influence of big agriculture in the state legislature, critical decisions are being made that will shape the future of natural resources, disaster response, and even public trust in government.
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Larry Stone
Larry Stone loves the unpredictable craziness of March in Iowa.
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Iowa at Large
Jeff Morrison
On March 5, 2020, Iowa had 25 newspapers printing five or more days a week. By March 5, 2025, there were 13. Jeff Morrison has compiled a timeline of when dailies cut back on print and weeklies merged or folded over the past six years.
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Law and Justice
Lynn Hicks
How conversations can change the world: Restorative dialogues have shown me that people are far more than their criminal charges. Find out how you can be a part of these conversations, too.
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Around Iowa
Chuck Offenburger
Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger rekindles his relationship with two of his former college students—both now pastors—who were working the same high school boys state basketball tournament game last week.
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Robert Leonard
Bob Leonard shares, "The USPS Needs to Expand Services as UPS Retreats from Rural America," my guest commentary in the Kansas City Star.
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Letters from Iowans, By: Beverly Davis
Beverly Davis shares her experiences from the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival in Mexico and wonders if the city of San Miguel de Allende could become her future home.
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Julie Gammack
Julie will have Drake University's president, Marty Martin, on her Zoom podcast call on Monday. Find out what he wrote to faculty and students about DEI at Drake. Subscribers can join the conversation.
Maxwell Schaefer
On Maxwell’s Iowa CoffeeCast, renowned Iowa photographer Chris Maharry shares his journey of capturing life’s most authentic moments, from high-profile events to everyday interactions, all while building trust and staying true to his artistic vision. Tune in for an insightful and entertaining conversation about the art of photography, the power of human connection, and why sometimes the best shots happen when you least expect them.
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Business
Diana Wright
Entrepreneurship through the lens of Iowa writers and creatives.
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Rick Jost
The death of actor Gene Hackman's wife from a mouse-transmitted disease brings to mind a century-old rodent-control business in Iowa.
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The Iowa Angle
Hannah Breckbill—Farmer Hannah brings a personal perspective to USDA's local food funding withdrawal. As a farmer on the ground, she offers an inside look at how funding cuts impact Iowa’s agricultural communities and what’s at stake for the future of local food systems.
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Poetry
Suzanna de Baca
Suzanna de Baca shares a news response called "Farmers Face Steep Losses," inspired by an article covering the current tariff and funding cut situation.
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Teresa Zilk
A love poem about healing all the collective parts of yourself.
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Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roster
Des Moines Metro
Chip Albright: Chip Happens
Rekha Basu: Shouts and Whispers
Kelsey Bigelow: There’s a Poem in That
Dartanyan L. Brown: My Integrated Life
Jane Burns: The Crossover
Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media
Christina Fernández-Morrow: Hola Iowa
Daniel P. Finney: Paragraph Stacker
Abena Sankofa Imhotep: The Imhotep Report
Wini Moranville: Wini’s Food Stories
Kyle Munson: Kyle Munson’s Main Street
John Naughton: My Life in Color
Dave Price: Dave Price’s Perspective
Teresa Zilk: Talking Good
West Des Moines
Jane Nguyen: The Asian Iowan
Norwalk
Macey Shofroth: The Midwest Creative
Clive
Dennis Goldford: Let’s Talk Politics
Altoona
Ken Chester: TecMobility
Bondurant
Kali White VanBaale: Mind the Gap
Ankeny
Maxwell Schaeffer: Maxwell’s Voice
Rob Gray: Rob Gray’s Area
Eastern Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Todd Dorman: 24-hour Dorman
Oelwein
John Crabtree: Though the Heavens Fall
Carol Montag: Monday’s Music
Jeff Morrison: Between Two Rivers
Iowa City
Nina Elkadi: Corn Belt Confidential
Chris Jones: The Swine Republic
Michael Judge: The First Person
Ty Rushing: Ty’s Take
Zachary Oren Smith: Cornhole Champions
North Liberty
Steve Semken: Ice Cube Press, LLC
Davenport (Quad Cities)
Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi
Alison McGaughey: In the Fields
Eldridge
Deidre Cox Baker: Baker’s Heartbeat
Waterloo
Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley
Elkader
Larry Stone: Listening to the Land
Boone County
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business
Quad Cities
Tory Brecht: Brecht’s Beat
Northwestern Iowa
Storm Lake
Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook
Joan Zwagerman: Nuts and Bolts
Carroll
Douglas Burns: The Iowa Mercury
Sioux City
Taylor Decker: Taylor’s Millennial Mindset
Sioux Center
Nicole Baart: This Stays Here
Okoboji
David Thoreson: Northwest Passages
Northern Iowa
St. Ansgar
Kurtis Meyer: Showing Up
Decorah
Hannah Breckbill: Humble Hands Harvest
Southern Iowa
Lovilia
Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt
Bussey
Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture
Ottumwa
Rachelle Chase: Reading with Rachelle
Central-West Iowa
Jefferson
Chad Elliott: Iowa’s Renaissance Man
Yetter
Darcy Maulsby: Keepin’ It Rural
Boone County
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business
Southwestern Iowa
Creston
Sarah Scull: The Piecemaker
Kathryn Severing Fox: Creston
South-Central Iowa
Earlham
Jason Walsmith: The Racontourist
Madison County
Debra Engle: A Whole New World
Winterset
Marianne Fons: Reporting From Quiltropolis
Vicki Minor: Relatively Minor
Vicki Minor: Narratives and Notes
Southeastern Iowa
Washington
Daniel Henderson: Things We Don’t Talk About, Like Religion
Marengo
Avery Gregurich: The Five and Dime
Kalona
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land
Iowa at Large
Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin
Randy Evans: Stray Thoughts
Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck
Arnold Garson: Second Thoughts
Nik Heftman: The Seven Times
Rick Jost: Biz Whispers: Fresh Iowa Business News and Commentary
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Black Iowa News: Dana James
Letters From Iowans
Hola Iowa
Diana Wright: Startup Iowa’s Hot List
Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger
Out of State with an Iowa Connection
California
Romen Borsellino: Hollywood, CA
District of Columbia
Barry Piatt: Piatt on Politics Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.
Michigan
Phoebe Wall Howard: Shifting Gears, Detroit, MI
Massachusetts
Chris Gloninger: Weathering Climate Change, MA
Florida
Stacey Walker: Dispatch Revolution, FL
Thank you to our paid subscribers!
You are invited to Winterset on July 26 for a special event. The film Storm Lake, featuring our own Art Cullen, will be shown. Meet Art and your Iowa Writers’ Collaborative favorites.
All paid subscribers to any of our member columns are welcome to come. Details of the event will be included in an RSVP form next week.
Since re-registering with life after serious encounters with its vicissitudes, so much has been revealed. Discovering joy in the smallest things and moments for example. Patience and a newfound ability to exhale and breathe was another.
The most recent has been uncovering the powerful memories and experiences shared by this unique group of creative writers, poets, musicians, politicians and ordinary people. Who are performing extraordinary feats of guiltless guileless acts of service by their willingness to give witness to their respective lives.
This afternoon I was asked how I’d define or describe what a Substack is. She may as well have asked me to describe Botticelli’s work, “The Birth of Venus.” Or, Kundalini. Although my exposure to all this wealth of community fellowship, given so openly is completely new to me, of one thing I am certain. The feeling of belonging and being unafraid to share right alongside the rest of you. Thanks for freedom not license, again.