Politics, a new Pope, Warren Buffett, John Fetterman, Secrets, and Strictly Personal
From Romen Borsellino’s soul-bearing confession to a freakout over tariffs and a surprise papal pick, this Sunday Roundup is packed with policy shifts, personal revelations, and a fresh take on leader
Romen Borsellino may have once TP’ed a few Des Moines trees in his youth, but that’s not the regret keeping him up at night. Read about the real transgression in this week’s Political Comedy column.
This Sunday Roundup features folks freaking out over tariffs, a new Pope, the Iowa Legislature, and the fear of change—not to mention a fight to protect Iowa’s wetlands. Plus, member Suzanna de Baca launches a bold new column on out-of-the-box leadership.
Add in some magnificent personal reflections, and you’ve got yourself one fascinating Sunday read.
National politics
Phoebe Wall Howard: An exclusive analysis of why auto suppliers are "freaked out" by the China backlash to steep tariffs instigated by the U.S. and consequences facing consumers. Read More
Matt Russell: Why are MAGA Republicans losing it out over Pope Leo XIV? Meet the loud and proud American pontiff calling out extremism. Read More
Suzanna de Baca: A poem in response to the week’s news about a new American pope—and it's not what you think! Read More
Barry Piatt: Still waiting on your representative to respond? Here's how to be heard when you're ignored. Read More
Cheryl Tevis: On Mother’s Day, Cheryl Tevis offers a hard truth from the heartland. Read More
Dennis Goldford: One of President Trump’s major aides argues that only he has the democratic legitimacy of representing We the People. That’s not quite true. Read More
Iowa politics
Art Cullen: Iowans’ fear of change may be our strongest trait, and it is killing civil society, Art Cullen says. Read More
Dave Price: Trump 2.0 may end up getting this right, two Republican business leaders explained to Dave Price. Plus, what happens if Rep. Randy Feenstra runs for governor. Read More
Ed Tibbetts: Iowa Republicans revamped the state tax code, and in the process rapidly shifted the state’s source of revenue to the taxes that hit the poor and middle class the hardest. Read More
Laura Belin: On KHOI's Capitol Week, Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered Sarah Trone Garriott's campaign, Rob Sand’s grilling by House Republicans, and more 2026 state race developments. Read More
Letters from Iowans: Gordie Felger explores the human and economic toll in states like Iowa that enact anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Read More
Randy Evans: A state law prohibits officials from demanding donor info—but that’s not stopping one Iowa lawmaker. Read More
Dave Busiek
The second best thing to help Rob Sand be Iowa’s next governor is to make him sweat a little first, according to Dave Busiek on Media.
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Lynn Hicks
Iowans die as lawmakers dawdle on plan to spend opioid settlement money: The state sits on $56 million that could help prevent overdoses and treat addiction.
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Robert Leonard
Bob Leonard and Van Garmon covered a protest in Des Moines and wrote and shared photos and video in "This is What Democracy Looks Like! The May Day Rally in Des Moines, May 1, 2025."
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Todd Dorman
Trump's EPA is writing rules that could leave thousands of Iowa wetlands unprotected.
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Dave Price, Laura Belin, and Kathie Obradovich
Iowa Down Ballot is a weekly podcast featuring analysis of what the heck is going on in the Iowa Legislature. This astute group of observers offers insight you will not find anywhere else. Read more
Ed Tibbetts
Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham decided not to file charges in the 2023 building collapse in Davenport, and now she wants to keep details of the investigation secret. Ed Tibbetts at Along the Mississippi analyzes the case and explains why Cunningham is wrong.
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Weather and Environment
Chris Gloninger: 3,000 miles off the coast, David Thoreson is on a journey in the Pacific. What he’s witnessing is no longer theoretical—climate change is real, visible, and urgent. Read More
Larry Stone: Overwhelmed by spring’s sensory overload, Larry Stone put down his pen and picked up his camera. A vibrant photo essay captures the beauty and renewal of Iowa’s wild spaces. Read More
Business
Suzanna de Baca: Launching a new column, Leadership Outside the Box, Suzanna de Baca invites readers to rethink what it means to lead—with courage, creativity, and heart. Read More'
Rick Jost: This small Midwestern city made Forbes' top retirement list—wait 'til you see why, plus more in his Bits and Pieces column. Read More
Kyle Munson: Warren Buffett, 94, is stepping down. But it’s not his money that changed the world—it’s his philosophy. Kyle Munson looks at Buffett’s most enduring legacy: words. Read More
Books, Art
Michael Judge: A Mother’s Day gift for TFP readers: Upon the birth of her son, writes essayist Molly Wesling, the great poet Czesław Miłosz sent a gift: "The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh." The inscription read, "To Nicholas Wesling Gerber, that you may enjoy it as I did." Read More
Kurtis Meyer: A walk through two art museums in Ohio becomes a journey through memory for Kurt Meyer, revealing how certain pieces follow us across the decades. Read More
Religion
Nik Heftman
Filmmaker Kaya Dillon opens up about his acclaimed film "Fox Chase Boy" in an interview with Nik Heftman.
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Diversity in the Heartland
Pat Kinney: “I will never apologize for trying to create an equitable model of leadership,” says Waterloo’s mayor. Kinney profiles the community’s continued push for inclusion amid political headwinds. Read More
Human Interest
Vicki Minor: Darcy Dougherty Maulsby uncovers Iowa's Titanic stories—tales from ordinary people with extraordinary ties to one of history’s most infamous voyages. Read More
Sports
Lea Donovan
Lea Donovan shares reflections through her unique sports lens in a new column entry titled "Oliver’s Twist."
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Mental Health
Kali White VanBaale: Childhood Mental Health Awareness Week inspired this reflection on how the sights, sounds, and isolation of a school bus ride stayed with one Iowa kid for life. Read More
Spiritual
Debra Engle
Every mom deserves a few minutes of quiet. Here's a guided meditation for their special day.
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Strictly Personal
Chuck Offenburger
Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger says when you get to be his age, you know there won't be a lot more visits with old friends who live far away. That's what made his trip last week to Centerville, Tennessee, such a precious one. And a bonus: His best friend Douglas T. Bates III and Doug's wife Molly Bates were in fine form.
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Lisa Grouette
Join me as I journey through the wilderness of self-acceptance.
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Political Comedy
Romen Borsellino
I'd rather you hear this confession directly from me: I helped elect John Fetterman. Now I'm ready to atone for my sins.
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