Sweet Jesus, Numbers Don't Lie Until They Do, New Meaning to Giving the Bird
...and a bit of humor, life lessons, and 'health' for our children
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup
Who would Jesus deport?, asks Matt Russell.
Numbers? Arnold Garson and Rekha Basu have different takes on how the current president skews (?), presents (?) numbers. Lots to unpack, so get started. From Offenburger’s ‘sommelier’ of cinnamon rolls, to Finney’s humor, poetry from Teresa Zilk and Suzanna de Baca, plus life lessons from our novelist living in Sioux Center, Nicole Baart, there’s much to devour today.
Follow Chris Gloninger, David Thoreson, and Nina B. Elkadi for chilling information about climate change.
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Iowa Politics
Cheryl Tevis — Cheryl Tevis asks if Make America Healthy Again policies will succeed in supersizing our appetite for healthy choices. Read More
Todd Dorman — What if AG Bird cared about water quality in Iowa as much as she says she does about DEI at the University of Iowa? Read More
Daniel P. Finney — A tale of two meetings: Local government may be the last front for functioning democracy — sometimes. Read More
Randy Evans — There are many topics before our state, federal and local government leaders these days that need to have people, and journalists, asking “why” and “why not.” Read More
Matt Russell — Russell reflects on his formation as a Catholic Christian to understand how detention and deportation of Iowa immigrants is an attack on Iowa's rural communities. He considers the question "Who would Jesus deport?". Read More
Dan Henderson — The dust-up over the questionable video that showed University of Iowa employees talking about how the University is still pursuing DEI policies under another name led to "outrage" by Iowa's Governor, Kim Reynolds, and Attorney General, Brenna Bird. Henderson notes the irony that they are the beneficiaries of DEI programs themselves. Read More
Laura Belin — On "KHOI's Capitol Week," Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered the politically motivated DEI investigation at the University of Iowa, Donald Trump's clash with Chuck Grassley, Randy Feenstra's no-show at a GOP forum, another potential Republican candidate for governor, and more. Read More
Laura Belin — Laura Belin profiled former Iowa Republican lawmaker Joe Mitchell, who gave a master class on sucking up to Donald Trump en route to landing a senior federal government job at the age of 28. Read More
Letters from Iowans — Gordie Felger agrees with Attorney General Brenna Bird's 2024 statement that hate has no place in Iowa, but asks where Republicans' allyship was when the Legislature stripped rights from LGBTQ+ Iowans. Read More
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National Politics
Arnold Garson — Numbers, numbers, numbers: Understanding percentages should not be difficult for a graduate of Wharton School of Finance — you'd think. Read More
Art Cullen — Chuck Grassley said he was offended that Donald Trump insulted him. Sleep with dog, get fleas, Art Cullen says. Read More
Barry Piatt — With multiple new political outrages and disasters each week, Barry Piatt offers something “completely different” in his column “Behind the Curtains,” sharing his July journey from catastrophe to one of life’s most beautiful moments. Also: Smithsonian’s whitewash of Trump’s impeachment history and the overdue Farm Bill. Read More
Dave Busiek — It feels like we’re a nation guided not by ethics, but by what people can get away with. Dave Busiek says just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Read More
Rekha Basu — What does autocracy look like? Firing the BLS commissioner over a jobs report, dictating what colleges teach, suing news media for looking bad, and more. Read More
Rick Morain — It's time for elected officials to remember to whom they owe allegiance. Read More
Joan Zwagerman — "Can't we just all get along?" Adam Kinzinger has some thoughts. She’d like to believe he’s onto something, but… Read More
Robert Leonard — Bob Leonard can't resist writing about a good protest, but his friend Jan Libbey reminded him that while protests are a start, we really need to build community to defeat MAGA. Check out Jan's guest column! Read More
Dennis Goldford — So, the truth isn’t working for you? Impose your own facts. The rules aren’t working? Pick your own rules. Read More
The Iowa Angle
Nicole Baart — Author Nicole Baart reflects on the recent derecho in Northwest Iowa and the space between ruin and rebuilding. Read More
Rick Jost — "Iowa Helped Make, Deliver The Bomb" — Scientists, service members, and factory workers felt the impact when America unleashed nuclear weapons on Japan. First published for the 70th anniversary; now shared for the 80th. Read More
Around Iowa
Chuck Offenburger — The “Cinnamon Roll Sommelier” of Iowa is ready to preside over “The Great Cinnamon Roll Challenge of 2025” at the State Fair. Winner could snag $2,000 of the $5,000 prize pot! Read More
Chip Albright — Inside Plymouth Place, a story of love, music, dancing, and friendship will move you like life itself. Read More
Car Culture
Phoebe Wall Howard — Is the future of auto tech in the past? Read more
Humor
Daniel P. Finney — Don't miss these overlooked Iowa State Fair traditions. Read More
J. Dudley Gilbert (channeled by Julie Gammack) — This column is written by a 2 year-old dog. In this installment, he opines about playing with children at a dog park. Read More
Poetry
Teresa Zilk — An "I Am From" poem inspired by and dedicated to the people and places that first felt like home. Read More
Suzanna de Baca — Suzanna de Baca’s poem Funnel Cakes at the End of the World takes you through the sights, smells, and sounds of the State Fair, capturing the mix of food, crowds, and tradition that make it an annual ritual. Read More
Business
Suzanna de Baca — In Leadership Outside the Box, Suzanna reflects on her second year walking the Whiterock Ultra half-marathon and the leadership lessons learned along the way. Read More
Mental Health
Tory Brecht — Technology moves fast; humans stumble to keep up. Brecht connects AI’s risks to a haunting moment from the dawn of Twitter. Read More
Weather and Environment
Chris Gloninger — Three Degrees Podcast: Climate scientist Zack Labe discusses global temperature extremes, Arctic warning signs, and the power of clear communication. Read More
David Thoreson — The Okoboji Blue Water Festival: Come for the 10th anniversary of water quality discussions and stay for the free Wallflowers concert. Read More
Nina Elkadi — Nina writes about how water and air pollution don't care about "bubbles" like Iowa City or Des Moines. Read More
Podcast
Robert Leonard — In Episode 106 of the Iowa Revolution podcast, Bob Leonard and Spencer Dirks talk Rob Sand on water quality, Trump’s aversion to truth, Top 5 Worst Songs, AI-generated avatars, Epstein files, and why Hawaiian pizza is gross. Read More
