We Lost a Journalism Legend, Books, the "Can't Govern Caucus, and more...
And some of us are recovering from the wonderful Okoboji Writers's and Songwriters' Retreat..
Several Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members and many of our subscribers gathered this past week at Julie Gammack’s 2024 Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ retreat.
Media
Iowa lost one of its hardest-working, most dedicated, and community-minded journalism leaders last week and we are all the poorer for it. They don’t make many like Bill Tubbs anymore. Check it out at Brecht’s Beat.
Dave Busiek on Media says Trump’s references don't check out from those who know him best.
.
National Politics
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative political analysts are producing a weekly podcast until the November election. Check out the episode posted this morning: Iowa Down Ballot.
“There they go again,” writes Barry Piatt from Washington, D.C. about what he describes as the “Can’t Govern Caucus” that runs the U.S. House, which once again simply kicked the can down the road instead of meeting one of the most basic obligations of the Congress. Read more in “Barry Piatt on Politics: Behind the Curtains.”
When JD Vance gets you to believe the lies, anything is possible. You could be a deportee, Art Cullen writes from Storm Lake, a town of immigrants.
Bob Leonard was impressed by Kamala Harris’ use of nonverbal communication in the debate with Donald Trump, and wrote, Race, Gender, and the Nonverbal Power of Kamala Harris with three psychologists.
Could democracy be replaced? Project 2025 is a blueprint for just that, writers’
.Iowa Politics
On "KHOI's Capitol Week," Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks discussed more Iowa Poll findings, a Nikki Haley co-chair backing Kamala Harris, news from the Congressional races, and how an Iowa legislators’ jersey ended up at Cooperstown.
As Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a tough re-election campaign in Iowa's first Congressional district, Laura Belin's post later today will explain how Miller-Meeks uses incumbency to her advantage.
Don’t skip voting in those down-ballot races. Due to the nature of our federal system, even unsexy political offices make decisions that can shape your life.
has the story here.Donald Trump’s threats against John Deere fit a familiar pattern. And as
at Along the Mississippi writes, if Trump follows his plan, it’s pretty clear who the only winner will be.In her column, Cheryl Tevis takes a close look at one political ad that turns a blind eye to how our consolidated food industry can use supply chain shocks to conceal unjustified price hikes.
The corn and soybeans drying in the fields look great, and reports of high yields are front-page news. Yet, alongside the stories of a robust impending harvest are the features explaining how the price of commodities is dropping steadily and is expected to stay low for years to come. How we address this issue will impact Iowa for some time.
shares her perspective.Around Iowa
wrapped up the fourth annual Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat and summarized her experience with video clips and photographs from the event.
Jeff Morrison's return from the Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters’ Retreat went through Sioux County, where he stumbled across classic cars and coney dogs at a church youth group fundraiser. (If you think Sioux County isn't on the way to Tama County, you don't drive like he does.)
Richard Gilbert, in Sh*t Richard says, contemplates, well, p**p while walking Dudley.
Marianne Fons, Reporting from Quiltropolis, invites everyone to the rolling hills of Madison County for today’s Fall Crawl (9-5). On display among fifteen locations are piglets, pottery, prairie, flowers, and more, with great food and drink available.
Where in the World is Taylor Deckert? She highlights one of her favorite places in Sioux City that has turned into a must-see location in the metro area. (Talk about a bird’s eye view!)
In his latest ramble, Kurtis Meyer provides readers with a “knothole” view of a week in his life. Kurt says it was not an especially noteworthy week, but rather filled with variety and in keeping with his values.
Bob Nejdl's last plane ride in one of his old World War II dive bombers at a Cedar Rapids air show was a doozy. A month before his recent passing at age 99, he recounted the rollicking ride to columnist Pat Kinney.
reposted one of his most popular columns “The Dreaded Red F, and the Beginnings of a Scholar.”Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger and his wife Mary Riche – “the RicheBurgers” -- have launched their “Iowa small-college football season,” taking them to campuses around the state this fall.
Books and Arts
In "Reading with Rachelle," author
shares what her nonprofit's monthly History Book Club is reading and invites you to read and join the discussion via Zoom.
Sports
Jane Burns is on vacation, and for her, that means it’s time to catch up on some reading. At The Crossover, Jane shares an assortment of women’s sports stories that she socked away to read while she sort of relaxed.
The Chicago White Sox have lost a record 121 games, and fans are chanting, "Sell the team." What can be done to bring change to this franchise? John Naughton attended Wednesday's game and has a first-hand view.
Rob Gray's banner raspberry harvest has been besieged by vicious Yellowjackets — a telltale sign that gardening season will soon be over and football season is ramping up.
Daniel P. Finney writes: “Thank you, Caitlyn Clark, for the great basketball adventure and helping my dad and I have something to look forward to after Mom died.”
Food, Travel, and Entertainment
reported that restaurant portion sizes might be going down. Readers weighed in on whether Iowa is ready for this new trend. She also has a piece about a restaurant in Waukee you’ll want to know about. Humor
Vicki Minor shares her humor with The morning of discontent from a squirrel in Winterset.
reposts an all-time favorite column about her demise.Cars
A U.S. Secret Service agent offers a peek at why leasing a car, buying a home, or going into the hospital makes you vulnerable to identity theft. And how to prevent it. Phoebe Wall Howard has the story.
Poetry
Over the next two months, Earth will have a mini-moon as a tiny satellite is drawn into our planet's orbit. Suzanna de Baca shares a poem in response to this news called Welcome to Earth 024PT5.
Weather and Environment
went to New York to take in Climate Week 2024.How are we doing with this Iowa Writers’ Collaborative experiment?
This project began over two years ago, and we now have 4,568 subscribers, with 7% paid. Our viewership tops 5-6,000, and those numbers grow each week.
If you can, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Or, pick five of your favorite writers below and become a paid subscriber.
We do not accept advertising or grants, so this local, independent commentary is 100% reader-supported.
Thanks for your support!
Nicole Baart: This Stays Here, Sioux Center
Rekha Basu: Shouts and Whispers, Des Moines
Ray Young Bear: From Red Earth Drive, Meskwaki Settlement
Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights
Tory Brecht: Brecht’s Beat, Quad Cities
Dartanyan L. Brown: My Integrated Life, Des Moines
Douglas Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll
Jane Burns: The Crossover, Des Moines
Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines
Rachelle Chase: Reading with Rachelle, Ottumwa
Iowa Writers Collaborative: Roundup
Steph C: It Was Never a Dress, Johnston
Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake
Suzanna de Baca: Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley
Taylor Decker: Taylor’s Millennial Mindset, Sioux City
Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County
Randy Evans: Stray Thoughts, Des Moines via Bloomfield
Daniel P. Finney: Paragraph Stacker, Des Moines
Marianne Fons: Reporting From Quiltropolis, Winterset
Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji
Arnold Garson: Second Thoughts, Okoboji and Sioux Falls
Chris Gloninger: Weathering Climate Change, US
Dennis Goldford: Let’s Talk Politics, Clive
Avery Gregurich: The Five and Dime, Marengo
Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames
Rob Gray's Area: Rob Gray’s Area, Ankeny
Nik Heftman: The Seven Times, Iowa
Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilia
Phoebe Wall Howard: Shifting Gears, Detroit
Iowa Capital Dispatch, an alliance with IWC
Iowa Podcasters' Collaborative
Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup Sunday Roundup
Black Iowa News: Dana James, Iowa
Chris Jones: The Swine Republic, Iowa City
Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, Waterloo
Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey
Letters From Iowans
Darcy Maulsby: Keepin’ It Rural, Calhoun County
Hola Iowa: Iowa
Alison McGaughey: The Inquisitive Quad Citizen, Quad Cities
Kurtis Meyer: Showing Up, St. Ansgar
Vicki Minor: Relatively Minor, Winterset
Wini Moranville: Wini’s Food Stories, Des Moines
Jeff Morrison: Between Two Rivers, Cedar Rapids
Kyle Munson: Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des Moines
Jane Nguyen: The Asian Iowan, West Des Moines
John Naughton: My Life in Color, Des Moines
Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines
Barry Piatt: Piatt on Politics Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.
Dave Price: Dave Price’s Perspective, Des Moines
Ty Rushing: Ty’s Take, Iowa City
Steve Semken: Ice Cube Press, LLC, North Liberty
Macey Shofroth: The Midwest Creative, Norwalk
Larry Stone: Listening to the Land, Elkader
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona
Mary Swander's Emerging Voices: Emerging Voices, Kalona
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County
Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport
Jason Walsmith: The Racontourist, Earlham
Kali White VanBaale: 988: Mental Healthcare in Iowa, Bondurant
Teresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines
Subscribe to Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup
Hundreds of paid subscribers
Linking readers and professional writers who care about Iowa.