2015

Good afternoon readers! As always, a lot happened in the political world this week. Enjoy our Sunday Grab Bag of shorter takes on a number of Iowa and national political topics: Calm Down There, Teddy Most of the candidates at last night’s Faith and Freedom Coalition gave their typical stump speech, with an emphasis on…

The issues of climate change and renewable energy will be key issues during the presidential primaries and the general election, promised NextGen Climate leader Tom Steyer at a press conference at Drake University earlier this week. The man financing the climate action organization plans a robust operation during the Iowa Caucus to force candidates to…

How many times does a girl need to say “no” before you realize she’s just not that into you? The big dance is coming up for Democrats, and many progressives are still hoping Elizabeth Warren will be their date. Never mind that she’s declined the offer multiple, multiple times in the starkest of terms. But…

The 1st quarter fundraising reports came out recently, and the race for Iowa’s 1st District continues to be one of the most interesting in the country. Let’s take a look at the numbers: Rod Blum Raised – Individuals: $49,043 Raised – PACs: $70,499 Raised – Candidate Loans: $500,000 Total: $620,512 Spent: $20,697 Cash on Hand:…

Good morning readers! As always, a lot happened in the political world this week. Enjoy our Sunday Grab Bag of shorter takes on a number of Iowa and national political topics: Rubio Announces, I Guess Poor Marco Rubio. Already facing an uphill battle to gain credibility and win the Republican nomination, his announcement on Monday…

When Ruth Lapointe of Mason City, Iowa started her clerkship in the Iowa House for Rep. Chris Hall this legislative session she never imagined she would be fighting for a bill surrounding an issue so close to home. The bill, House File 3 (HF3), was proposed to improve the invasion of privacy law by reducing…

Hillary Clinton hoped to “start small” with her inaugural Iowa trip for her 2016 campaign, but that didn’t stop excited crowds from swarming her during two “off-the-record” drop-bys in Mt. Vernon and the Iowa Statehouse. Clinton briefly stopped at a coffee shop in the small college town of Mt. Vernon on Tuesday to chat with…

Ah, to live in Iowa. Two days after announcing her 2016 presidential bid, Hillary Clinton drove straight to Iowa to meet with small groups of voters to kick off a different type of campaign. Her advisers hope the focus on smaller events where Clinton can have real conversations will dispel concerns over her 2008 campaign…

Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb displayed his military-like efficiency during an Iowa swing at the end of last week, marching through an impressive and diverse number of events throughout the state from Thursday through Sunday. Among other events, he met with Democrats in Council Bluffs, spoke at the Polk County Democrats’ fundraiser, toured a veterans…

For months we’ve heard time and again from the national press and many Iowa activists about how Hillary Clinton has an “Iowa Problem” and will likely run a presumptive campaign. They’ve said she’s arrogant for delaying an all-but-certain campaign so long. They’ve suggested she hates Iowa and might snub her nose at the caucus state…