August 2018

When incumbent candidates have a strong successful record, they run on their accomplishments. When candidates must run on a failed record, lack any positive visions and refuse to discuss their positions, they turn to negative ads. With a failed record of achievements, Governor Reynolds has chosen the latter by going negative in a desperate attack…

 Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with Chance Dorland about controversies at the Iowa State Fair and what it’s like to cover politics at the Fairgrounds. And we interview Karin Derry about her run for the Iowa House against Jake Highfill.

Democrats are back to the drawing board in Senate District 15. Taylor Van De Krol, nominated at a special convention two weeks ago to replace Senator Chaz Allen, withdrew his candidacy with the Secretary of State’s office earlier today, that office confirmed. UPDATE: A special nominating convention will be held next Wednesday at 7:00. UPDATE:…

Once again, our government has demonstrated that common sense really isn’t so common. I understand that Americans are not of one mind on the issue of immigration. I understand that people who break the law ought to face punishment. What I don’t understand are two cases involving foreign-born women — one a 39-year-old mother of…

 Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with Lee Newspapers’ Erin Murphy about Michael Avenatti’s intriguing trip to Iowa, as well as an overall analysis of the Wing Ding Dinner. Plus we interview 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang, a New York entrepreneur, about his unique plans for the country.

State Senator Rick Bertrand kicks off his third campaign for the Sioux City Iowa Senate seat by breaking a promise from his first: to not seek a third term. That old pledge went out the window today as Bertrand reversed course from earlier in the year and was confirmed as the party’s nominee at a…

The defeat of Missouri’s anti-union “right-to-work” law is likely to carry national repercussions. These unions’ huge success in a largely red state that Trump won with 54% suggests that voters support and believe in the value of unions. The right-to-work law was repealed by an overwhelming 67% to 33% margin. Since only 7.5% of Missourians…

The Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus says they’ve been marching in the State Fair Veterans Parade for the past ten years, yet were denied participation at the last minute this year from an official in Kim Reynolds’ administration. The group says they were already approved this year to join the parade, but were called on Friday…

How valuable is a health benefit plan that can’t be called an insurance policy? The law that Republican legislators passed and Reynolds signed allows Iowa Farm Bureau, in collaboration with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to sell Iowans “health benefit plans.” The law states that the health plan, “sponsored by a nonprofit agricultural organization…