2018
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Gov. Steve Bullock Meets Iowa Cousin, Raises Funds For Democrats
Montana Governor Steve Bullock joked that he wouldn’t talk about his Iowa ties at his meet-and-greet in Coralville this weekend, but those local connections showed up all the same. Barbara Smith, Bullock’s second cousin that lives in Iowa City, heard through the family grapevine that the governor would be in town and came out to…
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Ep46: Trump’s Visit & Heather Matson Interview
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with producer Chance Dorland about Donald Trump’s visit to Iowa on Thursday. And we interview Heather Matson about her house race and whether Democrats can pick up a seat in Ankeny.
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The Wing Ding Dinner Is Gonna Be Lit
Best get your tickets now for the annual Iowa Democratic Wing Ding Dinner on August 10 because it’s going to be a wild night. With the unexpected news that Story Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti will attend – and that he’s thinking of running for president – the speaker line-up got quite interesting. Expect an extra…
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Even Grassley Thinks GOP’s Attacks On Hubbell Are Dumb
The Republican Party’s efforts to define Fred Hubbell early on have not had much success in the past month and a half. Now even Senator Chuck Grassley is critical of his party’s line of attack. “I always stick to policy when I’m campaigning, and I would advise other people to stick to policy,” Grassley told…
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Trump Forgets Rod Blum’s Name In Problematic Iowa Trip
If you missed any of President Donald Trump’s visit to Iowa today, don’t worry. You’ll likely see video clips of the roundtable he held just outside Dubuque for months to come in Democratic campaign commercials. Trump brought several of his cabinet secretaries and his daughter Ivanka with him to a visit at Northeast Iowa Community…
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Will Farmers Accept Trump’s $12 Billion Bribe To Stay Quiet?
Isn’t it fascinating that Republicans have had a sudden epiphany on the benefits of welfare? Apparently, when it improves their election chances, welfare has a previously unknown value. Where is the GOP’s protest about giving “free stuff” to win elections? Recall they accused President Obama of winning by giving free stuff. Where is their anger…
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Fred Hubbell Puts Education Funding As Top Priority
On Monday, Democratic candidate Fred Hubbell met with 10 area educators in Des Moines as part of his “Priorities for Iowa” statewide tour from Sioux City to Davenport. The educators consisted of K-12 teachers, a school board member and a school counselor. He and running mate Rita Hart are holding roundtable discussions for three days…
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EMILY’s Lists Endorses Slate Of Iowa Statehouse Candidates
EMILY’s List is out with a new round of endorsements of Iowa candidate in important Statehouse races as they focus more attention in on the state. They’re throwing their support behind five senate candidates and eight house candidates: Vicky Brenner (SD-13) Claire Celsi (SD-21) Amber Gustafson (SD-19) Patti Robinson (SD-49) Jackie Smith (SD-07) Karin Derry…
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Ep45: The Public/Private School Funding Debate
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard sits down with two Des Moines-area school board members to discuss the recent debate around public funds going to private schools, Urbandale School Board member Judy Downs and Des Moines School Board member Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley. They also discuss Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican legislators’ funding for schools and how…
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When Will It End?
Well, here we are, with a looming constitutional crisis before us. I have to revert back to my undergraduate degree in American History to confirm that while we have been in some interesting crises over the past two hundred year span of American democracy, we have never been in a position where the President has…
