2018

 Another Iowa gubernatorial candidate joins the show as Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard speaks with Cathy Glasson. But before that, Pat & show producer Chance Dorland discuss the results for the SD25 special election to replace Bill Dix.

As Republicans steamroll their extreme legislative agenda across the nation, there is a bright spot Democrats need to recognize and celebrate. While many Democratic legislators and activists can only resist the Trump agenda, Democratic attorney generals, including Iowa AG Tom Miller, have been leading the charge to block Trump’s actions. The Democratic AGs are regularly…

An important anniversary slipped by unnoticed recently. That milestone is a significant reminder beyond just the passage of time, however. Before I get to that, here’s some background: On February 17, 1843 — 175 years ago this winter — Davis County was carved out of the territory along the Missouri border. It would be almost…

Annette Sweeney won the special election tonight to replace former Senator Bill Dix, defeating Democrat Tracy Freese 56% to 44% in the heavily-Republican Senate District 25. She will be sworn into office in the near future, though it might not happen before the legislature adjourns for the year. Despite the Republican win, it was yet…

 Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks to Ben Foecke about legislative primaries & interviews Congressman Eric Swalwell of California.

Remember Senator Ernst’s campaign pledge to go to Washington and “Make’em Squeal?”  Little did we know that her Trump-led Republican Party would start a trade war that would make Iowa farmers “squeal.” President Trump’s tariff threats aimed at China have Iowa’s agricultural community in turmoil as they anticipate the loss of exports sales. Iowa’s agricultural…

While most of the attention will be focused on the governor’s race and congressional primaries for the next two months, key match-ups for the Iowa Statehouse will be decided on June 5 as well. While many primaries for the Iowa House and Senate are lower profile affairs than the heavily-targeted swing district battles in the…

Yet another person in the Iowa Senate has lost their job over a sexual harassment matter. Senator Waylon Brown’s legislative clerk, Jake Dagel, was fired this week following a complaint made against him for sexual harassment. Secretary of the Senate Charlie Smithson confirmed the firing to Starting Line late this afternoon. “A credible complaint of…