February 2019
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‘Pragmatic Idealist’ Michael Bennet Visits Iowa, Considers Presidential Run
Voters might find themselves Googling his name, or they may recognize him from a recent viral video of a blistering Senate floor speech against colleague Ted Cruz. Colorado’s Senator Michael Bennet dropped into Iowa this past weekend to meet with and listen to Iowa voters as he considers joining a crowded Democratic field. Stopping at…
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Would A Klobuchar Midwest Tide Lift All Iowa Down-Ballot Boats?
As Amy Klobuchar worked her way through Iowa this week as an official 2020 candidate, she pitched a message of Midwest electability to local Democrats who saw their own state go red in 2016. “To do all this, we need to win,” Klobuchar told the Ankeny Democrats on Thursday after listing out her policy priorities.…
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GOP’s 2020 Plan: Shout “Socialist!” At Democrats
Republicans are beginning their 2020 messaging early with campaign attacks that paint all Democrats as socialists. They plan to demonize Democrats as crazy leftists out to destroy America. They have focused on the Green New Deal (GND) resolution sponsored by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey as evidence that all Democrats have suddenly gone socialist.…
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Rod Blum Is Still Running Ads In His Old District
Congressman Rod Blum was defeated in his reelection effort by Abby Finkenauer last November, but that hasn’t stopped the Republican from staying politically active. In fact, he’s still running advertising online. A quick review of the Facebook Ad Archive shows Blum continuing to pay for Facebook ads over the past two months. The “paid for”…
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Ep83: Viral Caucus Trail Moments & John Delaney Interview
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by State Representative Jennifer Konfrst to talk about how viral moments on the caucus trail affect news coverage. And we interview presidential candidate John Delaney about where he sees a path to victory for him in the Iowa Caucus.
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Mauro Launches New PAC To Send Ernst Packing In 2020
Senator Joni Ernst starts out her 2020 reelection effort in a strong position, garnering a 57% approval rating in a poll released by the Des Moines Register last night. She’s spent her first years in D.C. largely unscathed by major controversy or any sustained opposition criticism, but that mostly free ride will soon come to…
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How Midwest Farmers Can Lead On Climate Change With Carbon Farming
A guest piece from Robert Leonard and Matt Russell. Robert Leonard is an anthropologist and radio host in Knoxville/Pella, Iowa. Matt Russell is executive director of Iowa Interfaith Power and Light and co-owner of Coyote Run Farm in Lacona, Iowa. It’s been a tough year for farmers here in Iowa and across much of America.…
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Tax Breaks For Amazon, Punishments For Struggling Iowans
Last week’s news put furrows in my brow. As I ruminated on the headlines and details in the news accounts, I came away convinced something is out of whack somewhere. One of the reports was that Amazon, the online retailing behemoth, cancelled plans to build a corporate headquarters in New York City. The company had…
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Ep82: Sanders Gets In, Early Caucus Takeaways & Troy Price Interview
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by Des Moines Register chief politics reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel to talk about Bernie Sanders’ run, key takeaways from early caucus campaigning, and the Register’s new poll on virtual caucuses. And we interview Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price about the proposed caucus changes.
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Iowa’s Newest Medicaid Insurer Rents Palatial Office Space
Why is Iowa Total Care, the state’s newest Medicaid insurer, renting the most expensive office space in metro Des Moines? Not only will their new West Des Moines Westfield Campus offices be the most expensive in the metro, they will be paying 37.5% higher rent than the average in greater Des Moines. Their offices in…
