June 2019
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Iowa Fire Fighters Union Endorse Biden
The Iowa Professional Fire Fighters union has voted to endorse former Vice President Joe Biden for the 2020 Iowa Caucuses. “Vice President Biden is honored and humbled to have the endorsement of the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters. Every day, Iowa’s firefighters put their lives on the line in communities across our state,” said Biden’s Iowa…
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Trump Rethinks Refinery Waivers After Pushback From Farmers, Democrats
Several reports late this week revealed that Donald Trump has ordered EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to reconsider their approach to small refinery ethanol waivers. President Trump was in Iowa earlier this month to celebrate the year-round sales of E15 and to fundraise for his reelection campaign, but received blowback…
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Newman Abuissa Lends New Perspective To 2nd District Race
Newman Abuissa has never run for a political position before, other than lobbying fellow Democrats to serve as a convention delegate during the 2004 presidential election. But a lack of political chops is part of the appeal of his unconventional candidacy to represent Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, Abuissa said. “I am a grassroots candidate,” Abuissa,…
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Candidates React To Court Ruling On ‘Domestic Gag Rule’
Yesterday, the Trump Administration got one step closer to restricting abortion access in the United States at the federal level. A three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, covering the Western part of the United States, ruled that the federal government can block federal grant money from health care providers if they offer…
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Iowa Women Face Longer Travel Times To Abortion Services, Limiting Access
Despite recent efforts to limit it, abortion is still legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks. However, the procedure isn’t easily accessible to all Iowans. Iowa has eight Planned Parenthood clinics, five of which provide abortion services. There are also a few other clinics that provide the service. But these providers are concentrated mostly in…
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Ep107: National Vs. Iowa Primary Strategy, Ro Khanna Interview
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with former Lt. Governor Patty Judge about the debate over candidates running a national primary strategy versus and early state approach. And we interview Congressman Ro Khanna of California about his work on linking rural Iowa to Silicon Valley, combatting social media disinformation, and his role as…
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10 Reasons For Supporting A Presidential Candidate
Guest piece from Dick Goodson, a Des Moines resident and former chair of the Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations. 10 reasons to support a specific candidate for President: The candidate must be impeccably honest and truthful. The candidate must treat all individuals with respect regardless of race, sexual orientation or nationality. The candidate needs…
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Where Was Joni Ernst’s Squealing Over Tariffs?
Making Washington squeal was a major theme used by Joni Ernst in campaigning for the Senate in 2014. She has continued to claim that she is holding Washington accountable by declaring a monthly, “Joni’s Squeal Award.” She has used that squeal award to highlight numerous trivial spending issues and attack various Democratic proposals. Where is…
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Joni Ernst Target Of New Group Highlighting Iowans’ Struggles
Sen. Joni Ernst’s voting record on Medicaid expansion and protecting insurance coverage for Iowans with preexisting health conditions was the subject of the launch of a new grassroots organization in the state working to amplify examples of everyday hardships. Emily Holley, executive director of Iowa Voices, introduced the new initiative Thursday at the Iowa Statehouse…
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USDA Grants Boost Small Iowa Towns, But Funding Now At Risk
As small towns across the country struggle to attract or retain businesses, the USDA has been awarding a number of rural development grants to help stimulate growth. “I just feel like there’s been a reinvigorated interest in rural issues and communities, and seeing that manifest itself in different ways has been really encouraging,” said Grant…
