August 2019
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How Dark Money Groups Are Attacking Dems’ Health Care Plans
More than a million dollars worth of advertising spots were purchased in August in Iowa by three dark-money groups trying to impact the health care conversation in the state as voters vet presidential candidates. One Nation, Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, and Doctor Patient Unity all spent big bucks to buy spots in the…
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How Joni Ernst Defends Her Health Care Record
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst gets non-stop questions about her stance on health care issues when she’s out at her town hall meetings. She often says she supports preexisting condition coverage despite voting five times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a few of which had options to open loopholes back up for insurers to drop…
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Ask Candidates About Courts, Harkin And Advocacy Group Urges
As Democratic candidates campaign across Iowa, make sure to ask them about their plans to win the judiciary back from conservative court-packing, one national advocacy group is urging Iowa caucus-goers. Demand Justice, a progressive advocacy organization seeking to restore balance to the ideological leanings of the federal courts, organized a meeting with connected Iowans and…
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Health Care Industry Spending Millions in Iowa to Preserve Profits
While Democratic candidates pitch their plans on improving America’s health care system to Iowans, three dark-money groups are blanketing the Iowa airwaves with attacks ads on those reforms and similar issues. Aligned with the health care industry, they are airing ads against Medicare for All and other progressive health care legislation, spending over $1 million…
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Retired Admiral Michael Franken Joins Senate Race For Ernst Matchup
Michael Franken, a retired Navy admiral from Northwest Iowa, entered the U.S. Senate race today against Joni Ernst to “do what’s right for Iowa” and stand up to the Washington establishment. “Iowans need a senator who will go against the grain in Washington and do what’s right for Iowa,” said Franken, in an introductory campaign…
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Why Kirsten Gillibrand Is The Candidate For Young Iowans
A guest piece from Claire Carstens, former chair of the Youth Polk County Democrats. Politics is a part of my family. For years growing up, my mom, Shanda, and grandpa, Paul, were politically active and would include me in conversations about politics. They taught me how important it is to be involved in your community.…
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Trump Knows He “Really Messed Up With The Farmers,” Say Branstad/Ernst
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said President Donald Trump understands he “really messed up with the farmers” when he approved 31 waivers allowing refiners to forgo ethanol blending requirements outlined in the Renewable Fuel Standards. However, Ernst said the President, after several conversations with top staff and herself, didn’t agree to change that decision. Ernst told…
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The World Is Ablaze With Climate Warnings
Worldwide climate reporting is literally heating up with frightening news. Global temperatures continue to spike as July was the hottest month ever recorded since records began in 1880. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the sizzling July record follows the hottest June ever recorded in the last 140 years. Anchorage, Alaska hit 90…
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STD Rates In Southeast Iowa Continue To Rise
As family planning clinics across the country face a mounting number of obstacles to providing health care, the conversation often is focused on abortion services and birth control. But family planning services also include Sexually Transmitted Disease [STD] testing and treatment, and data show the absence of family planning services often results in increased STD…
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Eighth Circuit Court Gives LGBTQ Discrimination Case New Life
Today the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals released a decision that adds another opportunity for a case in the Supreme Court concerning the crossroads between anti-discrimination laws and religious freedom. In a 2-1 decision, the panel of judges decided that a couple who won’t shoot wedding videos for same-sex weddings can pursue a claim in…
