September 2019
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Finkenauer Brings Biodiesel Concerns Over Trump To Congress
Photo: Finkenauer meeting with farmers in district earlier this month. Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer wasted no time this week jumping back into her work in Washington after a long summer recess in the 1st District. On Tuesday, as chair of the Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship, Finkenauer led a hearing…
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Will Joni Ernst Vote For Another Nominee With ‘Disturbing’ Record?
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a controversial potential judicial nominee for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Protesters could be heard outside the proceedings. Inside, Republicans and Democrats both questioned Steven Menashi over columns he wrote in the past and criticized him for refusing to answer some of them. While…
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Iowa’s New Normal: Constant, Worsening Floods
As Cedar Rapids city councilman Dale Todd took a lap around his bustling district on a recent Friday afternoon, he paused before reaching a neighborhood tavern, Parlor City, which stands adjacent to the sprawling NewBo City Market. “This was where community members would meet to discuss how we’d rebuild the neighborhood,” said Todd. “We’re probably…
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Bullock Spends Debate Night In Iowa With Christie Vilsack, Tom Miller
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock may not have been on the debate stage yesterday night, but he was at the next-best thing: a room filled with Iowa caucus-goers. “There’s probably only one place I’d rather be than Clive tonight,” Bullock joked to the Iowans at his event at Granite City Brewery. Former Iowa First Lady Christie…
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Caucus Activists, Local Leaders Endorse Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren’s campaign is rolling out their first big batch of endorsers following last night’s Democratic debate. Fifteen well-known Iowa activists are publicly throwing their support behind Warren for the Iowa Caucus, hailing from cities and small towns alike. Among the new endorsers are former state legislators Mark Kuhn of Charles City and Kurt Swaim…
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Iowa Starting Line Expands Again
It may be getting crowded in the Iowa Starting Line office these days, but we are very excited to share with you our second major expansion of the year. With these new additions, Starting Line now has more full-time political reporters than any other news outlet in Iowa. We are bringing on yet another issue…
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Who Iowans Liked At Tonight’s Debate Watch Parties
Iowans gathered at debate watch parties throughout the state to watch the ten leading Democratic candidates square off at the latest debate. As always, your Starting Line team was out at many debate watch parties across Central Iowa, from a Drake University gathering with new students to a Salvadorian restaurant where attendees watched the debate…
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Poll: Battleground Voters Want To Protect ACA, Stop Trump Lawsuit
New poll from Public Policy Polling shows majority support in battleground states to keep the ACA, allow cost negotiation and more.
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Joni Ernst’s Long History With Social Security Changes
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s idea to make changes to Social Security haunted her first election campaign in 2014. In 2020, the issue has come back to challenge her re-election bid. In 2014, then-candidate Ernst considered using Social Security payroll taxes to create personal savings accounts for anyone entering the workforce. Rivals scrutinized her plan in…
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Kamala Harris Iowa Campaign Powered By “Blue Wave” Women
Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, the Iowa Capitol grounds filled with a sea of women newly engaged in politics, ready to take action at the state’s first Women’s March. But could they keep that enthusiasm up all the way through the election, people asked. They did, volunteering for Democratic campaigns, propelling Abby…
