September 2019
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Joni Ernst Tries To Siphon Military Funds For Border Wall
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst bucked several of her Republican colleagues Wednesday in voting against a bill aimed at stopping the president from declaring a national emergency to fund the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Republican-led Senate voted 54-41 to terminate President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration. Eleven Republicans joined Democrats in supporting…
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Chuck Grassley: We Need Whistleblowers For Good Government
An op-ed from Senator Chuck Grassley sent out to the media on July 30, 2019. Starting Line apologizes for the delay in running this op-ed from Iowa’s esteemed senator, but felt this was as good a day as any to do so. The first whistleblower law was unanimously passed by the Continental Congress on July…
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How Young Climate Activists Are Taking Charge In Iowa
It’s been a consequential month for youth dedicated to tackling climate change. Before Swedish 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg on Monday scolded the U.N. Climate Action Summit audience asking, “How dare you?“, students across Iowa organized and promoted a number of events with presidential candidates over the weekend. Events included a small meeting with Kamala Harris,…
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Buttigieg: Upcoming Legal Issues Require New Kinds of Judges
On the stump, Mayor Pete Buttigieg frequently mentions how he owes his marriage to a single vote on the Supreme Court. He’s not alone. For many Americans, decisions made by the Supreme Court have profound impacts on their personal lives. But, increasingly, people have lost confidence that the Supreme Court, or any federal courts, will…
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Kamala Harris Is The Fighter Iowa Needs In The White House
Guest piece from Penny Rosfjord, IDP SCC member and former Woodbury County Democrats chair. I love Iowa. And I love to build our party up strong from its foundation. In Woodbury County, we’re used to working hard to get Democrats elected. This election could not be more consequential for each and every one of us.…
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Elizabeth Warren Iowa Former Fellow, Volunteer Dies In Car Crash
A former field organizing fellow and volunteer for Elizabeth Warren’s Iowa campaign died Monday night in a car crash outside of Council Bluffs in Western Iowa. Zachary Presberg, 22, a native of Piedmont, California, was driving east from Council Bluffs toward Oakland when a semi-truck struck his car after he attempted to pass another vehicle.…
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Ep117: Sanders Trip, Biden Climate Interview, Klobuchar Call
Pat Rynard sits down with Josh Cook to talk about Bernie Sanders’ latest swing through Iowa, Isabella Murray interviews with Vice President Joe Biden about climate policy, and Amy Klobuchar joins Pat to talk about her weekend in Iowa and trying to win Midwest states. Photo by Julie Fleming
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Bernie Sanders’ Electability Pitch In Obama/Trump Counties
On an aptly-named “Bernie Beats Trump” tour, Bernie Sanders stumped through Iowa counties this past week that went for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, but chose President Trump in 2016. The four-day tour concluded after beginning Saturday in Des Moines and ending Tuesday in West Liberty. During the tour, Sanders made his own electability…
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Inconsistency’s Quicksand Snags Our Governor
Consistency can rise up and snare political leaders if they are not careful. A recent example is Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is now squirming after questions were raised over whether she favors local or state control. The question came up this summer when Madison County officials began studying a proposal from some people living in…
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Dolores Huerta Interview: A Latina Hero Fighting For Justice
Latino Heritage Month in Iowa can be very special. As a longtime Latina resident in Des Moines, I was thrilled to learn I would interview one of my personal heroes. Watching this tiny, 5-foot-tall woman walk toward me amazed me at how she was able to fight for workers, farmers, immigrants and women’s rights for…
