Politics
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Rob Sand unveils cannabis legalization plan, a potential solution to Iowa’s $1.4 billion budget hole
Iowa faces a serious budget challenge. This 4/20, Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand wants the state to stop sending cannabis tax dollars to Illinois and Minnesota—and instead put it to use for Iowans. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand announced a plan Monday to legalize, tax, and regulate adult-use cannabis in Iowa. Sand framed the…
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Ashley Hinson, Iowa GOP accepted donations from megadonor accused in 2019 sex trafficking sting
Billionaire John W. Childs is back to seeding Republican campaigns with large checks after his 2019 solicitation charges related to a sex trafficking sting were dropped. Records show his deep pockets are helping Iowa’s Congressional delegation as they prepare for the 2026 midterms. [Update: After publication, a reader pointed out that John Childs of Vero…
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Iowa minors could need parental approval for cancer-preventing HPV vaccine
The Iowa House passed a bill requiring parental consent for minors to receive the HPV vaccine, which protects against an STI that causes cancer.
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Rep. Miller-Meeks spent as much as $26,000 in taxpayer funds to rent DC apartment from pharma lobbyists
While sitting on a House subcommittee that oversees drug pricing, Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was renting her DC apartment from lobbyists paid millions to fight prescription drug cost reforms on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry. Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks rented a Washington, D.C. apartment from two lobbyists whose firm was paid $1.8 million to lobby…
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Iowa Democratic Senate primary becomes a referendum on what anti-establishment actually means
Josh Turek and Zach Wahls agree on almost everything. The one thing they can’t agree on: what it actually means to fight the system. Iowa’s Democratic Senate primary will be decided June 2, with voters choosing between two candidates who both claim to be the anti-establishment candidate. State Senator Zach Wahls and State Representative Josh…
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Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stumps for Sarah Trone Garriott as Iowa feels healthcare cuts
Slotkin came to Iowa with a warning: the healthcare crisis hitting rural communities isn’t coming—it’s already here. US Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan made a stop in Iowa on Tuesday to campaign alongside Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott. The pair held a town hall in Des Moines focused on the crisis emerging around health…
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Rob Sand proposes term limits, election overhaul as part of accountability plan
Iowa’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate wants to overhaul how Iowans vote, who can run, and how long they can serve—and he thinks Republicans might go along with it. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand is calling for sweeping changes to Iowa’s political system, including term limits, age caps, and a restructured primary election process. Sand, who serves…
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Iowa residents asks courts to intervene after Trump administration cancels citizenship ceremony
A 26-year Iowa City resident was approved for US citizenship. Then the Trump Administration canceled his citizenship ceremony at the last minute. Dr. Sunday Goshit came to Iowa City from Nigeria in 2000 on a student visa with a specific plan: earn a PhD in geography and go home. But over the next quarter century,…
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Trump tries to take control of Iowa’s ‘secure’ mail-in voting system
Trump’s new executive order would require Iowa to submit its mail voter list for federal approval before each election — a move election experts say is unconstitutional and courts are likely to block. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday targeting mail-in voting nationwide, creating new federal oversight over a system Iowa election officials…
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Iowans are struggling to pay their bills—Dems push ‘Energy Bills Relief Act’ to curb costs
Rising electricity bills in Iowa are putting pressure on household budgets. Lawmakers in Washington have introduced a proposal to tackle those rising costs.
