Amie here. It’s Tuesday of our shortened Thanksgiving week. That means this will be your only newsletter from me this week. Remember to boycott the big box stores promoting authoritarianism (see below), shop small this Saturday (and every day you can!), and (most importantly) enjoy time with your loved ones in whatever way you’re able. (Looking forward to our video chat, Dad!)
Today, I’ve got protests/events, why you should
fact-check all your news (even us!), and this week’s viral post.
Good news, Twins fans: The Minnesota Twins will play a “home” game against the Phillies at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville in August of next year. More info here.
First flu death in Iowa: A southwest Iowa man has died of influenza, the first death in Iowa this year—but likely not the last. Help your older and immunocompromised neighbors out this year by getting a flu shot (and COVID while you’re at it!) and staying home if you’re sick.
What’s the Iowa National Guard doing with ICE? I asked Jackie Schmillen, the director of public affairs with the Iowa National Guard, whose response is below:
-
“Since September 8, 2025, the Iowa National Guard has been supporting a federal Title 32 mission alongside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
We began the mission with 20 Service Members and, at the request of ICE, are now down to 16 individuals—14 Soldiers and 2 Airmen—who are providing clerical, administrative, and logistical support to Iowa-based ICE officials across the state. This mission does not include any law enforcement capabilities.
Our personnel are working in three locations—Sioux City, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids.
The original mission was scheduled through November 15, 2025, but has since been extended until September 30, 2026 (the end of the federal fiscal year), by orders of the Secretary of War.”
The Guard may not be kidnapping folks directly, but they’re freeing up ICE to do more of that here in Iowa—and Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, an immigrant rights group, says they’re expecting ramped-up enforcement to meet year-end quotas. You can help push back on that by RSVPing to the Protective Accompaniment in Cedar Rapids next week; find that information below.
|
|
|
Candidates, rallies, and events this week:
US Senate candidate Zach Wahls:
Iowa City Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Circle Meeting: Art in the Park in the Library: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Iowa City
4 Corners Weekly Peaceful Protest: 4:30 p.m. Thursdays, near the Casey’s/Methodist Church in Panora
Vigil for Immigrant Rights: noon-12:30 p.m. Fridays, Waterloo Post Office
Weekly Jefferson Protest: noon-1 p.m. Fridays, Jefferson Square, Jefferson
FED UP Fridays: 2-4 p.m. Fridays, Des Moines
Community Rally for Democracy: 10 a.m. Saturdays, NE corner of Hickman and Alice’s Road, Waukee
Weekly Rally in the Wayside Park: noon Saturdays, Decorah
Weekly Perry Protest: noon-1 p.m. Saturdays, First and Willis by the bicycle sculpture, Perry
Henry County First Amendment Rally: noon-1 p.m. Sundays, front of the courthouse, Mount Pleasant
Protective Accompaniment at Cedar Rapids ICE office: 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, Cedar Rapids
Events are sourced from mobilize.us and emailed submissions; submit an event here.
|
|
|
(Seventh in a miniseries explaining authoritarianism, from COURIER Newsroom’s Ryan Pitkin.)
“The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with…” We won’t finish that quote from Steve Bannon, but suffice to say, the expletive he ended with essentially means disinformation.
Misinformation—defined as false, misleading, or manipulated content presented as fact—comes in many forms. When it’s shared deliberately to mislead, it becomes disinformation, a favorite tool of authoritarian leaders and regimes.
Why do they do it? First, to create false narratives that keep supporters convinced power must stay in certain hands. Second, to distract the public from whatever bad faith efforts they are pulling off out of view.
The antidote is media literacy. That includes:
- knowing how to distinguish between news, opinion, analysis and commentary;
- finding credible media outlets you trust and fact-checking the news you consume from them;
-
learning how to identify altered images, deepfake videos, and AI-generated content.
In an era of accessible AI technology, rising polarization, and a declining trust in the mainstream media, we are more vulnerable to disinformation than ever.
But knowledge is power: The more informed you are, the harder it is to be manipulated.
|
Organizers at Indivisible, Black Voters Matter, and other groups are calling on shoppers to withhold their holiday business from Target, Amazon, and Home Depot this year, as each store has come under fire for aligning with or refusing to stand up to the Trump administration.
The boycott will take place from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the busiest shopping days of the year. Instead of these major retailers, the organizers are encouraging shoppers to spend their money at local small businesses.
Read Ty Rushing’s story here.
|
|
|
|
|
The ‘We Ain’t Buying It’ campaign hopes consumers use their wallets to hurt companies complying with ‘threats on democracy.’
|
|
|
|
|
News briefs for the Iowa working class for the week of Nov. 20, 2025:
|
|
|
Would you recommend this newsletter to your friends and family?
|
|
|
Do you want to support Iowa Starting Line’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 21,000+ subscribers?
Email advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.
|
|
|
Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers. This edition features reporting from Ryan Pitkin and Ty Rushing. It was edited by Paula Solis.
Iowa Starting Line is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.
|
|
|
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Iowa Starting Line
c/o COURIER Newsroom
101 Avenue of the Americas
8th and 9th Floors
New York, NY 10013
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or from this list.
|
|
|
|
