State Politics
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What about worker rights? Here’s what Tim Walz has done
Picking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signals something big: Worker rights, and pro-worker policies, are back at the forefront of Democratic politics. On Tuesday morning, Vice President Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate—arguably a progressive pick, given the laws Walz has signed as governor that have propelled Minnesota into an escape state for many…
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Here’s why Iowa students won’t have new Title IX protections
Iowa students, including transgender and nonbinary children, will not enjoy new federal Title IX protections at school because Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican, sued over them in federal court. On Aug. 1, the Title IX expanded rules went into effect for 24 states across the country, but not Iowa and the other 25…
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Union reps slam Iowa legislators after child labor violations rack up
Labor leaders in eastern Iowa called out Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Republicans who backed new laws to loosen child labor, and tied it to Project 2025’s goal of loosening child labor nationwide during a forum in Cedar Rapids last week. Rick Moyle, executive director of the Hawkeye Area Labor Council, referenced recent comments…
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Iowa worker rights advocates, progressive orgs excited for Kamala Harris
Iowa worker rights advocates and other progressive organizations were mostly hopeful, if not outright excited, about the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic nominee for president. Unless you were falling out of a coconut tree since Sunday, you already heard the news that President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024…
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With Biden out, Iowa Democrats rally around Kamala Harris
Iowa Democrats unanimously endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination.
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Project 2025 is already happening in Iowa
Here are five things from Project 2025 that have already been implemented in the Hawkeye State. By now, you’ve probably already heard about Project 2025, a detailed and intricate plan created by the right-wing Heritage Foundation to completely overhaul the federal government and the American way of life under a second Trump presidency. Project 2025…
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Meet the people ensuring Iowans have abortion access
Abortion access will be harder once Iowa’s near-total abortion ban goes into effect, but there are people and organizations working to make sure Iowans can still get abortion care. And they’re not going anywhere.
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Rushing: I’ve reached the finish line at Starting Line
Chief Political Correspondent Ty Rushing bids farewell to Iowa Starting Line. After 11 years—minus a six-month stint in corporate communications—my grind as a daily news reporter will come to an end Friday on what will be my last day as a full-time member of the Iowa Starting Line team. I’ve been at Starting Line for…
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Iowa AG Bird thinks a convicted criminal will make America safe
Attorney General Brenna Bird said that Republicans support putting criminals in jail while speaking in support of former President and convicted felon Donald Trump. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird used her prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention to frame former President Donald Trump as a law-abiding citizen who will protect Americans despite his…
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Gov. Reynolds announces programs to fund recovery for victims of state floods, tornados
Following a summer of disastrous floods and tornadoes, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced multiple new programs to help impacted farmers and citizens recover from damages. “We’ve all seen the photos of the neighborhoods that have been leveled, of towns completely underwater, and they’re heartbreaking,” Reynolds said during a Thursday press conference. “To see it firsthand is…
