State Politics
-
7 times labor unions made history in Iowa
The labor movement in Iowa has a rich history of struggles, solidarity, and hard-won victories. Here are seven of the most notable events.
-
Palace Site: The Des Moines spot where humans have lived for 7,000+ years
In 2010, a historic site was uncovered in Des Moines. Here’s everything you need to know about the Palace Site.
-
Your weekly guide to taking action in Iowa Feb. 17-24, 2026
Looking to get involved this week? You can join ICE Out rallies and response trainings, connect with fellow insufferable wenches at a Sip n’ Chat, and show up for community events, such as a Black History Film Screening, immigrant rights rallies, and LGBTQIA+ visibility actions. Here’s our weekly round-up of upcoming events and actions:
-
Nathan Sage drops out of US Senate race, endorses Turek
Nathan Sage dropped out of the Democratic primary for Iowa’s US Senate race, endorsing Josh Turek. This reshapes the 2026 Democratic primary as Turek and Zach Wahls duke it out to take on Republican establishment pick Ashley Hinson for the open seat. Nathan Sage, the Marine and Army veteran who was the first Democrat to…
-
Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn back bill that could make it harder for married women to vote
The SAVE Act is a massive overhaul of the country’s elections. Iowa’s House delegation was part of the razor-thin margin that passed it. The bill could disproportionately impact eligible women voters. The US House of Representatives passed an elections overhaul bill Wednesday that would implement sweeping regulations on how people register to vote and how…
-
Iowa John Deere workers recalled after layoffs
John Deere has recalled 245 workers in Iowa after mass layoffs. They’ll be back on the job this month and next.
-
Iowa Republican bill would classify all abortions as homicide
Legislators have been happy to prosecute abortion providers in the past. But their new move is to target Iowans who get abortions themselves, classifying the procedure as a homicide. Iowa Republicans have been pushing for years to make abortions less accessible to Iowans and criminalize their healthcare providers. This session, however, Republicans are pushing legislation…
-
The Iowa industry that built families and fought racism—then vanished
Iowa’s meatpacking history is an essential part of the state’s overall story. Here’s why.
-
Iowa Republicans push to eliminate school vaccine requirements, other sweeping changes
As measles returns to the United States, Iowa Republicans want to remove school vaccine requirements shown to reduce spread of deadly viruses. Iowa Republicans advanced legislation Wednesday that would make Iowa the first state in the nation to completely eliminate vaccine requirements for K-12 students, marking a dramatic shift from nearly five decades of public…
-
Feenstra leads primary in fundraising but faces grassroots backlash
US Rep. Randy Feenstra enters the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial primary as the fundraising frontrunner, but roiling discontent among Republican activists threatens to undermine his campaign. US Rep. Randy Feenstra has an ideal perch in the Iowa Republican primary for governor. The northwestern Iowa congressman raised $4.3 million in his campaign’s first seven months, fundraising circles…
