What You Should Know About Religion And Politics In Iowa

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Trish Nelson

Daniel Henderson is a retired educator and author of Confessions of a Recovering Evangelical and The Spiritual Journey to Anti-Racism. You can follow his substack here.

Below is a video of his live presentation sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Here is the bio on the the IAIA YouTube page.  Streamed live on May 1, 2026

“Iowa has become an incubator for Christian nationalist legislation that is being promoted through national affiliates of powerful groups. In our May Intersections presentation, author and educator Daniel Henderson will show how many in the Iowa GOP are networking with national Christian nationalist organizations to wage culture wars that erode the principles of a free democratic society. After having worked and lived on the inside of that movement for many years, he has a unique voice to reveal what is going on behind the scenes. Daniel will focus on six major trends the citizens of Iowa should know.”

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Soil Conservation And Water Quality In Iowa

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Trish Nelson

As posted on the Raccoon River Watershed FB page:

This Tuesday at The Des Moines Izaak Walton League meet the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) Susan Kozak, Division Director for Soil Conservation and Water Quality!

Susan will talk about how the Soil Conservation and Water Quality Division works alongside farmers, landowners, city managers, and public and private partners to advance and accelerate conservation projects across Iowa. Using a combination of in-field management, edge-of-field filtration, and urban practices, the division is working to reduce soil erosion, filter nitrates and improve water quality. You’ll also find out about Federal Funding available for conservation work by farmers in the Raccoon River Watershed.

Small group chat at 5 in the Crum Center with Mike Delaney, Tenderloin dinner at 6, and a large group talk at 6:45!

Open to the public with FREE ADMISSION!

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#HandsOff Our Vote!

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Trish Nelson

After every weekly What’s the Plan call if you were signed up you will receive an email with all of the follow-up information you need from the call. This is last week’s recording available on YouTube and the text with links of the follow up email from the call  Sign up info. below. 

###

Thanks for joining us for today’s What’s the Plan call with Leah and Ezra! If you couldn’t make it or missed any of the links we shared, no worries – we’ve got everything you need right here.

Before we share links and calls to action, a quick request to support next week’s call!

For the next What’s the Plan on 6/25, we’re sitting down with a senior leader from Protect Democracy to go deep on election sabotage — how Trump is trying to interfere with the 2026 midterms and what we can actually do about it. We’ve got a short pre-read for that conversation here: Executive Override. The short version of their framework is that the threats fall into three buckets — deceive (manufacturing fraud claims and flooding the zone with disinformation), disrupt (turning federal power against officials, organizations, and voters), and deny (contesting or refusing to certify results they don’t like).

🌟 If you’ve heard about the 15 Minnesota organizers that the DOJ is going after, and want to support them, you can donate to their legal defense fund here (please note this fund is not managed or monitored by Indivisible).

🌟 When ICE surges in your community, do you know what to do? Join Indivisible for the first call in our Immigrant Justice Summer training series, where we’ll give you a concrete three-step blueprint for mounting a safe, hyper-local, immigrant-aligned response. We kick off July 9 – sign up today!

🌟 To get involved in the fight against detention centers in your area, you can start with our Dismantling Detention campaign and use Project Salt Box’s warehouse tracker for more info as well.

🌟 Learn more and get involved in the July 17-19 Good Trouble Lives On weekend of action!

🌟 Hands Off Our Vote is Indivisible’s national election protection program to ensure all eligible voters get to cast their ballot, and that those ballots get counted. Visit https://indivisible.org/campaigns/our-vote/ to learn more and sign up.

🌟 We’ve got all kinds of phone banks and events coming up to support our endorsed candidates – find one that works for your schedule here.

🌟 Indivisible’s Election Defense Corps is a grassroots network of volunteers located in Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas dedicated to protecting the right to vote before, during, and after the 2026 election. You can sign up to join it here.

🌟 Demand Congress end Trump’s blockade on Cuba. Call your Senators and your Rep and email them all.

🌟 Tell Congress to say no to warrantless AI mass surveillance! Email here, and call your Senators and your Representative.

🌟 Urge Dems to oppose and stop Trump’s crypto corruption – say no to the CLARITY Act! Call and email.

🎥 Couldn’t catch the call? No worries, you can catch the recording on YouTube. You’ll be able to find the most recent What’s the Plan recording by midday every Friday on our YouTube What’s the Plan Playlist.

📝 Today’s call transcript can be found here.

🎙 What’s the Plan? is now a podcast! Share it with friends, family, and fellow Indivisibles, or use it to catch up if you miss the call. Listen, share, and give it a 5-star rating here.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2026?
You can now register for all of the 2026 What’s the Plan calls!

In solidarity,

Indivisible Team

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Tom Wieck For Iowa Senate – District 41

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Dave Bradley
(1:26):

The space between Iowa City and Davenport contain some of the richest farmland in the world. It also contains some of the most common sense Iowans there are. The farmers and the other good citizens of Iowa’s 41st senate district have seen their very ways of life undermined by the current Republican mess both in Washington and Des Moines.

 

As the Republican Party in Iowa lurches from one bad policy to another, we see good Democratic candidates come forward to challnge for the opportunity to turn this state around. As we look forward to giving Rob Sand the opportunity to turn Iowa around, we need to put good people in the legislature to help him.

 

Tom Wieck is one such person. Growing up in Iowa, Tom is ready to take a life of experience and use it to help solve Iowa problems such as cost of living for the average Iowan, access to healthcare and Iowa’s declining schools. Do you want improvement as represented by Tom Wieck or the continuing decline his Republican opponent offers.

 

From Tom Wieck’s campaign page:

Supporting Farmers & Rural Communities

Our farmers and rural communities are the backbone of Southeast Iowa. But that’s at risk due to Trump’s tariffs harming American farmers. Family farms feel squeezed by rising costs, market access, and decisions made in Washington.

Tom Wieck will work to support family farms to find cost-effective and grant supported improvements to farmland, and make sure our communities have the tools they need to grow and succeed. Strong rural communities mean a stronger Iowa for everyone.

Protecting Healthcare Access

No one should worry about whether they can afford the care they need in a medical situation or have to drive an hour just to see a doctor. In too many parts of our district, healthcare is becoming harder to access and more expensive.

Tom believes we need to protect local healthcare services, keep rural hospitals strong, keep people on Medicaid without work requirements, and lower the cost of prescriptions. Healthcare isn’t about politics, it’s about making sure families can get the quality care they need, when they need it.

Creating Good Jobs & Strong Schools

Strong schools and good-paying jobs go hand in hand. When we invest in education and support our teachers, we’re building a future where our kids can succeed, families choose to stay in Iowa and where people can find good jobs right here at home.

Tom believes in supporting local schools, expanding opportunities for job training, and helping grow an economy where hard work pays off. No one should have to leave our communities just to find opportunity.

As noted by progressiowa.com’s daily newsletter of Monday June 15th:

1. YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT CATCH UP TO IOWA’S EDUCATION RANKING: A new national report found Iowa’s education ranking has fallen to 27th in the nation, the first time the state has landed in the bottom half of states since the report began in 1990. Educators and students have spent years being asked to do more with less as Republican leaders have chronically underfunded public schools, diverted taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers, and undermined the teaching profession. If our leaders wish to see better rankings, it’s time they fully support public education!

So what is it Iowa? Turn the state around with Tom Wieck or vote to continue Iowa’s decline? I think the choice is clear.

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Sunday Funday Juneteenth And Obama Edition

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Dave Bradley

Michelle Obama addresses crowd at the opening of the Obama Center Thursday (22 minutes):

Juneteenth was Friday. I always think of Juneteenth as the day that the promise of America started to become a reality. Freedom for everybody. Sadly the fight to make the promise a reality goes on with the opposition hardening more than they have for a long time. But in usual Trump strategy, as they oppose something it only highlights just how wrong and ugly their beliefs are.

As we listen to Michelle’s words, let us vow to overcome the hate and divisiveness and put America back on course. WE can do it!

A) Thanks to shoddy work Trump had done, you can’t see what in Washington’s reflection pool?

 

B) What nation’s leader was so insulted by Trump at the G7 conference that a visit to the US by that nation’s Foreign Minister was cancelled?

 

C) Juneteenth trivia gets tangled with the stories of the struggle for freedom for blacks. Juneteenth came late as a holiday. What president signed the bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday?

 

D) Hey kids! Uncle Sam’s not so favorite nephew, RFK jr. is about to lose elimination status for what disease due to outbreaks in the past year?

 

E) Trump got an MOU? It may be the US’s first ever! What is an MOU?

 

F) Who will be heading up negotiations for the US with Iran?

 

G) In what may be a wave of the future, California will have a ballot measure this fall to tax what group of people

 

H) Which amendment to the constitution eliminated slavery?

 

I) The DOJ has been exposed as running an investigation on what potential Democratic presidential candidate?

 

J) The first Fed meeting under Trump pick Kevin Warsh resulted in interest rates doing what?

 

K) In Iowa, a report states that Iowa spent $260 million to pay tuition for kids who would have attended private schools anyway. Whose office issued this report?

 

L) What black women have been named nominated and confirmed to the SCOTUS?

 

M) Donald Trump settled a lawsuit out of court against who last week?

 

N) In a scene that harkened back to one of the most ignominious surrenders in history, Trump signed an agreement with Iran at what venue?

 

O) Almost missed this since it was barely covered in the US. What North American country will begin to phase in universal health care next January?

 

P) An international bridge between what two countries, scheduled to open last Friday remains closed thanks to a bribe to Trump?

 

Q) Where did former VP Kamala Harris graduate college from?

 

R) What OTC drug is being used in the south as a cancer treatment? (Hint: was used to treat covid)

 

S) Iowans were advised by what Ashley Hinson primary opponent not to vote for Hinson in November?

 

T) In 1955, the death of what Chicago young man visiting realtives in Mississippi by lynching galvanized the civil rights movement at the time?

JD Vance promoting his book about finding his way back to faith while helping manage Situation Room meetings on how to cover up for pedophiles is about as Republican as it gets. – Jamie Bonkiewicz

tip of the hat to all-hat-no-cattle.com

Answers:

A) any reflections because of the algae and the chunks of paint

 

B) Giorgia Meloni of Italy

 

C) President Biden in 2021

 

D) Measles

 

E) Memorandum Of Understanding

 

F) VP Vance. He prepped by making an appearance on The View last week

 

G) billionaires – they have enough signatures anyway

 

H) 13th

 

I) Gavin Newsom of California and his wife

 

J) staying put

 

K) State Auditor Rob Sand’s office

 

L) Ketanji Brown Jackson

 

M) His Niece, Mary Trump

 

N) Versailles

 

O) Mexico

 

P) the Gordy Howe Bridge between the US and Canada (built by Canada)

 

Q) Howard University

 

R) Ivermectin

 

S) Jim Carlin (good advice, Jim)

 

T) Emmett Till

Trump Thanks Iran for “Beautiful Gift” of White Flag – Andy Borowitz

tip of the hat to democraticunderground.com

Posted in #nevertrump, Humor | Leave a comment

Gay Pride Events In Iowa Today

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Dave Bradley

 

 

 We are nearing the end of gay pride month. However there is still fun to be had. Iowa City, Des Moines, Ankeny and Omaha. Looks like there may be a chance of rain – but who cares?

 

So here is the line up for today’s fun. Enjoy! From the ACLU of Iowa website  

Saturday, June 20
Ankeny Pride
Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, instagram.com.
4 p.m.
Ankeny

Saturday, June 20
Des Moines People’s Pride
4 p.m.
Des Moines

Saturday June 20
Iowa City Pride Festival & Parade
12 p.m.
Iowa City

And on Iowa’s west coast (from Heartland Pride)

Omaha Pride Bar Crawl

Celebrate Pride season with an Omaha bar crawl supporting Heartland Pride. The Official Pride Bar Crawl by Crawl With US brings together participating local venues, drink and food specials, music, photos, and community connection in a high-energy 21+ event. Whether you are coming with friends, meeting new people, or looking for a festive way to […]

Be Safe!

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Ask Some Damn Questions!

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Dave Bradley
2:13 one year ago:

 

I was looking for something else when I stumbled across this statement from Progress Iowa from about a week ago. It was such a nice synopsis that I thought I would give it some sunlight:

Ashley Hinson wants Iowans to believe she’s fighting against congressional insider trading and working to lower costs for families, but her voting record  and financial disclosures tell a very different story.

A recent report by Heartland Signal revealed that Hinson has quietly maintained up to $5 million in insurance company stocks and has boosted her net worth by up to 10 times since taking office. Despite campaigning on a stock trade ban, she refused to sign a discharge petition that would have forced Congress to vote on legislation to do so.

While ensuring that her family’s net worth keeps climbing, Hinson has repeatedly voted to raise costs for Iowans. She voted for historic Medicaid cuts in the Republican Tax Law that are impacting primary care closures across Iowa and allowed Affordable Care Act premiums to skyrocket for thousands of Iowans. She has also voted in support of Trump’s chaotic tariffs that are hammering Iowa families’ budgets.

Karen, a retired social worker from Allamake County, said that news of Hinson’s real priorities is disappointing.

“It has become an affordability crisis, families are now forced to choose between filling up their gas tanks, getting groceries, or paying for medicine,” Karen said. “Our representative’s actions show that she is not working for us, she works for herself and Trump’s agenda.”

“Hinson thinks she can trick Iowans with talking points because she knows Iowans care about this issue,” Progress Iowa Executive Director Mazie Stilwell said . “She’s cosponsoring a watered down bill to save face. The bottom line: she could have helped force a vote  to ban stock trading and she didn’t. That’s all Iowans need to know.”

What I was looking for were articles that would show whether Republican candidates would continue to toe the Trump line after a week in which Trump has shown he really give a hoot about our country. Being a candidate in the heartland and having to keep your mouth shut about items like:

  • surrendering to a third rate power after HE started the war
  • illegally transfering money from other accounts to build your ballroom that never had funds allocated for it
  • staging one of most garish of parties on the White House lawn that will cost tax payers multiple millions at a time when tax payers are hurting
  • ending that party by laughing at a racist joke about a previous First Lady
  • then going to a meeting in Europe where HE makes a speech that sounds incoherent at best
  • continuing to claim that elections in the US where Republicans lose are rigged
  • stories abound of Trump buying and selling stock in open corruption
  • Trump himself said the US came within a few weeks of a massive economic downturn as oil supplies got short.

After seeing that Iowa’s Republican candidates for the most part line up with Trump down the line I was looking to help the professional journalists in Iowa to formulate some decent questions for those candidates. Our experience with said journalists has been that they seldom ask a Republican anything more difficult than a cookie recipe.

So let’s just see if we can’t come up with some questions:

To Ashley Hinson
  • Does your investments in insurance company stocks color any votes you may take on health care for Iowans. Healthcare insurance is one of the biggest issues iowans face?
  • Were Trump to be impeached and tried in the senate, could you be impartial? Why or why not?
  • Is it alright with you that Trump is using his insider information to buy and sell stocks?
  • At what point will you stand up to Trump clearly unconstitutional ICE policies?

Zach Lahn’s past as an employee of the Koch brothers is certainly troubling.

  • So, Mr. Lahn, will policy be generated in Des Moines or sent to you via Americans for Prosperity or ALEC?

A friend just sent me this video. Zachary Oren Smith nails it!

I could just go on up and down the line but I think you get my drift. C’mon Iowa Press corps – you guys are our voices and we are frustrated – ask them some damn questions!

It would be nice to see an Iowa journalist ask a tough question like this reporter did. Rod Blum walks out on a reporter in May of 2017:

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Barack Obama Full Remarks At Presidential Center Opening

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Trish Nelson

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Action Alert: Statewide Data Center Organizing Call

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Trish Nelson

From our inbox:  Action alert from Iowa CCI. Sign up for the CCI newsletter here 

One week out reminder to register for our statewide Data Center Organizing call on Tuesday, June 23!

We’ll hear from folks in Iowa who have been stepping up to protect their communities from data centers.

And we’ll be joined by longtime organizer Adam Kruggel who has been involved in helping people across the country push back against against these billion- and trillion-dollar corporations.

Join us on Tuesday, June 23 for a statewide Data Center Organizing Call to learn more.

What: Statewide Data Center Organizing Zoom
When: Tuesday, June 23 | 6:30PM-8:00PM
Where: Zoom – a link will be sent out ahead of the meeting
Why: To learn about data centers, why they’re a problem:

  • Water consumption
  • Electrical usage and skyrocketing utility rates
  • Land use

and what we can do about it!

We know when everyday people come together to demand better for the people and places we love, we have the power to build the state we want to see.

RSVP for the call here, and we’ll see you on the 23rd!

For people before profits,

Katie Biechler
CCI Organizer

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Iowa Don’t Be Fooled Again – Reject The Koch Brothers Candidate

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Trish Nelson

Case in point.  Joni Ernst.  See below.

Nothing good is going to happen in Iowa by falling for just another bought and paid for Koch Brothers candidate.

Every Iowa voter needs to know this.

Zachary Oren Smith of Iowa Starting Line explains.

And don’t forget how the obscure Joni Ernst was launched into her inglorious political career abandoning Iowans in favor of billionaires even before she reminded us that “we are all going to die.  I remember very well her comments praising the “wonderful” Koch network.

Here she is as a candidate for U.S. Senate speaking at the Kochs’ semi-annual political strategy meeting on June 16, 2014 in Dana Point, California at the St. Regis Monarch Bay Resort. Eleven years later she will announce her intention to not run for re-election, basically resigning in disgrace.

Click on the image to hear this audio on YouTube

Fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me. Let’s not get fooled again.

If you need another reason to not vote for a Koch connected candidate, look at the harm the Republicans in the Iowa lehislature have done to Iowa over the last decade at least. Nine years ago, then state senator from Iowa City, Democrat Joe Bolkcom speaking at a legislative forum, explained to constituents that the Koch Brothers were in “firm control” at the Iowa state house. What good has come from that?

So this..

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