Gerald Ott of Ankeny was a high school English teacher and for 30 years a school improvement consultant for the Iowa State Education Association.

I’m okay. I’ve rested long enough. This kerfuffle over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has reached a red line with me, and my dander is up. I can’t hold it in. I’d like to skim the top, say there had been a little trouble and now it’s all okay. I can’t, and it’s not.

“I’M APPALLED,” SAID GOVERNOR REYNOLDS

Ed Tibbetts covered this terrain in a Bleeding Heartland post from early August. But the kerfuffle has a new wrinkle almost every day. Tibbetts tells us the details: In a law approved this year, Iowa Code §261J.2, Republican lawmakers made talk or teaching of or about diversity, equity, and inclusion forbidden, effective July 1, 2025. 

Lora Conrad lives on a small farm in Van Buren County.

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a plant anyone in Iowa should learn to identify. Most of us have heard stories about it, seen it (or thought we did), and many have experienced it.

Poison ivy is also the topic of many folk sayings—some helpful, some not, some just confusing. This article will help you learn how to identify this plant, what its effects are, and which of those many sayings are accurate.

HOW TO IDENTIFY POISON IVY

The genus Toxicodendron includes Poison Ivy—both Eastern (Toxicodendron radicans) and Western (T. rydbergii), as well as Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. Poison Ivy was originally placed in the genus Rhus (the Sumacs) but by the 1930s, botanists began separating the irritating plants from the other Sumacs. They were assigned to the genus Toxicodendron which is Greek for “poison tree.” Both species of Poison Ivy occur in Iowa. T. radicans is the familiar trailing or climbing vine that is called Eastern Poison Ivy. It is widespread throughout Iowa. You can see why it is called a poison tree:

Peggy Huppert retired in 2023 following a 43-year career with Iowa nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Iowa. She is a board member of LIFT Iowa and a long-time progressive political activist.

Jill Alesch is running for the Johnston School Board this fall, and her supporters couldn’t be prouder.

Jill is a truly special candidate. She has lived in Johnston for more than 10 years and has two children in Johnston schools—a son who is a senior in high school and a daughter in 7^th grade. Jill is running for the school board because she cares about the kind of schools her kids attend, but also the quality of education for all students into the future.

Jill was born and raised in Denison, where she attended both private (Catholic) and public schools. That gives her a unique perspective on the value and limitations of each system. On the topic of public funding for private schools she says:

UPDATE: Drey won the election by 4,208 votes to 3,411 (55.2 percent to 44.7 percent), according to unofficial results. A forthcoming post will analyze the precinct level results. Original post follows.

The stakes are unusually high for the August 26 special election in Iowa Senate district 1. If Republican Christopher Prosch wins the race to succeed former State Senator Rocky De Witt, who died of cancer in June, the GOP will hold 34 of the 50 Iowa Senate seats for next year’s legislative session. That would give Republicans the two-thirds majority they need to confirm Governor Kim Reynolds’ nominees with no Democratic support.

If Democrat Catelin Drey flips the seat, the Republican majority in the chamber will shrink to 33-17, allowing Senate Democrats to block some of the governor’s worst appointees.

Equally important, a win in red-trending Woodbury County could help Democrats recruit more challengers for the 2026 legislative races, and could inspire more progressives to run in this November’s nonpartisan elections for city offices and school boards.

Although Donald Trump comfortably carried Senate district 1 in the 2024 presidential election, Democrats have grounds to be optimistic going into Tuesday’s election.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley dodged a journalist’s question this week about his plans for the 2028 campaign.

During the latest edition of Grassley’s “Capitol Hill Report,” released on August 20, Marion County Express publisher Steve Woodhouse asked whether the senator planned to seek re-election again. Grassley replied, “This is the summer of my third year. So you need to ask that question in about two years.”

Grassley will turn 92 years old next month and would be 95 when his current term ends. I doubt he will seek another six-year term in 2028; his campaign’s fundraising totals (less than $100,000 per quarter since 2022) are much lower than what one would expect from a senator planning another re-election bid. But it’s notable that he is not ready to rule out the prospect.

Anna Ryon is an attorney from Iowa who currently lives in Washington, D.C.

I live in Washington, D.C., and I don’t feel safe. Every time I leave home, I wonder if I’ll make it back. Before leaving, I turn off Face ID on my phone so no one can open it if they take it from me, write phone numbers in ink somewhere on my body, and make sure to turn on live location tracking so someone knows where I am at all times. Saturday afternoon before my husband and I went out, he texted his parents to tell them where we were going in case anything happened.

I got my first job in D.C. in 2007 and have lived and worked in D.C. on and off since then, so I feel pretty familiar with life in D.C. This level of fear is new. For most of my time in D.C., my safety concerns were the same basic safety concerns I’d have in any city, including Des Moines. I felt comfortable wearing earbuds while walking alone and openly carrying my iPhone. The extra fear I now feel for my safety has a specific starting date: Monday, August 11, 2025. 

Xavier Carrigan is a Democratic candidate in Iowa’s third Congressional district. He delivered these remarks at the Iowa Insurance Division’s August 19 public hearing on proposed increases in health insurance premiums for policies sold on Iowa’s Affordable Care Act exchange. Although he is not directly impacted by these potential price increases, he felt that sharing his own experience from recent years was important to add to the context of the unaffordability of health care in the U.S., as part of his fight for Medicare for All.

My name is Xavier Carrigan, and while I am running for the U.S. House, I am here today as a citizen who has been forced to navigate the ACA marketplace when I had no other insurance options.

I know what it’s like to lose your insurance and be thrown into a system where every choice is a bad choice. When you’re uninsured and dealing with a chronic condition, the marketplace becomes a cruel joke disguised as help.

Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City and has been connected to Iowa’s public schools for 38 years. He taught for eleven years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional director for 27 years until retiring. He can be reached at BruceLear2419@gmail.com 

There’s nothing wrong with politicians discussing their religious faith and beliefs. Religion is often a huge part of what makes a person who they are. There is, however, something terribly wrong when a candidate or office holder condemns all other religious beliefs by implying everyone in the United States should believe the way they do, and the country should make policy based on his beliefs. That’s religious nationalism. 

Religious nationalism is the belief that “a country’s historically predominant religion should be a central part of its national identity and drive policymaking.” It is linked to policies that promote one religion over others. It’s really just old-fashioned religious bigotry. 

Chris Prosch, the Republican candidate in the upcoming August 26 special election for Iowa Senate district 1, embraces religious nationalism. In 2022, Prosch’s firm “helped produce and distribute” a video called “Enemies Within the Church.” That video claimed mainline Christian denominations were corrupting Christianity because some leaders have become “woke.”

Leland Searles has had a long interest in birding and wildflowers. He combines that with over fifteen years as a consultant in ecological assessment and restoration, along with graduate studies in environmental and psychological anthropology. His recent writing addresses some facet of ecology, often with awareness of social interests and power that shape our regard for the environment. This essay first appeared on his Substack newsletter, Home on Earth.

On August 13, I drove some back roads on the way from the Des Moines area to Grinnell. Often I do this, despite the extra gas it uses, to see what birds sit on the utility poles and wires, spot plants and plant populations in the roadways and adjacent riparian areas, and collect a few data points. In addition, when the native plant species are in seed, I stop to collect some seed to scatter elsewhere.

This activity has become a near-habit in the past ten-plus years, as my awareness of indigenous plant species has grown. That happened because I contracted with three counties over several years to conduct roadside vegetation surveys under the Iowa Roadside Vegetation Management program.

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at DMRevans2810@gmail.com. 

Lyman Dillon resides in the dusty recesses of Iowa history for his role in 1839 in one of Iowa’s earliest infrastructure projects.

Dillon’s work also figures indirectly in a modern-day lesson on how not to run a government.

This how-not-to-do-it tutorial occurred earlier this month during a Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting. A similar lesson is playing out in Storm Lake to a growing audience of discontented residents there.

“A lot of you all know who I am because I experienced the worst day of my life on national TV,” former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn told around 350 Democrats in Clear Lake on August 14.

The keynote speaker typically rallies the crowd at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, an annual fundraiser for county party organizations across northern Iowa. Dunn held the room’s attention for more than 30 minutes, drawing plenty of applause—as well as laughs with zingers about President Donald Trump, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, and Republicans in general.

But Dunn warned his audience early on, “I’m not here to give some rah rah speech.” He delivered some of his most powerful lines in a subdued voice.

By speaking candidly about his own struggles and doubts, Dunn offered a path forward—not only for Democrats who are ready to fight back, but for those still trying to pick themselves up off the floor.

Wayne Ford represented part of Des Moines in the Iowa House and is the founder of the nonprofit organization Urban Dreams.

Opening scene

During Urban Dreams’ 40th Anniversary Celebration on July 30, 2025, the organization unveiled a commemorative plaque in my honor in the Urban Dreams Community Courtyard on 6th Avenue — the same neighborhood where my journey in Des Moines truly began. This event brought together former and current staff, clients who have benefited from Urban Dreams’ programs, directors past and present, community leaders, elected officials, and other friends from across Iowa.

It was more than just a celebration of my past work; it was a public reaffirmation of my recommitment to Des Moines, the state of Iowa, and the causes that have defined my life.

Shawn Gallagher is President at Adcraft Printing Company, Inc. and Main Street Alliance member.

Politicians including U.S. Senator Joni Ernst and Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02) joined a few business owners in Cedar Rapids for an August 12 round table to celebrate President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” as a win for small business. It should be noted that organizers choose the participants for this kind of press event, which ensures that the media in attendance hear only the desired opinions.

I wish I could share their optimism. But as someone who runs a small business here in Cedar Rapids, I see this law for what it really is: a bad deal dressed up in campaign-season talking points.

Myron Gookin was appointed as an Iowa District Court judge by Governor Terry Branstad in August 2011. He served as Chief Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, covering fourteen counties in southeast Iowa, from January 2022 until his retirement, effective July 2025. He posted the thoughts enclosed below on Facebook on August 9. Facebook users had shared the post more than 8,000 times as of August 15.

Thank you for taking a few moments to read this. I’ve hesitated to post this. I don’t intend to offend anyone, but understand I may. I will not respond to comments but I believe in free speech and will not deny anyone the right to respond. It’s hard to believe we’ve reached this point. It saddens me. Yet, I believe there is hope.

I grew up an Iowa Republican. I worked to get Republicans elected. I hosted fundraisers in our home for Republican candidates. I gave money to Republican candidates. I voted for Republicans. I was appointed an Honorary Colonel in the Iowa Militia by a Republican Governor for my service to the State of Iowa, largely due to my Republican efforts. I considered running for public office someday as a Republican. I was part of the Republican team.

Then, things started to change. The party moved farther and farther right. It became radicalized by people who had lost sight of truth, justice, equality and (ironically) doing what is “right”. It lost sight of our country’s history and the necessary, continuing struggle to “form a more perfect union”. Most important to me, it lost sight of the essence of Christianity—it more and more loudly claimed to be Christian, yet more and more ignored Christ’s core teachings and example of pulling together for good and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Rick Morain is the former publisher and owner of the Jefferson Herald, for which he writes a regular column. This essay first appeared on Substack.

The Democratic presidential race for 2028 appears to be wide open today. No shortage of obvious hopefuls, with another batch who are probably mulling it over. More will pop their heads up in the weeks and months to come.

Here’s one who deserves serious consideration: George Clooney. I’m not joking, and this is not whimsy.

Melissa Wubben lives on a farm in Warren County.

Since childhood, I have had a keen interest in the plants and animals that share the planet with us. Whether I was learning to identify “weeds” while walking beans on our family farm or dreaming about seeing particularly pretty birds as I flipped through my mom’s bird identification book, nature provided ample opportunities for education and appreciation.

Later, my fascination with nature turned toward conservation, and my husband and I started our farm with a desire to integrate conservation and agricultural practices.

Our journey began with the purchase of a small flock of sheep in 2012, the first year of severe drought that would last for several years. I began reading about pasture management, soil and water conservation practices, and anything else applicable that I could get my hands on. Eventually, this research led me to native plants.

Steve Corbin is emeritus professor of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa and a contributing columnist to 246 newspapers and 48 social media platforms in 45 states, who receives no remuneration, funding, or endorsement from any for-profit business, nonprofit organization, political action committee, or political party. 

The month of August is widely recognized as the ideal time for relaxation and rejuvenation. The U.S. House of Representatives began its summer recess on July 25, while the summer break for the U.S. Senate began on August 4. Members of Congress are not due back in Washington, DC until September 2.

This four to five-week respite should give our elected delegates time to reflect on their achievements since President Donald Trump’s second administration started on January 20. One hopes the break with give our legislators time to consider how they’ve come up short in representing their 340 million constituents by honoring the principles of the U.S. Constitution, which they took an oath to uphold and defend.

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at DMRevans2810@gmail.com. 

One of the frustrations of being a former newspaper editor is no longer having a few dozen reporters to pursue answers to questions going unasked and unanswered each day.

Two of my go-to questions were “why?” and “why not?” And my favorite open-ended query to a newsmaker was “explain this to me.”

I never believed newsmakers owed me answers to the questions I or my reporters asked. I was curious by nature. But the most important purpose, I sometimes reminded reluctant newsmakers, was the thirst for information John Q. Public and Jane A. Citizen had about the topics at hand.

All of this is a preamble to help you understand why I am a frustrated consumer of news and information now that I no longer lead a team of information gatherers.

Here are some examples of this frustration in real life:

Larry McBurney is a Democratic member of the Iowa House representing part of Urbandale.

Governor Kim Reynolds’ “Delivering Opportunities for Greater Efficiency” (DOGE) Task Force plans to recommend moving new public employees away from the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) and into a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan. It’s being sold as a modern update, but the truth is this change would devastate Iowa’s public workforce. It’s a solution in search of a problem, and it targets one of the few benefits still keeping people in public service.

Let’s be clear about the reality for public employees in Iowa. Public sector wages are already 17.6 percent lower than in the private sector. Even after factoring in benefits, public employees still earn 14.5 percent less than their private counterparts.

Peggy Huppert retired in 2023 following a 43-year career with Iowa nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Iowa. She is a board member of LIFT Iowa and a long-time progressive political activist.

In September 2023, about 30 longtime Iowa Democrats came together on a Sunday morning to share their grief and anger about the political state of their world. Although they suspected things would get worse before they got better—they could not have predicted how very much worse—most are optimists by nature and, as such, desperately sought a path forward. And they found it.

In that room on that day, LIFT IOWA PAC was born.