Bleeding Heartland

Bleeding Heartland is a community-driven blog that offers original insights and analysis on Iowa's political landscape, focusing on campaigns, elections, and state governance. It also addresses social and environmental matters. Additionally, Bleeding Heartland keeps readers informed about the activities of Iowa's congressional representatives and highlights federal, state, or local policies that may be of interest to those living in Iowa.

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Ernst gaffe may blow over. But poll-tested Republican lies will live on

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate race had its first viral moment on May 30, when an unscripted comment from Senator Joni Ernst generated massive coverage across Iowa and national news outlets. The words Ernst blurted out in frustration at that town hall meeting may or may not have staying power in the next Senate campaign. But we’ll definitely keep hearing what the senator said before and after making that gaffe.
Former Iowa judges join brief against prosecution of Wisconsin judge

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

Two Iowa jurists have signed on to an amicus brief calling for a federal court to dismiss the indictment against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. Federal prosecutors charged the judge with concealing a person from arrest and obstructing an official proceeding after she allegedly helped a defendant in her courtroom avoid immigration law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and moved to dismiss the charges. Former U.S. District Court Judge Mark W.
Group recognizes Bleeding Heartland's "commitment to keep Iowans informed"

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

Group recognizes Bleeding Heartland's "commitment to keep Iowans informed" Friday, May 30 2025 0 Comments The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa has honored Bleeding Heartland with its 2025 Partner Organization award, “in recognition of your significant commitment to keep Iowans informed with a vital free press, an essential part of a strong democracy.” Only one other media outlet has received this award from the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa: The Storm Lake Times and its Pulitzer Prize-winning editor...
Iowa legislators cause public school headaches

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Bruce Lear

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 [email protected] They’re finally gone. It’s over. Mom always said, “Nothing good comes after midnight.” I didn’t get it as a teen. I do now.
Remembering Iowans fallen in wartime

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

Remembering Iowans fallen in wartime Monday, May 26 2025 0 Comments President Donald Trump marked Memorial Day on May 26 with an all-caps rant about “scum” who allegedly “spent the last four years trying to destroy our country,” and “USA hating judges” he characterized as “monsters who want our country to go to hell.” It’s becoming a regular thing for Trump to use this day as another excuse to settle scores with political opponents.
Brenna Bird still auditioning for Donald Trump

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

“President Trump was right about everything—build the wall, end catch-and-release, and stand with law enforcement,” wrote Attorney General Brenna Bird in a May 21 post on her campaign Facebook page. She was near the U.S. border with Mexico, at a press conference organized by the Republican Attorneys General Association. The Iowa Attorney General’s office didn’t release a statement about the trip before or afterwards, and didn’t post about it on Bird’s official Facebook or X/Twitter feeds.
House Republicans vote to take food, health care away from Iowans

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

All four Iowans in the U.S. House voted on May 22 to pass a federal budget reconciliation package combining massive tax cuts with deep spending cuts on health care and food assistance. The early morning vote on the “One Big Beautiful Act” (adopting President Donald Trump’s preferred phrase) followed an all-night debate.
Highlights from a peri-urban Loess Hills walkabout

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Patrick C. Swanson

Patrick Swanson has been restoring a Harrison County prairie. About six months have passed since I wrote about my experience on a fall LoHi Trek through the southern Loess Hills. This spring, LoHi Trek number 5 was held April 23-28 in the middle reaches of the Loess Hills, centered in and around Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) in Pottawattamie County.
It's all about Trump First

3 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Bruce Lear

It's all about Trump First Sunday, May 18 2025 0 Comments 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 [email protected] In grade school, there’s always one kid who needs to be first. He cuts the line for lunch, with a hard shove.
DCI report on Davenport building collapse must be made public

3 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Ed Tibbetts

DCI report on Davenport building collapse must be made public Tuesday, May 13 2025 0 Comments Ed Tibbetts, a longtime reporter and editor in the Quad-Cities, is the publisher of the Along the Mississippi newsletter, where this article first appeared. Find more of his work at edtibbetts.substack.com. Three months ago, Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham said she would not file criminal charges in the partial collapse of a six-story apartment building in downtown Davenport in 2023.