This is the real #shutdown issue, not false claims of undocumented people receiving health insurance. Democrats can't trust Trump & GOP to negotiate on extending #aca credits. Millions will see premiums explode. Please share if you agree. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/03/r...

Republicans want to blame Democrats for the #shutdown, saying Dems want to give free healthcare to undocumented people. This @usatoday piece refutes that. The GOP owns this closure. Please share if you agree. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

We enlisted our pickup, Rusty Buckets, and at long last put the Mohr family #canoe on the water yesterday. We paddled around VBC conservation's Lake Sugema, enjoying a beautiful fall morning. We must do this more often! #canoeing

This is why people say the Trump administration is #fascist. The only reason to march and float a paramilitary force through downtown Chicago is to intimidate. Making people fear their government is un-American. Please share if you agree. www.tspr.org/illinois-pub...

Looks like a great year for #woollybear caterpillars. I spotted two while walking from the garage to the house today. Watch for them crossing a road near you. iowascienceinterface.com/2018/09/23/t...

A great time with the Henry County Dems, where I caught up with @levinforiowa.bsky.social Speakers Nate Willems, @terrellforcongress.bsky.social plus @ryanpeterman.bsky.social @taylorwettachforcongress.com and Kasey Conrad roused the audience. All after seeing @robsandia.bsky.social in Keosauqua!

We made it into @politico.com ! We enjoyed speaking with @shiakapos.bsky.social and Ashley Parker of @theatlantic.com. It was a fun night thanks to Rep. Sean Bagniewski and his army of helpers. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

Paula & I were in DSM for Rep. Sean Bagniewski's fish fry with 398 of his other friends: with Iowa House Dem leader Brian Meyer; Paula and I met Ashley Parker of @theatlantic.com; featured guest @rahmemanuel.bsky.social

Joined a small but vocal group in Fairfield today for their weekly rally for free speech, justice and policies that serve all. Many positive responses. The people public is largely behind us.

Staffing ticket sales for Van Buren County Schools #volleyball🏐 with the delightful Kim Harward, longtime district preschool teacher. Much enthusiasm for the Warrior team. I really enjoyed the varsity match I watched!

Had a good lunch and met some nice people (not including these Star Trek Barbies up for auction) today at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church festival in Mt. Pleasant. Then I joined the weekly #FirstAmendment rally where the outstanding signs included these amazing caricatures.

Scenes from last week, when son Tony visited briefly: flying to Davenport to see aunt Jacki, then celebrating life of his cat, Devo, with friends and a second line march to the Bentonsport bridge, sending her ashes to her native New Orleans via the DM River. Both sad and joyous.

Trump commits yet another impeachable act: firing a prosecutor who wouldn't go after Trump's enemies. The list grows each day: firing IGs, extrajudicial killings, impoundment act violations. Time for Congress to stop the madness. Please share if you agree.

A few years ago, our farmer neighbors offered to clear our weed- and locust tree-ridden field in return for taking hay from it for their cattle. It's been a good deal: our alfalfa and clover field is tidy and we like seeing Jim roll it into bales. Enjoy the feast, Bossie! 🐮

Paula and I are at the last dance for East Grove Farms as the great Joel Garretson and company exit the mead-making biz. It's a beautiful setting on a sweet Autumn night listening to tuneful music. #iowanights

Yes, Van Buren County Schools actually trusted me with this money! Top teacher Audrey Ekle and I staffed the ticket booth for last night's Warriors vs Cardinal Comets game. It was great to see so many folks from both schools supporting the players, band and other students.

When my late father-in-law bought the property south of the house, it included 3 #appletrees. We neglect them terribly: little pruning, no spraying, many dead branches. Yet, in some years they yield tremendously. I picked for 90 minutes and there's still plenty of fruit left. What a treat.

As if Iowa's rivers and lakes aren't already polluted enough, Congress is considering a bill that guts the longstanding Clean Water Act. Learn more and write to your representative here. act.cleanwater.org/page/173938/... @cleanh2oaction #permissiontopollute

American mythology promotes the lone visionary who creates a company thru sheer will. It's rarely true, as most ventures depend on teams of workers. On #laborday I'm celebrating the @aflcio Department of People Who Work for a Living, honoring folks who create wealth and must share in it.

Paula and I served a final shift selling admission at #oldthreshersreunion this time at the calmer campground entrance. Then we checked in with Van Buren County's Mel Stockwell at Printers Hall and visited the well-done and fascinating Theater Museum. See you next year!

Second day volunteering at #oldthreshersreunion where Paula and I had a hectic shift selling admission. Then we rode the trolley to the Log Village to see fellow Van Buren Countians (and sisters) Christie Daugherty, teaching quilting, and Leilani McDonald, teaching weaving. Beautiful work!

Giving blood is the easiest thing almost anyone can do to help others, and afterwards you can eat guilt-free junk food. If you're eligible, you should do it. Thanks to Cheyenne from @impactlifeblood for giving me the poke today at the Keo Senior Center. #giveblood

Post-parade, Paula and I are volunteering at the #oldthreshersreunion bus gate ticket booth. This event is a great celebration of America's agricultural and industrial heritage. I'm eager to see the old printing presses and ride the trolley!

Scenes from Mt Pleasant's Old Threshers Harvest Parade: the Henry County Democrats float, Paula and me with fellow VBC stalwarts Gwen Pedrick and Terry Moore (Pat Peck and Diane Carr fell in with us en route) and me with senate candidate Nathan Sage. We outshine the GOP. #oldthreshersreunion

Paula (Bentonsport Improvement Association president) and I spent a couple of hours tonight removing several inches of grass, twigs and dead insects from the attic and steeple of the Bentonsport Presbyterian Church. Its bell dwarfs ours. (5'4" woman for scale). We filled nine bags!

Another great program today at Washington County's dangerous Lake Darling on Iowa's water quality and cancer crises. Driftless Water Defenders lawyer Jim Larew called for an Iowa constitutional amendment guaranteeing rights to #cleanwater and air. Thanks to Jefferson County Indivisible 4 organizing.

Paula and I just left an inspiring program and rally to #reversethedecision to close the State Historical Society of Iowa archive in Iowa City - a long-standing and vital resource. Organizers held a funeral procession from the public library to the building. www.change.org/p/save-iowa-...

We joined the weekly Fairfield rally for democracy yesterday. Many encouraging reactions and even a few short stoplight conversations. I enjoyed being on the corner of Main and Burlington with Sparrow and Teresa. Keep the flame alive.

I was in Douds (actually Leando) for the Van Buren County school board meeting today and spotted something cool that I hadn't noticed before, even though I've been there many times. The photos explain it. Contrast with two new buses the district just acquired: AC, but just for the driver.

My next plane? This Pilatus turboprop landed tonight just before I took off at Mt Pleasant for some practice in a more humble Cessna 172. It's beyond my ability - and my budget ... For now? #pilotlife

Picking basil today and found this bright yellow beauty. It's a female golden-rod crab spider, Misumena vatia, usually found hunting in goldenrod and milkweed. I'm unsure how it landed in basil, but I'm sure there's milkweed nearby. I've never seen a yellow spider in Iowa. Don't fear: I let her be.

Come on over to bloomandbark near Pittsburg for the J40 Farm Crawl and get a goodie. Cookies, cheesecake, zucchini bread, brownies, cakes and pies, with proceeds to the Van Buren County Democratic Party. Lots of other great food and craft items too. We're here until 4! It's cool and pleasant.

In Ottumwa tonight for the Fair Share America Stop the Billionaire Giveaway bus tour. Mayor Rick Johnson & others spoke on the awful impact of the #obbb . I added my thoughts on the debt it will add, then Paula and I joined others to sign the coach. The GOP can't sell this lemon of a law.

Up, up and away! IA great time at Van Buren County's National Night Out at Keosauqua Riverfront Park. Chatted with Keo Fire Chief Noel Harlan, Sheriff Brad Hudson, emergency mgmt director Max Harlan, and VBC Hospital EMS director William Cline. Finished with a ride in Keo Power's bucket truck! ⚡

Did my first solo flight to Quincy today. First two times I rode with pal Craig Voelker. The terminal, built in 1970, is an architectural gem, reminiscent of Wright's Johnson Wax HQ. And it has a restaurant! #pilotlife (Sorry I look so serious. It takes all my concentration to take a decent pic.)

Weeds and I wage a fierce war in May and June, but in July we usually negotiate an armistice. Besides, I figure my plants should be big enough to defend themselves by then. Winners: melons, tomatoes, basil, asparagus. Losers: radishes. Conscientious objectors: peppers, lettuces.

Former Capitol Police Officer [email protected], who defended American democracy on January 6th, has a message for Woodbury County: Christopher Prosch is too dangerous for public office. Vote for Catelin Drey by August 26th.

I've gotten to know Tony over the last few months. He's smart and caring. He'll be an amazing senator.

Our Rural Restoration Project forum on #ruralhousing drew about 30 people to Mt. Pleasant's First Presbyterian Church last night. Three great speakers, including Engage Keosauqua's Joy Padget, launched a great discussion, with folks lingering far past the end. Good to see Christina Bohannan there!

I picked one of our volleyball-sized melons yesterday after much anticipation. It produced about a gallon of chunks. Good, but not as good as the one harvested last week to spare it from a critter that was gnawing on it. #homegardening🌱

Cooking some of the approximately 2 pounds of chanterelles harvested from under the oaks on the west side of the house. Tasty. #mushroomhunting

A smaller but no less vocal group on the Fairfield square today, urging fellow citizens to oppose an administration that breaks laws every day. We'll be out every Thursday until Americans awaken to the damage and rise to oppose it. #makegoodtrouble

Paula and I had a fun time at the monthly Van Buren County Historical Society dinner at the Lebanon Church with friends Diane Carr, the Pools, the Finneys and Joyce Henry. Tim Blair talked about glass blowing, the Orb Project, J40 Farm Crawl and more. We enjoyed seeing so many people!

I like Bluesky but not the push notifications. How do I disable them?

I was honored to emcee and to speak at the Fairfield #makegoodtrouble rally yesterday. Around 100 people were there to raise their voices against a militaristic, cruel and lawless regime. We must be ready to resist even more, and to suffer as John Lewis and the Freedom Riders did.

Took on some failing and misplaced trees with the indomitable Paula Mohr today: this skinny hackberry and a substantial mulberry. I don't like removing trees, but I like removing trees. That is, trees are among our most beneficial plants, but using a chainsaw and clearing space is satisfying.

Had a great time experiencing multicultural music, food and more at Tapestry Fest in Mt Pleasant. I'm with other representatives of the Rural Restoration Project, advocating for economic and social opportunities in 5 counties, including Van Buren. Good to see so many interesting people!

For the last couple years I've watched fields near our house that Ryan Wolf and his dad, Chris, have used to experiment with #covercrops. Now Ryan owns a seed company and last night held a field day in Keosauqua with Practical Farmers of Iowa. I learned much about this tool to improve soil health.

On Thursday the wonderful Paula Mohr and I joined the first of weekly Fairfield rallies for people, democracy and justice. A good turnout, sure to grow as word spreads. And on Thursday, July 17, we'll join the #makegoodtrouble day of action with music, speeches and more on the Fairfield square.

The idea of Donald Trump as a successful businessman is largely a myth. A TV show saved him, and now his reelection has saved him again. This outlines how the latest Trump ventures create avenues for bribery unlike anything in history. Please share if you agree. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/u...