NEW: Iowa Starting Line obtained tape of José Yugar-Cruz, a Bolivian asylum-seeker, speaking publicly before the Trump administration moves to deport him to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Advocates for Yugar-Cruz will hold a rally at 12 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the Linn County Jail.

Buratta is just cheese gusher.

Home water filter demand is up, KCWI reports. This as more Iowans worry about how Ag pollutions is impacting their taps.

“Well that’s someone in a hurry.”

On Thursday I asked Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley about House pages stuffing campaign mailers for GOP State Rep Jennifer Smith. ICYMI, @zacharyos.bsky.social's reporting on this (illegal) practice: iowastartingline.com/2026/04/22/i... #ialegis

GRASSLEY ON PAGE SCANDAL - S/O to Bleeding Heartlandk for following up on on our story this week at the House Speaker Pat Grassley’s weekly gaggle. What do you make of his response?

Reason I like living here #5

Tucker Carlson isn’t actually sorry www.ms.now/opinion/tuck...

PAGING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY - I obtained some photos of Capitol pages stuffing reelection mailers for Iowa Rep. Jennifer Smith, R-Dubuque. Those are state employees using state property to benefit a political campaign: patently illegal.

Via @zacharyos.bsky.social, really bad look for GOP State Rep Jennifer Smith of Dubuque. I'm seeking comment on whether she will be reprimanded or disciplined. Iowa House district 72 was already going to be a targeted #ialegis race. (Smith flipped it in 2024) iowastartingline.com/2026/04/22/i...

SAND’S 4/20 PLAN - Rob Sand wants to legalize, tax, and regulate adult-use cannabis in Iowa like alcohol — keeping tax dollars in-state, creating 7,000 jobs, and helping close the state’s $1.4 billion budget gap.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

LOCATION CHANGE: H-O-R-S-E w/ Josh Turek 1 p.m. Robert A Lee Rec Center (220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240) Donate to Shelter House - shelterhouseiowa.org/donate

BILLIONAIRE’S IOWA INTERESTS - A GOP megadonor charged in a 2019 Florida sex trafficking sting has given tens of thousands of dollars to Iowa Republican campaigns — including $50,000 to Ashley Hinson's Senate race. iowastartingline.com/2026/04/16/h...

🏀🏀🏀 I’m playing Rep. Josh Turek in a game of H-O-R-S-E. We’ll talk about why he’s running between shots. 1 p.m. this Saturday at College Green Park in Iowa City. In case of rain, Robert A Lee Rec Center. I’m raising money for Shelter House. Lend a hand... shelterhouseiowa.org/donate 🏀🏀🏀

Via @zacharyos.bsky.social: "While sitting on a House subcommittee that oversees drug pricing, Iowa Rep. Miller-Meeks was renting her DC apartment from lobbyists paid millions to fight prescription drug cost reforms on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry." iowastartingline.com/2026/04/13/m...

Reason I like living here #4.

Things journalism taught me No. 1: The Dig™️

We are indeed being drowned out by Big Money.

Any of yall any good at basketball? I might need some help beating @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social at H-O-R-S-E. I’m looking for a basketball sensei…

DARK MONEY OUT - Just getting back from the US Senate Democratic forum put on by @progressiowa and stopbigmoney in Des Moines. Wanted to share this brief chat with End Citizens United’s Tiffany Muller. We talk about the problem of dark money and what we could do about it.

Reason I like living here #3

LIVE ON SLOTKIN VISIT - Iowa journalist Bob Leonard and I were at a town hall called by Democratic IA-03 candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, featuring US Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Bring your questions. Come have some fun at 10 a.m. CT. Link below. open.substack.com/live-stream/...

04-07-26 - New report on Iowa’s 12-month revenues show how regressive sales taxes are becoming a key part of balancing Iowa’s budget… did I mention the $1B deficit?

WHY KNOCK DOORS? - Was in Grundy Center, Iowa this morning learning about door-to-door campaigning from @leilaforiowa. Part of a series I’m working on. Do you knock doors? Why or why not?

I had such a good time chatting with @lyz.bsky.social about how to win a red state. Spoiler: It's by actually trying! www.patreon.com/posts/how-do...

Know who never misses? @zacharyos.bsky.social Even if he did, which he doesn’t, he’d still have that voice and that delivery. He consistently delivers. He is a Reporter. Well fucking done.

Excellent explanation of how GOP keeps siding with Corporations over people. Please give a watch

Reason I like living here #2

From the people who brought you “no new taxes…”

03-28-25 - Hundreds showed up for the No Kings rally in Iowa City.

Iowa Rep. Jeff Shipley called a Cedar Falls resident slurs after he confronted Shipley about a bill to make Ivermectin available over the counter.

Reason I like living here #1

Happy birthday @zacharyos.bsky.social!!

Some procedural intrigue in the Iowa Senate today: the chamber was planning to debate bill raising taxes on health insurance companies (to help fill a Medicaid shortfall). But Senate Minority Leader @janice4iowa.bsky.social pointed out that under chamber rules, they can't debate this today. 1/

Diet Coke the loooong way.

03-19-26 - The Gang learns that taxes get passed to consumers.

BIG, BEAUTIFUL IMPACT - MercyOne's Ottumwa clinic closure left thousands of patients without a provider — a direct result of Medicaid cuts in the Big, Beautiful Bill that every Iowa Republican voted for.

03-14-26 - update on Iowa’s budget cliff. Nonpartisan estimate has us spending more than we are raising in taxes.

A new report reveals horrors at America’s largest ICE detention camp. Guards allegedly ran a betting pool on which detainee would die by su*cide. Five years ago, Tyson managers in Waterloo did something similar. This is what unchecked power looks like.

03-07-26 - Re: to my story on a dumb bill that would require driver’s license tests to be done in English.

The Iowa Legislature is moving a bill that would ban driver’s license tests in Spanish — and any language other than English. There’s zero evidence Spanish speakers are worse drivers. But there is evidence this will push people to drive uninsured.

03-05-26 - This week, two Iowans have been named by the Pentagon as casualties in the Trump Administration’s conflict with Iran.

this is our guy…

I’d like to thank @lyz.bsky.social & @zacharyos.bsky.social for gifting us, in their podcast, the phrase “seasoning their chicken with thoughts and prayers”

US bombs are dropping on Iran. And we couldn’t afford those ACA subsidies.

01-13-26 - A long day at the Capitol. Condition of the State, eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines, and property taxes. Follow @iowastartingline for more.

does the moth not yearn for the flame

First the corn sweats. Then it comes for you in every gas station parking lot.