Hold on to your butts.

Still waiting to hear back from the UI on my questions and records request. BUT they did send over an internal talking point memo that offers additional insight:

UI WRAC DISOLVED - I obtained an internal University of Iowa email announcing the dissolution of the Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC) as a standalone unit, dispersing its programs and staff across other departments. Read the full email: (1/4)

SEN GARRETT PASSES - State Sen. Julian Garrett has died. Earlier this year he announced a cancer diagnosis. Garrett covered an area that included Indianola and Knoxville. wcfcourier.com/news/state-r...

At the beginning of the leg session, Speaker Pat Grassley said there was a need to tell a better story when asked about Iowa’s impaired water. The belief that it’s a marketing problem seems to be popular in the establishment.

MARKETING WATER TROUBLES AWAY - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order creating an Office of Outdoor Recreation, citing a $6B industry and nearly 50,000 jobs. The office is housed inside Iowa’s Economic Development Agency. Not the DNR. No environmental mandate. (1/3)

SAND TAPS MUHLBAUER - Rob Sand made his lieutenant gov pick: Dave Muhlbauer, a Crawford County supervisor and cattleman from western Iowa. Pictured at the center of the universe, the back patio at George's Buffet... clearly trying to lockup the all important Helen vote.

I will never forgive myself for my primary night headline not being: Feenstra comes up short. Gg @justinkcomer.rockhardcauc.us

Journalism Tip: Stuck sorting through too much material? The timeline can’t be beat.

Zach Lahn won Iowa's Republican governor primary as an outsider. But I've been digging around and found a long history managing campaigns, staffing politicians. A look at his record. iowastartingline.com/news/meet-za...

Following her primary win last night, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson took a first class ticket out of the state for a markup in DC today. A source said, “I asked her about lahn she said she was surprised. She's only ever spoken to him once a year ago when he apparently wanted to run for Congress.”

Zach Lahn just beat Trump’s pick for Iowa governor

🌽 IOWA DECIDES 2026 - Here are your November matchups: 🏛️Governor: Rob Sand (D) vs. Zach Lahn (R) 🇺🇸U.S. Senate: Josh Turek (D) vs. Ashley Hinson (R)

#BREAKING AP: JOSH TUREK - State Rep. Josh Turek is the projected winner of the Iowa Democratic US Senate primary. The Associated Press called the race at 8:42 p.m.

GO VOTE 💙

SAND GAGGLE - After voting Tuesday morning, Rob Sand answered some questions from reporters. Wap_0Ih_cBLpwl video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_0I...

It’s primary day, friends. Get out and vote!

VOTE TODAY - Today’s the 2026 primary election. Democrats and Republicans will pick a candidate. Polls open 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Be sure to bring a valid ID to vote. You may register and vote on election day. Find your precinct: apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/vo...

IOWA PRIMARY 2026 - The state’s 2026 primary election is coming up. In the newsroom, we’re planning our coverage. What races are YOU most watching?👇

Zach Lahn, his Kansas home, and the 🍆 ring of it all.

TRUMP BACKS FEENSTRA - President Donald Trump endorsed Republican US Rep. Randy Feenstra in his bid for Iowa Governor. He is in a competitive primary. Before the announcement, he was being out-raised and at least one poll suggest he was losing his frontrunner status.

Iowa Democrats are making the case to the DNC that the Iowa Caucuses should be among the early states again. They’re pitching a mail-in presidential preference process and a simplified in-person process. Re: an end to the wild caucus math.

Ugly bird nest.

🔥🍗🔥 Last night, I watched Democratic House candidate Heather Sievers attempt a Hot Ones-style challenge with special guest @robsandia.bsky.social Iowans aren’t known for their spice tolerance. But that didn’t stop them. They went question for wing. 🔥🍗🔥

If you don't follow @iowastartingline.com on Instagram, you might have missed this story! I didn't see @zacharyos.bsky.social post it on Bsky, but apparently the fucking Mountain Goats did. iowastartingline.com/news/politic...

Y'all, this is really happening. 🤯 @zacharyos.bsky.social 😎

✊✊✊

Listening to dance music over here. Thanks to John Darnielle @themountaingoats.bsky.social for supporting the work! Read the story over @iowastartingline.com

congrats to @zacharyos.bsky.social

Big day for Mountain Goats fan in Iowa City. Thanks for supporting the work, John Darnielle!

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…