Laura Belin
@laurarbelin.bsky.social
Reporter covering Iowa politics (and sometimes wildflowers) for the progressive website Bleeding Heartland. https://www.bleedingheartland.com
Part-time statehouse reporter for KHOI Radio in Ames. https://laurabelin.substack.com
Part-time statehouse reporter for KHOI Radio in Ames. https://laurabelin.substack.com
Just posted: For Thanksgiving, Chuck Isenhart @chuckisenhart.bsky.social examined how Governor Kim Reynolds "Healthy Kids Iowa" program—her substitute for the USDA's Summer EBT—worked in Dubuque County.
The program was anything but a rousing success.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/27/t...
The program was anything but a rousing success.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/27/t...
Talking turkey: Healthy Kids Iowa fed fewer kids than Summer EBT
Chuck Isenhart examines how Healthy Kids Iowa worked in Dubuque County. The program was anything but a rousing success.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Just posted: For Thanksgiving, Chuck Isenhart @chuckisenhart.bsky.social examined how Governor Kim Reynolds "Healthy Kids Iowa" program—her substitute for the USDA's Summer EBT—worked in Dubuque County.
The program was anything but a rousing success.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/27/t...
The program was anything but a rousing success.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/27/t...
Happy Iowa wildflower Wednesday!
This week I'm sharing a collection of photos by Jeff Ewoldt, who recently found many plants flowering far beyond their usual blooming period in central Iowa.
#Iowa #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/i...
This week I'm sharing a collection of photos by Jeff Ewoldt, who recently found many plants flowering far beyond their usual blooming period in central Iowa.
#Iowa #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/i...
Iowa wildflower Wednesday: November stragglers
A collection of photos by Jeff Ewoldt, who recently found many plants flowering beyond their usual blooming period in central Iowa.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Happy Iowa wildflower Wednesday!
This week I'm sharing a collection of photos by Jeff Ewoldt, who recently found many plants flowering far beyond their usual blooming period in central Iowa.
#Iowa #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/i...
This week I'm sharing a collection of photos by Jeff Ewoldt, who recently found many plants flowering far beyond their usual blooming period in central Iowa.
#Iowa #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/i...
New post by Randy Evans: Between now and June 30, the Des Moines Public Schools will pay Robert Lundin approximately $114,200 for work that ended October 6.
"Where I come from, going-away gifts do not serve a public purpose."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/s...
"Where I come from, going-away gifts do not serve a public purpose."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/s...
School district owes explanation for this goodbye gift
Randy Evans: Between now and June 30, the school district will pay Robert Lundin approximately $114,200 for work that ended October 6.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
New post by Randy Evans: Between now and June 30, the Des Moines Public Schools will pay Robert Lundin approximately $114,200 for work that ended October 6.
"Where I come from, going-away gifts do not serve a public purpose."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/s...
"Where I come from, going-away gifts do not serve a public purpose."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/s...
More elite capitulation.
Northwestern alumni should redirect any planned gifts or bequests to other good causes.
Northwestern alumni should redirect any planned gifts or bequests to other good causes.
Holy extortion Batman!
“Northwestern and White House are close on a deal to end Trump admin's months long pressure campaign. Under potential terms, Northwestern would pay fed govt $75,000,000, second highest for a university.” | NY Times.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
“Northwestern and White House are close on a deal to end Trump admin's months long pressure campaign. Under potential terms, Northwestern would pay fed govt $75,000,000, second highest for a university.” | NY Times.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
More elite capitulation.
Northwestern alumni should redirect any planned gifts or bequests to other good causes.
Northwestern alumni should redirect any planned gifts or bequests to other good causes.
The Iowa Writers Collaborative already produces some of the best sports writing in Iowa, and will soon add another outstanding sports columnist to our roster.
Read all about it:
iowawriters.substack.com/p/mike-hylas...
Read all about it:
iowawriters.substack.com/p/mike-hylas...
Mike Hlas News, Thanksgiving Gems, Sports, Music and More
...your roundup on the Flipside
iowawriters.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The Iowa Writers Collaborative already produces some of the best sports writing in Iowa, and will soon add another outstanding sports columnist to our roster.
Read all about it:
iowawriters.substack.com/p/mike-hylas...
Read all about it:
iowawriters.substack.com/p/mike-hylas...
Reposted by Laura Belin
BREAKING: 11th Cir. upholds $1M penalty on Trump & Habba for frivolous suit v. Hillary Clinton, Comey, DNC, etc. over Russia claims. 'Trump & his attorneys committed sanctionable conduct,' per Judge W. Pryor (GWB) w/Brasher (Trump) Kidd (Biden) Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Opinion Issued – #251, Att. #1 in Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton (11th Cir., 22-13410) – CourtListener.com
Opinion issued by court as to Appellant Donald J. Trump in 22-13410, Appellant Alina Habba in 22-14099, 23-10387, 23-13177. Decision: Vacated and Remanded as to Orbis Business Intelligence, Ltd.; Affi...
storage.courtlistener.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:43 PM
BREAKING: 11th Cir. upholds $1M penalty on Trump & Habba for frivolous suit v. Hillary Clinton, Comey, DNC, etc. over Russia claims. 'Trump & his attorneys committed sanctionable conduct,' per Judge W. Pryor (GWB) w/Brasher (Trump) Kidd (Biden) Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
New post by Rick Morain: Politicians of the 18th and 19th centuries would be thunderstruck at the importance of today’s vice presidents.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/v...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/v...
Vice presidents weren't always major political figures
Rick Morain: Politicians of the 18th and 19th centuries would be thunderstruck at the importance of today’s vice presidents.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
New post by Rick Morain: Politicians of the 18th and 19th centuries would be thunderstruck at the importance of today’s vice presidents.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/v...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/26/v...
After I covered #IA03 poll showing @sarahforiowa.bsky.social leading Zach Nunn 53-40 and @konfrst.bsky.social leading Nunn 50-42, some readers asked how the survey described the candidates.
I included that part of the questionnaire near the end of this post:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
I included that part of the questionnaire near the end of this post:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
News from Congress and lots of 2026 campaign maneuvers
Nov. 24 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
After I covered #IA03 poll showing @sarahforiowa.bsky.social leading Zach Nunn 53-40 and @konfrst.bsky.social leading Nunn 50-42, some readers asked how the survey described the candidates.
I included that part of the questionnaire near the end of this post:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
I included that part of the questionnaire near the end of this post:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
Reposted by Laura Belin
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
The Mariannette Miller-Meeks #IA01 version of this answer is to say farmers were crushed by high input costs during the Biden administration.
Brooke Rollins on spiking beef prices in November 2025: "There's a lot of reasons for that. The Biden-Harris administration had a war on cattle because they talked about climate change and cattle, um -- it was crazy."
November 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The Mariannette Miller-Meeks #IA01 version of this answer is to say farmers were crushed by high input costs during the Biden administration.
New post by Steve Corbin: Trump policies ignore basic business principles, threaten U.S. economy
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/25/t...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/25/t...
Trump policies ignore basic business principles, threaten U.S. economy
Steve Corbin: Leaders of Fortune 500 companies have been alarmed by how Trump and his appointees ignore basic business principles.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:59 AM
New post by Steve Corbin: Trump policies ignore basic business principles, threaten U.S. economy
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/25/t...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/25/t...
On last night's "KHOI's Capitol Week," @spencerdirks.bsky.social and I covered more than a dozen stories, including some you won't see anywhere else.
Lots of news from Congress & 2026 campaigns here. The show will never take more than 30 minutes of your time:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
Lots of news from Congress & 2026 campaigns here. The show will never take more than 30 minutes of your time:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
News from Congress and lots of 2026 campaign maneuvers
Nov. 24 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
On last night's "KHOI's Capitol Week," @spencerdirks.bsky.social and I covered more than a dozen stories, including some you won't see anywhere else.
Lots of news from Congress & 2026 campaigns here. The show will never take more than 30 minutes of your time:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
Lots of news from Congress & 2026 campaigns here. The show will never take more than 30 minutes of your time:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/news-from-...
Reposted by Laura Belin
When you draw a platoon leader like Hegseth, it’s your worst nightmare. You just ride it out until he’s gone and gets replaced by someone who isn’t a complete jackass. Only a fool like Trump would put one of them in charge of the entire defense department.
November 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
When you draw a platoon leader like Hegseth, it’s your worst nightmare. You just ride it out until he’s gone and gets replaced by someone who isn’t a complete jackass. Only a fool like Trump would put one of them in charge of the entire defense department.
Reposted by Laura Belin
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Billionaire Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, pardoned by Donald Trump, has been accused of facilitating millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Hamas in the wake of its attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Zhao also financed the Trump family's entrance into the cryptocurrency market.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas
Crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Reposted by Laura Belin
Seems like every day some senator who voted to confirm RFK Jr is pissed off at him about something.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Seems like every day some senator who voted to confirm RFK Jr is pissed off at him about something.
I forgot to post here tonight before my live radio show about Iowa politics.
But you can listen to "KHOI's Capitol Week" now on any podcast platform or smart speaker.
Tomorrow I'll send out the audio file & written recap (for those who prefer to read) on my free newsletter:
laurabelin.substack.com
But you can listen to "KHOI's Capitol Week" now on any podcast platform or smart speaker.
Tomorrow I'll send out the audio file & written recap (for those who prefer to read) on my free newsletter:
laurabelin.substack.com
Iowa politics with Laura Belin | Substack
Where you get in-depth coverage and exclusive reporting about Iowa politics. Click to read Iowa politics with Laura Belin, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
laurabelin.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I forgot to post here tonight before my live radio show about Iowa politics.
But you can listen to "KHOI's Capitol Week" now on any podcast platform or smart speaker.
Tomorrow I'll send out the audio file & written recap (for those who prefer to read) on my free newsletter:
laurabelin.substack.com
But you can listen to "KHOI's Capitol Week" now on any podcast platform or smart speaker.
Tomorrow I'll send out the audio file & written recap (for those who prefer to read) on my free newsletter:
laurabelin.substack.com
Earlier today, Republican #IAGov candidate Adam Steen celebrated the latest decision to deny the Satanic Temple a permit for a holiday event.
I asked him how the event would harm kids and what other religious beliefs he'd try to keep away from children as governor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EL2...
I asked him how the event would harm kids and what other religious beliefs he'd try to keep away from children as governor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EL2...
Adam Steen vows to keep "evil" out of children's way
YouTube video by Bleeding Heartland
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Earlier today, Republican #IAGov candidate Adam Steen celebrated the latest decision to deny the Satanic Temple a permit for a holiday event.
I asked him how the event would harm kids and what other religious beliefs he'd try to keep away from children as governor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EL2...
I asked him how the event would harm kids and what other religious beliefs he'd try to keep away from children as governor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EL2...
Reposted by Laura Belin
A federal judge has dismissed the charges against former FBI director James Comey, ruling that the former Trump attorney who brought the charges was not legally serving as the U.S. attorney.
November 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A federal judge has dismissed the charges against former FBI director James Comey, ruling that the former Trump attorney who brought the charges was not legally serving as the U.S. attorney.
ICYMI: Last month a lot of Iowa football fans saw a TV ad praising Attorney General Brenna Bird.
My analysis of the $600,000 ad campaign, the obscure group behind it, and some eye-popping poll findings about the AG race:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
My analysis of the $600,000 ad campaign, the obscure group behind it, and some eye-popping poll findings about the AG race:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
Conservative group attempted image makeover for Brenna Bird
More than a year before the 2026 election, Bird's polling numbers were bad enough to inspire a well-funded outside rescue mission.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
ICYMI: Last month a lot of Iowa football fans saw a TV ad praising Attorney General Brenna Bird.
My analysis of the $600,000 ad campaign, the obscure group behind it, and some eye-popping poll findings about the AG race:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
My analysis of the $600,000 ad campaign, the obscure group behind it, and some eye-popping poll findings about the AG race:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
Reposted by Laura Belin
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
New post: An obscure group based in Virginia says it spent $600,000 to run a positive ad about AG Brenna Bird on Iowa TV and streaming services.
My analysis of the ad and the surprisingly bad poll numbers that that inspired this outside spending:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
My analysis of the ad and the surprisingly bad poll numbers that that inspired this outside spending:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
Conservative group attempted image makeover for Brenna Bird
More than a year before the 2026 election, Bird's polling numbers were bad enough to inspire a well-funded outside rescue mission.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
New post: An obscure group based in Virginia says it spent $600,000 to run a positive ad about AG Brenna Bird on Iowa TV and streaming services.
My analysis of the ad and the surprisingly bad poll numbers that that inspired this outside spending:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
My analysis of the ad and the surprisingly bad poll numbers that that inspired this outside spending:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/23/c...
New post: You may have heard that President Trump tried to shut down a reporter with the insult, "Quiet, Piggy."
But did you know that journalist (Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News) has an Iowa connection?
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/22/r...
But did you know that journalist (Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News) has an Iowa connection?
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/22/r...
Reporter Trump called "Piggy" has an Iowa connection
Laura Belin on the Iowa ties of Catherine Lucey, who became part of a viral video after President Trump told her, "Quiet, Piggy."
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
New post: You may have heard that President Trump tried to shut down a reporter with the insult, "Quiet, Piggy."
But did you know that journalist (Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News) has an Iowa connection?
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/22/r...
But did you know that journalist (Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News) has an Iowa connection?
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/22/r...
Reposted by Laura Belin
honestly not how I thought this would go
November 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
honestly not how I thought this would go
I'm just catching up on this press conference and it's unreal.
Q: would you feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration ?
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I'm just catching up on this press conference and it's unreal.
Reposted by Laura Belin
"I just say, ‘You know, it’s hard for me to care about Riley Gaines tying for fifth when my swim coach is accused of raping my teammates.”
Gaines never talks about her teammates who were raped by her coach that she supported.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Gaines never talks about her teammates who were raped by her coach that she supported.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
"I just say, ‘You know, it’s hard for me to care about Riley Gaines tying for fifth when my swim coach is accused of raping my teammates.”
Gaines never talks about her teammates who were raped by her coach that she supported.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Gaines never talks about her teammates who were raped by her coach that she supported.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...