Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 5h

Just posted my take on Thomas Laehn's U.S. Senate campaign launch.
(with video & key excerpts from the Libertarian's first speech as an #IASen candidate)

www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/12/l...

Laehn launches Senate bid with two-count "indictment" of Congress

Libertarian Thomas Laehn is running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat. One of his central arguments could appeal to many disaffected Republicans.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 13h

New post by Matt Russell: Ag Secretary Rollins turns USDA into partisan tool for Republicans

www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/11/a...

Ag Secretary Rollins turns USDA into partisan tool for Republicans

Matt Russell: The official USDA website slams the "Radical Left Democrat shutdown" in what may be the biggest Hatch Act violation in history.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 16h

The end of federal enforcement of special ed laws. Some states - including MN - will likely be ok. But a lot of disabled kids in a lot of states are going to lose the education that federal law and decades of jurisprudence say they are owed.

Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says

The Education Department laid off nearly everyone at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 14h

This government is a well-oiled machine that’s definitely not suffering from internal power struggles hastily papered over as technical mistakes

The employees "were sent incorrect
notifications, which was fixed last night and this morning with a technical correction," a senior administration official said. "Any correction has already been remedied."

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 1d

Good lord. The MMWR is a hallmark of public health practice. Firing its editors will impact you and how your local health department functions.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Louise Seamster @louiseseamster.bsky.social · 1d

Happening in my town: the state is shutting down its State Historical Society of Iowa with its archive, using imprisoned laborers to clear it out, and also apparently planning to just throw out a large amount of the material.

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

Marian Wilson Kimber: It’s painful to realize the people in charge of Iowa’s history apparently have no idea how history works. If they did, they'd know there is no way to predict what parts of the collection will be of interest 5, 20, or 100 years from now. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/10/t...

The theft of history

Marian Wilson Kimber: I have wondered if the box of women’s club programs that changed my life will end up in the dumpster.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

Marian Wilson Kimber: It’s painful to realize the people in charge of Iowa’s history apparently have no idea how history works. If they did, they'd know there is no way to predict what parts of the collection will be of interest 5, 20, or 100 years from now. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/10/t...

The theft of history

Marian Wilson Kimber: I have wondered if the box of women’s club programs that changed my life will end up in the dumpster.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

If you're under age 65 and don't have one of the underlying conditions putting you at risk of severe illness from COVID, it may be difficult to get a COVID booster in Iowa.
laurabelin.substack.com/p/many-iowan...

Many Iowans can't get COVID boosters. Kim Reynolds isn't helping

Governor denied the problem exists

laurabelin.substack.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com: "A survey of the commercial horticulture food crops industry in Iowa showed direct specialty crop sales of more than $79 million in 2022 and even higher figures of economic output attributable to the industry."
iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/08/s...

Study shows Iowa food farmers had a $66.5M economic output • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A survey of the commercial horticulture food crops industry in Iowa showed direct specialty crop sales of more than $79 million in 2022.

iowacapitaldispatch.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

New post: The Family Leader wants to build on prime farmland in Polk County, Iowa.
Sondra Feldstein is among the landowners challenging the county's rezoning decision in court. She explains here why this case matters: www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/10/p...

Preserve farmland and hold Polk County supervisors accountable

The FAMiLY Leader wants to build on prime Polk County farmland. Sondra Feldstein and others are challenging the rezoning decision in court.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 1d

“We’re all being DOGE’d,” a CBS News journalist told The Independent. “And she’s also looking out to see who will kiss up to her.”

The source pointed out that Weiss has made it clear “she wants to bring her own people in,” all while “layoffs are coming.”

www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...

Bari Weiss evokes Musk, demands CBS staff tell her ‘how you spend your working hours’

‘We’re all being DOGE’d,’ a CBS News journalist told The Independent. ‘And she’s also looking out to see who will kiss up to her.’

www.the-independent.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 2d

I just published a different take by @jastiger.bsky.social the day before this.
I don't micromanage guest authors.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/08/i...

Jason Benell highlights "just how much these targeted ICE attacks are stealing from communities across the country."

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 2d

A majority of adults oppose Trump’s use of the National Guard in America cities www.gelliottmorris.com/p/a-majority...

A majority of Americans oppose Trump sending the National Guard to Democratic-run cities

The president is defying the will of the people, federal judges, and the Constitution

www.gelliottmorris.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 2d

New post by Randy Evans: Des Moines School Board members have yet to acknowledge they should have recognized the red flags before hiring Ian Roberts.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/t...

Toddlers know, so why can't school officials learn?

Randy Evans: Des Moines School Board members have yet to acknowledge they should have recognized the red flags before hiring Ian Roberts.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Melissa Ryan @melissaryan.bsky.social · 2d

After Pritzker and Newsom threatened to leave the NGA, the Republican Chair breaks with Trump. Pressure works. Keep it up!

Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 2d

“Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

The Republican chair of the National Governors Association breaks with Trump.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 2d

Jack Posobiec spread antisenitic hate on Twitter for years, including tagging Jews with triple parentheses.

JD Vance wrote the forward to Posobiec’s book, Unhuman.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

JD Vance describes Chuck Schumer as "one of the most famous Palestinians in the world"

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 2d

Scoop: A text poll in the field this week is probing whether the recent arrest of Superintendent Ian Roberts is a “convincing” argument against a bond issue that is a priority for the Des Moines Public Schools.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/p...

Poll testing how Ian Roberts arrest could affect DMPS bond vote

The survey tests two messages for and two against the $265 million bond issue that is a priority for the Des Moines Public Schools.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 2d

New post: @douglaswburns.bsky.social will interview Beth Macy @bethmacy.bsky.social about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines this Saturday.
More on the event and this "powerhouse work of non-fiction" about rural America:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/b...

Beth Macy, author of 'Dopesick' and 'Paper Girl,' coming to Des Moines

Douglas Burns will interview Beth Macy about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Reposted by Laura Belin

David Waldman @kagrox.bsky.social · 2d

"The President of Peace Who Lost Portland to War" is a thing that exists in their heads.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

VARNEY: There's virtually universal agreement on this program that the president should get the Nobel Peace Prize. After all, if Obama can get one for doing very little, surely President Trump can get one for bringing peace.

JONI ERNST: Exactly. President Trump is the president of peace.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 3d

I welcome guest commentaries advocating for Democratic or progressive candidates in Iowa's upcoming school board elections.
Today the Johnston Public Schools Supporters made their case for Rexford Davidson, Kaycee Schippers, and Justin Smith.

www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/j...

Johnston's unified front for public education: Davidson, Schippers, Smith

Educator Justin Smith, engaged parent Kaycee Schippers, and JCSD alumnus Rexford Davidson represent the very best of our community.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 3d

I welcome guest commentaries advocating for Democratic or progressive candidates in Iowa's upcoming school board elections.
Today the Johnston Public Schools Supporters made their case for Rexford Davidson, Kaycee Schippers, and Justin Smith.

www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/j...

Johnston's unified front for public education: Davidson, Schippers, Smith

Educator Justin Smith, engaged parent Kaycee Schippers, and JCSD alumnus Rexford Davidson represent the very best of our community.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 3d

Flashback Friday: This week in 2023, I covered highlights from Russell Lovell's career after the longtime Drake Law School professor was honored for a half-century of civil rights advocacy.

www.bleedingheartland.com/2023/10/07/i...

Iowa attorney honored for half-century of civil rights advocacy

The Notre Dame Alumni Association recognized Russell Lovell "for his outstanding dedication to advancing civil rights" over many years.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 3d

Inbox: "The Des Moines School Board met this morning and approved a two-year contract for Matt Smith to serve as interim superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools through the 2026–27 school year. Smith has served as associate superintendent since 2018."

So no new nationwide search anytime soon.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 3d

It’s been more than eight years since Senate Republicans claimed to have their “Repeal and Replace Obamacare” plan almost ready.

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