Lyle Muller
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lylemuller.bsky.social
Lyle Muller
@lylemuller.bsky.social
Freelance journalist, retired; professional adviser for Grinnell College’s Scarlet & Black. Hawkeyes. Grandpa. "A MESSY CHURCH: An Iowa Church’s Journey Through United Methodist Celebrations, Controversies" author, buy it here https://bit.ly/46YXQbh
Scroll past some of the gobbledegook (Tim Hagle is good but always a go-to for the DI) and read a fascinating story about one of Iowa City’s most interesting people, Karen Kubby.
Previous IC City Councilor reflects on her accomplishments in a time of national polarization
On a cold morning inside Beadology in Iowa City, sunlight catches the bowls of glass beads lining the store — greens, ambers, blues that look like they were scooped straight from a riverbed. Karen Kub...
dailyiowan.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Cold morning for people waiting in line for ICE check-ins in Iowa this morning. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Cold, icy ICE check-ins hit high of 56 in Cedar Rapids Tuesday
Big day starts what immigrant supporters expect to be a big month
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Chilly day and huge ICE check-in turnout in Cedar Rapids, IA, today. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
December 3, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Update: the woman interviewed for this story who was fearful about her ICE check-in was allowed to remain in the United States until her next check-in next year. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Iowa's immigrant workers expect a big December ICE check-in push and they're afraid
Update: At least 20 Iowa immigrants are to check in at Cedar Rapids’ ICE office Dec. 2. More expected Dec. 3.
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The waiting line outside ICE office in Cedar Rapids Iowa now. 18 degrees.
December 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
No fence but plenty of people serving as support group and escorts for ICE check-ins in Cedar Rapids IA this morning. Families with kids checking in have to stand in line outside. 18 degrees.
December 2, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Some 20 immigrants have ICE check-ins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tomorrow. More on Wednesday. Why they are fearful. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
December 2, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Update: At least 20 Iowa immigrants are to check in at Cedar Rapids’ ICE office tomorrow. More expected Wednesday.
Iowa's immigrant workers expect a big December ICE check-in push and they're afraid
Update: At least 20 Iowa immigrants are to check in at Cedar Rapids’ ICE office Dec. 2. More expected Dec. 3.
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Where you can find ⁦‪Mike Hlas on Substack. Subscribe to him to keep his writing.
December 1, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Catholic Workers House leaders in Iowa City said at least 15 immigrant families have asked the organization to accompany them to mandatory check-ins Dec. 2, and six have asked for Wednesday, Dec. 3.
open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Iowa's immigrant workers expect a big December ICE check-in push and they're afraid
At least 21 Iowa immigrants are to check in at Cedar Rapids’ ICE office Dec. 2 and 3.
open.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Lyle Muller
November 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A lot to digest in Iowa this wintery morning, thanks to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.

open.substack.com/pub/iowawrit...
Another DMPS Outrage, Iowa Companies Make Forbes List, National Guard in DC, ICE Here
...your Sunday paper has arrived
open.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A big week of ICE check-ins is schedule in Iowa. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Iowa's immigrant workers expect a big December ICE check-in push and they're afraid
At least 21 Iowa immigrants are to check in at Cedar Rapids’ ICE office Dec. 2 and 3.
open.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In a universe far to the right of center and where journalism judgment does not exist, one — that is, one out of thousands — student letter to his college’s student-run newspaper becomes news. Reason: culture war. www.foxnews.com/media/syracu...
Syracuse student calls Thanksgiving 'celebration of genocide' in campus newspaper column
A Syracuse University student argues in the campus newspaper, The Daily Orange, that Thanksgiving celebrates genocide and cites historical examples of "mass erasure."
www.foxnews.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Arrests, deportations increase among Iowa immigrants, even without criminal convictions. It doesn't seem like harden crooks are the target here in Iowa.
www.thegazette.com/news/arrests...
Arrests, deportations increase among Iowa immigrants, even without criminal convictions
The number of immigrants arrested by ICE in Iowa this year is at an all-time high, and many of those arrested do not have criminal convictions, despite repeated claims by President Donald Trump's admi...
www.thegazette.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
There was a time when women in college lived under strict curfews and housing rules. How and why are explained in this history piece from Iowa.
thesandb.com/53692/featur...
History Takeover: Lock the women up
The sixties were an era of mass social change not only across the U.S. but at Grinnell. In the fall semester of 1967, women’s hours, a strict curfew for the women students who lived in the tightly mon...
thesandb.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Good news. Mike Hlas is bringing his talents to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Happy to have him. open.substack.com/pub/iowawrit... #Sports #Iowa
Mike Hylas News, Thanksgiving Gems, Sports, Music and More
...your roundup on the Flipside
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Brenna Bird already sensing trouble in Iowa for her attorney general re-election bid. Good analysis here. 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 26, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Paid for doing nothing — good gig if you can get it — and you can at the Des Moines public school district. open.substack.com/pub/revans28...
School owes explanation for this good-bye gift
Why is Robert Lundin receiving $114,000 from the taxpayers for leaving 7 months early?
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Lyle Muller
Kelly: "My family has suffered from political violence. My wife, Gabby, was nearly assassinated, shot in the head at a political event. Even the president -- 2 assassination attempts -- he should understand his words have significant weight and people react to things that he says."
November 21, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Bleeding Heartland picked up my column about The Gazette sale. Also, IPR’s River to River noon hour show will have a segment on the sale. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/20/t...
The Gazette's new task: maintain local confidence, journalism
Lyle Muller, a former editor at The Gazette, considers whether the Cedar Rapids newspaper can maintain its capacity for local reporting.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Some love for Marshalltown, Iowa, which often does not get that love. Good read.
From Marshalltown to Manhattan: The Fisher Family Legacy
Each November of my high school years, our Iowa Girls High School Swimming and Diving Championship was held at the YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
“This has become the norm in Iowa. Leaders shield themselves behind growing teams of ‘communications specialists’ and insist they are simply too busy to answer questions about the very policies they oversee.”

open.substack.com/pub/davebusi...
Starved children, missed warnings – and officials too busy for questions
Task force goes dark – state leaders duck reporter
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:01 AM