14 Comments
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Letters to Randy's avatar

Ohhhhh, maybe this is why they aren’t responding to my letters. 🙄

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Matt Russell's avatar

Thanks for sending those letters.

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Letters to Randy's avatar

Every Friday, like clockwork

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David's avatar

Deceitful hypocritical misdirection is a hallmark of Chuck Grassley’s public responses and Joni is learning fast! The others are clowns following the ring master’s directions. And every red state is going through this. Some even worse.😂

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Matt Russell's avatar

It is systemic and Iowa is now leading the way.

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Suzanne Swanson's avatar

Iowa WAKE UP!!!! We left in the 80’s never to return. Have stopped contributing to UIowa as Covid Kim has control over board of regents. Your state is in free fall and brain drain. It was my state of which I used to be proud and grateful for a wonderful education and opportunities.

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Matt Russell's avatar

I still have hope for Iowa. But you are not wrong.

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Josiah Wearin's avatar

Meanwhile the President removed General Milley’s security protection and Hegseth is trying to demote him. Just nearly criminal when one takes into account the death threats against the General!

Hard to tell which hands to watch in a game like this.

I do have some faith that extremely vague executive orders will be eventually nullified by our courts. I hope it is not an unfounded faith.

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Matt Russell's avatar

We're going to need to stay vigilant.

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Josiah Wearin's avatar

The aim of much of this first salvo of executive orders seems to be: 1) create chaos; 2) show who’s boss; 3) test the U. S. Supreme Court to find out just how far they will collectively bend. A nation tied up in litigation is basically paralyzed, unfortunately. This is a recipe whipped up by anarchists and nihilists who are also xenophobic, etc.

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Ralph Rosenberg's avatar

Thank you. Great duo, like Batman and Superman. I thank writers like yourselves. Others are failing us.

Every threatened grant and at-risk program presents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and connect with voters. Instead of just issuing statements, Democrats and advocacy groups should be holding press events in front of school lunch programs, senior centers, and cancer research facilities—highlighting exactly what’s at stake. Republicans have mastered the art of political theater, traveling to the border to dramatize their opposition to Biden’s immigration policies. Meanwhile, Democrats hold meetings.

Some of what Trump is attempting is entirely predictable, yet opponents who failed to prepare now act as if it’s a shock. For decades, leaders of federally funded programs have neglected to educate the public on how these initiatives directly benefit everyday Americans. This failure stretches back to Reagan, leaving federal aid vulnerable to partisan attacks. I do know of one nonprofit I was on he board of that only invited Reynolds representatives to a ribbon cutting for a housing project where 90+ % was federal funds.

Yesterday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a "meeting." One can imagine Trump’s allies shaking in their boots—except they weren’t. Jeffries’ leadership style leans toward measured, slow responses rather than bold, strategic actions that effectively dramatize the impact of Republican extremism. In today’s climate, cautious engagement is inadequate. Democrats need more than sharp one-liners; they need strategic confrontation backed by decisive action.

America deserves more from Jeffries and Congress. Iowa, in particular, deserves more from its delegation. The Iowa Democratic Party and its elected officials must go beyond brief, forgettable tweets. It’s time for a real, visible, and sustained fight.

Back to writing our federal delegation.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Ralph.

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Matt Russell's avatar

Spot on Ralph!

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Jan 31
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Matt Russell's avatar

True. But they do count the letters and phone calls. They are paying attention even if they pretend like they aren't.

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