Chris Jones at the State Fair Soapbox (21 minutes):
It has been extremely interesting to see the Agriculture Secretary’s race in Iowa to be competitive. Usually this is a race that is simply handed to any Republican without much question. Not this year. Chris Jones is really shaking the race up by asking the tough questions. The Republicans that have owned this office have no answers.
In this speech Jones talks about clean water, cancer, diversification and Trump’s incredible impotation of cheap (and maybe tainted) beef. Republicans have no answers. Their only answer is more chemicals and corporate farms.
As you listen to his speech, you just think to yourself “he really makes sense – we should try it his way.”
On that day our streams run clear, our air smells of nature and not the moldered waste of a swine legion. Children play in our lakes while parents look on unconcerned about infection. From our faucet flows water we can know is safe to drink.
The work of prosperous farmers enhances the quality of life for all and not just a tiny fraction. Iowa remains a working landscape but one that fosters the well-being of native plants and animals, which have returned in abundance to comingle with a crop and livestock production system designed for human nutrition and environmental outcomes. The commerce from this system has rekindled rural life and reversed the migration of young people to big cities and distant states.
Many say these are impossible goals—the world has changed too much. Why do we let those that benefit most from the status quo define what is and isn’t possible?
11 minutes – Brian Tyler Cohen talks about Trump’s latest move:
Brought to you by the party and president that brought you a million dead with Covid comes another bet on your life and health with the “Where’s your beef from?” challenge of 2026. This challenge will fold in with the current “were your veggies inspected?” and the recently started “do you trust your eggs?” challenges.
Not sure when this challenge starts. Guess we will all be surprised. What we do know is that other countries tried to import beef from Argentina and rejected it. For that reason, the administration will not tell us where the beef is coming from. The administration no doubt believes that if people have no idea where the beef comes from, they won’t reject it. At least until people start dying.
As a bonus, the beef importation will screw over one of Trump’s most loyal voting blocs – the beef ranchers. A MAGA two-fer.
I can’t keep it all straight any more. Hopefully I have correct answers for the questions.
A) Canada released its economic reports for the second quarter Friday. Were there numbers up or down?
B) Did you see the move? According to Trump, Toronto no longer sits on Lake Ontario, but has been moved to what lake?
C) Unless you live under a log you know that Dolly Parton passed away Tuesday. Whose TV show in the 1960s did Parton gain fame on?
D) If you want to catch a WNBA game, you better do it today as the league will take 2 weeks off for what reason?
E) Some interesting stuff in science last week. For instance Facebook (Meta) were fined $17.1 B for purposely doing what?
F) The media barely reported this, but who recorded over 1000 equity (stock) trades in June despite some very sketchy ethics and legality in doing so?
G) In another effect of Trump’s war on Canada, what long standing separatist movement has shrunk to nearly nothing?
H) In Trump’s war on Iran, Iran has put a $10 M bounty on whom?
I) The US has recorded 2,777 cases of measles and how many deaths during this outbreak?
J) In more science news, global warming seems to be directly responsible for what disaster in Nepal last week?
K) What store chain apologized after it screwed up and offered a Jim Crow era minstrel costume for sale for Halloween?
L) In Iowa, what candidates for major office appear not to live in the district they seek to represent?
M) Why did the CIA chief go to Russia last week?
N) South Carolina held a runoff primary for the Republican to run for the US Senate. Who won?
O) We talked about this last week but this is such huge news we bring it up again. Moderna along with Merck announced last week that they appear to be on the verge of a vaccine against what?
P) As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Trump has let it be known he may not attend the ceremony at ground zero on that day. Why?
Q) The FDA issued a recall of what ubiquitous food item due to contamination with Salmonella?
R) The Navy is considering naming an aircraft carrier after Trump. The ship, still under construction, had been set to be named after what WWII war hero?
S) What far right political commentator is being held by ICE in New Orleans awaiting deportation as of Friday?
T) NASA is launching a new what today to observe the universe?
The immigrant isn’t your enemy, the billionaire paying you substandard wages is. – YourAnonNews
How Fascism starts from Michael Moore: (12 minutes)
Answers:
A) Canada had a 3.3% growth during their first quarter.
B) Lake America
C) Porter Waggoner
D) International women’s basketball championship
E) addicting kids to social media
F) Trump – can a president legally make trades with his inside info?
G) Quebec’s
H) Barron Trump
I) 2 deaths were reported in Pennsylvania last week
J) flooding due to a clacier cracking and releasing the water it was daming up
K) Target
L) Joe Mitchell in Iowa’s 2nd district lives in Mount pleasant in district 1. Miller-Meeks lives in Wapello County in district 3, no district 1 where she is running.
M) The story that we are getting is that he went to tell Putin face to face not to attack NATO
N) Darline Graham, Lindsay’s sister
O) Cancer. they have had successful tests on melanomas
P) He is going to Ireland to watch a golf tournament one of his golf courses
Q) eggs. 1.7 million eggs
R) Doris Miller a hero at Pearl Harbor
S) Milo Yiannopolous – he was born in the UK
T) a space telescope that will be able to scan huge swaths of galaxies. It will be the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Watch the video
The Nancy Grace Roman observatory: (7 minutes)
If you can vote in person, vote in person. Trump thinks he is going to change the outcome by f–king with mail in ballots. He’s telegraphing his plan. Change yours accordingly. – Tim Hannan
BAM!! When I saw that Miller-Meeks ad I sputtered something about how I hope somebody calls it out. Well here it is. 1 minute of truth from Christine Bohannan:
We are not much followers of the entertainment world these days. With the venues shattered into seemingly a million pieces each one acting more and more outrageously to garner our attention, we have for the most part given up on trying to follow anything or anyone and instead slip into something more comfortable such as certain sports.
Yet there are still some corners of the entertainment world we at least have a working knowledge of. Dolly Parton was one such corner. She’d been around a long time and was always a likable person. Her life story made her seem like an old neighbor. But for many, Dolly Parton was much more than that. She was a person who lived the Americaan dream that we all hope to live some day or hope that our kids will live it.
Dolly Parton lived the dream, but in doing so was able to maintain a life open to all people. This is something that those in exalted places seldom do. As i was listening to the bits and pieces of yet another Dolly tribute a thought crossed my mind. Perhaps the reason Dolly Parton’s death is being mourned so widely and deeply is that in the current United States we have few people who are truly genuine. Most people with any celebrity are looking to exploit it for the ‘big score’ – making big bucks off their fame.
Thus Dolly Parton fit a niche that is rare in the US today that of a decent person. As such she stood in contrast to what we hear about day in and day out. The one person who owns the spotlight in this country is that jerk of a human being, Donald Trump. The differences between these two people is stark.
On the one side you have a woman who was born into poverty. She grew up in a one room cabin without running water or electricity. Her clothes were often hand-me-downs or homemade. No doubt her chances at succeeding in life were slim at best. But she had some talent and an indomitable spirit.
On the other hand we have a boy born into wealth with success pretty much guaranteed. He had every privilege a person could have, including the best schools. Yet despite all that young Trump caused problems where ever he went.
Dolly Parton went to Nashville – one of the music centers of the world with her talent and dreams and was able to become a star. But she never forgot her roots. She was always looking for opportunities to help those who were down and out. As her fame and fortune rose, she would find ways to share her fortune in ways that would, with little fanfare, help some segment of society.
Meanwhile as Trump grew, he would look screw over people, especially those of lower classes. He would exploit them by stealing their labor when he refused to pay bills. He would use his power and access to discriminate against people of different backgrounds, colors or religions. He was the living epitome of the miserable human miser.
While Dolly Parton built businessess that gave people good work at good pay, Donald Trump did all he could to ruin lives by not paying his workers and using the court system to ruin businesses that dare ask for him to pay his bills.
Trump has been given the job of overseeing our government. In that job where a person like Dolly parton could – would have – done so much good, Trump has use the awesome power of the office to really make people suffer. From taking away food and medical care from the poorest among us to having people of color murdered for the flimsiest of reasons.
What is really strange is that we have a political party that acts basically as a cult following, refusing to condemn his actions and by doing so encourages more and more venal actions. As Trump has moved from not paying bills to using his power as head of government to manipulate markets and reward cronies with no bid contracts while taking bribes, his party covers him from being prosecuted and investigated.
So there is today’s tale. Two people born in the same year, one in poverty and one to great wealth and power. It seems almost like one of those fairy tales we would read as a kid. But we know these stories are true. However, these tales are not quite finished. The ending will depend to some degree on you.
One of the most important parts of the story is just about to happen. We have a system of laws and justice in this country. That system should be applied to Donald Trump and his minions who have so perverted our way of life. Whlie Trump is the most powerful person, the people of the US through its system of justice are the more powerful.
Here is where your part comes in. You must vote in the midterm election. We must remove anyone with an “R” behind their name. If they have and “R” behind their name they will continue to support Trump’s malevolent administration. And for this story to have a happy outcome Trump must be held accountable for what he did.
If you are looking for an alternative way to get involved and defeat MAGA in November, Indivisible has a plan and an amazing track record organizing on a massive scale.
Republicans are so worried about their unpopularity they are changing their messaging to sound like Democrats! Ashley Hinson is selling herself as a friend of the little guy. They are lying about what they will do if elected and who they really support. The ads are everywhere because their PACs have so much money. The only question is will rank and file Republicans still buy what they are selling?
There are many ways to get involved – financial support, sharing on social media, helping register voters, volunteering for a federal, state, or local candidate or your local Democratic party. Whatever you can do, no matter how small, it’s vital for everyone to get involved.
Announcement from Indivisible:
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We need Democratic majorities in the House and Senate filled with progressive fighters who will hold Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies accountable for their cruelty and corruption. This November, we can elect leaders who will make the regime answer for their crimes.
After an outstanding primary season, we couldn’t be more excited to share our general election plans with you. On Wednesday, Ezra will talk about what’s at stake this fall, why it’s critical to get involved, and how we’re going to hold the fascists accountable and take our power back. We’ll also announce our general election target races and our roadmap to securing Democratic majorities in Congress.
(Spoiler alert: We’ve got an expansive map with more district canvassing programs than we’ve ever had before. And as you read this email, our team is planning phone banks so that no matter where you live, you can be part of the grassroots groundswell that ushers in new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.)
Every day between now and November 3 is an opportunity to encourage our communities to vote early, make sure our friends and family have a plan to get to the polls, and share just how important it is to defend our democracy from Trump’s destruction. Let’s make them count.
This is the first in a series of educational conversations conducted by the Iowa Food System Coalition with candidates running for statewide and federal office in 2026.
“The Iowa Food System Coalition sat down with State Rep. Lindsay James, a current member of the Iowa House of Representatives and candidate for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, as part of our 2026 Candidate Engagement Series.
The series gives candidates an opportunity to talk directly with Iowans about the food and farm issues shaping our state, including agriculture, local food markets, land and water, food access, public health, rural communities, and the future of Iowa’s food system.
IFSC invited candidates for Governor, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, all four U.S. House districts, and Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat to participate in recorded conversations.
These conversations are intended to help Iowans hear directly from candidates and decide for themselves where they stand on the issues that matter to them.
The Iowa Food System Coalition is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates.”
Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 pm Iowa City Public Library 123 South Linn Street
Iowa City
DAN VOSS
Linn County Farmer and Cancer Survivor
AUDREY TRAN LAM
Environmental Public Health Director
University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy & Environmental Education
DR. DAVID CWIERTNY
Director
Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC)
University of Iowa
ORGANIZED BY THE IOWA ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE Cosponsored by Little Village Magazine
Consistently unhealthy nitrate levels pollute much of Iowa’s drinking water. Iowa’s pesticide usage per capita leads the nation. The state ranks second in the nation for cancer and is one of three states where the incidence of cancer is growing. What are the connections?
On September 3, Toxic Taps and Cancer: Iowa’s Water Quality Crisis looks to provide some answers with a panel of experts examining the public health consequences of nitrate and other industrial agriculture pollutants in Iowa’s drinking water and air.
Fifth generation Linn farmer Dan Voss is no stranger to cancer. Both he and his wife, Susan, are cancer survivors. Voss will share his experience and how it has shaped their perspectives on the connections between agriculture, environmental health, and community resilience.
University of Northern Iowa (UNI) public health expert Audrey Tran Lam will dive into the health impacts of nitrates, agricultural pesticides, PFAS, and factory farm-generated particulates. She’ll provide a look at their relationship with water and air quality and, in turn, how that affects human health.
Since nitrates and other agricultural toxins wind up in our water, it’s crucial to know what we’re drinking. University of Iowa researcher Dr. David Cwiertny will discuss the value of the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research (IIHR) real-time nitrate monitoring network, the status of current funding, and why it’s essential that the state restores full funding to the program. He’ll also talk about an exciting new, privately funded program, Iowa INSIGHT, that will expand the scope of water and air monitoring beyond the current IIHR nitrate monitoring network.
Bring your questions for the Q&A that follows the presentations.
Note: if you are not in Iowa City, the Iowa City Public Library will livestream the event.
About Our Speakers:
Fifth generation farmer Dan Voss is a nationally recognized conservation leader from near Atkins, Iowa. Farming since 1975, he was an early adopter of no-till in 1988 and has led the use of practices like cover crops, strip-till, bioreactors, and saturated buffers to improve soil health and water quality.
As Environmental Health Program Director, Audrey Tram Lam has led UNI’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education working at the junction of where human health and environmental sustainability meet. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Iowa and a graduate certificate from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Food Systems, the Environment and Public Health. Tran Lam serves on the boards of a host of organizations focused on environmental health.
Dr. David Cwiertny is the Rose and Joseph Summers Chair in Water Resources Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa (UI).
His research broadly focuses on water quality and water treatment, with particular interests at the intersection of public health and policy. At UI, he directs the state-funded Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC), which conducts research to identify, measure, and prevent adverse health outcomes from exposure to environmental contaminants.
The meeting is free. A $5 free will donation supports IARA’s work advocating for a factory farm moratorium, stronger CAFO regulations, and a fully funded IIHR monitoring network.
There’s a lot that’s been happening on the campaign trail, and I wanted to give you a brief update.
Shockingly, my opponent, a 2-term incumbent and his Big Ag donors like Farm Bureau and Bayer-Monsanto are already getting nervous, but this is where we’re at — and it’s only August.
The moment our new poll numbers came out showing me pulling ahead with Independent voters, Mike Naig didn’t waste any time. He fired off an email to his corporate agribusiness donors warning them “this race just got real” — and then launched an attack claiming that I’m “anti-farmer.”
Here’s a screenshot of Monsanto Mike’s desperate email, which a farmer in central Iowa shared with our campaign, confirming that Iowa’s Big Ag lobbyists are already getting nervous about this race.
Mike Naig and Big Ag’s attacks on me are already making the rounds in right-wing media.
But here’s what that attack conveniently leaves out: before Mike Naig ever worked for Iowa farmers, he worked for Monsanto. Yes, he was a corporate lobbyist for Monsanto for 5 years before he was appointed Deputy Secretary in August of 2013.
If you’re tired of Big Ag lobbyists controlling our state’s political system and refusing to stand up for clean water, I need your help today!
That’s right, Naig spent years as a paid lobbyist for the agrichemical industry — first for CropLife America, the pesticide industry’s trade association, then as a manager of government affairs for Monsanto itself, before he ever set foot in the Department of Agriculture.
This is not a rumor. That’s his own resumé.
So when Naig stands on a stage and accuses me — a retired research engineer who has spent his career studying Iowa’s water — of not caring about farmers, ask yourself who’s really been looking out for everyday Iowans who want to drink safe water from their home faucets.
Because Naig’s record speaks for itself:
Under Naig, Iowa’s water quality has continued to decline, with the state near the top of the nation in nitrate pollution and pesticide contamination.
Iowa now has one of the highest cancer rates in the country, and researchers have tied it to the very chemicals Naig spent his career promoting.
Farm bankruptcies have piled up while Naig’s department leaned on toothless, voluntary conservation programs instead of real accountability for polluters.
What I’m calling for is common-sense conservation standards to keep nitrogen and phosphorus out of the drinking water for Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.
That’s not anti-farmer. That’s pro-Iowa. That’s pro-environment and pro-public health.
Naig knows the truth is catching up to him. That’s why he’s not defending his own record — he’s trying to distract from it, with help from his Big Ag network and friendly media outlets pushing his talking points without asking who he used to work for.
We can’t let a former Monsanto lobbyist rewrite this race with a smear campaign. We are already surging in the polls once voters hear the real story. Now we need to make sure every Iowan hears it before November.
Governor Kim Keynolds: (515) 281-5211 U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Iowa Members of Congress - Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) - Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) - Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) - Rep. Zach Nunn (R) Iowa US Senators - Senator Joni Ernst (R) - Senator Charles Grassley (R)
Blog For Iowa 