Author Archives: Paul Deaton

Member Of Congress Manufactures Campaign Material

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Paul Deaton

I used to think I could talk with Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. That was in 2008 during her first run for Congress. I was on the county board of health and felt that gave me standing to discuss issues with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa politics | Tagged #IA01, Iowa politics, manufacturing, Miller-Meeks | 1 Comment

Mark Divitt For Iowa House District 91

Posted on July 24, 2026 by Paul Deaton

When Mark Divitt voted in the June 2 Democratic primary he noted there was no candidate on his ballot for the Iowa House of Representatives. That led to his decision to run and Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart called … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa politics | Tagged Iowa Democrats, Iowa House district 91, Iowa politics, Mark Divitt, politics | Comments Off

Take Down Of Ashley Hinson’s First Ad

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Republican Representative Ashley Hinson’s first U.S. Senate television ad, “Believe,” makes claims voters should question. She says “veterans deserve a hell of a lot better.” They do. Yet in 2022 she voted against the EVEST Act, which automatically enrolls eligible … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa politics | Tagged Ashley Hinson, Iowa politics, U.S. Senate race | Comments Off

Newspapers Now

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Not long after the Kennedy assassination, Mother found me a job as a newspaper boy. Before dawn, I rode my bicycle to pick up a bundle of Des Moines Register dailies and deliver them. The homes were spread out because … Continue reading →

Posted in media | Tagged Des Moines Register, media, newspapers | 12 Comments

The High Cost Of Nuclear Power

Posted on May 30, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Nuclear power has significant economic, health, and environmental costs and poses safety hazards that far exceed those of any other type of energy. Meanwhile, state and federal lawmakers are pushing policies to incentivize “new nuclear” and even bring back to life … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged data centers, nuclear power, water usage | Comments Off

AI Deserves The Boos

Posted on May 30, 2026 by Paul Deaton

I want to say something about artificial intelligence’s intrusion into life. Because the emerging technology is rapidly changing since public awareness of it increased a few years ago, whatever I might say seems unlikely to persist in relevance for long. … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor | Tagged artificial intelligence, Labor | Comments Off

Pattison Sand Persists In Wanting Iowa Water

Posted on May 24, 2026 by Paul Deaton

I wrote at length in 2020 about Pattison Sand wanting to mine the Jordan Aquifer and ship the water out west. They persist in needing water, and Iowa DNR sent me this email about their current permit request on Tuesday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog for Iowa, Environment | Tagged Environment, Iowa DNR, sustainability, water | 1 Comment

Quiet Before The Storm—Decision 2026

Posted on May 23, 2026 by Paul Deaton

The primary season has been a prelude to an important election in the history of our state. Since Republicans gained majorities in the Iowa House and Senate in 2016, along with the governorship, they have been hammering away at our … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa politics | Tagged Iowa politics, Rob Sand | 1 Comment

America Is No Longer The Dominant World Power

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Paul Deaton

It saddens me to write this, yet the undeclared Iran War is heading to be the worst defeat in American history. While Iran’s tenacity in times of conflict is well known, the current administration appeared ignorant of their resilience as … Continue reading →

Posted in war | Tagged American exceptionalism, Iran, Middle East | Comments Off