Author Archives: Paul Deaton

Stories About Forests

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Paul Deaton

I was taken aback by the administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Forest Service. Jim Pattiz outlined what happened in his substack post, “Trump Administration Orders Dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service.” What they are doing is bad. While the … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Clearing The Air

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Hannah Ritchie is the kind of data head I would like to be and her new book, Clearing the Air: A Hopeful Guide to Solving Climate Change in 50 Questions and Answers is part of the reason. In it, she … Continue reading →

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Progressive AI

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Joe Trippi’s 2004 work to mine the internet and empower supporters of the Howard Dean campaign was revolutionary. As he described it, it was an “open-source revolution” that went beyond the dissemination of campaign messages. Using Meetup.com, blogs, and other … Continue reading →

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Nuclear Power In A Wind State

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Paul Deaton

If Iowa is a net exporter of electricity, why the push for new nuclear reactors? I get it. Duane Arnold Energy Center has infrastructure to add/renew generating capacity: connections to the electrical grid, access to water for cooling, and transportation … Continue reading →

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Post Convention Organizing

Posted on March 28, 2026 by Paul Deaton

With the county convention in the rear view mirror, it’s time to organize for the Democratic primary. Our votes are important, yet three races are at the top of the list here: the U.S. Senate race between Zach Wahls and … Continue reading →

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Keeping Up On The Climate Crisis

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Paul Deaton

Good people are working to address the climate crisis… just not in the Trump administration. The dominance of the president and his minions runs throughout the federal government to promote energy solutions that make climate change worse. More specifically, discussion … Continue reading →

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Nanny State — County Supervisor Edition

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Paul Deaton

When Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 75 into law on April 1, 2025, a crowd of Republican well-wishers was present. Senate File 75 mandates that Iowa counties containing a Board of Regents university — specifically Johnson, Story, and Black … Continue reading →

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Nanny State — School Board Edition

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Paul Deaton

The Ankeny Community School District defined SSA (State Supplemental Aid) as the cost of living adjustment for school budgets. “To keep pace with rising costs, SSA needs to at least match inflation. If it does not, we would need to … Continue reading →

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Conventions And Candidates

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Paul Deaton

My week in Iowa politics was about planning the county convention and finding a Democratic candidate to run for House District 91 and Senate District 46. One success and two failures. At our precinct caucuses I volunteered to be on … Continue reading →

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Local Roads, Local Decisions

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Paul Deaton

The township where I live was established before Iowa Statehood. There were oak, walnut, hickory, ash, elm, and cottonwood thriving here among numerous pure springs. The first sawmill and grist mill was built in 1839 by Anthony Sells on Mill … Continue reading →

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