Action alert from Iowa Chapter Sierra Club. Follow them on Facebook. Join the Friday weekly Lunch and Learn every Friday at noon. Today Wally Taylor, Sierra Club Iowa legal chair discusses what we can do to help endangered, threatened, and special concerns species in Iowa.
What you can do:
Watch this short video.
Tell the Iowa DNR that you do not want the species of special concern removed from the administrative rules.
Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the current climate in this country and the history, many questions have been raised that need answering. Since we seldom watch corporate news I do not know if this was given any coverage. My impression was that it was not.
I post this to raise awareness. Hopefully we will be hearing followups quickly on these deaths. (7 minutes)
Note that at @ 3:45 Representative Benny Thompson called for the FBI to investigate. That seems perfunctory given that the current FBI under Pam Bondi and Kash Patel seems to have been fully politicized and incapable of investigating much these days.
In a report from NBC news the NAACP expressed skepticism of law enforcements version of the students death:
The death of a 21-year-old Black student whose body was found hanging from a tree on a university campus in Mississippi has sparked outrage and allegations online, even after officials said there was no evidence of foul play.
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Yet, that has not prevented people from calling for justice for Reed on social media and circulating unsubstantiated allegations regarding his death.
The NAACP on Tuesday expressed skepticism of the possibility Reed died by suicide in such a manner.
“You’d have to excuse our skepticism amidst growing racially motivated violence targeted at our communities across this nation,” the country’s oldest civil rights group said Tuesday on Instagram in a post with a picture that read, “A man was lynched yesterday.”
“So while we await more formal autopsy reports and information, we offer this piece of history with a level of certainty: Our people have not historically hung ourselves from trees,” the post caption read.
Let us pray we are not descending back to the Jim Crow era.
I am warning you! If you don’t watch your steps, America, the only approved comic will be Greg Gutfield! Is that what you want, America? O, the tyranny. (1 long minute)
That is where the FIWH wants to take the country! Is that funny or what?
Watching the whole Kimmel scenario unfold has captured America’s attention even as the administration takes in bribes, wrecks our health care system, destroys democracy and on the home front wrecks Iowa’s farm economy. Has it sunk in yet that Trump is only worried about Trump?
Meanwhile, Autumn starts tomorrow at 2:19 PM. It is pretty hot this year as we go into fall. Climate change is alive and well. We are in the middle of Hispanic Heritage month and Caitlin Clark’s team moves on in the WNBA playoffs without Caitlin Clark.
A reminder for those who do not know, the FIWH reference is for the Felon In the White House.
A) Since May, what percentage of their soybeans has China purchased from the US?
B) What bureaucrat raised the alarm on Jimmy Kimmel that got Kimmel fired?
C) Disney fired Kimmel because that bureaucrat threatened to do what? (Hint: business deal)
D) What TV show is in the administration’s sites next for scrutiny?
E) What country has the highest number of Spanish speakers?
F) What country had the ?pleasure? of hosting the FIWH last week?
G) Besides being the day that Jimmy Kimmel got fired, what else is celebrated on September 17th?
H) Another act of war? The US once again attacked a fishing boat from what country this week?
I) Oklahoma is responding to a teacher shortage by importing teachers from what country?
J) What state has the most Spanish speakers?
K) Jimmy Kimmel got his tv start as the comic relief and quizmaster on what Comedy Central daytime quiz show?
L) In return for access to thousands of the world’s most powerful and scarcest computer chips, UAE Sheik Tahnoon deposited $2billion in a crypto fund owned by whom?
M) In his first interview as pope, Pope Leo XIV criticized what world condition?
N) The ruins of ancient Machu Picchu are remnants of what civilization?
O) Robert Redford died last week. One of his earliest roles was as “Mr. Death” in what 1960s TV anthology series?
P) Susan Monarez testified before the Senate last week. Monarez was the head of what agency but was fired whence refused to “replace evidence with ideology”?
Q) Who is the only hispanic heritage justice on the SCOTUS?
R) Shouting matches ensued along with calls for resignation as what FBI leader testified before a senate committee?
S) This seems almost too cruel and barbaric. Alaska has once again allowed the resumption of hunting what animal by helicopter?
T) How many troops has the FIWH deployed in American cities so far?
Eric Trump said his father saw Charlie Kirk as a second son. No, I am not kidding.
Thanks to democraticunderground.com
Answers:
A) 0%. None- and they have no intention of buying any from us. Votes have consequences
B) Brendan Carr head of the FCC
C) Carr threatened to intervene in a couple of corporate mergers that included Disney and ABC station owners Nexstar and Tegna
D) The View – I believe Carr mentioned they should live by the long defunct equal time doctrine
E) Mexico
F) Great Britain
G) Constitution Day
H) Venezuela
I) Mexico – got to wonder if ICE will be rounding them up soon
J) California
K) Win Ben Stein’s Money – Kimmel made Stein tolerable
L) Tahnoon put $2B in the Trump family World Liberty Financial (can you say ‘corruption?’)
M) Vast wealth, income inequality and polarization
N) Inca
O) Twilight Zone
P) the CDC
Q) Sonia Sotomayor
R) Kash Patel
S) Bears
T) the number I found is 35,000. Not sure if that includes Memphis
I’ve watched the military take over our streets.
I’ve watched our universities be threatened and fined.
I’ve watched the Attorney General try to take away your first amendment rights.
This a RED ALERT.
If we don’t stand up now, the America we once knew will be gone. – Gavin Newsom
Reminder: No Kings protest is October 18th at a location near you!
Brendan Carr’s reaction to Jimmy Kimmel’s ?firing?. Carr’s reaction is in the first 2 minutes – the rest is interesting:
Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz put a word on how the radical right acts in this country that really captured the essence of their actions a bit over a year ago: Weird. He could have added corrupt and dangerous. Since Americans can only seem to handle a few thoughts at a time weird captured the essence then and still does now.
Jimmy Kimmel’s firing is getting lots of coverage (BTW – interesting it happened on September 17th – constitution day). So is the continuing coverage of Charlie Kirk. What is not getting coverage is the continuing and growing evidence that the Felon in the White House [FIWH] was deeply involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal conduct with young girls.
With all the proverbial shit hitting the fan it is often hard to even focus on an issue, let alone try to determine a resistance strategy. In the case of Kimmel’s firing and the continuing crack down on media I have a few suggestions.
We long ago moved away from corporate media. Public radio has been one of our main sources for quite a while. With the cuts by the FIWH administration we will be supporting them contributions. However, I would caution that NPR still seems to report as if they know they are being watched by the secret police.
Free Speech TVhas shows such as Democracy Now with the inimitable Amy Goodman; the Stephanie Miller Show which offers a unique and sometimes hilarious look at current affairs; and Thom Hartmann whose breadth and depth of knowledge is astounding.
As we watch corporate media supplicate themselves before Trump we really need to consider very strongly funding a group such as Free Speech. The corporate monster will continue to lie and cover up for the administration as they look for favors such as allowing monopolies and mergers. FSTV is one way we can fight back.
Below is a recent (Thursday morning) newscast from Democracy Now and Amy Goodman. If you are new to Amy Goodman, you will find her style dramatically different from the brushed and combed corporate newsers. Amy is a reporter.
You can find their take on the Jimmy Kimmel firing starting @ 5 minutes to about 8:40.
One other source we use to get perspective is an international internet radio that we use to listen live to radio broadcasts in Canada, Britain and occasionally other parts of the world. Since it is coming over the internet the reception is crystal clear. You can find these radios here.
One thing for sure – we have seen ABC and CBS surrender to the wannabe authoritarian without even so much as a whimper. So far the FIWH has claimed two major victories in their march to ending free speech and democracy in America. So do what you can to no longer financially support Disney or CBS/Paramount/ Skydance.
Don’t go to their amusement parks, don’t subscribe to their cable channels, and do not buy their products or support their advertisers if you can avoid it. I know it is hard to do that in this time of corporate monopolies.
And for goodness sakes, support candidates who oppose the administration’s war on free speech and our constitution.
Eastern Iowa Rural Revival and Candidate Forum Sunday, September 28, 2-4pm in Tipton, Iowa
Thanks to Muscatine County’s Weekly Slice
Now this looks like a good time. Looks like several organizations are joining together to host a “Rural Revival and Candidate Forum” next Sunday from 2 to 4 PM at the Cedar County Fairgrounds. It says the forum is free and open to the public.
According to the poster, candidates at many levels have been invited. This may be one of the few opportunities to see candidates actually answer real questions on real issues.
I know Iowans have lots of questions about farm and tariff policies, health care policies, vaccine policies, international policies, immigration policies and the treatment of immigrants, guns and gun violence.
As I said, this may be a rare opportunity to ask tough questions of office holders and candidates alike.
Thanks to the Muscatine County Democrats for sending that flyer along!
In Iowa, we’re kind of concerned about cancer due to our high cancer rates. Check out Iowa Starting Line’s investigative series, Cancer in Iowa
Why would Donald Trump want to end cancer research?
Maybe because…
“Both as vice president and again as president, Joe Biden emphasized cancer research more than any modern American political leader. The Democrat’s White House made his cancer “moonshot” a leading administration priority.” – Steve Bennen
The Biden Cancer Moonshot: Ending Cancer As We Know It
Ending cancer as we know it is core to President Biden’s Unity Agenda, a set of priorities that Americans from every walk of life can support. The President and First Lady drove a whole-of-government response, including the formation of the first-ever Cancer Cabinet, bringing together more than 20 cabinet agencies, departments, and offices. The Biden-Harris Administration has delivered meaningful action, improving cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship for the American people.
The Biden Cancer Moonshot achieved groundbreaking accomplishments:
Made extraordinary investments and took historic actions to prevent cancer—including protecting 100 million Americans from exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as forever chemicals, and taking action to decrease smoking, the single largest driver of cancer deaths;
Expanded efforts to catch cancer early when it is easiest to treat, bringing cancer screenings to more communities and recovering from 10 million screenings missed during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Created a new research agency—the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)—and delivered investments to drive innovative ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer, and reach more people and communities; and
Delivered first-ever reimbursable navigation services to improve the experience of millions facing cancer and improved access to and affordability of cancer care for all Americans.
Now it makes more sense. Not that much DT does has to make sense. Even Chuck Grassley said his tariff policy was “stupid” this week. But it’s no secret that Trump is still deeply insecure when it comes to anything Joe Biden. It isn’t hard to find loads of articles about this by doing a simple Google search.
Most people may not know yet as I didn’t, that we’re not just talking about cuts to cancer research, like a round of DOGE budget cuts. No, DT has apparently been methodically and thoroughly sending his teams of so-called experts out to dismantle the infrastructure of cancer research, according to this excellent reporting discussed on Rachel Maddow’s show on Monday.
“Rachel Maddow talks with Jonathan Mahler, staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, about his reporting on the concerted effort by the Trump administration to destroy America’s global leadership in cancer research. What constituency supports Donald Trump sabotaging work that not only saves lives but supports countless American jobs?”MSNBC/youtube.com
Laura Belin at Bleeding Heartland has been interviewing Democratic candidates running for office in 2026. You can find the interviews on the Bleeding Heartland YouTube channel along with a summary of the interview and transcript. They are a good way to get to know the candidates.
Today I would like to share Laura’s interview with Kathy Dolter, Democratic candidate running for congress in IA-02, currently held by Ashley Hinson who has decided to run for U.S. Senate.
Here are a few quotes and highlights from this interesting conversation.
“I was an Independent until 4 months ago.”
“I’m going to try to attack policies, not people.”
“I myself am pro-life but I believe in a woman’s right to choose.
“The number one issue I keep on hearing is about the contempt for the constitution.”
“They’re always shouting fraud, waste and abuse, well, I don’t think there is fraud, waste and abuse, right? I believe they haven’t found any. I think they just are on message – fraud waste and abuse, fraud waste and abuse. And I think we have to have a counter message which is cruelty, corruption, and contempt for the constitution.”
“I took an oath to the constitution. I would protect the constitution of the United States against all enemeis foreign and domestic. I believe in the constitution and I believe that congress right now is not doing its part to live up to what it says its roles and duties are in the constitution. I think that is very worrisome and I would work to change that. And I don’t mind advocating and going up against the big guys. I’ve done it all my life.”
If you would like to find out more about Kathy Dolter, volunteer with her campaign or help her out with a donation, visit her website at dolterforcongress.org
September 17 is Constitution Day. It’s the day that marks the birth of American democracy — the day that the foundational rules of our rights and freedoms were signed into law.
But Constitution Day is about more than just history.
Our Constitution belongs to everyone, and it should work for everyone, but that means it must also be preserved by everyone.
So this year, on Constitution Day, we’re kicking off a year-long campaign to educate and engage communities across the country — and equip them to strengthen our constitutional democracy.
We’re working with lawyers, educators, veterans, and other concerned community members to host discussions about our founding document and discuss threats to our democracy.
And we’re encouraging those who have sworn to uphold and defend our Constitution to re-commit to their oaths and stand strong against forces that are attempting to tear down our democracy for their own gain.
Judge Allyson K. Duncan — Retired Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
William Kristol — Founding Director of Defending Democracy Together and Editor-at-Large of The Bulwark
Maria Echaveste — Special Advisor, Children Now and former President, The Opportunity Institute
Eric Liu — CEO, Citizen University
Mary Smith — former President, American Bar Association and Director, Task Force for American Democracy
Gregg Nunziata — Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law
The panelists will discuss current threats to the Constitution, the significance of the Constitution to our daily lives, and how we all can work to uphold the Constitution.
Early in the century, when he was U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, former Senator Doug Jones prosecuted Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry, who as members of the Ku Klux Klan participated in the 1963 bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four girls. Here Jones talks to Heather Cox Richardson about the bombing, justice, healing, and what lessons we can take from the bombing and its aftermath today.
HCR writes about this time period in her Substack today, the anniversary of the bombing.
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)
Action alert from Iowa Chapter Sierra Club. Follow them on Facebook. Join the Friday weekly Lunch and Learn every Friday at noon. Today Wally Taylor, Sierra Club Iowa legal chair discusses what we can do to help endangered, threatened, and special concerns species in Iowa.
In Iowa, we’re kind of concerned about cancer due to our high cancer rates. Check out Iowa Starting Line’s investigative series, 
Blog For Iowa 