Martin O’Malley Defends Social Security At Iowa Event

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Martin O’Malley, former Social Security commissioner, spoke about Social Security at the Franklin Public Library in Des Moines Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Martin O’Malley defends Social Security at Iowa event, calls for Iowans’ support

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 15, 2025

Former Social Security commissioner Martin O’Malley told Iowans Friday the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE service have put Social Security at risk — but said the problems facing the program can be easily solved by lawmakers.

O’Malley spoke at the Franklin Avenue Library in Des Moines for an event hosted by Fairness for Iowa that was a part of the larger “Protect Our Checks” movement, advocating for the protection of Social Security, which marked its 90th anniversary Thursday.

But the future of the program, which provides benefits for retired Americans, people with disabilities and survivors, has become an issue due to financial difficulties forecast for the coming decade. A report released in June from the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare found reserves are likely to be depleted by 2033 for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund.

Concerns about insolvency existed before the Trump administration. But O’Malley, who served as Social Security commissioner during former President Joe Biden’s administration, said the problems can be fixed by increasing the payroll tax cap for high earners, and reversing some changes made through the Republican budget reconciliation bill.

O’Malley said he believed an “inflection point” was coming that would shift the current conversation on Social Security. While he said he hopes problems would be fixed sooner, he has a feeling “when they actually break Social Security, it’s going to create an earthquake across the country, and people will realize, ‘Wow, I didn’t vote for this. This has gone way too far.’”

Democrats and supporters of Social Security need to be ready to step up to fight for the program, he said, pointing to the midterms in 2026 and future elections.

“There’s no magic ingredient to it, but the party needs to be full-throated in its defense of Social Security,” O’Malley said. “If we can’t fight and be willing to die on this hill … we shouldn’t call ourselves Democrats anymore. And when it does, all of you, by being here and being fully equipped with the truth, can help us turn this ship.”

The event, part of a national “Win Back Our Country” tour, focused on providing information to attendees about Social Security. O’Malley presented statistics on Social Security response times and finances from his time in office and from under the Trump administration, which he urged people to reference as they discuss the program with friends and family. He also pushed back against statements made by Trump and Musk about Social Security that he said were “lies,” like large numbers of deceased individuals or undocumented immigrants receiving benefits through the system.

In Iowa, 687,630 people receive Social Security benefits. O’Malley encouraged Iowans to contact their representatives and senators to speak out in favor of the program — and to highlight why the program was important to them and future generations.

Zach Mecham, an entrepreneur and disability rights activist, said Social Security made it possible for him to attend Drake University, start his business and own a house and car.

“When I think about all of the things that I’ve been able to do with my life, and I think about young Iowans with disabilities … I’m worried for their future,” Mecham said.” I’m worried that they won’t have the same supports that I get — not the Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the things that I relied on in order to get where I’m at. And I think as Americans that want the American Dream for everyone, we would want these supports for all of the people like me, who just want to make a life better for themselves, or our aging Iowans that have worked their entire life, and now just want to retire in peace. That’s why we’re all here.”

O’Malley has spent significant time in Iowa, having run as a Democratic candidate for president during the 2016 election cycle. Though he has said he is not interested in pursuing another run for president, he said he believes a strong Democratic presidential nominee will be an important figure in the fight to preserve Social Security and take on other policies advanced by Trump and Republicans.

He said that while there are Democrats doing important work — pointing to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and to Beto O’Rourke of Texas — the party is now in an “uncomfortable time” before the 2026 election and the will likely have to wait for clear leaders to emerge.

“The Democratic Party right now is almost like a very agitated, turbulent pool longing to become a flowing river,” O’Malley said. “I think we could really use a midterm to let these national candidates, you know, strut their stuff, articulate their vision and their story. It’ll come. I know we all want it to come last week, but I think it’s very hard right now for any one leader to become the leader of our party.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.

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Give Me A Receipt For That Tariff!

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Dave Bradley

Trump is taxing you but he is hiding it – calls it a TARIFF!
Tip of the hat to http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com

Just a short thought on a summer’s day before school starts.

Now that tariffs are beginning to be nearly fully implemented I would call on retailers and restaurants and online stores (How about you, Amazon?) to add a line item to their receipts to tell us how much we are being taxed through tariffs.

I believe sometime in April or May there was a move do just that. Retailers (I believe it was Walmart) were unwilling to drastically raise their prices without showing what the driver behind the drastic rise were not identified. As I recall the FIWH (Felon In the White House) brought some pressure to bear to stop companies from identifying the costs of tariffs.

It is not like the cost of tariffs could not be identified. The cost would be caught when it is paid at the entry point into the US. Once captured a bit of programming through the various spreadsheets could track that cost clear to the store shelf. The differences of tariff rate based on country or commodity would not make a difference. The cost of the tariff on an item would be calculated when it is paid at the border.

Thus you would know that when you bought something the price was 10% or 22% or whatever more due to tariffs. Plus you would know that when the FIWH begins bragging about how his tariffs are bringing in a huge amount of money, you will have receipts that show that it was you, not Walmart or Amazon that paid an added tax that made up those revenues.

Since the price of coffee looks to be a price that will skyrocket, let’s just see what a receipt may look like today versus tomorrow. Note: I don’t drink coffee so I have no idea what it costs:

Today:  2 cups of coffee @ $5/cup = $10. State tax @$.07 = $.70.  Total = $10.70

Tomorrow:  2 cups of coffee @$5/cup = $10. Tariff @50% $5. State tax @ $.07 = $1.05. Total = $15.05 (Note: we will pay state tax on the tariff – tax on a tax!)

Note that there is a double tax situation. A tax on a tax! Those on top really stick it to us peons!

When you get a receipt you can see in black and white right there at the time of purchase how much the FIWH’s insane fiscal policies are coming right out of your pocket! 

Also, you will understand when the FIWH makes his big announcement on how much the US is making through his great tariff policies, you will understand that it is you, yourself, that is paying the tariffs as inflated costs that make it near impossible for you and me to make ends meet.

Add the costs of the tariffs to the skyrocketing health insurance and medical bills that will be coming thanks to the FIWH’s huge tax cuts for billionaires that sliced Medicaid and you will slowly understand that MAGAs cost a whole lot more than you or I can afford. You will understand finally that they are lying, lying, lying.

Let me add this little blurb I copied from the daily email from Progress Iowa called the High Five. This blurb was from the Tuesday edition. It illustrates how Iowa’s MAGA congress members vote one way and then lie straight to our faces about what they did. In this case it is marionette Miller-Meeks:

MEDICAID FUNDING CUTS IN RURAL IOWA: After voting to gut Medicaid, Rep. Miller-Meeks is attempting to save face by attending a roundtable emphasizing the need to move forward despite Medicaid funding cuts. However, Iowans can’t simply move forward. Medicaid funding cuts and stricter eligibility requirements on rural Iowa hospitals has become a critical issue for local communities and healthcare access. The Republican-backed legislation is likely to exacerbate existing healthcare disparities, particularly in rural areas.

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Sunday Funday: Don’t Take Their IPERS Edition

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Dave Bradley

(1:15) – While MAGA legislators deny wanting to cut IPERS, history indicates their word is not their bond:

School is about to start- it starts next week in Iowa. When I think of schools I think of teachers. As most of us understand, the teaching profession is not highly paid. But in Iowa, there is a long range reward in the form of the Iowa Personnel Employees Retirement System or IPERS. Now, a group of Iowa MAGAs is touting cutting IPERS way back.

No doubt the cuts to IPERS will be accompanied by a cut to the wealthy. Funny how that happens. Iowa is not the most popular destination for workers in the country. Iowa government workers have been lower paid than their counterparts in the private sector, but IPERS help maintain employees in Iowa’s public sector. If they cut IPERS you can expect losses in the rolls of public service employees.

As pointed out by Aimee Rivers of iowastartingline.com in her weekly Iowa Workers Almanac newsletter, the government of Iowa has never been a friend of workers. She cited these historical moves by the Iowa legislature and more specifically Iowa republicans (now MAGAs) in harming workers in Iowa:

As school starts remember public employees are people and deserve to be treated as such. Elections have consequences. MAGAs make lousy leaders.

I am so sick and tired of the FIWH {Felon In the White House}. As I write this he is selling Ukraine out to his buddy Putin.

A) What city had the “honor” of hosting the Putin / FIWH meeting?

B) Last weekend a man with a gun went crazy and shot up what government facility in Atlanta?

C) August 14th marked the 90th anniversary of the signing of what much beloved government program into existence?

D) Melanie Trump seems to want to get into the family business. Who is she threatening to sue for a billion dollars?

E) Let’s do some back to school trivia this week and next. When did the first taxpayer funded public schools start in the US (or colonies)?

F) But there is NO climate change. What state fair closed a day early (Saturday instead of Sunday) due to flooding caused by torrential downpours?

G) In a show of fascistic force, the FIWH took over control of what city’s police force despite crime being at a record low?

H) The FIWH has nominated a person to lead the BLS who took place in what uprising against this country?

I) What building for schools often seen in rural America is now a long gone nostalgic icon? 

J) This year’s Kennedy Center recipient announcements were very different in what ways?

K) What Democrat is stepping up and fighting MAGA fire with mockery and threats of counter action?

L)  What American city is being threaten by “glacial outbursts” brought on by climate change?

M) What did The Producers Price Index indicate in its measurements for July?

N) Despite a jump in tariff revenue, the budget deficit grew nearly 20% to what level in July?

O) When did school buses adopt their current ubiquitous yellow color?

P) In a survey released last week the consumption of what substance is at its lowest level since consumption has been tracked?

Q) According to the CBO, how many Americans will lose access to SNAP benefits under the FIWH? 2 million

R) What was Taylor Swift’s big announcement this week?

S) Seemingly the stuff of cartoons what were students sometimes forced to wear as a punishment in 19th century schoolhouses?

T) The newest entrant into the Iowa US senate race is what state representative from Council Bluffs?

Always Remember – Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump had a fight over who owned a 15 year old girl when they were in their late 50s. – TheRealThelma1

Answers:

A) Anchorage, Alaska (although the FIWH kept saying he was going to Russia)

B) The Center for Disease Control 

C) Social Security

D) Hunter Biden for a statement Biden made. Biden is waiting for the discovery process

E) 1644 in Dedham, Mass (as a colony)

F) The Wisconsin State Fair

G) Washington, DC

H) EJ Antoni was at least at the capitol on January 6th

I) The one room school house

J) First they were done by the FIWH. No president has done that before. 2nd the FIWH was involved in the selection

K) California governor Gavin Newsom

L) Juneau, Alaska 

M) that inflation rose steeply at .% for the month (tariffs have yet to really kick in)

N) $291 billion

O) 1939

P) Alcohol. Only 54% of Americans said they drink alcohol. This has been tracked since 1939

Q) 2 million

R) That she is releasing a new studio album

S) a dunce cap

T) Josh Turek. Phony Joni says ‘bring it on!’

Trump’s tariffs are reducing supply and raising real costs of almost every good in the economy.

It’s like what OPEC did to the United States in 1973-75, only this time it’s the US president doing it to his own country. – David Frum

 

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Iowa’s Great Choices For Senate Part 2

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Dave Bradley

This is the second post highlighting the great Democratic choices who have stepped forward to challenge Iowa’s pathetic junior senator Joni Ernst. 

As Trump wrecks the economy, crushes our great university system, ravages the world’s greatest scientific research system, dismantles our health care system, kills our international trading system and makes the US an international pariah and threatens the very existence of democracy itself in the United State, Joni Ernst stands with him as one of his top enablers.

Iowa Democrats are fighting back with some great candidates. We did a brief posting on Jackie Norris and JD Scholten in our previous post. We will now look at the three remaining declared candidates. Once more I must state that any of these Democratic candidates will represent Iowa and its real values than Ernst ever has.

We begin with Nathan Sage. Sage is from Knoxville and has military in his background. Sage comes from a working background and understands the working class frustrations. You can find his website here: https://www.sageforsenate.com 

Here is his campaign ad – 2 minutes:

Josh Turek:

 Just this week we have a new entrant into the sweepstakes. Josh Turek is so new to this race that I couldn’t find his candidacy website as yet. I am sure his team will have one up soon.

Turek is from Council Bluffs. He is currently in the Iowa House, representing a majority red district. As we will see in his ad, Turek has spent a life overcoming adversity. Thus being elected to represent a red district is not out of character for a guy who has been a fighter all his life. 

Here is his 2 minute introductory video:

Zach Wahls:

Wahls was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, candidate to jump in against Ernst. He saw the urgency brought on by the Trump presidency and Ernst’s position of being an enabler to the destruction of our government. 

You may remember Wahls stepping into the national limelight as a teen defending his LGBTQ+ parents against a bill in the Iowa legislature, His eloquent speech was carried nationwide. Since then Wahls has been standing up for us in the Iowa legislature.

You can find his website here: https://zachwahls.com

I had a hard time finding an introductory video for Wahls. So I will offer this short profile run by Iowa News Now:

I hope that Iowans take their duty of choosing an opponent for Ernst very seriously. There is urgency in defeating Ernst and changing the direction of the country has never been more important.

As I look at the declared candidates, any one of them would be a formidable opponent for Ernst. Iowans must pick the one that can defeat Ernst. As Paul Simon once sang – “A lonely nation turns its eyes to you.” The Ernst senate race will be one of the most important in deciding which way our country will go.

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We Got Some Great Choices For Senate!

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Dave Bradley

The short video just popped up. It shows the utter disdain that Joni Ernst has for Iowans. It also illustrates just how little she thought of her constituents when she voted for Trump’s huge tax cuts for billionaire at the expense of health care for the most vulnerable.

Honestly, isn’t Iowa better than this?  (2:15)

The US senate seat in Iowa was going to be a highly competitive seat in 2026 anyway. The current occupant, Joni Ernst, has hardly distinguished herself while in office. For the most part she has disappeared in the halls of Washington hiding from reporters and constituents alike.

Occasionally she comes out to see the daylight and generally embarrasses both herself and her state. Her most recent sighting was when she looked out on an audience of ordinary Iowans and told them “We all are going to die.” Then she topped that off with a very sarcastic video filmed in a cemetery the next day to drive the point home.

All that in anticipation of her vote to cut Medicaid for 100,000 or more that will hasten the early deaths of many. Her vote will also cause the costs of health insurance to skyrocket, leading to the loss of health insurance for many others. Ernst said we would die and she is doing her best to make its happen. Meanwhile she does almost nothing for Iowa.

Trump policies will put the big hurt in Iowa’s farm economy this fall. Ernst has been supporting Trump’s insane policies all the way. In fact one could sum Ernst’s position on all issues as on her knees supplicating in front of Trump as he ravages the economy, jobs, international relations, immigration, education, scientific research and health care from babies to grandma. 

As Trump devastates Iowa, don’t forget that Ernst is a top enabler.

But we don’t have to just shut up and take it. We are still a democracy. At least as of now, we have open and fair elections. As of right now there is probably no more vulnerable senate seat than that of Joni Ernst in Iowa. That is deserved because of all the US senators she has probably done the very least to represent her state. Ernst represents one felonious (34 convictions) citizen who currently resides in OUR White House.

I don’t know about you, but I am excited by the candidates who have stepped forward to challenge for the Ernst seat. Remember that is the seat that was held by Tom Harkin until Ernst took it in 2014. The Democratic Party currently has 5 announced candidates, each of which would represent Iowa values much better and more proudly than Joni Ernst.

What I decided to do is to run the introductory ad (if I could find it) for the declared candidates. I decided to use the ad because they are specifically designed to put the candidates best foot forward and grab the viewers attention while highlighting their most important positions. These are short but powerful.

I tried to do this in no particular order. I will post two in this post and follow with the other three in my second post of the day. As I said, no particular order.

Jackie Norris:

Let’s begin with one of the newer candidates, Jackie Norris. First her website:

https://www.jackienorris.com

Norris website starts with the declaration “Mom on a Mission.” She is for the Des Moines area. On her website, Norris emphasizes her commitment to service:

“Jackie Norris is a school board chair, former teacher, small business owner, and military mom who’s spent her life bucking the status quo and putting in the hard work to get things done for the people she’s served. “

Here is her ad. It is about 3 minutes long:

JD Scholten

Next let’s view the offering from JD Scholten. Scholten hails from northwest Iowa. He rose to some prominence after taking on Steve King in Iowa’s fourth district and nearly knocked him out. In recent years Scholten has published an excellent online newsletter called “You Are Probably Getting Screwed” that chronicles how the lower 90% are screwed by those with wealth who run the country.

Website: https://www.scholtenforiowa.com

Here is the JD Scholten ad. It weighs in at about 2 minutes:

While I know it is early, it is important for Iowa Democrats and independents to know there is hope on the horizon. There are good candidates in Iowa who will do more than worship at the altar of Trump. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t do that! Instead get active. Work and donate for one of our great candidates.

You can be sure that billionaires ready to take away Social Security, unemployment insurance, medicare, the rest of Medicaid, ending scientific research and end democracy itself are writing big checks for Ernst. 

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Heather Cox Richardson Interviews Gov. Gavin Newsom

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Trish Nelson

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Cancer in Iowa: Statewide Virtual Listening Session

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Trish Nelson

From our inbox;  Cancer in Iowa: Statewide Virtual Listening Session

Thursday, August 14, 2025
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Live on Zoom

REGISTER HERE

Zoom login information will be sent to you after you complete the registration process.

Hosted by the Iowa Environmental Council, The Harkin Institute, and Iowa Farmers Union

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the U.S., and we are among the only two states where cancer rates are increasing.

The Iowa Environmental Council and The Harkin Institute announced the launch of a new initiative that explores the relationship between environmental risk factors and cancer rates in Iowa. The initiative combines a rigorous review of existing academic research about environmental risk factors and their sources with a statewide campaign to listen to, understand, and amplify Iowans’ own lived experiences with cancer.

On August 14, we’re invite you to attend a cancer listening session, hosted live on Zoom.

REGISTER HERE

Have you or your family been impacted by cancer? Join us to:

  • Hear a short presentation about Iowa’s cancer rates, including remarks by Dr. Richard Deming, medical director of Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines, and founder of Above + Beyond Cancer
  • Learn about a new project that explores the links between cancer and environmental risk factors;
  • Share your own story and listen to others’ stories.

The event is free to attend. Zoom login info will be sent when you register (if you do not receive the confirmation email, contact us at iecmail@iaenvironment.org).

Listening sessions are hosted by the Iowa Environmental Council, The Harkin Institute, and the Iowa Farmers Union.

—–

Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc.
PO Box 811
Fairfield, IA 52556
www.jfaniowa.org
641-209-6600
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/JFANIowa

JFAN is funded by grassroots support and gratefully welcomes your donations. jfaniowa.org/donate-today

JFAN is a member of the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA)

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Closing The Participation Gap: Mobilizing Young And Diverse Voters

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Since 2006, Netroots Nation has hosted the largest annual conference for progressives, drawing up to 4,000 attendees from around the country and beyond.  NN 2025 was held August 7 -August 9 in New Orleans.  To view more sessions from the 2025 conference, go to the Netroots Nation YouTube channel. Visit their website at NetrootsNation.org

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Preserving What Is Ours

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Media and Democracy Project (MAD) hosted media reform legend Sue Wilson, founder of the Media Action Center, to talk about her history of success fighting for better broadcast news. You can see the video here:

The airwaves are owned by the public and that gives us more say over what is broadcast — if we make the effort to express ourselves. Sue has worked for decades to reform TV and radio news both via regulatory filings and by organizing groups of citizens to pressure their local stations.

We discussed both past successes and opportunities to act today. The FCC is considering gutting the current rules constraining consolidation of ownership of TV. MAD joins the Media Action Center in submitting a regulatory comment objecting to that idea. To support that, we have enlisted volunteers to help collect information about the current state of their local TV news.

Sue also described organizing groups of citizens in communities across the country who lobbied their local TV and radio stations and made change — including forcing Alex Jones off of many stations. If you are interested in hearing about opportunities to participate in such an effort, please contact us at info@MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org.

As Sue said “We have to fight to preserve what is ours.”

Thanks for reading The Media and Democracy Project Blog. Subscribe for free to receive new posts. We’re an all-volunteer 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
So if you can, please donate to support our work.

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How You Can Help Monitor Iowa Water Quality

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Trish Nelson

https://iwla.org/nitrate-watch/

What Is Nitrate?

Nitrate (NO3-) is a naturally occurring compound made up of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but human activities produce more nitrogen than natural systems can use.

Fertilizers, manure and sewage all add extra nitrogen to the landscape. As this nitrogen moves through the environment, it becomes nitrate. The nitrate can then make its way to streams and sources of drinking water via surface runoff or groundwater saturation. Excess nitrate in water can pose serious problems for the health of humans and the environment.

When we consume high levels of nitrate in drinking water, certain health conditions including blue baby syndrome, cancers, thyroid disease, and birth defects are more likely to occur. In aquatic ecosystems, nitrate can have disastrous impacts, including the creation of algae blooms, fish kills, and dead zones.

You Can Help

The Izaak Walton League’s Nitrate Watch program equips volunteers and partner organizations with nitrate test strips and empowers them to monitor their water, share their results, and advocate for solutions.

Request a FREE Nitrate Watch Kit and we will send you everything you need to measure nitrate in your drinking water or local waterways. See what’s in the kit, or investigate our Nitrate Watch Frequently Asked Questions for more info about monitoring, using the kit, and interpreting your results.

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