Iowa political leaders question the productivity of the first presidential debate
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
September 30, 2020
President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden participated in the first presidential debate Tuesday night, and some Iowa political leaders say the fiery exchange was unproductive and likely won’t change the minds of many voters. The debate, moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wal...
Iowa’s U.S. Senate candidates tackle health care, Supreme Court in first debate
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 28, 2020
Iowa’s U.S. Senate candidates faced off Monday over health care, the future of the U.S. Supreme Court, and COVID-19 relief in the first televised debate between the two candidates with a little over a month until the 2020 election. Sen. Joni Ernst, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger T...
Sen. Chuck Grassley on U.S. Supreme Court vacancy: ‘You’re put into this position by people beyond my control’
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
September 23, 2020
In a conference call with reporters, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats in Congress have reversed their 2016 position on confirming a U.S. Supreme Court nominee during an election year, after Democrats pushed for Barack Obama’s nominee in 2016 and are now opposing a potential nominee from Presid...
Women of the UI law school mourn RBG, reflect on gender identity
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
September 22, 2020
University of Iowa law student Kayla Boyd said the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means the passing of a strong, powerful female attorney and judge, and one of the few women icons that exist in the legal world. “Everybody wants to have a role model to look up to th...
UI professors teach on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and future of the Supreme Court
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 22, 2020
University of Iowa political science and law professors are reflecting on the legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the battle over her nomination in their classes and in public forums, balancing what is an emotional and political conversation and trying to put it in a his...
Chances for another round of stimulus checks “practically nil,” Grassley says
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 16, 2020
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Congress is unlikely to come to an agreement on another coronavirus stimulus bill before they adjourn in October as negotiations have again hit an impasse over the price tag of the legislation. “As of now, as I see it, two weeks before adjournment, it’s practi...
Johnson County District Court judge rules in favor of Trump campaign, invalidating thousands of ballot-request forms
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
September 14, 2020
A judge in the Johnson County District Court ruled Monday in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign, invalidating thousands of ballot-request forms mailed to voters with pre-filled information. Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert must contact every person who mailed in a ballot-requ...
Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to resign as U.S. ambassador to China next month
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
September 14, 2020
U.S. Ambassador to China and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will step down and depart Beijing early next month and return to Iowa, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Branstad, a Republican, confirmed his decision to end his three-year ambassadorship in a phone call with Preside...
Thousands of ballot request forms on the line in Johnson County District Court hearing Wednesday
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
September 8, 2020
Today the Johnson County District Court will hear a case regarding the county auditor’s decision to send out ballot-request forms with pre-filled information — the last of the three Iowa counties the Trump campaign has sued. District Court judges in Linn and Woodbury Counties ruled in favor...
Democrats warn of voter suppression at virtual Progress Iowa Corn Feed
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 2, 2020
Iowa Democratic elected officials and national figures implored Iowans to vote in the general election and warned of voter suppression in the state and nationally during the sixth annual Progress Iowa Corn Feed. The event, held virtually over Facebook Live with around 2,000 viewers at its pe...
Joni Ernst praises Trump as an advocate for Iowa farmers in RNC speech
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
August 26, 2020
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, made a case for President Trump at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night for being an advocate to Iowa farmers, and painted a bleak picture of what the agricultural industry could look like under a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris administration. Ernst, who is in...
Iowa delegates see out presidential nominating process at national party conventions
Julia Shanahan and Caleb McCullough
August 25, 2020
Iowa delegates saw out the presidential nominating process at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions after a tumultuous Iowa caucus season, trying to energize their respective parties through computer screens across the country in lieu of a physical convention. The ongoing coron...