Laura Belin
@laurarbelin.bsky.social
Reporter covering Iowa politics (and sometimes wildflowers) for the progressive website Bleeding Heartland. https://www.bleedingheartland.com Co-host of "KHOI's Capitol Week" on KHOI Radio in Ames and podcast platforms. https://laurabelin.substack.com
Just posted the audio and written summary of my latest Iowa politics radio show and podcast, "KHOI's Capitol Week" (later than usual this week, because I got engrossed in watching Michigan primary results) #IASen #IAGov #IA01 #IA03 #IA02 laurabelin.substack.com/p/election-r...
Election-related court cases, legislative targets, another school book ban challenge
August 3 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
Surprising to see #Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst standing in the way of any confirmation. On the other hand, she and Chuck Grassley were clearly unhappy about Iowa native Randy George being fired as Army chief of staff earlier this year. laurabelin.substack.com/p/new-ads-la...
New ads; lawmakers work on budget, taxes, nominees, cancer
April 27 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
@lizbauch.bsky.social · 6h ago...without unanimous Republican support, a LaNeve nomination won’t advance out of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Joni Ernst and other GOP Senators apparently are concerned about LaNeve's short time as a 4-star... www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
New post: I looked at how Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan are talking about health care in ads and other messages. (#IA01 is one of the most competitive House races. First @bohannaniowa.bsky.social TV ad dropped today.) www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/08/04/h...
Health care shaping up as central issue in IA-01 campaign
Laura Belin explores how Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan are talking about health care.
bleedingheartland.com
New post by Randy Evans: After turning page, Iowa judge begins climb out of deep hole www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/08/04/a...
After turning page, judge begins climb out of deep hole
Randy Evans: Judge Adria Kester dropped efforts to block records related to her drunk driving arrest, but is still in a hole professionally.
bleedingheartland.com
Forgot to mention last night: you can listen to latest "KHOI's Capitol Week" on any podcast platform right now. I'll send the audio file & a detailed written summary (for those who would rather read than listen) later today on my free email newsletter: laurabelin.substack.com
Iowa politics with Laura Belin | Substack
Where you get in-depth coverage and exclusive reporting about Iowa politics. Click to read Iowa politics with Laura Belin, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
laurabelin.substack.com
Laura Belin@laurarbelin.bsky.social · 2d agoIn a few minutes @spencerdirks.bsky.social and I will be live on KHOI Radio to talk about the week in Iowa politics. 89.1 FM in the Ames listening area or online: www.khoifm.org (will be on podcast platforms later as "KHOI's Capitol Week")
New post: John Whiston remembers a close childhood friend and ponders his remarkable political conversion in midlife. www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/08/04/l...
Lessons from my friend Dave about how we change
John Whiston remembers a close childhood friend and ponders his remarkable political conversion in midlife.
bleedingheartland.com
Before Rob Sand's town hall in Carlisle last week, Amy Duncan of the Indianola Independent Advocate asked the Democratic candidate for governor if there was any conservative idea he really likes. What he said: #IAGov @robsandia.bsky.social
In a few minutes @spencerdirks.bsky.social and I will be live on KHOI Radio to talk about the week in Iowa politics. 89.1 FM in the Ames listening area or online: www.khoifm.org (will be on podcast platforms later as "KHOI's Capitol Week")
KHOI Radio
The only locally programmed, noncommercial, community-based radio station in Central Iowa
khoifm.org
At the other place, I had a surprising exchange w/GOP nominee for governor Zach Lahn Sunday morning. His campaign has ignored all of my questions about various topics for at least a month. But he's still a "reply guy," so he engages with me on X sometimes. x.com/ZachLahn/sta...
Zach Lahn (@ZachLahn) on X
@LauraRBelin @RobSandIA Laura, respectfully - here is an idea - start investigating. Rob’s wife is the CEO. And the majority of his money has come directly from proceeds from it. - What % of the c...
x.com
New post by Dean Lerner and Kevin Techau: Rather than chairing a new Medicaid fraud task force, Attorney General Brenna Bird should aggressively enforce the law she's already directed to implement. www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/08/02/i...
Iowa chooses Medicaid fraud political theater
Rather than chairing a new Medicaid fraud task force, Brenna Bird should aggressively enforce the law she's already directed to implement.
bleedingheartland.com
Republican fundraising emails are always good for a laugh. Subject line for latest from #IASen nominee Ashley Hinson: "Laura, I’m starting to get worried about you" Body of email is a manipulative message trying to get me to click on a fundraising link, ending with the obligatory "God Bless."
This is not just about rewriting the past; it's also an effort to make any future effort to hold this administration responsible for its brazen criminality seem like more "weaponization of the justice system"
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5d agoTrump says he wants people to be reimbursed for being the victim of weaponization by Obama
Strong reader response to Melissa Wubben's excellent guide to planting wildflowers that will support Monarch butterflies throughout the spring, summer, and fall: #Iowa #wildflowers #nativeplants #gardening #nature www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/07/29/b...
Beyond milkweed: Creating habitat for Monarchs
Melissa Wubben: In order to create a successful Monarch habitat, it is helpful to consider the whole life cycle of these butterflies.
bleedingheartland.com
New post by Bruce Lear: How this slow learner became an avid reader Thankfully, my teachers didn’t treat me as sick. Instead, they treated me as a work in progress needing different education methods. www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/08/01/h...
How this slow learner became an avid reader
Bruce Lear: My teachers didn’t treat me as sick. Instead, they treated me as a work in progress needing different education methods.
bleedingheartland.com
My latest reporting on the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, Derek Wulf, and efforts to repay his massive debts. (From my radio show/podcast, "KHOI's Capitol Week") www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVMd...
Latest on efforts to repay Derek Wulf's huge debts
YouTube video by Bleeding Heartland
youtube.com
ABC Unleashes: Carr Wants a ‘Media Industry Too Fearful of Official Reprisal to Report the News Freely’ talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things...
ABC Unleashes: Carr Wants a ‘Media Industry Too Fearful of Official Reprisal to Report the News Freely’
Get in Line or ‘Pay the Price’ In a scathingly-written regulatory filing...
talkingpointsmemo.com
News: Polk County District Court Judge Patrick Smith has upheld State Objection Panel's decisions to keep Libertarian Rick Stewart on the #IA02 ballot and kick Libertarian Marco Battaglia off the #IA03 ballot. Appeals to Iowa Supreme Court likely. Ruling: www.bleedingheartland.com/static/media...
bleedingheartland.com
At his Warren County town hall on Tuesday, @robsandia.bsky.social handed the microphone to Republican activist Gary Leffler (better known as the "Trump tractor guy"). Watch the Q&A: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HslT...
Rob Sand handed the mic to the "Trump tractor guy"
YouTube video by Bleeding Heartland
youtube.com
I've grow common milkweed for years for Monarchs. The idea of increasing varieties of flowers never occurred to me. Recommend!
Laura Belin@laurarbelin.bsky.social · 7d agoHappy Iowa wildflower Wednesday! This week Melissa Wubben offers tips for gardeners wanting to use native plants. In order to create a successful Monarch habitat, it is helpful to consider the whole life cycle of these butterflies. #Iowa #wildflowers www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/07/29/b...
Happy Iowa wildflower Wednesday! This week Melissa Wubben offers tips for gardeners wanting to use native plants. In order to create a successful Monarch habitat, it is helpful to consider the whole life cycle of these butterflies. #Iowa #wildflowers www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/07/29/b...
Beyond milkweed: Creating habitat for Monarchs
Melissa Wubben: In order to create a successful Monarch habitat, it is helpful to consider the whole life cycle of these butterflies.
bleedingheartland.com
For those who haven't seen any of Rob Sand's town halls, here is my full video from Carlisle on Tuesday. Includes opening remarks, Q&A, closing. Around 25:30, Sand handed the mic to Republican activist Gary Leffler, better known as "the Trump tractor guy." #IAGov www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uix4...
Watch Rob Sand's Warren County town hall, July 2026 (full video)
YouTube video by Bleeding Heartland
youtube.com
Before yesterday's town hall in Carlisle, I asked Rob Sand @robsandia.bsky.social whether he plans to release his tax returns. (Candidates for Iowa governor have usually done so in the past) #IAGov
In January, Derek Wulf's bank suspended paying cash dividends due to "recent losses in the loan portfolio.” Latest quarterly earnings statement cites "increasing possibility" of full repayment—another sign someone is stepping in to get Wulf out of a jam. laurabelin.substack.com/p/state-and-...
State and federal campaign news, DNC's Iowa snub
July 27 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
Spencer Dirks and I covered tons of news about the governor's race and other Iowa campaigns. “KHOI’s Capitol Week” will never take up more than 30 minutes of your time. laurabelin.substack.com/p/state-and-...
State and federal campaign news, DNC's Iowa snub
July 27 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
Forgot to post this afternoon! Polk County District Court upheld State Objection Panel's decision to knock Libertarians Nicholas Gluba and Jules Cutler off ballot as candidates for gov and LG. Libertarians are expected to appeal to Iowa Supreme Court. 1/ www.bleedingheartland.com/static/media...
bleedingheartland.com
Joe, who voted for Trump three times but says he's not MAGA anymore, showed up at @robsandia.bsky.social's Warren County town hall tonight in a shirt he had made. (He's of Norwegian descent like Sand, which explains the slogan on the back) #IAGov
New post by John Deeth @johndeeth.bsky.social: Iowa Democrats, accept the DNC's decision It is long past time for Iowa Democrats to let go of the idea that we will get "the caucuses" as we knew them back. #iacaucus www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/07/28/i...
Iowa Democrats, accept the DNC's decision
John Deeth: It is long past time for Iowa Democrats to let go of the idea that we will get "the caucuses" as we knew them back.
bleedingheartland.com
Today the DCCC @electdemocrats.bsky.social added five new candidates to the "Red to Blue" program that identifies top-targeted races. One of them is Lindsay James in #IA02. Even the GOP nominee Joe Mitchell acknowledges that's a very competitive race. laurabelin.substack.com/p/gop-candid...
GOP candidate pitches, Derek Wulf finances, 2Q fundraising
July 20 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"
laurabelin.substack.com
