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
Co-host of "KHOI's Capitol Week" on KHOI Radio in Ames and podcast platforms. https://laurabelin.substack.com
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")
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 FM 89.1
www.khoifm.org
January 6, 2026 at 12:55 AM
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")
89.1 FM in the Ames listening area, or online: www.khoifm.org
(will be on podcast platforms later as "KHOI's Capitol Week")
Reposted by Laura Belin
Four generations of my family have served our country. Service is in my blood. The President wouldn’t know anything about that.
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Four generations of my family have served our country. Service is in my blood. The President wouldn’t know anything about that.
'Tis the season for press releases touting candidate fundraising numbers.
My longstanding policy is never to write these stories based on a campaign's news release. I will cover revenue/spending once reports are available online: Jan 19 (for Iowa state candidates) or Jan 31 for federal candidates.
My longstanding policy is never to write these stories based on a campaign's news release. I will cover revenue/spending once reports are available online: Jan 19 (for Iowa state candidates) or Jan 31 for federal candidates.
January 5, 2026 at 9:34 PM
'Tis the season for press releases touting candidate fundraising numbers.
My longstanding policy is never to write these stories based on a campaign's news release. I will cover revenue/spending once reports are available online: Jan 19 (for Iowa state candidates) or Jan 31 for federal candidates.
My longstanding policy is never to write these stories based on a campaign's news release. I will cover revenue/spending once reports are available online: Jan 19 (for Iowa state candidates) or Jan 31 for federal candidates.
ICYMI, Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are back doing the Iowa Down Ballot podcast. New episodes drop Saturday mornings.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
I'm still covering the Iowa legislature & 2026 elections on "KHOI's Capitol Week" every Monday evening.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
I'm still covering the Iowa legislature & 2026 elections on "KHOI's Capitol Week" every Monday evening.
Iowa Down Ballot with Dave Price 1/2/26
Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland and Kathie Obradovich of Iowa Capital Dispatch are back with Dave as we preview the biggest stories in Iowa politics in 2026.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:19 AM
ICYMI, Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are back doing the Iowa Down Ballot podcast. New episodes drop Saturday mornings.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
I'm still covering the Iowa legislature & 2026 elections on "KHOI's Capitol Week" every Monday evening.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
I'm still covering the Iowa legislature & 2026 elections on "KHOI's Capitol Week" every Monday evening.
Reposted by Laura Belin
Q: Back in 2016, you criticized the US being involved in regime change and nation building. You stance has changed on that
TRUMP: This isn't a country on the other side of the world. This is Venezuela. It's in our area. The Donroe Doctrine
TRUMP: This isn't a country on the other side of the world. This is Venezuela. It's in our area. The Donroe Doctrine
January 5, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Q: Back in 2016, you criticized the US being involved in regime change and nation building. You stance has changed on that
TRUMP: This isn't a country on the other side of the world. This is Venezuela. It's in our area. The Donroe Doctrine
TRUMP: This isn't a country on the other side of the world. This is Venezuela. It's in our area. The Donroe Doctrine
Reposted by Laura Belin
Jesus Christ. Every Sunday host should be asking every Republican if they think Tim Walz murdered Melissa Hortman. And when they say no, ask what it says about this president that he’s amplifying this garbage.
January 4, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Jesus Christ. Every Sunday host should be asking every Republican if they think Tim Walz murdered Melissa Hortman. And when they say no, ask what it says about this president that he’s amplifying this garbage.
Reposted by Laura Belin
Chris Murphy: "Clearly this is wildly illegal. This is a president who has been operating illegally since he was sworn in -- stealing from the American people, seizing spending power, now dragging America into a war overseas ... Donald Trump's entire foreign policy is corrupt."
January 4, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Chris Murphy: "Clearly this is wildly illegal. This is a president who has been operating illegally since he was sworn in -- stealing from the American people, seizing spending power, now dragging America into a war overseas ... Donald Trump's entire foreign policy is corrupt."
It was another strong year for guest posts at Bleeding Heartland, with 154 individuals (a record number of contributors) writing or co-authoring 369 posts. All are linked here:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/04/r...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/04/r...
Recognizing Bleeding Heartland's talented 2025 guest authors
With links to all 369 guest contributions, written or co-authored by 154 individuals—a record number for the website.
www.bleedingheartland.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:34 PM
It was another strong year for guest posts at Bleeding Heartland, with 154 individuals (a record number of contributors) writing or co-authoring 369 posts. All are linked here:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/04/r...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/04/r...
Reposted by Laura Belin
A CBS News staffer told me this after Tony Dokoupil kicked off his CBS Evening News tenure tonight with a lengthy Pete Hegseth interview:
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
January 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
A CBS News staffer told me this after Tony Dokoupil kicked off his CBS Evening News tenure tonight with a lengthy Pete Hegseth interview:
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
New post by Randy Evans: A recent Scott County court ruling highlighted a structural weakness in Iowa's open meetings law. The state legislature should fix it and give the public the openness they deserve.
#transparency #Iowa www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/03/s...
#transparency #Iowa www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/03/s...
Sunshine delayed is sunshine denied
Randy Evans: A recent court ruling highlights a structural weakness in Iowa's open meetings law. State lawmakers should fix it.
www.bleedingheartland.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:14 AM
New post by Randy Evans: A recent Scott County court ruling highlighted a structural weakness in Iowa's open meetings law. The state legislature should fix it and give the public the openness they deserve.
#transparency #Iowa www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/03/s...
#transparency #Iowa www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/03/s...
Reposted by Laura Belin
These are disturbed people
January 3, 2026 at 9:54 PM
These are disturbed people
At the other place, I raised this point in response to an Iowa Republican's praise for Trump. MAGA apparently now believes that the Honduran president was targeted in a Biden administration "hit job."
Someday, this guy is going to hear about Trump’s pardon for former Honduras' Juan Orlando Hernández — a convicted drug trafficker who boasted that he would “stuff the drugs up the gringos’ noses” and accepted a $1 million bribe to allow cocaine shipments to pass through his country — and be amazed.
January 4, 2026 at 12:22 AM
At the other place, I raised this point in response to an Iowa Republican's praise for Trump. MAGA apparently now believes that the Honduran president was targeted in a Biden administration "hit job."
Reposted by Laura Belin
A US indictment doesn’t give you the right to invade another country, seize its leader, or decide who governs next. Criminal charges and non-recognition don’t erase head-of-state immunity, this is regime change dressed up as law enforcement.
Read the unsealed indictment against Maduro: www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
January 3, 2026 at 3:53 PM
A US indictment doesn’t give you the right to invade another country, seize its leader, or decide who governs next. Criminal charges and non-recognition don’t erase head-of-state immunity, this is regime change dressed up as law enforcement.
The Iowa Down Ballot podcast is back!
Hear which Iowa politics stories Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are most looking forward to covering in 2026:
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
Hear which Iowa politics stories Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are most looking forward to covering in 2026:
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
Iowa Down Ballot with Dave Price 1/2/26
Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland and Kathie Obradovich of Iowa Capital Dispatch are back with Dave as we preview the biggest stories in Iowa politics in 2026.
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:43 PM
The Iowa Down Ballot podcast is back!
Hear which Iowa politics stories Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are most looking forward to covering in 2026:
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
Hear which Iowa politics stories Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich, and I are most looking forward to covering in 2026:
iowawriterscollaborative.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...
Reposted by Laura Belin
It's the Iraq War model stripped down to its essence.
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Venezuela has nothing to with >99% of US fentanyl deaths.
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Venezuela has nothing to with >99% of US fentanyl deaths.
Im seeing discussions about consultations with congress, authorizations of force etc. I have to say this transcends any of what I would call sub constitutional technicalities. The president has gone to war with a foreign power and, it seems, kidnapped a foreign head of state on the basis of nothing.
January 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM
It's the Iraq War model stripped down to its essence.
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Venezuela has nothing to with >99% of US fentanyl deaths.
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Venezuela has nothing to with >99% of US fentanyl deaths.
Reposted by Laura Belin
Americans believe that Trump's operations in Venezuela are unlawful
January 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Americans believe that Trump's operations in Venezuela are unlawful
Before the Iowa caucuses, many people at Trump rallies insisted he would prevent World War III.
After a year in which Trump has bombed ...
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Before the Iowa caucuses, many people at Trump rallies insisted he would prevent World War III.
Reposted by Laura Belin
👇
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM
👇
New post by Emily Boevers: Iowa is on the brink of an important decision, and as the 2026 legislative season kicks off this month, we must all watch closely—and follow the money.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/02/p...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/02/p...
Public interests and property rights: The pipeline looms for Iowa lawmakers
Emily Boevers: Iowa legislators will soon have another opportunity to decide between individual property rights and a corporate pipeline.
www.bleedingheartland.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:56 PM
New post by Emily Boevers: Iowa is on the brink of an important decision, and as the 2026 legislative season kicks off this month, we must all watch closely—and follow the money.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/02/p...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/01/02/p...
Coming back after a holiday break?
My write-up of the special election in Iowa Senate district 16 and what Democratic GOTV in the Polk County suburbs could mean for 2026:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
My write-up of the special election in Iowa Senate district 16 and what Democratic GOTV in the Polk County suburbs could mean for 2026:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
"A strong message": Four takeaways from Renee Hardman's big win
Laura Belin: While Hardman's win was not a surprise, we can learn a few lessons from the lopsided special election result.
www.bleedingheartland.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Coming back after a holiday break?
My write-up of the special election in Iowa Senate district 16 and what Democratic GOTV in the Polk County suburbs could mean for 2026:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
My write-up of the special election in Iowa Senate district 16 and what Democratic GOTV in the Polk County suburbs could mean for 2026:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
Reposted by Laura Belin
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches (Gift Article)
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Laura Belin
This unbelievably dim loser thinks he comes off well in this video, as he tries to force his way into a daycare.
The employee asks “what department” they’re from, and he says “we are from ourselves” — because being an entitled white man empowers you to act like a vigilante, apparently?
The employee asks “what department” they’re from, and he says “we are from ourselves” — because being an entitled white man empowers you to act like a vigilante, apparently?
uhhh yeah I can see why these childcare properties weren't eager to let in some rando dudes asking "where are the kids?"
December 31, 2025 at 10:39 PM
This unbelievably dim loser thinks he comes off well in this video, as he tries to force his way into a daycare.
The employee asks “what department” they’re from, and he says “we are from ourselves” — because being an entitled white man empowers you to act like a vigilante, apparently?
The employee asks “what department” they’re from, and he says “we are from ourselves” — because being an entitled white man empowers you to act like a vigilante, apparently?
Just posted my takeaways from yesterday's special election in Iowa Senate district 16.
It's no surprise Renee Hardman won, but we can still learn some things from the lopsided result. #Iowa #iapolitics #ialegis
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
It's no surprise Renee Hardman won, but we can still learn some things from the lopsided result. #Iowa #iapolitics #ialegis
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
"A strong message": Four takeaways from Renee Hardman's big win
Laura Belin: While Hardman's win was not a surprise, we can learn a few lessons from the lopsided special election result.
www.bleedingheartland.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Just posted my takeaways from yesterday's special election in Iowa Senate district 16.
It's no surprise Renee Hardman won, but we can still learn some things from the lopsided result. #Iowa #iapolitics #ialegis
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
It's no surprise Renee Hardman won, but we can still learn some things from the lopsided result. #Iowa #iapolitics #ialegis
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
Jenny Turner @jennytrumpet.bsky.social was widowed at age 37 and is raising a child as a solo parent. She works from home and buys health insurance through the ACA.
"In January, my health insurance premiums will jump 79%, from $191 to $342 per month."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
"In January, my health insurance premiums will jump 79%, from $191 to $342 per month."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
A new year’s resolution for Congress: Vote for Iowans, not billionaires
Jenny Turner's health insurance premiums will jump from $191 to $342 per month if Congress doesn't extend enhanced tax credits.
www.bleedingheartland.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Jenny Turner @jennytrumpet.bsky.social was widowed at age 37 and is raising a child as a solo parent. She works from home and buys health insurance through the ACA.
"In January, my health insurance premiums will jump 79%, from $191 to $342 per month."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...
"In January, my health insurance premiums will jump 79%, from $191 to $342 per month."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/31/a...