Dexter Merschbrock
@dexterm.bsky.social
Open source Iowa Politics takes and predictions
No you can’t have a small neighborhood school where the entire staff knows and is dedicated to every kid there. Wouldn’t be efficient.
November 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
No you can’t have a small neighborhood school where the entire staff knows and is dedicated to every kid there. Wouldn’t be efficient.
Cedar Rapids Public Schools spends who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars on communication staff and has a terrible public image to show for it. So now they have to spend $75k on an outside ad agency to try and boost enrollment declines that they caused!
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Cedar Rapids Public Schools spends who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars on communication staff and has a terrible public image to show for it. So now they have to spend $75k on an outside ad agency to try and boost enrollment declines that they caused!
Blessing the timeline with Chit Chat for a momentous week
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Blessing the timeline with Chit Chat for a momentous week
Can’t leave this thread without featuring our beloved host, who completely erases fellow journalist @justinkcomer.rockhardcauc.us who has actually been leading the way in criticizing Sand’s corporate in-laws funding his campaign.
November 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Can’t leave this thread without featuring our beloved host, who completely erases fellow journalist @justinkcomer.rockhardcauc.us who has actually been leading the way in criticizing Sand’s corporate in-laws funding his campaign.
Surely there is something a Governor can do to help protect women’s health in the face of Iowa’s abortion ban, but Sand doesn’t mention it here, or talk about healthcare explicitly at all. Instead he talks about vetoing efforts to limit IVF and surrogacy. Class politics at play.
November 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Surely there is something a Governor can do to help protect women’s health in the face of Iowa’s abortion ban, but Sand doesn’t mention it here, or talk about healthcare explicitly at all. Instead he talks about vetoing efforts to limit IVF and surrogacy. Class politics at play.
The basis of the Sand election reform plan: “One public primary, where every eligible voter can participate.” Frames the current primary system in terms of taxpayer funding for exclusive parties. A good point! #IAGov
November 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The basis of the Sand election reform plan: “One public primary, where every eligible voter can participate.” Frames the current primary system in terms of taxpayer funding for exclusive parties. A good point! #IAGov
Sand repeatedly says he will be working with (or against) a Republican legislature, which isn’t actually known at this time. But running with the idea he talks about the veto pen, and the threat of a veto stopping Republicans in the legislature from even debating bad bills.
November 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Sand repeatedly says he will be working with (or against) a Republican legislature, which isn’t actually known at this time. But running with the idea he talks about the veto pen, and the threat of a veto stopping Republicans in the legislature from even debating bad bills.
Sand says he is against Eminent Domain for carbon capture pipelines, and points out that the pipelines rely on tax credits that may not be around due to political unpopularity. Isn’t this true of the ethanol mandate generally?
November 16, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Sand says he is against Eminent Domain for carbon capture pipelines, and points out that the pipelines rely on tax credits that may not be around due to political unpopularity. Isn’t this true of the ethanol mandate generally?
Sand talks cancer rates and says, very somberly, “I’ve been in Kinnick and done the wave.” Says Nebraska has spent $23 million while Iowa has to debate over $1 million.
(Breaking character I think The Wave is a little toxic to be frank)
(Breaking character I think The Wave is a little toxic to be frank)
November 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Sand talks cancer rates and says, very somberly, “I’ve been in Kinnick and done the wave.” Says Nebraska has spent $23 million while Iowa has to debate over $1 million.
(Breaking character I think The Wave is a little toxic to be frank)
(Breaking character I think The Wave is a little toxic to be frank)
Sand commits to having a water quality plan out “before people are casting their ballots.” Should be very easy to hold him to that. Also allows alternative plans to dominate the space in the meantime, which is suddenly relevant with Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Ag Secretary.
November 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Sand commits to having a water quality plan out “before people are casting their ballots.” Should be very easy to hold him to that. Also allows alternative plans to dominate the space in the meantime, which is suddenly relevant with Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Ag Secretary.
The full Sand position on vouchers is public oversight (which he explains right before the clip) and to “call the bluff” of the school choice advocates, and force schools to accept any student for the cost of the voucher, as well as means test the program. I think this would be a big win.
November 16, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The full Sand position on vouchers is public oversight (which he explains right before the clip) and to “call the bluff” of the school choice advocates, and force schools to accept any student for the cost of the voucher, as well as means test the program. I think this would be a big win.
(Slyly checking my notes so I don’t forget the rhyme I came up with to explain my position on cannabis legalization)
November 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
(Slyly checking my notes so I don’t forget the rhyme I came up with to explain my position on cannabis legalization)
Maybe I’m wrong but there has to be a secular majority in Iowa who don’t think “passion to serve Christ” is a quality we are looking for in a Governor
November 16, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Maybe I’m wrong but there has to be a secular majority in Iowa who don’t think “passion to serve Christ” is a quality we are looking for in a Governor
Jones himself posted this side by side comparison. I think he’s got the messaging figured out.
November 16, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Jones himself posted this side by side comparison. I think he’s got the messaging figured out.
Haven’t fact checked this
November 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Haven’t fact checked this
One of the last student speakers was wearing this shirt
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
One of the last student speakers was wearing this shirt
Put aside the travesty of an immigration system, but why was this person in jail for over a month for driving with a suspended license???
November 13, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Put aside the travesty of an immigration system, but why was this person in jail for over a month for driving with a suspended license???
I’m just a simple internet commenter, but if someone answers your question like this, are you really just supposed to take them at their word and not follow up???
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I’m just a simple internet commenter, but if someone answers your question like this, are you really just supposed to take them at their word and not follow up???
Finally someone is looking out for the well being of Perry’s students
November 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Finally someone is looking out for the well being of Perry’s students
journalists keep missing the story
November 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
journalists keep missing the story
Not reading the rest of the article but I’m just assuming at least half of these were people writing Free Palestine or something like that
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Not reading the rest of the article but I’m just assuming at least half of these were people writing Free Palestine or something like that
$300K spent and no one thought to ask for my vote even, let along an endorsement. Pretty sure I could have delivered the 175 votes they needed. Hate to see it for such hardworking, community minded people.
November 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
$300K spent and no one thought to ask for my vote even, let along an endorsement. Pretty sure I could have delivered the 175 votes they needed. Hate to see it for such hardworking, community minded people.