Laura Belin
@laurarbelin.bsky.social
Reporter covering Iowa politics (and sometimes wildflowers) for the progressive website Bleeding Heartland. https://www.bleedingheartland.com
Part-time statehouse reporter for KHOI Radio in Ames. https://laurabelin.substack.com
Part-time statehouse reporter for KHOI Radio in Ames. https://laurabelin.substack.com
News flash for Iowans: The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) visible, at least as far south as central Iowa. Look to the north.
These are not photoshopped—my phone camera did a longer exposure of a few seconds, which makes the colors look brighter than they do with the naked eye.
These are not photoshopped—my phone camera did a longer exposure of a few seconds, which makes the colors look brighter than they do with the naked eye.
November 12, 2025 at 2:26 AM
News flash for Iowans: The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) visible, at least as far south as central Iowa. Look to the north.
These are not photoshopped—my phone camera did a longer exposure of a few seconds, which makes the colors look brighter than they do with the naked eye.
These are not photoshopped—my phone camera did a longer exposure of a few seconds, which makes the colors look brighter than they do with the naked eye.
Is hell freezing over?
For context: Keosauqua is in one of the reddest counties in #IA01. It's a pretty long drive from any large city and not part of any major Iowa media market (it's in the Ottumwa/Kirksville MO market).
I'm not able to attend. Hope someone records this.
For context: Keosauqua is in one of the reddest counties in #IA01. It's a pretty long drive from any large city and not part of any major Iowa media market (it's in the Ottumwa/Kirksville MO market).
I'm not able to attend. Hope someone records this.
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Is hell freezing over?
For context: Keosauqua is in one of the reddest counties in #IA01. It's a pretty long drive from any large city and not part of any major Iowa media market (it's in the Ottumwa/Kirksville MO market).
I'm not able to attend. Hope someone records this.
For context: Keosauqua is in one of the reddest counties in #IA01. It's a pretty long drive from any large city and not part of any major Iowa media market (it's in the Ottumwa/Kirksville MO market).
I'm not able to attend. Hope someone records this.
@dieworkwear.bsky.social
I'm sure you are inundated with requests, but can you please explain what is going on with my member of Congress (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03)? Are these shirts the wrong fabric? The wrong size? Why are they like that?
(from his Facebook page)
www.facebook.com/RepZachNunn
I'm sure you are inundated with requests, but can you please explain what is going on with my member of Congress (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03)? Are these shirts the wrong fabric? The wrong size? Why are they like that?
(from his Facebook page)
www.facebook.com/RepZachNunn
October 27, 2025 at 3:28 AM
@dieworkwear.bsky.social
I'm sure you are inundated with requests, but can you please explain what is going on with my member of Congress (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03)? Are these shirts the wrong fabric? The wrong size? Why are they like that?
(from his Facebook page)
www.facebook.com/RepZachNunn
I'm sure you are inundated with requests, but can you please explain what is going on with my member of Congress (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03)? Are these shirts the wrong fabric? The wrong size? Why are they like that?
(from his Facebook page)
www.facebook.com/RepZachNunn
Very sad news: State Senator Claire Celsi has passed away.
I knew her before she ran for office and considered her a friend. After redistricting in 2021 she became my senator.
Let me know if you'd like to share any memories for a Bleeding Heartland post about her.
(photo by @greghauenstein.com)
I knew her before she ran for office and considered her a friend. After redistricting in 2021 she became my senator.
Let me know if you'd like to share any memories for a Bleeding Heartland post about her.
(photo by @greghauenstein.com)
October 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Very sad news: State Senator Claire Celsi has passed away.
I knew her before she ran for office and considered her a friend. After redistricting in 2021 she became my senator.
Let me know if you'd like to share any memories for a Bleeding Heartland post about her.
(photo by @greghauenstein.com)
I knew her before she ran for office and considered her a friend. After redistricting in 2021 she became my senator.
Let me know if you'd like to share any memories for a Bleeding Heartland post about her.
(photo by @greghauenstein.com)
Forgot to post this earlier: Statement from Iowa State Education Association (largest teachers union).
"Since being hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, we have known Dr. Roberts to be a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community." 1/
"Since being hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, we have known Dr. Roberts to be a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community." 1/
September 27, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Forgot to post this earlier: Statement from Iowa State Education Association (largest teachers union).
"Since being hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, we have known Dr. Roberts to be a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community." 1/
"Since being hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, we have known Dr. Roberts to be a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community." 1/
Statement from Iowa State Education Association:
September 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Statement from Iowa State Education Association:
Trump's man at the FCC used to feel differently about censoring speech the government doesn't like.
"The FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the 'public interest.'"
"The FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the 'public interest.'"
September 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Trump's man at the FCC used to feel differently about censoring speech the government doesn't like.
"The FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the 'public interest.'"
"The FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the 'public interest.'"
Iowa Supreme Court Justice Matthew McDermott is in the Iowa Senate chamber to swear in Catelin Drey this morning.
September 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Iowa Supreme Court Justice Matthew McDermott is in the Iowa Senate chamber to swear in Catelin Drey this morning.
Full house in Winterset for @robsandia.bsky.social’s town hall.
September 13, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Full house in Winterset for @robsandia.bsky.social’s town hall.
How long before "violent black underclass" shows up in a SCOTUS ruling to justify racial profiling in other contexts?
This is Article III Project head Mike Davis:
This is Article III Project head Mike Davis:
September 9, 2025 at 2:27 AM
How long before "violent black underclass" shows up in a SCOTUS ruling to justify racial profiling in other contexts?
This is Article III Project head Mike Davis:
This is Article III Project head Mike Davis:
Can't pass up a chance to post Chuck Grassley's official legislative photo from 1959, his first year in the Iowa House.
August 23, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Can't pass up a chance to post Chuck Grassley's official legislative photo from 1959, his first year in the Iowa House.
I’m at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, a big event in Clear Lake. Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner is walking the room with a QR code for people to support Catelin Drey in the August 26 special election in Sioux City.
August 14, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I’m at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, a big event in Clear Lake. Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner is walking the room with a QR code for people to support Catelin Drey in the August 26 special election in Sioux City.
Challenge: post your last photo taken in D.C. to show what a hell hole it is
August 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Challenge: post your last photo taken in D.C. to show what a hell hole it is
Exhibit showing the topography of Pammel State Park in Madison County, Iowa. The raised “backbone” supports oak savanna habitat including some trees that are more than 300 years old.
July 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Exhibit showing the topography of Pammel State Park in Madison County, Iowa. The raised “backbone” supports oak savanna habitat including some trees that are more than 300 years old.
On the other site, Mike Davis (leader of the Article III Project, who has called himself "Trump's viceroy" and has been called Trump's "troll-in-chief") is working furiously to get people to stop talking about the Epstein files.
If anyone knows about preying on conspiracy theorists, it would be him.
If anyone knows about preying on conspiracy theorists, it would be him.
July 16, 2025 at 3:33 AM
On the other site, Mike Davis (leader of the Article III Project, who has called himself "Trump's viceroy" and has been called Trump's "troll-in-chief") is working furiously to get people to stop talking about the Epstein files.
If anyone knows about preying on conspiracy theorists, it would be him.
If anyone knows about preying on conspiracy theorists, it would be him.
LOL at latest email blast from Sarah Trone Garriott's #IA03 campaign: "Errand boys do what they’re told" @sarahforiowa.bsky.social
July 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
LOL at latest email blast from Sarah Trone Garriott's #IA03 campaign: "Errand boys do what they’re told" @sarahforiowa.bsky.social
On the other site, #IA01 Mariannette Miller-Meeks is spinning the reconciliation bill as a historic investment in rural hospitals.
Meanwhile the American Hospital Assoc says enacting nearly $1 trillin in Medicaid cuts would do "irreparable harm to our health care system" www.aha.org/press-releas...
Meanwhile the American Hospital Assoc says enacting nearly $1 trillin in Medicaid cuts would do "irreparable harm to our health care system" www.aha.org/press-releas...
July 3, 2025 at 2:43 AM
On the other site, #IA01 Mariannette Miller-Meeks is spinning the reconciliation bill as a historic investment in rural hospitals.
Meanwhile the American Hospital Assoc says enacting nearly $1 trillin in Medicaid cuts would do "irreparable harm to our health care system" www.aha.org/press-releas...
Meanwhile the American Hospital Assoc says enacting nearly $1 trillin in Medicaid cuts would do "irreparable harm to our health care system" www.aha.org/press-releas...
Former state legislators Andy McKean and Pam Jochum speaking at the Grassroots Iowa Network’s first gathering in Monticello.
June 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Former state legislators Andy McKean and Pam Jochum speaking at the Grassroots Iowa Network’s first gathering in Monticello.
Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute is paying for Facebook ads thanking Governor Kim Reynolds for vetoing the eminent domain/pipeline bill.
It was designed to stop Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project but opponents claimed it would affect other pipelines as well.
It was designed to stop Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project but opponents claimed it would affect other pipelines as well.
June 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute is paying for Facebook ads thanking Governor Kim Reynolds for vetoing the eminent domain/pipeline bill.
It was designed to stop Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project but opponents claimed it would affect other pipelines as well.
It was designed to stop Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project but opponents claimed it would affect other pipelines as well.
Inbox: Iowa Health Officials Confirm Third Measles Case in the State
The patient is an unvaccinated child who was exposed during international travel.
While contagious, the infected person visited Costco, Walmart, and Marshalls locations in Iowa City and Coralville.
The patient is an unvaccinated child who was exposed during international travel.
While contagious, the infected person visited Costco, Walmart, and Marshalls locations in Iowa City and Coralville.
June 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Inbox: Iowa Health Officials Confirm Third Measles Case in the State
The patient is an unvaccinated child who was exposed during international travel.
While contagious, the infected person visited Costco, Walmart, and Marshalls locations in Iowa City and Coralville.
The patient is an unvaccinated child who was exposed during international travel.
While contagious, the infected person visited Costco, Walmart, and Marshalls locations in Iowa City and Coralville.