Lyle Muller
@lylemuller.bsky.social
Freelance journalist, retired; professional adviser for Grinnell College’s Scarlet & Black. Hawkeyes. Grandpa. "A MESSY CHURCH: An Iowa Church’s Journey Through United Methodist Celebrations, Controversies" author, buy it here https://bit.ly/46YXQbh
On Bleeding Heartland now.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/20/t...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/20/t...
The Gazette's new task: maintain local confidence, journalism
Lyle Muller, a former editor at The Gazette, considers whether the Cedar Rapids newspaper can maintain its capacity for local reporting.
www.bleedingheartland.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
On Bleeding Heartland now.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/20/t...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/11/20/t...
Fact-checking Trump’s call for an investigation into meatpacking companies investigatemidwest.org/2025/11/18/f...
Fact-checking Trump’s call for an investigation into meatpacking companies - Investigate Midwest
This month, President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the nation’s largest meatpacking companies for potential collusion and price fixing. “Action must be taken immediate...
investigatemidwest.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Fact-checking Trump’s call for an investigation into meatpacking companies investigatemidwest.org/2025/11/18/f...
Some love for Marshalltown, Iowa, which often does not get that love. Good read.
From Marshalltown to Manhattan: The Fisher Family Legacy
Each November of my high school years, our Iowa Girls High School Swimming and Diving Championship was held at the YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Some love for Marshalltown, Iowa, which often does not get that love. Good read.
“This has become the norm in Iowa. Leaders shield themselves behind growing teams of ‘communications specialists’ and insist they are simply too busy to answer questions about the very policies they oversee.”
open.substack.com/pub/davebusi...
open.substack.com/pub/davebusi...
Starved children, missed warnings – and officials too busy for questions
Task force goes dark – state leaders duck reporter
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:01 AM
“This has become the norm in Iowa. Leaders shield themselves behind growing teams of ‘communications specialists’ and insist they are simply too busy to answer questions about the very policies they oversee.”
open.substack.com/pub/davebusi...
open.substack.com/pub/davebusi...
Reposted by Lyle Muller
Five corporations control 90% of the US media market.
Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today.
Four giants control 80% of meat processing.
A handful of companies control the pharmaceutical industry.
The evidence of corporate concentration is everywhere.
Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today.
Four giants control 80% of meat processing.
A handful of companies control the pharmaceutical industry.
The evidence of corporate concentration is everywhere.
November 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Five corporations control 90% of the US media market.
Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today.
Four giants control 80% of meat processing.
A handful of companies control the pharmaceutical industry.
The evidence of corporate concentration is everywhere.
Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today.
Four giants control 80% of meat processing.
A handful of companies control the pharmaceutical industry.
The evidence of corporate concentration is everywhere.
NJ GOP congressman's former staffer charged in staged MAGA attack www.thehandbasket.co/p/rep-jeff-v...
NJ GOP congressman's former staffer charged in staged MAGA attack
Natalie Greene worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew and had body modifications to make it appear she'd been assaulted.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 AM
NJ GOP congressman's former staffer charged in staged MAGA attack www.thehandbasket.co/p/rep-jeff-v...
A conversation with The Gazette editor Zack Kucharski in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reveals his guarded hopes after the long-time locally owned paper moves to new owners. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
The Gazette's new task: maintain local confidence, journalism
A Minneapolis media company has bought the employee-owned Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids, ending local ownership dating to 1883
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:03 AM
A conversation with The Gazette editor Zack Kucharski in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reveals his guarded hopes after the long-time locally owned paper moves to new owners. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
The Gazette’s leaders sent an email to customers this morning. links.thegazette.com/emails/webvi...
A Note from Zack: The Gazette to be family-owned
links.thegazette.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:51 AM
The Gazette’s leaders sent an email to customers this morning. links.thegazette.com/emails/webvi...
I’m not the new guy anymore at the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Someone else has to make the coffee now. Meet her.
Millions for Marshalltown, Chickenization, and Farewell to Bill Knapp
...much more in this Flipside edition of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I’m not the new guy anymore at the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Someone else has to make the coffee now. Meet her.
The Anamosa City Council and Jones County Board of Supervisors in Iowa were in dispute over a 137-year-old bridge last year. Residents may only heard about it by happenstance except for one thing: a young reporter was there to write about it. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Be Thankful for Those Local News Reporters
For all the ways delivering news is changing, we still need dedicated reporters, especially in small Iowa towns
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The Anamosa City Council and Jones County Board of Supervisors in Iowa were in dispute over a 137-year-old bridge last year. Residents may only heard about it by happenstance except for one thing: a young reporter was there to write about it. open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
The Gazette editor Zack Kucharski says he expects local editorial autonomy under the new ownership of one of Iowa’s two largest newspapers. But will he have the necessary resources? open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
The Gazette's new task: maintain local confidence, journalism
A Minneapolis media company has bought the employee-owned Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids, ending local ownership dating to 1883
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The Gazette editor Zack Kucharski says he expects local editorial autonomy under the new ownership of one of Iowa’s two largest newspapers. But will he have the necessary resources? open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
The Gazette of Cedar Rapids is sold. The Gazette Family of Companies was gone long ago; seems like a distant memory. lylemuller.substack.com/p/the-gazett...
The Gazette's new task: maintain local confidence, journalism
A Minneapolis media company has bought the employee-owned Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids, ending local ownership dating to 1883
lylemuller.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:04 AM
The Gazette of Cedar Rapids is sold. The Gazette Family of Companies was gone long ago; seems like a distant memory. lylemuller.substack.com/p/the-gazett...
Be Thankful for Local News Reporters
open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
Be Thankful for Those Local News Reporters
For all the ways delivering news is changing, we still need dedicated reporters, especially in small Iowa towns
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Be Thankful for Local News Reporters
open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
open.substack.com/pub/lylemull...
A lot of people are doing great work for your benefit. They hardly are enemies of the state.
Be Thankful for Those Local News Reporters
For all the ways delivering news is changing, we still need dedicated reporters, especially in small Iowa towns
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A lot of people are doing great work for your benefit. They hardly are enemies of the state.
Deportation attempt in Iowa raised an interesting question until someone finally realized that you send Native Americans back to … well … um… open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
The toxic brew of prejudice and policies that nearly caused a Native American's deportation
Facebook post on Leticia Jacobo’s situation
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Deportation attempt in Iowa raised an interesting question until someone finally realized that you send Native Americans back to … well … um… open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
How knuckleheaded do you have to be to consider deporting Native Americans back to where they come from?
open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
The toxic brew of prejudice and policies that nearly caused a Native American's deportation
Facebook post on Leticia Jacobo’s situation
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:34 AM
How knuckleheaded do you have to be to consider deporting Native Americans back to where they come from?
open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
open.substack.com/pub/basurekh...
“THE GUARDIANS OF PEDOPHILES!!! They’re all going to Hell’” thus sayeth the lord.
open.substack.com/pub/thegodpo...
open.substack.com/pub/thegodpo...
Damn These MAGA Shills For Downplaying Epstein's Crimes
Oh yeah, they're all going to Hell.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
“THE GUARDIANS OF PEDOPHILES!!! They’re all going to Hell’” thus sayeth the lord.
open.substack.com/pub/thegodpo...
open.substack.com/pub/thegodpo...
'Live Storytelling' event returns to Iowa City with 5 remarkable speakers. TONIGHT in Iowa City. Fun event and fundraiser for quality reporting on Big Ag. investigatemidwest.org/2025/10/30/l...
'Live Storytelling' event returns to Iowa City with 5 remarkable speakers - Investigate Midwest
Join Investigate Midwest on Thursday, November 13 for an evening of live storytelling, community, and conversation at Trumpet Blossom Café in Iowa City.
investigatemidwest.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
'Live Storytelling' event returns to Iowa City with 5 remarkable speakers. TONIGHT in Iowa City. Fun event and fundraiser for quality reporting on Big Ag. investigatemidwest.org/2025/10/30/l...
Democrat who focuses on clean water issues exploring a run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. sentientmedia.org/chris-jones-.... @ninaelkadi.com
EXCLUSIVE: Clean Water Advocate Chris Jones Takes Step Toward Iowa Agriculture Secretary Run
“I think we need to rethink agriculture,” the professor-turned-advocate tells Sentient.
sentientmedia.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Democrat who focuses on clean water issues exploring a run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. sentientmedia.org/chris-jones-.... @ninaelkadi.com
“I want to share my story not because it’s unique, but because it’s far too common,” Bonnie Lipton, 71, wife of Pat Lipton, said.
From a Nov. 11 LGBTQIA forum at Grinnell United Methodist Church.
thesandb.com/53474/commun...
From a Nov. 11 LGBTQIA forum at Grinnell United Methodist Church.
thesandb.com/53474/commun...
From silence to pride: Grinnell LGBTQ+ residents share stories on love, loss and identity
When Pat Lipton led the search committee for her church’s next minister, she didn’t expect to find love. Nine years had passed since her second husband’s death, she said, and her world revolved aroun...
thesandb.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
“I want to share my story not because it’s unique, but because it’s far too common,” Bonnie Lipton, 71, wife of Pat Lipton, said.
From a Nov. 11 LGBTQIA forum at Grinnell United Methodist Church.
thesandb.com/53474/commun...
From a Nov. 11 LGBTQIA forum at Grinnell United Methodist Church.
thesandb.com/53474/commun...
Former Iowa Gov. Bob Ray had compassion for immigrants. We miss that leadership in Iowa. open.substack.com/pub/revans28...
WWBRD? What would Bob Ray do?
Three news events spotlight our nation’s lingering moral questions
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Former Iowa Gov. Bob Ray had compassion for immigrants. We miss that leadership in Iowa. open.substack.com/pub/revans28...
Federal judge says ICE detainees held in Iowa jails are denied due process iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/11/10/f...
Federal judge says ICE detainees held in Iowa jails are denied due process • Iowa Capital Dispatch
A federal judge has ordered bond hearings for two people being detained in Iowa county jails in asylum cases.
iowacapitaldispatch.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Federal judge says ICE detainees held in Iowa jails are denied due process iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/11/10/f...
Reposted by Lyle Muller
Kristi Noem ordered ICE to purchase ten Spirit Airlines jets for deportations. Two problems: Spirit doesn’t own the planes, and they don’t have engines. Has there ever been a more incompetent administration?
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
Noem wanted to buy Spirit Airlines planes - except the airline didn’t own them
DHS looked at buying the planes from Spirit Airlines, according to a report
www.the-independent.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Kristi Noem ordered ICE to purchase ten Spirit Airlines jets for deportations. Two problems: Spirit doesn’t own the planes, and they don’t have engines. Has there ever been a more incompetent administration?
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...