Iowa Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers Iowa politics, caucus developments, rural policy priorities, and the Hawkeye State’s outsized influence on national elections and conservative movement leadership.
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news
Korean War Veteran Fights, Wins Battle to Restore Iowa Town’s US Flag
An elderly Korean War veteran and a few hundred dollars were all it took to get the City Council of Independence, Iowa, to reverse its decisions to stop flying the city’s most prominent American flag and not to keep its welcome sign illuminated. Before Memorial Day, after waiting for others to step up and fund… -
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Student Sues Over Iowa State’s ‘Speech Code’
A 34-year-old student at Iowa State University is suing the school over what he calls an “unconstitutional speech code.” The student, Robert Dunn, says the university is forcing him to compromise his First Amendment rights by complying with “overly broad and vague” anti-discrimination and harassment policies. Failing to agree to abide by the policies, he… -
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Iowa Civil Rights Agency Says It Won’t Tell Pastors What to Preach on Sexuality
Iowa’s human rights agency, in a “clarification,” says it will not muzzle churches that teach on matters of biblical sexuality, nor force them to open single-sex restrooms to members of the opposite sex. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission said it has revised its brochure on “Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity” to state that churches generally are… -
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After Iowa Governor Calls for Bible-Reading Marathon, Groups Threaten to Sue
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is encouraging citizens of his state to spend more time reading the Bible, by calling for a Bible-reading marathon. However, a couple of organizations are threatening to sue over what they believe is a violation of the separation between church and state. Branstad, a Republican, signed a proclamation encouraging Iowans to… -
opinion
The Biggest Loser in Iowa
One of the biggest losers in Iowa this week wasn’t officially on the presidential ballot. I’m talking about ethanol subsidies. Political wisdom has always said candidates must support government handouts to Iowa’s corn farmers in order to win elections in the state. The results of the Iowa caucus proved such “wisdom” wrong. Here’s the deal… -
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Franklin Graham at Iowa Prayer Rally: ‘America Needs the Christian Vote’
DES MOINES, Iowa—Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed for what he called America's needs during a rally he led from the steps of the Iowa State Capitol. “Right now we need to get godly men and women to vote and to run for office,” Graham said. “Your vote counts. America needs the Christian vote.” Graham, the eldest… -
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What 4 Democrat Presidential Candidates Said At Iowa Wing Ding Dinner
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa— Democratic presidential candidates spoke at a historic rock and roll landmark here Friday night, with each using the Iowa Wing Ding dinner to lay out their policies. #WingDing dinner 2015 pic.twitter.com/6XvHPLQvWO — Leah Jessen (@_LeahKay_) August 15, 2015 Guest speakers were former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland… -
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What Democratic Presidential Candidates Said at Iowa Presidential Forum
ALTOONA, Iowa—While many 2016 presidential candidates are in Ohio tonight for the first Republican national debate, Democratic presidential candidates gathered in Iowa this afternoon at a presidential forum to show their support for workers and labor unions. Candidates were given three minutes to make opening remarks, answered a series of questions posed by a panel… -
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Domestic Sex Trafficking Survivors Find Hope in Small-Town Iowa Halfway Home
DES MOINES, Iowa–At the intersection of two of the nation’s largest highways, I-35 and I-80, sits the Des Moines, Iowa metro area, known for its small-town feel, farmer’s markets and frequent visits from presidential campaign hopefuls. Less well-known is the fact that the area has become a crossroads for domestic sex trafficking—an industry that claims… -
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On the Trail in Iowa, Mike Huckabee Prioritizes Economy, National Security
ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa—Shaping his message around the economy and national security, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke in small-town Iowa at the library and community center Thursday evening. “Jobs are the single most important thing we have to get underway for people to see an economic recovery,” he said. “There’s nothing that we need more… -
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Martin O’Malley at Iowa Caucus Forum Series: Wants an ‘Inclusive’ Economy
DES MOINES, Iowa—Former governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley spoke at the Iowa Caucus Consortium 2016 Candidate Series in Des Moines Friday afternoon. O’Malley said he votes for the “sensible rebalancing” of the economy. “Together we have to choose to make a more inclusive economy that works for all of our people,” O’Malley said. The Caucus… -
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What 10 Republican Presidential Candidates Said in Iowa This Weekend
AMES, Iowa—“How many of you by show of hands are better off today than your parents were when they were your age?” Frank Luntz, a national political consultant, polled the audience at the Family Leadership Summit on Saturday. “It’s almost everybody.” Luntz, who moderated discussions with 10 Republican 2016 presidential candidates while onstage at Stephens… -
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Kicking off Iowa Bus Tour, Scott Walker Declares Biggest Threat as ‘Radical Islamic Terrorism’
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – With a goal of hitting all 99 counties here traveling by Winnebago bus, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker introduced himself Sunday to Iowans. “The rest of the world needs to know that there is no greater friend and no worse enemy than the United States of America,” Walker told voters here, who… -
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Here’s What 5 Democratic Presidential Candidates Told Their Party Faithful in Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—All five 2016 presidential candidates on the Democratic ticket spoke from the same stage Friday evening in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders and Jim Webb addressed more than 1,200 Iowa Democrats during a dinner celebration honoring hall of fame inductees into the Iowa Democratic Party. The… -
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Iowa Doctors Can Now Administer Abortion Pills Through Webcam
It is now legal for physicians in Iowa to administer abortion-inducing pills by webcam. Last month, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled a ban on using webcam communication to administer abortion-inducing pills was unconstitutional. This telemedicine abortion procedure, used only at Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa and Minnesota, is banned in 18 other states for safety… -
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Mike Huckabee in Iowa: ‘Religious Liberty Is the Foundation of All Our Liberties’
FORT DODGE, Iowa—Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee—who won Iowa’s Republican caucuses in 2008—joined a room full of Iowans this morning to lay out the policies he would promote during his latest presidential run. Huckabee, who especially succeeded in winning over evangelicals in 2008, focused much of his speech on religious liberty, which he called “the… -
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Avian Flu Could Be the ‘Worst Animal Disease Outbreak’ in Iowa’s History. Why That Matters.
Almost 50 million bird flocks in more than 20 states, not to mention the biosecurity of the nation, seem to be under the weather with the current Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Poultry Association, called it the “worst animal disease outbreak in the history of Iowa and potentially… -
news
John Kasich Makes His Way to Iowa for First Time in 16 Years
DES MOINES, Iowa—After more than 16 years without a visit to the Hawkeye State, Ohio Gov. John Kasich headed to Iowa yesterday to tout his record as governor and make the case to voters that he should be the Republican with a shot at the White House. Kasich, who appeared comfortable with the audience, spoke… -
news
The Issue That May Determine Who Wins Iowa
With the race to the White House in full swing and the Iowa Caucus less than eight months away, one issue hits Iowans closer to home than most: renewable fuels. At a briefing in Washington this week, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association emphasized that exceedingly local issues like ethanol and biodiesel will play big in… -
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Why This Iowa Principal Is Thankful for School Choice
WELLSBURG, Iowa—For this coming fall, Timothy Christian School will welcome just 45 students in kindergarten through 8th grade—the fewest to begin an academic year since the school opened in 1941. In a state where 30 entire school districts have been eliminated in the last decade and more than 4,000 have been wiped out since 1950,…