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Deep dives, no paywall
You wouldn't have subscribed to this newsletter if you didn't value what I bring to the table at Bleeding Heartland or as a co-host on KHOI Radio’s “Capitol Week.” Since I started covering Iowa politics fifteen years ago, traditional newsrooms have shrunk. Every day, I'm on the lookout for news other media aren't covering, or a way to provide more depth or a different perspective on a top story of the day.
On this Small Business Saturday, I encourage readers to buy local when possible. If someone on your gift list doesn’t need or want new “things,” please consider investing in independent journalism.
So far in 2022, Bleeding Heartland has published more than 530 articles and commentaries, featuring the work of more than 120 authors. Most of that material didn't appear anywhere else. For regular emails linking to all recent coverage on the site, subscribe to the free Evening Heartland newsletter.
Dennis Hart and I have discussed Iowa political news on around 45 radio programs. This Substack has allowed me to share KHOI audio clips and “Capitol Week” recaps with a wider audience.
Exclusive reporting
I’m proud to have published exclusives about a wide range of Iowa political topics this year. Some of those stories involved months of digging, like John Morrissey's reporting on what we know (and don't know) about last year's single-vehicle crash that killed a state trooper.
Some involved scores of phone calls and emails, like my analysis of the hundreds of Iowans who weren't able to cast a ballot in the June primary, due to recent changes in election law.
Some involved multiple public records requests, like my coverage of Governor Kim Reynolds playing "musical chairs" (and circumventing the Iowa Senate confirmation process) to stack an important state board with Republicans.
Bleeding Heartland was the only Iowa news organization to cover how U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks used taxpayer funds to pay for radio ads highlighting top campaign issues for House Republicans. Or how Gannett used the Des Moines Register’s plant to publish fake newspapers. Or how the governor was comped space to deliver the State of the Union response from a government building that would normally cost thousands of dollars to rent. (I later learned a state ethics board gave her staff advance approval of that move.)
Deep dives
During the 2022 legislative session, guest authors and I dug into some of the important bills considered or approved, often with highlights from the Iowa House or Senate debates.
Most Bleeding Heartland posts about campaigns and elections avoided a horse-race focus. I looked closely at campaign finance reports and offered unique analysis about Iowa’s primary and general electorate. I covered the Abby Finkenauer signature petitions fiasco (and resulting litigation) in depth and highlighted trends related to Iowa’s third-party candidates and growing diversity in the state House and Senate.
I closely followed the political and legal fallout from the Iowa Supreme Court's reversal on abortion rights and the demise of Roe v Wade. Many readers valued my review of how two Iowa Supreme Court justices who were up for retention this year had approached big cases.
Insightful commentary
Julie Gammack was inspired to form the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative because many traditional newspapers cut back on their staff editorials and op-ed pages. Similarly, I'm committed to providing a platform at Bleeding Heartland for diverse voices to weigh in on matters of local, state, or national importance.
On the analytical side, guest author Dan Guild wrote an outstanding series analyzing polls on the generic Congressional ballot and battleground U.S. Senate races. Over the summer, Dan was on to a big anomaly in the data: Democratic candidates were running well ahead of President Joe Biden’s approval numbers. Around Labor Day, he explored the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. A couple of weeks before the election, he highlighted one “big story” that wasn’t getting enough media attention: “Democrats are competitive despite relatively high inflation and an unpopular president.” Iowa’s red wave notwithstanding, that turned out to be the story of the 2022 elections in much of the country.
Other guest authors shared reflections about painful memories related to Iowa politics, health challenges, their first-hand experience with mounting student loan debt, or their work at the Des Moines Register or in other newsrooms during the glory days for mainstream political reporting.
No paywall
I believe everyone should be able to read the news regardless of what's in their bank account. So keeping all Bleeding Heartland content (and everything I write for this Substack) available for free is a core value for me.
However, this style of reporting is labor-intensive. Support from readers who can afford to give allows me to cover operating costs—including my salary, technical support, web hosting fees, and fees for public records requests—without selling advertisements, charging for subscriptions, or putting the most newsworthy material behind a paywall.
To avoid conflicts of interest, I don't accept financial support from Iowa elected officials, candidates, or paid staff and consultants on Iowa campaigns. For readers who don’t fall into those groups, Substack makes it easy to contribute monthly or annually.
To make a one-time or recurring gift using a credit card, click here. Bleeding Heartland also has accounts on Venmo, PayPal, and Patreon, for those who prefer to contribute that way.
To donate via personal check made out to Bleeding Heartland, LLC, please contact me for the best mailing address: laurabelin@substack.com.
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Important note: Donations are not tax deductible, since Bleeding Heartland is organized as an LLC.
I’m incredibly grateful to all who read or share my work, and especially to those who send tips about stories worth investigating. Please enjoy a safe and restful holiday weekend.
Best wishes,
Laura