I have been thinking about ways we could reform our government to be functional and work for everyone again. What reforms would you propose?

Iowa GOP politicians thought it was important to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on investigating Hunter Biden’s laptop.

Yet don’t think it’s necessary for the Matt Gaetz ethics probe to be released.

How they are able to keep a straight face while spewing their nonsense is beyond comprehension.

Face it: the Iowa Democratic Party is irrelevant. Beyond losing national influence due to the demise of the Iowa Caucuses, Iowa Democrats have almost zero power to affect public policy at the state level.

In case you disagree, here's a quick reminder:

-- All six of Iowa's members of Congress are Republican.

-- Only one Democrat holds statewide office, Auditor Rob Sand, who barely won re-election in 2022 against a little-known, poorly-funded opponent.

-- Democrats in the Iowa House dropped from 47 seats six years ago to 33 today. In the Iowa Senate, Democrats hold a mere 15 seats, down from 19 seats six years ago.

-- Democrats account for 29.2% of registered voters, down from 34.5% in 2008 when Democrats held the state government trifecta.

Anybody want to argue that this isn't the very definition of irrelevance? I'm up for that argument. If the Democratic Party doesn't undergo a radical transformation, permanent minority-party status is practically guaranteed.

But there is a path back to relevance, one that could lead to parity with Republicans by the end of the decade, and perhaps even majority party status in the years to come.

It's a path most political operatives will reject out of hand. It begins with recognition that the Democratic Party brand is so tarnished that, in many races, it'd be better

So, here's my four-part, tough-love proposal on how to fix things:

1. ELECTIONS. Other than supporting Rob Sand, should he decide to run for governor in 2026, the Party shouldn't waste its time on elections over the next two cycles. If that sounds like the antithesis of what it means to be a political party, read on.

2. LEADERSHIP. Invite all registered Democrats to vote for a new Party chair and an entirely new state central committee. Conduct the election by mail and email over a tight, two-month period. Give rank-and-file Democrats a chance to weigh in on Party leadership without having to slog through day-long county, district, and state conventions.

3. MONEY. Dedicate only a minimal amount of staff time to fundraising. Accept no donations from corporate political action committees or any individual donation over $2,500.

4. REFOCUS. Most important, transition the Party from an overtly political entity to a grassroots, public service organization. Call it something like "Caring Democrats" (I'm just shooting from the hip here). Seed CDs in every city and county in Iowa. Focus on local, even personal, challenges that directly impact people's lives. Wear a shirt, hat, or button identifying you as a CD.

CDs should be eager to help where ever they're needed.

An older woman living alone in Lorimor needs a broken window fixed before winter. That's a great job for the Lorimor CDs to tackle.

A Mexican-American family in Denison needs help learning English. Denison CDs are there to help.

Parents of children in the Orient-Macksburg School District are concerned about the proposed closing of their school. That's a great opportunity for the Orient CDs to offer perspective, organizing skills, and assistance.

When it comes to bigger issues, such as the proposed CO2 Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, city and county CDs along the proposed pipeline route could advocate that eminent domain not be used to build the pipeline. They could also help landowners directly in the pipeline's path in very specific, personal ways, since many landowners must spend painful amounts of time, money, and effort fighting the pipeline.

In Cedar Rapids, when union members went on strike against Cargill, local CD groups could have joined workers on the picket line, brought meals to families impacted by the strike, and supported workers in so many ways.

Who does this work? Mostly volunteers, facilitated by a scaled-back state party staff, with field staff in low-budget offices around the state.

Bottom line, successful political organizing with an eye toward the long haul is less about broad, national issues and "messaging." It's more about listening to people where they live, standing with them in the struggles that affect them directly, and making a clear and immediate difference in their lives.

I think this'd be a very effective strategy for Democrats. But I kinda doubt the Party's leadership will agree. Maybe a third party -- Green, Libertarian, or Forward -- could effectively employ the strategy. For sure, in the two-party system America is stuck with, there's a clear relevance gap to be filled.

Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action. -- Ed Fallon

Let’s not beat around the bush, Iowa: this incoming administration is more than just another political shift. What’s headed our way is a full-on power grab by the richest, greediest, most out-of-touch handful of people this country’s ever known. These folks aren’t coming to make our lives better—they’re coming to make a profit off our backs, and they won’t flinch as they dismantle the rights, opportunities, and communities we hold dear.

Here’s what we can realistically expect by the end of year one:

1. Our Land and Water Sacrificed for Corporate Greed

Big Ag and megacorps are about to go on a looting spree, folks. Regulations protecting our water sources will be slashed to ribbons. Look out for more pesticide runoff, chemical dumping, and, yeah, more cancerous sludge in the rivers our kids play in and our livestock drink from. We’re going to see corporations roll into small towns with promises of jobs and leave behind toxic messes once they’ve milked every dollar they can squeeze. And they won’t be footing the bill—we will.

2. Healthcare Will Become a Privilege, Not a Right

If you think healthcare in Iowa is tough to afford now, buckle up. Medicaid cuts are coming, and any hope of expanding healthcare access will be buried. Rural hospitals will shut their doors at an even faster rate, and those of us outside the biggest cities will have to drive further, wait longer, and pay more for basic care. You’ll hear a lot of talk about “reducing government waste,” but it’s not waste they’re targeting—it’s life-saving healthcare for our families.

3. Our Wages Stagnate While Profits Skyrocket

Remember the promises of “jobs” and “growth”? Here’s the truth: those promises were bait, pure and simple. New “jobs” coming our way will be low-wage, no-benefit scraps, while state tax cuts let the wealthiest walk away with bigger bonuses. The “economic boom” we’ll hear about will be profits going straight to the top, leaving Iowa’s workers with the same paychecks and higher costs of living. Meanwhile, any talk of increasing minimum wage or labor protections? Forget it. They’ll be shredded.

4. Farmers Squeezed Out, Mega-Farms Reign Supreme

Small family farms are about to take another hit. Our land will be sold off to international mega-farms, and traditional family farms that have sustained generations of Iowans will continue to vanish. These mega-farms are lined up to buy our politicians and drive out competition, and they’re not here for stewardship—they’re here for the cash crop, for as much water and land as they can suck dry before moving on. Say goodbye to local produce and diverse agriculture; say hello to a monoculture wasteland.

5. Schools Defunded, Education Privatized

Public education as we know it will get gutted. Public funds will be siphoned to for-profit “academies” and private schools under the guise of “choice,” leaving public schools in the dust. Class sizes will explode, teachers will quit in droves, and what was once a solid education system for everyone will become a luxury only a few can afford. The children of working-class families will suffer, while the wealthy will send their kids to pristine private schools, untouched by the cuts.

6. An Atmosphere of Fear, Division, and Surveillance

This regime will thrive on sowing fear, on making us suspicious of each other while they rig the game at the top. Expect to see an increase in surveillance, police presence, and heavy-handed crackdowns on dissenters. Don’t be surprised when neighbors are pitted against neighbors, when some people are treated as threats simply because of their skin color, faith, or accent. This isn’t “keeping us safe”—it’s keeping us controlled.

So What Can We Do?

Some of you reading this may be nodding along, seeing the writing on the wall. Others might feel angry, frustrated, helpless. That’s fair. But make no mistake: we’re not powerless here. We still have our voices, our votes, and the power to hold these leaders accountable, locally and beyond.

Talk to your neighbors. Show up at city council meetings. Support local journalism. Work together to protect your community’s interests because the people coming to power aren’t going to do it for you.

This year isn’t just going to be tough—it’s going to be a wake-up call. They’re counting on us staying quiet, staying divided. But here’s the truth: they don’t own Iowa. We do. And it’s time we acted like it.

Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep organizing. And let’s make damn sure that this fight isn’t one they’ll ever forget.

Why has no politician brought up this issue? Let alone news outlets? Clearly you can see updates about this on Iowa hhs website.

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hospitals-file-lawsuit-bar-hhs-ban-third-party-web-trackers

You can see for your self about this on HHS website for seeing how they are protected from any accountability and the immense under reporting in this doesn’t make me want to trust visiting their site. Clearly, this is more than a huge violation.

Well this is really alarming and under reported about. It just randomly was emailed to me from another site that I subscribe to about cybersecurity.

Supposedly HHS in Iowa was and possibly still is; maliciously stealing people’s information through online trackers. …..if people clicked onto their website pretty much they were being monitored and spied upon.

Watching everything they typed, every word, and even there location and where abouts, and to people’s information being sold off to scam companies. This recently happened. And hhs knew it was going on as they were all using the web beacons and trackers for their own profit.

A gov. Agency who supposedly is to be helping the people— have been found to be actually stalking/monitoring and or following peoples locations. They have been Caught using private information as a weapon against individuals and corporations.

Talk about not surprised.

Anyone like to explain what this means for anyone who’s visited their site? Their future cases, any possibility of them keeping all this data they’ve been collecting? I

I just read where all republicans signed a letter to the White House that they had no intention of advancing or signing in bills (not that they have done anything anyway). Apparently pissed off Donald Trump was found guilty. We need to vote out Zack Nunn, and all the other Republicans in the state. Their job is to be there to do things for the people even if that means compromising. Both sides need to compromise. Instead, they’re taking their cues from a convicted felon. They are not there for us and they should not be paid either. Vote them out!!!!

https://substack.com/@davebusiek1?r=edv0t&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile