Month: June 2022

“Dear President Biden”

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For me, the film brings back so many memories of Bold Iowa’s 2019/2020 “Climate Bird Dog” effort leading up to the Iowa Caucuses. Dang, we did  good work! Over 200 activists statewide, hammering home the urgency of the climate crisis day after day to candidates in every nook and cranny of the state.

How did the President respond to Bold’s bird dogs? CLICK HERE TO VIEW THOSE INTERACTIONS. What do you think? Is Mr. Biden following through on his commitment to treat climate like a crisis? Continue Reading →

A Philosophy Super Bowl?

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What’s not to like about trains, right? Well, apparently quite a bit if you live in a community where a big railroad company proposes a major expansion of train traffic. Joining me to discuss that concern is the mayor of Bettendorf, Iowa, Bob Gallagher. My first reaction was, “More trains equals less pollution and highway-safety concerns. Good thing, right?” After talking with Bob, well, let’s just say there are a bunch of other concerns to consider before jumping to a conclusion. …

Also, Kathy Byrnes joins me to discuss peas. Ok, that sounds even more boring than a Philosophy Super Bowl. But really, what do you know about peas? Are you afraid to know more, huh? Maybe Kathy’s a little off-base to call peas “the perfect produce,” but … well, you’ll just to have to listen and see if you agree or disagree. Continue Reading →

We discuss abortion … and rabbits

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Joining me are Dr. Charles Goldman, attorney Joseph Glazebrook, and professor Carol Spaulding-Kruse. It’s a rock-star line up, and I hope you’ll listen to the program and share your feedback.

There are so many questions surrounding this sea change in a woman’s right to make her own decision when it comes to abortion. What will individual states do? Will anti-choice activists push for even more draconian erosions of personal liberty? Could the US Congress potentially preempt pro-choice states? Is it possible in today’s hyper-charged partisan environment to find common ground on preventing unintended pregnancies?

My guests and I tackle these questions and more. Again, feedback welcome. Continue Reading →

Let’s get real on gun safety

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HERE’S THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM, with a hard, serious focus on gun violence. Joining me are State Rep. Ako Abdul Samad and Dr. Charles Goldman. It’s an enlightened and enlightening conversation, and I’ll simply encourage you to give it a listen and share your feedback.

But before you do: Based on the sad reality that not a single so-called “advanced” country anywhere in the world has a gun-violence problem like the US, I’ll pose one question for you:

How do we improve gun safety and keep the most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the hands of the most dangerous people?

Ok, that’s two questions. Feedback, responses, insights welcome. Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! Continue Reading →

Heckling a Congresswoman? Hunting deer with AR15s?

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When it comes to political activism, we need a broad change of strategies in the toolbox. But heckling? No. That’s never cool. It’s especially troubling when a Democratic candidate for the Iowa House heckles Congresswoman Axne, Iowa’s only Democratic member of Congress, to the point that she has to shut down the event before others in attendance are able to ask their questions.

Whatever craziness exists on the Left is often dwarfed by what the Right has to offer. Enter the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature. On the very last day of session — the same day as the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas — Republicans passed legislation allowing deer to be gunned down with AR15s. That’s a special, and dangerous, kind of crazy that makes heckling look tame. Continue Reading →