Category Archives: Weekly Updates

Silencing Israel’s critics

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Check out this week’s podcast/radio program and give me your take on my conversation with Jeffrey Weiss. Jeffrey will blush when I say this: He’s a central Iowa treasure when it comes to analyzing foreign policy. He’s also not afraid to join a march, rally, or protest and have fun while making an important statement. (See photo for proof.)

ISRAEL-PALESTINE. Jeffrey and I discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and why there is so much push back against pro-Palestinian perspectives. For example, the bizarre decision by the Iowa Democratic Party to call for the resignation of three leaders with the University of Iowa’s University Democrats for writing a statement that included this: “Not only do we preach tolerance, but as an organization we emphasize education. The actions of the Israeli government are not the actions of Jews, and the actions of Hamas are not the actions of Palestinians or Muslims.”

Jeffrey and I also discuss the expression “from the river to the sea.”

We disagree about the political influence of AIPAC. Jeffrey feels the group’s impact is waning. I’m not at all convinced. Continue Reading →

Kathy’s favorite farm and food lady

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We wrap up this week’s podcast and radio show with Kathy paying tribute to her Aunt Marian, who died this month at the glorious age of 99.

Marian was Kathy’s mom’s older sister and the mother of twelve children. In addition to an old-school farming operation with hogs, corn, beans, alfalfa, and sorghum, Marian ruled over a huge garden and two full kitchens!

Between preserving food for the winter and serving three meals a day to 14 people, the kitchens pretty much ran full-time. Marian’s apple pies in particular were known far and wide.

It’s my contention that 21st century America has much to learn from Marian Smith and the farming practices of a bygone era. As supply chains are further disrupted from climate change and other calamities, large gardens and small-scale meat production will become necessities, not novelties.  Continue Reading →

Veterans Day reflections

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Dear Friends, LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM Before I share my Veterans Day reflection, here’s an outline of this week’s program: First, I interview author Lawrence MacDonald about his book, Continue Reading →

Tuesday’s election, Biden’s polls, and my presidential prediction

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We’re a year out from the 2024 presidential election, yet I’m ready to pick a winner. My prediction might surprise you. But first, some thoughts on Tuesday’s election:

DES MOINES. Some say voters rejected the message of progressive candidates for Mayor and City Council. I don’t see it that way. Candidates’ messages were fine, for the most part. But it’s hard to beat an incumbent. Between name recognition and the big money it often attracts (it did), incumbents and defacto incumbents won all five races.

Speaking of being outspent, I hadn’t intended to be the only public voice opposed to spending $350 million to expand the airport. It turns out I was. I spent $0. Airport proponents spent at least $30,000. My side lost 80%-20%. Ouch.

The biggest news locally was the suburban school board elections. The candidates supported by a far-right “Christian” organization lost. All of them. Yup. The radical religious right got its clock cleaned and its Bible thumped. Good to know that Iowans aren’t inclined to live in a theocracy. Continue Reading →

Climate is on the ballot

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No matter where you live, the ballot you fill out on November 7 will impact the climate crisis. Maybe there’s a candidate committed to serious climate action running for city council. Maybe there’s a ballot initiative or referendum with a climate impact.

That’s the case in Polk County, Iowa. Public Measure A wants voters to approve a $350 million bond to expand the airport, which would have a resoundingly negative climate impact. 

I’ve never been good at sugar-coating my message, so to be blunt:

If you support building a bigger airport to increase air travel, you aren’t serious about the climate crisis.

From an online search: “Air travel accounts for about 4 percent of human-induced global warming, and the United Nations warns that airplane emissions are set to triple by 2050.”
Continue Reading →

We beat Valero and BlackRock!

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The Navigator CO2 Pipeline — brought to you by the warm-and-fuzzy corporate duo of Valero and BlackRock — is officially dead. That’s right. We, the People, beat two Fortune 500 companies!

CO2 pipeline proposals by Summit and Wolf remain live rounds. But landowners along the Wolf route haven’t heard a peep from Wolf since March. And Summit just announced its pipeline would be delayed by two years. These developments are encouraging.

Here’s my analysis as to why we prevailed against Navigator and will eventually defeat Summit and Wolf: Continue Reading →

Meet Gary, my #1 detractor

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Most of the feedback I receive about my radio show, podcast, and blog is positive. There’s a fair amount of criticism, too, and much of that is solid. Sometimes, it causes me to rethink my position.

Then there’s Gary. He’s my most reliable detractor. I discuss my correspondence with him on this week’s program . Here’s a sampling of our back-and-forth:

CO 2 PIPELINES

Gary: The Democrat Party is the driver behind building CO2 pipelines.

Me: It’s crystal clear to all involved that Republican mega-donor Bruce Rastetter is the leading force behind the Summit pipeline. Of course, President Biden signed the legislation that expands the tax credits for CO2 pipelines. So there’s bipartisan culpability.

Gary: Anyone can receive a fair accommodation for pipelines crossing their property … contrary to all the LIES Democrats are telling.

Me: So you’re ok with Big Government allowing a Big Corporation to forcibly take someone’s land through eminent domain as long as they receive what you determine to be “fair accommodation”? Continue Reading →

Fired for refusing to fly?

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Grimalda had been conducting climate research in Papua New Guinea. He understands air travel’s significant contribution to climate change and tries to practice what he preaches. So last February, Grimalda managed the 14,000-mile journey to Papua New Guinea on cargo ships, ferries, trains, and buses. It took him 35 days.

Grimalda intended to travel back to Germany under the same conveyance, saving an estimated 7.2 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, round trip. Yet he was told by his employer, Kiel Institute for World Economy, that if he was not at his desk on October 9, he would be fired.

Grimalda’s research involved studying the impact of climate change on coastal communities in the Solomon Islands, where entire villages have already been forced to move inland to escape sea-level rise. “[Grimalda explained] to islanders how the carbon emissions of the industrialized world were causing the disasters they faced. And he promised them he would minimize his CO2 emissions on his journey back to Europe to avoid contributing to their suffering.”
Continue Reading →