Category Archives: Weekly Updates

“You’re probably getting screwed”

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This is solid, progressive-prairie populism, and it has deep roots in northwest Iowa. (The 1932 Farmers’ Holiday sported this poetic slogan: “Lets call a Farmer’s Holiday, a holiday let’s hold. We’ll eat our wheat and ham and eggs, and let them eat their gold”.)

J.D.’s message is timely and resonates with most voters. Which brings me to the obvious question:

WHY ISN’T J.D.’S MESSAGE THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S MESSAGE!?
Continue Reading →

If Nikki Haley needs a double, Kathy’s a contender

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When Kathy’s dental hygienist told her she looked like Nikki Haley, I knew things were about to get interesting. The former theater major in Kathy gleefully rose to the challenge, and yeah, she pulls off a pretty decent Haley, don’t ya think?

On more serious matters, here’s what Charles and I have in store for you this week:

(00:41) Iowa Caucuses: What the losers have to gain;
(20:23) Here’s where climate denialism comes from;
(38:27) Reynolds refuses food for poor kids;
(52:55) The poverty-obesity paradox, with Kathy Byrnes.

Regarding the Iowa Caucuses’ winners and losers: Continue Reading →

Eminent domain could hurt Trump in Iowa

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There’s no doubt Donald Trump will win the Iowa Caucuses. With Ron DeSantis in free fall, I’ll go out on a short limb and predict Nikki Haley finishes second.

It could be a strong second if Haley capitalizes on Trump’s support for eminent domain.

Here’s what Trump said a few years back: “Eminent domain is something that has to be used, usually you would say for anything that’s long, like a road, like a pipeline, or like a wall, or a fence.” (Washington Post)

Here’s Trump’s more recent, completely nonsensical response to an Iowa voter concerned about the threat of eminent domain to build CO2 pipelines: “Well you know we’re working on that, and you know we had a plan to totally … uh … it’s such a ridiculous situation, isn’t it. But we had a plan and we would have instituted that plan, and it was all ready. But if we win, that’s going to be taken care of. That will be one of the easy things we do.” (Forbes Breaking News, July 7, 2023, 2-minute mark)

Huh?? If Haley doesn’t jump all over that and Trump’s previous pro-eminent domain comments she’s missing a huge opportunity. Continue Reading →

A better way to get around

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Architect Mark Clipsham joins me for the first half of the program. Among other angles of sustainability, Mark discusses transportation options to the present car- and plane-dominated system.I’ve posted a set of images Mark shared with me on the Fallon Forum Facebook Page. I  hope you’ll check those out, along with this week’s program.

Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! And many thanks to the local small businesses, non-profits, and individual donors who help make this program possible. If you’d like to pitch in, contact me at ed@fallonforum.com. Continue Reading →

Braver Angels seeks dialogue across the partisan divide

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I hope you’ll listen to this week’s program and share your feedback, especially on the topic Melinda Voss and I dive into.

Maybe you disagree, but the way Melinda and I see it, since we’re at a time when a former president calls his opponents “vermin” and a previous candidate for president refers to opponent’s supporters as “deplorable,” we need to nurture respectful dialogue now more than ever.

That’s only going to happen if we each make an effort to have those tough conversations with our uncle whose primary source of information is Fox News. Or with our niece who’s fond of cancelling any public figure she disagrees with. For an excellent, 15-minute documentary, on how this is possible and why it’s important, check out Ralph King’s “Crossing the Divide.” Continue Reading →

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 →