Tag Archives: Lee Tesdell

I get thrown out of a Trump rally

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When I learned that Trump was planning a rally in Clive this week, I felt I had to attend and make a statement. Kathy was unable to join me, as she’s recovering from foot surgery. But she designed a shirt for me that was bold, concise, and called out what might prove to be Trump’s most damaging liability: his near constant stream of lies.

My friend Helen agreed to join me and take photos. We arrived at the venue early and nabbed excellent seats.

The event dragged on and on (Trump was 90 minutes late), with the music so loud I had to put in earplugs — and a hat pulled down over my ears for added protection.

The hat doubled as my half-hearted, humorous effort to fit in as Helen and I entered the venue. And while I hope the Patriots win the Super Bowl, it should go without saying that I’m absolutely not serious about a Trump-Brady ticket in 2028. Continue Reading →

Now what? Five things you can work on immediately.

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After Tuesday’s election, a whole lot of Americans are fretting, even afraid. Understandably. What will Trump do to immigrants? Women? Journalists? Activists? College professors?

Trump’s revenge-tour list could be quite long.

I like what Bill McKibben wrote this week: “Can things get worse? I think they can, and I think we will find out, here and around the world. But I don’t think it will last either, because the promises on which this new MAGA order are built are mostly nonsense.”

That’s the mix of honesty and optimism we need. In the coming weeks and months, my talk-show guests and I will have a lot to say about the risks that lie ahead — and what we can do to address them.

The question I’d like to address today is, regardless of where a Trump presidency might take us, what can we do right now to protect ourselves and strengthen our communities?

Here are five positive things I challenge each of us to do to build resilience as we move forward toward an uncertain future. Continue Reading →

A new angle on stopping eminent domain abuse

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This year, advocates are pursuing a different approach. HF 2522 (formerly HSB 608) would allow 21 state representatives or 11 senators to stop the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) from moving forward with a request to use eminent domain for a private corporation.

The IUB could resume its deliberation only after legislators conduct an independent inquiry into the proposal and 60% of House and Senate members concur that using eminent domain is appropriate.

I would go further. Since 78% of Iowans polled feel eminent domain should not be used to build CO2 pipelines, set the legislative threshold at that level. Still, 60% is a high and reasonable bar. This week, the House Judiciary Committee voted 19 – 1 to advance the bill to the House.
Continue Reading →