Few states have changed politically with the head-snapping speed of Iowa. In 2008, its voters propelled Barack Obama to the White House, an overwhelmingly white state validating the candidacy of the first black president. … By 2016, Donald Trump easily defeated Hillary Clinton in Iowa. … But now, as Democrats […] Read more »
Why Trump isn’t getting credit from voters for good economic news
In the past two weeks, good economic news has buoyed the Trump administration, providing a welcome distraction from his impeachment. Job growth in November exceeded expectations — 266,000 new jobs, unemployment down to 3.5 percent — prompting immediate speculation by commentators about the implications for President Trump’s reelection. Although not […] Read more »
Iowa Democrat faces daunting prospect: winning rural voters
When Cindy Axne crunched through fresh snow and into the American Legion hall in Winterset, the freshman Iowa congresswoman knew most of the dozen constituents waiting inside the chilly room had likely voted against her. … “What I’m trying to do getting out in rural areas is to show that […] Read more »
The ‘But I Would Vote for Joe Biden’ Republicans
The voters at campaign events for Joseph R. Biden Jr. here in Iowa and across the country aren’t just shopping for a candidate for themselves. As they jostle to take pictures with the former vice president and listen to him preach about national unity, they are often thinking about someone […] Read more »
White evangelicals fear atheists and Democrats would strip away their rights. Why?
As the House has moved through the impeachment of President Trump, voices on the extreme right have been arguing that it’s the first shot in a coming “civil war.” According to conservative evangelical conspiracy theorist Rick Wiles, “The Democrats are forcing me to stockpile ammunition, food, water, and medical supplies […] Read more »
Trump Completed His Takeover Of The GOP In 2019
Donald Trump won the GOP nomination and then the presidency even as many prominent officials within the party opposed him. … Even as he was losing some fights in 2017 and 2018, though, Trump was also steadily beating back Republican resistance to his leadership. In many ways, 2019 was the […] Read more »