Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 4d

The author Peter Hedges suggests this:

“For turning his own troops on his own people, the Nobel Committee is pleased to award Donald J. Trump the 2025 Nobel Prize for War.”

open.substack.com/pub/peterhed...

And the Winner is ...

47 Ways Forward - Strategies for Navigating the Next Four Years

open.substack.com

Reposted by Douglas W. Burns

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 6d

New post: @douglaswburns.bsky.social will interview Beth Macy @bethmacy.bsky.social about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines this Saturday.
More on the event and this "powerhouse work of non-fiction" about rural America:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/b...

Beth Macy, author of 'Dopesick' and 'Paper Girl,' coming to Des Moines

Douglas Burns will interview Beth Macy about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 6d

Through what political scientists might call a deep canvass into her own culturally polarized family in rural Ohio author Beth Macy gives us a riveting, devastating and call-to-action mirror into our nation with her extraordinary new book, “Paper Girl"

theiowamercury.substack.com/p/coming-to-...

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 24d

'Very ignorant people' cheerleading demise of family farms in Trump-supporting reaches of rural America —writes Irene Lin in a column in The Iowa Mercury

'Very ignorant people' cheerleading demise of family farms in Trump-supporting reaches of rural America

By IRENE LIN

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Sep 14

Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Jackie Norris asks why flags lowered for Charlie Kirk but not for kids massacred in school shootings

open.substack.com/pub/theiowam...

Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Norris asks why flags lowered for Charlie Kirk but not massacred school kids

Senate candidates discuss political violence fallout, their own security considerations

open.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Aug 27

The difference between cult leaders Donald Trump and Jim Jones is … there is no difference. Their followers know the Kool-Aid is poisoned and drink it anyway. I guess Jones at least told them.

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Reposted by Douglas W. Burns

Senator Ankit Jain @ankitjaindc.bsky.social · Aug 27

I talked with @douglaswburns.bsky.social & the Iowa Mercury about how Trump's takeover of DC policing is meant to impose the far-right agenda on blue cities rather than actually reduce crime; and how it will counterintuitively make DC statehood more likely theiowamercury.substack.com/p/from-withi...

From within federal 'occupation' of DC, shadow senator sees energy, momentum for statehood, an unintended Trump legacy

He's a United States senator.

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Aug 21

Shot by police in a park, homeless immigrant in Denison, Iowa died wearing a friend's clothes

Friends said Feglys Campos lost his job because of the Trump administration's elimination of a humanitarian work program for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan nationals in the United States.

Shot by police in a park, homeless immigrant in Denison died wearing a friend's clothes

(Editor’s Note: La Prensa Iowa Spanish Newspaper first published this story in both English and Spanish.

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Aug 16

The National Guard didn’t come to protect U.S. Capitol Police officers like Harry Dunn during the Jan. 6 insurrection. He survived that day, and protected members of Congress.

Now, Dunn sees The Guard, deployed by President Trump, in everyday DC.

theiowamercury.substack.com/p/jan-6-capi...

Jan. 6 Capitol officer says National Guard that wasn't there for him now ordered by Trump to run 'test case' in DC to turn nation into police state

The Iowa Mercury interviews former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Aug 13

This is an inspiring, powerful ad. One of more soaring political ads I’ve seen in my career.

youtu.be/kCD3vVVAa7U?...

Josh Turek - Underdog

YouTube video by Josh Turek

youtu.be

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Aug 13

In one of his Iowa Statehouse campaigns Josh Turek climbed and "crawled"while he dragged his wheelchair behind him — the latter his own description — to 14,000 doors in Iowa House District 20. He won the seat by just six votes — 3,403 to 3,397.

youtu.be/kCD3vVVAa7U?...

Josh Turek - Underdog

YouTube video by Josh Turek

youtu.be

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 28

“I’ve seen families calling on their ‘white’ friends to come with them to the grocery store, as if proximity to safety could somehow shield them from being targeted, says Maria Torres, founder and CEO of The CommUnity Project in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Frightened Latino immigrants ask 'white' friends to go to grocery with them, advocate says

'As if proximity to safety could somehow shield them from being targeted,' Maria Torres of Council Bluffs, Iowa, adds

open.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 27

Waking around downtown Omaha after a breakfast interview with Harry Dunn — Capitol Police officer who protected Congress during Jan. 6 insurrection. We stopped in Raygun store here before heading to Council Bluffs, Iowa for Dunn’s major speech this afternoon. @libradunn1.bsky.social

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 22

Watching the Trump Cult attempt to adapt in real time is like seeing domesticated animals being dropped into the wild.

Can Trump Cult hold in rural Iowa over next six weeks with clear Epstein dodging, delayed farm action central to life here?

One of the more confusing roles for an American to inhabit today is that of a Trump Cult member.

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 19

'I've been through hell' says Jan. 6 Capitol Police officer slated to keynote Council Bluffs, Iowa political event

Harry Dunn says prospect of full-scale slaughter of elected officials, some of nation's top leaders, was within feet, an instant here or there

'I've been through hell' says Jan. 6 Capitol Police officer slated to keynote Council Bluffs, Iowa political event

Harry Dunn says prospect of full-scale slaughter of elected officials, some of nation's top leaders, was within feet, an instant here or there, in run of events, from happening during insurrection

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 9

Donald Trump is American carbon monoxide

All dignity shedded, the White House likely will have 'ring girls' at cage fights for the America 250 celebration

theiowamercury.substack.com/p/donald-tru...

Donald Trump, American carbon monoxide

All dignity shedded, the White House likely will have 'ring girls' at cage fights for the America 250 celebration

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Reposted by Douglas W. Burns

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · Jul 6

New post: Douglas Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social attended the America 250 event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and shares his impressions from President Trump's speech.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/07/05/t...

Ten takeaways from Trump's "America 250" speech in Des Moines

Douglas Burns attended the America 250 event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and shares his impressions from President Trump's speech.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 5

Trump said he plans to create an exemption for undocumented workers in agriculture if farmers vouch for them. He laid out no criteria for how farmers could, in essence, save immigrants from deportation for no other reason, seemingly, than they employ them or even just know them.

And 9 other takes

10 takeaways from Trump's 'America 250' speech in Des Moines on Fourth Of July eve

With Sinatra swagger, Trump said he wants farmers empowered to vouch for undocumented immigrants to spare them deportation

theiowamercury.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jul 4

Speaking in Des Moines, Iowa tonight about nation’s 250th celebration planning President Trump says, “We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House.”

Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Jun 1

The credentialed lot of authors of AI, having lived and worked, dreamed and dared, behind the early curtains of this now mainstreamed but ever-mysterious technology, have released one forecast that near-horizons human holocaust. Total extinction.

We'll all be dead by 2030, credentialed forecast on artificial intelligence predicts

'Earth-born civilization has a glorious future ahead of it — but not with us'

open.substack.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · May 11

Why progressive women are so inspiring to us personally and the nation.

Happy Mother’s Day!

10 walks in a lifetime with my progressive mom

Bugs Bunny broke the news.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Douglas W. Burns

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · May 9

Iowa Supreme Court ruled today that the League of United Latin American Citizens does NOT have standing to challenge a 2008 injunction that prevents voter materials from being printed in languages other than English.
Unanimous 5-0 decision with 2 justices recusing:
www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/2...

www.iowacourts.gov

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · May 5

Robust discussion on film "Sinners" with Emmy Award-wining producer Nik Heftman and author-historian Rachelle Chase.

Some deep and meaningful takes about this exceptional film.

@sinnersmovie.bsky.social

'Sinners' movie experience with Dana James, Rachelle Chase (Part 2). Nik and Doug's America

Episode 9

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Douglas W. Burns

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · Apr 12

New post: Douglas Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social makes his case for State Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs to run against Senator Joni Ernst in 2026.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/04/12/w...

Why Josh Turek is Iowa Democrats' best candidate for U.S. Senate

Douglas Burns makes his case for Josh Turek for Senate: The times and the man are meeting. Iowans will soon see this.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · Apr 9

The times and the man are meeting. Iowans and Democrats soon will see why.

Josh Turek is inspiring gold-medal-winning Paralympian who returned to Iowa where he earned a legislative seat as a Democrat in a challenging district in which he outperformed top of the ticket. AN IOWA DEMOCRAT TO WATCH

Why Josh Turek is Iowa Democrats' best candidate for U.S. Senate

The times and the man are meeting. Iowans will soon see this.

theiowamercury.substack.com

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