Dexter Merschbrock
@dexterm.bsky.social
Open source Iowa Politics takes and predictions
I’m a parent and will certainly turn off or not select something obviously inappropriate if my kids are in the room, but whatever Is in the books they’re looking at is between them and the universe unless they want my opinion
Bruce Lear: "Parents should certainly monitor what their children read and watch, but they shouldn’t get to choose what we all read and watch. Neither should lawmakers."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/10/b...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/10/b...
Banning books is dangerous
Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City and has been connected to Iowa’s public schools for 38 years. He taught for eleven years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional direct...
www.bleedingheartland.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I’m a parent and will certainly turn off or not select something obviously inappropriate if my kids are in the room, but whatever Is in the books they’re looking at is between them and the universe unless they want my opinion
New “What is a…?” question dropped
I was absolutely delighted that @nathantankus.bsky.social asked me to write this for Notes on the Crisis after he read my paper.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading it (and subscribe to NOTC!).
I hope you’ll enjoy reading it (and subscribe to NOTC!).
What is a Farmer and How Does the Government Count Them? The High Politics of a Seemingly Mundane Statistical Task
Silvia Secchi is a natural resources economist and a Full Professor in the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences at the University of Iowa.
Editor's Note: Dear readers, Nathan here. ...
www.crisesnotes.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
New “What is a…?” question dropped
Day 19 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Let’s make this practical. What are you willing to do as Governor? What are you willing to ask of the legislature? Will you fight to restore civil rights in Iowa?
Let’s make this practical. What are you willing to do as Governor? What are you willing to ask of the legislature? Will you fight to restore civil rights in Iowa?
December 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Day 19 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Let’s make this practical. What are you willing to do as Governor? What are you willing to ask of the legislature? Will you fight to restore civil rights in Iowa?
Let’s make this practical. What are you willing to do as Governor? What are you willing to ask of the legislature? Will you fight to restore civil rights in Iowa?
Been following this story out of Urbandale about bullying. Parents of a 15 year old who died by suicide have been speaking out. Haven’t heard it talked about wider than these local reports though. www.facebook.com/share/r/17rR...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Been following this story out of Urbandale about bullying. Parents of a 15 year old who died by suicide have been speaking out. Haven’t heard it talked about wider than these local reports though. www.facebook.com/share/r/17rR...
Biggest game in the country taking place right here in Socialist Eastern Iowa tonight
December 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Biggest game in the country taking place right here in Socialist Eastern Iowa tonight
Day 18 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
It’s not ideal, but money is speech in the USA, and forgive me for saying so but you’re privileged to be heard in part due to money. That’s why it’s important to use your voice.
It’s not ideal, but money is speech in the USA, and forgive me for saying so but you’re privileged to be heard in part due to money. That’s why it’s important to use your voice.
December 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Day 18 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
It’s not ideal, but money is speech in the USA, and forgive me for saying so but you’re privileged to be heard in part due to money. That’s why it’s important to use your voice.
It’s not ideal, but money is speech in the USA, and forgive me for saying so but you’re privileged to be heard in part due to money. That’s why it’s important to use your voice.
This issue is playing out in every city in Iowa. We need a comprehensive plan that addresses kids and families no matter where they live. The public school systems are the logical place to start! That’s where most kids already are. We can’t tear it all down.
December 10, 2025 at 12:18 PM
This issue is playing out in every city in Iowa. We need a comprehensive plan that addresses kids and families no matter where they live. The public school systems are the logical place to start! That’s where most kids already are. We can’t tear it all down.
No one in politics thinks things can change as much as I think they can, but even that has limits. In Iowa it’s asking a lot to think so many will switch parties in a way they usually never do. That’s why @theiowa100.bsky.social is nonpartisan and focused on a simple platform, not individuals
Disappointed that Rachel Burns did not win today in the Iowa House District 7 special election, but she did improve 11% over the 2024 election.
Need to continue to show Iowans that Democrats care about ordinary hard-working people and their families.
iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/09/r...
Need to continue to show Iowans that Democrats care about ordinary hard-working people and their families.
iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/09/r...
Republican Wendy Larson wins Iowa House District 7 special election • Iowa Capital Dispatch
Wendy Larson, a Republican, led against Democrat Rachel Burns in preliminary results for the Iowa House special election.
iowacapitaldispatch.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
No one in politics thinks things can change as much as I think they can, but even that has limits. In Iowa it’s asking a lot to think so many will switch parties in a way they usually never do. That’s why @theiowa100.bsky.social is nonpartisan and focused on a simple platform, not individuals
Using the Facebook laughing emoji react but not to mock, but to laugh heartily in good natured response like Tom Bombadil
December 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Using the Facebook laughing emoji react but not to mock, but to laugh heartily in good natured response like Tom Bombadil
Day 17 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Beyond the moral question, there are complex legal questions at play that deserve a comprehensive response from a legal mind like Rob Sand. “Settled law” is not how I would describe it.
Beyond the moral question, there are complex legal questions at play that deserve a comprehensive response from a legal mind like Rob Sand. “Settled law” is not how I would describe it.
December 9, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Day 17 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Beyond the moral question, there are complex legal questions at play that deserve a comprehensive response from a legal mind like Rob Sand. “Settled law” is not how I would describe it.
Beyond the moral question, there are complex legal questions at play that deserve a comprehensive response from a legal mind like Rob Sand. “Settled law” is not how I would describe it.
Excited to announce I will be presenting Socialist Eastern Iowa at the new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom for their next event. A Christmas miracle!
December 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Excited to announce I will be presenting Socialist Eastern Iowa at the new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom for their next event. A Christmas miracle!
Reposted by Dexter Merschbrock
"It will come down to whether students come through their formal schooling as more clever vandals of the Earth and of each other or as loving, caring, compassionate, and competent healers, restorers, builders and midwives to a decent, durable, and beautiful future." - David Orr
December 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
"It will come down to whether students come through their formal schooling as more clever vandals of the Earth and of each other or as loving, caring, compassionate, and competent healers, restorers, builders and midwives to a decent, durable, and beautiful future." - David Orr
Listening to this again under the “contest everything” doctrine. The guest went to the conference and told these people how stupid they are. Exactly the right thing to do!
Have you heard of the Center for Intellectual Freedom? It's dumb!
RHC 226: soundcloud.com/rockhardcauc...
RHC 226: soundcloud.com/rockhardcauc...
December 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Listening to this again under the “contest everything” doctrine. The guest went to the conference and told these people how stupid they are. Exactly the right thing to do!
Day 16 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Please share if you can. Not everything should be about counting votes, but there is strength in numbers.
Please share if you can. Not everything should be about counting votes, but there is strength in numbers.
December 8, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Day 16 of asking @robsandia.bsky.social to change his stance and stand up for trans kids in Iowa.
Please share if you can. Not everything should be about counting votes, but there is strength in numbers.
Please share if you can. Not everything should be about counting votes, but there is strength in numbers.
Just messing around with some graphics but I do think the idea of focusing on the numbers to tell the story of the campaign priorities works nicely and ties into the 100. I really like some version of the black outline filled in with whatever or with text and graphics around. Thoughts?
December 8, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Just messing around with some graphics but I do think the idea of focusing on the numbers to tell the story of the campaign priorities works nicely and ties into the 100. I really like some version of the black outline filled in with whatever or with text and graphics around. Thoughts?
She may be right that it’s a chance to lead America, but one look at these guys and you can tell it’s not about merit
Gov. Kim Reynolds on UI Center for Intellectual Freedom: ‘It's a chance to lead America’
Gov. Kim Reynolds on UI Center for Intellectual Freedom: 'It's a chance to lead America'
"The governor is here, legislators are here, regents are here, but the president and the provost — always the provost — haven't graced us with their presence tonight," Christopher Rufo said. "Why is that? What's more important than the beginning of an academic research institution that was commissioned by the Legislature that has the highest aspiration of the university at its core — to unlock the freedom of thinking and to reorient the university toward the highest good?"
www.thegazette.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:12 PM
She may be right that it’s a chance to lead America, but one look at these guys and you can tell it’s not about merit
Let me introduce you to a word called solidarity, and the fact that an injury to one is an injury to all Mr. @robsandia.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Let me introduce you to a word called solidarity, and the fact that an injury to one is an injury to all Mr. @robsandia.bsky.social
The Democratic candidate for Governor doesn’t even think there should be party primaries at all. It’s one of the most consistent parts of his campaign. Where is the leadership to try and put this together in a way that makes sense???
400 of Rita Hart’s friends want to be special and journalists want to get paid so now we have to hear about this bullshit for another 4 years
December 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The Democratic candidate for Governor doesn’t even think there should be party primaries at all. It’s one of the most consistent parts of his campaign. Where is the leadership to try and put this together in a way that makes sense???
400 of Rita Hart’s friends want to be special and journalists want to get paid so now we have to hear about this bullshit for another 4 years
December 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
400 of Rita Hart’s friends want to be special and journalists want to get paid so now we have to hear about this bullshit for another 4 years
Support the @theiowa100.bsky.social to pass a minimum wage increase in Iowa through the most basic level of democracy in our state
The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, with the wage floor reaching $15 per hour in dozens of localities, a new report found, Stateline reports.
Dozens of cities, states hiking minimum wages in 2026 amid federal inaction • Iowa Capital Dispatch
The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, as high as $15 per hour in many areas.
iowacapitaldispatch.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Support the @theiowa100.bsky.social to pass a minimum wage increase in Iowa through the most basic level of democracy in our state
This is what happens when you let city council members have a podcast
December 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This is what happens when you let city council members have a podcast
It’s hard to be more pro-war than Joni Ernst, but Ashley Hinson might actually be
December 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
It’s hard to be more pro-war than Joni Ernst, but Ashley Hinson might actually be