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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 9h

It’s a great city.

Reposted by Laura Belin

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 9h

Among the more obvious differences, this was about using the Alabama National Guard to enforce federal law *in Alabama*, where the state government was defying court orders.

Note that even in that much more extreme context, Kennedy used the Alabama National Guard, not some other state's.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 9h

Trump just posted what looks like an old DOJ memo about President Kennedy’s use of the National Guard in Alabama to desegregate schools in 1963.

It’s a gross comparison, given the fact that Trump is basically George Wallace and he wants to use the Guard to invade cities, not advance civil rights.

Trump: U.S. Code. Those provisions authorize the President, when faced with such unlawful obstructions against the authority of the United States as existed in Alabama, to "call into Federal service such of the militia of any State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary" (10
U.S.C. § 332) and to use
"the militia or the armed forces,
or both, or
• other means" (10 U.S.C. $ 333). The
militia of the United States includes the national guard, meaning the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard of the several states. 10 U.S.C. § 311 and $ 101 (9), (10), (12) .
In furtherance of the President's order the Secretary of Defense immediately called into active military service all of the units and members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Alabama to serve in the active military service of the United States for an indefinite period and until relieved by appropriate orders.
This call was transmitted by the Secretary of the Army, acting by direction of, and under delegation of authority from, the Secretary of Defense.
Copies of the Department
of the Army message (No. D.A. 340638, June 11, 1963) were furnished immediately to the Governor of Alabama and to the commanding officers of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard of the State of Alabama.
It is apparent that the Alabama National Guard was properly called into federal service pursuant to 10 U.S.C.
§5 332-4, and in accordance with the procedure provided in those sections. Since the call to federal service did not invoke the authority of 10 U.S.C. $ 3500, referred to by Mr. Bowen, the procedure prescribed by that section was
not
used.
I trust that the foregoing information will be of
assistance to you.
Sincerely,
¡enera.
299 ReTruths 819 Likes
10/7/25,

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 10h

New post by Josh Hughes: What I learned from Claire Celsi
(I will be publishing several reflections about the Iowa Democratic state senator who passed away yesterday)
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/07/w...

What I learned from Claire Celsi

Josh Hughes: I will miss Claire Celsi a lot, and I intend to honor her in a way that matches how she impacted my life.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 10h

It wasn't the best set of questions but I do like the determination to follow up.
I almost never see that when Iowa reporters are interviewing candidates.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 11h

It wouldn't necessarily be pointless. Maybe Rs could draw a map that shores up the two vulnerable incumbents.

But anyway it doesn't appear likely to happen.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 11h

Iowa hasn't changed maps since 2021 (the normal redistricting after the 2020 census). We didn't have another redraw.

I wrote about how Iowa's system emerged in the 1970s here:
www.bleedingheartland.com/2021/10/24/t...

The Iowa court ruling that could stop a Republican gerrymander

A unanimous Iowa Supreme Court precedent constrains how aggressive Republicans could be in any attempted gerrymander.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 11h

Iowa is not gerrymandered. #IA01 is a top target for both parties, and Miller-Meeks is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 11h

Iowa is not gerrymandered. She's one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 15h

Spencer Dirks and I spent the first half of “KHOI’s Capitol Week” (again) on the avalanche of news about the former DMPS superintendent.

Lots of other Iowa politics stories in here as well. Audio file & recap, for those who would rather read than listen:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/more-ian-r...

More Ian Roberts news, state revenue shortfall, COVID boosters

Oct. 6 edition of "KHOI's Capitol Week"

laurabelin.substack.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 18h

Annoyed with myself that I didn't see this video in August!
It looks like the Johnson County Republicans have taken it down from their Facebook page now.

FactPost @factpostnews.bsky.social · 19h

GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she'll hold a town hall 'when hell freezes over':

"I don't have to hold a town hall so you can come and yell at me"

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 19h

Padilla: Do you believe government officials are obligated to follow court orders whether they agree with them or not?

Bondi: I wish you loved your state of California as much as you hate President Trump.

Padilla: I asked a simple yes or no question

210 520 1.7K

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 21h

Right. My point is, the feds were justified in investigating TP USA. They weren't targeted because they were conservative.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 21h

It does look blank. I am trying to remember if my website has had this glitch before.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 21h

Yes, he's making it sound like they were targeted because they were Republicans or Trump supporters.

In fact they were investigated for their possible role in subverting the peaceful transfer of power after a free and fair election.

www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-re...

ICYMI: Grassley Exposes Biden FBI for Targeting Nearly 100 Republican Groups and Individuals | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week released...

www.grassley.senate.gov

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 21h

Yes, he's been complaining the FBI "targeted 92 Republican organizations and individuals as part of its sweeping Arctic Frost investigation against President Donald Trump," including Turning Point USA.

www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-re...

That's because TP USA bused people to Stop the Steal.

ICYMI: Grassley Exposes Biden FBI for Targeting Nearly 100 Republican Groups and Individuals | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week released...

www.grassley.senate.gov

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 22h

I don't think it was confidential.

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 22h

"Arctic Frost" is what Grassley now calls the January 6 investigation (apparently the FBI used that name internally).

He doesn't want most people to realize this investigation was related to the January 6 coup attempt and broader conspiracy to overturn the results of a free and fair election.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

Rep. Chuck Grassley tells Bondi "Arctic Frost" (whatever that is) was "worse than Watergate"

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 22h

"Arctic Frost" is what he is calling the January 6 investigation (apparently that was a term internally used in the FBI).

He doesn't want most people to realize this was related to the January 6 coup attempt.

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Reposted by Laura Belin

Caitlin Gilbert @caitlingilbert.bsky.social · 1d

🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.

Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social

wapo.st/4obueib

Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more

Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.

wapo.st

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Reposted by Laura Belin

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 1d

🚨THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Chicago journalists are suing the Trump administration for using excessive force against reporters & protestors in violation of the 1A.
The press here is doing astounding work documenting how ICE is out of control. The violence they face in doing so is obscene.

The protests at the Broadview ICE facility and the federal government’s violent
attempts to silence the protesters became a story of great interest to the local Chicago media and
was also covered in the national press. Much of the coverage described the federal officers’
abusive tactics. Defendants sought and are seeking to quash this coverage by attacking and
intimidating members of the Press on the ground there.
85. Federal immigration officers at the Broadview ICE facility have repeatedly and
intentionally singled out persons whom they know to be members of the Press for violence,
assault, and intimidation. These assaults are not incidental or unintentional. They are undertaken
by design to intimidate journalists on scene and to frustrate and suppress coverage of the federal
officers’ actions toward protesters and immigration detainees

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

I think he’s pretending not to have heard her name lately. Surely he was briefed on Todd Blanche’s long interview with her.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

New post by John Gilbert: Iowa needs a Farm Bill geared toward conservation

#ag #agriculture #farming #conservation #FarmBill #Congress
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/06/i...

Iowa needs a Farm Bill geared toward conservation

John Gilbert: Nothing is going to change until we change the way we farm. The problem is national, and requires a national solution.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

Her staff ignore the majority of my inquiries. But hope springs eternal.

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

Tonight's Iowa politics radio show is on podcast platforms and smart speakers ("KHOI's Capitol Week")
Tomorrow I'll send the audio file & a written recap on my free email newsletter ("Iowa politics with Laura Belin")
laurabelin.substack.com

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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 1d

I've asked staff in Kim Reynolds' office whether she would deploy the Iowa National Guard to blue states over the objections of the home state governor.

No reply yet.

Isaac Dovere @isaacdovere.bsky.social · 1d

Newsom says he’s on the verge of quitting the National Govs Association: “should not be difficult … regardless of partisan affiliation, to agree that politicizing our states’ Natl Guard and deploying… over the objections of the home-state Governor,harms the interests of states”

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