Tuesday was one of the biggest news days Iowa has seen in a long time. Major stories broke on multiple fronts, each deserving its own column.
But instead of diving deep into a single topic, here are a few takeaways from a remarkable day.
As I write this late Tuesday night, Congressman Randy Feenstra has conceded that he lost the Republican nomination for Iowa governor to somebody few Iowans could have picked out of a lineup a year ago. Zach Lahn has a lead of less than one percentage point.
Let the finger-pointing begin. Feenstra had name ID, he had money, he had Trump’s endorsement. He also made a huge strategic error. Feenstra ducked nearly all joint appearances with his Republican opponents, including two statewide televised debates in recent weeks. It gave the impression that he was superior to the mere mortals who dared challenge him – that he was already measuring the drapes at Terrace Hill.
Nobody likes candidates who are MIA. Not only has Feenstra lost, but he’s made a loser out of Donald Trump. For that, at least, we can say, “Thanks, Randy!”
Congratulations to Josh Turek, who easily defeated the capable Zach Wahls for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
Turek’s commanding 63%-37% victory sends a clear message. Iowa Democrats appear focused on nominating candidates they believe can compete statewide in November.
His story resonates: overcoming tremendous obstacles, becoming a Paralympic gold medalist, and winning legislative races in Republican-leaning territory. Voters clearly embraced that combination of perseverance and political success.
Defeating Republican Ashley Hinson won’t be easy. But Turek’s life story is built on overcoming difficult odds, and Democrats have rallied behind it in a major way.
Election night brings out my inner news junkie.
Like many political obsessives, I’m glued to television coverage while simultaneously refreshing websites and apps, chasing the latest returns. Old habits die hard after years spent in television control rooms trying to stay ahead of the competition.
That’s why the performance of the Des Moines Register’s website stood out Tuesday night - and not in a good way.
Around 9 p.m., roughly an hour after polls closed, the Register showed only about 20% of precincts reporting in Iowa’s marquee races. Other news organizations were reporting roughly twice that amount.
Most of those outlets rely on Associated Press election data, which has long set the industry standard for speed and reliability. It raises a fair question: Did the Register’s lag stem from parent company Gannett’s decision to part ways with the AP two years ago?
Whatever the explanation, the difference was noticeable.
In the midst of all the election mania last night came word that CBS News fired 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley. As you’ve likely read, when the new 60 Minutes executive producer was introduced to the staff on Monday, Pelley went all “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” Pelley had had enough, with two of his colleagues summarily fired and the new EP, Nick Bilton, having never worked in broadcast news before.
Pelley said Bilton wasn’t qualified and would “never be welcome” at 60 Minutes. He said news division boss Bari Weiss had “murdered” 60 Minutes.
Bilton wasn’t amused. “You hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt,” Bilton wrote in Pelley’s dismissal letter.
Pelley released a late-night statement: “New management has instructed me to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. I’ve been told to include assertions that are unverified.” He continued, “…the collapse of values at the top has become untenable. The principles I hold dear are gone, and so I must leave as well.”
Just when you think things can’t get any worse at CBS News. How low can they go? Will there be any viewers left when the Ellisons, who bought the franchise, are done “fixing” it?
Americans cannot let Donald Trump get away with this IRS scam. It’s all so obvious. He comes up with this truly objectionable “settlement” that created a $1.8 billion “weaponization” fund to pay off his political supporters, many of whom are convicted felons (just like he is.) But he also got immunity from any IRS audits for him, his family and all his businesses.
The weaponization fund was so unacceptable that even some Republicans objected. Iowa’s Senator Grassley initially had no issues with it, but once other Republicans objected, Grassley, with his moistened finger always in the wind, told NBC News this week that the only way Trump’s immigration bill would be funded “is for the president to do away with the weaponization fund.” Yesterday Trump dropped the fund – but surprise – is keeping the immunity from IRS audits.
I call this the Matt Gaetz switcheroo. Remember when Trump nominated the deplorable Matt Gaetz for US Attorney General last year? Gaetz is so unlikeable that Republicans resisted. So Trump drops Gaetz, and letting Congress “win” one – Trump then nominates equally unqualified people like Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem and RFK, Jr., knowing that Congress will be satisfied having one scalp and won’t object to the other nominees here.
The same thing is happening here. The weaponization fund was so politically awful, that Trump happily gives up on the idea, so long as HE still gets the audit immunity.
How convenient.
The courts and Congress absolutely must stamp out this revised plan, too.
Election surprises. Media upheaval. National political drama.
Quite the news day! Thank you for reading.
Lots of other commentary and views in the Iowa Writers Collaborative. See the latest roundup of columns here.
Recent columns:
First class no more – the CBS News I knew
·
May 30
I had planned to write about the string of disastrous decisions CBS has made over the past few weeks. But plenty of others are already covering that story. Instead, I want to give readers a sense of what this moment must feel like for the journalists
Standing tall? Feenstra ducks the spotlight
·
May 13
Randy Feenstra likes to promote his candidacy for Iowa Governor by pointing out how tall he is. His first TV ad promised he would “stand tall” and “take Iowa to new heights.”
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