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DUBUQUE, Iowa – President Donald Trump is heading back to Iowa for a high-energy midterm rally in Dubuque on Sunday, November 1, just 2 days before Midterm Election Day. Fresh off a successful stop in Sioux City, the President will speak at 6 PM after doors open at 2:30 PM, with the program getting underway at around 4:30. The exact location is still being finalized, but tickets are already available through the official RSVP at gop.com. Dubuque sits in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Joe Mitchell is battling Democrat Lindsay James for the open seat left by Ashley Hinson’s Senate run. This stretch of eastern Iowa along the Mississippi was long Democratic territory until Trump flipped it in 2016, and Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann even said himself that the region “literally became red because of him.” Now the President is returning to thank those voters and fire them up one more time. In places like Dubuque that turned red because they finally had a leader fighting for American jobs, secure borders, lower costs, and an end to the failed policies of the past, the energy is raw and authentic. Trump is trying to deliver results and make sure the people who put him in the White House keep sending strong Republicans to Congress and the statehouse. For every Iowan who wants a country that puts them first, November 1 in Dubuque is a chance to show up, stand with the President, and finish the job. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Board of Regents has chosen Carson Holloway, a seasoned political science professor and department chair at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as the first permanent director of the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom. A University of Northern Iowa graduate with a doctorate from Northern Illinois University, Holloway has taught at UNO since 2002, where he also founded a constitutional studies forum and has served as interim philosophy department chair. His scholarly record includes books on the American founding, such as Hamilton versus Jefferson in the Washington Administration, and visiting fellowships at Princeton’s James Madison Program and the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Principles and Politics. These credentials make him an ideal fit for the CIF, the independent academic center created by state law in 2025 to expand intellectual diversity, teach the foundational texts and debates of free societies, and deliver rigorous courses in American history and civil government. Holloway steps into the role at a pivotal moment for the Center for Intellectual Freedom, which reports directly to the Board of Regents and stands outside ordinary university administration. Beginning in the 2028-29 academic year, every University of Iowa undergraduate will be required to complete 6 credit hours of CIF coursework as a graduation requirement, giving the new director a clear mandate to build high-quality offerings that strengthen civic knowledge and open inquiry. With deep expertise in political philosophy, constitutionalism, and the principles that created the American experiment, Holloway is in a great position to fulfill the legislature’s vision of a genuine home for intellectual freedom on campus, one that prioritizes serious engagement with the Western tradition and the American constitutional order over ideological conformity. His appointment signals a serious commitment to making the CIF a lasting success for Iowa students. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: UI Facilities Management Website - Calvin Hall

🚨WATCH: Political Commentator Nick Fuentes urges voters to vote Democrat in all midterm elections nationwide, but makes an exception for Zach Lahn in the Iowa governor’s race, during his Wednesday night show. “Please vote Democrat, in every state, in every election, except for Iowa governor, vote Republican there.” 📸SOURCE: America First with Nicholas J. Fuentes via Rumble

MONTROSE, Iowa – Matt Mohrfeld, the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 100 and former Fort Madison mayor, showed his true colors on sex and privacy during a candidate forum in Montrose hosted by the American Association of University Women. With his Republican opponent Blaine Watkins absent due to harvest, Mohrfeld faced questions on transgender issues and drew a line that puts people at risk. He said he would not allow “a man” into a women’s restroom, but would permit a “fully transitioned man that became a woman.” Watch the Full Voice Recording Here: He insisted these individuals “are not pedophiles. These are not perverts. These are people that are trapped in what they are going to determine as the wrong sex,” adding that society must respect those who fully transition. The stance directly conflicts with Iowa’s existing laws requiring restroom and locker room use based on biological sex in schools, and the 2025 removal of “gender identity” as a protected class, which are measures designed precisely to preserve single-sex spaces for women and girls. Mohrfeld’s comments show a willingness to let biological males who have undergone medical transition into women’s private facilities under the soft language of “respect” and “acceptance.” Allowing any males into women’s restrooms undermines the safety, privacy, and dignity those spaces were created to protect, especially with regard to children. Iowa voters in District 100 already have clear state policy rejecting self-identification for bathrooms and sports. A candidate who softens that standard while assuring audiences that transitioned males are neither predators nor perverts is asking women and children to set aside legitimate concerns for an ideology that prioritizes identity over safety. Southeast Iowans deserve representatives who defend biological reality rather than lecturing them that basic privacy concerns are somehow bigoted. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Matt Mohrfield for Iowa House Website xitter.cf/IowaFirstMedia/status/…

🚨WATCH: Matt Mohrfield, Democratic State Rep. candidate for District 100, explains why he believes transgender men should enter women’s bathrooms during a Q&A forum in Montrose, Iowa. “These are not pedophiles. These are not perverts. These are people trapped in, what they are going to determine, as the wrong sex.” 📸SOURCE: Full Transcripts at PenCityCurrent.com

AMES, Iowa – Natalie Gibson, a junior animal science major at Iowa State University and Ames resident with a valid non-professional Iowa permit to carry a firearm, is standing up for her Second Amendment rights by suing the City of Ames over CyRide’s longstanding ban on guns aboard its buses. Filed on October 13 in Story County District Court, her lawsuit argues that the policy, in place since at least 2011, violates Iowa’s strong firearms preemption law, which stops cities and other local governments from regulating the possession or transportation of firearms. Gibson has respected the ban so far while relying on the city-owned transit system that serves the sprawling ISU campus, nearby neighborhoods, businesses, and student housing, but she wants to exercise her lawful right to stay armed for self-defense. The Iowa Firearms Coalition put the city on notice a year earlier that the rule broke state code, yet Ames has clung to it by pointing to the buses’ routes through university property, where ISU prohibits firearms. Her attorney, Alan Ostergren, correctly notes that nothing in the law lets a university policy override a permit holder’s ability to carry while simply riding through campus in a vehicle. She’s asking the court to declare the CyRide ban unenforceable, issue an injunction to stop the city from enforcing it, and award statutory damages, potentially up to $25,000 plus attorney fees for the knowing violation. Law-abiding permit holders should not have to disarm just because a city bus crosses campus lines, and Gibson’s challenge pushes back against an overreach that undermines the very self-defense rights the state legislature has worked to safeguard. In a time when personal safety matters, especially for people navigating campus and city routes, her lawsuit affirms that the right to keep and bear arms doesn’t stop at the bus door. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: CyRide Website

🚨WATCH: Rob Sand comes out in favor of H1-B visas, and importing foreign nationals into our workforce and universities, while accidentally referring to his “foreign” colleague from Hawaii, during the second gubernatorial debate against Zach Lahn. “We got a lot of work that we need to have done in Iowa, we’re one of the slowest growing populations in America, and we need to make sure we’re not closing the door on people who want to be here.” 📸SOURCE: KWQC News via YouTube

WATCH: Zach Lahn vows to ban H1-B visas and restrict foreign labor in Iowa, particularly for jobs in the new steel mill, during second gubernatorial debate against Rob sand. “We have people in our state who are hurting, looking for work, and looking for training, and we need to be investing in the citizens of our state, and in our country.” 📸SOURCE: KQWC News via YouTube

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn gives his closing statement in the first gubernatorial debate against Rob Sand, claiming he bought his way to victory in the last auditor race through millions in family campaign funds. “In the last election, when he was running for auditor, he outspent his opponent 30-1. For every $10,000 they spent, he spent $300,000. He bought an election.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn educates Rob Sand after he accuses him of wanting to ban cancer vaccines, when no such thing exists, as Lahn explains his push for certain therapies during the first gubernatorial debate. “He doesn’t know that there is difference between a vaccine and a therapy. Vaccines prevent illnesses, therapies treat illnesses. That’d be like calling chemotherapy a vaccine.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube

DES MOINES, Iowa – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand has withdrawn from the Iowa PBS “Iowa Press” debate scheduled for October 21 so he can focus on his family after the death of his brother-in-law, Walter E. Lauridsen II. Sand’s campaign said he is stepping away from the 3rd of 4 planned debates with Republican Zach Lahn while the 2 sides work with the station on a possible reschedule. Lauridsen, 42, died Thursday night near Lucas in Lucas County after his vehicle was parked along U.S. Highway 34. An eastbound SUV moved into the westbound lane to pass, and Lauridsen walked into that lane and was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the brother of Sand’s wife, Christine Lauridsen Sand, and a Des Moines businessman and philanthropist known for his support of Harvest Academy and Character Counts. Sand shared a heartfelt statement after the loss, writing that the family is heartbroken and that Lauridsen was a beloved son, brother, father, and friend whose commitment to giving back will live on. The family also noted that he lived with mental health complexities and asked for privacy and prayers as they make funeral arrangements. Lahn’s campaign responded supportively, saying they completely understand Sand’s decision, will work on rescheduling, and urged Iowans to pray for the family because some things are bigger than politics. A separate debate between the candidates remains set for October 27 in Cedar Rapids. Lauridsen’s sudden death has drawn messages of sympathy from across the state, as people believe it will take a big toll on Sand and his family during the most important 2 weeks of their lives. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Rob Sand for Governor

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn responds to Rob Sand’s “Part-Time Iowan” attacks, directing voters to NoShowRob.com, exposing the 252 days in 2 years Sand spent out of his office, during the first gubernatorial debate. “I think you have to be willing to show up as governor if you want to solve the agricultural issues. If you’re not willing to show up as auditor, you’re not willing to show up as governor.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn and Rob Sand go back and forth over Lahn’s state residency during the first gubernatorial debate, with Lahn arguing the issue has become an attack on his children. “Any family that has a blended family knows what I’m talking about. That quote was directly about my children.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa’s First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor and will begin radiation therapy after doctors found his cancer had returned following 3 years in remission. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the news Monday, noting that her husband was first diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2023 and had remained in remission until the recent discovery. In a statement, she described their long partnership and the family’s approach to the latest challenge. “Kevin and I are a strong team,” she said. “Through 44 years of marriage, we have faced life’s trials together and overcome them. And now, with the strength and support of our family, we will face this fight together just as we have the others, with faith, hope, and love.” The governor thanked the medical team that has cared for Kevin since his initial diagnosis and asked for continued prayers from Iowans, while also extending her own prayers to every family facing cancer. Officials said Kevin is recovering from the recent surgery and will start radiation as the next step in treatment. Kim Reynolds, who has previously spoken of her husband as the rock of their family, has emphasized their shared strength and the support surrounding them as they navigate this phase together. The announcement comes as the couple, married since 1982, continues to rely on the same approach of faith and mutual support that has carried them through earlier health challenges. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: @kwqcnews via X (Twitter)

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn tears into Rob Sand over his Kansas attacks, claiming they’re designed to distract voters from comparing the two on policy positions, during the first gubernatorial debate. “It’s a central lie of your campaign. Without it, you really don’t have anything. I’ll tell you, what he doesn’t want to talk about, is where he stands on the issues.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube

BETTENDORF, Iowa – Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has endorsed independent Michael Bridgford in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, backing an alternative candidate in one of the country’s tightest House races. Bridgford, a 41-year-old financial adviser from Bettendorf raised on a 7th-generation family farm, is challenging Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan. The 2 major-party candidates are facing off for the 3rd straight cycle after Miller-Meeks won the last matchup by just 799 votes, and the first matchup by 6 votes. Manchin, who left the Democratic Party and now works to elect independent candidates through his Independent Leadership Council, praised Bridgford’s campaign. “People are truly looking for something different,” Manchin said. “If you’re looking for something different, there’s nothing more different than an independent Michael Bridgford willing to go serve you.” Bridgford has focused his campaign on lowering costs, supporting Iowa producers, pushing term limits and a congressional stock-trading ban, and improving healthcare price transparency while staying outside the 2 major parties. Bridgford has been building momentum through daily events, social media reach that recently topped 3 million views in the district, and streaming ads, even as he trails the major-party candidates significantly in fundraising. Despite that, he is polling at a remarkable ~20%. Bridgford, who holds an MBA from Northwestern University in Illinois, and has worked in finance and small businesses, has also signed pledges against corporate PAC money and for open primaries and cross-aisle cooperation. With Iowa’s 1st District featuring a large bloc of no-party voters and a history of razor-thin margins, Manchin’s support shows Bridgford’s pitch as a common-sense option focused on results rather than party loyalty. Manchin has indicated he plans to keep helping raise resources for the campaign in the final weeks. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Senate Democrats

BETTENDORF, Iowa – Independent candidate Michael Bridgford filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission on September 29 accusing Gray Media and the campaigns of Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan of violating federal campaign laws by excluding him from their October 20 debate. Bridgford, a Bettendorf financial adviser on the November 3 ballot in Iowa’s 1st District, said KWQC and KCRG-TV9 (both owned by Gray Media) set a previously unpublished $1 million fundraising threshold by July 1 that he did not meet, even though he had raised nearly $190,000 and qualified under Iowa PBS’s $50,000 standard. All 3 candidates were invited to the nonpartisan Iowa PBS debate, but Miller-Meeks and Bohannan declined, then arranged a two-person forum with Gray Media instead. Bridgford’s complaint argues the $1 million rule was applied after the fact to shut him out, notes that other Gray Media stations have hosted candidates with far smaller totals, and claims the free airtime amounts to an illegal in-kind contribution accepted by the major-party campaigns. Bridgford has said voters deserve to hear from every qualified candidate rather than a closed stage negotiated to protect the 2 major-party nominees. He pointed out that Iowa PBS had hosted the only prior debates between Miller-Meeks and Bohannan in 2022 and 2024, yet both campaigns turned down that open invitation this cycle once an independent was included. Neither campaign nor Gray Media had responded to requests for comment as of early October, and the October 20 debate at St. Ambrose University in Davenport remains scheduled without Bridgford. The complaint asks the FEC to investigate possible coordination and enforce rules requiring pre-established, objective criteria for debates, underscoring Bridgford’s argument that the process was designed to limit competition rather than inform voters in one of the country’s closest House races. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Bridgford for Iowa