What A Week

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, on this special, two-part edition to discuss "The Significance of Black Lives Matter" Forum hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Women and Gender Studies program. The forum featured Dr. Reverend Belinda Creighton Smith, a professor at UNI a Pastor of Faith Temple American Baptist Church, as well as Joyce Levingston, who sits on the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University. This episode is part 2 of the two part series, and is the interview discussions James had with Dr. Rev. Creighton-Smith and Joyce Levingston in the weeks following the forum. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, on this special, two-part edition to discuss "The Significance of Black Lives Matter" Forum hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Women and Gender Studies program. The forum featured Dr. Reverend Belinda Creighton Smith, a professor at UNI a Pastor of Faith Temple American Baptist Church, as well as Joyce Levingston, who sits on the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University. This episode is part 1 of the two part series, and is the audio recording of the forum held on February 7, 2022. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, to break down this week's news and hear from a tax expert to help us make sense of all the tax plans coming from the Iowa Capital. Later in the episode, James speaks with former President of the Iowa Senate and Ranking Member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Democratic Senator from Dubuque, Pam Jochum. *** Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Join "What a Week" host James Simmons, Progress Iowa's Deputy Press Secretary, to break down this week's news and to hear from Iowa Senator and Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, who joins us to discuss workers' issues in the state of Iowa. *** Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

January 22nd, 2022 is the 49th Anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion access nationally. Host James Simmons speaks with Iowa House Ranking Member on the Human Resources committee, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, and Jamie Burch Elliott, who is the Director of Public Affairs for North Central Planned Parenthood. *** Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Join James Simmons, Progress Iowa's new Deputy Press Secretary, and Iowa House Representative and Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst in discussing Governor Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State Address, the Democrats' response, and what to look out for during the Iowa 2022 Legislative Session. *** Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Join James Simmons, Progress Iowa's new Deputy Press Secretary, and meet the new Progress Iowa team! *** Theme Song: "What a Week" Lyrics and music by Lily Noel and James Simmons Produced by Lily Noel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the Supreme Court challenge to Roe v Wade, Iowa's increasing COVID numbers, the latest school shooting that our leaders refuse to do anything about, and Iowa's big windfall in money for clean water as a result of the infrastructure bill. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the rollercoaster of a week with the highs of the Build Back Better Act passing the House and the John Deere UAW strike ending and the lows of the gut punch verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Kim Reynolds is taking credit for popular bills she opposed, the John Deere strike goes on after a second attempt on a contract is rejected by workers, COVID vaccines are coming for kids as young as 5, municipal and school board elections were a mixed bag here in Iowa, Chuck Grassley votes against expanding voting rights (again!), and ABBA's back! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Workers at 14 John Deere plants across the country walked out after their union, the United Auto Workers, rejected an unacceptable contract offer from management. Also, Governor Reynolds's boasting may have sunk her mask mandate ban lawsuit, early voting has begun in local elections across the state, Donald Trump's... interesting... strategy for winning the midterms by convincing Republicans to stay home, Squid Game, and more! Links 10,000 John Deere workers are on strike after rejecting contract (Washington Post) Governor's own words helped sink mask mandate ban in court (Bleeding Heartland) Here's how to vote early in Iowa's city council and school board elections (Des Moines Register) Absentee Voting information (Iowa Secretary of State) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the news that Iowa's own Chuck Grassley wants an 8th term in the US Senate. Gross. They also discuss the wailing and thrashing of the right at school board meetings around keeping kids as safe as possible during COVID, Governor Reynolds wants her mask mandate ban back as COVID cases reach a new record high, Iowa's first potential redistricting map, the Dear Evan Hansen movie and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt spent the week at the yearly Iowa Federation of Labor conference and got to speak with elected officials and Iowans who fight for the rights of all workers, unionized and not, every day. We hear from Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, RuralVote.org Executive Director JD Scholten, IFL AFL-CIO Political Director Al Womble, and Western Iowa Labor Federation Field Coordinator Jen Pellant. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Kim Reynolds' sides with COVID against common sense in order to score political points. She digs in her heels on her ridiculous school mask mandate ban. Also, her administration is being sued for not following open records laws. Also, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz came to the state fair (Insert cow pie throwing joke here), our redistricting process has begun with the long-awaited release of census data, . Links: Join our live Supreme Stakes virtual event on Monday! Petition: Demand Governor Reynolds Support Schools on Mask Mandates! AP: Lawsuits: Iowa governor's office violating open records law --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

The 2021 Iowa State Fair kicks off and it's not just the deep fried butter that could be hazardous to your health. Spoiler: It's COVID. There's COVID at the Fair. Matt and Ivy also talk about the census data that shows most of Iowa's counties are shrinking in both population and diversity, the second child tax credit checks that are hitting mailboxes now (thank you, Cindy Axne!), the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees, and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

The "Delta variant" of COVID-19 runs rampant across Iowa and Kim Reynolds' blames immigrants and tries to restrict abortion rights, the most on-brand thing for her we can think of. Matt and Ivy also discuss the latest Olympic wins, President Biden's nudge to governors who won't do their jobs, the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and the new eviction moratorium put in place by Biden. Also, did anyone actually qualify for their Field of Dreams game ticket?? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa Public Affairs Director Jaime Burch Elliot joins Matt and Ivy to talk about the Supreme Stakes, a series of events hosted by Progress Iowa, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, and the Iowa Interfaith Alliance to educate Iowans about the attacks on our reproductive rights. We also talk about the Olympics (Go Team USA!), Jeff Bezos's phallic ride to space, and producer Greg's snarky tweets getting fact-checked by the Daily Iowan. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy (and Greg) are back in the Progress Iowa studio after 15 months of social distancing and boy, does it feel good. Almost as good as hundreds of thousands of Iowa families receiving $300 in tax relief every month in an historic initiative to cut childhood poverty. Thank you to Cindy Axne and Cindy Axne only. We also discuss what we briefly heard from the Family Leader Summit where former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were scheduled to speak, Governor Reynolds putting politics before refugee children AND our public safety, and Ivy tells the old guys in the room who Olivia Rodrigo is. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the Des Moines Register poll that said over 60% of Iowans want someone other than Chuck Grassley in the Senate, the new anti-protest bill that would have made they themselves criminals, the tragic fire that destroyed a memorial to Black youth and investigation around that fire, and our Senators' votes and outright lies on SR1, the For the People Act. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy deep dive on Governor Reynolds's decision to make Iowa one of just four states to cut its citizens off from extended unemployment benefits. Colin Gordon, a senior research consultant with Common Good Iowa, joins later to explain just why this was a bad move. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk Pride Month and Progress Iowa's LGBTQ+ Media Guide, Kim Reynolds unwillingness to do any more than the bare minimum when it comes to promoting vaccinations, the wide ranging effects COVID relief had on Americans, the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Governor Reynolds goes back on Fox to brag/lie about Iowa's COVID recovery, the post legislative session landscape, and Matt is joined by staff writer for The Atlantic Edward-Isaac Dovere to talk about his new book "Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

The 2021 legislative session is finally over and Matt and Ivy (and special guest little Joey Sinovic) have thoughts on that, Iowa's sputtering economy, and the 20th Shrekiversary. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) joins Matt to discuss the bombshell leaked audio of a right-wing think tank admitting to writing the voter suppression law that Iowa Republicans rammed through the legislator, possibly in violation of Iowa law, as well as Governor Reynolds putting the bully in bully pulpit and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss President Biden's address to Congress, Iowa's supply/demand issue with COVID vaccines, Governor Reynolds's bizarre admission that she sent $93 million back to the federal government instead of using it for contact tracing, Rudy Giuliani's early morning visit from the FBI, and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

It's been a rough week for anyone who cares about justice and equality and our hearts go out to the families of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and the eight victims of the mass shooting in Indianapolis: Matthew Alexander, Samaria Blackwell, Amarjeet Johal, Jaswinder Kaur, Jaswinder Singh, Amarjit Sekhon, Karli Smith, and John Weisert. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss Governor Reynolds's "not my problem" moment when discussing immigrants, the press conference from AFSCME around workplace safety and the murders of corrections workers at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, the anti-abortion amendment that passed the legislature and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Kim Reynolds caves to the NRA and signs the bill to allow concealed guns to be carried without a permit or mandatory background check. That, plus the bills that made it through the second funnel and now that Trump's out of town Matt Gaetz is Washington's newest Sleazeball Supreme. Joining us for our interview this week is Rep. Ras Smith (D-Black Hawk) to discuss the second funnel, Governor Reynolds's last minute bill signing, and the Derek Chauvin trial. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

State Rep. and Assistant Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst join Ivy and Matt to bust this year's Extreme 16 Bracket: Bad Bill Edition. Links: Follow Rep. Konfrst on Twitter Learn more about the Extreme 16 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

On March 24, 2020 the first of more than 5,600 Iowans passed away due to COVID-19. Progress Iowa honors those who we've lost with the Iowa COVID Memorial website. Matt and Ivy also discuss this year's "Extreme 16" bracket where you can vote on the worst of the worst bills introduced in this year's legislative session, the polls suggesting Iowans do not want either Governor Reynolds or Senator Grassley to run again, our (finally!) increasing vaccine numbers, --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk about the American Rescue Plan, Ashley Hinson's trolling messages via mask, the latest goings on in the Iowa Legislature, and give a shout out to @IAVaccineAlerts who has helped people across the state find open vaccine appointments in their areas. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

It's Funnel Week! Bills that have not passed a subcommittee in the Iowa legislature are almost surely dead. Unless they're not. Matt and Ivy discuss the big bills that made it through, the COVID relief package coming out of Washington and the political theater that Republicans are engaging in, and Chuck Grassley "both sides-ing" the January 6th terrorist attack on the US Capitol. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Kim Reynolds learns how to use GoDaddy six months too late, Sen. Schultz says we're "out of the pandemic," (we're not) and wants to cut food assistance, the Equality Act finally passed in the US House, and State Representative Christina Bohannan joins to discuss the voter suppression bill that was fast-tracked through the legislature this week. Also, as a father, Matt's going to have to brush up on his Spiderman filmography. Links Iowa state senator: ‘We’re out of the pandemic’ (Iowa Capitol Dispatch) Follow Rep. Bohannan on Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk about Kim Reynolds's latest retreat in the fight against COVID, the voter suppression bill that election attorney Mark Elias calls "the worst anti-voting bill" in the country and other disasters coming out of the state house. IT'S NOT GREAT, PEOPLE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THIS MAD. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Ivy and Matt talk about Governor Reynolds's bizarre fundraising pitches around her COVID response and literally auctioning her time off to the highest bidder, the once again inadequate school funding bill, the legislature's race to the bottom on transgender rights, and give their hot take on the impeachment trial in Washington. Text JOIN to 515-417-3320 to receive updates from Progress Iowa. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Ivy and Matt discuss Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell's "Denim Demonstration", the racial profiling bill that isn't, (finally) some COVID relief from Washington, favorite Super Bowl foods, and more! Text JOIN to 515-417-3320 for text message updates from Progress Iowa. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the horrible bills moving through the Iowa Legislature and Governor Reynolds's refusal to take responsibility for our state's response to the pandemic which has also been horrible. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy react to the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President, the historic inauguration of Kamala Harris as the 49th Vice President, and the progressive agenda that will begin restoring our nation. They also discuss the "disappointing but not surprising" agenda coming out of the Iowa legislature. And of course, the Bernie memes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss Governor Reynolds's Condition of the State address and agenda, the death penalty bill that passed a subcommittee vote despite almost unanimous public comment opposing it, the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and State Senator Zach Whiting's gross comparison of the attack on the capitol with civil rights marches. Then Matt speaks with Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls about his new job, COVID protocols at the Capitol (or lack thereof), and how Democrats are going to help Iowans out of this mess. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

We're back for the first episode of 2021. It feels so good to leave such a toxic and tumultuous year behind for... oh... Matt and Ivy discuss the domestic terror attack on the US Capital, Iowa's ongoing COVID crisis (we're 5th in positivity and lowest in tests!), Kim Reynolds's PR video debut, the Democratic victories in Georgia, and are joined by Iowa State Representative Jennifer Konfrst to discuss the Democratic caucus' priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Links: Iowa has the fifth-highest COVID positivity rate, lowest number of tests (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa governor, aides appear in PR video for no-bid vendor (Associated Press) Follow Rep. Jennifer Konfrst on Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Every year Progress Iowa holds a holiday party to relax, reflect on the hard work we've done over the past year, and gather with friends and allies. Obviously due to COVID-19 that couldn't happen in person this year so we asked our friends to record videos and we streamed the event on Facebook. Enjoy holiday greetings from Senators Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Cindy Axne, Congressman Dave Loebsack, and former candidate JD Scholten. You can see all of the speeches and our annual award winners on the livestream at facebook.com/progressiowa --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss Governor Reynolds latest COVID press conference, the apparent end of the Hart/Miller-Meeks race in #IA02 (every vote counts, y'all!), the disturbing developments out of the Glenwood Resource Center lawsuit, and again advocate for Dolly Parton's receiving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Or sainthood. Whatever's easier. Links: Lawsuit claims Reynolds’ staff, AG’s office approved sexual-arousal experiments at Glenwood (Iowa Capital Dispatch) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk about the half-a-loaf non-mandate mask mandates from Kim Reynolds, Joe Biden's picks for his national security team, the historically close margin in Iowa's 2nd congressional district race, and of course their Thanksgiving Day recipes. Be thankful. Stay safe. Links: COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool Follow Ryan Foley on Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk about the ups and downs of last week's election, the COVID crisis that just keeps getting worse, and the complete lack of leadership from the Governor's office. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay apart. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the news of the most recent week to feel like 50 years and share stories of Iowans with pre-existing conditions to remind you that health care is on the ballot tomorrow. GO VOTE. Links: IWillVote.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the final presidential debate, the Senate Judicial Committee's vote on Amy Coney Barrett, the 545 migrant children still separated from their parents, and Kim Reynolds's CARES Act spending spree. We also hear a message to Sen. Joni Ernst from Lilly Steil, a young woman who became an activist against domestic violence after her sister Roseanna was shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend. Call Sens Ernst & Grassley -- NO Supreme Court vote until the people have spoken Ernst: (202) 224-3254 Grassley: (202) 224 - 3744 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Kim Reynolds opens for Donald Trump at a rally in Des Moines that spits in the face of her own COVID guidelines, Joni Ernst implodes in her final debate with Theresa Greenfield, David Young tells more lies about his record, and Ivy talks to Murphy Burke of Next Gen Iowa about their efforts to get out the vote. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

The buzz (get it?) is over the one and only Vice Presidential debate, as well as a debate between Congresswoman Cindy Axne and her challenger David Young in Iowa's 3rd district. Buzz buzz. Links Watch the Vice Presidential debate (CBS News) Watch the 3rd Congressional Debate (Iowa PBS) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy discuss the Ernst-Greenfield debate on Iowa Press, the Trump-Biden debate/"hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck," and Friday morning's breaking news that Donald Trump and others in his circle have COVID-19. Links Watch the Ernst-Greenfield debate (Iowa PBS on YouTube) Watch the Trump-Biden debate (C-SPAN on YouTube) Watch a replay of our event with Sen. Tom Harkin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Matt and Ivy talk about the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsber and our US Senator's baldfaced lies to the people they serve. They also share several hot takes on birds... Yes, birds. Links: Rob Sand's tweet about RBG and the Des Moines Symphony --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message

Editors note: This episode was recorded on Friday, September 18th, before the death of Justice Ginsburg. This week Matt and Ivy talk to Ben Jealous with People for the American Way about Iowa's Senate race and the importance of our nation's courts in that race. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/progress-iowa/message