Podcast appearances and mentions of Zach Wahls

Simon Conway's interview with Senator Zach Wahls during Thursday's second hour.

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the growing backlash against Trump's policies in Iowa and Meiselas interviews Iowa State Senator Zachary Wahls who announces he will be running for the United States Senate in Iowa against Iowa's MAGA Senator Joni Ernst who has grown deeply unpopular in the state. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, The NewDEAL and The Next50 announced a partnership that will build a robust pipeline of center-left talent by combining The Next 50's electoral backing and campaign tools with the network, policy, and skills support that the NewDEAL provides. The goal is to round out a cycle of support for leaders who can win tough elections, deliver results while in office, and be the Democratic messengers who connect effectively with the broad majority of Americans. CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with NewDEAL Leader and Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls – who joins us today as Executive Director of The Next50. They share the back stories of the NewDEAL and The Next50, how they support candidates and elected leaders, and  the new partnership between the organizations. They also discuss why it's so important to have young people serving in elected office, what we can learn from NewDEAL and The Next50 leaders about winning swing districts, and why building community is crucial to developing effective leaders. Tune in to learn more about how the NewDEAL and The Next50 are advancing the next generation of Democratic leaders.   IN THIS EPISODE:  • [01:05] An introduction to Senator Wahls and The New Deal's partnership with The Next 50. • [02:00] The philosophy behind The Next 50 and the work it continues to do today. • [06:04] Three distinct phases of political life: campaigning, governing, and home life. • [08:09] Criteria that guide Senator Wahls in choosing which leaders to endorse. • [12:40] Why taking a pragmatic approach to governance resonates in competitive states. • [15:20] Insight into the shared aim of The New Deal and The Next 50 to improve the visibility of great elected officials. • [18:53] Conversations around the high stakes of government in 2025. • [22:36] Learning from the urgency and speed with which the DOGE administration has acted. • [25:20] How a variety of lived experiences can bring important perspectives to government. • [29:30] Support provided for young leaders by The New Deal and The Next 50.

The latest poll out of Iowa suggests that this Midwest state might be back in play for the Democrats. We talk to Iowa state senator Zach Wahls and ask if voters are getting their swing back. Then: Monocle's Chris Cermak reports from Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and we hear from Georgina Godwin down in South Carolina. Plus: we meet the team at WSP working to revamp the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and meet the architecture duo at G+G working hard to preserve Atlanta's historic landmarks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zach Wahls on X: "There have been over 400 school shootings in American schools since Columbine. There have been zero sex changes in American schools. All he does is lie, lie, lie." Teen brains 'aged' during Covid lockdowns, new research suggests James Earl Jones, iconic voice of Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars' and Mufasa in ‘The Lion King,' dead at 93 | CNN Baseball Quotes on X: "The one constant through the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. Its been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again. -Field of Dreams https://t.co/luF51RsPox" RNS on X: "OPINION: Two psychology researchers explain the growing concern over a potential “great resignation,” with more than a third of U.S. pastors thinking about quitting. https://t.co/HKTJ5ewpcy"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Trump's legal team is scrambling to postpone or throw out four of his five pending cases. It comes as new reporting finds Trump revealed nuclear submarine secrets to an Australian businessman at Mar-a-Lago. Meanwhile, the House returns without a Speaker as two Republicans throw their hat in the ring. Plus, the power of young activism and what it means to engage in democracy at a young age. And are influencers losing their influence? Peter Baker, Luke Broadwater, Charles Coleman, Jason Johnson, Mark McKinnon, Eric Willoughby, State Sen. Zach Wahls and Taylor Lorenz join.

See JL Cauvin and I co Headlining City Winery In Pittsburgh PA on Oct 11 Spend Money on Kevin's Honey!  Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Zach Wahls was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018. He was elected to his second term in 2022, representing Senate District 43, which includes Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, part of western Iowa City, and rural northeast Johnson County. Zach on Twitter  Zach on Tik Tok Zach ran for the Iowa Senate to give all Iowans a voice. Growing up in a non-traditional family, he learned early in life what it felt like to be left out, and he remembers how hard families like his had to fight to get a seat at the table. Prior to his election, Zach worked primarily as an advocate in the LGBTQ civil rights movement following his 2011 testimony before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in defense of marriage equality and his “two mom” family. In this capacity, he wrote extensively about his family's experience, including a best-selling book, and has spoken to hundreds of audiences, including a prime-time speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  An Eagle Scout, Zach co-founded and led Scouts for Equality, which successfully executed a national campaign to end discrimination against LGBTQ people in the Boy Scouts of America. Outside of the Legislature, Zach serves as the Vice President for Community Investment and Development at GreenState Credit Union, Iowa's largest financial cooperative. He also owns and operates a small business with his sister, selling custom-made playing cards, and he is a co-owner of his family tree farm in northeast Iowa. Zach completed his Masters in Public Affairs from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs in 2018 and his Bachelors from the University of Iowa in 2014. He married his wife, Dr. Chloe Angyal, in 2021, and they live with their dog, Zelda, in Coralville.   Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe

Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 740 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more 10 mins He's been murdered on CSI, interviewed 2 Beatles on separate continents in the same week, and famously once got Mitt Romney's advisor to call Governor Romney an 'etch a sketch' on CNN. Actor, comedian & broadcaster John Fugelsang hosts 'Tell Me Everything" weekdays on SiriusXM Insight #121. He recently performed in 'The Bill of Rights Concert" alongside Lewis Black & Dick Gregory which aired on AXS.   He's also appeared at Montreal's ‘Just for Laughs' Festival, HBO's U.S Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, hosted America's Funniest Home Videos for ABC and Bill Maher called him ‘one of my favorite comedians'.   Film/TV credits include 'Price Check' opposite Parker Posey, "Becker," "Providence," "Coyote Ugly,"  the religious standup performance film "The Coexist Comedy Tour" (which won Best Documentary at the NYC Vision Fest film festival).  He appears in the upcoming features "The Girl On The Train," "Maggie Black," and he plays two roles in the romantic comedy ‘The Whole Truth' starring Elisabeth Rohm and Eric Roberts.   He's interviewed Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Alan Rickman, Joey Ramone, Carlos Santana, James Taylor, Bo Diddley, Stevie Nicks, Robbie Robertson, Ravi Shankar, Beyonce Knowles, Olivia Harrison, Garth Brooks, William Hurt, Helen Hunt, Ashanti, John Fogerty, William Shatner, Sen. Trent Lott, Sen. Tom Daschle, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ed Asner, Nile Rogers, Michael Moore, JK Simmons, Valerie Plame, Ethan Hawke, Brian Dennehy, Mavis Staples, Joel Grey, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Lily Tomlin,  Dave Matthews, Terrence McNally, Stanley Tucci, Michael Shannon, Noel Gallagher,  Jeff Daniels, Rita Moreno, & Carl Reiner.  His interview with George Harrison included JF persuading George to play several songs on acoustic guitar.  This proved to be George's final televised appearance and was broadcast as "The Last Performance."   His new film "Dream On," a road trip in search of the American Dream, was named "Best Documentary" at the NY Independent Film Festival.   Directed by 2 time Oscar nominee Roger Weisberg, the film examines the current state of the American Dream while retracing the journey Alexis de Tocqueville made while writing 'Democracy in America.'   The film features 200 interviews in 55 cities in 17 states, including Mike Huckabee, Barney Frank & Paul Krugman and premieres on PBS Election Day Eve.   46 mins  Senator Zach Wahls is a sixth-generation Iowan, a longtime resident of the senate district with deep community roots, an Eagle Scout, and an active member of the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Coralville. Wahls is Vice President of Community Investment and Development at GreenState Credit Union, Iowa's largest financial cooperative. His testimony before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee about growing up with lesbian parents was YouTube's most-watched political video of 2011. He has spoken at over 300 events all over Iowa and across America, including a primetime speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention supporting President Barack Obama's re-election. He is the author of the nationally bestselling memoir My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength and What Makes a Family. Wahls co-founded and served as Executive Director of Scouts for Equality, which successfully led the national campaign to end LGBTQ discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America. Wahls received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and his master's degree from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. Zach lives with his wife Dr. Chloe Angyal, who is a journalist and author, and their dog Zelda, in Coralville. Pete on YouTube Check out all things Jon Carroll Follow and Support Pete Coe Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page

This Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Wednesday, June 14.It may not be summer, yet, but it's going to feel like it on Wednesday. According to the National Weather service it will be mostly sunny in the Cedar Rapids area on Wednesday with a high near 90 degrees. On Wednesday evening it will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 62 degrees.According to reporting from the Associated Press, Donald Trump became the first former president to face a judge on federal charges as he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom Tuesday to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back.Trump approached his arraignment with characteristic bravado, posting social media broadsides against the prosecution from inside his motorcade and insisting as he has through years of legal woes that he has done nothing wrong and was being persecuted for political purposes. But despite his swagger, he still will have to answer to 37 felony counts that accuse him of willfully retaining classified records that prosecutors say could have jeopardized national security if exposed, as well as trying to hide them from investigators who demanded them back.Meanwhile, back in Iowa, drama continued for Iowa Democrats.Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs and former Iowa Senate majority leader, was asked to resign from his statehouse lobbying job for the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council after the organization learned of his involvement in Senate Democrats' recent removal of Sen. Zach Wahls as their leader.The Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council is a collection of nine regional building trades councils that represents thousands of Iowa construction workers. The organization lobbies state lawmakers on proposed legislation related to the construction industry.The nature of Gronstal's involvement in Senate Democrats' leadership change was not detailed by the council or made public by Senate Democrats. But the two longtime staffers who were fired had worked for Gronstal when he was majority leader.The council asked for Gronstal's resignation the next day.The two staffers who were fired by Wahls — Erik Bakker and Deb Kattenhorn — have been rehired and are once again working for Iowa Senate Democrats, a caucus spokesman confirmed.And one staffer who Wahls had hired, Kaity Patchett, was fired by Jochum. Patchett previously worked in the office of former Central Iowa U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne.A portion of Tower Terrace Road in Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha, which has been closed for a little over a year for the construction of an interchange connecting the road to Interstate 380, is scheduled to open later this month.A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new interchange — a “diverging diamond” design — is scheduled for June 22, and the Iowa Department of Transportation is hoping to have the roadway open on or shortly after that date.This will be Iowa's third diverging diamond interchange, and the first on the east side of the state. Diverging diamond is an interchange design in which traffic switches to the left side of the roadway while crossing over the interstate, allowing those turning left onto the interstate a clean turn, rather than turning across incoming traffic.

This Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Tuesday, June 13.It's going to be warmer and windier on Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service, it will be partly sunny with a high near 84 degrees in the Cedar Rapids area on Tuesday. On Tuesday night it will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 59 degrees. Wind gusts could get as high as 30 mph during the day before settling down a bit at nightA man shot to death early Sunday in Cedar Rapids had been acquitted in 2018 by a jury of first-degree murder and other charges related to a street fight involving dozens of combatants.Cedar Rapids police said Kenyauta Vesey-Keith, 23, was killed in a shooting in the 1300 block of First Avenue SE. Officers were called at 12:06 a.m. Sunday and found Vesey-Keith suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.In 2018, Vesey-Keith was acquitted of first-degree murder and other charges stemming from a 2016 fight that led to the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Brandon Johnson. Vesey-Keith was 16 at the time of the shooting, and 18 at the time of the trial. He was accused of first-degree murder, attempted murder, willful injury causing serious injury and intimidation with a weapon, but was acquitted of all charges.In the trial, prosecutors argued that Vesey-Keith took a gun from a vehicle and fired multiple rounds, hitting Johnson and Gaudlin. Vesey-Keith's lawyers argued he fired the gun in self-defense and presented evidence that he had previous issues with Johnson and others before the street fight.The investigation into the shooting Sunday is ongoing, and no additional information was available. Police said they believed it was a targeted incident.Crews started Monday to demolish the remains of a six-story apartment building in downtown Davenport that partially collapsed more than two weeks ago, killing three people and leaving dozens without a home.Workers were using a large excavator to dismantle the 116-year-old brick, steel and concrete structure in a process officials said would take several weeks. It's a difficult task because the building is in the heart of the city's downtown and is believed to contain asbestos and other potentially hazardous material.Building owner Andrew Wold pleaded guilty Monday to a civil infraction filed by the city, according to online court records. The infraction, which stated that Wold didn't maintain safe conditions at the building, carries a $300 fine plus $95 in court costs. The city has said Wold will be charged for demolition expenses.Separately, building tenants have named Wold and others in lawsuits related to the building collapse. Another lawsuit filed Friday — the fourth related to the collapse so far — said Wold and the city failed to notify tenants after a March 13 inspection to vacate, giving them enough time to collect their belongings, according to the Quad City TimesState Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, in a social media post Monday, described and defended the events that led to his ouster last week as Democrats' leader in the Iowa Senate.Wahls was voted out of his position as Iowa Senate minority leader when Senate Democrats called an impromptu meeting and voted to make Sen. Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, their new leader.Wahls' post Monday was his first public comment since the vote.“I am no longer leader because I made the difficult decision to fire two longtime staffers who did not share my vision for change while restructuring our staff. My Senate Democratic colleagues disagreed with my decision,”

The cauc regs (caucus regulars) are busy so I brought in a couple guest host ringers. Alan and Oliver are here for a long discussion of the Davenport building collapse and a shorter look at what the hell is going on with Zach Wahls. Come out to Pokey's Fest tonight and tomorrow: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=306824~e7ec740d-8476-44fa-ae88-f8602a65365d Closing music by Death Kill Overdrive (https://deathkilloverdrive.bandcamp.com) - Iowa bands, please send us your music: https://forms.gle/zNkBXmRdWyBMpsKP7 Call us at (319) 849-8733! Links to all the stuff we talked about are compiled here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/84303405 https://rockhardcauc.us

This Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Thursday, June 8.It will be another sunny, mild day on Thursday. According to the National Weather Service it will be mostly sunny with a high near 81 degrees in the Cedar Rapids area. On Thursday evening it will be mostly clear, with a low of around 53 degrees.With somewhat unusual timing, Iowa Senate Democrats elected a new leader Wednesday night.Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Legislature typically elect their respective leaders shortly after elections every two years.But on Wednesday night, Senate Democrats met and elected Dubuque Sen. Pam Jochum as their new leader, in the process ousting previous leader Sen. Zach Wahls, of Coralville.Senate Democrats on Wednesday night did not address the reason for the change.The Iowa Capital Dispatch, Iowa Field Report, and Iowa Starting Line reported Wednesday that many Senate Democrats were upset that Wahls, as caucus leader, recently fired two longtime staffers, Erik Bakker and Deb Kattenhorn. Wahls, 31, was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, and in 2020 was elected leader of the minority-party Senate Democrats, who are outnumbered in the chamber by Republican supermajority, 34-16.Swimmers at Noelridge Aquatic Center in northeast Cedar Rapids were taken into safe housing on-site Wednesday after reports of shots being fired nearby.Police received a report of shots fired in the 4000 block of Richmond Road NE at 4:41 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release. Officers arrived on scene and witnesses described three minor males involved in an altercation that ended in a single gunshot being fired.The release states the individuals fled before officers arrived. No injuries or property damage had been reported as of Wednesday evening.Noelridge Aquatic Center, which is about a block from the location of the shots fired, was “secured by staff,” and swimmers were taken into safe housing on site until police indicated all was clear, the release states. The pool was scheduled to reopen at 6:30 for normal operations.A Cresco man was arrested Wednesday on charges he sexually abused multiple Boy Scouts over a decade while serving as a troop leader in Cresco.James Hughes, 73, is charged with four counts of third-degree sexual abuse and six counts of lascivious conduct with a minor, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.The investigation started March 18, 2021, when a Boy Scout filed a report of sexual abuse with the Cresco Police Department. The police department requested the Iowa DCI help with an investigation, which led to the discovery of several other instances of sexual abuse between Hughes and other juvenile Boy Scouts, authorities said.According to criminal complaints, Hughes committed sexual abuse or misconduct against five boys, each between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time. The abuse spanned between 2008 and 2018, the records show.

This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Friday, May 5.Friday will start sunny and pleasant, with a chance for some rain as the day goes on. According to the National Weather Service it will start out mostly sunny in the Cedar Rapids area, with temperatures reaching a high of 70 degrees. It will become increasingly cloudy as the day goes on, though, and there will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. The overall average chance of precipitation is listed at 30 percent.Shortly after noon Thursday, Iowa lawmakers concluded their work for the year. Unless a special session is called, they will not return to resume their work at the Iowa Capitol until next January.Republican leaders in the Iowa Legislature frequently used the word “historic” in their descriptions of the 2023 session.House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, said Republicans followed through on the priorities “that we laid out to Iowans,” including property tax relief and “making sure that parents were a part of their children's education,” whether through school choice or school transparency requirements for curriculum and books.Meanwhile, Democrats did not mince words when describing their view of the 2023 session.Sen. Zach Wahls, the leader of the Senate Democrats from Coralville, told reporters the session was “one of the most divisive and cruel ever seen in the history of the Iowa Legislature,” and said state house Republicans “poured gasoline on the flames of the culture war.”Wahls criticized Republicans for the private school financial assistance program, their more strict regulation of books in K-12 schools with sexual content, and legislation that impacts transgender children in Iowa.As these comments suggest, most bills were passed along party lines, with Republicans passing most of their agenda without needing, or receiving, any support from Democrats.They did agree on a few things, such as a property tax reform bill that aims to lower property taxes by restricting how much funding schools and local governments can raise from increased growth to property values over a given time period. Governor Kim Reynolds signed that bill, almost unanimously approved by state lawmakers, on Thursday.Kirkwood Community College named its new president on Thursday.Nearly 10 years after leaving her vice presidential post at Kirkwood Community College for a senior role at ACT, Kristie Fisher has landed the premiere post atop Eastern Iowa's largest community college.Fisher had spent her last four years leading the 2,442-student Iowa Valley Community College District as its chancellor and president.She arrives during challenging times for higher education. All of Iowa's community colleges have lost students in recent years.While seven of the state's community colleges saw slight enrollment upticks in the fall, Kirkwood was among eight that saw a dip — although it remains the state's second largest behind Des Moines Area Community College.“One of the things that I think not just Kirkwood but all community colleges are going to be facing is the fact that there's so much learning loss from the time of the pandemic,” she said to the question of big issues she'll have to tackle as Kirkwood president. “I think we're going to see that for the next decade.”

Simon begins hour two talking to Senator Zach Wahls about the democrats' plan in the Iowa legislature now that they don't have the power to stop anything from being passed. Next, Simon talks about how Biden has stored classified documents from when he was VP.

It was the last day of January in 2011 when a 19 year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa delivered remarks during a public hearing for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that was being considered by the Iowa House Judiciary Committee.Within a few months, Gallup would release their first poll showing majority support for same-sex marriage among Americans at 53 percent, but at the time, the most recent polling stood at 42 percent. Although, for the first time, a 2009 poll commissioned by ABC News and The Washington Post found a plurality of support, there were a number of polls in the following 18 months that found a majority or plurality opposing same-sex marriage.The legalization of same-sex marriage, state-by-state, was abysmal in that moment. Just five states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire—and D.C. had legalized, and 30 states had passed amendments banning it in some way, shape, or form; they would be joined by North Carolina the following year, making 31.California was one of those 31 and arguably had the most painful trajectory, initially banning same-sex marriage in 2000 through voter referendum, seeing that overturned in a 4-3 decision by the state supreme court in 2008, and then reinstated by a slim majority of voters less than six months later through the now-infamous Proposition 8. And by the way, this was more than 15 months out from then-Vice-President Joe Biden becoming the first nationally-elected official to endorse same-sex marriage. (If you haven't seen that yet, it's very much worth the watch. Video below)It's hard to overstate how recently the entire country was immersed in heated debate over same-sex marriages and how grim the prospects looked for its realization. For many years, it seemed touch-and-go over whether the country could really put aside its reinforced ignorance over LGBTQ families.It was into that grim environment that this brave 19 year-old waded — not the environment of the past several years, not the easy, breezy rainbow corporate logos that now pop up every June, not the confident LGBTQ characters and storylines increasingly common now in film and television, not the bursts of greater LGBTQ representation at all levels of elected office — but America in early 2011, when the tipping point on marriage equality had yet to fully arrive.Zach Wahls, the heterosexual son of lesbian mothers, who had spent his entire childhood under the cruel microscope of homophobes, who had been bullied in school for many years after talking about his two moms, surprised to learn at an early age that his family was somehow marked different (and to many, invalid) — that 19 year-old was born into a family that loved him unconditionally and a country that grasped for excuses to hate his family and, well, Zach Wahls had something to say.And so, that day, before a packed chamber, Zach Wahls stood tall and suited behind a lecturn, all six feet and five inches of him, left hand in his pocket, and delivered a stunning short speech about his lesbian moms that immediately went viral.You can watch all three minutes below, but here's one of the parts that always gets me:“If I were your son, Mr. Chairman, I believe I'd make you proud. I'm really not so different from any of your children. My family really isn't so different from yours. After all, your family doesn't derive its sense of self-worth from being told by the state: ‘You're married, congratulations.' No, the sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other.”Whew. Beautifully said, huh?For so many years, social conservatives had run out of breath attempting to convince the country that the children of same-sex couples were at an extreme and harmful disadvantage, and yet, here was this confident and poised 19 year-old Eagle Scout telling them that he was the happy and well-adjusted child of a lesbian marriage.This would have been an incredible speech from even a seasoned, grown adult, but coming from a college sophomore, there was an authenticity—a barely veiled pain and frustration and, yes, great pride—that centered his remarks in a way that transcended the national debate over same-sex marriage. Four years later, the Supreme Court would make marriage equality the law of the land, and by then, Wahls had published a well-received memoir, spoken at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, fought for the successful repeal of anti-LGBTQ exclusionary policies in the Boy Scouts of America, and would go on to graduate with a bachelor's from the University of Iowa and gain acceptance to Princeton's MPA program.On June 5, 2018—the same day—Wahls graduated from Princeton with his MPA and won the Democratic primary in his first bid for the Iowa State Senate, a seat he would win that fall. This was followed by reelection in 2020 and his Democratic colleagues rallying around him for minority leader shortly thereafter, making him one of the country's youngest state-level legislative captains in recent memory.He turned 30 last July, believe it or not.It's been eleven years since that galvanizing speech, and I continue to be impressed by Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls. He doesn't back down from his values, but he also has a knack for building bridges between differing perspectives that otherwise wouldn't have existed.I guess that's my nice way of saying that Sen. Wahls has the patience to honorably persuade some of the more foolish and stubborn among us, an increasingly rare quality in our elected officials.On Wednesday evening (May 11th), I'll be co-hosting a fundraiser here in D.C. for Sen. Wahls, and I encourage folks in town to attend and meet this effective and young leader. For those who can't attend and would like to support his reelection, you can make a standalone donation by clicking that link. By the way, Iowa is one of those states without a cap on how much a candidate can receive from an individual donor, so, by all means, go nuts and contribute as much as you can. As the resurgence of hateful attacks on civil rights in this country continues to grow, from the impending Supreme Court ruling on Roe to the nationwide onslaught against LGBTQ equality, it's more important than ever to have the backs of our political leaders who have long fought in the trenches for our liberation.Zach Wahls has been fighting all his life for people he'll never know, and that's why we need to fight for him.Let's have his back.Hi, I'm Charlotte Clymer, and this is Charlotte's Web Thoughts, my Substack. It's completely free to access and read, but if you feel so moved to support my writing, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $7/month or save money with the $70/annual sub. You can also go way above and beyond by becoming a Founding Member at $210. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

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

How can credit unions grow roots in their communities? In this episode, Tara Wachendorf and Zach Wahls of GreenState Credit Union talk about GreenStates's support of over 900 charities and contributing over $2.2 million to local charities in 2020. Additionally GreenState plants a new tree for every new credit union member with help from their nonprofit partner, Trees Forever. GreenState makes helping their community a priority, and in turn, GreenState has seen more members give. Check out:  Greenstate.org treesforever.secure.force.com Guests: Tara Wachendorf (Public Relations Director), GreenState Credit Union Zach Wahls (Vice President), GreenState Credit Union Learn more about NetGiver at netgiverapp.com

Tonight on the Last Word: The number of children hospitalized with Covid has doubled since July. Also, President Biden vows to evacuate all Americans and Afghan allies. Plus, pressure builds on Congress to pass voting rights bills. Trump allies are still pushing baseless election lies. And the Buttigiegs become the most high profile LGBTQ couple in U.S. politics to welcome a child. Dr. Jason Custer, Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, David Rothkopf, Rep. Colin Allred, TX Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and Iowa State Sen. Zach Wahls join Jonathan Capehart. 

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

On this edition of Iowa Press, Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) discusses recent legislative actions at the Iowa statehouse.  Joining this week’s moderator Kay Henderson, news director for Radio Iowa, at the Iowa Press table are Erin Murphy, Des Moines bureau chief for Lee Enterprises, and Katarina Sostaric, state government reporter for Iowa Public Radio. Program support provided by: Associated General Contractors of Iowa, Iowa Bankers Association and FUELIowa.

Zach Wahls graduated from West in 2009. He went on the study engineering at the University of Iowa, after he delivered a now-famous speech to the Iowa legislature about his experience with two mothers, he focused on writing his now best-selling book. Afterward started a camping "Scouts Across America," and received his master's in Public Affairs from Princeton University. He was elected to the Iowa State Senate in 2018 and is now the Democratic leader.

NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Zach Wahls, the new Minority Leader for Iowa's state Senate, about how to unify the nation in the wake of the attack on the Capitol, and his insight on how to effect change. 

This is John McGlothlen with the Gazette digital news desk and I'm here with your update for Monday, November 16th. The weather today will be sunny, with a high near 53. Also breezy, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear, with a low around 27. Iowa Senate Democrats have elected first-term Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville to be their minority leader in the 2021 session. Wahls said the 18-member Senate caucus will focus on “defeating coronavirus with decisive action supporting essential workers, protecting Iowa families, and assisting small businesses.” Wahls was elected leader, replacing Sen. Janet Petersen of Des Moines, who did not seek re-election. His colleagues elected him during a virtual meeting Sunday afternoon. The Iowa Hawkeyes dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball as they beat Minnesota 35-0 Friday night, claiming Floyd of Rosedale for the sixth straight season. The Hawkeyes rushed for 235 yards including 142 yards and two touchdowns from Tyler Goodson. Mekhi Sargent added 86 yards rushing and a TD. Zach VanValkenburg tallied three sacks for Iowa and Jack Koerner and Riley Moss both intercepted passes. The number of patients being treated in Iowa hospitals for the COVID-19 respiratory disease continued to trend in the wrong direction Sunday, with record numbers of people admitted, placed in intensive care or put on ventilators to help breathe. According to public health data, the number of virus patients in Iowa hospitals increased from 1,261 to 1,279 in the 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Sunday. Those in intensive care inched up from 246 to 247 and those on ventilators rose from 107 to 115. All are record highs since COVID-19 was first confirmed in Iowa in March. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is activating the first phase of its surge plan that includes adding intensive care unit beds. UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, and Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, all announced plans last week to preserve staff and personal protective gear by curtailing elective procedures that require overnight stays. Public health data showed that 95 of Iowa's 99 counties have positivity rates of 15 percent or greater when averaged over 14 days.

He calls it "finding religion," thanks to his mom. Iowa State Senator and political wunderkind joins the show to talk about how he became a Packers fan, what he thinks of the offseason, the state of sports amid the coronavirus and much more. Plus, why does the NFL not agree Aaron Jones is really good and what it means for the Packers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He calls it "finding religion," thanks to his mom. Iowa State Senator and political wunderkind joins the show to talk about how he became a Packers fan, what he thinks of the offseason, the state of sports amid the coronavirus and much more. Plus, why does the NFL not agree Aaron Jones is really good and what it means for the Packers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He calls it "finding religion," thanks to his mom. Iowa State Senator and political wunderkind joins the show to talk about how he became a Packers fan, what he thinks of the offseason, the state of sports amid the coronavirus and much more. Plus, why does the NFL not agree Aaron Jones is really good and what it means for the Packers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2011, Zach Wahls became famous nationwide when he spoke to the Iowa State House Judiciary Committee about marriage equality and about the loving family he has had with his mothers. Now, Zach is famous for continuing his advocacy as a member of the Iowa State Senate.  In this episode of the You Should Run Podcast, Zach talks about what led to him becoming a candidate, who encouraged him, and why he ran for office in 2018 for the first time. We talk about who Zach is supporting for President in the Iowa Caucus and why, how he is working across the aisle to bring consensus on issues, how his Unitarian faith has made an impact on his politics, and more about what makes Iowa politics far more interesting than people know. Of course, Zach also talks about another very important topic.... why YOU should run for office. Listen, share, and subscribe today. 

Zach Wahls je americký senátor ze státu Iowa. Stal se jím přesně osm let poté, co v tamním parlamentu jako devatenáctiletý student vystoupil s projevem, který mu navždy změnil život. Řekl v něm, že je synem dvou lesbických matek, a překvapeným poslancům vysvětlil, že jeho rodina má úplně stejné starosti jako každá jiná. Ve druhé části podcastu vysvětlíme, co se dnes změnilo v kauze Čapí hnízdo.

A progressive former viral media sensation wins a state primary in Iowa, while conservatives have their own plan for how to get their ideas out to the mainstream. Meanwhile, will the dissolution of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau make Scott Pruitt think twice about all the shopping he's been doing? Plus, high notes from the Final Frontier.

The Johnson County Task Force on Aging presents a forum on issues vital to the senior community on the second Monday of each month, at 2pm, at the Coralville Public Library. This month features a candidate forum for the Democratic primary for Iowa Senate District 37. Moderated by Lyle Muller and Bob Welsh, the forum features Eric Dirth, Zach Wahls, Imad Youssif and Janice Weiner. Video provided by CoralVision.

You might remember Zach Wahls as the college student who spoke to congress about his two moms in support of gay marriage. Now he’s  running for Senate in Iowa, and he's got lots to say about going viral, bullying and his 2 moms. 

On this episode, the crew kicks off the school year by visiting with University of Iowa alum and progressive activist Zach Wahls for a smart discussion on the recent terrorist attack in Charlottesville and an emboldened white supremacist movement in America. Next, they get a campus perspective from Lilian Sanchez who serves as Vice President of the UISG. They close the episode with an in-depth conversation with the award-winning professor Dave Gould about a new community-centered approach to education. Check it out!

On the third episode of My Gay Life, Butz talks about what it’s like to raise a child with two moms and what she hopes the future looks like for her child. We also chat with Zach Wahls and learn what he’s been doing since his brush with virility in 2011. You may recognize Zach from this video, when he stood before the Iowa House of Representatives and testified to protect marriage equality. Zach takes us through that fateful day, how it changed his life, and what he’s still doing to fight for the LGBTQ community -- and others. Follow Zach Wahls: www.twitter.com/zachwahls Follow us: www.twitter.com/mygaylifepod Follow Butz: www.twitter.com/cbutzrun Follow Becca: www.twitter.com/rsam______ Email us: hi@mygaylifepodcast.com Get the next episode directly to your email: www.mygaylifepodcast.com/subscribe Original Music by @reefboiicliff Subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Johnson County holds a kickoff luncheon for their upcoming April 25th walk fundraiser. This year's Honorary Chair for the Walk is Zach Wahls. Additional information about how you can participate or volunteer for this year's walk event is available here. For information about NAMI Johnson County, please visit their website.

On the eve of the United States Supreme Court hearings on Proposition 8 and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, we talked with straight ally and marriage equality activist, Zach Wahls.  Zach earned world-wide attention after his passionate testimony before the Iowa Legislature.  Since that time, he's become involved in … Continue reading →

On the eve of the United States Supreme Court hearings on Proposition 8 and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, we talked with straight ally and marriage equality activist, Zach Wahls.  Zach earned world-wide attention after his passionate testimony before the Iowa Legislature.  Since that time, he's become involved in … Continue reading →