Substacks recommended by Robert Leonard | Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture

Recommended by Robert Leonard

Sh*t Richard Says

By Richard Gilbert

Law Dork

By Chris Geidner

The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more.

Barry Piatt on Politics: - Behind the Curtains

Consistently ahead of the curve political commentary and analysis

I love his fascinating historical and insider perspective!

- Robert Leonard

Words to Win By

By Anat Shenker-Osorio

Research-backed insights, baked inside snark, on which messages resonate while others falter. Timely ideas for how to frame political debate to animate the progressive base, convert the conflicted, and marginalize the opposition.

Robert Reich

Daily newsletter exposing where power lies — and how it's used and abused

Brian Tyler Cohen

A deep dive into what's happening in politics from one of the biggest content creators on the left.

Barnstorming Brain

By Tim Grover

My mind wanders far and wide. History, genealogy, current events, nature, and sports...and whatever "godservations" may come my way. Author of the book "Barnstorming Babe--A Slugger's Bumpy Trek Across Small-Town America."

Mary Swander’s Buggy Land

By swandermary@gmail.com

A tale of two homesteads, one among the Amish, the other in Connemara, Ireland. A serialization of a new book of non-fiction.

Blackout Baby

By Sam Lou Talbot

"Night drives on music & more by Sam Lou Talbot".

My Integrated Life

By Dartanyan L. Brown

Stories and Sounds from a Life In Jazz and Journalism

Romen Borsellino

Romen is an LA-based comedy writer who has been accused of "relying on writing the "f" word ala a junior high schooler who struggles with words"

You're Probably Getting Screwed

By J.D. Scholten

A weekly newsletter and video series from J.D. Scholten and Justin Stofferahn about how and why bad actors put politics and profits over working people.

Brecht's Beat

By Tory Brecht

On Iowa sports, life on the Upper Mississippi and other subjects.

Writing No One Off

By Beto for America

The Beto for America newsletter

The Capitol Hill Reader

Weekly highlights from the President, Congress, and the Federal Courts, reporting live from the shadow ban.

Lisa Explains It All

Lisa Grouette = Journalist. Editor. Artist. Nerd. Oxford comma diehard. Annoyingly loquacious. Just getting started.

Reporting from Quiltropolis

By Marianne Fons

Marianne Fons writes from the small town of Winterset, Iowa, reporting on quilty and non-quilty topics.

The Nature of Things

By Ron Dodson

Regular thoughts on moments of life from a biologist and environmental educator.

American Bardic Poet

By EmilyLupita

Joseph S. Plum is a poet in the bardic tradition. He lives off-grid in rural Iowa and composes his unique chant-like oral poetry for fascinated audiences around the world. Spiritual / Mystic / Star Knowledge / New Age

Joe Plum is an amazing person and poet. I am very happy that he and his talented daughter Emily Lupita have teamed up to share his work. Please check it out.

- Robert Leonard

Wonkette

By Rebecca Schoenkopf

Wonkette is filthy, hilarious, liberal news. YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH!

SHE WHO STIRS THE STORM

By Gloria Horton-Young

This is my playground: rules rewritten daily.

The Civics Center

By Laura W. Brill

The Civics Center is on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America. Every year, 4 million Americans turn 18 and become eligible to vote. But less than half of them do so, because they are not registered. thecivicscenter.org

Penning Ink Substack

By Tim Penning

The Penning Ink Substack, written by Tim Penning, PhD, includes insights and commentary about writing, communication, and general commentary.

On Repeat Records

By Kevin

Ditch the algorithm. Music discovery made easy—curated by someone who remembers when a mixtape could change your life.

Julie Gammack and Guests

If Iowa had a group chat, this would be it. Hosted by Julie Gammack, this Substack blends independent journalism, lively opinion, and unexpected voices from across the state. Think potluck, but with more insight and fewer Crock-Pots.

Mathew Snyder

Weekly poems and writings on finding your way through the mud.

Mary Swander's Emerging Voices

Diverse people voice their opinions for the Iowa Writers Collaborative

Because it is beautiful.

- Robert Leonard

Notes from the Prairie

By Carol Van Klompenburg

Gardening, Aging, Memories and, most recently "I Wonder"

Wahls for Iowa | Senate Campaign Updates

By Zach Wahls

A first-person, regular update from my campaign for the U.S. Senate.

The Moral High Ground

By Evan Hurst

We are living through a world-historical temper tantrum from white conservative Christians over their loss of control, relevance, and supremacy. This weekly newsletter looks at current events through that lens and usually mocks it mercilessly.

Dave Busiek on Media

How to be a more informed news consumer and understand why journalists do what they do

Lucas’s Substack

By Lucas Kunce via Substack

Meidas+

By MeidasTouch Network

The premium hub for MeidasTouch, the fastest growing pro-democracy news network. Bonus articles, exclusive content, and interactive chats. Led by Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas, with exclusive articles by Ron Filipkowski.

Okoboji Writers' & Songwriters' Retreat News & Alum Essays

By Gammack

This post is for speakers, enrollees or other writers & musicians who are interested in the Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters' Retreat.

Relatively Minor

By Vicki Minor

A newspaper column providing a weekly dose of humor.

The Jim Acosta Show

By Jim Acosta

Don't give in to the lies. Hold on to the truth!

Out Here in the Fields

By Alison McGaughey

Reporting from the Midwest/midlife/meno beat.

Decoding Fox News

I watch all the Fox News you'd never want to.

Fern and Joe

By Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha

opinions on topics

Great writing! Excellent topics.

- Robert Leonard

AI Supremacy

By Michael Spencer

News at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, technology and business including Op-Eds, research summaries, guest contributions and valuable info about A.I. startups.

Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup

By Julie Gammack

Linking readers and professional writers who care about Iowa.

This is a growing list of great Iowa writers.

- Robert Leonard

The UnPopulist

By Shikha Dalmia

Defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism in the U.S. and around the world.

PR@ctical

By Sarah Evans @prsarahevans

Your executive brief on AI visibility, modern PR, and what's actually working right now. By Sarah Evans — Partner at Zen Media, 23+ years in comms, creator of The Before Layer and Published Monthly.

Let's Talk Politics

By Dennis Goldford

These are short discussions of various aspects of American politics in particular and the nature of politics and political affairs generally.

So What

By Chris Cillizza

An independent news creator. I call balls and strikes no matter what uniform the batter at the plate is wearing. Fair and fearless. Not owned by a billionaire or a massive media conglomerate.

Rooted--Land at the Edge of the Sky

By George Shurr

Deep history of a place in the Eastern Great Plains where the tall grass prairie carved by deep river valleys intersects with the area that has wooded lakes left by the last glacier.

J. Dudley's World

By J. Dudley Gilbert

J. Dudley Gilbert is a Golden Doodle, born July 26, 2023.

The Contrarian

Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy

Michael Mohr's Sincere American Writing

Starting a revolution of critical thinking. American living in Spain. I write about travel, politics, culture, and publish personal essay, fiction and more. One-stop shop, baby.

Popular Information

By Judd Legum

Independent accountability journalism.