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

Recommended by Robert Leonard

Miss Effie's Diary

By Cathy Linker Lafrenz

Picking flowers and picking myself up ... life as a widow

Mary Swander's Emerging Voices

Diverse people voice their opinions for the Iowa Writers Collaborative

Because it is beautiful.

- Robert Leonard

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper

My name is Jess and I was a high school Literature teacher for 16 years until I decided to run as a Democrat in a rural, red district in Missouri. I bring you news and politics from Missouri and beyond from a rural progressive point of view.

Jess Piper is a fearless advocate for rural America..

- Robert Leonard

Paper Route with Zachary Oren Smith

By Zach's Paper Route

Paper Route is a weekly newsletter on Iowa politics and accountability journalism. New stories on your doorstep each Thursday by Zachary Oren Smith.

Zachary Oren Smith and the Iowa Starting Line are great resources for Iowans seeking great news coverage.

- Robert Leonard

Reporting from Quiltropolis

By Marianne Fons

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

Newburg Stories

By J. Harley McIlrath

Exploring the history of Hickory Grove Township and the town of Newburg in Jasper County, Iowa.

The Real and Random Thoughts of Lya Williams

A time for unraveling, becoming and rebuilding. A collection of real and random thoughts.

well, actually

By Jacqui Shine // Well

cultural criticism, historical deep dives, & flights of pop culture fancy—with footnotes

Nuts and Bolts

By Joan Zwagerman

A hardwareman's daughter writes about politics, popular culture, and plenty more

'Because we are all in this together'.

By Ralph Rosenberg

“Power concedes nothing without a demand,” Frederick Douglass said in 1857. “It never did and it never will.”

Astute and honest political analyst.

- Robert Leonard

A cultural record of Iowa's technology

By Tej Dhawan

This is a record of Iowa's technology companies and the people who built them. I'll find the stories and talk to the people 1:1 and bring you what they did, why they did it, and how they see the community's progression since (used to say 80s) the 1960s

A fascinating accounting of the history of tech startups and contributions in Iowa. I had no idea of how these important businesses started, or how they operated. Incredibly well written--I feel like I'm in the room where it's all happening.

- Robert Leonard

My Integrated Life

By Dartanyan L. Brown

Stories and Sounds from a Life In Jazz and Journalism

Barbara’s Newsletter

By Barbara Leach

Saving the World One Vote At a Time

Lucas’s Substack

By Lucas Kunce via Substack

WTF Iowa?

By Gordie Felger

WTF Iowa? What the actual f*%k is happening to our state? How are your tax dollars being spent? What does the Iowa Legislature consider "priority issues" for Iowans? Check out my take on how decisions in Des Moines affect all Iowans.

The Racontourist

By Jason Walsmith

Hey there! I am Jason Walsmith - I am a traveling musician, photographer and storyteller. I write about music, travel, people, places and things.

Jason is a great musician and an outstanding writer. Always takes me somewhere new.

- Robert Leonard

How Things Work

By Hamilton Nolan

Labor, politics, and power.

Juniper Evenings

By Emily Martin

A cozy newsletter about the wonder of life and the lessons we learn from travel and nature.

Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger

...Iowa, small towns, and saddle shoes

The Planet 🌎

By 🌎 The Planet

Exploring our world's beauty and challenges through stories of nature, climate, and human resilience. Join our collective journey of hope and understanding.

Emily Lupita, Writer

I'm a Latina artist & writer, completing a series of manuscripts I've been working on since finishing my MFA almost 20 years ago. Plus children's books! I'm sharing my creative process and progress. Travel Memoir & Autism Motherhood, Iowa & Türkiye

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.

The Piecemaker: Musings and Meditations of a Midwest Maker

By Sarah

I write about making, mending, and finding beauty in the ordinary.

SHE WHO STIRS THE STORM

By Gloria Horton-Young

This is my playground: rules rewritten daily.

The Capitol Hill Reader

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

People Call Her Snarky

By Caroline Siebels-Lindquist

Just a Bad Midwest Feminist.

Iowa Public Policy Dude

By Chuck Isenhart

The only government worthy of support is the government that works for everyone. Focus on what matters. Git 'er done.

Exploring New Ground

By Jim Sayers

Here to encourage awareness, growth, kindness, inspiration, and creativity.

Powerful writing. Makes me think about things I have never pondered, or even knew to ponder. Now I do.

- Robert Leonard

Firmly Rooted

By Denise OBrien

Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris, unique individuals who chose to remain in their place of birth to be organic farmers. The Harris/O'Brien partnership has lived by the philosophy that "the personal is political", a feminist movement phrase from the 1970s.

The Writing Life With Jason Liegois

A newsletter on writing and the writing life.

Hola Iowa

Connect with the Latino communities in Iowa.

Pink Parlance from Lauren Jones, PhD

By Lauren Jones

Interrogating systems of power through a Black feminist, post Christian lens. Minneapolis.

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.

What Did Donald Trump Do Today?

By What Did Trump Do Today?

A daily log following the activities of the administration of the 47th President of the United States.

Monday's Music

By Carol Montag

Come backstage with me, where you'll receive bi-weekly behind-the-curtain insights and tips into the world of the performing singer/songwriter.

everyone is entitled to my own opinion

By Jeff Tiedrich

I read the news today, oh boy

Notes from the Prairie

By Carol Van Klompenburg

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

Art Cullen’s Notebook

A view from rural America: immigration, agriculture, environment, politics

Stress Less by Emily Parcell

Weekly evidence-based strategies to pursue your ambitions without burning out. Plus, get a practical stress-relief tool that works in 10 minutes or less in every issue.

Naturally Al Batt

A wonderful day outside leaves a wonderful feeling inside. Everyone has a story. That’s true of all creatures great and small. The love of birds and their stories can change a person. Take me. My wife claims I haven’t always looked like a sandhill crane.

Christie Vilsack

I write about people living close to the land who believe in community and the public good. Teacher, writer, wife, mom and gramma. Proud Iowa First Lady, candidate and USAID Advisor. A world traveler but an Iowan by birth and choice.

Headwaters

By Nolan Monaghan

Charting the confluence of perennial agriculture and agroecology, the built environment, and human cooperation.

Trump Tyranny Tracker

By Olga Lautman

Documenting corruption, human rights abuses, and dismantling of American democracy

Volts

By David Roberts

A newsletter, podcast, & community focused on the technology, politics, and policy of decarbonization. In your inbox once or twice a week.

Dispatch: Revolution

By Stacey Walker

This is a space dedicated to unpacking and analyzing progressive movement politics—its history, its trajectory, the stakes of the fight ahead, and the futures we demand.

24-hour Dorman - Todd Dorman

Todd Dorman shines a bright, shining light on the darkness of Republican rule in Iowa and beyond. Buckle up and read.

- Robert Leonard

Sean Bagniewski

Dad • Trailer park kid • Attorney • Iowa House District 35 Representative • Iowa House Dems Whip

Iowa Startup Collective

By Diana Wright

A bimonthly roundup of entrepreneurship from the lens of Iowa writers and creatives, each writing under their own pen on Substack.

Exploring Iowa, the "Land Between Two Rivers," through history, road trips, and more. Posts appear about every 10 days.

Excellent, informative, analytical.

- Robert Leonard