Pinned Tweet
I'm moving to Bluesky to post, but will likely continue to lurk here. Here you go: @robertleonard.bsky.social
Robert Leonard retweeted
This is 17-year-old Stephen Miller, filmed in 2003 around the time of the US invasion of Iraq. In a 2017 article (link below), @vicenews confirmed Miller’s identity through three individuals who were present at the time, verifying the video’s authenticity. Miller is currently White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
There have been repeated attempts to scrub this footage from the internet, but as we all know, the internet is forever. This clip offers a glimpse into his early mindset!
Robert Leonard retweeted
In which I get to tell @jonstewart about the moment he changed my life.
Robert Leonard retweeted
I can't think of anyone who has had more impact on public discourse about any issue in Iowa without holding some elected office.
Chris Jones' work for years (not only as a candidate this year) forced pols in both parties to acknowledge the water pollution problem.
Biggest disappointment of election: Chris Jones lost race for Iowa agriculture secretary. But…he put water quality and cancer top of mind in an important farm state. See this interview with Carey Gillam of The New Lede: thenewlede.substack.com/p/wa…
Robert Leonard retweeted
What last night meant to me.
The 2016 presidential election was a my political wake up call. I’ve always been an active participant in our democracy but I felt the need to fight for Iowa and our country.
In 2017, I took that energy to running for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 4th against Steve King. In a district Trump won by 27 points, in a race no one thought we stood a chance, we narrowly lost.
The fight continued into the 2020 cycle, where King lost his primary.
After 4 years of running uphill at the Congressional level, I was exhausted. I was content with walking away but then Republicans at the Iowa Capitol disrespected teachers by suggesting they had a “sinister agenda.” As a product of generations of educators, I couldn’t just standby. So I ran for Iowa State House and took the fight to the Iowa Capitol.
For the last 4 years, I have been the only elected Democrat in the legislature in the 30+ counties that make up the northwest part of Iowa (until Catelin Drey won her special election last year). As a blueberry in a bowl of tomato soup, it’s not easy being a Democrat in western Iowa. And it was extremely difficult to see firsthand 4 years of Republicans at the Capitol radicalizing this state.
It’s been a long journey to get to Governor-elect Rob Sand, Senator-elect Josh Turek and an Iowa that more resembles the place we grew up in.
I just want to say thank you to all the people that didn’t give up on Iowa. Thank you to all of support over the years. Thank you to all of the Iowans who voted for change.
The fight and the work continue. My love for this place remains.
God bless.
Robert Leonard retweeted
Our team promised Tom Harkin we’d win back his seat. And we did.
Beautifully poetic.
Robert Leonard retweeted
Campaign manager for Nate Willems @WillemsForIowa, the next attorney general of Iowa.
They ran a phenomenal campaign. It is not easy to beat a statewide incumbent, even in a wave year.
Robert Leonard retweeted
If @ZachLahn had actually been an Iowan and lived among Iowans for a number of years, he would have known what issues were most important to us.
But Lahn didn't do that.
He arrogantly assumed he knew what Iowans wanted and it wasn't MAHA, vaccines, and school voucher scams.
Iowa gov candidate Zach Lahn, the first candidate endorsed by the MAHA PAC, joins the group's weekly call:
"You know, you guys believed in me before anybody did, and this was a terrible cycle. Clearly, I don't actually think many people saw this much of a headwind coming, and we can see now in retrospect some of the biggest issues, that they really really were bigger than we even thought amongst a lot of the base, and probably rightfully so."
Robert Leonard retweeted
Iowa friends, there is a time to come together and work as one to a brighter future.
That time starts tomorrow, because I’m still an asshole today:
Hey “Iowa First is a moment and it’s inevitable!” crowd? What happened yesterday IS actual Iowa First, not imported dog whistles.
You lost for reasons. By a lot. It wasn’t just online loudmouths against you after all. Take time to reflect on all the reasons why, and sure, take some of the better ideas that we all actually care about. But don’t just blindly declare that you’re going to keep fighting for the spin that lost you the race.
Robert Leonard retweeted
Erik Wemple of the New York Times wrote about my years-long battle for access while covering Iowa state government.
She’s Fighting to Cover Iowa Politics, One Closed Door at a Time
nytimes.com/2026/11/03/busin…
Robert Leonard retweeted
Polls are open in Iowa for #ElectionDay. But more importantly, Iowa's best of the best journalist who was born on a previous election day celebrates her birthday today. As a present, how about an election with no ties, no recounts, and no problems? Happy birthday, @okayhenderson
Robert Leonard retweeted
What a poignant closing quote in Iowa Senate race:
“When it was all done and they could ride the buses someone asked Rosa Parks, ‘How do you feel about all this?’” Fmr Sen. Tom Harkin said. “She said, ‘Well my feet are tired, but my soul’s at rest.’ So with Josh Turek coming into the Senate my soul will be at rest.”
@turek4iowa
Read full story in The Iowa Mercury:
theiowamercury.substack.com/…
Robert Leonard retweeted
Former Libertarian Party of Iowa state chair.
Join myself, @MarcoBattaglia & @jakedporter in supporting/voting for @RobSandIA tomorrow! The @LPIowa candidate was removed from the race by @iowgop operatives to benefit @ZachLahn - we should not reward this lawfare with our vote
robsand.com/news/rob-sand-an…
Robert Leonard retweeted
How does a candidate for Lt. Governor just DISAPPEAR and ghost the entire campaign, and Zach Lahn and the GOP aren't pressed to answer for it? Where is Derek Wulf? @DMRegister @KCCINews @presscitizen
WHere’s Derek Wulf? Last t @LahnHQ post about Derek Wulf’s was June 13, 2026.
What is the Lahn campaign hiding? Automatic Succession?
Robert Leonard retweeted
Just heard the city of Dubuque ordered the tarp Trump had hung over the Solidarity mural at the 5 Flags Center in Dubuque to be removed immediately.
The rental agreement didn't include modification of the outside of the building.
@POTUS loses again, @JennyinIowa
Robert Leonard retweeted
Thanks to Trump, we Dutch have gone from respecting the United States to shaking our heads in disbelief at what America has become. Every year, on May 4 and 5, we remember the horrors of World War II and celebrate our liberation. We have never forgotten the American soldiers who helped free us from the Nazis. We still honor those who gave their lives on Dutch soil.
And what happened under Trump? American authorities removed memorial panels honoring Black American soldiers at the military cemetery in Margraten, because they feared angering his administration. Imagine that. Men who helped liberate our country, whose sacrifices we still honor more than 80 years later, had their stories taken off display because of Trump's political agenda.
What a fucking disgrace.
We haven't forgotten what those American soldiers did for us. And we won't forget what happened in Margraten either.
It's time for America to turn the page on Trump. We Dutch dealt Geert Wilders an electoral defeat. You Americans have the power to do the same to Trump and his sick, far-right political movement.
Robert Leonard retweeted
Visiting both Iowa and Kansas back-to-back on Sunday because he's not sure where to find @ZachLahn, smart. #IAGov
President Trump will now hold rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday after initially canceling them, an AP source says. apnews.com/article/trump-ral…
Robert Leonard retweeted
Joe Mitchell’s address he claimed to run for office in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District was listed for rent on Zillow for months… until shortly after one of our creators set up a tour of it with the realtor
Story from ISL: iowastartingline.com/news/po…
