Two of the five Republicans running for governor received major endorsements on Tuesday. The Family Leader, a rightwing Christian political organization that plays a prominent role in Iowa Republican politics, endorsed former Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen. Shortly afterwards, Rep. Randy Feenstra’s campaign published an endorsement from former governor Terry Branstad, who was […]
The Family Leader
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New president of the Iowa Board of Regents opposes ‘woke left stuff,’ ‘the homosexual agenda’ and Maya Angelou in schools
Robert Cramer was unanimously elected president of the Iowa Board of Regents by his fellow regents at a special meeting on Wednesday. Cramer was appointed to the board by Gov. Kim Reynolds two years ago. The special meeting was called after Sherry Bates, who had served president of the Board of Regents since February last […]
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Gov. Reynolds celebrates ‘a culture of life’ one year into abortion ban; Iowans seek care across state lines as reproductive health clinics close
Gov. Kim Reynolds has been a featured speaker at the Family Leadership Summit every year during her governorship. When she took the stage at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines for this year’s event on July 11, Reynolds — who announced in April she is not running for reelection — reflected on […]
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Iowa, national conservative leaders talk abortion, school choice at Family Leader event
Iowa and national conservative leaders discussed wins and future goals for issues like abortion and education policy Friday at the Family Leadership Summit, with one of the group’s officials calling for further abortion restrictions in Iowa. The Family Leader, an influential conservative Christian organization, brought speakers to the gathering of an estimated 1,000 at the […]
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GOP bill would require Iowa students be shown womb animation video based on anti-abortion ‘propaganda’
On Tuesday, Republicans on an Iowa House subcommittee voted to advance a bill that would mandate K-12 students receive instruction on fetal development based on the work of an anti-abortion group. HF 2031 would require the health curriculum in both public and accredited private elementary, middle and high schools to include a “high-definition ultrasound video, […]
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As the governor prepares to sign a new, fast-tracked abortion ban into law, ACLU of Iowa prepares its legal challenge
The ACLU of Iowa has filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court challenging the new ban on almost all abortions in the state, passed by Republican lawmakers during their special session on Tuesday. The ACLU is representing Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPH), the Emma Goldman Clinic and PPH Medical Director Dr. Sarah Trexler, […]
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As COVID surges on, Iowa Republicans advance bills to make it easier to use ivermectin and harder to vaccinate kids
The number of new cases of COVID-19 reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health declined from the record-setting 38,574 new cases in last week’s IDPH weekly update, but was still the second-highest weekly total IDPH has reported during the pandemic. According to the department, another 34,949 Iowans tested positive for the virus since its […]
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Gov. Reynolds promises Iowa will ‘act as a counterweight’ to the Biden administration at rightwing Christian summit
Gov. Kim Reynolds began her speech at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines on Friday by explaining she had a cold. The cold affected her voice, but did nothing to diminish the enthusiasm she showed at the annual meeting of the right-wing Christian lobbying group the Family Leader (inexplicably stylized as THE FAMiLY LEADER), […]
