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You’ve heard of the Sweet Sixteen. Now there’s the Extreme Sixteen, released by advocacy group Progress Iowa. After receiving online nominations, the organization released its annual bracket of the most extreme politicians and interest groups in Iowa. 

If you’re like many concerned Iowans, you may also be wondering where Moms for Liberty suddenly emerged up from this state session. Well, we’re here to help answer where this group, largely funded by out-of-state dark money donors, came from and why they’re really in Iowa. 

A new national poll reported widespread disapproval of banning books and limiting curriculum in the classroom, both of which have been proposed during this year’s Iowa legislative session. 

The survey, conducted by Navigator Research, measured public opinion on a variety of issues including banning books that some parents find to have questionable content, the banning of high school classes like African American history, and whether legislation should be passed to prevent children from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity. 

Governor Ron DeSantis thinks he can differentiate himself from former President Donald Trump, but we know he’s more of the same and follows Trump’s playbook to the letter. Iowans are tired of the political games and  want leaders to solve real problems. Sadly, just like Trump and Governor Reynolds, DeSantis is following in Trump’s steps to attack our freedoms and sow division and fear to engage MAGA supporters in the conservative party. He’s out of step with Iowans who deserve the facts: 

Yesterday former President Trump hired Eric Branstad, son of former Governor Terry Branstad, and Bobby Kaufmann, son of Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann, to lead his Iowa caucus campaign and reboot his political career. Kaufmann is also an Iowa representative, in the seat his father held until he retired so his son could run.

Yesterday a group of Iowans came together to stand up for the freedom for every Iowan to thrive, and oppose former Vice President Mike Pence spreading misinformation about our children. Pence was in Iowa to promote his out-of-state special interest group that is targeting LGBTQ youth by running dishonest and hateful political ads. 

A series of opinion polls demonstrate the unpopularity of Congress, including newly elected Representative Zach Nunn. Nunn has not distinguished himself as someone who will stand against political insiders and stand up for Iowans. Instead, Nunn spent his first month in office doing the bidding of MAGA Republican leadership.

Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to the strong federal jobs report released today, showing that 517,000 jobs were added in January, more than doubling the expected number while unemployment rates hit a 53-year low: 

President Joe Biden promised real solutions for rural America throughout his campaign; today, on the second anniversary of his inauguration, he has undeniably made good on those promises. 

Together with House and Senate Democrats, President Biden and Vice President Harris  have delivered historic investments to rural America through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Iowa alone has received more than $7.6 billion in grants and loans so far, including:

Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement recognizing this Sunday’s 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, less than a year after the United States Supreme Court overturned that landmark abortion rights case in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health: 

Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement two years after violent insurrectionists, spurred on by former President Trump, attempted to sabotage the 2020 election in a violent attack on the United States Capitol: 

Progress Iowa is releasing the results of an exit poll sharing Iowans’ top priorities at the ballot box during this year’s midterm elections. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling shows that Iowa voters overwhelmingly support maintaining benefits from Social Security and Medicare for workers who have earned those benefits.