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Bleeding Heartland set new records for guest contributions in 2022, both in terms of total authors (nearly 150) and posts submitted (more than 350). For the first time since I became the website’s primary author in 2008,<\/a> other people wrote more of the published material than I did. Some of their essays were among the most-read on the site this year<\/a>. The steady stream of submissions helped me post fresh content almost every day, even during the hardest weeks after I broke my ankle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Guest authors provided some exclusive reporting<\/a> and in-depth analysis<\/a> of topics ranging from unemployment benefits<\/a> to the energy grid<\/a> to Supreme Court rulings<\/a> to maternal health data<\/a>. <\/p>\n They shared their research about Iowa history<\/a>, the supposed economic benefits<\/a> and safety hazards<\/a> of CO2 pipelines, and wildflowers<\/a>. They shared insights about polling <\/a>trends, teacher pay<\/a>, and bygone traditions of news reporting<\/a>. <\/p>\n They shared their personal experiences with abortion<\/a>, systemic racism<\/a>, student loan debt<\/a>, and bullying directed at public school educators<\/a>. <\/p>\n They shared advice for Iowa Democrats: how to talk about policies<\/a>, how to rebuild a strong organization<\/a>, how to handle the Iowa caucuses<\/a>, and how to acknowledge accelerating hate toward LGBTQ people<\/a>. <\/p>\n They shared success stories: rebuffing an attempted book ban<\/a> and winning a high-profile legislative race<\/a>.<\/p>\n They explained why some bills proposed in the Iowa legislature would benefit communities<\/a>, and others would harm schools<\/a> or young farmers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many authors endorsed Democrats seeking local<\/a>, state<\/a>, or federal offices<\/a>. Others criticized Democratic elected officials for policies they advocated<\/a> or failed to stand for<\/a>, or challenged activists<\/a> to “become self-aware of the prejudice and racism we perpetuate through our own systems of leadership.” Some Democratic candidates introduced themselves <\/a>or made the case for certain policies<\/a>.<\/p>\n I’m proud to provide a platform for a wide range of progressive or Democratic viewpoints and am grateful to all who wrote for this website. The majority of pieces linked below were published only at Bleeding Heartland.<\/p>\n Please get in touch if you would like to write about any topic of local, statewide, or national importance during 2023. If you do not already have a user account on the site, I can set one up for you and explain the process. There is no standard format or word limit. I copy-edit for clarity but let authors speak their own truth.<\/p>\n Although most authors write under their real names, I allow pseudonyms under some circumstances. I ask authors to disclose potential conflicts of interest, such as being a paid staffer, consultant, or lobbyist promoting any candidate or policy they discuss here. <\/p>\n A final note before I share all of this year’s guest posts: the Bleeding Heartland community lost a valued member this month when Richard Lindgren passed away, far too soon. A forthcoming piece will give Rick’s life and work the attention it deserves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Daniel G. Clark<\/strong> was Bleeding Heartland’s most prolific guest author in 2022, thanks to a series of essays he published first in the Muscatine Journal. He started writing about the legendary 19th century civil rights leader Alexander Clark (no relation) in February. He kept going long after Black History Month ended, branching into many subjects related to Clark’s life or race relations during the middle of the 19th century.<\/p>\n Here are Dan’s 34 posts, in chronological order:<\/p>\n Herb Strentz<\/strong> wrote the following 23 posts:<\/p>\n Bruce Lear<\/strong> wrote the following 20 posts:<\/p>\n Randy Evans<\/strong> distributes a weekly column to several Iowa newspapers, and Bleeding Heartland published sixteen of those essays:<\/p>\n Kurt Meyer <\/strong>allowed me to publish columns he wrote for the Nora Springs Register. Here are his fifteen contributions for 2022:<\/p>\n Steve Corbin<\/strong> distributes columns regularly to various news organizations, and Bleeding Heartland published fourteen of those in 2022:<\/p>\n Glenn Hurst<\/strong> wrote eight posts:<\/p>\n Ira Lacher<\/strong> also wrote eight posts:<\/p>\n Jim Chrisinger<\/strong> wrote seven commentaries:<\/p>\n Dan Guild<\/strong> wrote six posts about the elections:<\/p>\n Gerald Ott<\/strong> wrote six commentaries:<\/p>\n The following authors each contributed five commentaries. Lora Conrad<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Sondra Feldstein<\/strong>:<\/p>\n John Hale<\/strong> and Terri Hale<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Randy Richardson<\/strong>: <\/p>\n Seven authors each wrote four posts during the year. Joe Bolkcom<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Sue Dinsdale<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Julie Gammack<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Rick Morain<\/strong>‘s commentaries also appeared in the Jefferson Herald:<\/p>\n Carl Olsen<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Emma Schmit<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Matt Sinovic<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Eight authors each contributed three posts. Rachel Bruns<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Katie Byerly<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Doris Kelley<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Bruce Morrison<\/strong>:<\/p>\n C.J. Petersen<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Dan Piller<\/strong>:<\/p>\n William R. Staplin<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Tom Walton<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Twenty authors each contributed two posts to the site. <\/p>\n “Bill from White Plains”<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Charles Bruner<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Nick Covington<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Paul Deaton<\/strong>:<\/p>\n John Deeth<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Wayne Ford<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Art Hackett<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Matt Hardin<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Jack Hatch<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Charlie Hodges<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Henry Jay Karp<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Richard Lindgren<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Brian McClain<\/strong>:<\/p>\n RJ Miller<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Diane Porter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Mary Jo Riesberg<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Anne Schechinger<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Linda Schreiber<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Silvia Secchi<\/strong>:<\/p>\n “Strong Island Hawk”<\/strong>:<\/p>\n At least 97 authors contributed to one Bleeding Heartland post during the year (some of these 88 posts were group efforts):<\/p>\n Sheri Albrecht<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Environmental scorecard for the Iowans in Congress<\/a><\/p>\n Shaimaa Aly<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Shaimaa Aly: Committed to addressing the social dimensions of health care<\/a><\/p>\n Shawna Anderson<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Contraception is also health care<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Andreski:<\/strong><\/p>\n Introducing Michael Andreski, Democrat running in Iowa House District 31<\/a><\/p>\n John Aspray<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Backing carbon pipelines cost Senate President Jake Chapman his seat<\/a><\/p>\n Rob Barron<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Why I support Gabe De La Cerda for Iowa House district 36<\/a><\/p>\n Gina Battani<\/strong>:<\/p>\n I thought better of you than this, Eddie Mauro<\/a><\/p>\n Richard Bender<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Choosing the Democrat who can beat Chuck Grassley<\/a><\/p>\n Dominica Borg<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Fairfield, Iowa declares second annual Pride Month<\/a><\/p>\n Brian Bruening<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Rural county chair on some changes Iowa Democrats need<\/a><\/p>\n Douglas Burns<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Mr. Knott empowered generations to lead self-examining lives<\/a><\/p>\n Jodie Butler<\/strong>:<\/p>\n GOP lawmakers lack respect for Iowans<\/a><\/p>\n Jamie Burch Elliott<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Why I\u2019m supporting Grace Van Cleave for Iowa Senate district 17<\/a><\/p>\n Bonnie Campbell<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Franken will advocate for women’s rights, human rights in the Senate<\/a><\/p>\n Brian Campbell<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Calling on MidAmerican to partner with DSM on climate, clean energy<\/a><\/p>\n Jaylen Cavil and Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Cindy Axne should withdraw her racist police bill<\/a><\/p>\n Matt Chapman<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Mobile home bill less than nothing for homeowners<\/a><\/p>\n Dan Chibnall, Annabelle Lolinco, and Riley Troyer<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Where do Iowa’s candidates stand on science policy? We asked them<\/a><\/p>\n “dbmarin”<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Good news, bad news<\/a><\/p>\n Des Moines Black Liberation Movement and Des Moines People’s Town Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n George Flagg Parkway must be renamed<\/a><\/p>\n Gary Dickey<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Austin Baeth for Iowa House district 36<\/a><\/p>\n Andrew Dunn<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Andrew Dunn: The kind of legislator we need in 2022<\/a><\/p>\n Zach Elias<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The first time I felt Iowa wasn’t home<\/a> (tenth most-viewed post of the year)<\/p>\n David Farwell<\/strong>:<\/p>\n For PTSD Awareness Month, veterans need allies and advocates<\/a><\/p>\n Jan Flora<\/strong>:<\/p>\n On COVID-19, governor is a day late and a dollar short\u2014again<\/a><\/p>\n Bethany Gates<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Midwifery licensure would improve maternal health, infant outcomes<\/a><\/p>\n Marie Gleason:<\/strong><\/p>\n How one Iowa school district rebuffed attempted book ban<\/a><\/p>\n Ellen Goodmann Miller<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Iowa Democrats: It’s time to challenge ourselves<\/a><\/p>\n Melissa Halverson<\/strong>: <\/p>\n Kacey Davis for Broadlawns trustee<\/a><\/p>\n Janice Harbaugh<\/strong>:<\/p>\n My heart is in Ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n Natalie Harwood<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Des Moines leaders abandoned houseless residents<\/a><\/p>\n Karen Heidman<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Constitutional sheriffs<\/a><\/p>\n Sonya Heitshusen<\/strong>:<\/p>\n