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

Recommended by Robert Leonard

On Repeat Records

By Kevin

Ditch the algorithm. Music discovery made easy—curated by someone who remembers when a mixtape could change your life.

Barbara’s Newsletter

By Barbara Leach

Saving the World One Vote At a Time

Relatively Minor

By Vicki Minor

A newspaper column providing a weekly dose of humor.

Weathering Climate Change

By Chris Gloninger

The nexus between extreme weather events and climate change - we will be connecting the dots between the two and why it matters to you.

View from the Cedar Valley

By Pat Kinney

Column of news and observations from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls and greater Cedar Valley area.

Blackout Baby

By Sam Lou Talbot

"Night drives on music & more by Sam Lou Talbot".

Too Close To Call

By David Catanese

Mostly politics. With a side of personal. Always #profound, pushing boundaries and perhaps problematic.

Stop the Presses

By Mark Jacob

A weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism, and what we can do about it.

Excellent analysis from a top-notch journalist.

- Robert Leonard

Beto’s Substack

By Beto O'Rourke

writing from the desert southwest

From Red Earth Drive

By Ray Young Bear

Narratives from a Meskwaki on modern day America in the Midwest.

A World of Your Own

By Debra Engle

Where writing and life meet—stories, reflections, and prompts to help you live more deeply and write more truly.

Let's Talk Politics

By Dennis Goldford

These are short discussions of various aspects of American politics in particular and the nature of politics and political affairs generally.

The Ankler

By Richard Rushfield

The business of entertainment

How Things Work

By Hamilton Nolan

Labor, politics, and power.

Mathew Snyder

Weekly poems and writings on finding your way through the mud.

Along the Mississippi

By Ed Tibbetts

News, opinions and ideas from the Quad-Cities, where the river runs east to west

Drop Site News

Independent news on politics and war

Writing in the Dark with Jeannine Ouellette

By Jeannine

For people who do language. Writing saved my life—so I teach writing as if it can save yours.

The Life and Times of a Midwestern Girl

By Connie Taylor

The Life and Times of a Midwestern Girl takes you into the magic of what it's like living life in the Midwest.

Brian Tyler Cohen

A deep dive into what's happening in politics from one of the biggest content creators on the left.

Seymour Hersh

It's worse than you think

Adam Kinzinger

I’m terrified by America’s fascism trend and disgusted that my party is now a Trump cult. My time inside the system and in the probe of the January 6 attack has left me with just an ember of hope. Making it grow requires the hard truth. Can we handle it?

Information Bank

By Sharon Lawrence

A Resource Center for People Passionate About Democracy, Facts & Good Governance

Mary Tabor "Only connect ..."

By <Mary L. Tabor>

The arts, books, movies, a course: Write it!, The Writing Life, (Re)Making Love: a memoir (fully up now), Who by Fire: a novel, Cooking With Mary, Watercolors and story in Letters to My Granddaughter.

Excellent, thought provoking writing.

- Robert Leonard

Newburg Stories

By J. Harley McIlrath

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

How to Survive the Broligarchy

By Carole Cadwalladr

Girl power vs Tech bros

True Justice

By Lynn Hicks

Spotlighting restorative justice and the human side of the courts. Not true crime, not legal advice. A non-lawyer's observations and aspirations on pursuing effective and equitable justice for all.

Sherman Alexie

poems, short fiction, essays, opinion, audio, video

American Doom

By Justin Glawe

News, investigations and chronicles from the frontlines of America's wars against itself.

Reporting from Quiltropolis

By Marianne Fons

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

Liberating Motherhood

By Zawn Villines

For mothers who are pissed off about sexism, household chore inequality, and endless misogynistic bullshit, and for the allies who want a better world for all of us.

From Naz With Love

By Naz Pankey

Writer, storyteller, and filmmaker sharing creative sparks, soulful insights, and life lessons to inspire your next chapter. Motivation to create, grow, and thrive.

Naz writes some of the most beautiful, heartfelt and powerful stories being written today. With passion and rare intelligence she shares her world, and I feel lucky to be a small part of her existence.

- Robert Leonard

Off the Air: A Journalist's After-Hours Thoughts

By Sarah McCammon

Sarah McCammon's reflections on covering the news and everything else

Digital Ink Spots

By Gordon Schenck

Free form ramblings in magnetic ink.

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

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.

Law Dork

By Chris Geidner

The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more.

Democracy Defender 1787

By Jim Chrisinger

Democracy Defender 1787 responds to the dangers posed to America's democracy and the rule of law by Trump II and the MAGA movement.

Rekha shouts & whispers

By Rekha Basu

This opinion column examines news, events and experiences through a humanitarian and social justice lens, names the culprits and applauds the defenders of truth, democracy and human rights.

Seeing Things

By Liza Donnelly

New and unpublished drawings and thoughts for people who want to see more of life, from a New Yorker cartoonist. Drawings, cartoons, words, live drawing, process, politics, culture, more...

Popular Information

By Judd Legum

Independent accountability journalism.

The Good in Us by Mary L. Trump

By Mary L Trump

In which we come together to save American democracy, or at least have fun while trying.

Jason Egenberg

Movie and TV Producer with a passion for creating gripping narratives that resonate. I tell stories that explore complex characters and emotional truths.

A Clear-headed progressive voice that elevates values first over policy.

- Robert Leonard

Barnstorming Brain

By Tim Grover

My mind wanders far and wide. History, genealogy, current events, nature, and sports...and whatever "godservations" may come my way. Author of the book "Barnstorming Babe--A Slugger's Bumpy Trek Across Small-Town America."

SHE WHO STIRS THE STORM

By Gloria Horton-Young

Poet, painter, storyteller, rabblerouser–a tempest in red lipstick. Expect provocative opinions, spirited rants, and laughter. This is my playground: rules rewritten daily.

Untrickled

A 30-year journalist looks at culture, politics, economics and lifestyle through the lens of economic inequality. Author, The Trailer Park Rules, rated 4.7 stars on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYW3MRRB Strapped: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJNRCQSJ

Johanna Maska

I grew up in Galesburg,Ill., where politics swung as factories closed. Later, I worked in the White House and traveled with a U.S. president around the world. Now, I write to connect experiences — bringing nuance, optimism, and humanity to our politics.

BIG by Matt Stoller

The history and politics of monopoly power.

everyone is entitled to my own opinion

By Jeff Tiedrich

I read the news today, oh boy

Zeteo

By Mehdi Hasan

Zeteo is a new media organization that seeks to answer the questions that really matter, while always striving for the truth. Founded by Mehdi Hasan, Zeteo is a movement for media accountability, unfiltered news and bold opinions.