Free Republic

An Iowa pastor, saying the government needs to stop “meddling in religious affairs,” is at odds with the state over a law focused on sexual orientation and gender identity that he says hinders his First Amendment right to teach on matters of sexuality. “The state of Iowa is not the self-appointed pope of all churches,” Cary Gordon, pastor of Cornerstone World Outreach, a nondenominational church with around 900 members in Sioux City, Iowa, told The Daily Signal.

It goes without saying that Senator Jeff Sessions is popular with a huge number of Americans. It is also true that Joni Ernst, a war veteran, is a rising star in Republican ranks. Either would make wonderful Vice Presidents for different reasons. However, the trade-off is unacceptable. In the case of Ernst, she is sitting as senator in Iowa, at best a purple state. There is absolutely no guarantee that her seat would be won by a Republican. Why is that so crucial? The Republican majority in the Senate is only 4 senators. And this year the Republicans have 24...

Joni Ernst all but removed herself from Donald Trump’s vice presidential search, telling POLITICO in an interview that she wants to help Trump become president but that she’s focused on Iowa and the Senate, where the freshman senator said she's “just getting started.” The GOP senator met with Trump on Monday and received effusive praise afterward, with Trump predicting he will “see her again.” But it likely won’t be as his running mate. “I made that very clear to him that I’m focused on Iowa. I feel that I have a lot more to do in the United States Senate....

Is a church a place of public accommodation and if so – are congregations required to follow anti-discrimination laws regarding gender and sexual orientation? That’s the issue raised by a brochure published by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. They contend that any church that opens its doors to the public would be required to comply with sexual orientation and gender identity laws. It’s unclear when the Commission’s brochure was published, but it clearly outlines their interpretation of the 2007 Iowa Civil Rights Act – known as Iowa Code

Washington (CNN)Donald Trump's much anticipated vice presidential pick is expected to be announced next week, a Trump adviser told CNN Tuesday... Does Trump want to double the bombast by picking a brash straight-talker who mirrors his own style, like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich? Does he prefer someone whose Washington experience and message discipline would counter his freelancing, like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence? Or does he want to elevate a rising star, like Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst or Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton? Pence and his wife Karen met with Trump at his New Jersey...

Joni Ernst manhandles Bruce Braley regarding his and the Obama Administration's failure to proactively counter ISIS.

Donald Trump on Monday spent part of his July 4th with Sen. Joni Ernst -- fueling speculation that the Iowa freshman senator could be on the short list of his vice presidential picks. Ernst told Fox News they had a "good conversation," adding, "I will continue to share my insights with Donald about the need to strengthen our economy, keep our nation safe, and ensure America is always a strong, stabilizing force around the globe." Earlier, Trump tweeted, "I look forward to meeting (Ernst) today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!"

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is among the candidates being considered to become Donald Trump's running mate, a source with knowledge of Trump's vice presidential selection process tells CNN. Another source close to the process confirmed the information. It's not clear whether the freshman Republican senator and tea party star has received paperwork from the campaign or is just being scrutinized through the wealth of publicly accessible information about her. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence are also being considered, the source said. A senior Trump campaign adviser confirmed Pence is being...

Donald Trump announced he would meet with Sen. Joni Ernst on Monday, one of several recent names dropped on his Twitter feed that are fueling speculation over his highly-anticipated vice presidential selection. "I look forward to meeting @joniernst today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!" Trump tweeted early Monday. Ernst's name appeared in reports on VP shortlists over the weekend, and a senior Trump adviser confirmed to CNN that Ernst is being considered. Trump also doled out some conspicuous praise for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who have also...

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – R. J. Strong of Port Louisa, Iowa was spooked by what he saw a week ago Monday, June 13, at 2 a.m. Strong posted on Facebook afterward that he was traveling near Ogilvie and F avenues in Muscatine County when he saw “some weirdo walking down the paved road in a black trench coat!!!!” Several others on social media have reported similar sightings in recent weeks. According to the reports, the individuals are seen standing beside roadways and sometimes actually stepping out into roadways as motorists are passing. “My son has experienced this and it’s no...

Donald Trump announced this weekend he puts 15 states potentially into play in the general election this year. The states include: — Ohio — Florida — Virginia — Minnesota — Michigan — Pennsylvania — Wisconsin — New York — Maine — California ** Plus Donald Trump is beating Hillary Clinton in the latest Oregon poll and is essentially tied with Hillary in New Hampshire -two more traditional blue states. And Hillary Clinton hasn’t even been indicted yet!

owa radio host Steve Deace -- who was one of Ted Cruz's most important backers in the first primary state and who has a nationally syndicated radio show -- recently asked his followers on Twitter whether they want Senator Ted Cruz to publicly endorse Donald Trump. The results show that 83% say no, while only 17% say they want Cruz to use his political capital to help Trump.

Let's take a look at the recent statement issued by Naperville residents Melvin Owens Jr. and his wife, Rosalind, on behalf of their 19-year-old son, Marcus. "Marcus Owens and the entire Owens family would like to issue their deepest apologies to Marcus' friends, the Iowa City community, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa City Police Department for the misunderstandings and anxiety ...

Iowa Republicans worked Saturday to salve the bruises of bare-knuckle fight for the party's presidential nomination by rallying around a unifying cry of "Never Hillary" heading to the 2016 political battlefield. The 1,555 delegates who attended the GOP state convention cheered their elected officials and selected party members to represent them at the July national convention who generally backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz but now plan to support Donald Trump as the party's presumptive presidential standard-bearer in the 2016 election. "It's going to take us all working together as a united party in November so Hillary Clinton never sets a...

A Republican lawmaker has condemned the Obama Administration’s transgender bathroom directive, calling for "civil disobedience." ChristianHeadlines.com previously reported that on Friday (May 13) the Obama Administration directed "all public schools and most colleges and universities that receive federal funds," to—as the Washington Post described it—'provide transgender students with access to suitable facilities–including bathrooms and locker rooms–that match their chosen gender identity.'" CBN News reports that Representative Steve King, R-Iowa, has said that federally-funded schools are not required to comply with a law that is "unconstitutional." "There's no reason for us to follow an unconstitutional edict from the president, who is...

6. The Davenport Tablets The Davenport Academy was a major force in early American amateur archeology. Unfortunately, the organization ended up lending its name to one of the most ridiculous hoaxes in American history. In 1877, Reverend Jacob Gass claimed to have found a set of four inscribed tablets buried in an ancient mound in Iowa. Gass was quickly invited to join the Davenport Academy, which contained many supporters of the “Mound Builders” myth. This theory, now entirely discredited, argued that Native Americans were too primitive to have built the giant earthworks that dot the American countryside. Instead, 19th century...

Democrats shouted "Shame! Shame!," but seven Republicans switched their votes and defeated a measure to protect gay rights. The final vote was 213-212 after the chaos on the House floor. That was enough to defeat an amendment by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., aimed at upholding an executive order that bars discrimination against LGBT employees by federal contractors. Maloney and other Democrats were incensed. "They literally snatched discrimination from the jaws of equality," Maloney said. He said he had approached Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as McCarthy worked on GOP colleagues to vote against the measure. McCarthy told Maloney to...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to increase the amount of ethanol and other biofuels in the nation’s fuel supply. But the volumes proposed Wednesday under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) still fall under targets written into the 2007 law that created the program. That ended up angering both the ethanol industry, which wants more of its product to be mandated, and the oil industry, which wants the program rolled back. The agency plans to mandate that 18.8 billion gallons of biofuels be blended into the country’s gasoline and diesel supply next year. Of that amount, 14.8 billion gallons can...

Today Donald J. Trump released the much-anticipated list of people he would consider as potential replacements for Justice Scalia at the United States Supreme Court. This list was compiled, first and foremost, based on constitutional principles, with input from highly respected conservatives and Republican Party leadership. Mr. Trump stated, “Justice Scalia was a remarkable person and a brilliant Supreme Court Justice. His career was defined by his reverence for the Constitution and his legacy of protecting Americans’ most cherished freedoms. He was a Justice who did not believe in legislating from the bench and he is a person whom I...

Don Willett is a Texas Supreme Court justice:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Willett David Stras is an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stras Allison Eid is a justice on the Colorado Supreme Court:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_H._Eid Joan Larsen is a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Larsen Steven Colloton is a federal judge who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Colloton Raymond Gruender is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Gruender Thomas Hardiman is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hardiman Raymond M. Kethledge is a federal judge...