Iowa

DeSantis digs Trump after the ex-president blamed a tornado threat for canceling a dueling rally in Iowa

Published

1 year ago

May 14, 2023

DeSantis digs Trump after the ex-president blamed a tornado threat for canceling a dueling rally in Iowa

DeSantis and Trump were both set to appear in Iowa on Saturday.
But Trump had to postpone his event, citing bad weather.
DeSantis found ways to highlight Trump’s absence.

Despite much anticipation, there were no dueling rallies between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former president Donald Trump this weekend in Iowa. Trump canceled his event in Des Moines, blaming tornado warnings.

Trump’s postponement meant there was no chance for the media (or the politician’s teams) to compare enthusiasm and crowd size at the two political events in a key primary state. DeSantis, however, capitalized on Trump’s no-show to make a subtle dig at the former president.

After headlining two events in Iowa, DeSantis made an unscheduled stop at Jethro’s BBQ Southside, a barbeque joint in Des Moines near where Trump had been scheduled to speak.

“It’s a beautiful night,” DeSantis remarked in Des Moines, according to the New York Times.

A tornado never materialized in the area, though Politico reported that rain had drenched Trump supporters lining up early for the former president’s rally. Trump, for his part, stayed at his Mar-a-Lago private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

Earlier in the day, DeSantis spoke at two events, one in Sioux Center and the other in Cedar Rapids, which was about a two-hour drive from his surprise Des Moines stop.

“We must reject the culture of losing that has impacted our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over,” DeSantis said during his speech. “If we get distracted, if we focus the election on the past or on other side issues, then I think the Democrats are going to beat us again.”

DeSantis has had to carefully calibrate how he attacks Trump, and how he responds to Trump’s attacks. He learned recently that attacking Trump outright can rally his MAGA base, so he has more often opted for understated jabs instead.

In February, for instance, DeSantis held an event on defamation laws in which he praised a conservative lawyer who represented Dominion Voting Machines in its defamation lawsuit against Trump ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

And shortly after his 2022 reelection victory, when he won by nearly 20 points in Florida, a state that was considered to be the largest swing state in the country, DeSantis brushed off reporter questions about Trump but told them to “check out the scoreboard.” Republicans running for Congress, many of whom Trump backed, had not achieved the “red wave” they expected.

During the Sioux Center event on Saturday, DeSantis appeared onstage alongside his wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. That, too, offered a subtle contrast against Trump, whose own wife, Melania Trump, has yet to appear at a campaign rally with her husband.

DeSantis learned a hard lesson about how to campaign against Trump in March.

During a press conference and a follow-up interview with British TV personality Piers Morgan just before Trump’s indictment in Manhattan, DeSantis eschewed his strategy of subtle digs and directly attacked Trump. He ridiculed the ex-president for the salacious details revealed in the investigation, which centered on a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, and then decried Trump’s “drama” and losing record.

“I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner,” DeSantis said of Trump’s “Desanctimonious” nickname for him.

Shortly after, DeSantis dropped in the polls. Though other factors were at play, Trump seemed to benefit as his base rallied around him. For weeks, Trump relentlessly attacked DeSantis and gained a pile of endorsements in Florida. Even big donors told reporters on the record that they were concerned DeSantis was too right-wing.

How DeSantis handles Trump’s attacks, meanwhile, could help or hurt him in the polls.

DeSantis has made “never, ever back down from a fight” a big part of his political brand. He has gone after Walt Disney World and other big corporations, fought federal public health officials and President Joe Biden over COVID-19 restrictions, moved to punish facilities over hosting drag shows where minors were present, and removed a progressive prosecutor.

But Trump is seen as the most formidable opponent of them all because he also does not back down from a fight, and he’s not afraid to drag his opponents through the mud and make ferocious accusations, whether true or untrue.

Trump has conceded that DeSantis is his biggest rival, and has demonstrated he’ll mock the governor over everything from his looks to how he says his name to his policy record.

DeSantis has been holding what many consider to be a “soft campaign” under the auspices of promoting his book at events across the United States.

But as Trump remains the frontrunner, DeSantis has played coy over whether he will actually run for president. He is widely expected to make an announcement after signing more Florida bills into law and passing the state’s budget. On Thursday, he quietly signed a bill that will shield his travel records and visitors to the governor’s mansion, both past and future, from the public.

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Iowa

Who the ranked Iowa high school football teams face in Week 7

Published

4 hours ago

October 11, 2024

Press Room

Who the ranked Iowa high school football teams face in Week 7

Williamsburg’s Grant Hocker looks to throw for a 2-point conversion against Cedar Rapids Xavier earlier this season. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

Here’s who all 71 Iowa high school football teams ranked in this week’s Gazette poll face in Week 7 games Friday night.

Class 3A gets the spotlight this week as its top two teams face top-seven opponents. No. 1 Algona visits No. 7 Humboldt, while second-ranked Williamsburg hosts a Solon team eager to bounce back from last week’s loss to Benton Community that dropped it from the top spot.

There is intrigue in the 8-Player top five as well, where three of the top five teams face fellow unbeaten foes. That includes No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s taking on No. 10 Woodbine and No. 2 Algona Garrigan hosting Ruthven GTRA.

Class 5A

No. 1 West Des Moines Valley (5-1) vs. Waterloo West (5-1)

No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling (5-1) at Urbandale (3-3)

No. 3 Bettendorf (6-0) at Davenport Central (2-4)

No. 4 Pleasant Valley (5-1) vs. Muscatine (2-4)

No. 5 Ankeny Centennial (4-2) vs. Des Moines Roosevelt (1-5)

No. 6 Linn-Mar (5-1) vs. Davenport West (0-6)

No. 7 Johnston (4-2) vs. Council Bluffs Lincoln (4-2)

No. 8 Iowa City Liberty (5-1) vs. Ankeny (3-3)

No. 9 Waukee (4-2) at Southeast Polk (3-3)

No. 10 Sioux City East (4-2) vs. Des Moines Lincoln (1-5)

Class 4A

No. 1 Lewis Central (6-0) at Winterset (4-2)

No. 2 Pella (6-0) at Des Moines Hoover (0-6), Thursday

No. 3 North Polk (6-0) at No. 10 Indianola (4-2)

No. 4 Gilbert (6-0) vs. Bondurant-Farrar (1-5)

No. 5 Decorah (6-0) at Marion (2-4)

No. 6 Adel ADM (5-1) at Ballard (3-3)

No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-2) at Oskaloosa (1-5)

No. 8 North Scott (4-2) at Clear Creek Amana (4-2)

No. 9 Newton (4-2) vs. Carlisle (0-6)

No. 10 Indianola (4-2) vs. No. 3 North Polk (6-0)

No. 10 Western Dubuque (4-2) at Waterloo East (2-4)

Class 3A

No. 1 Algona (6-0) at No. 7 Humboldt (5-1)

No. 2 Williamsburg (5-1) vs. No. 5 Solon (5-1)

No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert (6-0) at West Delaware (4-2)

No. 4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (6-0) vs. Carroll (4-2)

No. 5 Mount Vernon (5-1) vs. Fort Madison (0-6)

No. 5 Solon (5-1) at No. 2 Williamsburg (5-1)

No. 7 Humboldt (5-1) vs. No. 1 Algona (6-0)

No. 8 Sioux City Heelan (4-2) at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (1-5)

No. 9 Independence (4-2) at Maquoketa (1-5)

No. 10 Nevada (5-1) at Harlan (3-3)

Class 2A

No. 1 West Lyon (6-0) at Sheldon (2-4)

No. 2 Monroe PCM (6-0) at West Marshall (5-1)

No. 3 Spirit Lake (5-1) at Garner GHV (1-5)

No. 4 Van Meter (5-1) vs. Centerville (4-2)

No. 5 Carroll Kuemper (5-1) vs. Saydel (1-5)

No. 6 North Fayette Valley (5-1) vs. Oelwein (0-6) — canceled, Oelwein to forfeit

No. 7 Northeast (6-0) at Tipton (2-4)

No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (4-2) vs. No. 10 Western Christian (4-2)

No. 9 Roland-Story (4-2) vs. Des Moines Christian (4-2)

No. 10 Western Christian (4-2) at No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (4-2)

Class 1A

No. 1 Grundy Center (6-0) at Alburnett (4-2)

No. 2 Wilton (6-0) at West Branch (2-4)

No. 3 Dike-New Hartford (5-1) vs. Aplington-Parkersburg (2-4)

No. 4 Emmetsburg (6-0) vs. Eagle Grove (0-6)

No. 5 Iowa City Regina (6-0) at Dyersville Beckman (4-2)

No. 6 Ida Grove OABCIG (5-1) vs. No. 10 Hinton (5-1)

No. 7 South Hardin (5-1) at Hudson (5-1)

No. 8 Treynor (5-1) vs. Shenandoah (3-3)

No. 9 Sigourney-Keota (5-1) at Colfax-Mingo (1-5)

No. 10 Hinton (5-1) at No. 6 Ida Grove OABCIG (5-1)

Class A

No. 1 West Hancock (6-0) at Lake Mills (4-2)

No. 2 Guthrie Center ACGC (6-0) vs. Mount Ayr (5-1)

No. 3 Saint Ansgar (5-1) at West Fork (1-5)

No. 4 Lisbon (6-0) vs. Danville (4-2)

No. 5 Earlham (5-1) at Oakland Riverside (4-2)

No. 6 Tri-Center (5-1) vs. No. 8 Woodbury Central (5-1)

No. 7 Le Mars Gehlen (5-1) at South O’Brien (0-6)

No. 8 Woodbury Central (5-1) at No. 6 Tri-Center (5-1)

No. 9 North Linn (6-0) vs. Maquoketa Valley (5-1)

No. 10 Madrid (4-2) at North Mahaska (3-3)

8-Player

No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s (6-0) vs. No. 10 Woodbine (6-0)

No. 2 Algona Garrigan (6-0) vs. Ruthven GTRA (6-0)

No. 3 Don Bosco (6-0) vs. Turkey Valley (3-3)

No. 4 Audubon (6-0) vs. Collins-Maxwell (4-2)

No. 5 Lenox (6-0) vs. Southeast Warren (6-0)

No. 6 Iowa Valley (6-0) vs. HLV (1-6)

No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (5-1) at Clarksville (5-2)

No. 8 Anita CAM (5-1) at Fremont-Mills (5-1)

No. 9 Bedford (5-1) vs. Lamoni (4-2)

No. 10 Woodbine (6-0) at No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s (6-0)

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com

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Iowa

Iowa State women’s basketball star Emily Ryan discusses eating disorder in video

Published

12 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State women’s basketball star Emily Ryan discusses eating disorder in video

Iowa State women’s basketball star Emily Ryan released a video Thursday in which she discusses her battle with an eating disorder.

Ryan, a senior from Claflin, Kansas, has been one of the Big 12 Conference’s best point guards for the past few seasons. She was a first-team all-conference pick in 2022, and a second-team selection in 2023.

“By sharing my story, I hope to build awareness and provide hope to everyone else fighting an invisible battle,” Ryan said in the video.

Ryan said her sense of self-worth was dependent on Iowa State’s success and her individual performance. That led to increased time spent in the weight room in an effort to get stronger and faster. When Ryan didn’t see the results that she desired, she began to focus on her diet.

Ryan said the Iowa State medical staff expressed their concern about Ryan’s eating habits and what it was doing to her body. Ryan said she was in “complete denial” about having an eating disorder, but her health continued to worsen.

Ryan missed the first nine games of the 2023-24 season due to the eating disorder. When she returned, she said, “off the court I was really struggling. By the end of the season, I was physically and mentally hanging on by a thread.”

During the offseason, Ryan spent 88 days at a treatment center in Denver.

“It took a long time but I finally came to the understanding that being sick wasn’t my fault, and eating disorders are real, complex illnesses,” she said.

How to get help

For resources on disordered eating, call the National Eating Disorders Helpline at 800-931-2237 or text NEDA to 741741.

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Iowa

Latest Iowa high school volleyball rankings reveal regional pairings

Published

22 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Press Room

Latest Iowa high school volleyball rankings reveal regional pairings

It was an important date around the state for volleyball teams in Iowa, as the latest rankings were released and regional pairings in all five classes were revealed.

The two come into play once regionals reach the championship round, as the higher-ranked team will serve as the host for those games.

All five No. 1 squads remained the same, as Ankeny Centennial (Class 5A), Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A), Mount Vernon (3A), Denver (2A) and Ankeny Christian (1A) held serve.

New teams to the Top-15 include Iowa City West in 5A, Ballard in 4A, Wapsie Valley in 2A and Stanton in 1A. The entire 3A poll remained the same while Sidney made one of the biggest climbs, moving to ninth from 12th in 1A.

Regional play for 1A and 2A begins Oct. 21 with 3A, 4A and 5A starting Oct. 22. The state tournament is scheduled for Nov. 4-7 in Coralville from the Xtream Arena. Complete regional pairings can be found on Bound.

Class 5A

1. Ankeny Centennial; 2. Pleasant Valley; 3. Ankeny; 4. West Des Moines Dowling; 5. Indianola; 6. Waukee Northwest; 7. Cedar Falls; 8. Cedar Rapids Prairie; 9. Waukee; 10. Iowa City Liberty; 11. West Des Moines Valley; 12. Sioux City East; 13. Iowa City West; 14. Iowa City High; 15. Linn-Mar.

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier; 2. Sioux City Bishop Heelan; 3. North Scott; 4. Clear Creek-Amana; 5. Lewis Central; 6. Pella; 7. Glenwood; 8. Carlisle; 9. Marion; 10. Adel-ADM; 11. Norwalk; 12. Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 13. MOC-Floyd Valley; 14. Ballard; 15. Grinnell.

Class 3A

1. Mount Vernon; 2. Western Christian; 3. West Delaware; 4. Dubuque Wahlert; 5. Davenport Assumption; 6. Sioux Center; 7. Carroll Kuemper; 8. Mid-Prairie; 9. Cherokee; 10. Wilton; 11. Solon; 12. Anamosa; 13. Roland-Story; 14. Clarinda; 15. Nevada.

Class 2A

1. Denver; 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont; 3. Dyersville Beckman; 4. Dike-New Hartford; 5. Aplington-Parkersburg; 6. South Hardin; 7. Boyden-Hull; 8. Pella Christian; 9. Iowa City Regina; 10. Hinton; 11. Grundy Center; 12. Sumner-Fredericksburg; 13. Wapsie Valley; 14. West Burlington; 15. Shenandoah.

Class 1A

1. Ankeny Christian; 2. Holy Trinity; 3. Saint Ansgar; 4. Riverside; 5. BCLUW; 6. Janesville; 7. North Tama; 8. Don Bosco; 9. Sidney; 10. River Valley; 11. Akron-Westfield; 12. Stanton; 13. Fremont-Mills; 14. Southwest Valley; 15. Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

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