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CLOSE UP, PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTS HIS SECOND TERM AT THE WHITE HOUSE, TAKING SWEEPING ACTION ON IMMIGRATION. THE IMPACTS THOSE PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS COULD HAVE ON IOWA. AND BY A STROKE OF HIS PEN, THE PRESIDENT FREES MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE FOUND GUILTY FOR THEIR ACTIONS DURING THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL. THE RIOTERS FROM IOWA CLEARED IN THAT MASS PARDON, AND IN A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, WE ASK HER ABOUT HER WORK AS REPUBLICANS NOW HOLD EVEN MORE OF A MAJORITY AT THE IOWA STATE HOUSE, WHICH SHE SAYS SHE’S FOCUSED ON TO CHANGE THINGS IN 2026. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WRAPPED UP HIS FIRST WEEK BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE. HE WAS SWORN IN LAST MONDAY BEFORE SIGNING A FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, DONALD JOHN TRUMP, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. I, DONALD JOHN TRUMP, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY. TRUMP PROMISED A QUOTE REVOLUTION OF COMMON SENSE DURING HIS 30 MINUTE INAUGURAL ADDRESS. HE OUTLINED SWEEPING POLICY PRIORITIES. MANY OF HIS EXECUTIVE ACTIONS UNDO FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S POLICIES, WHO OFFICIALLY LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE MONDAY AFTER THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. TRUMP SIGNED SEVERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION. ONE WOULD END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, A RIGHT OUTLINED IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ORDER IS ALREADY PROMPTING LEGAL CHALLENGES, AND IT’S JUST ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE’LL SEE. WE THINK IT WE HAVE VERY GOOD GROUNDS. TRUMP ALSO ISSUED IMMIGRATION ORDERS THAT WOULD PAUSE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENTS SEND MILITARY TROOPS TO THE BORDER, REVERSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S NARROW DEPORTATION CRITERIA, AND PURSUE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. DAYS BEFORE TRUMP WAS SWORN IN, IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS ORDERED THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO HELP IMPLEMENT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS. REYNOLDS HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID IOWA IS WILLING AND READY TO USE THE STATE’S NATIONAL GUARD AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BACK TRUMP’S POLICIES. WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR A FEW WEEKS AGO, I ASKED HER HOW THAT WOULD WORK. SHE TOLD ME SHE’LL FOLLOW TRUMP’S INSTRUCTIONS. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT. SO HE’S GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HIS PLAN LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT STATES THAT ARE READY TO HELP HIM IMPLEMENT IT BASED ON WHAT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. LATE LAST WEEK, NEWS TIPS WERE POURING INTO ����vlog ABOUT MULTIPLE ARRESTS BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS ACROSS THE METRO AREA. WE LOOKED INTO EVERY TIP WE RECEIVED, AND THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TOLD US THAT CONCERNS ON MULTIPLE ARRESTS BY ICE AGENTS AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE ARE NOT TRUE. THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS ONE ARREST BY AGENTS THERE ON THURSDAY MORNING. THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THAT ARREST TOOK PLACE IN A PUBLIC AREA. AND ONCE THE ICE AGENTS ARRESTED THE PERSON, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAY THEY LEFT THE COURTHOUSE. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHY THAT ARREST WAS MADE, BUT THEY DID SAY THEY DON’T BELIEVE THAT THAT ARREST WAS ANY DIFFERENT THAN ARRESTS. ICE ARE USUALLY ABLE TO MAKE WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE BACK IN SESSION. SOME IOWA REPUBLICANS NOW WANT ACTION TO INCREASE STATE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN A 3 TO 1 VOTE IN IOWA AND A 2 TO 1 VOTE IN IOWA HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ADVANCED A BILL LAST WEEK THAT WOULD CRIMINALIZE SMUGGLING NONCITIZENS FOR PAY OR FOR OTHER BENEFITS. IT WOULD ALSO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO ENTER OR REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. BUT OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT COULD COME WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND POSE HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS. THEY SAY THE BILL DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF NONCITIZENS, WHICH MEANS IT WOULD APPLY TO ANYONE WHO ENTERED THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, BUT ALSO ANYONE WHO HAS OVERSTAYED THEIR VISA OR LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE. IN A PLAIN READING OF THIS LAW, IT WOULD APPLY, OF COURSE, TO THE COYOTE WHO IS SMUGGLING PEOPLE FOR PROFIT, BUT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO A BUS DRIVER WHO’S DRIVING KIDS TO CCD OR TO CHURCH WITH NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY MAY HAVE OVERSTAYED THEIR VISA THROUGH NO INTENTION OF THEIR OWN. THAT’S A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN HOLT, WHO INTRODUCED THE BILL, SAYS HE’S OPEN TO CHANGING ITS WORDING BUT SAYS HE BELIEVES IT’S NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. I THINK IOWA IS WELCOMING FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND I DON’T INTEND FOR US TO BE WELCOMING TO VIOLATORS OF THE LAW AND TO ILLEGAL ALIENS. WE WILL BE UNWELCOMING IN THAT REGARD, BECAUSE WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR THE RULE OF LAW. THE SAME BILL PASSED THROUGH THE IOWA HOUSE LAST YEAR, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD NEED TO CHANGE FOR IT TO PASS THIS YEAR. WELL, I’M JOINED NOW BY JODI MASHEK, THE CO LEGAL DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA MIGRANT MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE. THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. WELL THERE’S A LOT AT PLAY HERE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AT THE STATE LEVEL. FIRST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, WHAT THE GOALS ARE AND WHAT YOU DO. SO AT IOWA MIGRANT MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE, WE HAVE TWO MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS. ONE IS THAT WE PROVIDE DIRECT IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND THE OTHER ONE IS OUR ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE A ROBUST IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM. WE SERVE IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IOWA, AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS OF IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. ALTHOUGH IMMIGRATION LEGAL PROCESSES CAN TAKE A LONG TIME, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THOSE. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO WORK FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE. AND SO THAT’S WHY WE THINK THAT BOTH PARTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF AND WITH IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZE ON THEIR BEHALF AND WITH THEM TO TRY TO CREATE A WELCOMING IOWA FOR EVERYONE. WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ACTION IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON IMMIGRATION. HOW ARE YOU LOOKING AT THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WATCHING THEM AND INTERPRETING THEM? WELL, IT’S A LOT COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AT A REALLY FAST PACE, SO WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH IT. WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO ON A BROADER SCALE, WE’VE BEEN PREPARING FOR SINCE LAST YEAR. WE WERE UNPREPARED UNDER THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE HAD A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT THIS TIME AROUND. IF IF HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT AGAIN. SO WE’VE BEEN PREPARING ON A BROADER SCALE IN TERMS OF GETTING SUPPORT TEAMS IN POLK COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN TERMS OF LIKE WHEN THERE ARE DEPORTATIONS OR WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER IS TAKEN AWAY, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY? WHAT IF BOTH PARENTS ARE NOT THERE? SO WE’RE DOING SOME OF THAT LARGE SCALE PLANNING THROUGHOUT THE STATE, HAVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS THEMSELVES, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. AND THERE HAVE BEEN I’M NOT SURE THAT I THINK I’VE LOST COUNT ALREADY THIS WEEK ALONE. AND WE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM AND SEE HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR CLIENTS. HOW ARE THESE GOING TO AFFECT THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES? WHAT STEPS CAN WE TAKE? WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE LETTING OUR CLIENTS KNOW AND OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AT LARGE? SO IT’S A LOT OF WORK. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. YOU MENTIONED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR. IS THERE ANY ANY OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT YOU READ THAT SURPRISED YOU A LITTLE BIT OR, YOU KNOW, WILL OPEN UP SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN, THAN WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING? I DON’T WANT TO SAY SURPRISED, NOT SURPRISED. YOU KIND OF KNEW IT WAS COMING. IT WAS ALMOST SORT OF A WAIT AND SEE HOW MANY THINGS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN THE PIPELINE. SO I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT UNDER THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT WE CAN KNOW WE CAN EXPECT A LOT OF REALLY TERRIBLE THINGS, AND THAT’S HAPPENING. SO DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SURE. NOT SURPRISE NECESSARILY, BUT A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT, A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. WE KNOW TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HAD BEEN PROMISING TO CARRY OUT MASS DEPORTATIONS. HE SAID UNLIKE THE COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN, NOW THAT HE’S IN OFFICE, DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LOOK LIKE IN IOWA? WHAT WHAT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, ICE AGENTS, WHAT THEY’RE ALLOWED TO DO AND NOT? WELL, IT’S ALWAYS HARD TO FIGURE OUT. WE HAVE AN IDEA BASED ON THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHERE WE DID SEE A HUGE UPTICK IN IN ICE DETAINING PEOPLE AT GAS STATIONS, AT RESTAURANTS, JUST OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS INVOLVED A LOT OF JUST WALKING UP TO PEOPLE. FREQUENTLY. ICE AGENTS ARE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING, UNMARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT HAPPENED. JUST JUST A HUGE UPTICK IN ICE DETAINING PEOPLE UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT IS WHY THERE IS SUCH A FLURRY TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE. AND THAT’S TRUE OF ANYBODY, WHETHER YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY OR YOU’RE BORN HERE, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE WHEN YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH THE POLICE, WITH AN ICE AGENT. EVERYBODY DOES HAVE RIGHTS. SO WE’VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY HARD FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW ON ON KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS, DOING THEM BILINGUALLY, IN PERSON, ONLINE. AND I THINK YOU’LL SEE THAT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TOO. THERE’S A THERE’S A BIG PUSH FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE WHEN INTERACTING WITH, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR WITH ICE AGENTS AS WELL. SO THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS WE’VE THINGS WE’VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THAT WAS LIKE BEFORE. WHAT WHAT ARE THOSE RIGHTS WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT TRAINING, WHAT ARE YOU INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT? SO WE ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT WHAT ARE THEY ALLOWED TO SAY? YOU KNOW, WHAT? WHAT WHEN CAN THEY MAINTAIN SILENCE? IF SOMEBODY SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOOR, WHAT DOES A WARRANT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS NOT A WARRANT? SO KIND OF JUST TRYING TO GO OVER SOME OF THOSE BASICS, KNOWING WHAT DOCUMENTATION LOOKS LIKE. DO YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO A QUESTION BASIC THINGS THAT THAT THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF. BUT WE TRY TO JUST REVIEW THOSE OVER AND OVER AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE MATERIALS. THEY CAN CARRY LITTLE CARDS WITH THEM AND THEIR LANGUAGE THAT EXPLAIN THOSE RIGHTS. IF THEY CAN’T REMEMBER IN THE MOMENT. SO WE’RE REALLY TRYING WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO REALLY REINFORCE THOSE. YOU’VE HEARD REPUBLICANS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAY THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND THIS IS ABOUT MAKING THE COUNTRY MORE SAFE. AS SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, WORKS WITH IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT ARGUMENT OF OF WHAT WE’RE DOING IS MAKING IOWA SAFER? THERE IS PLENTY OF DATA AVAILABLE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND IN BIG COMMUNITIES, SMALL COMMUNITIES THAT SHOW THAT AN INCREASE IN AN IMMIGRANT POPULATION DOES NOT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN CRIME. AND THAT IS TRUE ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE IS PLENTY OF DATA AVAILABLE THAT SHOWS THAT. SO IT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE THAT AN INCREASE IN IMMIGRATION LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN CRIME. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES WE WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES AND THE IMMIGRANTS THAT WE WORK WITH ALSO WANT THAT. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST MANY ARE SEEKING TERRIBLE SITUATIONS AND JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND JUST RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, WORK, PAY THEIR TAXES, THE SAME THINGS THAT MOST OF US ALSO WANT, BUT INSTEAD THEY’RE BEING SCAPEGOATED WHEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING, HAVE NOT COMMITTED CRIMES. SO IT’S JUST THIS IDEA THAT WE’RE NOT SAFE IS JUST A MYTH THAT CONTINUES TO GET PERPETUATED WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. AND THAT’S WHY WE ARE STRIVING SO HARD TO TO SHOW THAT IOWA IS WELCOMING BECAUSE WE RELY ON IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STATE, WE RELY ON IMMIGRANT LABOR. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED THEM TO DO JOBS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. AND WE WANT IOWA TO BE WELCOMING FOR THEM. WE NEED THEM. WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM HERE. WELL, JODI, I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP IN ANOTHER DAY. ONE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNING, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PARDONED THOUSANDS OR MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE CONVICTED IN THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK. WE SHOW YOU THE IOWANS WHO WERE RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL PARDON. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. TWO IOWANS WHO WERE CONVICTED FOR THEIR ACTIONS DURING THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ARE NOW OUT OF PRISON AFTER BEING PARDONED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST MONDAY. SALVADOR SANDOVAL OF ANKENY AND KYLE YOUNG OF REDFIELD ARE TWO OF THE NINE IOWANS WHO RECEIVED PARDONS. BOTH YOUNG AND SANDOVAL HAVE BEEN HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO SERVE AT LEAST SEVEN MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON WITHOUT THE PARDON, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE. AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS. AT LEAST 86 MONTHS. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED UNTIL 2028. UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LAW PROFESSOR ANDY GREWAL SAYS THE PARDON ESSENTIALLY WIPES AWAY THEIR CONVICTION. IF THEY’RE FILLING OUT A JOB APPLICATION AND ASKED, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME? I SUPPOSE THEY CAN SAY NO. EVERYONE MAY KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT THAT CONVICTION HAS BEEN ERASED. SANDOVAL’S ATTORNEYS TELL ����vlog THEY SPOKE WITH SALVADOR AFTER HIS RELEASE. YOUNG’S WIFE POSTED ON HIS ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE THAT SHE WAITED OUTSIDE THE PRISON FOR THREE HOURS FOR HER HUSBAND BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK. UP NEXT ON CLOSE UP, OPHELIA JACOBSEN JOINS US FOR A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR. WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION RESULTS AND WHY SHE’S ALREADY FOCUSED ON THE NEXT ELECTION. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. RITA. HART WAS REELECTED TO LEAD THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR A SECOND TERM. HER REELECTION COMES JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER REPUBLICANS EXPANDED THEIR MAJORITIES IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE AND IOWA’S SIX ELECTORAL VOTES WENT TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. IN A STATEMENT, HART ADMITTED THE 2024 ELECTION DID NOT GO. HOW I, NOR ANY DEMOCRAT IN IOWA WANTED AND WE ARE JOINED THIS MORNING BY CHAIR RITA HART. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU. OPHELIA, I’M GLAD TO BE HERE. WE’LL JUST START OFF BY REFLECTING ON THE 2024 ELECTION. WHAT DO YOU THINK WENT WRONG AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WENT RIGHT? YEAH, THAT’S THAT WAS A TOUGH ELECTION FOR US AS DEMOCRATS. AND SO YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT I TOLD REPORTERS BEFORE THE ELECTION HAPPENED IS THAT I THOUGHT WE HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED SOME SUCCESS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NO MATTER WHAT THE TURNOUT WAS IN THE ELECTION RESULTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE STRUGGLED AS A PARTY WAY BACK. I THINK STARTING IN 2010 AND IN 2022, WE HAD A VERY TOUGH ELECTION. AND SO WHEN I STARTED AS CHAIR, WE KNEW THEN THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL CYCLES FOR US TO COME BACK OUT OF THAT. AND SO WHAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING. WE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE BUILT A FOUNDATION THAT WE CAN NOW BUILD ON, AND THAT THAT WE HAVE GREAT HOPE THAT WE ARE EXPANDING OUR OUR PARTY’S BASE. WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE STEPPED UP OUR GAME FINANCIALLY. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LONG RANGE CHANGES FOR THE IOWA DEMOCRATS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO REAP REWARDS COMING IN THE IN THE ELECTIONS AHEAD. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS CAN IMPROVE ON GOING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ELECTION? SO YEAH, WE’RE ALREADY AT WORK AND WE THINK THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT BEING REELECTED AND GETTING US STARTED ALREADY HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. WE KNOW THAT WE’VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR BASE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DEMOCRATS STAND FOR AND GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE WORKING FOR THE THE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY THEIR BILLS, TRYING TO TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES, AND THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO THE THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. SO WE’RE DOING THE THE ORDINARY KINDS OF THINGS THAT THAT A POLITICAL PARTY HAS TO DO. AND WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTIES AND IMPROVING OUR STRUCTURE AND, AND DOING THE OUTREACH THAT IT TAKES TO BUILD THE PARTY FROM THE GROUND UP. AND TO THAT POINT, YOU PUBLISHED AN 18 PAGE DOCUMENT LAYING OUT YOUR VISION FOR 2026, HOW YOU’RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS, ANY SPECIFIC KEY POINTS THAT YOU WANT TO MENTION FROM THAT PLAN? YOU KNOW, THIS ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCE. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO DO A GOOD JOB OF LISTENING TO THE VOTERS AND RESPONDING TO THEIR NEEDS. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO 2026. IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT SOME REALLY IMPORTANT RACES. YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT A GOVERNOR’S RACE ON THE ON THE TICKET IN IN 2026. WE HAVE A US SENATE RACE. WE HAVE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL RACES AND TWO OF THEM ALREADY WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE SOME OF A COUPLE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN THE COUNTRY. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALL OUR HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS AND, AND THE, THE ACROSS THE TICKET. POSITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR. SO WE’VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND WE’RE HAPPY THAT WE’RE ABLE TO GET GOING RIGHT AWAY. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JENNIFER CARNFORTH AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JANICE WEINER HAVE ENDORSED THAT PLAN THAT YOU RELEASED. WHAT HAVE YOUR CONVERSATIONS BEEN WITH THEM LIKE, AND HOW ARE YOU SUPPORTING THEIR WORK OVER AT THE STATE HOUSE? OH, ABSOLUTELY. IT GOES HAND IN HAND, RIGHT. THE THE WORK THAT TAKES PLACE IN THAT LEGISLATURE IS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF, OF IOWANS. RIGHT. AND SO DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED IN ON IMPROVING THOSE PEOPLE’S LIVES. AND SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF WHAT’S HAPPENING UNDER THE REYNOLDS ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW, THAT RURAL IOWA, PARTICULARLY, IS IS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, THAT OUR POPULATION IS SHIFTING FROM THE RURAL AREAS TO THE URBAN AREAS, THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILD, TO HAVE GROCERY STORES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, TO HAVE GOOD NURSING HOMES IN THE AREAS THAT THEY LIVE. OUR COUNTY PARTIES. OUR OUR COUNTIES AND OUR LOCAL SUPERVISORS ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS, HAS MANAGED TO MAKE THEIR LIVES HARDER IN PROVIDING THE THE MANY SERVICES THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALL ACROSS THE STATE NEED TO TO BE TAKING PLACE. AND SO I WORK HAND IN HAND WITH SENATOR WEINER AND REPRESENTATIVE KAHN FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ARE TOGETHER AND THE MESSAGING THAT WE NEED TO GET ACROSS TO THE FOLKS WHO LIVE ACROSS THIS STATE AND ARE COUNTING ON US TO GET GOOD RETURNS FOR THEM, AND LOOKING AHEAD TO 2028, WHAT ARE DEMOCRATS PLAN TO KIND OF HEAD INTO THOSE CAUCUSES? DO YOU HAVE ANY DETAILS THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US RIGHT NOW? YEAH, I GUESS I’M LAUGHING BECAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS A QUESTION ABOUT THE CAUCUSES. SO YEAH, WE’RE HAVING SOME REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ELECTION GOING ON WITH OUR CHOOSING A NEW DNC CHAIR. AND I THINK THAT THAT CHAIR POSITION IS IS CRUCIAL ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CALENDAR. AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE FOLKS HAS REALLY FOCUSED IN ON MAKING SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS AN OPEN ONE, IT’S A TRANSPARENT ONE, AND THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME ON THE SAME LEVEL. STARTING OFF, I DO THINK I WILL REPEAT THAT. I THINK THAT THE DNC MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT INCLUDING A STATE LIKE IOWA IN THIS, IN THE IN THE FIRST RUNNING, AND THAT THAT THAT HURT US AS A PARTY. AND SO WE’RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL THE DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE STATE. I SAID TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY CONVERSATION AT THIS TIME, AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS THAT IOWA DEMOCRATS ARE TOGETHER ON ON WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE CAUCUSES ARE CONCERNED. WILL YOU BE FIGHTING FOR THAT FIRST IN THE NATION SPOT? WELL, CERTAINLY, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW, THAT WE’VE GOT TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR IOWA. AND WE CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK, WHAT WHAT OTHER DEMOCRATS THINK ABOUT HOW HOW THAT HOW THAT PANS OUT. BUT WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHO WE END UP WITH FOR A DNC CHAIR. I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT’S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN 2028. AND LAST QUESTION FOR YOU. WE JUST SAW PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. AND REYNOLDS, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS HAS REPEATEDLY, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE SIDED WITH SOME OF HIS POLICIES. WE SAW A DOGE CREATED HERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA. THAT KIND OF MIRRORED WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. SHE SENT OUT A MEMO, YOU KNOW, TELLING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP ENFORCE THOSE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS. WHEN YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO IS SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRESIDENT, HOW DO DEMOCRATS MANAGE THAT HERE IN THE STATE? WELL, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE’VE GOT TO KEEP THE WHAT, WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IN MIND FIRST, RIGHT? EVERYBODY HAS AN INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT WORKING WELL FOR THEM AND THAT IT THAT IT BE EFFICIENT. AND SO DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. NOW I THINK IT’S REALLY INTERESTING THAT RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE ELECTION, THE THE WORD HAS COME DOWN THAT WELL, IT’S REALLY HARD TO MAKE THE KINDS OF CUTS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND SO WE’LL SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT HOW THAT PANS OUT AS FAR AS WHAT ACTIONS THEY ACTUALLY TAKE. AND DOES THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IT’S THAT IT’S HARD TO WATCH THE INAUGURATION AND SEE THAT THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON ALL OF THESE TECH GAZILLIONAIRES THAT ARE SITTING UP ON THE STAGE NEXT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS IN IT FOR THEM, RATHER THAN WHAT WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? SO WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON IS THAT WE ACTUALLY DELIVER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS BETTER FOR THEM AND IS MORE EFFICIENT. WE’RE ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING ANY OF THOSE EFFORTS. WELL, THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. ����vlog EIGHT NEWS WILL BE RIGHT BACK. STAY WITH US. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY.