Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“The drop in the markets will directly impact their profitability and bottom line, and in turn impacts decisions our producers are making about expanding their cattle herds. We believe the government should avoid intervention and let the market work.” — Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President Craig Moss, in a statement responding to President Donald Trump’s announcement he would suspend tariffs on imported ground beef.
The Trump administration plans to exempt tariffs on ground beef imports for 90-days in an effort to lower prices of the meat. (Photo by Preston Keres/USDA)
President Donald Trump announced Friday he was suspending tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef to help lower the cost of the meat, in a move cattle producers said would not help their efforts to restore herd sizes.
The president made the announcement in a Truth Social post where he said the imported beef will be sold at 25% below the current market prices.
Iowa Attorney General candidate Nate Willems speaks at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 21, 2026. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Politics at the Iowa State Fair
Democratic candidate for Iowa attorney general Nate Willems laid out his history of winning legal battles for Iowans’ benefit Friday and said his office’s priority would be helping Iowans, rather than focusing on out-of-state litigation.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson flipped pork burgers at the Iowa State Fair pork tent on Aug. 21, 2026. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson told reporters Friday that if her opponent wins the U.S. Senate campaign, the Iowa State Fair might lose its Iowa Pork Tent.
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
An Iowa program that deploys conservation practices across an area, rather than one at a time, served as a model for a cover crop adoption program launched by American Farmland Trust.
A former public defender who won the support of judges and a member of the Iowa Legislature after a 2023 arrest for shoplifting now stands accused of defrauding Medicaid and cancer patients.
A judge has ordered the federal government to immediately release an immigrant held in an Iowa jail, saying it’s “hard to take seriously” the U.S. Department of Justice’s arguments in the case.
A north-central Iowa attorney accused of health care fraud in attempting to assist a client in qualifying for Medicaid is now facing sanctions from state licensing officials.
State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including unsanitary kitchens, rodent droppings, long-expired food and buffets with food served at unsafe temperatures.
The interim dean of Drake University’s law school said the institution is in the process of finding both a permanent replacement for the former dean and the leader of one of its clinics as students come back to campus.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in Iowa Monday schools discourage students from physical activity and are poisoning them with unhealthy food — issues he said federal and state policies are working to address with the reinstatement of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Iowa State Fairgoers Monday he honored the Iowa soldiers killed in Kuwait, while saying the U.S.-Iran conflict was necessary to keep Americans safe.
The Democratic National Committee on Saturday approved by voice vote its lineup of six early primaries for the 2028 election cycle, kicking off with South Carolina and Nevada.
Researchers at Iowa’s public and private universities are focusing their efforts on white blood cells as they explore potential new cancer treatments.
One of Iowa’s largest nursing home chains is facing new lawsuits alleging nonpayment of bills and wrongful death.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek reiterated his support Friday for passing a federal farm bill Friday, saying at the Iowa State Fair that U.S. Senate Democrats should not “let perfection stand in the way of progress” in moving forward a measure.
Zach Lahn told Iowa State fairgoers that “truth is on the ballot” in the 2026 gubernatorial election as he runs against Iowa Auditor Rob Sand.
NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST AND IOWA'S NEIGHBORS
Data centers emerging as key issue in Illinois governor’s race | Capitol News Illinois
Indiana working to preserve local businesses across ownership changes | Indiana Capital Chronicle
Manhattan’s $1.25 billion animal disease research facility not fully operational, report says | Kansas Reflector
As Michigan regulators unveil recommendations for lowering energy costs, advocates urge action | Michigan Advance
Independent ICE flight tracker marks 5,000th detainee flown out of MSP | Minnesota Reformer
Missouri prepares for final marijuana microbusiness lottery under tougher rules | Missouri Independent
Nebraska GOP, Dems appeal to state Supreme Court to stop other political parties | Nebraska Examiner
US ag exports ‘on the right track,’ trade rep says, but farmers still wary | North Dakota Monitor
DeWine to next Ohio governor: Leave income taxes alone | Ohio Capital Journal
Thune calls energy development permitting reform a rare opportunity for bipartisan action | South Dakota Searchlight
Prediction market firm sues to escape Wisconsin gambling law | Wisconsin Examiner
FEDERAL FALLOUT
States Newsroom relentlessly reports on how changes at the federal level are affecting people at the state level — and how state governments are responding in this volatile political climate. We post new stories each day; here are just a few:
DOJ probes William & Mary over alleged race-based scholarship policies | Virginia Mercury
Alabama Obamacare enrollment drops 23% after tax credits expire | Alabama Reflector
Rosen to DHS: Disclose info-sharing agreement between ICE, TSA | Nevada Current
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