From our Dec. 14 newsletter:
Good morning! I’m not going to waste any time — I’m not excited to write this one. So buckle up.
Full disclosure, I’m writing this a little bit upset. And where this is going to go may well upset some of you. It may upset some of my biggest and best supporters. I am going to ask you to please understand where I am coming from on this one. Even if you do not agree, which is totally fine, just hear me out.
From the beginning of The Iowa Standard my favorite thing has been helping Iowans have a voice. There isn’t even a close second. After five years, I cannot even remember all the “little stories” I have put out to help raise awareness of something that affected just a few Iowans.
It started small. One of the first ones I can recall was about a Nativity Scene in Centerville. It grew from there. The Pella Pool situation. The secret flights of illegal immigrant children from the border. Teachers indoctrinating kids. Employers mandating COVID shots. Schools mandating masks. Age-inappropriate materials being used in Iowa schools.
I do my best not to be emotional. I have heard some really heart-wrenching stories about various situations facing Iowans. I’m not sure there are many more emotional than the threat of eminent domain being used for these carbon capture pipelines to further this climate change agenda hoax.
I have seen people cry tears of sadness over the loss of their private property rights on land that has been in their family for generations. I have heard the desperation from people begging for help after being ignored by supposed elected representatives.
And I have watched as they’ve largely been ignored. And it is not right.
On Wednesday I published a story about former Gov. Terry Branstad. Branstad, for those who do not know, was listed as one of 20 United States Republican politicians who “sold out” to China in Peter Schweizer’s book “Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win.”
The story on Wednesday highlighted the fact that Branstad holds two roles that would seem at odds with each other. I encourage you to read that story here. In short, Branstad is an “honorary chairman” for the so-called American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce. The group has a “bill of rights.” Principle four is, ironically, “Private property rights must be protected.” And Branstad is senior policy advisor for Summit Carbon Solutions, a group aiming to build carbon capture pipelines and willing to use eminent domain if necessary to take land.
Nobody else, in my opinion, is giving these landowners a voice in this battle. Nobody. Not like we are. Not in the media.
The story didn’t get a ton of attention. But it did prompt this comment, from Eric Branstad, who is the son of Terry.
“Why don’t you complain to US Senator Jim Carlin!”
How incredibly callous.
They say not to write when you are angry. Let me be clear what I am angry about. I am angry that Iowans are at risk of losing their private property rights on land that has been in their family for generations for a private, for-profit project that is largely funded by government subsidies and there aren’t enough elected Republicans in the Iowa Senate and Terrace Hill who are willing to stand with the property owners.
I waited for about three hours to let the anger pass, but I realized two things. First, it is a righteous anger. Second, it isn’t going to pass. And it shouldn’t.
We have the son of a person who was elected to serve and represent Iowans for decades… a person who swore on oath to protect Iowans’ constitutional rights. We have the son of that person essentially rubbing it in the face of landowners that they don’t give a flying you-know-what about their private property rights.
The anger doesn’t stop there. And this is the part you guys need to buckle up for…
Donald J. Trump knows about this issue. He knows what is happening and what Iowans are facing. Trump signed the USE IT Act which extended the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture projects. His team is well aware of the issue. Well aware. It was quick to point out that Bruce Rastetter was not at Mar-a-Lago for anything official with Trump when he visited last month. But, Trump’s official position is he is “undecided” on the use of eminent domain for these carbon capture pipelines.
So, how does Trump get brought into this?
For starters, Trump appointed Terry Branstad U.S. Ambassador to China.
But this isn’t about Terry. Not really. This is about Eric Branstad’s response to the article. And here is Eric Branstad’s ties to Trump:
June 2016 – Dec. 2016: Iowa State Director – Donald J. Trump for President
Jan. 2017 – Feb. 2018: Senior White House Advisor – Dept. of Commerce
Sept. 2019 – Dec. 2020: Senior Advisor – Trump Victory
Aug. 2021 – Nov. 2022: Senior Advisor – Save America PAC
In February of this year Branstad was named a senior advisor to Trump’s 2024 campaign in Iowa. I believe there was a separation since Eric was helping Larry Elder’s campaign, but I haven’t confirmed if Eric has a current role with Team Trump.
In his Twitter bio, Eric touts himself as a “Trump Administration alum.” And Eric is owner/partner at Matchpoint Strategies, which was paid $5,000 in January and $5,000 in March by Donald J. Trump for President 2024.
Does Eric Branstad have a current, official affiliation with Trump’s campaign? I don’t know. But it is clear there is a connection. And I believe now is a time for choosing for President Trump.
Listen, nobody in Iowa media has been more Trump friendly than me. NOBODY. Some of the absolute best friends I have made in the last five years I met through Trump events. They are 100 percent patriotic and they 100 percent love this country. And they love Donald J. Trump. And I understand why.
What the political elites are doing to Donald J. Trump with the political persecutions is wrong and, I believe, represents the biggest threat to our constitutional republic in my lifetime.
I have been proud to help people interested in volunteering for the Trump campaign get in touch with members of the campaign to take on an active role. I enjoy helping other people get more involved. I think I can honestly say I’ve helped people from Iowa connect with every campaign that is still in the race at this point.
So know that I am not anti-Trump. If I woke up next November and he won the presidency, I would not be sad. But I’m not going to pretend he is perfect because none of us are. And I am going to keep this solely about the issue at hand.
It is time for Donald J. Trump to pick a side — Iowans or the Branstads.
Many of you will say this is one issue. And it doesn’t negate all the good things Trump accomplished and all the fights he has taken up for Americans. Listen, I am not saying it does.
To use a phrase I promised myself years ago I would never in one million years use: I can’t even.
I have heard from too many landowners. I have heard from too many Iowans who just want their private property rights respected. I can’t ignore it, guys, I just can’t.
Listen, I’m not a farmer. I don’t own any land that is impacted. Nobody in my family does (well, at least that I know of). There is ZERO personal stake in this for me.
In fact, there’s really only risk in me making this an issue like this. I know many of you guys, some of my best friends in politics (and I know in politics if you want a friend you should get a dog) and biggest supporters are Trump supporters. I understand why you are supportive of the guy. I’m not anti-him either.
But I can’t stand by and watch someone either be silent or “undecided” on something as fundamental to freedom as this. It’s not that I won’t. It’s that I can’t.
Not if I am going to be true to my mission. Not if I am going to continue helping Iowans tell stories that affect them most. If it hurts me or costs me friends or supporters, well then they weren’t really friends or supporters anyway.
I can’t do it guys. I told the Trump campaign he needs to pick a side. It’s time. He is either for Iowa landowners or he isn’t. Vivek Ramaswamy has taken this issue head-on. He hasn’t shied away from it. Ryan Binkley has as well. Undecided isn’t an option anymore.
I hope Trump makes clear in the next few days whether he believes in private property rights or not. Nobody has a platform like his, he has the power and the ability to shine a light on this like nobody else.
If you’re still reading this, I’m not sure if I should say thanks or sorry. It got long. I guess I can say both — thank you and I am sorry.
I encourage you all to reflect on this issue and take the time to talk with impacted landowners who do not want their land used for this carbon capture boondoggle. Reach out to the campaign of Trump and let them know you want the 45th President to stand up for the private property rights of your friends and your neighbors. Because while this pipeline may not impact your private property rights, the next one might.
And, if you have any recommendations on where to find a puppy, let me know.
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Well stated. Trump needs to be for private property rights. He’s being advised by those who don’t appreciate our constitutional rights.
You’re exactly right that it’s a “time to choose”. I’m sure I’m going to throw all my support to Vivek. His sharp elbows and articulate stances are what I need! Cannot take any more corruption!!
Great column. This is my overall concern with Trump, he makes so many poor choices on staff and who he surrounds himself with. Now would be a perfect time to repudiate the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. But he won’t do it.
I’m really being vulnerable right now when I say, I don’t understand what this is and how it effects the land. I have questions. Would landowners be paid fair market lease value for use of their land? How much land would it take, L X W X H ? Is the pipeline above or below ground? I think if more people knew exactly what it was, how it worked and what it does, more people would be in support of the landowners rights. Maybe you could help enlighten us Oliver.
Barbara, thanks for commenting! So there is a company wanting to build carbon capture pipelines. They want to capture carbon and move it through a pipeline across the midwest. This is a private, for-profit project. But it is benefitting from tax credits in order to be built. And it is trying to use eminent domain to force landowners to allow their land to be purchased and used for a project many do not want. There are serious safety concerns in addition to the wisdom behind the idea of carbon capture.
The pipeline will be below ground. Let me know if you have additional questions. Thanks, Jacob
Agree wholeheartedly. And for the record, I am a staunch Republican. But in my opinion Terry Branstad is a weasel. A sellout. And a poster child for RINO. As for Trump. He’s my pick hands down. But has been mistakenly swayed by RINOS he thought he could trust. Men such as Mitch McConnell and Terry Branstad and others.