On this Small Business Saturday, I want to explain why I do what I do.

I love my work.

I’ve been writing about politics for 30 years, and while I didn’t initially plan to make Iowa my focus, I thoroughly enjoy the beats I have developed here, covering state government, the state legislature, and campaigns and elections for federal, state, and local offices.

I’m passionate about my work.

Every day I’m looking for stories you won’t find anywhere else. I’ve reported exclusively on a dark money group’s efforts to improve Brenna Birds image, the state’s failure to make COVID boosters accessible, opinion polls testing messages about candidates, and how members of Congress use taxpayer funds to boost their campaigns.

I’m also proud to provide unique angles on some of the biggest stories in Iowa politics, like this year’s transgender discrimination bill, the front-runners for the Democratic and Republican nominations for governor, and upset special election wins for Mike Zimmer and Catelin Drey.

I believe everyone should be able to read the news regardless of what’s in their bank account. Keeping all of my reporting and analysis available for free is a core value for me, so you won’t find paywalls here or on my Substack, Iowa politics with Laura Belin.

I’m committed to my work.

I sometimes spend months trying to obtain the information I need to nail down a story. I don’t give up after being told no a few times; my persistence with the governor’s office helped secure an important Iowa Supreme Court ruling on open records. I fought for five years to be treated fairly by Iowa House leaders.

I have written deep dives on the work of the Iowa delegation in Congress, from Senator Chuck Grassley’s flawed “oversight” to Senator Joni Ernst’s inconsistent approach to confirming Pentagon nominees.

Since early 2021, I’ve recorded more than 250 episodes of “KHOI’s Capitol Week.” My co-hosts and I pack a lot of news into our 30 minutes together on Monday evenings. Every week, I send out a detailed written recap of the show as well as the audio file, for subscribers who would rather read than listen.

In addition to what I write for this website and on Substack, I copy edit and publish hundreds of guest articles or commentaries at Bleeding Heartland every year.

I’m scrupulous in my work.

Unlike mainstream political reporters, I don’t pretend to be neutral about all of the stories I cover. But that doesn’t make me a cheerleader for one side. I have questioned Democratic tactics at the statehouse, and I’m clear-eyed about the challenges facing the party in statewide and legislative races.

That transparency is one reason I have a surprising number of Republican readers. They may disagree with many of my views, but they value my insights about the campaign landscape. They know I will report the facts accurately and even give GOP lawmakers credit for good work that happens at the statehouse.

To avoid conflicts of interest, I don’t accept financial contributions from Iowa elected officials, candidates, or paid staff or consultants on Iowa campaigns. Drawing that line is important to me. But it also excludes hundreds of loyal readers as potential donors.

I’m kicking off a year-end fundraising drive today, hoping to raise an additional $5,000 to help cover my operating costs (such as my salary, technical support, web hosting, and fees for public records requests).

If you are willing and able, you can make a one-time donation with a credit card, or through PayPal, Venmo, or personal check (contact me for the mailing address). You can make a recurring monthly or annual donation with a credit card, or through Substack or Patreon.

Whether you contribute financially or not, I am grateful for all readers who are willing to follow me into the Iowa politics weeds. Thank you for being here.