Iowa town hall attendees turn on each other as Sen. Grassley faces heated questions

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MARK VANCLEAVE and HANNAH FINGERHUT
Updated 2:15 PM CDT, April 23, 2025

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Iowans attending a forum Wednesday hosted by Sen. Chuck Grassley started to turn on each other as the lawmaker faced heated questions about President Donald Trump ‘s first months in office.

The room of about 100 people in north-central Worth County, near the Minnesota border, was largely critical of the administration and peppered Grassley with questions about mass deportations, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s, Elon Musk and cuts to the federal workforce and tariffs.

But when one woman used her turn to apologize to Grassley for “all the grief you’ve gotten this morning,” it offered a glimpse at the deep-seated political rifts running through even the smallest U.S. communities.

Some exchanged expletives, almost posturing for a fight. There were shouts between audience members to “shut up.” Others took out their phones to record the moment.



Sen. Chuck Grassley takes questions from constituents during a contentious town hall event in Northwood, Iowa on Wednesday.
MARK VANCLEAVE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/town-hall-grassley-trump-c7c8a715bdccf677821a1713d7d8eef1

[Dr. Shepper]

1. I may not like or agree with him but

At least he is out there facing his constituents.

[LudwigPastorius]

5. I wouldn't give him that much credit.

He probably thought his staff was taking him to a Golden Corral for the Early Bird Special.

[rsdsharp]

2. Why does ole Chuck always loom over his constituents?

You ain’t Lyndon Johnson, Chuck.

[OrangeJoe]

4. I've noticed that, too.

He always seems to move up on them in an attitude of intimidation. What a wanker.

[Clouds Passing]

3. He's just trying to polish up his tarnished legacy. Too late Chuck.

[stopdiggin]

6. the fact that there are still staunch defenders

(and rather a lot of them) for the administration and the MAGA line ...
Should not be any great surprise to those paying attention. The handful of loyalists that are actually expressing regret or amending their stance - is still very much the minority.

And let's face it - the 'town hall' attendee - has for a long time leaned toward the vocal and the aggrieved. So this is fairly standard.
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[Escaped Floridian]

7. Trump, the Great Uniter