Podcast Segments:

* Iowa Coast to Coast (statewide news)

* The Public Won’t be able to listen to emergency communicators in Eastern Iowa - From KCRG-TV: The Cedar Rapids Fire Department has now joined law enforcement in Linn County and other parts of Iowa in blocking out the public from listening to its emergency radio communications. In a notice sent out late Monday night, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department announced it would start encrypting its scanner radio traffic the next day, effectively blocking members of the public from being able to hear the communication. Linn County law enforcement, including the Linn County Sheriff and Cedar Rapids Police Department, moved to encrypted radio traffic in 2017 citing concerns for officer safety and privacy concerns for crime victims. However, encryption also cuts out a tool for sharing timely public information during an emergency, something other agencies have moved to maintain. When Sioux City Police and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office moved to encrypted radios in 2017, it reached agreements with local media outlets to allow them to continue to monitor traffic and responsibly communicate information with the public. Earlier this year, the New York State Assembly passed a bill requiring law enforcement grant journalists and other emergency services organizations access to encrypted radio communications.

* More ICE detainment in Cedar Rapids - From KCRG-TV: Three people have been detained by ICE after attending routine immigration check-ins Tuesday. Five immigrant families participated in the check-ins at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Cedar Rapids. Hundreds of people showed up to support the families as part of a protest organized by Escucha Mi Voz. Over 300 people filled the lawn in front of the Cedar Rapids ICE building Tuesday morning. The DHS office is the same one where Pascual Pedro was detained on July 1. “He went in thinking it’s just a normal thing and not even realizing her needed support and now people are understanding,” said Laurie Forbes, a supporter attending the protest. Protestors made their way to the office not only to support the families but also in the hopes of protecting them. Despite their efforts, three people were detained by ICE, including Hugo Zamora of Postville and Moctar Sanogo of Muscatine. Neither Zamora nor Sanogo are affiliated with Escucha Mi Voz.

* Cauc Talk (political news)

* Trump fires labor stats leader - From KCCI-TV: President Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, after claiming that the weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday was rigged for political reasons. "A SCAM! She did it again, with another massive 'correction,' and got FIRED! She had the biggest miscalculations in over 50 years," Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday. Trump is referencing revisions to May and June figures, which show that hiring was much weaker than previously reported. These revisions are routine, though the updated figures were larger than usual. The White House disputes the corrections but has not shared any specific evidence of wrongdoing. The firing faced harsh criticism from William Beach, who Trump appointed BLS commissioner during his first term. "I don't think there's any grounds at all for this, for this firing, and it really hurts the statistical system. It undermines credibility," Beach said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Beach said there are safeguards in place to prevent that data manipulation. He said that while he is worried about how the firing will impact public perception, he will continue to trust government jobs data moving forward, noting BLS employees "are completely devoted to producing the very best gold standard data possible."

* Epstein cover-up continues in the White House - From ABC News: Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday evening is expected to host a group of top administration officials at his residence for a strategy session as the administration considers whether to release the transcript from the Department of Justice interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. It's one of many meetings that has consumed the White House and top administration officials as they attempt to quell the fallout from their handling of the Epstein files and as pressure mounts for the DOJ and the White House to be transparent about what Maxwell said in her nine hours of meetings earlier this month with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles are expected to attend, the sources said. As ABC reported Tuesday, the administration could release a transcript of the interview as soon as this week.

* Wider Scope

* A.Iowa

Former CNN host Jim Acosta interviews AI reanimation of Parkland shooting victim - From The Guardian: Jim Acosta, former chief White House correspondent for CNN, stirred controversy on Monday when he sat for a conversation with a reanimated version of a person who died more than seven years ago. His guest was an avatar of Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 people killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. The video shows Oliver, captured via a real photograph and animated with generative artificial intelligence, wearing a beanie with a solemn expression. Acosta asks the avatar: “What happened to you?” “I appreciate your curiosity,” Oliver answers in hurried monotone without inflection or pauses for punctuation. “I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school. It’s important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone.” The avatar’s narration is stilted and computerized. The movements of its face and mouth are jerky and unnatural, looking more like a dub-over than an actual person talking. Acosta said in the video segment that Oliver’s parents created the AI version of their son and his father, Manuel Oliver, invited him to be the first reporter to interview the avatar. Acosta also spoke to Manuel Oliver in the video, telling him: “I really felt like I was speaking with Joaquin. It’s just a beautiful thing.” The victim’s father said he understood this was an AI version of his son and that he can’t bring him back, but it was a blessing to hear his voice again. He said he’s looking forward to seeing what more AI can do.

Get full access to Iowa Revolution at iowarevolution.substack.com/subscribe