Des Moines Sun

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently appeared on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One” podcast to discuss topics ranging from congressional oversight and whistleblower advocacy to his background in farming and views on partisanship.

Grassley addressed the cooperation his committee has received from President Trump’s second administration, saying, “We have had the most cooperation in the second Trump administration that I've had under any Republican or Democrat administration in the past, getting information. It hasn't been as easy as it should have been, considering the fact that we all know how everybody for the last 10 years has either been trying to impeach Trump out of office, keep him from getting in office or putting him in prison. You know, you’d think that with all that happening over the last 10 years, we shouldn't have any trouble from anybody in the Trump administration. It's just like pulling teeth, but I'm telling you, I'm astounded with what we have been able to get out of this administration... My motive is to make sure that we have transparency of everything that was covered up in previous administrations – make it public, the government being more transparent brings accountability – and then, in turn, [to] discourage it from happening in the future... Trump has been so mistreated ever since he went down that famous escalator... So, I'm chairman of this Judiciary Committee, doing my oversight work. I want to make sure that the public knows how Trump was mistreated... I hope if [anybody is] prosecuted, and they’re guilty, they go to jail. But right now, I just want to make sure that the world knows how Trump's been treated since the very minute he came down that [escalator]. ...I think [Trump was mistreated] because he's a threat to the status quo…He came to town to stir things up, and I don't think he knew how to do it in his first term, but he did stir things up an awful lot. But then he's out of office four years, and he knows how this game is played in this town. He knows where the skeletons are buried, in which closet, he knows who to force a deal with. Most importantly, he knows what he didn't do right the first term, and he's not going to make that same mistake again... I think now his presidency will look pretty darn good compared to the other 45 people that served in that office.”

On investigations involving Hillary Clinton's emails versus those into Donald Trump by federal agencies such as the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ), Grassley stated: “Well everything was thrown against Trump. It was all made public at the time they were doing it. What we are learning now is the scheming that went on to make cases Jack Smith brought against Trump; those things are just weaponization of powers of government particularly FBI and DOJ… It's just opposite case for Clinton emails…it was using power of government cover up…They knew about things should’ve been investigated – how she misused email process…they didn’t do anything follow through any…what we recently released proves FBI wasn’t doing its job…and by not doing its job covering up all misdeeds Clinton emails.”

Grassley reflected on his approach: “I like to just do my work and let chips fall where they may…I’m not going compare myself anybody else…I’m just Chuck Grassley farmer Iowa…person who loves serving United States [Senate], serving American people…Trying make our government work way constitutional writers intended this work checks balances…and pass next generation better country than I inherited.”

He discussed his upbringing: “I was lucky enough be family small farmers...[I had] mother one-room schoolteacher maybe four five years her life woman ended upholstering furniture her home make little bit money little farm didn’t produce…and they were good citizens…and voted never involved politics…but always talking history government...You may wonder how became farmer…the only thing mind either going professor political science or be politics itself…then Dad died 1960 Mom wanted stay farm that's how got into farming.”

Regarding lessons learned from agriculture: “[I have an] appreciation laboring men women America what they do...Today 2025 two percent people America feed other 98 percent send third their production overseas exports…I think since became farmer when Dad died I have better way expressing with some real experience what it is be farmer United States can speak farm policy greater extent with some authority.”

Addressing family farms versus corporate operations: “If you looked at corporation farms [and] if you looked at state-run farms like Soviet system had family farm operation private ownership land most productive you can have....[Secretary Kennedy] raises some things very questioning by farmers yet says knows important farm[ing] wants farmers productive uses term ‘regenerative agriculture.’ I'm trying find out exactly what regenerative agriculture is...Two percent people can't produce food rest country if you're going more labor intensive opposed machinery intensive...But I think can be educated.”

On Iowa’s character: “[Washington D.C.] island surrounded by reality real America what call flyover country Iowa best flyover country....[W]e many firsts our history–first woman become lawyer first black person become lawyer things nature something proud goes back 180 years.”

Speaking about bipartisanship Grassley noted rankings showing bipartisan efforts among senators are available via Georgetown University’s Lugar Center survey website: “I always say go Georgetown University website click Senator Lugar Center They do survey every year bipartisanship I've always come out top 12....There too much partisanship today's government particularly Congress United States…I like explain people United States Senate because 60-vote requirement stop debate before get finality bill you've got some bipartisanship or nothing's ever going get done So think partisanship overblown journalists always like talk disagreement.…You’d never know Senator Durbin Grassley [worked] together piece legislation called [First] Step Act criminal justice reform first time generation Never get credit working together but when disagreeing immigration hits headlines So don’t see how people get distorted view how much partisanship there Now telling you for second time there's too much partisanship but not as much as people this country think there is.”

Explaining why partisanship appears pronounced today Grassley said: “Congress supposed represent people America All you've got answer your question look presidential voting map Middle country Red rest Blue along shores So if people vote partisan way wouldn't expect—if believe representative government—wouldn't reflected Congress United States? And it reflected Congress United States way."

Grassley criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray for lack of responsiveness during oversight efforts: "When Pam Bondi came confirmation my office gave file 158 letters previous DOJ had not answered probably half those were FBI never got answered...[Wray] didn't respond them probably intended never respond them Now wouldn't want say I [never] got letter here there something but [they didn’t answer] our questions or [give us documents wanted]. My oversight based proposition Congress not only passes bills appropriates money then forget about No Under checks balances learn eighth grade civics responsibility make President United States—and doesn't matter me whether Republican Democrat—faithfully executes those laws faithfully expends money way..."

Describing whistleblower importance Grassley remarked: "Now get most my information whistleblowers patriotic people want nothing more than make sure government does what law says government should do They've probably gone somebody higher their department get correction made don't get it so then come Chuck Grassley If everybody looked after [whistleblowers], things would different ... tell heads these departments ... ‘You’ve got listen whistleblowers You're head agency that's got 10k people might head VA that's got 400k You don’t know what's going on down below Whistleblowers just patriotic people Ought listen them corrections would made won’t come me.'"

Discussing Biden family investigations begun prior Joe Biden announcing presidential campaign Grassley stated "[I investigated Hunter Biden]starting in 2019 –evenbefore [Joe] Biden announced his presidency because everybody saying we're doing it because dad's running president He wasn't running president time opened investigation ... We had whistleblowers came told us bad situation needed information eventually issued preliminary report 2020 fuller report later on … gave speech put pictures financial transactions checks written ... put up Senate Floor whole world could see it."

Recalling Kavanaugh hearings' contentiousness Grassley described Democratic opposition tactics allegations faced nominee staff responses consequences for false claims.

Reflecting academic culture decline civil discourse universities contrasted experiences earlier times suggested reforms needed within institutions expressed support for open discussion multiple viewpoints.

Grassley also spoke about personal life long marriage wife Barbara balancing family responsibilities educational achievements role supporting career.

Concluding advice included emphasis honesty preparation staff selection for effective service.