ISU is back in action tonight at Hilton Coliseum, hosting St. Thomas at 6:30 pm. The game is being carried on ESPN+. @emiliezeis will have the updates in the thread below.

I almost never watch FoxNews these days, but after listing to a Business Wars podcast, I had to check it out for the election returns. That podcast talked about how all the media used to get their projections from the same set of raw data, although I assume they each processed it in their own way. After the polls missed so badly in 2016 and again missing the red wave in 2018, FoxNews was determined to fix that and set out to improve those projections. I don't recall exactly what they did, but I think they gathering some of their own data. They wanted not only to be accurate, but to be first to call results. And they were apparantly very successful in the next election with whatever they did.

FoxNews was the first to call Arizona for Biden. That irritated Trump and he called them and told them to retract the projection, which they didn't. As a result they suffered in their ratings as conservatives turned to another, much smaller conservative outlet. As a result of that ratings hit the podcast told they gave extra coverage to the Trump claims the election was stolen. They lost one of their top personalities, who quit in protest since they knew there was no basis for the allegations. But the network kept driving that narrative to get those viewers back. And they did come back.

So anyway, long story short (with longer story below), I turned to FoxNews first to see how they called the race. They were indeed ahead of the other channels as I flipped back and forth cross-checking projects. At one time NBC had called more states, but that didn't stay that way for long. So I will let the many of you conservatives know that I mostly watched FoxNews coverage of the election. There were times their commentary was a bit too much, especially when the early returns were indicating something special was happening. They started to gloat a bit, but it was far too early for that, which I think they realized when their group-think went too far. They pulled back a bit.

The other thing I noticed while checking out the other major networks is the over-the-air guys sure broadcast a lot of commercials. It seemed far less on FoxNews or maybe I just didn't notice because they kept a side bar and ticker on during commercials.

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Commie spent 1.4 Billion!

The paid celebrities 10's of Millions. Commie was laundering money!

The early signing period gets underway this morning for the 2025 class. I'm expecting the Cyclones to sign all four of their commits during this time. I'll be posting the signings below as they are announced by Iowa State.

Sec. 10, Row 31, Seats 2,3, and 4. 60.00 each Call or text 712-260-8218

I went through and analyzed the EC votes from this election and updated it for the apportionment(estimate) coming in 2040. Based upon the states each party won this time, the EC vote changes from the current 312-226 to 325-213. Yes, the 2040 apportionment is expected to move 13 EC votes from the blue states to the red states. In fact, if I throw out the blue wall states and Arizona and Nevada, all states won by the GOP, the GOP is already starting the EC vote count at 263 from deep red states. They are just 6 votes from winning, before they even start (remember the GOP only needs 269 to win, then dems need 270 to win). By the time the 2050 Apportionment comes around, I expect another 10-15 EC votes to be shifted to Deep red states, which likely means the dems have no reasonable path to victory, they will need to flip a deep red state. I think that very shortly the democratic strategy to dump illegals into red states is going to switch, to dumping illegals into the blue states. Another strategy for Dems is to embrace deportation, in the hopes that the loss of population in red states will bring EC votes back to the blue states. The blue states need to have a huge expansion of the population in those states to turn the tide of their loss of congressional seats. By 2050, Texas will have more EC votes than California, and Florida will be getting close to California.

Kinda bored today.

Felt the need to rock out.

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These guys didn't rehearse like other acts in a show like this.
Just plugged into their amps and let it rip.

The democrats have no plans at all to address this issue. They gaslight you, and they will never do anything about it, because they can't do anything about it. And yet you vote for them thinking they will address it. No one, I repeat , no one can pass any federal laws about abortion. The GOP is not going to ban abortion, because doing so would be unconstitutional. The democrats can pass no law allowing abortion because that too is unconstitutional. So what the hell are you people thinking? You are getting angry about something that you have no ability to change. The only way that democrats can legalize abortion is to pass an amendment to the constitution allowing abortion, and if you truly believe in your issue, this is what you have to do. Instead, you vote for the democrats in the hopes that they will either ignore the constitution, or destroy the constitution. Stop voting with your emotions and think logically (if that is even possible).

Iowa State Media Relations

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State wrestling program and head coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of four prep wrestlers Thursday. Christian Castillo, Jacob Helgeson, TJ Koester and Carter Pearson all put pen to paper and officially became Cyclones on National Signing Day.

“At this time, it’s one of the smallest classes we have signed in our time at Iowa State, but I also think it is one of the most talented,” Dresser said. “We can’t wait to get these guys to Ames and get them in our practice room. These guys will raise the level of talent and competition in our room on day one.”

Iowa State’s signing class is ranked No. 15 nationally by FloWrestling. Christian Castillo is the highest-rated recruit in the class, checking in at No. 11 on MatScouts’ Class of 2025 Big Board.

While Castillo hails originally from Arizona, he is spending his senior year at Ames High School, meaning all four Cyclone signees will have graduated from an Iowa high school.

All four signees are set to arrive on campus for the 2025-26 season.

Here’s a look at the new additions:

Christian Castillo
Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.
High School: Valiant College Prep / Ames High School
Projected Weight Class: 125
Attended Valiant College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona before transferring to Ames High for his senior year … rated as the No. 11 overall recruit nationally by FloWrestling and No. 14 by MatScouts … listed as the No. 2 120-pounder nationally by FloWrestling … two-time Super 32 Champion (2022, ’24) and four-time placewinner … 2022 U17 World Silver Medalist (Freestyle) … also represented the United States in Greco-Roman at the 2022 U17 World Championships … won gold in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2022 Pan-American Championships.

Carter Pearson
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Iowa
High School: Southeast Polk
Projected Weight Class: 133/141
Wrestled at Southeast Polk High School … rated as the No. 113 recruit nationally by MatScouts … 2024 Iowa High School Class 3A state champion at 120 pounds … three-time state medalist … placed third as a freshman and sophomore … posted a 39-0 record en route to his state title as a junior … defeated Bettendorf’s Jake Knight, 1-0, in the state title match … helped the Rams to 2024 tournament and dual team titles.

Jacob Helgeson
Hometown: Johnston, Iowa
High School: Johnston
Projected Weight Class: 165/174
Prepped at Johnston High School … rated as the No. 160 prospect nationally by MatScouts … two-time Iowa High School Class 3A state champion (2023, ’24) … owns a 115-5 prep record entering his senior season … suffered just one loss (32-1) in his junior season and won a state title despite a torn labrum … undefeated (43-0) state champion as a sophomore … placed third as a freshman after tearing his ACL over the holidays … younger brother of current Cyclone wrestlers Caleb and Owen Helgeson … also played football and was one of the best linebackers in the state … second on the team with 49 tackles, including five for loss and a sack … also had two interceptions.

TJ Koester
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
High School: Bettendorf
Projected Weight Class: 141
Prepped at Bettendorf High School … rated as the No. 172 recruit nationally by MatScouts … tabbed as IAwrestle’s No. 1 132-pounder in Iowa Class 3A to begin the 2024-25 season … enters senior season with a 127-7 prep record … two-time Iowa High School Class 3A state champion (2022, ’24) … three-time state medalist … 43-1 record en route to his state title as a junior, avenging his only loss of the year in the state finals … placed third as a sophomore with a 43-5 record … finished with a 41-1 record and a state title as a freshman … 2023 Fargo All-American at 126 pounds (runner-up) … runner-up at USA Wrestling's 2023 National High School Recruiting Showcase.

An official fan since my oldest is enrolled there now. Can almost guarantee my youngest, a Freshman in H. S., will be a Cyclone.

I thought I'd share a podcast I taped yesterday with JT Smith of Front Office News, which is the Cincinnati site on Rivals.com. Also made it a point to tape this in my man cave that's adorned with Steelers memorabilia, just so all of those Cincinnati fans could admire it.

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Who are our targets for 2026 now that 2025 is signed?

Time to go out and get another top ten class if you ask me

... and they can't shoot for crap. They're 4-13 from 3 and that's good for them, but they're 15-40 overall. They're playing Troy, who was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt, and has 12 players returning from last year. Troy led at half 27-26 and Arkansas has started to play better as it's 41-36 now with about 12 minutes remaining.

It's amusing to me because I saw someone post a Youtube video that claimed Arkansas has the scariest backcourt in the nation after their thrashing of Kansas in an exhibition game. Their backcourt is a highly regarded true freshman Boogie Fland and a Kentucky transfer D.J Wagner. Wagner is scoreless at the moment and is shooting 29 percent from three for the season. Fland has 9 points, is averaging 17 a game and shoots 30 percent from three. There are several backcourts in the Big 12 that are scarier, including ours.

Next time we are asked to play in Arrowhead---
JUST SAY NO.

It never turns out well.

There are only five miles left to complete the four lanes of US 30 from Cedar Rapids to Ames. Three of those four lanes have been paved and rebar is installed in the remaining two. The paver is operating and should have the rest of it paved shortly. They will still need to work on the shoulder and intersections, but the end is near.

What a difference this highway is from the one I took to my Cedar Rapids job after graduating. And the one I took to football games for years. That old highway was mostly 2 lanes and passed through Tama, Toledo, LeGrand and Marshalltown.

I'm a little hazy on the road west of Marshalltown at that time except that it was two lane at least to Colo. Somewhere in that vicinity it was four lanes to Ames if memory serves. I'm speaking of the late 80's and that section of four lane was relatively new.

At any rate I would venture a guess that it will be complete by football season. For me I have also benefitted by the Highway 100 extension which provided four lanes to within about a mile of my house. I exit at Edgewood Road by Fleet Farm and am not far from home via Edgewood and Blairs Ferry Road. That extension saves me a lot of time as I no longer have to take Edgewood through town from Hiawatha to the south side of town before picking up 30. Often I'd take an alternate route through Palo and out near Atkins to get to 30. Less traffic and fewer stops, but didn't save much time depending on time of day. Those days are history. I'm out of town and headed toward Ames on US30 maybe 10 minutes or so after leaving home.