Author

Katie Akin
Reporter Katie Akin began her career as an intern at PolitiFact, debunking viral fake news and fact-checking state and national politicians. She moved to Iowa in 2019 for a politics internship at the Des Moines Register, where she assisted with Iowa Caucus coverage, multimedia projects and the Register’s Iowa Poll. She became the Register’s retail reporter in early 2020, chronicling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Central Iowa’s restaurants and retailers.
Iowa Republicans to lead presidential calendar with 2024 caucuses
By: Katie Akin - April 15, 2022
Iowa Republicans will hold the first-in-the-nation caucuses in 2024, GOP leaders announced Thursday, despite a recent move by the Democratic National Committee that may prevent Iowa Democrats from leading their party’s nominating calendar. “The Republican National Committee unanimously decided to leave our process alone, which means Iowa will remain first in the nation,” Republican Party […]
Biden: Biofuels ‘have a role to play’ in easing gas prices
By: Katie Akin - April 13, 2022
MENLO, Iowa — In response to rising gas prices, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that fuel stations may sell cheaper, higher-ethanol blend fuels through the summer. “I’m here today because home-grown biofuels have a role to play right now… as we work to get prices under control and reduce the costs for families,” Biden told […]
Joe Biden debuts $1 billion meatpacking competition plan
By: Katie Akin - January 5, 2022
President Joe Biden unveiled plans Monday to allocate $1 billion in federal money to increasing competition in the meatpacking industry. “Without meaningful competition, farmers and ranchers don’t get to choose who they sell to,” Biden said. “Put another way, our farmers and ranchers have to pay whatever these four big companies say they have to […]
Next child tax credit payments dependent on U.S. Senate negotiations
By: Katie Akin - December 16, 2021
Families on Wednesday received what might be the final monthly check from the expanded child tax credit program. The expanded child tax credit program began this summer with the passage of the American Rescue Plan. Families with children received an advance payment from the federal government – $300 a month for kids 5 and younger, and […]
Trump rails against Democrats, repeats election fraud conspiracies during Iowa rally
By: Katie Akin - October 10, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump ruminated on election fraud and Democratic wrongdoing during a rally on Saturday while teasing a potential 2024 run. Trump gave a warm greeting to Iowans and touted his win in Iowa in 2020 and his latest Des Moines Register/Iowa Poll numbers. “As disastrous as the Biden administration has […]