Brianne Pfannenstiel
@brianneDMR
Followers
18K
Following
6K
Media
2K
Statuses
15K
Chief Politics Reporter for @DMRegister and Senior National Campaign Correspondent for @USATODAY. [email protected].
Des Moines
Joined March 2009
Sen. Joni Ernst says she believes members of the Judiciary Committee should be tested for the coronavirus before meeting next week to confirm Judge Barrett.
598
4K
25K
A protester with a camera is yelling “Sodom and Gomorrah” at @PeteButtigieg. After the protester is drowned out with chants of “Pete,” Pete tells the crowd: “The good news is the condition of my soul is in the hands of God, but the Iowa caucuses are up to you.” #iacaucus.
450
3K
24K
Theresa Greenfield leads Republican Sen. Joni Ernst by 3 percentage points in Iowa’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows.
345
3K
12K
🚨🚨 Elizabeth Warren narrowly leads the @DMRegister/@CNN Iowa Poll for the first time. Warren: 22%.Biden: 20%.Sanders: 11%.Buttigieg: 9%.Harris: 6%.Booker: 3%.Klobuchar: 3%.Gabbard: 2%.O’Rourke: 2%.Steyer: 2%.Yang: 2%.
927
3K
10K
🚨 IOWA POLL: Democrat Theresa Greenfield leads Republican Sen. Joni Ernst 45% to 42% in U.S Senate race. MOE +/- 3.8 percentage points.
177
2K
8K
🚨NEW IOWA POLL RESULTS 🚨. Sanders: 20.Warren: 17.Buttigieg: 16.Biden: 15.Klobuchar: 6.Yang: 5.Booker: 3.Gabbard: 2.Steyer: 2. MOE: +/- 3.7%. We are 24 days away from the caucuses.
408
1K
5K
🚨🚨🚨 BREAKING. The Des Moines Register’s final Iowa Poll of the election cycle shows Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by 3 points in a state he previously carried twice.
314
1K
4K
We’re here at the Ottumwa satellite precinct, which is the first Iowa precinct to caucus today. They’ll kick off at noon. So far there is a group of Ethiopian immigrants here who work at the local pork processing plant in the evenings. They like Bernie Sanders.
63
694
4K
A vehicle transporting Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds struck a Black Lives Matter protester Tuesday as the protester was intentionally blocking the car's path. Story with @sgrubermiller
151
3K
4K
14 of 15 caucusgoers are standing with Bernie Sanders on the first alignment. One is standing with Elizabeth Warren.
118
724
3K
FBI arrests Des Moines man photographed at U.S. Capitol riot; He is being held at the Polk County Jail
125
497
3K
NEW Iowa Poll: President Joe Biden's approval rating has fallen even farther to 27%. It is now the second-lowest job approval rating of any president measured by the Register’s Iowa Poll.
240
723
3K
BREAKING: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley indicates he won't oppose holding Supreme Court replacement hearings this year
372
458
2K
"I'm so proud of my wife—she's the bravest woman I know, and her giving voice to so many women who have never been able to have a platform is inspiring to me,” @AndrewYang said tonight, days after his wife Evelyn spoke out about her sexual assault.
12
347
2K
SCOOP: National Democratic leaders have drafted a proposal that could significantly reshape the party’s presidential nominating process and put an end to Iowa’s prized first-in-the-nation caucuses.
134
466
2K
Vivek Ramaswamy does a quick push-up challenge with members of the Dordt University football team outside Randy Feenstra’s Faith and Family event. After, he tells them that young people must caucus in January
130
176
2K
🚨🚨IOWA POLL: Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has pulled ahead of Democrat Theresa Greenfield. Ernst: 46%.Greenfield: 42%. MOE +/- 3.4%. via @DMRegister.
268
400
2K
Black Lives Matter protestors have overtaken the stage at this @amyklobuchar rally in St. Louis Park, MN. They’re chanting “hey hey, ho ho, Klobuchar has got to go” as the Hamilton soundtrack plays in the background. The event is set to begin at 8 p.m.
33
305
2K
After Donald Trump canceled his Des Moines rally for inclement weather, Ron DeSantis added an unscheduled stop at a BBQ restaurant just down the road from where Trump was set to appear. He and his wife Casey are standing on a table talking to the crowd now
335
373
2K
.@ewarren arrives a few minutes early to the @DMRegister Soapbox and greets the “overflow” crowd behind the stage. She’s the first I’ve ever seen do this.
42
292
2K
At least two fellow Republican members have indicated they don’t plan to be tested. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he wouldn’t be tested after attending a meeting with Sen. Lee, who was positive. And Sen. Lindsey Graham has refused a test before his South Carolina Senate debate.
49
417
2K
BREAKING: Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price is stepping down.
147
402
1K
Chuck Schumer’s response:.
She’s right, but will Senator Ernst do anything if Senators Graham and Grassley refuse? Or is this just an empty statement?. So far Republicans have shown themselves to be as reckless with the health of Senators, staff, and workers as they are with the health of Americans.
30
243
1K
IOWA POLL: Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s lead over Democrat Mike Franken has narrowed to 3 percentage points with less than a month until Election Day, signaling Grassley’s toughest reelection fight in 40 years.
116
438
1K
Inbox: Iowa State Treasurer Roby Smith endorses @VivekGRamaswamy for president. He is the first statewide officeholder to pick sides ahead of the 2024 caucuses.
88
176
2K
New statement from the @iowademocrats responding to @TomPerez. It seems to be pushing back on the idea that Perez can even request the recanvass. "Should any presidential campaign in compliance with the Iowa Delegate Selection Plan request a recanvass, the IDP is prepared."
92
445
1K
Our @DMRegister reporter identifies herself, shows her credentials and is moving in the direction officers are directing her as she gets pepper sprayed. This was entirely unnecessary.
57
649
1K
.@PeteButtigieg: “We will fight when we must fight. But I will never allow us to get so wrapped up in the fighting that we start to think fighting is the point. The point is what lies on the other side of the fight.".
59
239
1K
In July, independents were nearly evenly split, with 38% backing Mike Franken and 37% backing Chuck Grassley. Today, they favor Franken by 11 points: 46% to 35%.
35
334
1K
NEW IOWA POLL. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley: 46%.Democrat Mike Franken: 43%.Someone else: 4%.Not sure: 3%. Margin of error: 3.9% .
121
320
1K
Scott Matter is the precinct chair for @PeteButtigieg. He’s a lifelong Republican who worked for Chuck Grassley and Bob Dole but says the GOP has abandoned the things he fought for. He changed his registration and is all in for Pete and Democrats.
21
210
1K
In Iowa, competing 2020 campaigns come together for a moment of silence with @BetoORourke’s Iowa team following the El Paso shooting.
34
246
1K
Do y’all understand what’s happening in Iowa right now?. “I’ve been out of oxygen for three days,” said a resident of a senior living center in Cedar Rapids — a city that might not see electricity for another *week,* officials say. #derecho
42
951
1K
President Joe Biden’s job approval rating has fallen 12 percentage points since June, our latest Iowa Poll shows. Today he’s at:. 31% approve.62% disapprove .7% not sure. Story from @sgrubermiller:
239
443
1K
SCOOP. 🚨🚨 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will be endorsing Ron DeSantis for president at a pre-debate rally in Des Moines Monday. It is an enormous win for DeSantis, who is trying to emerge as the top Trump alternative in Iowa.
409
480
1K
Wow, Will Hurd just got booed off the stage of the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner: “Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison," he said. "Listen, I know the truth is hard. But if we elect Donald Trump we are willingly giving Joe Biden four more years in the White House".
78
188
1K
Chris Laursen, president of UAW Local 74, is here as an observer. He’s a Bernie supporter and said the campaign has been canvassing outside JBS Pork, the major employer in town, at shift change from midnight to 2 a.m.
15
104
1K
I don't know who needs to hear this, but the lobby of the Renaissance Savery in Des Moines the day before the Iowa caucuses is *not* the place to have private conversations. This has been a public service announcement.
102
217
1K
Iowa’s Sen. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley are also on the Judiciary Committee. Ernst has tested negative and Grassley will not take a test.
Four of the six Republican senators in quarantine are members of the Judiciary Committee: Lee, Cruz, Sasse, and Tillis.
119
532
956
🚨NEW: @DMRegister Iowa Poll results on the 2020 caucus field. Biden: 24%.Sanders: 16%.Warren: 15%.Buttigieg: 14%.Harris: 7%.Klobuchar: 2%.O’Rourke: 2%. No other candidate tops 1%.
272
464
957
Iowa state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad endorses @BernieSanders, saying he's the candidate who "resonated with me and that has come closest to my passion for justice in the world." From @NColtrain.
10
287
984
20
194
881
Looks like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey made an appearance at the Des Moines wedding of Iowa state Rep. Taylor Collins tonight
311
138
1K
🚨 NEW Iowa Poll. Donald Trump: 47%.Kamala Harris: 43%. Trump had been leading Joe Biden by 18 points in our June Iowa Poll.
122
264
917
Scenes from the road — just outside Schleswig, Iowa.
11
113
959
Reporters have sat at these press benches day and night for more than a century to act as the eyes and ears of the public. This should offend every person who relies on the media to tell them what their elected officials are doing.
54
490
899
Very sad news from Elizabeth Warren's Iowa campaign today. Volunteer Zac Presberg died in a car accident Monday. "Through his dedication and volunteerism, Zac represented the very best of us," Warren said in a statement.
55
106
857
Update: The Des Moines Police Department will not release our reporter, Andrea Sahouri, until morning.
At the Polk County Jail. @DMRnewsdirector and I are here to get Andrea’s release. We have been told they will not release anyone until 5 am. The @DMRegister is continuing to work on this and to report the news.
52
634
865
🚨🚨 IOWA POLL: Donald Trump has taken over the lead as Joe Biden fades . Trump: 48%.Biden: 41%.Someone else: 3%.Not sure: 2%.Won’t say: 5%. The two candidates were tied at 47% to 47% in September. MOE: +/- 3.4% . via @DMRegister.
217
307
841
Good news, fam. Our reporter, @andreamsahouri, is out of jail after being detained while covering protests in Des Moines. She is one hell of a reporter, broadcasting her arrest from the back of a police van and keeping her composure throughout. We’re lucky to have her.
12
167
882
White House coronavirus experts warned Iowa leaders Sunday that the state has the country's steepest coronavirus outbreak, and said the state should close bars in 61 counties and test all returning college students for the virus. From @tonyleys
73
449
799
I think @PeteButtigieg is happy to see his supporters here at the Wing Ding in Clear Lake, Iowa.
13
90
828
Warren is not viable here, and her one supporter said she does not wish to realign with Sanders. Because this is a satellite caucus, the precinct won’t award delegates until later tonight when they know how many people participated. So stay tuned for final delegate #s later.
47
87
807
.@amyklobuchar makes an entrance at the Polk County Steak Fry, stopping to dance with a drum line outside the entrance
291
186
791
IOWA POLL: Kamala Harris has significantly narrowed the presidential race in Iowa, cutting Donald Trump’s lead to 4 percentage points in a dramatic turnaround from Joe Biden’s double-digit deficit.
40
141
699
NEW: Joe Biden will travel to Iowa Friday. According to the Des Moines Register's latest polling, he's running neck and neck with Donald Trump here
30
128
679
Big flex by the Warren campaign. They already had the largest showing of volunteers outside the Wing Ding then marched in with more as her Winnebago arrived. Her people exploded when she stepped off the RV. She’s making her way down the line giving hugs and taking pictures now.
9
125
660
The Iowa Democratic Party is holding a press call at 1 a.m. central time. We still have no results from tonight's caucuses.
23
117
705
.@JoeBiden is asked whether he would appoint Obama to the Supreme Court. He says, “Yes, but I don’t think he’d take it.” Questioner follows up with, “Which Obama?” . “I sure wish Michelle would be the Vice President,” Biden says.
31
95
600
This Iowa Poll confirms what you see anecdotally at Joe Biden events in Iowa: He struggles with younger people. Just 9% of those younger than 35 say he is their first choice for president. Warren leads that demographic, at 27%.
54
183
626
Elizabeth Warren is continuing to target massive corporate consolidation. After taking on big tech with her last proposal, @ewarren is now taking aim at corporate agriculture. She lays out her plan exclusively with the @DMRegister:
13
170
609
EXCLUSIVE: Elizabeth Warren unveils a new policy proposal that targets corporate consolidation in agriculture and looks to support family farms ahead of her Iowa visit this weekend. with @KimNorvellDMR.
17
200
619
Inbox: Democrat Theresa Greenfield reports raising a record-breaking $28.7M in the third quarter in the Iowa Senate race against Republican Joni Ernst
15
113
638
Pretty spicy quotes from longtime Iowa GOP operative Doug Gross about the future direction of the Republican Party.
32
174
579
@PeteButtigieg Here's video of the interaction between @PeteButtigieg and an anti-gay protester in Des Moines: from @kelsey_kremer #iacaucus.
22
118
559
🚨🚨IOWA POLL: Democratic businessman Fred Hubbell edges out Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in a race for the Iowa governor’s office that still falls within the margin of error
24
224
530
.@JoeBiden responds to @joniernst's comments on impeachment yesterday: "You Iowa caucusgoers have a chance for a twofer. You can ruin Donald Trump’s night by caucusing for me, and you can ruin Joni Ernst’s night as well."
18
152
500
.@AndrewYang, campaigning with Marianne Williamson in Iowa yesterday, said she will be involved in his administration if he becomes president
7
107
584
The Iowa Board of Medicine voted unanimously Friday morning to recommend that Gov. Kim Reynolds issue a mandatory stay at home order. Iowa is one of only a few states that has not yet issued such an order.
30
265
502
BREAKING: Des Moines Public Schools' request to start the school year totally online has been denied by the Iowa Department of Education, potentially putting the district in a legal showdown with the state.
55
382
518
@BilldeBlasio @MichaelBennet @BetoORourke: "Let’s bring tens of millions of our fellow Americans in through same day and automatic voter registration. Next, let’s remove every barrier in place: A new voting rights act for this country, no more purges of the voter rolls or voter IDs to keep people out.".
47
115
492
@JulianCastro @ewarren These two candidates and their staffs have been very friendly with each other throughout the campaign. Here's a flashback to the @polkdems Steak Fry in September when Castro surprised Warren in her selfie line. Image by @bpowersphoto.
18
74
512
Vivek Ramaswamy is taking questions from a big crowd on the @DMRegister Soapbox at the Iowa Stats Fair
16
56
592
IOWA POLL: Donald Trump’s support now tops 50% in Iowa, where the former president has strengthened his already overwhelming lead over Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis — neither of whom has fully broken away as the clear second choice.
56
192
573
Iowa state Sen. Rob Hogg, who has held a series of climate conversations with all of the 2020 candidates, announces he’s supporting @amyklobuchar. “She has a working family background, extensive experience on farm and rural issues, and a strong commitment to civil rights.”.
We have many strong Presidential candidates who I am and would be proud to support. Today, I am announcing I have decided to caucus for U.S. Senator @AmyKlobuchar of Minnesota. Read more at this link:.
11
118
496
Sen. Chuck Grassley returns to work after quarantining with COVID-19. "I did not experience symptoms, but more than a thousand Americans are dying every day and many more are hospitalized. That means we all have to do our part. " he says.
59
74
486
🚨🚨🚨 IOWA POLL. Kamala Harris: 47%.Donald Trump: 44%. Margin of error: +/- 3.4%.
41
87
482
The scene outside the Polk County Auditor’s office in downtown Des Moines as the polls open for early voting in Iowa
3
110
466
IOWA POLL: It's a dead heat in Iowa. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a tie just six weeks to Election Day. Trump: 47%.Biden: 47%. MOE +/1 3.8%.
60
205
483
NEW: Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann tells me in a statement that the media's rush to declare Donald Trump the winner while caucusing was still ongoing was "highly disappointing and concerning." .
47
161
515
🚨Here we go! Our LAST Iowa Poll of 2020 drops tomorrow night. Senate results coming to you at 6 p.m. CT, presidential results are live at 6:30 and we’ll wrap at 7 with congressional races.
24
86
486
Iowa Poll: Nearly two-thirds of likely voters, or 64%, say they think it’s time for someone new to hold Chuck Grassley’s seat. Twenty-seven percent say they would reelect Grassley.
60
135
452
"I think it shows that our voting system works in Iowa, that we're able to catch it," said Polk County Auditor @Polkauditorfitz
Three people in Polk County allegedly mailed-in ballots and tried to vote at a satellite location. via @DMRegister.
9
164
476
The 2020 Democratic field remains fiercely competitive. Sanders leads at 20%, but Warren is close behind at 17%, Buttigieg has fallen to 16% and Biden closes out the top four at 15%. The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points.
58
115
486
"I just heard, and I’m delighted," @ewarren told reporters at a campaign stop in Muscatine after learning she earned the @DMRegister editorial board's endorsement. "It really means a lot to me. I’m very happy."
11
72
431
The thing about events like this is Iowa Democrats can get excited for most of the candidates. But there's a very clear distinction when someone like @PeteButtigieg takes the stage. You can tell he's in a different tier than the other candidates we've heard so far tonight.
13
94
467
The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee has approved a plan that effectively strips Iowa of its first-in-the-nation status, requiring it to apply to be reinstated to that coveted position at the front of the presidential nominating calendar
39
145
436
Derek Eadon, a former Iowa Democratic Party chairman who served as Julián Castro’s deputy national campaign manager, endorses @BernieSanders.
I am endorsing @BernieSanders for President. His fierce support for #Medicare4All is incredibly important to me and I believe the undeniable movement he has inspired is our best chance to beat Donald Trump.
1
129
471
.@ewarren might be the queen of 2020 branding. This crowd heard the first notes of her walk-up song, “9 to 5,” and started cheering. She got a standing ovation as she took the stage.
8
65
447
.@PeteButtigieg’s staff hosted more than 300 "friend banks" last month where volunteers recruit their friends and neighbors rather than cold-calling strangers. They’re among the 7,000+ organizing events campaigns held in Iowa in ONE MONTH.
3
86
437
Personal news! I’m really excited to join the @NBCNews team as a contributor. I’m still covering the Iowa caucuses and the 2024 presidential race as the @DMRegister’s chief political reporter, but now I’ll get to share those insights with NBC and MSNBC viewers too
55
22
479
Big news out of the Iowa Legislature this morning. Gov. Kim Reynolds' private school scholarships bill will NOT advance.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says the Iowa Legislature won't pass Gov. Kim Reynolds' private education bill this year. "It doesn't look like we're going to be able to put the votes together in the House this year to pass that," he said this morning.
6
43
415
IOWA POLL: President Donald Trump leads Joe Biden by 1 point, our new @DMRegister poll finds. This is a state Trump won by 9 points in 2016. via @DMRegister.
74
194
430
The DeSantis campaign is claiming "election interference" after media organizations called the race in Trump's favor so early.
68
123
474