Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Tue. Sep. 01, 2026

Bobblehead Beth, I'm Jeff Stein with Today's Iowa Politics Report.

Those who follow U.S.

Senator Charles Grassley on social media are well acquainted with Beth, the trusty Hoover upright vacuum that the senator used to tidy up their house in New Hartford before family gatherings.

It was a fixture in their home for 34 years, after 15 years of service for the senator's mother-in-law.

But sadly, after 49 years of faithful duty, Beth bit the dust recently, pun intended.

The electric plug sparked and burned and Beth was retired.

Even worse, the senator's backup on 1966 Electrolux also failed to respond when called upon.

A Sucidian donated a similar but newer model and presented it to the senator, who I trust will put Beth too, as he calls it, into service promptly.

But lest the original be forgotten, now you can order a Beth Bobblehead.

Our friends at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee have released a Bobblehead featuring Senator Grassley and Beth for delivery in January.

Phil Sklarov, the bobblehead hall of fame, a frequent guest on KXEL included a photo, and the new offering is sure to attract a solid novelty audience.

The bass reads Chuck Grassley and Beth, and it goes for only $30.

I've already talked with one person who not only has ordered it, but plans to have the senator autograph it.

Now, I did a quick internet search, and while you can get bobbleheads that include a vacuum being operated by a character, the vacuum in those is not the star.

So this may well be the first bobblehead of its kind in world history.

Then again, not many vacuums probably have a name as well as an internet following.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Tuesday, September 1 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540, KXEL.