Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Mon. Sep. 28, 2026

Bad Business Karma.

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

You've often heard of businesses that offer prizes if something happens.

A free cup of coffee on National Coffee Day.

A free slice of pizza if a team wins a football game.

Those are all positive things you hear about.

You may have heard about the brewery in Wisconsin a few years ago that offered free beer to customers whenever President Trump dies.

They went so far as to post on social media about it after each assassination attempt, saying in one case, we almost got free beer today, and hoping someone in the future has better aim.

Now they were smart enough not to use Trump's name directly, but the meaning was quite clear.

No free beer, and soon for them, no beer at all.

The owner of Manaqua Brewing Company said this past week that the Madison Tap Room in Wisconsin will likely shut down by the end of the year, this after state officials revoked the company's alcohol permits.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue revoked brewing permits for the company's Manaqua and Madison locations

After alleging violations, including beer transported from Illinois without the required permits and tax payments.

Now the brewery has disputed the state's action, accusing officials of targeting it because of its political views.

Well, last I checked, Wisconsin was a pretty blue state, certainly as state government is concerned.

So it's hard to believe the allegations are politically motivated.

especially since it's pretty clear if you're trucking beer in from another state.

When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, the brewery again made disparaging remarks about the president, and again noted it will host a free beer day when the president passes, adding, no red hats allowed.

They'll hold that free beer day, that is, if they're still open.

You know, if you put bad out into the world, it typically comes back to you.

Business karma works like that too.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Monday, September 28 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

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