NPR and other media outlets have aired interviews with Iowans on why Iowa always gets to go first. Who goes second gets far less coverage, but the same logic presumably applies. If what some Iowans say is representative of at least half of its residents, most are an arrogant bunch. More disturbingly but not surprisingly, Iowans are not logical.

Presidential hopefuls understand that the road to the White House is paved with data, as much as possible. Big Data, intimate knowledge of the voter, has become the latest weapon in the candidate’s arsenal.

Voter profiles are vital to knowing the electorate. Both Democratic and Republican parties keep extensive voter records. They understand the vital importance data plays in not only getting out the vote, but also fundraising and tracking issues that concern voters.

Are the Democratic and Republican political establishments in trouble? That question seems to be the topic of many headlines since the presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump took off.

On Monday, February 1, at 7 p.m., representatives from the Democratic and Republican parties will congregate in each of Iowa's 99 counties to cast their support for candidates from their respective party.

The Iowa caucuses will kick off the presidential primaries, and a win will have a tremendous impact on the rest of state elections. That said, many people are unaware about how the caucuses work. Allow this author to explain:

In a set-back for medical marijuana activists, Illinois has declined to expand the conditions that may be treated under a medical marijuana program which may also have repercussions for the viability of the program.

Calling the Republican primary a 'gift from the Lord,' vice president Joe Biden (D) predicts that the infighting and antics will give the Democrats the opportunity for a clean-sweep -- House, Senate, and presidency -- in 2016.

OIRA, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, located in the White House Office of Management and Budget, is often referred to as the “most important office you never heard of.”

Correction Update: The article originally said C. Michael Pickens is the chairman of the Libertarian Party. He is a former state chairman. The current chair is Steve Nielson. The article has been corrected.

Former Washington Libertarian Party (LPWA) Chairman C. Michael Pickens believes that the nonpartisan, top-two primary is the best system in the country to get Libertarians elected to office. Pickens cites recent successes party candidates have had in Washington state to make his point.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new assessment of 2016 presidential candidates by First Budget, a joint initiative of the Campaign to Fix the Debt and The Concord Coalition, finds that while all candidates in both parties say the rapidly growing national debt is a problem, most of their proposals to address it fall far short.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of the upcoming presidential primaries for the 2016 presidential election, leading personal finance website GOBankingRates.com surveyed nearly 8,000 Americans to find out which candidate they think will be best for their money.  Although Donald Trump was the top pick overall from those surveyed, nearly 50 percent of millennials ages 18 to 24 said Bernie Sanders' policies would be best for them financially.