Grassley also remarked, “Because you mentioned Musk, I want to make it very clear that Musk has no power,” – a comment that instantly drew loud, booming laughter from many in the audience.

“Musk has no power and I say that from a Constitutional point of view,” Grassley said above the din.

“Then what’s he doing in our White House?” a member of the audience interjected.

The final audience comment before the session changeover was from a woman concerned about cuts to the federal workforce and how such cuts might disproportionately affect veterans.

“Thank you for having a town hall. You are a very brave man,” the woman began, leading several in the audience to chuckle. “A lot of people that are walking away from jobs with the federal government are veterans, and I really object to calling federal employees ‘scum.’ That language is being perpetuated. To call people names. No, don’t do that. We can be civil. I see that as a real problem.”

“You won’t find me using language like that,” Grassley replied, to which an audience member called out, “Well, then stop it then, for everyone else.”

As he (Grassley) waited for reporters, he was seated in the corner of the room at a table. He appeared tired, perhaps even weary, and while the day’s multi-county schedule could easily have been to blame for any fatigue – perceived or otherwise – there is no denying the mood of the country these days is disquieting.

“Tama County is an angry place right now, and it just grew organically,” Katherine Ollendieck, executive director of the Tama County Economic Development Commission, told reporters following Grassley’s departure. “It was definitely not what we were anticipating as a town hall meeting.”