The Iowa Caucus is only four days away, and national media is enamored with the Hawkeye state. Yeah, but did they invent Kool-Aid or Arbor Day? Didn't think so. Here's your Roundup:

Once again, Big Oil and their supporters are trying to use unrest in the Middle East as an excuse to justify the risky and unecessary Keystone XL pipeline.

This week, in response to economic sanctions attempting to curb Iran's nuclear threat, Iranian military officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major overseas shipping route for much of the Middle East's oil.

Today, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality issued the statement below, saying they've given TransCanada an official map of the Sandhills. TransCanada promised during the Pipeline Special Session to reroute their Keystone XL pipeline around Nebraska's sensitive Sandhills. We have not yet heard TransCanada's reaction to the new map, but there are some visible differences from the map we were told they were previously using.

In reaction to the news, Jane Kleeb said, "Bold Nebraska trusts NDEQ to conduct a thorough review of the proposed new route and look out for our state's precious resources. We trust TransCanada to do what's best for their bottom line, not what's best for Nebraska. That is why we'll continue to ask citizens and landowners to participate in the review process."

The last year was big for Bold Nebraska. We flipped the Keystone XL pipeline from a done-deal to a project on life support. We organized Nebraskans who looked the world’s biggest bully, Big Oil, in the eye and made them blink.

From families in the Sandhills buying their own ads to push back on TransCanada to poets using their creativity to move citizens to act, we did this together. We stood should to shoulder standing up for our state. We may have been a small rebel alliance, but we got things done!

Today Sen. Ben Nelson announced his retirement from the Senate. Nelson's departure is being celebrated by the Republican party who think Nelson's seat is now a lock.

We'd challenge the entire GOP field not to get too cocky. If we've proven anything this year, it's that Nebraskans have a strong populist streak that the existing political parties simply don't get.

The NEGOP only has one wish for Christmas this year. The question is did they make Santa's naughty or nice list this year?:

Update 12/28: We have reached our goal of 91 Nebraskans telling us they've sent holiday cards to Obama! Of course, we encourage everyone to keep writing the president asking him to deny the Keystone XL permit. Thanks for all your hard work and continued pressure on our elected officials. Have a happy and bold New Year!

We know the decision to conduct more studies on TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline was not an easy one for President Obama. We also know while it was a tough decision, it was the right decision.

The Nebraska Farmer’s Union exhibited real leadership in dealing with the Humane Society of the United States. While Governor Heineman and Jon Bruning painted HSUS as a conspirator in the state, NeFU showed that there is much to gain by working with the organization. Watch a video from the NeFU convention addressing the collaboration.  Here’s your Roundup:

Bold's Executive Director, Jane Kleeb, had the following reaction to news that House Republicans finally came to an agreement on the payroll tax cut, extension of jobless benefits, and Keystone XL pipeline:

"Now that middle class families won't be hit with an extra tax burden, we look forward to President Obama denying the Keystone XL permit so families aren't burdened with the threat to our water, climate, kids' health and family-run farms and ranches. The pipeline is a scam that asks Americans to burden all the risks of transporting foreign oil to foreign markets. Now it's time to cut our country a break and invest in renewable, clean energy."

The TransCanada pipeline is a scam. Keystone XL is an export pipeline that bails out Canada's risky tar sands investment while using Nebraska as a middle man to get foriegn oil to foreign markets. Farming and ranching families have seen their livelihoods pushed to the sidelines for Big Oil profits.

Meanwhile, Speaker Boehner stands with Big Oil while turning his back on the middle class and Nebraska families. These past two weeks in Washington have made one thing crystal clear, hard-line Republicans only care about defeating President Obama.