How Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Michael Franken starts his day

State of play: Franken tells Axios Des Moines that his military background has helped him prepare for his role as a budding politician.

• He gets up early and prepares for long days.

Wake up: Between 5-5:30am.

• A game of Wordle and dark coffee with a touch of half and half.
• He often flips through Twitter and scans his emails.

What's next: "Once I'm dismayed by Wordle or appropriately subdued by my wife's prowess, I go to the gym," he tells Axios.

• Zoom meetings and administrative duties begin almost immediately after the workout.

What he's reading: A mix of local and national news that includes Axios, the Washington Post, the Sioux City Journal, New York Times and Des Moines Register.

His morning advice: Tackle the big, strategic issues first.

• Have faith in your coworkers and worry about "molecular level" stuff if time permits.