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WATCH: Iowa food banks impacted by Trump’s USDA cuts

By Amie Rivers

April 5, 2025
Due to the Trump administration’s massive cuts to federal programs, the USDA announced earlier this month that it’s frozen payments on already-signed contracts to help schools and food banks buy from local farms. Food bank leaders are left wondering how to address the state’s record-breaking need for emergency food support.
  • Amie Rivers

    Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line's newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

    Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie's newsletter.

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POLITICS VIDEO
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WATCH: America 250 kicks off in Iowa. Will Trump plays GOP Kingmaker? (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #31

WATCH: America 250 kicks off in Iowa. Will Trump plays GOP Kingmaker? (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #31

President Donald Trump returns to Iowa this week for a July 4th America 250 celebration at the state fairgrounds – but this isn’t the “Great American State Fair” he promised during his 2023 campaign.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Trump’s Iowa return and what it means for 2026 politics.

Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis… and a conversation with Christina Bohannan.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
– Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
– Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Trump Returns to Iowa – July 3rd State Fairgrounds Rally for America 250
02:00 – Broken Campaign Promises – The “Great American State Fair” That Never Was
02:30 – 50-State Tour Abandoned – Mexico Wall-Level Promise Keeping
06:00 – 2026 Stage Sharing Speculation – Who Gets Trump’s Blessing?
07:00 – Regina George GOP Politics – Mean Girls Fascism Edition

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
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– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
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WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to strip trans civil rights (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #31

WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to strip trans civil rights (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #31

Iowa makes devastating history this week—becoming the first state ever to strip away existing civil rights protections from transgender residents.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker cover Iowa’s historic civil rights rollback that removes gender identity protections from employment, housing, public accommodation, and education.

Toss some bags about Trump’s stop at the Iowa fairgrounds… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis and a conversation with Democrat Christina Bohannan.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
– Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
– Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 – Zach’s “Par Excellence” Pun Disaster – Tech Out of There Falls Flat
02:49 – Iowa’s Historic Civil Rights Rollback – First State to Strip Existing Trans Protections
04:00 – The Energy of Hope – Trans Community and Allies Unite at State Capitol
06:30 – Beyond Civil Rights – Birth Certificate Changes and “Gender Theory” Language
08:00 – Project 2025 Playbook – Scapegoating as Fascism Facilitation
10:00 – Hope for the Future – Protests Matter, Continued Advocacy Essential

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
– Threads – https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
– LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/

*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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