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WATCH: The ‘money laundering’ program paying for private schools in Iowa

By Amie Rivers

May 31, 2025

One Iowa Senator calls it “money laundering.” The state auditor says it’s what keeps him up at night.

What is it? If you guessed the state’s school voucher program, you’d be right.

There’s a lack of accountability in Iowa over how private schools spend public money that’s allocated through vouchers.

  • Amie Rivers

    Amie Rivers is Starting Line's community editor, labor reporter and newsletter snarker-in-chief. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes. Send all story tips and pet photos to [email protected] and sign up for our newsletter here.

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CATEGORIES: 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/
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– 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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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

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WATCH: Trump’s federal cuts target Ottumwa Job Corps site

WATCH: Trump’s federal cuts target Ottumwa Job Corps site

The Trump administration wants to cut Job Corps programs across the country, which will leave a big gap in Ottumwa’s community.

Learn more about it on the latest episode of Cornhole Champions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzECAsvY2wI

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