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WATCH: The non-issue of trans athletes in sports

By Amie Rivers

June 17, 2025

Iowans deserve housing protections. That should not be a high bar to hit.

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  • 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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WATCH: Iowa’s near-total abortion ban: 1 year later (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #33

WATCH: Iowa’s near-total abortion ban: 1 year later (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #33

It’s been one year since Iowa’s near-total abortion ban took effect, and the numbers tell a devastating story. A 74% drop in abortion services in Iowa means Iowans are traveling hundreds of miles and paying thousands more for healthcare.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the real impact of Iowa’s restrictive abortion law on families and communities. From $19,000 emergency cases to overnight drives with young kids, we explore how the ban has forced care out of state.

Toss some bags at one-year of Iowa’s near-total abortion ban… Trump revoking visa workers in Ottumwa… And why LGBTQ Iowans are leaving…
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
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… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
0:00 – Colonial Lanes Commercial & Iowa’s Bowling Culture Deep Dive
13:00 – Iowa’s Abortion Ban: One Year Anniversary Analysis
14:00 – 74% Drop in Abortion Services Across Iowa
15:30 – Chicago Abortion Fund: 870+ Iowans Seeking Out-of-State Care
17:00 – $19,000 Emergency Case & Families Driving Overnight
18:30 – How Delays in Care Create More Severe Medical Situations
19:30 – Planned Parenthood Demonization Affects All Reproductive Care
20:00 – Iowa’s Physician Shortage & 30% Jump in Infant Mortality

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WATCH: We spoke to LGBTQ Iowans who are leaving. We learned why. – Cornhole Champions #33

WATCH: We spoke to LGBTQ Iowans who are leaving. We learned why. – Cornhole Champions #33

Iowa once led on civil rights, but now it’s leading the rollback. Over half of LGBTQ young people in Iowa have considered leaving the state, and for transgender and nonbinary people, that number jumps to 69%. Iowa became the first state in U.S. history to remove gender identity protections from civil rights law.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, Avery Staker, and intern Victor Robbins investigate the quiet exodus happening across Iowa. From doctors refusing gender-affirming care to hate crimes, and the reality behind “Iowa Nice,” we explore why talented young Iowans are fleeing and what it means for the state’s future.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*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:*
0:00 – Victor Robbins Joins: Investigating LGBTQ Exodus from Iowa
0:45 – Personal Story: Growing Up LGBTQ in Iowa
1:19 – “Not Feeling Safe” – The Root of the Problem
1:50 – Cass’s Story: Flourishing After Leaving Iowa
2:30 – Growing Up in “Milquetoast” Iowa Settings
3:33 – Hate Crime Attack Outside Iowa City Gay Bar
4:30 – “Iowa Nice” Reality: Polite Outside, Different Behind Doors
5:30 – Iowa Civil Rights Act Strips LGBTQ Protections
6:19 – Doctor Refuses Gender-Affirming Healthcare in Iowa
7:00 – $70,000 Medical Procedures Now Out of Reach
8:00 – Policy Makes LGBTQ Iowans “Danger to Themselves”
8:30 – “I’d Rather Move to Minnesota” – Brain Drain Effect
10:33 – The Sucking Sound: Losing Young Talent & Artists
11:30 – “Am I Stubborn for Staying?” – The Spite Question

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WATCH: Trump revokes visas of 200 JBS workers in Ottumwa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #33

WATCH: Trump revokes visas of 200 JBS workers in Ottumwa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #33

The irony is staggering: JBS subsidiary Pilgrim’s Pride donated $5 million to Trump’s inauguration, only to watch his administration immediately revoke visas for 200 of their Ottumwa workers from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These legal workers—nearly 10% of the plant’s workforce—are being told to leave the country immediately.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker talk about Trump’s immigration crackdown and how its hitting Ottumwa.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*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:*
0:00 – Trump Revokes 200 JBS Worker Visas in Ottumwa
0:44 – Immigration Is the Only Reason Iowa’s Population Is Growing
1:30 – JBS Donated to Trump, Then Lost Workers to His Policies
2:05 – Western Iowa Tech’s Student Visa Exploitation Scandal
3:00 – “Culinary Internships” Were Actually Factory Line Work
3:43 – Judge Rules: Western Tech Engaged in “Indentured Servitude”
4:33 – “We Don’t Need Them” vs. Reality Check
5:00 – $5 Million Gold Cards: Immigration Only for the Rich
5:30 – Force Americans Into Exploitative Jobs by Design
6:00 – Kicking People Off Medicaid to Fill Factory Positions

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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