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WATCH: The GI Bill proves social safety nets work

By Amie Rivers

June 30, 2025

Where’s the love for social safety nets?

Check out the newest episode of Cornhole Champions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzECAsvY2wI

  • 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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CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO

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POLITICS VIDEO
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WATCH: Republican judges DIVIDED on Iowa gun rights amendment (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #34

WATCH: Republican judges DIVIDED on Iowa gun rights amendment (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #34

Iowa’s strict scrutiny gun law was supposed to be an “insurmountable wall” against any gun regulation. But surprising new court cases show an unexpected divisions among Iowa’s seven Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down fascinating cases from the Des Moines Register that show how Iowa’s 2022 constitutional amendment is playing out in real courtrooms. From a man seeking gun rights restoration after teenage mental health commitment to domestic violence protection orders, we explore when even conservative justices draw the line.

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Iowa Supreme Court’s Surprising Gun Law Divisions
01:30 – Strict Scrutiny Explained: Shifting the Burden of Proof
02:30 – Mental Health Commitment vs. Gun Rights Restoration
04:00 – Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Gun Access
05:30 – The Only Unanimous Ruling: Domestic Violence Abuser Case
06:00 – “While Criming” – The Case That Went Viral
07:00 – Iowa’s Hunting Culture and Trap Shooting Teams
09:00 – Racial Bias in Gun Law Enforcement Discussion

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… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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WATCH: What 50 years of Iowa cancer data actually shows (w/ Mary Charlton) – Cornhole Champions Interview

WATCH: What 50 years of Iowa cancer data actually shows (w/ Mary Charlton) – Cornhole Champions Interview

Dr. Mary Charlton directs the Iowa Cancer Registry, tracking cancer diagnoses across the state for over 50 years and helping researchers understand Iowa’s stubbornly high cancer rates.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith talks with Charlton about what the data really shows, why simple explanations for complex problems fall short, and the challenge of doing long-term science in a world that wants quick answers.

Toss some bags at complicated truths… geographic patterns that don’t fit neat theories… the politics of risk factors… why linking cancer to environmental causes takes decades… and the funding crisis threatening Iowa’s public health infrastructure.

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:*
01:00 – What is the Iowa Cancer Registry and how it tracks 200+ variables on every cancer case
03:30 – How researchers use Iowa’s cancer data (including 30,000 pesticide applicators study)
06:30 – Why different cancers cluster in different Iowa regions (melanoma north, lung cancer south)
08:30 – Public misconceptions about Iowa’s cancer report and oversimplified explanations
10:30 – The alcohol controversy: Why featuring drinking as a risk factor sparked outrage
12:30 – Legislative failure: Why no cancer prevention bills passed in Iowa
15:00 – The “murkiness” problem: Why linking environmental factors to cancer takes decades
19:30 – Funding crisis threatens Iowa’s 50-year cancer surveillance program

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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