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WATCH: Iowa water crisis deepens: EPA limits exceeded, trust eroding (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #31

By Iowa Production Staff

July 2, 2025

Central Iowa has high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Its water services are struggling to convince residents that their water is still fine to drink.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the Central Iowa Water Works debacle and the growing trust crisis between officials and concerned residents.

Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… Trump heads to the Iowa fairgrounds… 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.

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*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Central Iowa Water Crisis – Nitrate Levels Above EPA Safety Limits
01:00 – Home Test Strip Controversy – Residents Testing Their Own Water Safety
02:30 – Big Ag Regulation Reluctance – Political Element of Water Safety
03:00 – Voluntary Compliance Failures – Why Self-Regulation Isn’t Working
05:00 – Mounting System Distrust – Root Problem vs. Individual Blame
06:30 – Industrial Ag Efficiency vs. Environmental Impact
07:30 – Unprofitable Crop Prices – Go Bigger Strategy to Minimize Losses
08:00 – Ethanol Aviation Fuel Dreams – Agriculture’s “Second Coming” Promises
09:30 – Responsible Pivot Planning – Emergency Prevention vs. Reactive Crisis

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CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO
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

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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
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– 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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