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Iowa News You Can Use

WATCH: Republicans are defecting because of Trump’s tariffs

By Iowa Production Staff

August 6, 2025
New recession indicator just dropped: defecting Republicans.
CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO
POLITICS VIDEO
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WATCH: Climbing Cringe Mountain w/ JT Vonderhaar (aka @jttheiowainvestigator) – Cornhole Champions Chats

WATCH: Climbing Cringe Mountain w/ JT Vonderhaar (aka @jttheiowainvestigator) – Cornhole Champions Chats

JT Vonderhaar is taking Iowa history to TikTok as the Iowa Investigator, building a following hungry for untold stories.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith talks with Vonderhaar about creating work while trying to find an audience and the need for storytelling in places like these.

Toss some bags at Joe Biden’s Song of the Summer… the Forest Gump of the Civil War… Iowa’s war with Missouri… and the Iowan who saved a billion lives.

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
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– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:02:19 – How the Iowa Investigator got started on TikTok
00:04:30 – The random comment that changed everything: “Bro is the Iowa investigator”
00:08:30 – “You gotta climb cringe mountain” – Advice for aspiring creators
00:11:19 – The Government Bridge: Iowa’s most historically significant bridge
00:15:00 – Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and Abraham Lincoln all connected to one Iowa bridge
00:18:30 – Norman Borlaug: The Iowa man who saved a billion lives
00:23:13 – The Honey War: America’s silliest interstate conflict
00:27:00 – Why more wars should be like Iowa’s Honey War

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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WATCH: Congress voted to shrink Iowa PBS and Iowa Public Radio (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #32

WATCH: Congress voted to shrink Iowa PBS and Iowa Public Radio (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #32

Congress made some devastating cuts this week, slashing $1.1 billion from public broadcasting nationwide. Money that had already been promised to member stations near you.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming cover the historic funding cuts that eliminate 25 jobs at Iowa PBS and knocked 10% of Iowa Public Radio’s budget.

Toss some bags at Congress’ cuts to public media… the money powering Iowa’s federal elections… And why we’re talking about cancer.

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 – Zachary’s Hot Ones Challenge Disaster & Public Apology to Iowa
4:33 – Congress Passes $1.1 Billion Public Broadcasting Cut
5:30 – Iowa PBS Loses $3.5 Million & 25 Jobs in Historic Cut
8:30 – Iowa Public Radio’s $1 Million Loss & Cancelled Positions
9:18 – “It’s Just Amy Now” – Northeast Iowa Reporter Position Eliminated
11:02 – Ashley Hinson’s Shocking “Left-Wing Propaganda” Statement
11:59 – How Public Radio Manages Iowa’s Emergency Alert System
13:00 – Why You Should Support Local Public Media Now

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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WATCH: See the money powering competitive races in Iowa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #32

WATCH: See the money powering competitive races in Iowa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #32

Iowa’s federal races heat up this month—with second-quarter fundraising reports revealing massive war chests and surprising upsets.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming break down Joni Ernst’s lackluster $720,000 showing, Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ strong $1.3 million haul, and the shocking grassroots surge from newcomer Nathan Sage.

Toss some bags at Congress’ cuts to public media… the money powering Iowa’s federal elections… And why we’re talking about cancer.

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 – Q2 Fundraising Reports Drop: Who’s Winning the Money Game?
1:35 – Joni Ernst’s Disappointing $720K Showing vs 2019 Numbers
3:00 – Nathan Sage’s SHOCKING $709K Grassroots Fundraising Surge
5:00 – Zach Wahls Raises $657K in Just 2.5 Weeks
7:00 – Republican Challenger Spends $78K of His Own Money on Campaign
8:00 – Miller-Meeks’ Record $1.3 Million Haul vs Bohannon’s $773K
14:30 – Zach Nunn Gets Trump’s Orders: Stay in Your District
17:19 – Liz Declares Herself Zach Nunn’s “Biggest Enemy

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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