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Iowa News You Can Use

WATCH: Josh Turek Challenges Joni Ernst for Senate (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #35

By Iowa Production Staff

August 13, 2025

Iowa’s two-time Paralympic gold medalist Josh Turek is taking on Senator Joni Ernst. The Council Bluffs Democrat has won twice in Trump territory and thinks he knows how to beat Republicans statewide.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with State Rep. Josh Turek to discuss his Senate bid, his personal healthcare struggles that drove him to politics, and why he’s optimistic about Democrats’ chances in 2026.

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 Meet Josh Turek: From Paralympic Gold to Iowa Politics
02:00 How Turek Wins in Districts Trump Carries by Double Digits
04:30 Why Healthcare Drives Everything Turek Does in Politics
05:30 Iowa’s Medicaid Crisis: 22,000 on Seven-Year Wait Lists
07:00 Why Turek Is Leaving the Iowa Legislature for Senate
09:30 What Sets Turek Apart in the Crowded Democratic Primary
11:30 Why Turek Is Optimistic About Democrats in 2026
13:00 Post-Interview Analysis: Turek’s Unique Healthcare Perspective

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CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO
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WATCH: I’m applying sunscreen wrong… Iowa is too (w/ Dr. Marta Van Beek) – Cornhole Champions Interview

WATCH: I’m applying sunscreen wrong… Iowa is too (w/ Dr. Marta Van Beek) – Cornhole Champions Interview

Iowa ranks fifth nationally for melanoma—a rate similar to Arizona—and the reason might surprise you. It’s not just about UV radiation. It’s about who’s spending their days outside and how we protect ourselves.

Dr. Marta Van Beek, a dermatologist at UI Healthcare, breaks down the reality: agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates, there’s no such thing as a “healthy tan,” and most of us are applying sunscreen completely wrong. (Spoiler: it’s every two hours, not just when you remember.)

Toss some bags with a dermatologist about why Iowa’s skin cancer rate is high and what you can do to reduce your chances of being part of the statistic.

Toss some bags at Iowa’s surprising skin cancer crisis… why “pale is in vogue”… and the two-hour sunscreen rule that changes everything…

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Why Iowa ranks 5th nationally for melanoma (higher than Arizona!)
01:58 – Agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates
03:30 – The two-hour sunscreen rule most people don’t follow
06:30 – Rural healthcare barriers: living far from dermatologists
09:00 – “No such thing as a healthy tan” – myth debunked
10:00 – Iowa’s tanning bed problem: one of only 6 states with no restrictions
12:00 – Why tanning is actually addictive (endorphins released)
14:30 – “It’s never too late” – why 50-year-olds should still protect skin

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WATCH: Iowa City Historical Society Center closure: What a 60% loss means (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #37

WATCH: Iowa City Historical Society Center closure: What a 60% loss means (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #37

Iowa is closing its Historical Society research center in Iowa City to save money, potentially unloading 60% of the collection, including irreplaceable Meskwaki Nation artifacts, Civil Rights Movement records, and Women’s suffrage documents.

On this segment of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker explore the devastating impact of closing Iowa City’s archive.

Toss some bags at declining school enrollment… the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City… And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today’s tariff layoffs…

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 – Coffins on Doorsteps: The Dramatic Rally to Save Iowa History
01:00 – Suzanne White Buffalo’s Powerful Speech: “You Are the Reason Why”
02:00 – 60% of Collection May Be Lost: What Happens to Donated Materials?
02:30 – The Meskwaki Nation: Cultural Genocide Continues Through Neglect
04:30 – Civil Rights and Women’s Suffrage Archives Under Threat
06:30 – The Real Budget Story: Unlimited Vouchers vs. $800K for History
07:30 – What This Says About Iowa’s Values and Priorities
08:30 – State Rep Adam Zabner: “Fighting Back Against This Decision”

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