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Iowa News You Can Use

WATCH: Man drives car into Iowa City homeless encampment

By Iowa Production Staff

August 25, 2025
You may have heard two weeks ago that a man drove his car into an Iowa City homeless encampment. But you probably don’t know the full story.
CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO
POLITICS VIDEO
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WATCH: Josh Turek Challenges Joni Ernst for Senate (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #35

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

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

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

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WATCH: Iowa Republicans’ task force targets teacher, police retirements (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #35

WATCH: Iowa Republicans’ task force targets teacher, police retirements (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #35

Iowa Republicans are coming for the public employee retirement system—again. Despite promising to “protect and defend” IPERS in 2018, Gov. Kim Reynolds’s handpicked DOGE task force now wants to eliminate pensions for new state employees.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down how wealthy business executives are targeting the 11th best-funded pension system in America.

Toss some bags at Iowa DOGE’s pension grab… Josh Turek’s Senate bid… And how cancer research cuts are shutting down labs across Iowa…

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 Cold Open: The Great Donut Debate Gets Heated
04:30 Iowa DOGE Targets Teacher and Police Pensions
06:00 What is IPERS and Why One in Ten Iowans Depend on It
08:30 Average IPERS Payout: Only $15,000 Per Year
10:30 Iowa Has the 11th Best Pension System in America
11:00 Even Iowa Republicans Oppose This Proposal
12:00 Why Public Workers Earn Less Than Private Sector
13:30 How This Could Gut Iowa’s Public Workforce

*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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… and everywhere you listen to podcasts

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