The irony is staggering: JBS subsidiary Pilgrim’s Pride donated $5 million to Trump’s inauguration, only to watch his administration immediately revoke visas for 200 of their Ottumwa workers from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These legal workers—nearly 10% of the plant’s workforce—are being told to leave the country immediately.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker talk about Trump’s immigration crackdown and how its hitting Ottumwa.
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 – Trump Revokes 200 JBS Worker Visas in Ottumwa
0:44 – Immigration Is the Only Reason Iowa’s Population Is Growing
1:30 – JBS Donated to Trump, Then Lost Workers to His Policies
2:05 – Western Iowa Tech’s Student Visa Exploitation Scandal
3:00 – “Culinary Internships” Were Actually Factory Line Work
3:43 – Judge Rules: Western Tech Engaged in “Indentured Servitude”
4:33 – “We Don’t Need Them” vs. Reality Check
5:00 – $5 Million Gold Cards: Immigration Only for the Rich
5:30 – Force Americans Into Exploitative Jobs by Design
6:00 – Kicking People Off Medicaid to Fill Factory Positions
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
– Threads – https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
– LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/
*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://twitter.com/iastartingline
– Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine
– TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline
– YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w
WATCH: Health care workers in Iowa unionize
Here's how River Hills workers in southeast Iowa won their union, despite opposition from their company.
WATCH: The Energy Bills Relief Act could crack down on price gouging and lower costs. 👀
Energy prices are rising faster than inflation—and Congress is finally talking about it. The Energy Bills Relief Act could crack down on price...
WATCH: Maliah Kome knows what it’s like to grow up trans nonbinary in rural Iowa.
Maliah Kome knows what it's like to grow up trans nonbinary in rural Iowa. Hear her story.
WATCH: Iowa Republicans voted to cut Medicaid and are now raising your health insurance taxes
Iowa Republicans voted to cut Medicaid, promised it wouldn't hurt anyone, and are now raising your health insurance taxes to clean up the mess.
WATCH: 50+ No Kings protests are happening across Iowa this Saturday
50+ No Kings protests are happening across Iowa this Saturday, March 28, 2026.
WATCH: Iowa Rep. Jeff Shipley called a Cedar Falls resident slurs over the Ivermectin bill
Iowa Rep. Jeff Shipley called a Cedar Falls resident slurs after he confronted Shipley about a bill to make Ivermectin available over the counter.
