7/29/25 marked one year since Iowa’s extreme and unpopular 6-week abortion ban went into effect. The Iowa Abortion Acces Fund (@iaafund) has since helped over 870 Iowans receive care out of state—but not without great physical, mental, and financial cost.
Democrat Christina Bohannan was asked whether Republicans' cuts to Medicaid were necessary. The budget bill was a spending bill, she explained. Those cuts didn't reduce the national debt—they paid for tax cuts for the wealthy.
JT Vonderhaar (@jttheiowainvestigator on TikTok) has some advice for aspiring content creators: "climb cringe mountain."
Check out the latest Cornhole Champions interview here: https://youtu.be/GshSxf40XvQ?si=vF7J6JGRdjWS4UMH
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.
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... 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
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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/
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... 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
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Iowa faces a devastating cancer crisis, with the fastest growing rate of new cancers in the nation hitting close to home.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming talk about a new investigation into Iowa's cancer problem, sharing personal stories of loss and exploring potential causes from radon exposure to farming practices. Plus, why Governor Reynolds' $1 million proposal is being called a "mouse fart."
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 me 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:*
0:00 - Launching Major Investigation: Iowa's Cancer Crisis
1:18 - Amy's Heartbreaking Story: Losing Grandfather & Mom to Cancer
1:57 - What is Radon? Iowa's Invisible Killer Explained
2:52 - Liz's Tragic Loss: Best Friend Katie's 395-Day Battle
4:38 - "It's Creeping Into Young People's Lives" - Cancer Stories
6:00 - Why Iowa Has America's Fastest Growing Cancer Rate
8:43 - Reynolds' $1 Million "Solution" Called "Mouse Fart"
9:43 - How University Funding Cuts Are Hurting Cancer Research
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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
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- 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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What you need to know about the Special Election in Senate District 1.
🗳️ Election Day is August 26.
Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
A $125 million project is transforming Des Moines' underutilized and murky river into a 150-mile recreational waterway with beach-like areas, dam improvements, and 86 connected sites. Would you swim in it?
Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
"Titter tatter." Translation: People wondering about the future of one of Iowa's most powerful offices.
