Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to zach@iowastartingline.com.
Zachary Oren Smith
Latest from Zachary Oren Smith
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Election forecaster says Iowa’s biggest races are in play
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report says Iowa’s Senate and governor’s races are now more competitive than Republicans would like them to be ahead of November’s election.
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Iowa Republican Rep. Shannon Lundgren vouches for man convicted of abusing children
Four days before a Dubuque County man was sentenced for child abuse, state Rep. Shannon Lundgren wrote the judge a letter on official Iowa Legislature letterhead vouching for his character.
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Pete Hegseth broke his own department’s rule to fundraise for Zach Nunn
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth headlined a ticketed campaign fundraiser for US Rep. Zach Nunn at the Iowa State Fair. It’s the exact kind of appearance his own department’s rules say Cabinet officials aren’t allowed to make and the second time this year his conduct has conflicted with his own department’s rules
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Pipeline exec accused of buying influence is now bankrolling Hinson
Bruce Rastetter’s carbon capture pipeline company got the power to seize Iowa farmland by eminent domain. Now he’s raising money for Ashley Hinson’s Senate campaign.
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Report: Ashley Hinson took thousands from donors named in the Epstein files while declining to force their release
US Rep. Ashley Hinson accepted nearly $90,000 from billionaires who appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a new report. That includes $30,500 while she declined to sign the petition that would ultimately force the files’ release.
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Rob Sand wants Iowa to take on Big Tech over kids’ safety
Rob Sand believes social media should be off-limits for kids under 16. His plan would require age verification, make minors’ accounts private, and ban DMs from strangers.
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New refugee story project aims to bring Iowa’s overlooked immigrant communities into focus
Common Thread Iowa will cover the state’s refugee and immigrant communities — populations its founders say are bigger, and more overlooked, than most Iowans realize.
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Hinson says clinic closure talk is ‘lying by omission.’ State records tell another story
Ashley Hinson accused her critics of “lying by omission” about healthcare clinic closures. Then we checked what she left out.
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Trump’s push for ID has nothing to do with the election threats Iowa faces
Register to vote, check your registration status, and understand the actual threats to election security heading into 2026. Link in the bio for our voter registration guide. Read the full story on Iowa Starting Line.
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Iowa insurers seek premium hikes for 2027
Five Iowa insurers filed their 2027 rate requests. Four want double-digit increases—and the tables explaining why are redacted. Enrollment already dropped 17% this year.
