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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Reynolds calls special session on steel plant tax incentives
Gov. Kim Reynolds is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol on Friday to change the state’s MEGA incentive program after Iowa and Mesabi Metallics signed a memorandum of understanding.
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What Ashley Hinson’s financial disclosures show about her family’s net worth
Five of US Rep. Ashley Hinson’s House financial disclosures show a 2021 insurance deal, a stake in a private equity-backed brokerage, and as much as $1 million in dividends in 2025.
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No meeting set on Lundgren, Smith ethics complaints as election nears
A House panel’s ranking Democrat says the complaint against Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren is waiting on the Republican chair to call a meeting. The chair and House staff have refused to comment on the status of a complaint against state Rep. Jennifer Smith.
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Complaint: Ashley Hinson and her husband blurred ethics line
A watchdog wants Congress to investigate Ashley Hinson’s and her husband’s ties to an insurance lobbying group. Reporting has shown insurance executives complimenting him for securing face time with Iowa’s delegation.
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Trone Garriott tours Epstein files exhibit, presses Nunn on his record
As the Epstein files exhibit rolls through Des Moines, Democratic candidate Sarah Trone Garriott toured with survivors and pressed her opponent, Rep. Zach Nunn, on his votes against releasing the documents.
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Anti-lobbyist candidate Joe Mitchell says he’s not a lobbyist. He just built a lobbying operation.
Joe Mitchell has built his congressional campaign around claims of being the one Republican who isn’t bought by lobbyists. For more than two years, he was the executive paying the lobbyists.
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Iowa Governor’s Office pay up 35% over decade as broader executive branch salaries decline, auditor finds
Salaries paid to Iowa’s executive branch employees fell 7.6% over the past decade when adjusted for inflation, according to a report released this week by State Auditor Rob Sand. However, the offices of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of State Paul Pate have bucked that trend, posting increases where the rest of the state’s…
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Nunn, Miller-Meeks flip on Iran war vote. Hinson continues to back Trump’s war
Every time the House has voted this year on ending the Iran war, Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted no. Tuesday, seven weeks before Election Day, both changed course. Ashley Hinson, running for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, still hasn’t.
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Zach Nunn’s fundraiser with Hegseth violated the law per watchdog complaint
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech at US Rep. Zach Nunn’s fundraiser ran afoul of ethics laws guiding the use of taxpayer money for political purposes, according to a recent complaint made by a nonpartisan group.
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Iowa farmers warn Save Our Bacon Act could lead to more farm consolidation
In 1998, hog prices collapsed and Chris Petersen lost the family farm. This week, he stood in a barn near Elkhart and said US Rep. Ashley Hinson’s “Save Our Bacon Act” could do it again to the Iowa farmers still standing.
