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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BREAKING: Iowa election results: Sand, Turek, 3 of 4 US House districts flip
Iowa flips back to the Democrats.
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Joe Mitchell’s Clear Lake address was listed for rent weeks before Election Day
The Clear Lake address of Joe Mitchell, the Republican candidate in Iowa’s 2nd district, was listed for rent on Zillow as recently as this month. The campaign claims its just how Mitchell’s company advertises other properties on the app.
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Nunn, Trone Garriott clash over Iran war and Epstein files in only debate
The candidates in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District traded attacks over the Iran war, the Epstein files, and healthcare in their only debate, one week before Election Day.
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‘Thank God you’re building the ballroom’: Joe Mitchell flatters Trump with homemade award in Sioux City
At President Trump’s rally in Sioux City on Oct. 22, Republican Joe Mitchell flattered the president and his planned ballroom enthusiastically and even claimed that Iowans “don’t ride bicycles.”
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Iowa 2nd District debates: PAC money, data centers, cancer and water quality
Lindsay James and Joe Mitchell debated twice ahead of the midterm election. A PAC admission, a consulting firm’s statement on Mitchell’s data center ties, and a clash over cancer and water quality stood out.
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Miller-Meeks and Bohannan clash over Iran war in 1st District debate
The candidates in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District also sparred over costs, healthcare, and a new $8 billion farm fuel relief payment.
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Where does Mariannette Miller-Meeks actually live?
Mariannette Miller-Meeks isn’t required to live in the district she represents. But that hasn’t stopped her from citing other addresses in the past.
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Trone Garriott pitches scrapping Social Security cap at Des Moines roundtable
The Democratic congressional candidate says she would lift the cap on earnings taxed for Social Security and oppose any benefit cuts or increase to the retirement age.
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Josh Turek, Ashley Hinson spar over wealth, missed votes, and Iran in final Iowa Senate debate
Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek traded sharp attacks over private stock, missed votes, fuel prices and the Iran war in their final debate before Election Day.
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Sand and Lahn clash on school aid, taxes, and data centers in Sioux City debate
Lahn declined to name a school funding number and has no plan yet to pay for ending property taxes, while the two found common ground on data center tax breaks: They don’t like them.
