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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Iowa Democrats to pick leadership for 2025
Over the weekend, Iowa Democrats will convene to vote on a team to lead after bummer 2024. The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee will meet in Ankeny Saturday morning to choose its new officers to represent the IDP in 2025. The State Central Committee is a 53-member board. The majority are elected at district…
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Iowa Democrats eye opportunity in eastern Iowa special election
Following Sen. Chris Cournoyer’s elevation to lieutenant governor, there’s a vacancy in the state Senate. Local school board president Mike Zimmer is hoping to flip a seat back for Democrats. There is a special election looming in eastern Iowa. Senate District 35 was represented by Republican state Sen. Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire before Gov. Kim…
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Dubuque private school raises tuition by 58% after voucher expansion
As school vouchers become available to all Iowa families, parents at a large private school operator in Dubuque are experiencing tuition sticker shock. Administrators of Holy Family Catholic Schools met with parents this week over concerns about a tuition hike coming in the next school year. Every student from elementary to high school will have…
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🌽Cornhole Champions #1 – Recounting the count (with Derek Muller)
Iowa Democrats didn’t exactly get points on the board in 2024. But it’s not all bad news. Toss the bags with us as we get a temperature check on what a recount can—and more importantly, cannot—do. I don’t have to tell you that 2024 was not a good year for Democrats. But it wasn’t all…
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Longtime Iowa Congressman Jim Leach dies at 82
In a political environment marked by partisanship, former US Rep. Jim Leach, who died this week, pushed back on his party’s acceptance of Trumpism.
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Democrats will return to Des Moines with legislation to feed Iowa kids during the summer
While it needs Republican buy-in, Democrats in the Iowa Legislature plan to reintroduce Summer EBT bill that would have Iowa put $29 million to work feeding 240,000 kids. Child hunger continues to plague Iowa. According to Feeding America, 110,500 children—or 1 in 6 children in the state—do not have enough to eat. But Iowa has…
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Amid pressure, Ernst says she’ll ‘support’ Hegseth through nomination process
After a tough week, Sen. Joni Ernst is suddenly warming to Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as US Secretary of Defense. This after intensive public campaign pressuring her to say ‘yes’ to the Fox News host. Since November, US Sen. Joni Ernst has been in the hot seat. For weeks, she’s been among the few…
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Iowa Republicans rage over Sen. Joni Ernst
Despite her popularity over the years, Sen. Joni Ernst is taking heat over holding up the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for top Pentagon position. Things aren’t going well for US Sen. Joni Ernst. She’s cultivated clout through her experience both in combat and as a military policymaker. But Republicans are going…
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MAGA activists call for Kari Lake to primary Joni Ernst over Hegseth nomination
MAGA activists threaten to primary US Sen. Joni Ernst over her hesitation in backing controversial Trump pick Pete Hegseth. And they’re looking at the Iowa roots of a certain Arizona politician to make it happen. Back in 2020, Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst celebrated a seven percentage point victory to the chant of “six more…
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‘Pete or else!’: Ernst takes MAGA heat over Trump’s Hegseth nomination
The Republican base is targeting US Sen. Joni Ernst over her continued reticence to back Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial nominee to run the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth has had a rough ride ever since President-elect Donald Trump put him on the road to be his defense secretary. Since the Fox News host was chosen,…
