On this day in 1977, gay rights activist Thom Higgins pied anti-gay media personality Anita Bryant at a press conference in Des Moines. Bryant was in town promoting her ongoing campaign against LGBTQ+ rights, including a plan for a network of conversion therapy centers.
This video was posted to social media amid a growing presence of ICE across the nation.
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Have a favorite banned book? Share it with us in the comments! We promise not to report you to Kim Reynolds.
2,000 nurses at UnityPoint Health are unionizing in what is considered the largest union effort in Iowa's history. They're also facing a multimillion-dollar union-busting campaign.
Parade attendees expressed their frustration amid immigration crack downs in Iowa.
New data reported by abortion providers show the impacts of Iowa's six-week ban have been felt far and wide.
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
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.
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... 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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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?
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Christina Bohannon is making her third bid to unseat US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, coming off a razor-thin 799-vote loss in 2024. In one of 2026's most closely watched races, Bohannon believes her working-class roots and independent voice can finally break through.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Christina Bohannon to discuss why 2026 will be different after outperforming other Democrats nationwide and winning 33,000 Trump voters in 2024.
Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… Trump heads to the Iowa fairgrounds… And officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
*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:*
01:00 - The 799-Vote Heartbreaker - 0.2% Loss Despite Trump District Win
02:30 - Miller-Meeks Enthusiasm Gap - Why Republicans Cross Over
04:00 - Miller-Meeks Voting Record - $4,400 Tariff Costs and Medicaid Cuts
05:30 - Bucking Party Establishment - Defeating 20-Year Incumbent by 34 Points
08:00 - "Pragmatic and Compassionate" - Miller-Meeks Medicaid Cut Justification
10:00 - Talk is Cheap Analysis - Miller-Meeks Pattern of Empty Gestures
12:30 - Why 2026 is Different - Building Momentum Over Multiple Cycles
13:30 - County-by-County Campaign - Keokuk to Scott County Tour
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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